Clement can ease Ridvan blow with Rangers’ "surprise" Barisic rival

Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action just three days after their dismal weekend defeat in the Highlands.

The Ibrox side were shocked by Ross County, who grabbed their first-ever win over the Light Blues, winning 3-2, and it was very much deserved.

The Gers looked off the pace from the word go, with their two goals coming via an own goal and a penalty.

Philippe Clement will certainly be making a few changes to his starting XI ahead of the rearranged match against Dundee this evening and, hopefully, the third attempt at playing this tie will go ahead successfully following two postponements.

Rangers team news vs Dundee

The Belgian manager gave an injury update surrounding his squad during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, saying:

“I can change the team and it is always about choosing who is best for the games to come. It is important to manage the squad properly and take injuries into account.

Mohammed Diomande

“Ridvan Yilmaz and Mohamed Diomande won't be ready for tomorrow, Leon Balogun has been sick the past few days so he is not totally fit. It is about others stepping up when players are out.”

While Yilmaz’s injury was only supposed to be short-term, he is going to miss yet another match and this could give Clement a major selection headache, especially following Borna Barisic’s dismal showing against the Staggies on the weekend.

Borna Barsic’s game in numbers vs Ross County

The Croatian has just a few weeks left on his current contract and his performances recently certainly indicate that his future lies elsewhere.

Barisic has started just five Premiership matches in 2024 so far, deputising for Yilmaz in recent weeks, but has his showing in the Highlands deterred Clement from choosing him in the starting XI again?

Borna Barisic against Ross County

Total duels won

3/3

Accurate passes

14/21

Key passes

3

Lost possession

9

Touches

38

Via Sofascore

He may have won 100% of his total duels, yet defensively, he was poor. During the match, the 31-year-old managed to complete just 14 of his 21 attempted passes, while taking only 38 touches.

The defender also lost possession nine times before being subbed off for Dujon Sterling, who arguably should have started the match on the left side of the defence in the first place.

His performance saw Barisic receive a rating of just 3/10 from Glasgow World, with journalist Lewis Anderson stating that the left-back ‘offered next to nothing in attack’ and was ‘very poor’ during his 54 minutes on the pitch.

Borna Barisic

The game this evening is a must-win if Rangers still have ambitions of winning the league trophy, which suggests Barisic must be dropped from the starting XI.

Dujon Sterling could be an alternative at left-back.

Against Celtic two weeks ago, Sterling was deployed as the left-back and performed fairly well during the 3-3 draw.

Not only did he look willing to get on the ball as evidenced by his 72 touches, but the former Chelsea starlet also made one key pass and was fouled six times as he looked to support the attack.

With Diomande missing this evening, however, Sterling may be best placed in the heart of the midfield, replacing Kieran Dowell, who failed to really make an impact when on the field of play.

Dujon Sterling

Against the Staggies, Sterling made two key passes along with delivering four crosses into the box, showing a much greater sense of urgency than Barisic, but he should be offered a start in the middle of the pitch tonight.

The question is, who starts at left-back? Could there perhaps be an academy player who is ready to make the step up into the senior ranks and prove they deserve a place in the team for the rest of the season?

Perhaps Johnly Yfeko could be a perfect alternative to Barisic

Johnly Yfeko could be a future star

Without heaping too much pressure on the youngster, Yfeko has certainly shown plenty of promise during his spell in the academy since arriving at Ibrox back in 2022.

In his first full season with the B team, Yfeko made 14 appearances in the Lowland League, while also being called up to the senior squad on three occasions prior to the enforced break for the World Cup, as Giovanni Van Bronckhorst needed some cover at left-back following some injury problems.

It was under Michael Beale that he began to really showcase his potential, starting off in pre-season. The defender was given precious game time against Newcastle United and Hamburg, and it led to some praise from Beale after he impressed.

“Big Johnly Yfeko again is becoming the big surprise of preseason, making everybody smile.” Said Beale after his performance against the German side and gaining minutes for the first team looked like it was going to set him up nicely for the season ahead.

Chalkboard

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

The defender certainly didn’t have to wait long for his first competitive start for the Gers, making the starting lineup for a League Cup clash against Morton in August.

His display against the second tier outfit was excellent and proved that he could stand up to the rigours of senior football. Yfeko received a match rating of 7/10 from Glasgow Live journalist Alan Galindo for his mature display.

Galindo also wrote of the 20-year-old at the time: ‘Impressed in pre-season and has got his rewards here. A big tackle inside a minute and an even better last ditch challenge in added-time’.

