Chelsea transfer chiefs have made contact over signing a “unique” forward who Real Madrid are targeting to replace the coveted Rodrygo, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea prioritise winger signing amid uncertain futures

Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk all face uncertain long-term futures at Stamford Bridge.

Striker keen on Chelsea move and set for imminent decision after May talks

His agents were at Stamford Bridge in the last few days.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025

While Madueke has started each of their last seven Premier League games, making 39 appearances in total under Enzo Maresca this season and scoring 11 goals, it is believed by some that Chelsea could still sell the Dutchman, amid interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle (GiveMeSport).

Chelsea have triggered the obligation to buy clause in Jadon Sancho’s loan from Man United as well, which was conditional on them finishing above 15th in the table, but the ex-Borussia Dortmund star may actually be sold on when the window reopens.

3. Man City

68

4. Newcastle

66

5. Chelsea

66

6. Aston Villa

66

7. Nottingham Forest

65

Indeed, some reports suggest that Chelsea are even plotting the use of Sancho as a makeweight in potential deals for wide targets, like Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, while Mykhailo Mudryk’s failed drug test has resulted in a lengthy suspension/investigation for the Ukraine international.

Given Mudryk, Sancho and Madueke are all not guaranteed to be mainstays for Maresca next term, Chelsea are reliably believed to be in the market for a new winger, with BlueCo thought to be prioritising the position alongside signing a new striker and centre-back (Simon Phillips).

Real Madrid star Rodrygo has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the last week, but the Brazil international would cost a marquee fee and there is no guarantee that they’d win the race, with Arsenal now freshly contending for him.

What is clear, though, is the possibility of Rodrygo leaving the Bernabeu. Spanish newspaper Marca have reported that Real are already eyeing replacements for the 24-year-old, and he’d be the most likely candidate to depart if they sign Athletic Bilbao sensation Nico Williams.

Chelsea make contact over signing Nico Williams

Interestingly, as per Romano, Williams is another wide player who Chelsea “love”. The £170,000-per-week forward has been on fire over the second half of 2024/2025, and a move is highly anticipated this summer after Williams’ decision to remain in Bilbao and snub a transfer last year.

His contract includes a £49 million release clause as well, which may not pose a problem for Chelsea, but the Spain international is thought to be demanding around £400,000-per-week from any interested side.

However, that hasn’t stopped BlueCo from expressing a serious interest in the attacking talent, who bagged 19 assists in all competitions last season and helped his country to glory at Euro 2024.

According to Romano, speaking via his YouTube channel, Chelsea have made contact about signing Williams, as they attempt to gauge the expense of his final package.

“Chelsea and Arsenal love Nico Williams and have made contacts to understand how much the whole package will be,” he said.

“In recent years, it has been very expensive. €58m clause, taxes, salary and commissions.”

Called a “unique” player by Blues legend Jose Mourinho, there are financial aspects to consider, especially if Chelsea don’t qualify for the Champions League, but he’d be a truly stellar addition.

Manchester United are now stepping up their efforts to sign Fenerbahce youngster Yusuf Akcicek, who Jose Mourinho has likened to Raphael Varane.

Man Utd set to strengthen spine this summer

There are a number of positions in the United team that need to be addressed by INEOS this summer, and while the forward line is an urgent priority, additions are needed right through the spine of Ruben Amorim’s set-up.

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ByBrett Worthington May 21, 2025

Christian Eriksen looks set to leave Old Trafford after the final game of the season on Sunday against Aston Villa. The Denmark international is out of contract, and it appears there are no signs of a renewal.

Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Casemiro has also been mentioned as a player who could be allowed to leave this summer. The Brazilian was heavily linked with a move away in January, but nothing materialised, and since then, he has become an important player for Amorim, especially in Europe. But his £350,000-a-week wages could be a reason why the Red Devils decide to move him on.

Surprisingly, Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford has come into doubt in recent months, with reports even claiming that Amorim is ready to sell the young midfielder, whose current deal expires in 2027.

