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West Ham desperately need to strengthen the squad in January, and a new report has now shared the state of their transfer budget heading into winter.

The Hammers’ season has quickly become one to forget, with the club enduring a torrid run of form under both Graham Potter and new manager Nuno Espírito Santo.

As the campaign slowly heads towards the halfway mark, West Ham have managed just a single league victory and are firmly entrenched in the Premier League’s relegation battle.

The statistics paint a grim picture. West Ham have conceded more goals than any other side in the division, shipping 20 goals in their opening nine games.

Defensive frailties have been obvious, with the team also suffering from a chronic vulnerability at set pieces, conceding nine goals as a direct result from dead balls — again more than any other Premier League side (BBC).

West Ham

9

Nottingham Forest

7

Liverpool

6

Leeds

6

via Opta

Nuno’s men are leaking goals at a rate of more than two per game, and their goal difference ranks as one of the worst in the league.

Offensively, things have not been much better. West Ham have struggled for creativity and cutting edge, finding the back of the net just seven times in the league, and those attacking struggles have only amplified pressure on their embattled backline.

The mood around the London Stadium has really soured, and Nuno’s frustrations are clear as day.

GiveMeSport reports that the manager has demanded urgent action in the winter window, specifically calling for three major signings: a central defender, a midfielder, and a forward.

This is backed up by major news broadcaster Sky Sports as well, who state that West Ham do indeed want a new recruit in all three of those areas as they look to save their season.

West Ham given transfer budget update ahead of January

After they forked out £131 million in the summer transfer window, registering a net spend of around £76 million when factoring in Mohammed Kudus’ sale to Spurs, the question remains: how much money will the Hammers even have to spend?

Well, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, it isn’t good news.

Speaking to TEAMtalk, the reporter claims that West Ham will have a “restricted budget” to play with in January, dealing a blow to Nuno’s hopes of significantly bolstering the squad.

While money may not be available for a lavish spree, the loan market presents a fruitful opportunity for West Ham.

According to recent reports, West Ham have already worked on a potential loan for Ivan Toney, with the England outcast potentially tempted by the prospect of a Premier League return ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that West Ham are speaking to Real Madrid about the possibility of a temporary deal for Endrick, but they’ll have to move quickly and convince the player.

Lyon have now made an official approach for Endrick, according to Fabrizio Romano, so time could be running out there.

That being said, Endrick isn’t the only Brazilian who could be available to Nuno’s side at the turn of the year.

West Ham offered two Brazil strikers with 35 goals between them this year

Barry Ferguson will always be inextricably linked with Rangers.

As a player, he made 422 appearances for the Gers across two spells, winning five Premiership titles as well as five Scottish Cups and five League Cups, leading the team out in Manchester for the 2008 UEFA Cup Final against Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Then, last season, following the sacking of Philippe Clement, Ferguson was appointed interim Rangers manager, winning only six of 15 matches in charge, but knocking Fenerbahçe out of the Europa League and enjoying a victory over Celtic at Parkhead.

He wanted the managerial role full-time but did not get it; he almost certainly would not have done a worse job than Russell Martin, had he been given the opportunity.

As a player, Ferguson boasted all the intangibles supporters love to see, determination, commitment, passion and a will to win, something Danny Röhl’s current squad certainly lacks, but is Rangers’ “best player” starting to show signs of replicating Ferguson?

James Tavernier's role at Rangers

Since joining the club, when they were still in the SPFL Championship, from Wigan Athletic in 2015, James Tavernier has now made 537 appearances for Rangers, scoring a staggering 136 goals and registering 145 assists.

He has won all three domestic honours, while also captaining the team in the Europa League Final in Seville in 2022, as Ferguson had done 14 years earlier, his most recent goal for the club coming at Hampden in defeat to Celtic in the League Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

Last season, for the very first time, Tavernier’s place in the Rangers side came under scrutiny, with some questioning, now 34 years old, if he is the force he once was.

During his brief interim period, Ferguson trialled the Englishman in various positions, right-back, right-wing-back and right-sided centre-back in a three, which was essentially foreshadowing what was to come once Röhl arrived.