Despite this 90-minute runout, he hasn’t made another appearance for the club since, making the matchday squad on three further occasions – including the two games against Benfica in the Europa League – but with the form that Yilmaz demonstrated, the youngster has been made to bide his time.

Could the clash against Dundee offer a potential opportunity for the former Leicester City starlet, with there seemingly no way he can be as bad as Barisic was against County on the weekend.

Time will tell and hopefully, he at least makes the matchday squad, as there is no doubt the left-back has plenty of promise.

Clement must drop Dowell to unleash "different" £19k-p/w Rangers star

The Light Blues head coach should finally bring the talented midfielder back into the starting XI.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 17, 2024

USMNT midfielder Tanner Tessmann completes $6.7 million transfer to Lyon following breakout at Olympics

U.S. men's national team midfielder Tanner Tessmann has completed a transfer to Lyon, the French club announced

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  • Tessmann completes Lyon move
  • Departs Venezia after strong Serie B campaign
  • Midfielder was member of U.S. Olympic squad
  • Getty Images

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Lyon announced on Tuesday that the club had completed the signing of Tanner Tessmann, with the French side confirming that they will pay $6.7M (€6million) for the American. In addition, Tessmann's former club Venezia will get 10 percent of the profit of a future sale.

    Tessmann has signed a five-year deal with the club that will run through the 2028-29 season.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Tessmann enjoyed his breakout campaign in Italy last season as he scored seven goals and provided three assists in 42 games to help lift Venezia to promotion. Ahead of the season, rumors began to swirl about a potential transfer, with Venezia admitting that Tessmann was no longer part of their plans as a result.

    On the international front, Tessmann was arguably the best player for the U.S. at this summer's Olympics. Internationally, the 22-year-old midfielder has earned two caps for the USMNT and will hope to use the move to push for a World Cup spot ahead of the 2026 tournament.

  • Getty

    DID YOU KNOW?

    By making the move, Tessmann becomes the first American male to play for Lyon, with U.S. women's national team stars such as Lindsey Horan, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan having all worn the shirt on the women's side.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR TESSMANN?

    Tessmann could make his Ligue 1 debut as soon as Friday when Lyon face Strasbourg. That match could see another American starting on the other side, as former Atlanta United star Caleb Wiley earned his debut for Strasbourg earlier this month.

Ray Parlour raves over Arsenal star who "reminds" him of Ljungberg

Are Arsenal crumbling? Stumbling, tripping, falling at the final hurdle once more? We won't know for another few days but their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa evoked horrible memories of last year's end-of-season demise.

Without an injured William Saliba, a Mikel Arteta side with Rob Holding at the back limped out of Europe and ultimately ended up falling five points short of Manchester City in their bid to win the Premier League.

2024 has so far shown that the Gunners are made of sterner stuff but the defeat to Unai Emery of all people is a seismic setback.

Arsenal will have to go again, however, with a trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening forthcoming.

The Gunners drew 2-2 in the first leg last week, taking the lead through a fantastic finish from Bukayo Saka before Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry – who else – seized the initiative.

Yet, there were late fireworks at the Emirates Stadium with one of the club's most underrated figures equalising. That man was Leandro Trossard.

What Ray Parlour has said about Leandro Trossard

In January 2023 the north Londoners were keen on a deal to bring Mykhailo Mudryk to north London.

The player made it quite clear he wanted a move to Arsenal but they were eventually priced out when Chelsea came calling, bringing him to the blue side of the capital in a deal worth £88.5m.

As a result, Edu and Co turned their attentions to Brighton's Trossard. What a signing he has been, costing the club just £27m.

He has turned out to be one of the Brazilian director's finest acquisitions of recent times, notably registering ten assists in his first 20 league outings in red and white.

The Belgian hasn't been quite as productive in that regard this term, instead turning his attention to finding the back of the net. Trossard has scored 13 times this season, meaning he is Arsenal's second top goal scorer behind Saka.

The 29-year-old has come up clutch on a number of occasions this campaign, specifically in the Champions League. It was the former Seagull who scored a precious equalising goal in the tie against Porto and indeed he then swept home elegantly against Bayern last week.

That ability to score goals when it matters most is a trait that sets him apart from others, with Ray Parlour comparing him to Invincible Freddie Ljungberg.

Speaking to Football FanCast on behalf of NetBet Casino, the former midfielder said:

"Yes, he is an excellent player. A top signing who is great to have in the squad. He has come up with some crucial goals and hopefully another one on Wednesday [against Bayern]. You need players to come in and hit the ground running straight away. He has done that well.