Changes are also needed in defence, where Jonny Evans will leave and so too could Victor Lindelof, while Lisandro Martinez continues to struggle with injuries.

Man Utd chiefs want to sign £21m Fenerbahce star

According to Turkish Football, Man United are ready to make a move and sign Yusuf Akcicek, a young centre-back who has thrived under Jose Mourinho this season.

The report claims that United now want to step up their efforts having scouted Akcicek closely during the Süper Lig season. Despite the fact the 19 year-old is under contract until 2028, Fener are open to the idea of selling Akcicek, but they will demand at least €25 million, which is roughly £21 million.

The teenager joined the Turkish giants from rivals Galatasaray’s academy in 2019, and has earned his place as a regular in matchday squads this season, with his manager even likening him to Real Madrid great and former Red Devil Varane.

It’s not just United who are interested in signing Akcicek, as Aston Villa are also believed to be interested in the youngster.

Apps

8

Starts

4

Touches per game

37.0

Passes per game (accuracy)

27.1 (93%)

Clean sheets

1

Interceptions per game

0.6

Tackles per game

1.1

Balls recovered per game

1.8

Clearances per game

2.8

Given the likes of Evans and Lindelof may leave United this summer, the Premier League side may see Akcicek as a player who can become their long-term replacement, and he could be brought in for a fairly reasonable price.

Nottingham Forest are now interested in signing an “excellent” £29 million forward who has scored 14 goals this season, according to a new report.

Forest drop points in race for Champions League spot

It is now no wins in their last three games in all competitions for Forest, as their fight for a Champions League spot has taken a hit. Murillo rescued a point for the Reds on Monday evening after going a goal down thanks to Eberechi Eze’s penalty. The draw leaves Forest in sixth place on 61 points, two behind Chelsea and Newcastle United and one ahead of Aston Villa, who are sitting in seventh place.

Despite the dropped points, Nuno Espirito Santo was pleased with his side’s attitude and defensive performance and believes everyone in the Champions League race will give it their all. As he said, “all the teams in this big fight will give it a go”.

Nottingham Forest willing to make big offer for £42k-p/w Juventus defender

He has made a big decision about his future.

ByHenry Jackson May 3, 2025

Nuno told BBC Match of the Day: “Let’s think about the game. It was two halves, and in the first half, we were very good. It was good for us that we achieved the goal so soon after the goal for Crystal Palace. That gave us belief to fight for the game. After last week, a good attitude.

“It’s about finding ourselves again after the past three games. We defended better; it’s so obvious, against a talented opponent in Palace.

“The final games will be nervous, tight games. Everyone is fighting for something, and Selhurst Park is always a tough place to come. All the teams in this big fight will give it a go.”

Nottingham Forest want to sign £29m forward with 14 goals in 24/25

As Nuno and his team remain focused on the race for a Champions League spot, Forest chiefs and the manager are looking towards the summer transfer window. Now, according to La Opinion A Coruna, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest want to sign winger Yeremay Hernandez from Deportivo La Coruna.

The report states that there is a good chance Hernandez leaves the Spanish side at the end of this season, despite the fact he has just signed a new contract that runs until the summer of 2030. The winger was a wanted player in the January transfer window but stayed at Deportivo, where they inserted a release clause worth €35 million, which is roughly £29 million.

As well as Forest now showing an interest in a deal this summer, AFC Bournemouth and Brentford are also keen on striking an agreement. Teams from Italy, Germany and France are also keen on signing Hernandez, who has been dubbed “excellent” by Ben Mattinson in the past.

Apps

94

Goals

22

Assists

10

However, all the teams are not going to have it easy signing the 22-year-old, as they will need to bring a lot of money and the skill to persuade Deportivo to sell one of their brightest players.

It is unclear at this stage if Forest, as well as Bournemouth and Brentford, are willing to pay Hernandez’s release clause. The Spanish U21 international has been in fine form this season, as he’s netted 14 goals in 35 La Liga 2 games.

