New Zealand hope he will recover in time to play the third Test in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2024

Kane Williamson picked up a groin strain in Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images

Kane Williamson is unavailable for the second Test between India and New Zealand starting in Pune on October 24 as he continues to recover from a groin strain.Williamson did not travel to India with the New Zealand squad, after suffering the injury during the tour of Sri Lanka last month, and will remain at home to continue his rehabilitation. Will Young batted at No. 3 in Williamson’s absence and made 33 and 48 not out in the first Test in Bengaluru.”We’re monitoring Kane and he’s tracking in the right direction, but isn’t yet 100% fit,” said New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “We’re hopeful to see further improvement over the coming days and have him available for the third Test. We’ll give him as much time as possible to get himself ready, but certainly continue to take a cautious approach.”New Zealand lead the three-Test series in India 1-0 after winning the first Test by eight wickets. Rachin Ravindra was the Player of the Match, for scoring a century in the first innings and an unbeaten 39* in the chase. Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke took eight and seven wickets respectively. New Zealand travelled to Pune on Monday evening and are set to have their first practice session in the city on Tuesday.

Big picture: Do not adjust your timezones

Are you keeping up at the back? England’s Test team has just arrived back home from Pakistan, licking their wounds after a 2-1 series defeat, but already making plans for their next three-Test tour of New Zealand in barely three weeks’ time. And now, to fill the idle minutes between those two significant endeavours, a separate England squad has been dispatched to the Caribbean for its fourth visit in the space of three years, to continue the reboot of their white-ball fortunes after two underwhelming World Cup defences.This is the sweet spot of England’s post-Covid fixture congestion – a series so shoehorned that it’s hard to know what to read into the players selected, or indeed the results expected. As Jason Holder told ESPNcricinfo, the ECB’s honouring of its debts to West Indies after his team’s efforts in the lockdown summer of 2020 is a significant factor in the timing of this tour, and so there’s a transactional aspect to the coming eight games that cannot be ignored. The financial stimulus in the Caribbean may matter more than the actual results, given that the hosts don’t even have a place at February’s Champions Trophy to offer a short-term focus for their efforts.For England, however, this is a golden opportunity for their next generation to stake claims for integral roles in the coming Bazball-ification of the white-ball team. Brendon McCullum won’t be getting his feet under the table until the tour of India in January, but his influence is already palpable. The cross-pollination of players – with Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed joining from the Pakistan tour and Jacob Bethell soon to take the opposite route to New Zealand – reinforces the sense that one philosophy is about to take hold across all three squads, and so it probably doesn’t matter where and how you make your case … Big Bazzer Will Be Watching You.And so, in the short term at least, cohesive strategies will probably matter less than well-crafted cameos. With Jos Buttler extending his absence from professional cricket into a fifth month, and with Harry Brook – his heir apparent – tied up on Test duty, Liam Livingstone gets an unlikely shot at the captaincy, just weeks after he was initially cut from England’s ODI plans against Australia. He takes charge of a squad that features five potential 50-over debutants, from the restlessly ambitious Cox, to the fast-tracked legspinner Jafer Chohan, as well as the ubiquitous John Turner, the Hampshire fast bowler who has been mentioned in dispatches for more than a year already but might finally get his opening in these coming games.Shimron Hetmyer is back in West Indies’ ODI squad•Getty Images

More established names ought to relish this opportunity too. Sam Curran, for instance, was wondering out loud last month whether his face fitted in the Bazball era, given his lack of extreme pace and height runs counter to the attributes that England’s selectors have been advocating of late. The fact that he was overlooked as Buttler’s stand-in might confirm his paranoia too. But he was player of the match in his last ODI in Antigua, and that will surely count for something.Phil Salt is another who might be grateful for the absence of the multi-format players. The Caribbean was the scene of his breakthrough as a T20I opener, with twin hundreds on England’s last visit, but in the 50-over format, he failed to make it out of the powerplay in any of the five matches against Australia, even if his 45 from 27 at Bristol last month was a rowdy way to sign off for the summer.They’ll be coming up against a West Indies team with a proud home record against England. In addition to their two-decade unbeaten run in Tests, they’ve won each of their last three home white-ball series against the visitors, including a 2-1 win in the corresponding ODI campaign in December 2023.Between the wily left-arm spin of Gudakesh Motie and the pace prowess of Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales, West Indies have invariably found the requisite firepower to blunt England’s hard-hitters, and they’ve rarely lacked muscle with the bat themselves. It ought to be high-octane cricket over the coming days, in front of eager crowds of autumnal English sun-seekers. But quite what any of it will prove, the jury will remain out on that, at least until the new year.

