Tag Futebol

Glasgow Rangers will be hoping to continue their excellent Premiership form this evening when they travel to the capital.

Hibernian are their opponents and the same fixture back in December was Michael Beale’s first match in charge, where a 3-2 victory was secured. Since that night, the Light Blues have dropped points in just one league match and will be hoping for another three points.

The Ibrox side bounced back from Hampden disappointment to defeat Kilmarnock 3-1 at the weekend, and there were several excellent performances.

Todd Cantwell is fast turning into a wonderful signing and against Killie, he achieved a Sofascore rating of 7.7/10, succeeding with four of his five dribble attempts while winning nine of his ten duels, delivering arguably his strongest performance in a Rangers jersey to date.

Yet it was Antonio Colak that truly stole the show, emerging from the shadows to put in a selfless performance, one that will please Beale, who must now unleash him again this evening.

Will Antonio Colak start against Hibs?

Since the Englishman arrived at Ibrox, the Croatian striker has started just twice due to recovering from a calf strain suffered before Christmas and his output has been limited.

He had to wait until last month to score his first goal under Beale, and although he didn’t score at the weekend, his performance was praised, with the manager even saying he thought the striker was Rangers’ “best performer” during the tie, while Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie lauded him as “sharp” during an impressive first half display.

Indeed, against the Ayrshire side, Colak grabbed an assist and had five shots during the match while also missing a big chance and although he didn’t find the net, his ability to drop slightly deeper was invaluable.

The attacker did win three of his five duels and took 46 touches, proving he was always eager to get involved and his performance certainly looks like he is returning to form at exactly the right time.

The 29-year-old has scored 15 goals in just 33 appearances this term and he will be buoyed by his display in the 3-1 victory and will be roaring to go again so soon.

The wins keep racking up in the league, yet with a nine-point deficit, it is unlikely the Light Blues will be able to dethrone Celtic this year.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is determined to complete a takeover at Manchester United, Sky Sports report.

The Lowdown: Bid made

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe both made offers for the club before the soft deadline set by the Glazers last month.

The current Manchester United owners have placed a £5bn valuation at Old Trafford, with reports believing both Jassim and Ratcliffe’s bids are set to be rejected. However, it looks as if Jassim may not go away quietly, with the Qatari extremely keen on completing a deal.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Sky Sports provided an ‘update’ regarding Jassim and Manchester United on Tuesday afternoon.

They said ‘it’s understood’ that Jassim is ‘determined to buy’ the club and feels he has made a ‘very good offer’.

They add that he would’ve liked to have attended Wembley for the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup final victory on Sunday but felt it was ‘not appropriate’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-11/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Long process

Manchester United supporters once again made their feelings known towards the Glazers during the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, so this update on Jassim may well be welcomed by those wanting the current owners out.

However, Avram Glazer’s presence at Wembley could be telling, with some believing that the Americans may stay involved at Old Trafford despite entertaining offers.

Reports elsewhere believe that a takeover could be delayed until the end of the season, so this will be a situation to monitor closely over the coming months, with Jassim potentially involved until the process reaches a conclusion.

Glasgow Rangers return to Scottish Cup action today with a fifth-round clash at Ibrox.

The Gers come up against the second-tier outfit Partick Thistle, with the chance to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the competition if they come away with the win.

Michael Beale’s  sideremains unbeaten after 11 competitive matches in charge of the Light Blues in all competitions and his side come into this game off the back of a 2-1 win over Ross County in the Premiership last time out.

Will Antonio Colak start against Partick Thistle?

This cup tie offers the head coach the opportunity to make some alterations to his team and bring in some players who have not been regular starters in recent weeks.

One gem who should be given the chance to show that he deserves more minutes heading into the final months of the campaign is Croatian international Antonio Colak.

The centre-forward has only started one match – a 2-0 win over Dundee United in the Premiership – since the club returned from the break for the 2022 World Cup and has not been able to start alongside January signing Todd Cantwell as of yet.

Since joining from Norwich last month, the English attacking midfielder has caught the eye in his three appearances for the team in the Scottish top-flight.

The gem has created three chances, including one ‘big chance’, and assisted one goal, whilst completing 90% of his attempted passes, in three league outings – as per Sofascore.

Imagine Cantwell and Colak vs Partick Thistle

Cantwell, who also created 1.1 chances per match in the Championship this season for the Canaries, is a midfielder who has the quality to consistently provide his teammates with opportunities to score from and that is why he could be a dream player to play alongside Colak.

The former PAOK marksman, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed “creates problems” for the opposition,was on fire for the Gers in the first half of the campaign.