Crystal Palace have now registered their interest in signing an “incredible” Paris Saint-Germain forward this summer, according to a report.

Selhurst Park set for European nights after FA Cup win

Palace’s shock FA Cup final victory over Manchester City means Selhurst Park is set to host Europa League football next season, which could make a move to South London an attractive proposition for Oliver Glasner’s summer transfer targets.

The prospect of playing under Glasner must also be appealing, given everything the 50-year-old has achieved at Selhurst Park and with former club Eintracht Frankfurt, meaning the Eagles can afford to be a little more ambitious than usual in the transfer market.

Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki could be a statement signing for Glasner, given that Manchester City and a whole host of other top Premier League clubs have also been linked with the Frenchman, but he is not the only Ligue 1 forward of interest.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Crystal Palace have now registered their interest in PSG forward Lee Kang-In, and contact may have already been made to discuss the terms of a potential deal.

However, Palace may have to see off competition from some top clubs if they are to secure the South Korean’s signature, with Manchester United already making a move, while the likes of Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Napoli are also in the picture.

PSG have expressed a desire to keep hold of the 24-year-old, but talks have stalled, meaning he could now be heading for the exit door, and previous reports have detailed the French club value the winger at a fee of around £51m.

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Posts ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025 "Incredible" Kang-In could be statement signing for Palace

Palace are not the only Premier League club to win a shock trophy in the 2024-25 campaign, with Tottenham Hotspur emerging victorious in the Europa League, and captain Son Heung-min believes his compatriot has “incredible talent”.

The South Korea international has featured regularly for PSG en-route to the Champions League final this season, while also proving himself to be a regular source of goals and assists in Ligue 1, picking up 12 goal contributions in 30 matches.

Not only that, but the PSG ace is extremely composed in possession of the ball, as demonstrated by his performance across some key passing metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

67.87 (99th percentile)

Pass completion %

87.2% (99th percentile)

Progressive passes

7.69 (98th percentile)

As such, Lee Kang-In could be a real statement signing for Crystal Palace this summer, but they could find it difficult to compete for his signature, given the size of some of the other clubs in the race.

Even though this season is still ongoing, there’s only one question on Rangers supporters’ minds: who will be the next manager in the Ibrox dugout?

Barry Ferguson is still yet to oversee a home win for Rangers in five attempts during his interim spell, following Sunday’s 1-1 draw in the derby, hoping to change that at Ibrox this weekend.

So, as much as he might want it, it’s very unlikely that he is going to get the job full-time and, while there appear to be two clear front-runners to be appointed right now, should Rangers turn their attention to a “world-class manager”?

Rangers new manager latest

At the time of writing, there are two clear favourites to be appointed as the next Rangers manager.

One is Steven Gerrard, with Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reporting that he is ‘now the leading candidate’ to be re-hired, just under four years after leaving the club for Aston Villa.

Gerrard has been out of work since January, when he was sacked by Al-Ettifaq after, as John Duerden of the Guardian puts it, a generally ‘underwhelming’ spell in charge of the Saudi Pro League club.

Thus, a report by TEAMTalk claims that Gerrard ‘would be very open’ to the possibility of a return to the Ibrox dugout.

The other manager seemingly in the fray is Marco Rose, with Mark Pirie of the Daily Record stating that the German is ‘being considered’ by Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe and the rest of 49ers Enterprises, ahead of their proposed takeover.

The 48-year-old is also currently out of work, having been sacked by RB Leipzig in March; he’s previously been in charge of RB Salzburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund.

Both would be intriguing appointments in very different ways, but should the 49ers actually attempt to appoint a manager with vastly more experience?

Rangers could land a world-class manager

A report by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record back in March claimed that Rafa Benítez is a candidate to become the new Rangers manager, stating that the Spaniard is ‘aware’ of speculation linking him to the vacancy.

Few active managers on the planet can boast quite as impressive a CV as Benítez, as outlined in the table below.