Form guide

West Indies WLLLL
England LWWLL

In the spotlight – Evin Lewis and Liam Livingstone

England fans may remember Evin Lewis from his astonishing onslaught at the Kia Oval in 2017, right at the apex of England’s white-ball revolution. On a cool autumnal afternoon, he blazed a remarkable 176 not out from 130 balls with 17 fours and seven sixes, and was firmly on course for West Indies’ second ODI double-hundred when he inside-edged a yorker onto his ankle and retired hurt with a hairline fracture. That was the third of his five ODI hundreds to date – a tally that only Shai Hope among contemporary West Indies cricketers can beat – and the most recent came only last week against Sri Lanka in Kandy: a 61-ball onslaught, sealed with a matchwinning six. Remarkably, that was Lewis’ first ODI appearance for more than three years, but as his captain Hope put it at the post-match presentations, “he picked up where he left off”.Barely six weeks have elapsed since Liam Livingstone was called up as an injury replacement for Jos Buttler, after his calf injury ruled him out of the ODI series against Australia. Now, he’s been handed a more remarkable promotion still – stepping directly into the skipper’s shoes as England’s sixth captain of 2024. He returns on the crest of a relative wave, after recently rising to become the leading T20I allrounder in the ICC’s rankings. But his returns in ODI cricket remain hit-and-miss. His blistering 62 not out from 27 balls against Australia at Lord’s contained a stunning seven sixes, but was also his first half-century in 14 innings since another dramatic intervention, 95 not out from 78 balls, against New Zealand in September 2023. In between whiles he went missing (along with most of his team-mates, to be fair) at the 50-over World Cup in India. His multi-faceted spin bowling remains a vital means of balancing England’s XIs, however, and a strong showing in this series will set him on course for a shot at redemption in the Champions Trophy.Jacob Bethell prepares to bat in the nets in Antigua•Getty Images

Team news: Debuts in prospect for England

Shimron Hetmyer’s return is West Indies’ only change from the ODI squad that played (and won) the last of its three matches against Sri Lanka on Saturday, and so continuity would seem to be the order of the day. He looks likely to slot into the middle-order, with the 17-year-old Jewel Andrew, who made his international debut in that Kandy contest, the obvious batter to make way. There’s time enough for him to come again. Romario Shepherd could also make a return after sitting out that same match.West Indies: 1 Brandon King, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Shai Hope (capt and wk), 4 Sherfane Rutherford, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Keacy Carty, 7 Alzarri Joseph, 8 Roston Chase, 9 Gudakesh Motie, 10 Romario Shepherd, 11 Jayden SealesThe squeeze on this series, from Test tours of Pakistan at one end and New Zealand at the other, mean a swathe of multi-format players will be missing in the coming days, including Brook and Ben Duckett, whose century against Australia in Bristol was a perfect translation of his Bazball tempo from five-day to 50 overs. Cox, fresh from the Pakistan tour, will be one of several players earmarked for ODI debut in the coming days, while Buttler’s absence means Michael Pepper, his injury replacement, could be another. More likely, perhaps, given the rough hierarchy that governs England’s opportunities, is that Will Jacks gets a chance to open, and Dan Mousley – overlooked for a debut against Australia – gets first dibs in the middle order.England: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Will Jacks, 3 Jordan Cox, 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Liam Livingstone (capt), 6 Dan Mousley, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Reece Topley

Pitch and conditions: Remember the wind factor

A fairly central strip means boundary dimensions are more or less uniform. With four visits to the Caribbean in the space of three years, England’s senior players are well used to the cross-winds that can aid or end any given batter’s attempts to clear the ropes. Conflicting reports of rain may also throw a little chaos into the mix.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies have won seven of their previous 18 ODIs at the Sir Vivian Richards Ground in Antigua, five of which have come in their last six appearances since 2017.
• Their most recent match at the venue, however, was a six-wicket defeat against England in December 2023.
• Evin Lewis needs 51 runs to reach 2000 in ODIs.