The captain has started five of the six matches under the German, the sole exception coming at Easter Road, when he was introduced at half time.

Since Röhl has switched to a back three, Tavernier has most commonly been deployed as a wing-back, although not exclusively, starting as part of the back three against both Kilmarnock and Roma, which is more reflective of Rangers’ lack of high-quality centre-backs, as this role doesn’t get the best out of him.

Nevertheless, as Röhl continues to figure out how to best use his skipper, another of his stars has come to the fore in a way that is reminiscent of Ferguson.

Rangers' "best player" who is Barry Ferguson-esque

It may only be the middle of November, but Nicolas Raskin has already enjoyed, and endured, a roller coaster campaign.

At international level, he has started each of Belgium’s last three World Cup qualifiers, scoring against Kazakhstan in Brussels, establishing himself as a key figure in Rudi Garcia’s team ahead of next summer’s World Cup.

Meantime, back in Glasgow, Raskin remains a key figure for Rangers, starting all six matches since Röhl was appointed, heading home his second goal of the campaign at Dens on Sunday.

The statistics below emphasise the midfielder’s importance to this team.

Minutes

1,669

5th

Goals

2

5th

Assists

4

1st

Shots per 90

1.4

5th

Big chances created

2

4th

Key passes per 90

1.9

2nd

Tackles per 90

2.2

2nd

Interceptions per 90

0.8

5th

Average rating

7.39

1st

As the table documents, Raskin ranks highly for a wide variety of statistics this season.

He is the club’s leading player in terms of assists, while also second for key passes and tackles per 90, underlining that he is an all-round midfield player.

Following Sunday’s victory at Dundee, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, Kris Boyd believes that Raskin is starting to rediscover his “outstanding” form from last season since the appointment of Röhl, while Chris Sutton asserts that he remains Rangers’ “best player”.

So, while the Belgian is stylistically similar to Ferguson, both all-action midfielders, that is not where the similarities end.

In an interview last year, Ferguson revealed that he was informed he should leave Rangers in 2007 following a falling out with manager Paul Le Guen, told “you won’t play for Rangers again”, only for the Frenchman to be sacked soon after, brought straight back into the team under interim boss Ian Durrant.

Well, Raskin endured a near-identical situation, seemingly frozen out by Russell Martin, left on the bench for Champions League qualifiers against Viktoria Plzeň and Club Brugge, before being excluded from the matchday squad altogether for home games against Celtic and Hearts.

The Martin vs Raskin battle was when supporters really turned against the manager they never wanted in the first place, very much the beginning of the end for him.

Now back in the side, the Belgian has once again taken on a talismanic leadership role, so Rangers supporters will be hoping he can carry on this excellent form for many more months and years, even if he still requires 306 more appearances to match Ferguson’s legacy.

"Huge potential" Rangers star can become the new Sima & Cerny under Rohl

Rangers youngster who has “huge potential” is becoming Danny Röhl’s new loan star, seeking to replicate Amad, Václav Černý, Abdallah Sima and others.

ByBen Gray Nov 13, 2025

One of the biggest success stories a Manchester United academy graduate has had since leaving the club is, without doubt, Scott McTominay.

The Scotland international has shone for his new club Napoli and played a crucial role in getting his country to the 2026 World Cup.

The 28-year-old has played 50 games for the Italian giants now, scoring 17 goals and assisting seven in that time. He became a club hero by helping guide them to the Scudetto title last season, winning the Serie A MVP award and earning himself a Ballon d’Or nomination in the process.

Ruben Amorim never got the chance to work with him at United, but it would have been fascinating to know how he’d have utilised him.

How Amorim could have used McTominay at Man Utd

It is interesting to note that under Antonio Conte in Naples, McTominay has operated in a few different roles. He’s played as a number ten, a box-crashing number eight and even off the left-hand side.

Well, had Amorim got the chance to coach the Scot, he may have used him as a number ten in his infamous 3-4-2-1 system. The United academy graduate has great instincts in the box and excels at occupying the centre-backs.

If he were to play high up under Amorim, the chances are he’d be spending more time in the box.

