All posts by z3u9t.icu

Paul Merson slammed a Chelsea star after the bitterly disappointing 2-1 defeat against Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

Blues suffer setback against newly-promoted Sunderland

Sunderland have surpassed expectations so far this season, but the Blues would’ve been expecting to take all three points against a newly-promoted side, and the 2-1 defeat is a setback, especially after winning their previous four games on the bounce in all competitions.

Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring for Enzo Maresca’s side after just four minutes, with the winger netting his first goal since arriving at Stamford Bridge, but Wilson Isidor’s equaliser and a stoppage-time winner from Chemsdine Talbi turned the game on its head.

A number of the home side’s players struggled, with Marc Guiu failing to make any impact on the match, and there have since been calls for Maresca to drop the striker, who touched the ball just ten times prior to being withdrawn on the 75-minute mark.

Guiu was given the nod at centre-forward, in order to accommodate Joao Pedro in an attacking midfield role, despite the Brazilian starting almost exclusively at striker so far this season.

Maresca would’ve been hoping the position change would allow the 24-year-old to rediscover his top form, but it wasn’t to be, with Merson left very unimpressed by his performance.

Speaking on Sky Sports (via Metro), the former Arsenal man said: “They need Delap back badly, they need a focal point.

“Guiu played up front and I think he touched the ball nine, ten times. You can’t do that in a team that are supposed to be dominating the ball.

“Chelsea ran out of ideas. They had winger after winger but half of them don’t go past anyone. Joao Pedro looked lost as a number ten. They struggled and were pretty poor.”

Injury may have impacted Pedro's performance

The Blues have been forced to deal with a number of injury issues in the early stages of the campaign, and Maresca revealed the former Brighton & Hove Albion man is one of many players not at full fitness.

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ByRoss Kilvington Mar 7, 2025

The Italian said: “Joao is not training every day because he is managing an injury problem. Moi is the same, Enzo is the same,

“We have four or five players that have some problems and cannot work every day. They try to make the effort and play the game. Joao struggled a little bit today but all of the players did today, so it’s not just Joao.”

That said, there will rightfully be concerns about the display, with the forward losing possession nine times and failing to get a single shot away throughout the match.

Pedro’s performance levels have been going downhill for some time now, having failed to register a Premier League goal or assist since September, and Maresca will be hoping the £125k-a-week forward can turn the corner soon.

Southampton are now eyeing Russell Martin as a replacement for Will Still, who was dismissed on Sunday night, but there could be competition for his signature from their Championship rivals.

After being relegated from the Premier League last season, the Saints were expected to mount a promotion push, but it has been nothing short of a terrible start to the campaign, having taken just 12 points from their opening 13 matches.

The 2-0 defeat at home to Preston North End was the final straw for Sport Republic, who relieved Still of his duties on Saturday, and Under-21s head coach Tonda Eckert has now emerged as a contender for the first-team manager’s job.

It would be a gamble to appoint Eckert, however, given that he is just 32-years-old and yet to prove himself at senior level, and an external appointment is also being considered…

Southampton eyeing Russell Martin to replace Will Still

According to journalist Alan Nixon (via GiveMeSport) Southampton are now eyeing former manager Martin as a replacement for Still, with the 39-year-old on standby for a swift return to management, having recently been dismissed by Scottish giants Rangers.

The Saints are not the only Championship club that hold an interest, however, with it being revealed that Norwich City are also considering the Englishman, given that there are doubts over Liam Manning’s future.

The Brighton-born manager is available without any compensation, which means he is an appealing option for the two Championship clubs, who could do battle for his services.

In truth, the former Rangers manager’s spell at Ibrox was a complete disaster, being sacked after just 17 games in charge, making him the shortest-serving permanent boss in the Scottish side’s history.

That said, the “exciting” manager, as hailed by analyst John Walker, could still be a good appointment for Southampton, considering the work he did at St. Mary’s previously, guiding them to promotion in the play-off final in the 2023-24 campaign.

The ex-Swansea City boss, who prefers to implement a 4-3-3 system, is also very experienced at Championship level, having taken charge of 138 second tier matches.

Games

138

Wins

60

Draws

34

Losses

44

Points per match

1.55

That said, it would arguably be a backwards step to appoint Martin, given that he was sacked by the Saints less than one year ago, after being unable to make the step-up to the Premier League, with his side losing 13 of their opening 16 Premier League games.