"The only player he kind of reminds me of is Ljungberg, the way Freddie got crucial goals for us with calm finishing."

That's quite the praise for Trossard, particularly when you consider what the Swede achieved at Highbury.

Playing 328 times for the Gunners between 1998 and 2007, the winger scored 72 goals under Arsene Wenger's tutelage, also assisting 37 goals. He also won the Premier League twice and three FA Cups, not bad work indeed.

A much-loved figure at Arsenal, he eventually became interim manager of the club after Emery was given the boot.

Lee Dixon raves over Arsenal star who's "very unique" to Arteta

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Lee Dixon reserved high praise for one Arsenal star.

By
Matt Dawson

Mar 27, 2024

Will Ferrell attends his first Leeds United match as Hollywood star watches clash with J.J. Watt’s Burnley

Will Ferrell was in attendance at Elland Road as the Hollywood star watched Leeds United take on Burnley in the Championship.

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  • Ferrell bought a stake in Leeds earlier in May
  • Has been spotted at Wrexham matches
  • Actor a proclaimed lover of English football
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The 57-year-old actor has invested a significant sum of money into Leeds and is a co-investor along with 49ers Enterprises, which holds a majority stake in the club. There were even rumours circulating that Ferrell would attend the Championship play-off final against Southampton at Wembley Stadium earlier this year. Although he ultimately did not make it to that match, his commitment to supporting Leeds has never wavered, with the star now attending games as the team battles it out in the Championship.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Ferrell’s passion for football is not limited to his involvement with Leeds United. He is already a co-owner of Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC, a team he helped establish in 2014. LAFC has rapidly become one of the most successful teams in the MLS, winning the MLS Cup in 2022 after a thrilling 3-3 draw and subsequent penalty shootout victory against Philadelphia Union. The actor's growing portfolio of football investments and demonstrates his dedication to supporting the game on both sides of the Atlantic.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    With a net worth of approximately £122 million ($160m), according to Celebrity Net Worth, Ferrell’s fortune comes from a long and illustrious career in the entertainment industry. Having started his career as a comedian on "Saturday Night Live," he quickly transitioned into acting, starring in a string of hit films such as Elf, Anchorman, and Step Brothers. More recently, he appeared in the global blockbuster Barbie, further cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR LEEDS UNITED?

    As Ferrell continues to lend his support to the team, both on and off the field, the club’s aspirations for a return to top-flight football might turn into reality next summer. They will next travel to Cardiff City for their next Championship fixture on September 21.

Newcastle bid for £30k-p/w target fails as he meets with new team instead

Newcastle have seemingly missed out on one of their summer transfer targets already after it emerged that he met with a different club in recent days.

Magpies set for summer of change

After an underwhelming season, Newcastle United seem set for a big summer, both with new signings and potential exits to shape Eddie Howe's squad while abiding with Financial Fair Play.

There are profit and sustainability concerns on Tyneside, especially with their Premier League form seeing them miss out on Champions League revenue, and CEO Darren Eales has already admitted that players might have to be sold to allow them to continue spending in the upcoming transfer windows.

"Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players", he explained.

Newcastle chiefs monitoring chance to hijack "amazing" Chelsea target

He could replace Wilson.

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 24, 2024

"It's just the nature of the beast. If you trade players on it creates more headroom . You have to keep growing that headroom, increasing commercial revenue and player trading."

That has led to plenty of speculation around midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who has attracted interest from Manchester City and Arsenal and has a release clause set at £100m, which could allow Eddie Howe's side to spend more freely this summer.

kalvin-phillips-bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-opinion

However, they have been dealt a blow in a bid to land their first signing of the summer.

Juventus to beat Newcastle to goalkeeper signing

Now, reports claim that Juventus are set to beat Newcastle to the signing of Monza no.1 Michele de Gregorio after he rejected the chance to move to the Northeast.

That is according to Tuttosport, who reveal that the Magpies offered £17m for his services in January, and held talks with the player, only for the shot-stopper and his club to turn down the opportunity to join the Magpies.

De Gregorio is under contract with Monza until 2027, having penned his most recent £30,000 per week deal just last summer, but the report adds that he has now "met with Juventus" to "arrange a move" from Monza, where he has excelled this season, keeping 14 clean sheets in the Serie A.

Both Inter and AC Milan are also said to be monitoring the 26-year-old, though they are yet to make a move for him, and it looks like a matter of time before Juve fend off competition from Tyneside and elsewhere in Italy.