Quotes

“That’s something you’re going to see throughout the series, there’s going to be a fair few debuts. And there’s going to be people who get an opportunity because we want to see what we can do. Because that’s what we want to get out of this trip is see how they fare in international cricket.”

حمل داني كارفاخال، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، الأخطاء الفردية من لاعبي فريقه مسئولية الهزيمة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بالدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد تعرض لخسارة كبيرة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدفين اليوم السبت، في قمة منافسات الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

وقدم ريال مدريد مباراة سيئة على كافة المستويات وبالأخص من خط الدفاع الذي لم يقدم المستوى المطلوب ضد أتلتيكو مدريد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ألفاريز: أردنا هزيمة ريال مدريد.. وكنا فعالين في الديربي

وقال كارفاخال في مقابلة مع قناة ريال مدريد: “نحن في ورطة حقًأ، خسارة الديبي ليست تجربة ممتعة ولقد واجهنا أصعب جزء وهو العودة بعد هذه الكبوات، واليوم استقبلنا الكثير من الأهداف”.

وأضاف: “الأخطاء الفردية كلفتنا المباراة، حدث خطأ نتج عنه ركلة جزاء ثم سجل جوليان الهدف من ركلة حرة، تأثرنا بالموقف ولم نلعب بأسلوبنا، إنها ثلاث نقاط وعلينا الاستمرار لأن هذه بطولة طويلة، أحيانًا تكون الهزيمة بتلك الطريقة مفيدة”.

وعن عدم حصول نيكولاس جونزاليس على بطاقة حمراء، واصل كارفاخال: “لم أر الحادثة تتكرر، لو لم تكن بطاقة حمراء لكان للحكم أسبابه بكل تأكيد”.

واختتم: “لقد تضررنا، بضع كلمات ستعزينا اليوم، لكن غدًا ستشرق الشمس من جديد، سنعمل بجد أكبر ولنجعل هذه الهزيمة تؤلمنا لنستمد الشجاعة من مشاعر اليوم”.

Neser looks set to be unavailable until after the Brisbane Test but Richardson is closing in on a Sheffield Shield return

Alex Malcolm13-Nov-2024Australia’s hopes of having Michael Neser available if needed for the Adelaide or Brisbane Tests have evaporated because of the severity of his hamstring injury, but there is a glimmer of hope that Jhye Richardson could be considered as a back-up option later in the series if his carefully crafted return to first-class cricket remains on track.Neser, 34, suffered the injury on the opening day on the Australia A match against India A at the MCG and looks set to be sidelined until the start of Brisbane Heat’s BBL season on December 18. Neser was unlikely to be selected as Australia’s first-choice back-up seamer for the Perth Test even without the injury, with Scott Boland in line behind Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.Barring an injury in Perth, Australia are unlikely to need Boland for Adelaide given there is a nine-day break between the first and second Tests. But there is concern about the three-day turnaround between Adelaide and Brisbane, followed by a seven-day break to Boxing Day and then a three-day gap to Sydney. The quicks themselves and the team management have publicly stated that playing all five Tests without a change, as they did last year, is highly unlikely.Related

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If two of the quicks were to go down, as they did in the 2021-22 Ashes and 2022-23 summer, then Australia would need another fast bowler beyond Boland. Neser’s unavailability brings the likes of Nathan McAndrew and Sean Abbott into the frame. But it is understood there is hope that Richardson, 28, could be fit enough to be considered as he continues his careful buildback from injury and other physical issues.Richardson took 1 for 19 from five overs at the MCG on Wednesday in his fourth List A game so far this summer to go with two second XI matches. He will not play in Western Australia’s upcoming Sheffield Shield game against Victoria at the Junction Oval starting on Friday. But speaking after WA’s One-Day Cup loss, Richardson said he was hopeful he could play in WA’s day-night Shield game against South Australia at Adelaide Oval, strting November 23, which could also be Lance Morris’ first Shield game of the summer.”Pending selection, hopefully next game,” Richardson said. “I’m still waiting to see what sort of restriction and stuff is put on that. It’s a pink ball in Adelaide, and, you know, I like playing pink-ball games, so I’ve been pushing hard to get into that one, but we’ll see how we go. Obviously, the plan’s not 100% finalised.”