Rafa Benítez’s managerial career
Clubs	Tenure	Matches in charge	Titles/achievements
Real Valladolid	1995-96	25
Osasuna	1996	9
Extremadura	1997-99	92	Segunda promotion
Tenerife	2000-01	46	Segunda promotion
Valencia	2001-04	162	La Liga X2 UEFA Cup
Liverpool	2004-12	350	Champions League FA Cup UEFA Super Cup
Internazionale	2010	25	FIFA Club World Cup Supercoppa Italiana
Chelsea	2012-13	48	Europa League
Napoli	2013-15	112	Coppa Italia Supercoppa Italiana
Real Madrid	2015-16	25
Newcastle United	2016-19	146	EFL Championship
Dalian Professional	2019-21	38
Everton	2021-22	22
Celta de Vigo	2023-24	33
All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt

Benítez’s credentials are there for all to see, having won the Champions League, two La Liga titles and the Europa League twice, as well as various other trophies, managing some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter and Chelsea.

His successor at Newcastle United, Steve Bruce, said that Benítez is unquestionably a “world-class manager”, even if his last two jobs, in charge of Everton and Celta Vigo, have both gone pretty disastrously.

He was never likely to succeed at Goodison was he, becoming only the second man, after William Edward Barclay in 1892, to manage both Merseyside giants.

Nevertheless, Dietmar Hamann, who played for Benítez at Liverpool, alongside Gerrard of course, described his former boss as a “genius” and a “fantastic manager”, adding that Rangers “could do a lot worse” in their search for a new head coach.

So, if the 49ers are looking for a manager who has vast experience when it comes to both British and European football, could the 65-year-old be the man tasked with overseeing the Rangers rebuild, pipping his former captain – and Rose – to the post?

Rangers: "Outstanding" 4-4-2 manager explodes into race to replace Ferguson

A high-profile European coach is now among the main contenders to become the new manager of the Gers.

By
Dominic Lund

May 1, 2025

When looking over their 2024/25 campaign in detail, Newcastle United will very much jot it down as an overwhelming success.

After all, the Magpies would end up lifting some much-needed silverware in the EFL Cup final to end a major trophy drought, whilst Eddie Howe’s Toon would also just about qualify for the Champions League once again when finishing inside the top five spots in the Premier League.

But, that doesn’t stop there being a slight bad taste in the mouth concerning Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Everton on the final day, with a number of players showing to Howe they might well struggle competing in Europe’s elite competition again.

Newcastle's key underperformers vs Everton

Thankfully, Aston Villa also lost on their travels to Manchester United, meaning the Magpies luckily secured that final coveted fifth position by one slender point.

Still, Howe won’t just completely disregard the defeat, with certain individuals having a poor day at the office to end their respective seasons on a whimper.

Anthony Gordon would only see out one half of football for the Magpies, and for good reason, with nothing working out for the ex-Toffees man whatsoever down the left flank when failing to register a single on-target shot at Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Moreover, Alexander Isak looked tired and lethargic as Newcastle’s main man up top, seen in his lack of drive and energy when completing zero successful dribbles, alongside further fluffing his lines when three efforts went astray.

Jacob Murphy also looked wasteful on the ball when giving up possession a hefty 13 times, but there was one poor display that will have irked Howe the most and made him now contemplate whether this figure will be able to cut in when Champions League nights return to Tyneside.

The 5/10 star not good enough for the Champions League

Newcastle fans will obviously be over the moon that their team clinched Champions League football, irrespective of this final-day slip-up.

But, the Magpies masses won’t feel too confident moving forward that Harvey Barnes can do the business on some grand stages in Europe next season, based on his lacklustre performance against David Moyes’ well-drilled visitors.

The former Leicester City man can boast an impressive tally of nine strikes and four assists across 40 overall games, but he did struggle to get going against the Toffees, with May in general seeing a worrying dip in form.

Much like Gordon down the opposing left wing, Barnes would also fail to register a single on-target shot to try and catch the formidable Pickford cold, alongside also displaying signs of Murphy’s rashness on the ball when completing zero accurate crosses or long balls.