How Di Gregorio compares to current Newcastle options

Nick Pope

Martin Dubravka

Di Gregorio

Save %

73.6%

70.6%

80.9%

Goals- xG prevented per 90

+0.08

+0.11

+0.32

Goals against per 90

1

1.99

1.04

Appearances

14

19

30

Clean sheets

6

5

14

It is no secret that Newcastle are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper, having had to rely on Martin Dubravka for a large part of this season after Nick Pope's injury in December.

No.3 goalkeeper Loris Karius is set to leave this summer, while Dubravka is now 35-years-old and limited in the style that Howe wants to play. However, they may have to look elsewhere to find their long term solution.

Newcastle hit gold signing PL icon who’d be worth more than Mbappe in 2024

Newcastle United have been blessed with several terrific strikers over the years at St. James' Park, ranging from homegrown talent Andy Carroll to Alexander Isak in 2024.

The Magpies have had the pleasure of watching some superb goalscorers, with two of them currently within Eddie Howe's squad.

Callum Wilson and Isak have been on fire this campaign, with both players achieving double figures in all competitions as the club targets a second successive European campaign.

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

Unfortunately, the Sweden international's sublime form has led to reported interest from sides such as Arsenal and he may now follow in the footsteps of Carroll, who came through the academy before being sold for a huge fee following his impressive stint within the first-team – joining Liverpool on an ill-fated £35m deal in 2011.

However, despite the trio's success on Tyneside, they will never compare to one player who was a huge hit at St James' Park during his time at the club.

Alan Shearer's stats at Newcastle United

Before the takeover by the Saudi PIF, Newcastle had been depleted of any form of success for over the last 20 years, only finishing inside the top five of the Premier League once since the 2004/05 season.

However, during the early years of the Premier League, the Magpies were a force to be reckoned with, mainly down to the impact of striker Alan Shearer.

Alan Shearer vs Leicester City

The prolific forward joined the club during the 1996/97 season, making an immediate impact scoring 25 times in 31 appearances – a tally that saw him win the Golden Boot Award for the third time.

His goals propelled the club to a second-placed finish that season, continuing his brilliant goalscoring form over the next couple of years, reaching double figures in two of the following three campaigns.

The former Blackburn Rovers man remained a constant goalscoring threat for the Magpies over the course of his time at St James' Park, with the Newcastle-born striker a prevalent part of the club's constant qualification for European competitions.

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer.

Shearer scored 25 times in European competitions for his boyhood club, but his tally wouldn't compare to the figure he achieved in the Premier League.

A knee injury ended his career in 2005/06, but he managed to amass a total of 260 goals in England's top flight – a record that still stands to this day, nearly a decade after he hung up his boots.

Top scorers in Premier League history

Player

Goal tally

1# Alan Shearer

260

2# Harry Kane

213

3# Wayne Rooney

208

4# Andy Cole

187

5# Sergio Aguero

184

Stats via Transfermarkt

Everyone knows a natural goalscorer is the hardest thing to find in football, with Shearer gifted with the ability to find the back of the net.

They don't come cheap, especially in the modern game, but, how much would he be worth in a modern transfer market? We have the answer.

How much Alan Shearer would be worth in 2024

In 1996, when Newcastle signed Shearer from Blackburn, they broke the world transfer record. They paid £15m for the striker, an obscene amount of money, but one that proved to be a successful investment.

Whilst that set the transfer record nearly 30 years ago, if Shearer had joined the Magpies today, that transfer would have been roughly worth an extraordinary £138m, according to a conversion tool from The Totally Money Transfer Index.

That is a deal that would have eclipsed the £115m that Chelsea paid Brighton last summer to acquire the services of midfielder Moises Caicedo and also the £105m Arsenal paid to sign Declan Rice.

Alan Shearer

Such a fee also places the striker-turned-pundit ahead of a certain Kylian Mbappe, with the fleet-footed Frenchman currently valued at £129m, as per CIES Football Observatory Tool, amid another stellar campaign that has seen him score 43 goals in all competitions.

All things considered, Newcastle signing Shearer is one of the best pieces of business that the club have ever done. He was pivotal to their success and undoubtedly up there as one of the best players the Premier League has ever seen.

Newcastle hit the jackpot on warrior whose value has skyrocketed 328%

He’s enjoyed a successful stint in the first-team under Eddie Howe.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 3, 2024

'He will get his chance' – Arne Slot insists Darwin Nunez is still in his Liverpool plans despite playing just 84 minutes this season

Arne Slot insisted that Darwin Nunez will get opportunities to prove himself despite playing just 84 minutes this season.