“It’s been a little bit frustrating. But I was told that at the start of this whole process. I was told it was going to be slow and very purposeful. So we’re hopefully getting to the back end of it now, getting into some red ball [cricket]. Hopefully it’s all worth it”Jhye Richardson on his buildback

Richardson’s last Test match was a pink-ball game in Adelaide in 2021 when he took his maiden Test five-wicket haul against England. But he has endured a horror run with injuries since, including further shoulder and hamstring surgeries. On top of that, he has publicly acknowledged that a mental health battle has affected his physical conditioning. He is a different body shape to when he first started his first-class and international career and it has made him more susceptible to soft tissue injuries.He has been bowling without interruption since his return in IPL 2024 but as a Cricket Australia contracted player, a decision was made during the off-season that his build towards a first-class return would be gradual. There was a period as late as September where it was thought he may not play any red-ball cricket before the BBL.But since then he has strung together four List A games, taking 5 for 63, 3 for 36, 0 for 25 and 1 for 19 and two four-day second XI games for WA.”It’s been a little bit frustrating,” Richardson said. “But I was told that at the start of this whole process. I was told it was going to be slow and very purposeful. So we’re hopefully getting to the back end of it now, getting into some red ball [cricket]. Hopefully it’s all worth it.”The second XI returns were hugely encouraging. He was on heavy restrictions in the first game against South Australia in early October, bowling just ten overs in the first innings and six in the second. But his performance against New South Wales in early November has changed a lot of thinking around his progression. He took 4 for 13 from 11 overs in the first innings and backed it up with 1 for 30 from 14 in the second. It was the most overs he had bowled in a game in over 12 months.”To be honest, felt like I was alive again,” Richardson said. “The bones and the muscles were a little bit sore, but that’s a good thing. Means you’ve done something purposeful. Haven’t had that feeling for a long time. So very happy.Jhye Richardson’s first Test five-for sealed Australia’s win in the pink-ball Test against England in Adelaide back in 2021•AFP/Getty Images”I think for the game, I bowled a spell of six, a spell of seven, and another two spells of six, or something like that. So they were relatively long spells, which is a good thing. I was able to sort of get into a bit of rhythm and feel what it’s like to bowl a long spell again.”I probably could have used another spell or two in there, but I’m very happy.”Richardson is still unable to throw from deep in the outfield due to the shoulder issue but he said it was manageable, while acknowledging fielding was an important part of contributing to the team.He was asked whether he thought he could handle playing back-to-back Shield games in late November and early December, before the BBL break. “I hope so,” he said. “I think I could.”Richardson confirmed he would go in the IPL auction but he did not have a target in mind in terms of his international return.”It’s [on] a game-by-game basis at this stage, especially with this process being a little bit slower,” he said. “It’s just looking forward to the game that I’ve got ahead of me. There’s so much talk about who’s going to be in and out with the Test squad and the changeover of personnel and stuff like that. But it’s not something that I can afford to think about too much. If I put too much pressure on myself, then it’s not good for anyone. So it’s just about playing these games, performing and getting through that’s the main thing for me.”

Royal Antwerp are now expecting Manchester United’s offer for their star man to arrive soon after already holding contacts over the weekend, according to a new report.

Man Utd chasing multiple striker targets

As the Red Devils finally complete their deal for Bryan Mbeumo, the Premier League side are already turning their attention to their next targets. But while United do plan to make more signings, it is expected that departures are needed before they can spend more money. Marcus Rashford is now close to joining Barcelona on an initial loan deal, and the hope is that Anthony, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho soon follow.