He scored a whopping 11 goals in 14 Premiership appearances, whilst also scoring three goals in four Champions League qualifiers, and a player like Cantwell could help him to rediscover the Midas touch in front of goal.

Colak has showcased his quality in the final third on many occasions for the Gers already in his short time at Ibrox but his recent dry spell – of no goals in his last eight appearances – could end by putting an excellent playmaker alongside him.

Therefore, Beale must unleash the 29-year-old  marksman from the start in this match against Championship opposition as it could provide the gem with the chance to regain some confidence by adding to his goal tally – with the help of Cantwell’s chance creation from midfield.

Arsenal are interested in a Premier League winger as Mikel Arteta aims to complete another signing during the January transfer window…

What’s the news?

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are interested in signing AFC Bournemouth winger Jaidon Anthony as Arteta looks to add some more depth to his attacking options.

He could face competition for the 23-year-old however, with Leicester City, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Bayer Leverkusen also keen on Anthony.

His contract expires at the end of the season and Arsenal could be looking to secure a bargain move for him this month and with the club close to completing a move for Leandro Trossard, it could be a strong end to the window for Arteta.

He’s a dream signing

Anthony knows Arsenal well, having spent ten years at the Hale End academy during his formative years, playing alongside Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, so settling in shouldn’t be a problem for the player.

At just 23 years old, he also fits Arteta’s vision for the future, with the Spaniard looking at bringing the average age of the side down significantly while signing young players who can develop and improve over time.

In the Championship last season, Anthony was excellent, featuring in all but one of Bournemouth’s matches as they gained promotion back to the Premier League. The winger averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.16/10 which ranked him as the club’s best performer during the campaign.

He underlined his attacking qualities by registering 15 goal contributions – eight goals and seven assists – while creating an astonishing 18 big chances across his 45 matches, demonstrating just how effective he was from a wide position.

Anthony didn’t shy away from the nitty-gritty work either, chipping in with 1.3 tackles and 0.5 clearances per game while winning 3.6 duels per match, proving that he can also provide solid defensive support when required.

His former manager Scott Parker lauded his performances last season, saying: “What he does for this team is nothing short of incredible at times really.” And although he has struggled for game time this season, the Englishman has still scored three times in 18 appearances for the Cherries.

Following the disappointment of missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk, Arteta will be working twice as hard to secure attacking reinforcements and a move for Anthony could be a very shrewd investment indeed.

The January transfer window is well underway and Glasgow Rangers boss Michael Beale could make his first signings in charge of the club before the month is over.

He arrived during the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to replace Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst and is yet to make his first plunge into the market.

The Light Blues are currently nine points behind their bitter rivals at the top of the Premiership and Beale could use January to bolster his side and improve their chances of catching up in the title race.

One player who could be on the chopping block if new faces come through the door is Canadian attacking midfielder Scott Arfield, whose end product has left a lot to be desired over the last 18 months.

He has scored four goals and provided just one assist in 16 Premiership outings this season, whilst missing four ‘big chances’ and creating just 0.7 chances per match.

This comes after he produced four goals and zero assists – missing eight ‘big chances’ – in 29 outings in the Scottish top-flight during the 2021/22 campaign.

The £16k-per-week dud is an experienced professional, at the age of 34, and has proven that he cannot be relied upon over the course of a season to regularly deliver goals and assists from midfield.

Therefore, Beale could sign another player in that position in order to ditch the ex-Burnley man from the starting-up. Ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, the Light Blues were reportedly interested in a deal to snap up FCSB attacking midfielder Darius Olaru.

The report claimed that the Romanian giants would be willing to cash in on him for a fee in the region of €10m (£9m), although it remains to be seen if that is still the case.

Olaru, who was once dubbed an “exciting” talent by scout Jacek Kulig, could be the ideal replacement for Arfield as he has shown plenty of promise during his time with FCSB.

The 24-year-old, who is ten years younger than the Rangers dud, has produced seven goals and 16 assists in 55 league appearances since the start of last season and this indicates that he could be a major upgrade on Arfield in terms of what he offers from a creative perspective.

His age also means that he would be a long-term signing for the Light Blues as he could develop and improve under Beale’s coaching, whereas the 34-year-old dud is in the final throes of his career.

Therefore, Rangers could ditch Arfield by reigniting their interest in Olaru and bringing the Romanian dynamo to Ibrox to improve their options in that area of the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move to bring Memphis Depay to north London in the January transfer window.

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that Barcelona have offered Fabio Paratici the chance to sign the centre-forward this winter, with an earlier report by Spanish publication AS (via Sport Witness) claiming that the LaLiga side would be willing to let the 28-year-old leave the club for as a little as €5m (£4.4m).