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ByTom Cunningham Oct 2, 2025

If Leeds United are to collect a much-needed win on their travels next up in the Premier League away at Nottingham Forest, they will need to make sure they have packed their shooting boots.

Indeed, away from scoring three at Molineux back in September, Daniel Farke’s goal-shy Whites have regularly fired blanks on the road this season, with the 3-0 defeat handed to him last time out away at Brighton and Hove Albion only seeing the West Yorkshire outfit register a weak two shots on target.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has definitely frustrated a large volume of his new supporters, already, by regularly spurning opportunities, with five big chances missed in the Premier League this season coming courtesy of the wasteful ex-Everton marksman.

With both Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe not exactly banging the door down to take Calvert-Lewin’s starting spot off him, either, Farke could soon be tempted to throw Harry Gray into the senior mix more regularly, as the teenage sensation continues to frighten Premier League 2 defences in West Yorkshire.

Why Harry Gray should be in the first team

Despite only being 17 years of age, Gray has already received some first-team chances here and there, to begin to live up to his well-known family name, which has also seen Archie Gray go on to be a £40m sale to Tottenham Hotspur.

Leeds will hope they can hold on to the blistering number 45 for far longer than they managed with his Premier League-bound brother, though, with Gray perhaps the long-term fix to all their goalscoring woes.

From only 25 games lining up for both the U18s and U21s, Gray has a ridiculous 15 goals next to his name, leading to the England U17 international already being dubbed as “one of England’s best young prospects” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Of course, he does still have a very long way to go before he’s smashing goals home in the senior picture, with only one senior match under his belt to date.

But, do not be surprised if he’s handed more first-team chances very soon, having also recently penned a new long-term deal to stay put at his boyhood club, particularly if Calvert-Lewin continues to fluff his lines.

Amazingly, Gray isn’t the only goal machine being worked on at Thorp Arch at the moment, as another raw version of the 17-year-old is being brewed behind the scenes to excite Farke.

18-year-old Leeds star can rival Harry Gray

Leeds always seem to have a future talent ready on their conveyor belt, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips also homegrown, before he moved on to Manchester City.

The next starlet set for a big break at Elland Road could well be Lewis Pirie, with the 18-year-old situated in West Yorkshire ever since leaving former boyhood employers Aberdeen behind in 2023 for £200k, which is a wild fee to fork out for a rising star, especially one that was just 16 years of age at the time.

But, much like Gray, Pirie has been turning heads since a very tender age with his unbelievable goalscoring prowess to demand such an investment, with an insane 51 goals managed for club and country during the 2022/23 season, even seeing journalist James Marshment label the Scotsman as “one of the most in-demand young strikers around” when a move was clinched.

He has since slotted into the Leeds academy scene well, too, with his goalscoring promise for the U18s backing up his previous manager Jim Goodwin’s comments that he is a very “exciting” prospect.

Games played

33

Goals scored

7

Assists

1

Already, the five-time Scotland U17 international has fired home seven goals on the youth pitches in West Yorkshire, with three of those seven efforts coming during his first five breakneck outings for the U18s.

He is yet to get off the mark for the U21s, from just four appearances, but his continued rise up the ranks does bear similarities to Gray’s goal-laden ascent.

All this fresh blood excelling in attack away from the senior set-up will surely worry Calvert-Lewin when it comes to his long-term security, as the 28-year-old prays a purple patch comes his way soon, starting with a decisive strike against Forest on Saturday.

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ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Celtic are finally closing in on the appointment of their long-term successor to Brendan Rodgers, after four matches with Martin O’Neill in interim charge of the team.

The Northern Irish boss resigned from his role at the club last month after a 3-1 defeat to Hearts, departing Parkhead for the second time after a stint that lasted just over two years.

Celtic’s next head coach will have to build on the success that the former Leicester boss achieved in his second spell in the dugout, with two Scottish Premiership titles and two domestic cup victories in his two full seasons.

The Daily Record reports that Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is poised to come through the door as Rodgers’ replacement, and that they want to get a deal over the line before Friday.

He has been in discussions with the Scottish giants since last Friday and the Hoops will have to thrash out a compensation package with the MLS side once they have an agreement with the Frenchman.

Whilst there will be a focus on instant results and implementing his style of play as quickly as possible, there will also be one eye on the January transfer window and what the board can do to bolster his squad in the January transfer window.