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  • Nunez was signed from Benfica in 2022
  • Yet to shine consistently at Anfield
  • Slot not giving up on the striker
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Nunez, who arrived with much fanfare as a £64 million record-breaking signing two years ago, has yet to live up to the high expectations placed on him. His performances, while showing flashes of potential, have not been consistent, leading to growing concerns about his future at the club.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    After being limited to a rotational role under Jurgen Klopp, Nunez has found it difficult to break into the first team in the Slot era as well. He has managed to spend just 84 minutes on the pitch in the new campaign but the Dutch manager is not giving up on the striker and assured fans that he will eventually get more chances to prove himself.

  • WHAT SLOT SAID

    When Slot was asked how Nunez could secure a starting berth, the manager replied: "He needs the same as all the others, work really hard and the goals will come. That's what he did against [AC] Milan, he came in for the team and then as a result of that attackers have goals or assists. It happened with Cody [Gakpo] so if you play for a team like Liverpool you'll get them [goals and assists]. For me, it's the work you do without the ball. He will get his chance in the near future, we play a lot of games, and he is fitter and fitter and understands day by day what we want from him. But he's in competition with Diogo [Jota] who has done well."

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  • DID YOU KNOW?

    With Nunez yet to open his account in the 2024-25 campaign, many have pointed to his lack of consistent playing time as a reason for his struggles, while others have questioned whether his style of play fits Liverpool’s current system. He had a minimum impact during the 20 minute-cameo against AC Milan and all he could muster was two shots with one of them remaining on target.

Sky Sports man claims Aston Villa transfer to sign £30k-p/w player is done

Aston Villa look to be closing in on their first signing of the 2024 summer transfer window.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

Villa ended the 2023/24 Premier League campaign in impressive fashion, securing a Champions League berth ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea. However, Unai Emery now has the unenviable task of ensuring his squad is ready to compete with some of Europe's biggest clubs come the start of next season.

Aston Villa now also want to sign powerful new striker likened to Drogba

Villa aren’t messing around after the move for Ross Barkley.

By
Charlie Smith

May 23, 2024

While Villa have plenty of quality already on their books, they will likely need to add a few new names to their ranks this summer in order to strengthen their squad. And though the 2024 summer window is not yet open, the Midlands outfit have already been linked with a number of fresh faces.

It was claimed earlier this week that Aston Villa have made a €15m (£12.8m) to sign Marcos Acuna, with Sevilla sporting director Victor Orta already on the hunt for a replacement. Elsewhere, Villa have reportedly registered an interest in Girona's Viktor Tsygankov, who has been valued at €28m (£24m) by the La Liga high-fliers after growing interest in his services.

Moreover, Aston Villa are said to be keen on signing young Ghana striker Aziz Musibau from Dreams FC. Musibau is just 17 years of age, with Dreams wanting just £1.2m for his services. Now in the Champions League, Villa are also seemingly looking to flex their new financial power and compete with the Premier League's biggest clubs as it has been reported that the Villains have joined Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City in registering an interest in Paris Saint-Germain's Xavi Simons.

Aston Villa transfer to sign £30k-p/w player is "done"

While Villa fans would no doubt love to see all of the aforementioned stars make the move to Villa Park this summer, one player is already very close to signing.

Alan Nixon reported earlier this week that Aston Villa had offered 30-year-old Ross Barkley, who currently earns £30,000-a-week, a three-year contract and now, Sky Sports and talkSPORT reporter Dan Bardell has revealed that the deal could be confirmed by the club in the coming days.

That deal’s done. He’s coming," Bardell said to Aston Villa News. I’ve heard from three reliable sources that it is done. I’d expect that to be done maybe over the weekend.

Barkley was once one of the most promising young talents in English football before his career fell by the wayside on the back of a transfer to Chelsea. However, the midfielder has reinvigorated himself on the back of a free transfer to Luton Town last August. Barkley scored five and assisted six for the Hatters in 2023/24, with his showings earning him high praise from one of his teammates.

During an appearance on talkSPORT back in December, Barkley’s Luton teammate Andros Townsend heaped praise on him, making a comparison with World Cup winner Maradona.

“Honestly, they’ve been some of the best midfield performances I’ve seen in my career,” he said. "It’s just unbelievable – the calmness, the ability to get the ball off the back four and knock it past some of the world’s best midfielders without a care in the world.