Of course, the other area McTominay would naturally fit in Amorim’s system would be as a number eight. In this role, he could still have crashed the box, making late runs to get on the end of crosses from the wing-backs.

Off the ball, his physicality would have been a handful. That is perhaps best showcased by his 1.85 aerial duels won per 90 minutes over the last year, placing him in the top 11% of midfielders across Europe’s big five leagues.

Of course, we’ll never truly know how McTominay would have fitted in under Amorim, but there is a player in the academy who could be seen as the Portuguese manager’s own version.

Amorim’s in-house Scott McTominay

Over the years, United’s esteemed academy, Carrington, has produced some exceptional talent. McTominay is one of the modern examples, and the Red Devils have some brilliant talent coming through still.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

One of those is Sekou Kone, a man who could be viewed as the second coming of McTominay.

The Malian youth international is seen by football scout Antonio Mango as a player who can be “a beast under Ruben Amorim.”

At 19 years of age, Kone has already been involved in first-team squads thanks to United’s manager, who clearly sees talent in him to give him that opportunity. The midfielder was an unused substitute for three Premier League games last season.

As for his performances in the academy, the five-foot-nine midfielder has shown good versatility and an eye for goal. He’s played 14 games for the Red Devils’ under-21 side, scoring twice and operating as a number ten and in the pivot, just as McTominay has shown for Napoli.

The competition in which Kone truly announced himself was the Under-17 World Cup back in 2023.

He helped steer Mali to third place and was one of the standout players in the competition, creating 10 chances and grabbing two assists.

Key passes

1.6

10

Dribbles completed

2.5

16

Long balls completed

5.5

35

Tackles and interceptions

6.4

41

Aerial duels won

2.5

16

It will certainly be interesting to see how far down the line we are from Kone’s first-team debut.

The 19-year-old could operate in a few different roles, and his ability to have an effect in the final third might pique Amorim’s interest.

It is easy to see how he is the second coming of McTominay. A versatile midfielder who can be physically dominant, despite having a smaller frame than the Scot, and someone able to score goals.

He is certainly an exciting prospect for Amorim and United.

Next Carrick: Man Utd want to sign "one of the best CMs in the PL" for £60m

Man United could enhance the quality of their midfield with the signing of another Michael Carrick.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 19, 2025

Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign a 19-year-old speedster who’s even quicker than Mohamed Salah, according to reports.

Saudi still eyeing Salah move

When Salah finally ended any rumours by signing a two-year contract extension at Liverpool last season, it looked as though that would be that. Anfield’s Egyptian King looked destined to steal the headlines for at least another couple of years and perhaps even retire in Merseyside.

Things haven’t gone quite as smooth sailing since that new deal, however. Having been dropped by Arne Slot in Liverpool’s victory over West Ham United, serious questions have been asked about Salah’s place in Liverpool’s best side as they look to return to their most clinical form. And, as such, rumours surrounding his future have once again emerged.

This time last season, Salah was arguably the best player in the world. He was leading Liverpool’s shock title charge. One year on, though, he’s arguably becoming more disposable at Anfield than ever before.

Slot will be hoping that a recent blip is not the beginning of a steep decline, but it is something that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are already preparing for.

Ferdinand says he spoke to manager in the Middle East this weekend about joining Liverpool

Arne Slot is still under pressure.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 2, 2025

The Anfield chiefs already smashed their transfer record twice in the summer to reshape their attack around Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. Whilst neither have been at their best quite as yet, their arrivals were sign of things to come.

Now, ahead of 2026, Liverpool are reportedly in pole position to sign Yan Diomande and add to their frontline once again.

Liverpool in advanced talks to sign Yan Diomande

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are now in advanced talks to sign Diomande, forcing Barcelona to retreat in the race to sign the RB Leipzig winger.

Battling alongside Tottenham, the Reds could land their next top speedster in the new year. To put into context just how quick Diomande is, the Leipzig star has clocked a top speed of 35.98 KM/H in the Bundesliga season, which betters Salah’s 33.7 KM/H speed in the Premier League this time last year.

What’s more, only Oliver Burke has recorded a quicker speed than Diomande this season, showcasing exactly why he’s found himself on Liverpool’s radar.