The positions Celtic need to target in January

The most obvious position that Celtic need to target when the transfer window opens for business is a centre-forward, as they had to resort to signing Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer in the summer after they failed to land any other options before the deadline.

The Nigeria international is currently out of action with a hamstring injury, leaving Johnny Kenny leading the line, and the Hoops may look to bring in an experienced number nine ahead of the second half of the campaign.

A right-winger should also be one of the club’s priorities in January after right-sided attacker Nicolas Kuhn left in the summer and two left wingers, Sebastian Tounekti and Michel-Ange Balikwisha, were brought in off the back of that.

Appearances

5

10

Goals

0

0

Big chances missed

2

1

Big chances created

1

1

Key passes per game

0.4

0.6

Assists

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Celtic’s two natural right wingers, Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest, have both failed to deliver much in the way of quality in the Premiership this season.

On top of a striker and a right winger, a right-sided centre-back could be on the cards after Cameron Carter-Vickers suffered a long-term injury at the end of October.

Whilst a striker, a right winger, and a centre-back should all be priorities for January, the Hoops are also reportedly looking at a central midfielder with a view to a longer-term move.

Celtic have SPFL midfield star on their radar

According to 67HailHail, Celtic have Kilmarnock central midfielder David Watson on their radar ahead of a potential swoop to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

The 20-year-old star’s contract with the Premiership side is due to expire at the end of the season, which has thrown doubt around his future heading into the January window, as it may be Kilmarnock’s last chance to cash in on him.

Transfer Focus

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

67HailHail reports, though, that the Hoops are not certain to make a move for him in the January transfer window, amid competition from league leaders Hearts.

The Premiership champions could, instead, wait until the end of the season to snap him up on a free transfer, rather than looking to pay a fee to land the midfield star six months early.

Whether a deal happens in January or next summer, Watson could be an excellent addition to the side as Nancy’s own version of Scott Brown in midfield.

Why Watson would be Nancy's own Brown for Celtic

Back in the summer of 2007, Celtic paid £4.4m to sign Scott Brown from Premiership rivals Hibernian, which was a record fee between two Scottish clubs at that time.

Watson, as his contract is due to expire next summer, would not arrive at Parkhead with any kind of record transfer fee, but he would be another talented and young Scottish central midfielder who could have an incredibly bright future in Glasgow.

Brown had 134 appearances for Hibernian at first-team level under his belt, per Transfermarkt, as a 21-year-old, whilst the Kilmarnock star has played 118 matches and does not turn 21 until February of this season.

The former Hibs ace, of course, went on to captain Celtic and make 618 appearances in all competitions, winning ten Premiership titles, as a combative midfield star, who also chipped in with 46 goals and 63 assists, per Transfermarkt.

Watson’s performances for Kilmarnock in the top-flight so far this season suggest that he can offer the same sort of box-to-box presence that Brown did during his time at Parkhead.

Goals

3

Top 8%

Assists

1

Top 41%

Successful dribbles

11

Top 6%

Fouls won

27

Top 3%

Tackles won

24

Top 12%

Duels won

72

Top 5%

Interceptions

13

Top 11%

Blocks

6

Top 1%

Described by Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson as a “box-crashing, goalscoring midfielder that works hard on both ends”, it’s clear the 20-year-old excels offensively and defensively among his positional peers in the Premiership, which illustrates the kind of quality that he would bring to Celtic as a box-to-box midfielder.

Watson, who Kilmarnock commentator Andrew Milligan claimed has “no ceiling”, has shown the Hoops what he can do offensively, scoring against them in the clash between the two sides in September.

On top of his evident quality on the pitch as a Premiership midfielder, the Celtic target is also the current captain of Scotland’s U21s at international level, per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he has the potential to be a future Hoops captain, as he is viewed as a leader for that team.

Therefore, Watson could be Nancy’s own version of the Scott Brown signing from 2007, as he could come in next summer as another 21-year-old proven Premiership midfielder who could captain the club moving forward.

Nancy could turn "world-class" Celtic star into the new Matt O'Riley

Celtic have a “world-class” star who could explode under Wilfried Nancy at Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Nov 16, 2025

January is looming, with all the talk at Manchester United centred on the prospect of potential midfield moves for the likes of Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, with Ruben Amorim in desperate need of reinforcements in that department.

As Class of 92 hero Nicky Butt recently suggested, however, if – like that young pair – Kobbie Mainoo was operating for another Premier League side, he is the type of talent that the Red Devils would be dishing out £50m or £60m for.