This is because of the Catalan side’s dire financial situation, with Barca needing to first offload players in order to bring in new signings of their own in the January market, with Chelsea also reported to be considering a move for the Netherlands international – whose current contract is set to expire next summer – in the coming weeks.

On Depay’s side, after refusing to leave the Camp Nou in the summer, it is suggested that the striker is now more open to the idea of a move away from Barcelona this winter, something that could potentially open the door for Paratici to finally make a concrete move for the Dutchman ahead of the second half of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.

Absolute steal

While it is true that Depay has somewhat fallen down Xavi Hernández’s attacking pecking order at Barcelona this season – having started just two games in all competitions thus far in 2022/23 – it is nevertheless undeniable that, should Paratici get a £4.4m deal over the line for the 28-year-old in January, it would represent an absolute steal for the Italian sporting director.

Indeed, over his 28 LaLiga appearances last term, the £17.5m-rated talent was in sensational form going forwards, bagging 12 goals, providing two assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.2 shots, making 1.6 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £172k-per-week attacker who Liam Canning labelled “unreal” average an exceptional Sofascore match rating of 7.26, not only ranking him as Barcelona’s fourth-best performer in the league but also as the joint 10th-best player in the Spanish top-flight as a whole.

Furthermore, with the 86-cap international boasting extremely impressive positional versatility – being able to operate from attacking midfield, as a support striker, on either wing and as an out-and-out centre-forward – Depay would quite easily fit into either of Antonio Conte’s preferred 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 tactical set-ups at Spurs.

As such, considering his deadly ability in the final third, his ability to play in a number of different roles and the fact he looks to be available for a fee that is roughly £13m under his current market valuation, it would indeed appear as if Paratici’s potential capture of the 28-year-old would represent a real steal for the 50-year-old and Tottenham this winter.

Newcastle United are reportedly set to make an approach for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, with the Frenchman currently facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium.

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Magpies are ‘serious’ about landing the 27-year-old in the January transfer window, with sporting director Dan Ashworth seemingly set to make a ‘super offer’ for the former Paris Saint-Germain man.

This follows a report from earlier this week that named the Tynesiders – as well as Premier League rivals Arsenal – as possible suitors for the 6 foot 2 ace, with the Serie A side said to be open to a sale for a fee in the region of £13m-17m.

That willingness to sell comes amid the player’s expiring contract in Turin, with the former Manchester City youth product – who was also linked with a move to St James’ Park in the summer – having just six months left on his existing deal.

Imagine him and Joelinton

Rabiot has already teased a potential move to England in the near future, having only recently suggested that the “Premier League attracts [him]”, with Eddie Howe and co likely hoping that they can use that interest to tempt the player into making the switch.

Such an addition would no doubt be a real coup for Newcastle such is the elegant playmaker’s undoubted quality, with the 33-cap gem having scored five goals and laid on two assists in 16 games in all competitions so far this term.

The powerful asset has also previously been lauded for his form at club level by former boss Andrea Pirlo, with the Italian icon dubbing him a “complete player” and a “champion” due to his strength “both physically and technically.”

That quality has been evident at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar with Rabiot having thrived in his midfield berth for the holders, scoring once and registering one assist from his four outings in the competition, while also averaging 2.5 tackles per game and 1.3 interceptions per game.

The player’s box-to-box brilliance is also illustrated by the fact that he ranks in the top 17% in Europe among those in his position for dribbles completed, as well as in the top 15% for aerial duels won as a sign of his ability to impact the game both in an attacking and defensive sense.

The all-action star could well complement current Magpies hero Joelinton in Howe’s midfield with the Brazilian also offering that dynamic and progressive trait, as he ranks in the top 18% for dribbles completed, as well as in the top 7% for aerial duels won.

The £85k-per-week machine also ranks in the top 12% for tackles made as a marker of his ball-winning prowess, while Rabiot ranks in the top 19% in that regard, illustrating that the pair could well prove a real fearsome prospect for any opposition midfield.

Having two figures in the centre of the park who can impact play at both ends of pitch will seemingly only help to maintain the Magpies’ current rampant form, with the club’s high energy and progressive approach currently working wonders in the quest for a top-four berth.

Managing to get the Juventus man through the door is no doubt set to be a tough ask for the aforementioned Ashworth, although capitalising on the player’s expiring contract would no doubt be something of a masterstroke.

Just imagine the damage that both he and Joelinton could inflict upon Premier League opponents…

Manchester United are eyeing up Switzerland and Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer as a replacement for David De Gea, according to a new claim.