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Should they do so, United look set to try and sign a new striker this summer, as a lack of goals at the top end of the pitch cost the Premier League giants a lot last season.

In their search for a new striker, there are four names on United’s shortlist. One is Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who is said to be keen on a move to Old Trafford. Meanwhile, United have made contact with PSG over signing Randal Kolo Muani and have held talks with the agent of Nicolas Jackson over a move this summer. United have also now intensified their interest in signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

As well as signing a new striker, United appear to be in the market for a new goalkeeper.

Club expecting Man Utd bid to arrive soon for £17m ace

According to Belgian outlet HLN.BE, via SimplyUTD, Royal Antwerp are now expecting Man United to submit a bid to sign Senne Lammens.

United’s interest in the 23-year-old is becoming increasingly concrete, and the Belgian side are open to selling their goalkeeper for a fee between £13–17 million. This comes after it was reported on Sunday by Fabrizio Romano that United had made contact to get an understanding of a deal to sign Lammens, who is on the list of options the Red Devils are considering.

The Belgian has been at Royal Antwerp since 2023, and last season he enjoyed a “superb season” according to scout Jacek Kulig, as he finished the campaign having kept seven clean sheets and conceded 32 goals in 30 Jupiler Pro League games. Lammens is under contract until 2027, but Antwerp are ready to cash in on their goalkeeper.

Apps

60

Goals conceded

82

Clean sheets

12

As well as United, both Leeds United and Sunderland are interested in signing Lammens this summer, but the opportunity to move to Old Trafford and potentially become United’s number one ahead of Andre Onana may be too good to turn down. Lammens’ potential arrival at United could either see him replace Onana or replace Altay Bayindir, who has also been linked with a move away.

Memphis Depay’s record-breaking brace saved Netherlands from an embarrassing setback in Lithuania, but Rafael van der Vaart was far from impressed.

• Depay’s double rescued Netherlands in shaky win
• Rafael van der Vaart blasted the Dutch players
• Depay became the national team's all-time top scorer

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Netherlands international Van der Vaart has launched a scathing attack on the national team following their nervy 3-2 World Cup qualifying win in Lithuania. Speaking on , the ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid star insisted the players "should be ashamed of themselves" for their complacent performance, which saw them throw away a 2-0 lead before half-time.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The severe criticism from a respected former player highlights the growing unease surrounding the Dutch team's performances under Ronald Koeman. Despite securing a vital three points to remain top of Group G, the manner of the victory exposed a mental fragility and "nonchalance," according to Van der Vaart. His public condemnation, particularly of midfielder Jerdy Schouten, intensifies the pressure on a squad that was also held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Poland just days earlier.

  Despite the team's poor performance, Depay's double in the match took his international tally to 52 goals, officially making him the Netherlands' all-time leading goalscorer by surpassing Robin van Persie's previous record of 50.

• WHAT VAN DER VAART SAID?

  The former Ajax star said: "First of all, you should be utterly ashamed. Of course, you want to get off to a good start in a game, and that's what they managed. And then you let it slip away. That says something about the nonchalance that everyone seems to possess.

  "Schouten does nothing at all. Everyone thinks: it'll be fine, it'll be fine, and no one intervenes. And that's almost like refusing to do your job." 

  He called it "a miracle" that Schouten was allowed to play on, adding: "I'm actually a fan of his, but today was dramatic."

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  WHAT'S NEXT?

  While Netherlands are in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup, the pressure is mounting on Koeman and his players to deliver a more convincing and professional performance. Another lacklustre display will only amplify the scrutiny from pundits and fans alike.

Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer window could’ve been massively impacted by their failure to land Morgan Gibbs-White, with the Nottingham Forest star staying at the City Ground.

A deal had been all agreed, leading to the player even being set to have a medical with the Lilywhites, but Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis intervened, resulting in the midfielder signing a new contract.

However, such disappointment has fuelled Thomas Frank’s desire to land new additions, subsequently making a huge effort to land Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich this summer.

Huge progress has been made for his signature over recent days, leading to a deal being agreed, with the player in the process of completing his medical ahead of a loan move to North London.