As Leipzig’s managing director, Marcel Schafer, reiterated though, the winger is not just all about speed. The 19-year-old star is also a fine finisher with four goals so far this season and is an excellent dribbler.

In pole position for his signature, Liverpool should push on and secure Diomande’s arrival when 2026 arrives.

FSG could see £75m bid accepted to sign Liverpool their best LW since Mane

Arsenal have established consistency like no other team in the Premier League over the past several years.

The Gunners have finished runners-up three years in a row, and while silverware continues to elude Mikel Arteta, he has fashioned his squad into a team of superstars, feared by all across Europe. Despite a recent blip, Arsenal remain top of the standings, their performances and stability creating the general opinion that they are the most complete side in the division, the favourites for the title.

However, while Manchester City and Aston Villa chase up to the Emirates side, Arteta will likely feel that injury troubles stand as his greatest adversary once again.

The latest Arsenal injury news

Once again, Arsenal find themselves on the top end, the wrong end, of the Premier League injury table, but Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta have made positive moves on the transfer front, and they have crafted a balanced squad capable of dealing with such setbacks.

Arsenal

9

5

Tottenham

8

7

Burnley

8

4

Crystal Palace

8

3

Bournemouth

7

2

Liverpool

6

6

As the table-toppers prepare to host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday evening, Arteta will be gritting his teeth amid a wave of setbacks, with key players like Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard all ruled out or doubtful ahead of the top-meets-bottom clash.

However, the club have been boosted by the return of Gabriel Jesus, who made his first appearance of the season off the bench against Club Brugge in midweek, drawing plaudits for his silky and proactive display.

It had been nearly a year since the Brazilian had played for the Gunners in a professional capacity, having torn his ACL last year, and while there have been murmurings of late regarding Jesus’ potential departure from the Emirates Stadium, Arteta has poured cold water on such claims, instead urging the 28-year-old to kick on and become the main man.

Arsenal’s current injury crisis suggests he has a chance to do so, but Jesus may even work his way into the starting line-up over a star who is fresh and raring to go at number nine, having been likened to former Gunners goalscorer Olivier Giroud.

Arteta must drop the new Olivier Giroud

When Arsenal completed a £64m deal for Viktor Gyokeres this summer, it was felt that Arteta had finally solved an interminable problem at the spearhead, landing a 27-year-old striker who had scored 97 goals across just two seasons in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon.

But the powerhouse of a forward has found it difficult thus far. Too often he has drifted through games, struggling for service and fluency in the final third. He has scored six goals across 18 matches in all competitions, including four strikes in the Premier League.

The £200k-per-week striker has not hit the ground running since returning to England, but that’s not to say that he won’t rekindle the kind of form that has struck such fear into European defences over the past few years.

And with former stars such as Theo Walcott suggesting that Gyokeres has what it takes to emulate someone like Giroud, claiming the Sweden international is “similar” and “probably stronger” than the veteran Frenchman, who scored 105 goals and supplied 37 assists across 253 matches for the Gunners.

For now, though, Arteta might be wise to give Jesus a run in the side and withdraw Gyokeres from the starting line-up. He has left much to be desired so far this season and was branded with a 5/10 match rating by football.london in Brugge, missing a golden opportunity after Gabriel Martinelli’s whipped delivery and altogether flattering to deceive as the focal frontman.

As per Sofascore, he squandered two big chances, losing all three ground duels and taking only 12 touches, while losing possession on four occasions. That equates to having lost the ball every three touches.

Giroud, 39, only scored one goal from his first ten Premier League appearances in 2012/13, having joined Arsenal from Montpellier in Ligue 1.

With Merino capable as a moonlit centre-forward, demotion to the bench might not be a bad thing for Gyokeres as he looks to find his feet.

Giroud, after all, established a reputation as a high-scoring substitute in the Premier League, scoring 21 times. With Gyokeres, Arteta could repeat that trick.

Bigger problem than Gyokeres: Arteta must bin Arsenal's new Aubameyang

Arsenal could have another Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang situation developing this season…

ByRobbie Walls 2 days ago

Already, Nuno Espirito Santo feels as if he is deep in must-win territory occupying the West Ham United hot seat.