Barnes’ poor performances all across May

Stat

Brighton

Chelsea

Arsenal

Everton

Minutes played

90

90

76

88

Final result

1-1 D

2-0 W

1-0 L

1-0 L

Goals scored

0

0

0

0

Assists

0

0

0

0

Touches

38

51

23

34

Accurate passes

17/21 (81%)

21/29 (72%)

13/14 (93%)

15/21 (71%)

Key passes

2

2

0

1

Accurate crosses

0/4

1/3

0/1

0/2

Accurate long balls

0

1/2

1/1

0/2

Shots

3

4

3

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

2/5

0

0/1

Total duels won

3/10

3/11

1/4

1/3

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, it’s even more clear that it’s been a rocky month for Barnes in general, as seen in the 27-year-old frustratingly ending the campaign with no goals or assists next to his name in May.

Consequently, the 5 foot 9 attacker nearly cost his team dear in their pursuit of Champions League action, with only 33 touches coming his way against Everton – actually a worse record overall than Toon goalkeeper Pope, who managed 38.

As a result, he would receive a dour 5/10 post-match rating from Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, who stated simply that Barnes ‘didn’t deliver his best form’ against the Toffees.

Newcastle just can’t have these out-of-sorts performances popping up if they stand a chance at progressing far in the tricky competition, meaning Barnes could be warming the substitutes bench next season when fiercely contested mid-week ties are back on the Toon calendar.

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Chelsea are big fans of a marquee Real Madrid star as BlueCo plan to sign an “elite” level player this summer, with Enzo Maresca’s side expected to undergo a seismic overhaul.

Chelsea's transfer plans amid Champions League race

The Blues are currently attempting to seal Champions League qualification for next season, which will have a key effect on their ability to attract and pay for their desired top transfer targets.

Chelsea convinced star will join amid "lucrative" 7-year contract offer

Enzo Maresca could soon welcome a “sensational” player.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

May 13, 2025

They’re currently level on points with Aston Villa and sit fifth by the skin of their teeth on goal difference, and things could look very different by the conclusion of the next Premier League matchweek.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining	Points
2. Arsenal	68
3. Newcastle United	66
4. Man City	65
5. Chelsea	63
6. Aston Villa	63
7. Nottingham Forest	62

Chelsea simply cannot afford any slip-ups in their final two matches against Man United and European spot rivals Nottingham Forest, especially considering Stamford Bridge officials are aiming to be ambitious when the summer window reopens for business.

They will be competing in the Club World Cup as well, a tournament which could yield a seismic financial windfall of around £97 million if they win it, so Chelsea are understandably taking it seriously.

According to journalist Simon Phillips, sharing another significant update on the club’s transfer plans, Chelsea ideally want to sign two of their top targets before the CWC commences, and they’ll have a brief window from June 1 to June 10 to do so.

Phillips also reports that Chelsea have “big plans” in the works, and one of their aims is to bring in an “elite” senior player.

Chelsea would love to sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo

As per the reliable journalist, writing via his Substack, £202,000-per-week Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one man in this bracket who they seriously admire.

Albeit unlikely, Chelsea “would love” to sign Rodrygo, and he is among the men who they’d be willing to break their wage structure for, depending on if they seal their spot in the Champions League for next season.

“Chelsea would love to sign any of the above three [Harry Kane, Alexander Isak or Rodrygo], and are looking at potential opportunities around players like this,” wrote Phillips.

“Obviously all three will be seen as unrealistic and the reality is that they are very unrealistic, because we don’t want to pay over our wage structure for any players.

“However, if Chelsea get Champions League football then wage structures (with incentives) will go up at the club and players will be earning more on bonuses. This could make the overall wage package on offer a bit more appealing to players.

“We have also had it confirmed that Chelsea are prepared to break their wage structure for the right player, and the three mentioned above would fall into that category. I’m not saying we will sign any of them by the way, just that Chelsea are looking to bring ‘elite’ players I guess as well as youngsters.”