The youngest of the trio, it was of course Mainoo who was England’s midfield golden boy just 18 months ago, starting every knockout stage game at Euro 2024, including the final.

Wharton, meanwhile, watched on as an unused member of Gareth Southgate’s squad that summer, while Anderson had not yet entered the conversation, having remained with the U21 set-up until this season.

It’s funny and also frustrating just how things can change, with Mainoo now seemingly staring down the barrel of a World Cup omission and a perhaps inevitable 2026 exit from Old Trafford.

Manchester United lodge bid for new midfielder

It’s become a familiar sight this season, with the 20-year-old merely introduced as a late second-half substitute under Amorim, just as he was again in the dying embers against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Yet to start a single league game in 2025/26, questions continue to be asked regarding the Portuguese’s treatment of the academy graduate, with rumours rife over a January departure.

Whether it be on loan or on a permanent basis, the forgotten talent has routinely been linked with an exit, with a reunion with Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli having been mooted.

Back in Manchester, Mainoo’s hopes of game time might be dented even further if reinforcements are added next month, with reports in Spain suggesting that INEOS have already begun to make moves, amid their reported interest in Conor Gallagher.

As per the report, United are said to have lodged an offer of around £30m in order to sign the Atletico Madrid man, with the LaLiga side said to be willing to sanction a sale.

The suggestion is that the £30m bid is close to what Atleti would deem to be a ‘reasonable price’, ensuring that a relatively routine deal could be struck when the new year rolls around.

Why Gallagher's signing would be bad news for Mainoo

Whether it is his ideal position or not, Bruno Fernandes – who moved above Paul Scholes on United’s Premier League assist list at the weekend – is nailed on to start in one of the two midfield roles under Amorim.

Transfer Focus

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

That has left Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Mainoo to fight it out for that remaining starting berth, with the former Sporting CP boss thus far putting his faith in the 33-year-old Brazilian, who has started 11 league games this time around.

Mainoo, for what it’s worth, does appear to have nudged ahead of Ugarte in the pecking order, considering the Uruguayan hasn’t even got off the bench in the last two outings, although Gallagher’s addition could again knock him back down the list of priorities.

Despite the former Chelsea man’s limitations in possession – notably ranking in the bottom 30% of European midfielders for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref – he does appear to be a ready-made Amorim midfielder, such are his physical capabilities.

Previously hailed as like “[N’Golo] Kante with goals” by talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino – while also dubbed a “monster” as per Tom Dutton – the England international is simply relentless in the centre of the park, representing arguably the perfect fit for this 3-4-2-1 system.

Games (starts)

37 (37)

Goals

5

Assists

7

Big chances created

11

Key passes*

1.4

Pass accuracy*

92%

Total duels won*

50%

Balls recovered*

6.0

Tackles & interceptions*

3.5

Indeed, compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, he also ranks in the top 4% for interceptions made per 90, while Mainoo, remarkably, ranks in just the bottom 1%.

The beauty of Mainoo is of course what he can do at the top end of the pitch, ranking in the top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area, although Gallagher is no slouch in that regard too, ranking in the top 9% for that same metric.

Also in the top 12% for non-penalty goals, the one-time Crystal Palace loanee has recorded 12 goals and assists in 70 games during his stint in the Spanish capital. For comparison, Mainoo has recorded just ten goals and assists in 82 senior games at United.

All-action but with an end product to match, as was evident during his time at Stamford Bridge, Gallagher – at £30m – could represent a wise, bargain choice heading into 2026, at a time when fresh legs are desperately needed in the centre of the park.

In an ideal world, Mainoo would be leading the charge as the centre-piece of United’s midfield, but sadly for the youngster, Amorim’s demands and requirements might lend themselves to a more physically suitable asset like Gallagher instead.

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This Man Utd ace could be the solution to their midfield issues

ByJoe Nuttall Dec 3, 2025

Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but it is Ruben Amorim’s side who are in pole position ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo is one of the most impressive wide players in the Premier League currently, scoring six goals and registering three assists in the competition leading into the international break.

The 25-year-old is wanted by a host of top clubs, with United among those thought to be right in the mix to snap him up, potentially even in the January transfer window.

Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his current Bournemouth contract for a certain time period, with David Ornstein reporting the Cherries will effectively be powerless to stop a departure in early January.

Liverpool look to be the most interested out of United’s Premier League adversaries, as they look for an injection of attacking quality midway through the season, with the Reds believing Semenyo can be their next Sadio Mane.