The Hammers’ fortunes have not turned around since ditching Graham Potter, with the East Londoners yet to pick up a win since the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss took over the reins.

As ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara put it after the dismal 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford, they’re “sleepwalking” towards relegation, with a concerning seven defeats picked up from nine Premier League clashes this season, three of which have come under the new management.

Nuno will be scratching his head as to what could spur his dire side into improving, as they face off against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, with the 51-year-old now potentially weighing up the prospect of getting rid of Lucas Paqueta up top as one major alteration.

Paqueta's decline at West Ham under Nuno Santo

When Potter was still holding onto the West Ham post precariously, at least Paqueta was shining bright in spurts.

Indeed, a penalty kick put away coolly by the enigmatic Brazilian at the City Ground in late August handed Potter a much-needed 3-0 win, while Paqueta also raised a rare smile among the London Stadium masses the match before, as he hammered home a delightful effort amid a 5-1 drubbing to Chelsea.

Games played

4

Minutes played

360

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Yellow cards

2

Unfortunately for Nuno, though, West Ham’s usual star man has become awfully quiet under the new tenure to date, with a worrying zero goals or assists collected from four games under the ex-Nottingham Forest manager’s guidance.

He did win a lively 12 duels against Leeds United last time out, but Nuno will want far more from Paqueta in an attacking sense. He registered just one shot at Lucas Perri’s goal during the 2-1 loss in West Yorkshire.

With reports also now stating that Paqueta wants to leave West Ham behind in January for pastures new, it could be time for Nuno to look at what other limited options he has to lead the line, having even praised reserve striker Callum Marshall for his “energy”, while lamenting Niclas Fullkrug being sidelined.

The out-of-sorts number 10 isn’t the only senior Hammers figure who will be worrying about his short-term future in the starting XI, though.

West Ham's other big change

Despite spending £124m in the summer on new recruits, West Ham are now starting Andy Irving week in, week out, who was never getting a look in under previous regimes.

The Scotsman is very clearly out of his depth in the bright lights of the Premier League, with just one paltry duel won against Leeds not exactly making him a feared opponent to come up against on the night.

But, alongside him for the clash at Elland Road, Tomas Soucek also looked noticeably weak.

Obviously, Soucek is still regarded as a modern-day hero at the London Stadium for his past exploits from the centre of the park, with the Czech enforcer now up to a mighty 42 goals for the Hammers, having made a colossal 252 appearances.

However, putting sentiment to one side, it’s also clear that the 30-year-old is declining in front of everyone’s eyes at the moment, with his lacklustre performances across October not too dissimilar to that of Irving’s no-shows, which have garnered the 25-year-old a lot of stick.

Minutes played

71

65

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

43

39

Shots

1

1

Accurate passes

18/31 (58%)

26/32 (81%)

Possession lost

14x

7x

Tackles won

1

0

Total duels won

5/10

4/9

The once energetic “machine” – as he was previously labelled by ex-West Ham teammate Darren Randolph – has now left the building, with just nine of his 19 duels being successfully won against Brentford and Leeds.

On top of that, Soucek also only managed to fire a limp two shots at either goal, despite previously being seen as a saviour in the attacking areas when West Ham were in spots of bother.

For his sake, the West Ham midfield department needs a refresh and soon, with youthful faces such as Mateus Fernandes and Freddie Potts potentially being given the nod over the 30-year-old shortly, as Irving also ponders whether he will be axed, too.

It will be very intriguing to see what side takes to the field against the Magpies, with a selection surprise here and there perhaps catching Newcastle out, as Nuno still hunts down his first victory at West Ham.

Nuno must unleash "exceptional" West Ham star who can finally revive Paqueta

The incredible West Ham ace could form as close a relationship with Paqueta as Guimaraes.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2025

Chelsea are already making their presence known ahead of the January transfer window and could now be set to enact a blockbuster move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, under certain conditions.

The Blues have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign under Enzo Maresca, despite having to find their way a little at Stamford Bridge, leaving them third in the Premier League standings as the international break unfolds.