The Brazilian has starred for Real with 13 goals and 10 assists in 50 appearances this season, all while featuring as a striker, left-winger and right-winger under Carlo Ancelotti.

There is little denying he’d be an immediate upgrade to Chelsea’s wide options and further forward, but this attempted move would be a big reach to say the least, given his importance to Real and suggestions he could cost up to £131 million.

With Vitor Pereira having resoundingly guided the Old Gold away from any relegation danger, the goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers now will be that their Premier League campaign doesn’t peter out on a poor patch of form.

Wolves have now lost their last two games in the elite division, but amazingly, the West Midlands side still find themselves above both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in 14th position.

Pereira would have found the task of turning around Wolves’ fortunes a lot trickier if he didn’t have the explosiveness of Matheus Cunha at his disposal, with the Brazilian now a wanted man heading into this summer’s upcoming transfer window.

The latest on Matheus Cunha's future at Wolves

Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils are seemingly the frontrunners for Cunha’s in-demand signature at this moment in time, despite finding themselves below the Brazilian’s current employers in the league standings.

Indeed, writing for the Athletic lately, the reputable David Ornstein reported that “Man Utd will seek to get personal terms in place” having already “made an offer”.

Cunha would certainly ramp up the entertainment levels at Old Trafford if a move were reached, with the South American superstar helping himself to a sizeable haul of 17 goals and six assists across all competitions this season.

At points this campaign, it could be argued that the “sensational” forward – as he’s been labelled by Micah Richards in the past – has been a one-man machine for his side in their bid to stave off any relegation worries, meaning he could well struggle when he’s not the main focal point in a more pressurised environment.

Well, it’s safe to say that’s been no problem for a former Wolves flop…

Wolves flop is now a bigger name than Cunha

Cunha walked away from Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in 2023 having failed to set the world alight in Spain, culminating in Cunha picking up just seven goals and eight assists from 58 appearances.

Therefore, it could occur that the 25-year-old struggles if the Theatre of Dreams comes calling. But, in the curious case of Vitinha, the glitz and glamour of Paris St. Germain has ended up being a perfect location for him to thrive and grow after a forgettable loan stint at Molineux during the 2020/21 season.

Vitinha would only pick up one goal and one assist from 22 unmemorable Old Gold displays, but the silky number 17 has been strutting his stuff for some time now in the French capital to put any lingering Wolves demons to bed.

He has never looked back since hammering home this first-ever effort for PSG in 2023, with a further 17 goals and 11 assists being tallied up across his three-season stay to date, helping Luis Enrique’s giants reach a deserved Champions League final.

24/25

49

7

2

23/24

41

9

5

22/23

48

2

4

The former Porto man’s standout second season at the Parc Des Princes even saw a Ballon d’Or nomination come his way, amidst talk from his own manager in Enrique that he was an “incredible” asset to the dominant Ligue 1 force.

Whilst Cunha does find himself deep in a spectacular patch of form currently, it’s not a given that the hot-headed attacker will be a rip-roaring success story away from the confines of Molineux, considering he also only lasted around 50 games at past employers RB Leipzig, when offering up an average output of nine strikes.

Whereas, when assessing the £50m-rated Vitinha at this point in time, there could be even more to come still from the Portuguese livewire under Enrique’s wing, with a Champions League medal to follow not the wildest shout.

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ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

It is no understatement to say that Glasgow Rangers require a major overhaul this summer.

Not just in the playing squad or staff members, but in mentality. Since the Ibrox side won the Premiership title in 2021, the Gers have won only two trophies since.

In comparison, Celtic have won every available league title on offer and have clinched a domestic double this season, although they did lose to Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.

Things have to change at Ibrox, and fast. The 49ers’ involvement should give those at the club a boost, but the priority is a new manager.

The likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti have been linked with a move to Glasgow, while several other candidates have been touted for the vacant role.

Whoever becomes the next permanent manager will have work to do in order to improve the first-team squad this summer.

There are various positions that need urgent improvement, no doubt about that. Furthermore, several players could be sold to raise funds and help reduce the wage bill.