Man Utd leading Liverpool in Semenyo race with player keen on move

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are the front-runners to acquire Semenyo’s signature from Bournemouth in January, with INEOS seeing him as a top target for the Red Devils.

The report claims it’s “hard to believe Manchester United won’t secure the signing” due to their willingness to pay the release fee and Semenyo being interested in a move to Old Trafford.

They are ahead of Liverpool in the race, which will no doubt delight the supporters, with Amorim possibly eyeing a long-term replacement for Marcus Rashford, should he leave Old Trafford for good at the end of this season.

Semenyo feels like an ideal signing for United in the mould of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in terms of players who have proven themselves in the Premier League and are ready to make the step-up to a bigger club.

The Ghanaian provides strong end product on a consistent basis, and has scored twice in three Premier League appearances against the Red Devils, while Pep Guardiola recently hailed his ability, calling him an “extraordinary” player.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was asked earlier this week about the situation, saying he isn’t worried about losing his star player in January.

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ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2025

Despite this, it is easy to envisage Semenyo’s head being turned by a move to United, especially if they continue their recent improved form under Amorim, and he would be a fabulous addition to the attack.

Man Utd have their own version of Semenyo & he's Amorim's "best player"

Manchester United have now made a U-turn and made contact with Casemiro’s agent over a new contract, and the midfielder’s stance on signing a new deal has been revealed.

Kobbie Mainoo has been unable to get a look-in as of late, with Ruben Amorim predominantly opting to give the former Real Madrid man the nod in central midfield, alongside Bruno Fernandes, who has been utilised in a deeper role this season.

Consequently, it is now looking increasingly likely that Mainoo will depart in the January transfer window, with the youngster potentially in line to follow Scott McTominay to Napoli, despite the fact Amorim wants to keep hold of him.

With the central midfielder’s place in the World Cup squad at stake, it is understandable that he is looking to receive more game time ahead of the summer, but Amorim is in a tricky position, given that Casemiro has been indispensable this term.

Recently, the 33-year-old has even been compared to United icon Nemanja Vidic, and it has subsequently emerged that he could be rewarded with a new contract as a result of his fine form, despite widespread reports suggesting United have been hesitant to offer him fresh terms.

Casemiro's stance on signing new contract at Man Utd revealed

According to a report from United In Focus, Man United have now performed a U-turn and contacted the midfielder’s agent about a contract extension, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealing Amorim’s stance on one of his star players signing a new deal.

Bailey said: “I’m told Amorim would be open to him staying, and if Casemiro is ready to take a drop in salary and work with United on a deal, it is not inconceivable that he stays.”

Not only is the manager open to keeping hold of the veteran midfielder, but the player himself is also personally receptive to the idea of remaining at Old Trafford, and positive talks have already been held.

The ex-Real Madrid star has certainly turned a corner since Jamie Carragher infamously told him he was finished at the top level and to move to Saudi Arabia or the MLS.

Indeed, the 80-time Brazil international has only missed one Premier League match this season, which was due to suspension, amassing three goals and one assist in his opening ten matches.

Of course, the five-time Champions League winner is more well-known for his stellar defensive attributes, and his ability to win back possession has been on display regularly over the past year, averaging 4.09 tackles per 90, which places the maestro in the top 1% of midfielders.

Consequently, it would make sense to offer Casemiro a new deal, but it would have to be at reduced wages, given his age, with the central midfielder currently the highest-earning player in the squad.

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ByLuke Randall Sep 4, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has enjoyed a perfect start to life in the Scottish Premiership, with three wins in his first three matches in charge.

The Light Blues had only won one of their first eight games in the division under Russell Martin and Stevie Smith, which is why the German manager’s fast start is particularly impressive.

Rohl has already showcased his pragmatism and adaptability with formation changes through all three matches, playing variations of a 3-4-2-1, a 3-4-3, and a 4-2-3-1.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach will surely have been pleased with his side’s performance in their last game before the international break, as they won 3-0 against Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.

Rangers head into the international break on a high, possibly for the first time this season, and they will be looking to continue their strong form against Livingston at Ibrox next week.

The German manager’s arrival at Ibrox has been a breath of fresh air in recent weeks, and it is clear to see that several players have benefitted from his appointment.

The Rangers players who have benefitted most from Danny Rohl's appointment

One of the players who has benefitted the most from Rohl joining the club is Brazilian forward, Danilo, who had fallen out of favour under the previous management team.