With a notably young squad after a summer transfer spend of nearly £300 million, it was never going to be easy for them to adapt, albeit they have managed to create a sense of stability on the pitch and could stake a claim for the title if their current form persists.

Half the battle is being able to sell a vision to new recruits. In the case of Estevao, the young Brazilian has revealed that he had a private conversation with former Chelsea star Thiago Silva before opting to put pen to paper in West London.

He said via Sky Sports: “That’s right, after the last Brazilian Serie A game in 2024. We had a brief conversation, he came and spoke to me, and told me (I would like the club a lot), that the club had an incredible structure. For sure, we are seeing that now that the club has everything I need and an incredible set up, incredible people that work there.

“So yeah, I spoke to him after the game. I was really happy because Thiago Silva is an idol of this club, it was an incredible opportunity. So for the rest of that year I was anticipating it. I watched a lot of Chelsea games so I could see who I would be working with here, and thanks to God it’s all going well here.”

In truth, BlueCo have shown a real penchant for snapping up some of world football’s most elite young talent, and that extends far beyond Estevao.

While Chelsea are frontrunners to sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, they are also reportedly becoming a genuine contender to acquire one of his competitors for a slot in the England starting line-up.

Chelsea keen on Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson

According to Mark Brus in his Daily Briefing via CaughtOffside, Chelsea have laid some groundwork over signing Forest’s Anderson through extensive scouting missions, and could look to act after his excellent start to the top-flight campaign.

Lauded by Thomas Tuchel as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, the 23-year-old has notched a solitary goal and an assist apiece in 14 appearances this term, but his performances at the City Ground have earned rave reviews.

However, they may not be able to complete any move for the Whitley Bay-born star until they sell a player to clear expenditure, and it is unlikely that Enzo Fernández will be sacrificed to make way for the ex-Newcastle United man.

Manchester United are also in pursuit and may be one to watch in the race for his signature, albeit Kobbie Mainoo is an alternative name that could fill any vacant midfield berths at Stamford Bridge.

Conceivably, there could be a few moving parts to this story, but Chelsea's strong interest in Anderson could pave the way for another big-money incoming if Maresca's side feel he is worth the risk. Chelsea are also ready to perform a last-minute hijack to land a Real Madrid star

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell has been questioned by some supporters for the work that was done during the summer transfer, with signings and the appointment of Russell Martin.

It is hard to describe the former Southampton manager’s tenure at Ibrox as anything other than disastrous after he won five matches in all competitions before being sacked last month.

The ex-Rangers centre-back did not have much joy in the dugout during his second stint at the club, as a manager rather than as a player, with 24 goals conceded in 17 matches.

On top of the clearly poor decision to bring Martin to Ibrox, Thelwell’s signings during the summer transfer window have come under some scrutiny, after the new owners provided him with plenty of money to spend.

The appointment of Martin and the work done in the summer window led to a start of one win in the first eight matches of the Scottish Premiership season for the Light Blues, which has put them on the back foot in the title race.

Danny Rohl has come in and won all four of his Premiership games in charge, to his credit, but there are still several summer signings who are yet to prove their worth.

Picking out the worst summer signings for Rangers

It would be hard to look past the most expensive signing of the summer when talking about the worst signings, as Youssef Chermiti was signed for £8m from Everton. That is the most money Rangers have paid for a player since they paid £12m to sign Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Since that mega-money move to Ibrox, the Portugal U21 international has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, and that goal came via some rather questionable goalkeeping, as shown in the clip below.

Chermiti is not the only centre-forward signing who has struggled this season, though, as Rangers signed Bojan Miovski for a fee of up to £4.2m and he has delivered two goals in 16 outings in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Further back on the pitch, central midfielder Joe Rothwell has been a disappointment since his permanent move from Bournemouth. The 30-year-old talent was brought in to offer experience and quality in the middle of the park, but he has failed to make a positive impact.

Tackles

7

Bottom 27%

Interceptions

8

Top 29%

Duels won

16

Bottom 26%

Duel success rate

47%

Bottom 39%

Aerial duels won

4

Bottom 25%

Possession won in the final third

1

Bottom 19%

Ball recoveries

22

Bottom 36%

As you can see in the table above, the English flop ranks poorly among his positional peers in the Premiership in a host of key defensive metrics, whilst playing as a number six for the Light Blues.