The Lowdown: Sommer shining at the World Cup

The 33-year-old is currently on international duty at the World Cup, playing his part in Switzerland progressing to the knockout rounds for the third finals in a row.

Sommer has started two of his country’s games in Qatar, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Cameroon and only conceding late in the defeat by the same scoreline against Brazil.

The Swiss stopper has been at Monchengladbach since 2014 but it looks as though a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

The Latest: Man United keen on Sommer

According to German outlet Bild, United are eyeing up a move for Sommer next summer, as he potentially comes in as De Gea’s replacement between the sticks.

He was linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier this year, and a transfer didn’t materialise then, the Red Devils’ interest doesn’t seem to have gone anyway.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-7/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”][web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-7/” title=”Latest Man Utd news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Is he the right man?

Hailed as a “role model” by his former boss Marco Rose, Sommer has enjoyed an excellent career, winning an impressive 79 caps for Switzerland and notably saving a penalty from Kylian Mbappe in his nation’s spot-kick triumph over France at Euro 2020.

However, there may be question marks over whether or not he would be a long-term solution at United.

He turns 34 later this month, meaning that he is a year older than De Gea, and Erik ten Hag could arguably do with bringing in a younger goalkeeper who can be the Red Devils’ first choice for many years.

Sommer could certainly do a good job in the short-term, proving to be much better on the ball than De Gea – he has a 92.9% pass completion rate at the World Cup, in contrast to the Spaniard’s 65.5% in the Premier League – but his very best days could arguably now be behind him.

With a host of talented youth prospects, over the years there has been a steady stream of academy graduates who have gone on to make their mark in the Sunderland first team.

Whilst the likes of Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson might be the more notorious examples, even players such as Dan Neil and Lynden Gooch are currently making their impact for Tony Mowbray’s side.

The 58-year-old could now add another name to that list, with Caden Kelly an exciting versatile youngster who seems to have ability and maturity far beyond his age.

Having already featured at attacking midfield and on the wing, he draws similarities with Patrick Roberts for his technical proficiency rather than blistering speed.

Perhaps with the Englishman enduring an inconsistent season, outlined in his 6.85 average SofaScore rating, the 18-year-old could be slowly integrated with a view to one day replace the former Manchester City trickster.

Having set the U18s Premier League alight during the 2020/21 season, where he recorded eight goal contributions, he more than earned his promotion to the U23 side.

That step up again did not faze the teenager, as he would score twice and assist a further three before solidifying his place in that age group.

His progression has been so meteoric that this season he even made a cameo in the Black Cats’ 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup, his first senior appearance for the club and a huge statement of intent from Mowbray.

It is clear that Kelly is well thought of on Wearside, with journalist Josh Bunting taking to Twitter to further praise the youngster.

He claimed: “Caden Kelly is a very nice footballer for Sunderland, really technical, has excellent vision and that relates to good pass selection, plays through the lines with relative ease.”

It seems like he could possess the creative spark needed to unlock the tricky Championship defences they often face, and with Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart hopefully both to return soon, it could be a devastating combination should he be given a chance.

He could rival and even one day surpass Roberts, with a clear technical proficiency and a physicality that will come with time.

Everton loanee Carlos Alcaraz has explained why, despite being a big Lionel Messi fan, he recently broke out Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Siuuu' celebration.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ex-Saints star back in England
• Found the target versus Palace
• Offered celebration nod to CR7

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentine midfielder, who previously made 48 appearances for Southampton, returned to English football during the winter transfer window. He is due to see out the season at Goodison Park, with a permanent switch from Flamengo potentially on the cards this summer.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Alcaraz has been doing his best to impress the Toffees, with his goal account opened in a crucial victory over Crystal Palace. Despite boasting strong ties to eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, the 22-year-old opted to emulate Ronaldo after hitting the back of the net.

• WHAT CARLOS ALCARAZ SAID

  Quizzed on why he went full CR7 mode after scoring against Palace, Alcaraz told reporters: "I have always liked Cristiano despite being Argentinian.

  "Obviously Messi I think is the best player in the world. There is no doubt there. But I have always liked Cristiano, I like his consistency, his dedication, his hard work, the way he has evolved and changed his style of play over the years. He has evolved to keep playing at the highest level. That celebration was just down to liking him so much, I always admired him."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Prior to facing the Eagles, Alcaraz was involved in an epic derby date with Liverpool that delivered four goals, post-match red cards and plenty of talking points. He added on a contest that was a little "loco" at times: "It was a mad derby, a crazy match, we were ahead and then in the end we managed to get a draw so a pulsating game and to say that was my first derby wearing this shirt I really enjoyed it, it was a fantastic occasion."