Cyriel Dessers may finish the season as the top scorer in the Premiership, but if a reasonable offer comes in this summer, the club should cash in.

Why Rangers must sell Cyriel Dessers

Never has a Rangers player exuded more Jekyll and Hyde-like qualities than Dessers. One minute, he is simply unplayable, causing chaos for opposition defenders domestically and in Europe.

Next, he struggles with the easiest of chances and offers next to nothing in the final third.

There is no doubt about his record in front of goal for the Light Blues since he joined in a deal worth £4.5m from Cremonese in the summer of 2023. Indeed, the Nigerian striker has scored 51 goals and grabbed 16 assists across 109 games for the club during his first two seasons.

On the surface, this is an impressive record in front of goal. He has shone in Europe, with his display against Fenerbahce one of the finest by a Gers forward in quite a while.

Unfortunately, these performances are few and far between. Throughout the 2023/24 league season, Dessers missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches.

Over the same number of games in 2024/25, he missed 21 big chances, a slight improvement, but still not great.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

16

18

Assists

4

2

Shots per game

2.9

2.4

Big chances missed

27

21

Goal conversion percentage

16%

22%

During the winter transfer window, several clubs were linked with making a move for Dessers. Saint-Étienne, Cagliari, and Empoli were all showing interest in securing a move for the 30-year-old.

Much to the disappointment of large sections of the support, the centre-forward remained in Glasgow until the end of the season at least.

He has two years left on his current contract, which suggests now would be the ideal time to cash in and secure a decent fee for the player.

This could be used to fund future signings, especially a couple of younger players with a higher ceiling for growth.

Dessers shouldn’t be the only player to be moved on this summer by the new manager. Nedim Bajrami is reportedly attracting interest from afar, and now might be a good time to part ways with the Albanian.

Nedim Bajrami has offers on the table

According to reports in Albania (as relayed by Glasgow Times), Bajrami has two options on the table with regard to a summer exit away from the Light Blues.

One comes from the Italian top flight, while the other is from the Bundesliga, and the report states that the midfielder is likely to leave Glasgow when the transfer window finally opens.

Much will depend on the price, however, as the 49ers will be keen on recouping much of the £3.4m that was spent on the Albanian last summer.

It’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of campaigns in Scotland, despite arriving with plenty of hype.

What exactly went wrong with Bajrami?

Why Rangers must sell Nedim Bajrami this summer

The 26-year-old had impressed for his country at Euro 2024, scoring an incredible opener against Italy after just 23 seconds.

A move to Ibrox in the final days of the summer transfer window looked like a real coup for Philippe Clement.

What looked like a potentially transformative signing for the club eventually turned into a waste of money. Across 44 games for Rangers, he only scored five goals and chipped in with four assists, showing that he has rarely made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Considering the sum of money the club had paid, this was hardly the best of returns, especially following a decent start to life in Glasgow.

The midfielder only started 15 Premiership matches, creating only four big chances, averaging one key pass and succeeding with just one dribble per game in the top flight.

In Europe, Bajrami didn’t fare much better. Indeed, he could only muster a single goal from 11 appearances, winning less than half of his total duels per game and averaging 1.3 key passes per game, which shows how ineffective he has been on the European stage since his move to Ibrox.

The nadir came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup back in February. Rangers suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat – arguably one of their worst domestic losses – but Bajrami was subbed at half-time following a dismal display.

Stevie Clifford, who runs Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the Albanian a month before, saying:

“I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all.

“We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again.

“£4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”

All of these points point towards a likely summer exit when the window opens next month. Should Rangers receive a bid that is deemed acceptable, then they must be ready to cash in.

He didn’t live up to initial expectations, and regardless of who the new manager is, Bajrami’s future already looks settled with the offers that are on the table from other clubs.

Hopefully, he can make better signings this summer.

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And so a dreadful campaign ends in limp fashion. After enjoying an unbeaten run in the Europa League heading into Wednesday’s final, Manchester United failed to turn up when it mattered most.