Thelo Aasgaard, who was signed from Luton Town, is another summer signing who has failed to deliver, with one goal and one assist in 19 appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, which shows that the attacking midfielder has been ineffective at the top end of the pitch.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Whilst there are understandable question marks over all of the summer signings mentioned so far, there is a player signed by Thelwell who impressed against Livingston, and may be on his way to becoming the new Calvin Bassey at Ibrox.

After signing from Leicester in 2020, the Nigeria international only played eight Premiership games in his first season. In the 2021/22 campaign, the versatile defender featured in just three of the first nine league games under Steven Gerrard, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed star then became a regular in the side when Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over in October and went on to play 50 games in all competitions before sealing a £19.6m move to Ajax in the summer of 2021.

Now, central defender Emmanuel Fernandez could follow a similar path to success at Ibrox after he produced an impressive display against Livingston on Saturday.

Why Emmanuel Fernandez may be the next Calvin Bassey for Rangers

As was the case with Bassey under Gerrard, the summer signing from Peterborough rarely got an opportunity to showcase what he could do on the pitch during Martin’s time at the club.

Per Transfermarkt, Fernandez featured in one of Martin’s seven league matches in charge of the Light Blues and was an unused substitute in all six of the Champions League qualifiers.

The 24-year-old centre-back only started in a 1-1 draw with St Mirren in the Premiership and a 4-2 win over Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, scoring his first goal for the club in the latter appearance.

Fernandez finally got his first start in the league of the Rohl era against Livingston on Saturday and did not disappoint. On top of scoring the opening goal in the match, making it two goals in three starts for the club, he won eight of his 13 duels and was not dribbled past a single time, per Sofascore.

After the win over Livingston, one Rangers podcaster described him as a “massive” player who “makes a difference” at both ends of the pitch because of his imposing physique.

Tackles made

0.99

Bottom 26%

Duels won

10.44

Top 1%

Duel success rate

72.4%

Top 5%

Aerial duels won

6.96

Top 1%

Aerial duel success rate

87.5%

Top 1%

Interceptions

2.49

Top 5%

Shots blocked

0.99

Top 31%

As you can see in the table above, Fernandez is one of the most dominant and impressive central defenders in the Premiership if you compare his two starts in the league to his positional peers on a per 90 basis.

These statistics suggest that the English defender deserves more chances to start and showcase his quality, which he may well get with John Souttar and Derek Cornelius both missing through injury at the moment.

If he continues to start and produce the level of performance that he has in his first two outings in the division, Fernandez could go on to be a defensive monster for Rohl and anchor the team for the foreseeable future.

Like Bassey, Rangers may look back in the future and wonder why he did not play more regularly earlier in the season, because the towering star looks like he has been a hidden gem at Ibrox.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rohl must bin "missing" Rangers flop after Livi

Rangers did claim another league win over Livingston on Saturday, but one player went “missing” at Ibrox, registering fewer touches than Jack Butland.

ByBen Gray Nov 23, 2025

Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race and could bring a high-profile star to the Etihad Stadium in January after Pep Guardiola hatched a plan to land his signature.

Manchester City move on after seeing off Leeds United

Truthfully, Manchester City didn’t put on their best display against Leeds United. However, they will be delighted by the end result as Phil Foden’s classy winner prevented back-to-back defeats after losing out at Newcastle United.

Title races are never straightforward and always require steel in the face of uncertainty, albeit Guardiola reserved special praise for the scorer of the Citizens’ crowning strike as they kept on track in pursuit of the top-flight crown.

“It’s not the first time we saw that. A thousand, thousand, million times he’s done it. The quality, shooting, strong. Like his goal against West Ham to win the Premier League. Phil has to be around the box. Shoot or pass. His finishing is so quick. Phil is doing a really good season.”

Back-to-back blanks in front of goal for Erling Haaland may be a sign that more needs to be done in the way of recruiting someone to plug the gaps at the top end of the field. Still, Omar Marmoush is likely to be given more opportunities as the season continues to unfold.