“We saw yesterday against Man City, Maradona was in the midfield to set up our goal – honestly, it’s been a joy to watch. In a way he’s given confidence to the rest of the players around him, including myself. Just that calmness to take the ball under pressure, it’s such an underrated skill. He’s been absolutely incredible and he’s been an absolute joy to play with, but a joy to watch as well.”

Watch out Man Utd! Juventus and Barcelona plot summer swoop for Alejandro Garnacho after Red Devils name price

Juventus and Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Alejandro Garnacho after a frustrating start to the season.

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  • Garnacho not been a regular starter this season
  • Being looked at by Juventus and Barcelona
  • Would cost clubs a hefty fee
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Garnacho has not been at the forefront of Erik ten Hag's mind so far this season, completing 90 minutes just twice so far. The Argentina international has European admirers away from Old Trafford, according to The Sun. Juventus and Barcelona are keenly monitoring the 20-year-old but would need to fork out at least £50 million ($65.6m) for Garnacho's services.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Ten Hag's future at Manchester United is uncertain as it stands after the poor start to the 2024-25 campaign. The issue for Garnacho is that his contract runs until 2028, putting all the power in the hands of the club, who may want to hold on to their young talent. Unless Barca or Juve come in with a big bid, it is not likely to unsettle the Red Devils board.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Garnacho won the Premier League's Goal of the Season last term for his spectacular overhead kick against Everton. The Argentine has proved plenty of times that when he is in form, he is a very good asset to Manchester United.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?

    Following Manchester United's Thursday night trip to Porto in the Europa League, the Red Devils travel to Villa Park on Sunday in the Premier League. Garnacho will be hoping to have an impact in both as he fights for his place alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo.

Crystal Palace eye perfect Olise replacement in "sensational" £30m ace

Oliver Glasner helped to transform Crystal Palace into one of the most exciting teams to watch in England towards the end of the season this year.

The Austrians' side became one of the most dangerous teams in the Premier League. They beat Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Aston Villa in their final five fixtures and looked ready to take on anyone in the country.

However, the only downside to performing so well is that the other sides start to look at your best players, and Palace are no different.

Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.

Michael Olise, who was already touted for a move away last summer, has seen his name connected with several clubs over the last few months, from Arsenal to Manchester United. However, if he is to leave, it looks like the Eagles already have the perfect replacement lined up.

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to a report from the Mirror, Palace have identified Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville as the ideal signing should they lose Olise or Eberechi Eze this summer.

Crysencio-summerville-leeds-united-allardyce-transfer-sell

However, the report claims that, alongside the Eagles, Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa, are keen on the Dutchman, which could complicate things.

That said, the good news is that the 22-year-old is valued at just £30m by the Peacocks, and due to their failure to win promotion last month, they will likely have to sell before the end of the month.

Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville.

It could be a tough deal to complete with the other interested parties, but for the price reported, this is a deal Palace cannot afford to miss if they lose Olise.

Why Summerville would be a great Olise replacement

So the first thing Glasner will be worried about in an Olise-less Palace team will likely be the goals and assists the Frenchman brings. After all, in just 19 league appearances this season, he found the back of the net ten times and provided six assists for good measure.

This is certainly an area Summerville can help out in.

In 49 games for Leeds this campaign, he scored 21 goals and provided ten assists, which means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.58 games.

Summerville vs Olise

Player

Summerville

Olise

Appearances

49

19

Goals

21

10

Assists

10

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.63

0.84

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Such an impressive individual campaign lends some credence to data analyst Ben Mattinson's claim that the Dutchman could comfortably play at a "top 6 level."

Another key ability that the Rotterdam-born dynamo can bring to the table, which the man he could replace can't, is availability.

Since the start of the 2018/19 season, the "sensational" winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has missed just six games through injury, with five coming down to a groin strain he suffered last August.

In comparison, the Eagles' Hammersmith-born gem has missed 24 games since the beginning of the 2020/21 season, with a hamstring problem taking him out of action twice in the last two campaigns.

Ultimately, the South Londoners' dream scenario would be to tie Olise down to another long-term contract and build around him, but unfortunately, with how football is, that's probably not going to happen.

Therefore, if they do end up losing him this summer, spending £30m to bring in Summerville may be the best route. In fact, they should probably bring him to Selhurst Park regardless of where the Frenchman ends up; he's that good.

Crystal Palace can repeat Olise blinder by signing 'ridiculous' £30m star

The sensational gem could help make Palace an even more formidable attacking threat next season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 2, 2024

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