Such a move also includes an option to buy next summer, but it appears as though their activity looks set to continue before the September 1st transfer deadline.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

In recent days, a move has been made by the Spurs hierarchy to try and secure the services of highly-rated Stade Rennais forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.

The Lilywhites have even entered talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over a potential deal, leading to a £30m transfer being mooted, with Nottingham Forest, another side, currently in the running.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Barcelona star Ronald Araujo another top-level star they’re pursuing, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Frank’s side have already made contact with the LaLiga outfit over a potential move for the Uruguayan centre-back before the end of the window.

It also states he could be open to a move to North London, potentially being attracted to the new project being undertaken at the club, which could see Barça open to negotiations at around the £50m mark.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a bigger coup than Palhinha

A holding midfielder has been massively needed at Spurs this summer, leading to a hunt for a proven ball-winner at the base of Frank’s side if they are to build on the recent success.

Whilst Palhinha may not have been the supporters’ first choice for the role, a move is seemingly edging ever closer, potentially proving to be an excellent pick-up if he can replicate his form from his last stint in England’s top-flight.

He spent a couple of years at Fulham before moving to Germany, averaging a tally of 2.5 tackles per 90, whilst winning 8.6 duels per 90, with both figures ranking him within the top 5% of all players in the division that year.

Numbers like that are nothing short of sensational and prove why Bayern splashed £47m on his signature last summer – highlighting the talent the Lilywhites will be getting their hands on.

However, a move for Araujo would be a huge coup for the club, especially considering his sustained spell of featuring at the top level of European football for the Spanish giants.

The 26-year-old has racked up 175 appearances since making his debut in the summer of 2019, having Champions League experience, which will be vital for Spurs next campaign.

Whilst he was injured at times throughout 2024/25, he managed to rack up 25 appearances across all competitions, producing numerous incredible figures that would add the needed depth and quality to Spurs’ backline.

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

12

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

92%

Progressive passes per 90

4.2

Tackles won

1.7

Blocks made

1.4

Clearances made

4.3

Aerials won

3.9

Araujo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Dr Rajpal Brar, completed 92% of the passes he attempted, handing the Lilywhites a composed presence at the back, whilst allowing Frank’s side to play out from the back when needed.

Without the ball, the Uruguayan also starred in LaLiga, winning 1.7 tackles per 90 and making 1.4 blocks per 90 – having the tools to provide the side with a needed commanding presence at the back.

At just 26, Araujo has plenty of time to reach his full potential, with the £50m fee being mooted, undoubtedly a great price for a player entering his prime years as a professional.

Should he hit the ground running in North London, it would be a tremendous pick-up and one that would be a bigger coup than Palhinha, especially when taking his experience at the top level of European football into account.

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Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin wants to make further additions to his first-team squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

The Light Blues are in Champions League action against Panathinaikos tonight, as they look to progress through to the next round of qualifying, after they won 2-0 in the first leg.

Work is still going on behind the scenes to improve the squad, though, despite the season having already got underway, as the Gers attempt to bolster their options in the wide areas.

Rangers are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign right-sided attacker Oliver Antman from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, in a move that could set them back £5m.

The Scottish Premiership giants are also reportedly close to securing a deal to bring England U19 forward Mikey Moore to Ibrox on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Rangers would add to Martin’s options on the flanks if they can get both of these deals over the line in the coming days, hopefully before the league opener against Motherwell on Saturday.

What Moore and Antman could bring to Rangers

Both players are exciting wingers who could provide creative flair at the top end of the pitch if they are able to show the best of their abilities in Scotland this season.

Moore, who has only played 21 times for Tottenham to date, is relatively untested at senior level, though, and it remains to be seen if he can make the step up to be a key player on a regular basis in the first-team at Rangers, as he has yet to prove himself.

However, the 17-year-old talent did produce 19 goals and 13 assists in 24 matches for Spurs at U19 level before he made his first-team breakthrough, which shows that the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists if he can hit the ground running at Ibrox.

Antman, on the other hand, would be joining the Scottish giants off the back of an impressive campaign with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie last season, as he showcased his ability to create high-quality chances for his teammates at an exceptional rate.