Keeping pace at the top will require investment in January, especially given the Citizens’ rivals are likely to strengthen after a bruising festive period, which is set to stretch everyone’s squad to the limit.

Finding solutions when certain sources of goals dry up will be the challenge for all title contenders, not just Manchester City, but they could be the ones set to benefit early on in the January window if the Sky Blues can wrap up an exciting deal.

Elliot Anderson is one of their main targets but there are other irons in the fire.

Man City keen to activate Antoine Semenyo's release clause

According to The Times, Manchester City are exploring a move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They are considering activating the winger’s £65m release clause on New Year’s Day, potentially beating other suitors to sign the Ghana international.

Although not set in stone, there is a feeling at the club that bringing in the Cherries attacker could be the difference in their hunt for the Premier League title, an opinion that many will share after his flying start to the campaign.

Semenyo’s 2025/26 record – all competitions

Appearances

13

Goals

6

Assists

1

Dubbed “talented” by Jamie Redknapp, Semenyo has also created 15 chances and completed 21 dribbles on Premier League duty, per Fotmob, showcasing his appeal to suitors keen to tempt him away from the South Coast.

Now, it will be over to City officials as they aim to convince Semenyo that moving to Manchester is the best course of action for his career. On the face of it, playing a part in a title chase could be an appealing prospect.

Alongside Anderson: Man City open talks to sign "top-drawer" £70m star

The Citizens are in the market for attacking reinforcements and have now identified a Premier League star.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 30, 2025

Liverpool and Arsenal are now both reportedly eyeing the chance to sign a Paris Saint-Germain attacker in 2026.

Salah's rant compiles Liverpool misery

Ao Tanaka’s late equaliser was the last thing that Liverpool needed. The Reds only had themselves to blame after going from comfortable 2-0 leaders to level at 2-2 then throwing their 3-2 lead away at the death. In 99 minutes of action, the Premier League champions had their problems laid bare for all to see.

For a third-consecutive game, meanwhile, Mohamed Salah watched on from the bench. And for the second time in those three games, the Egyptian didn’t even get on the pitch. When Liverpool needed a goal, last year’s Golden Boot winner and top playmaker was forced to watch on and to say he wasn’t happy would be an understatement.

The Anfield icon went rogue at full-time, unleashing an explosive rant about Arne Slot’s recent decisions, saying: “After what I have done for the club it really hurts. You can imagine, really.

Liverpool join race to sign "aggressive" gem who's been compared to Szoboszlai

The Reds could deal Newcastle another blow

ByTom Cunningham 5 days ago

“After going from home to the club and you don’t know if you are starting. I know the club too well, I have been here many years. Tomorrow [Jamie] Carragher is going to go for me again and again and that’s fine.

“I have been at this club, scoring more than anyone in this generation since I came to the Premier League, I don’t think anyone has scored more goals and made more assists than me. In the whole Premier League. If I am somewhere else, everybody would go to the media and defend the players. I am the only one in this situation.”

It doesn’t get much more damning than that for Liverpool, who could now have a decision to make. Do they back Salah or do they back Slot? That’s the question and if the manager wins the war then they must find a replacement for one of their best-ever players.

Liverpool battling Arsenal in Barcola race

According to Le10 Sport in France, as relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now a very active contender to sign Bradley Barcola alongside Arsenal, as the PSG winger continues to deliberate over signing a new deal in Ligue 1.

As things stand, his deal doesn’t run out until 2028 but PSG have been attempting to secure new terms to avoid any potential exit in the coming years. Barcola, however, is still hesitating to put pen to paper on a new contract – potentially leaving the door ajar for Liverpool.

Minutes

760

1,118

Goals

5

4

Assists

0

2

Key Passes

18

27

If Liverpool’s search for a Salah replacement has just become more urgent then Barcola should be on their list of candidates. The Frenchman has outscored the Egyptian in less minutes so far this season and is destined to get even better at just 23 years old.

Described as “one of the best wingers in Europe” by European football expert Zach Lowy, Barcola’s contract situation is one to watch, especially if Liverpool come calling next year.

"Annoying" Liverpool star showed why FSG have to sign Semenyo