For a side that conjured nights like those against Lyon, there was to be no fightback this time around, with Ruben Amorim’s men meekly crumbling to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League foes, Tottenham Hotspur.

A largely scrappy encounter was ultimately settled by an inevitably scruffy goal as Brennan Johnson somehow managed to prod the ball home from close range just before the break, with United unable to make any inroads up against a stubborn Spurs backline.

There was to be no Bruno Fernandes magic this time around. No Harry Maguire heroics at the death. The Red Devils once again proved that Premier League opposition is their kryptonite.

While it remains to be seen what the future lies in store for victorious coach, Ange Postecoglou, his young counterpart, meanwhile, will have to pick up the pieces of a wholly forgettable 2024/25 season, one which now won’t end in Champions League qualification.

The Portuguese coach – who himself is certainly not free from blame – will now be left to ponder just where he goes from here. Or more importantly, which of his players deserve to come along for the ride.

Rasmus Hojlund's game in numbers vs Spurs

It’s worth stating that no one of a United persuasion stepped up when needed, with even the typically talismanic Fernandes enduring a real off night, losing the ball on 27 occasions, including in the build-up to the game’s decisive strike.

That said, the 30-year-old has so often been the man to rely upon this season, as his 38 goals and assists can attest to. He can’t do it alone.

A notable issue for Amorim and a side who have failed to score in 15 league games in 2024/25 is the lack of a clinical centre-forward, with young Rasmus Hojlund again firing a blank.

While this was certainly not the Dane’s worst performance of the campaign, having seen one headed effort cleared off the line in spectacular fashion by Micky van de Ven, the 22-year-old was largely anonymous otherwise.

Indeed, the former Atalanta man – who boasts just ten goals in all competitions this season – recorded just 15 touches in total, again looking like a bystander to proceedings.

Minutes played

71

Touches

15

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

1

Key passes

1

Pass accuracy

83%

Possession lost

4

Total duels won

4/9

Fouls won

3

While rarely is the misfiring marksman gifted chances by his teammates, he appears incapable of creating anything for himself, with a change seemingly needed in that striking department this summer.

The reported Serie A target isn’t alone in potentially needing a change of scenery ahead of next season, with Wednesday also showcasing why Luke Shaw must call time on his Old Trafford journey.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Why Amorim needs to sell Luke Shaw

It is remarkable to think that the Englishman has now spent 11 years in Manchester, following his arrival as a teenager back in the summer of 2014, with the long-serving full-back still actually having two years left to run on his existing deal at the club.

Chalkboard

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

On the evidence of the last 18 months or so, the decision to hand the 29-year-old a contract extension in 2023 has certainly backfired, not least due to his repeated stints on the sidelines.

Even upon his return in recent months, the versatile defender has looked distinctly off the pace, notably giving away a penalty in the chaotic thriller against Lyon, while also scoring an own goal against Brentford, before being replaced at the break.

As for the meeting in Bilbao, Shaw was somewhat fortunate to last beyond the opening 45 minutes, let alone see out the whole game, having looked shaky from the outset in his left centre-back berth.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted, the experienced asset ‘started slugglishly’ and simply ‘should not have started’ in the first place, even with Amorim’s options limited due to the absence of Matthijs de Ligt.

In all, the 4/10 dud – as awarded by Luckhurst – won just a solitary duel on the night, having also failed to provide a single key pass, while successfully completing just one of his attempted crosses.

The England international did come close to equalising at the death, only to see his header expertly saved by the sprawling Guglielmo Vicario, although that was a rare bright moment from an otherwise shoddy showing.

An injury-hit high-earner – raking in a reported £150k-per-week – it is coming to the stage now where Shaw appears to have outstayed his welcome. Yes, his flexibility at centre-back and left wing-back is an asset to Amorim, but rarely has he been a figure to rely upon.

With a vital summer now approaching, amid the need to rip up this struggling squad, Shaw should well be among those shown the door after over a decade of service.

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