Starts

28

Goals

6

Key passes per game

1.6

Big chances created

16

xA

6.54

Assists

15

As you can see in the table above, the Finland international created a whopping 16 ‘big chances’ in 28 starts in the Dutch top-flight, which suggests that he could be a fantastic addition to the Rangers squad.

This is because no Rangers midfielder, winger, or forward created more than 11 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership last term, which suggests that Antman could come in as Martin’s chief creative threat.

Both players could provide a threat at the top end of the pitch, notably as creators, and that is why the club’s latest transfer target would love both of them.

Rangers in the race to sign new striker

According to Croatian news outlet Germanijak, Rangers are still in the race to secure a deal for Westerlo centre-forward Matija Frigan this summer.

The report claims that the Gers are lining up a move for the Croatian number nine after his proposed transfer to English Championship side Hull City was put into doubt by a transfer ban for the Tigers.

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It adds that Spanish side Elche and Premier League team Sunderland are also interested in signing the 22-year-old striker, which shows that there is plenty of competition for his signature.

The outlet states that Westerlo are looking for a fee in the region of £7m in order to allow the forward to move on this summer, whilst Elche are said to be looking at a deal worth around £5.1m.

This gap in valuation between what Elche want to pay and how much the Pro League team are asking for could leave the door open for Rangers to swoop for him in the coming weeks.

Why Rangers should sign Matijia Frigan

The Light Blues should swoop to sign the 22-year-old attacker because he is a talented young forward who could love to play with Antman and Moore at Ibrox this season.

As aforementioned, Moore and Antman are both creative wide players who could provide the striker playing ahead of them with plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net, which is why Frigan could be delighted at the prospect of being in the same side as them.

The left-footed forward’s form for Westerlo in the last 12 months or so suggests that he could come in as an effective forward who could thrive alongside the wing wizards.

Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Frigan has scored 14 goals from 14.26 xG in the Pro League, which shows that he is about on par with where he should be for the chances that have been created for him.

The Croatian forward, who was hailed as “complete” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the finishing powers to potentially make the most of Antman and Moore’s creativity, whilst he may also come in as a big upgrade on Cyriel Dessers by offering a physical presence in the number nine position.

Appearances

35

39

Ground duels won

42

74

Aerial duels won

28

51

Ground duel success rate

34%

43%

Aerial duel success rate

31%

36%

Fouls won

21

35

Fouls committed

32

31

As you can see in the table above, Frigan is far more likely to win physical duels with defenders, on the ground and in the air, which could make him more reliable for Martin than the Nigeria international is.

Therefore, there are technical and physical reasons why the Gers should splash out £7m to bring the Westerlo star to Ibrox before the end of the summer transfer window, as he could be an upgrade on Dessers as well as a great foil for Antman and Moore to play with.

At the age of 22, Frigan would also come in as a young player with the potential to grow and develop during his time in Glasgow, which could make him an excellent long-term signing for the club as well.

Overall, the £7m-rated star is an effective centre-forward who could thrive off the creativity that Rangers are currently looking to add to their squad and could be a very shrewd addition this summer.

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ByDan Emery Jul 29, 2025

It’s hard to imagine this summer getting any better for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s men demolished the Champions League champions in the final of the Club World Cup last week and look like they’ll be a serious threat in the Premier League next season.

Off the pitch, the West Londoners have been just as effective, securing the likes of Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, while also making a massive profit on Noni Madueke.

Moreover, they aren’t done there, as the Blues have also been linked with the brilliant Eberechi Eze this week, although if reports are to be believed, they are also looking at another international who’s even better.

Chelsea target Eze upgrade

Earlier this week, mere days after becoming world champions, Chelsea were reported as being interested in Crystal Palace’s Eze.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The stories claimed that alongside their London rivals Arsenal, the Blues have made the England international a key target for the rest of the summer, and that while no club-to-club contact has been made, they have spoken to his camp.

It wouldn’t be a cheap deal to get done due to the 27-year-old’s well-published £68m release clause, but it’s not hard to see why they might be keen to bring the Premier League-proven ace to Stamford Bridge.