The Brazilian striker played one game, against Sturm Graz in the Europa League, between August and Martin’s exit last month, yet has featured in all six of the games under Rohl.

Danilo has scored two goals in three Premiership matches under the German head coach, which shows that he is thriving in the new system and is trusted by the manager.

Possibly the most obvious player to benefit from the change in management is Nicolas Raskin, who was dropped from the squad for several games during Martin’s tenure. The midfielder even said that his future at Ibrox depended on the “coach” during the September international break.

The Belgium international has featured in every match under Rohl so far and scored his first goal in the Premiership so far this season with a header against Dundee.

Minutes

90

Goals

1

Key passes

2

Pass accuracy

93%

Dribble success rate

100%

Tackle success rate

100%

Ground duels won

7/12

Interceptions

2

Dribbled past

0x

As you can see in the table above, Raskin put in a brilliant all-round performance at Dens Park, as he showcased his qualities in and out of possession in the middle of the park.

The Belgian star’s quality on the ball was on full display, whilst he was also impressive physically out of possession as a defensive force, which is why he is such a key player for the Gers when at his best.

It is fair to say that Danilo and Raskin are two of the players who have benefitted the most from the change in manager and change in style of play, given their respective situations under Martin and how important they have been to Rohl in his first six matches in the dugout.

Chalkboard

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

However, there is still time for the German boss to assess the squad and the upcoming international break will be his first chance to take some time and look deeper into the team and the academy, to see what he has to work with for the rest of the campaign.

With this in mind, the former Sheffield Wednesday tactician should look to reward Clinton Nsiala with a chance to impress after the break, after the central defender did not get a look-in under Martin.

How Danny Rohl can unearth his own Virgil van Dijk for Rangers

Rangers swooped to sign the French centre-back from AC Milan in the summer of 2024 after his contract at the San Siro came to an end, and he was given some opportunities by Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson.

The left-footed star played 13 times in all competitions for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign, along with four appearances in the Trust Trophy for the B team, per Transfermarkt.

Nsiala also scored the first senior goal of his career against Fraserburgh in the SFA Cup at the start of the year, which was his only goal in those 13 appearances last term.

Unfortunately, though, the central defender has not played a single minute of football in the 2025/26 campaign, as Martin decided to leave him out of the squad for all of his matches in charge, per Transfermarkt.

Nsiala was in first-team training ahead of Rohl’s first game against Brann, though, which suggests that he is still around the group and available to be considered for selection.

Last season, Rangers winger Ross McCausland, who left on loan this summer, described the French colossus as a “a left-footed Van Dijk”, which was considerable praise, as the former Celtic centre-back has won the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool, the club he now captains.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Nsiala played 11 times in the Premiership for the Light Blues and helped the team to enjoy a fairly impressive run of form in those matches.

Dundee

1-1 draw

St Johnstone

3-1 win

Aberdeen

3-0 win

Dundee United

3-1 win

Ross County

4-0 win

Hearts

3-1 win

St Mirren

2-0 loss

Kilmarnock

4-2 win

Celtic

3-2 win

Aberdeen

2-2 draw

St Mirren

2-2 draw

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old talent has only lost one of his 11 appearances in the Premiership to date, winning seven, whilst the Gers only won one of the seven league games they played under Martin before his exit last month.

That is not to say that all of those results were down to Nsiala’s performances, of course, but it does show that he can be a key part of a team that wins week-in-week-out in the league, as he started ten of those 11 games.

The French star, who won 52% of his aerial duels in his 11 league outings (Sofascore), is a young player who has shown potential in a Rangers shirt, which is why Rohl should consider unleashing him as his own left-footed van Dijk.

Nsiala could come in as an alternative to Derek Cornelius, who came off on Sunday with a knock, as a natural left-sided centre-back. Nasser Djiga and John Souttar are both right-footed defenders who are better suited on their natural side, which is why it could make sense to bring the ex-Milan ace in if Cornelius misses any matches through injury.

Move over Moore: Rangers star proved why he's their "best player" vs Dundee

Rangers demolished Dundee 3-0 at Dens on Sunday and Danny Röhl’s “sensational” star was as key as Mikey Moore in this Scottish Premiership victory.

Nov 9, 2025

The left-footed brute was forgotten about by Martin, given his complete lack of minutes, but Rohl still has the chance to bring him into the fold after the international break.