With that said, it now appears that the West Londoners have identified another option, someone who has also proven themselves in the league and would be a better addition: Morgan Rogers.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, the Pensioners are very much interested in signing the Aston Villa star this summer.

Unfortunately, Jacobs reveals that the Claret and Blue consider their dynamic star to be “untouchable.”

However, everyone has their price, and according to The Sun, they value him at £80m, amid their claims on Thursday that he is now the Blues’ number one target for the remainder of the window.

It’d be an extremely costly and complicated transfer to complete, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it’d be one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Eze.

Why Rogers would be a better signing than Eze

While Chelsea will want Rogers for his overall play and impact on the team, they’d also want some serious output from him for his reported price tag, and that is the first advantage he has over Eze.

In 37 league appearances last season, the Villa dynamo managed to score eight goals and provide 11 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.94 games.

In contrast, the former QPR gem scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 34 appearances, which comes out as a still good, but less impressive, average of 2.12 goal involvements per game.

Rogers vs Eze PL 24/25
Players	Rogers	Eze
Appearances	37	34
Goals	8	8
Assists	11	8
Goal Involvements per Game	0.51	0.47
Points per Game	1.70	1.50
All Stats via Transfermarkt

On top of that, the Claret and Blue’s output “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, is more versatile than the former QPR gem.

For example, he has proven himself capable of delivering top performances in the ten, on both wings, and has even played up top on more than a few occasions, which would give Maresca numerous tactical options.

In contrast, the Eagles star is still versatile, but he’s only really comfortable in the ten or off the left, and even then, he spent almost all of last season in the former.

Finally, and this is an important one, the former Middlesbrough ace is five years younger.

This is important because it means he’ll align with the club’s ethos of buying younger talents, and he should develop and reach his peak alongside the likes of Cole Palmer, which, according to research carried out by The Athletic, typically occurs around 26 years old for attacking midfielders.

Ultimately, Eze is an excellent footballer who would certainly bring something to Chelsea this summer, but from their output in the league last season to their upside a few years down the line, Rogers would be the far better signing.

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2

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 17, 2025

Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for an “outstanding” defender, and owner Evangelos Marinakis knows the director of his current club very well, according to a report.

Forest set sights on new defender after bolstering attacking options

Securing Morgan Gibbs-White’s future was arguably as important as making any new signing, with Forest no longer facing the difficult prospect of finding a replacement for the attacking midfielder, and they are also set to bolster their wide options.

The Tricky Trees are now set to sign Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, who is set to replace Anthony Elanga following the Sweden international’s move to Newcastle United, but the 24-year-old is not the only winger in Nuno’s sights.

That is according to reporter John Percy, who has revealed the Portuguese manager is now looking to seal a reunion with one of his former players alongside Ndoye.

As such, Nuno’s attacking options are now shaping up nicely, which means the 51-year-old’s next task at hand may be to improve his backline, and a new target has now entered the frame.

That is according to a report from Espreso, which reveals Nottitngham Forest have now entered the race for Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljević, who has also attracted interest from the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Celtic.

Marinakis is said to be good friends with Red Star Belgrade director Zvezdan Terzić, which indicates the Forest owner could play a key role in the negotiations, and there is a feeling he could loan Milosavljević out to Olympiacos initially.

There is a huge chance the Red Star Belgrade defender leaves the Serbian club before September 1st, and his price tag is set to be around €10m – €15m (£9m – £13m).

"Outstanding" Milosavljević could go on to be top defender

The 18-year-old is yet to prove himself outside of Serbia, but the teenager’s exploits in his home country indicate he could go on to be a top defender, with scout Gianni Bellasi being left particularly impressed by his performances.

Bellasi has also praised the youngster for his “outstanding” positioning, and he has already managed to force himself into the Red Star Belgrade first team, racking up a total of 22 appearances.

That said, while Milosavljević is clearly a very talented young player, it would make sense to send him out on a loan deal initially, and a move to Olympiacos could be ideal, given that it would, of course, be very easy for Marinakis to arrange.