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Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten away record in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, securing a 1-1 draw at Chelsea this afternoon.

Chris Wood put Nuno Espírito Santo’s side ahead just minutes into the second half but were pegged back less than ten minutes later after Noni Maduele fired home for the hosts.

Both sides pushed on for a winner, but excellent saves from Matz Sels and Robert Sanchez in stoppage time saw the game end level, with both teams having to settle for a point.

The result takes Forest back into the top half of the table ahead of the second international break, with a tally of ten points from the opening seven games of the new campaign.

However, it was a day to forget for one first-team member who failed to make a positive impression on the meeting at Stamford Bridge, in just his fourth start for the club.

James Ward-Prowse’s stats against Chelsea

After joining on loan from West Ham United on deadline day, midfielder James Ward-Prowse arrived at the City Ground with high expectations of bolstering Nuno’s midfield.

However, up to now, he’s yet to make any sort of positive impact, with his latest display summing up his time in the East Midlands so far this season.

The 29-year-old was sent off for a second bookable offence after losing possession, before diving on the ball and handling the ball to prevent a counter-attack from Enzo Maresca’s side.

Whilst he undoubtedly took one for the team, the mistake was an avoidable one, but up until his dismissal, he failed to pull up any trees, looking lacklustre throughout.

Minutes played

78

Touches

48

Passes completed

33/39 (85%)

Possession lost

11x

Fouls committed

2

Duels won

2/4 (50%)

Interceptions made

0

Ward-Prowse lost possession 11 times in his 78 minutes on the pitch, committing two fouls and only winning 50% of his duels.

It was certainly an afternoon to forget for the loanee, who will now miss the meeting with Crystal Palace after the international break, with Nuno having a decision to make over who could replace the midfielder.

However, despite his display in the capital, one other Forest player endured a tricky afternoon, producing some stats just as poor as the dismissed loanee.

The man who was as bad as Ward-Prowse

Whilst Forest were defensively solid throughout the draw, left-back Alex Moreno struggled against the pace and direct nature of opposition winger Madueke – often coming out second best in the battle with the England international.

The Spaniard, who’s currently on loan from Aston Villa, has cemented his place at full-back in recent matches, but his display at Stamford Bridge this afternoon was arguably his worst since his move in the summer.

The 31-year-old managed just 40 touches during his display, a tally lower than goalkeeper Sels who registered 44 – an indication as to his lack of impact during the encounter.

He also only won 40% of his duels, whilst losing possession nine times and committing a foul as he looked unable to compete with the pace of Madueke.

Minutes played

82

Touches

40

Passes completed

15/17 (88%)

Duels won

4/10 (40%)

Possession lost

9x

Dribbled past

3x

Fouls committed

1

The Chelsea wide man managed to dribble past him three times – including for their goal – unable to get close enough to the youngster, who was able to cut inside before firing home.

Whilst the point was a great result given the circumstances, Moreno failed to come away from the game with any plaudits, potentially putting his starting role at risk.

He was subsequently handed a 5/10 match rating by Nottinghamshire Live Forest correspondent Sarah Clapson, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the draw.

As a result, Nuno could look to recall Neco Williams and switch Ola Aina back to a left-back role when his side face Oliver Glasner’s Palace in just over two weeks time.

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ByConnor Holden Oct 6, 2024

كشفت مصادر إعلامية إنجليزية أن نادي مانشستر سيتي يسعى إلى التعاقد مع أحد مهاجمي باريس سان جيرمان خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.

ويسعى المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي بيب جوارديولا، إلى إجراء تعزيزات في صفوف هجوم السيتيزن استعدادًا للموسم المقبل.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الثالث في سلم ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 61 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضاً.. أولوية قصوى.. الاتحاد السعودي يفاوض لاعب مانشستر سيتي

وأشارت شبكة “TEAMtalk” إلى أن نادي مانشستر سيتي يخطط إلى التوقيع مع جناح باريس سان جيرمان، ديزاير دوي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

وتابعت أن بيب جوارديولا يتطلع إلى خيارات إضافية لمركز الجناح الهجومي، ويرى بأن دوي قادر على تشكيل إضافة قوية في هجوم الفريق الإنجليزي. 

وتمت مراقبة اللاعب من قبل كشافي مانشستر سيتي خلال الأشهر القليلة الماضية وحضروا العديد من مباريات النادي الفرنسي.

وعلى الرغم من تمسك نادي العاصمة الفرنسية بخدمات دوي، إلا أنه من الممكن أن ينضم إلى كتيبة بيب جوارديولا في الموسم القادم في حال وصول عرض مالي ضخم.

يذكر أن عقد دوي سينتهي مع باريس سان جيرمان في صيف 2029، وتبلغ القيمة التسويقية للاعب الفرنسي حوالي 80 مليون يورو.

وشارك دوي هذا العام في 46 مباراة مع باريس سان جيرمان بجميع المسابقات، حيث أحرز 13 هدفاً وقام بصناعة 11 هدفًا طوال الموسم.

Chelsea have been extremely busy under their next manager Enzo Maresca this summer, bringing 11 players to the club, letting go of 11 on permanent deals, and allowing 13 to head out on loan.

The Blues have let go of youth talents such as Lewis Hall, Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson this summer, as well as selling one of their best players last season, 24-year-old Conor Gallagher, who came through the Cobham pipeline.

Chelsea have already been known to sell youth talents "too early" in the past, one brilliant example being Jamal Musiala being sold to Bayern Munich for £170k back in 2019.

However, there's another who Boehly and Co may well regret selling so cheaply…

Hudson-Odoi's stats at Chelsea

Callum Hudson-Odoi came through the ranks at Cobham, widely seen as one of the most exciting prospects at the time. Making 55 appearances for the Chelsea U18 and U21 teams, the youngster managed to score 30 goals and provide 17 assists in those games.

The youngster was described as Chelsea's "wonderkid" back in 2018 by reporter Nizaar Kinsella, after scoring and assisting on his first start for the Blues against PAOK and it was during this season (2018/19) that he impressed new manager at the time, Maurizio Sarri, becoming a regular in the squad.

The English talent went on to make 126 senior appearances for the Blues, netting 16 times and providing 21 assists in that time, but it could have been very different if it wasn't for his big injury.

At the back end of the 2018/19 season, Hudson-Odoi suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, keeping him out for 143 days. But at such a young age, it began to seem hard for him to trust his body again, suffering multiple more injuries in the following seasons, including hamstring, hip, ankle and Achilles heel injuries.

Many put his stop-start Chelsea career down to that initial problem, taking the steam out of him before he fully got going, and struggling to ever get back to full fitness and trust in his body.

Fast-forward to 2023, and Hudson-Odoi made the move to Nottingham Forest for just £3m, a measly fee for a player who was still only 22 years of age and had huge upside potential, which had already been previously seen at Chelsea at such a young age.

Hudson Odoi's transfer value in 2024

Hudson-Odoi made 35 appearances for Nottingham Forest last season in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 2,252 minutes played.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Since joining The Tricky Trees, the 23-year-old seems to have recaptured his confidence, managing his most minutes in a season of senior football.

Amid interest in the attacker's services this summer, Forest valued him at an eye-catching £40m, which is already 13 times the amount Chelsea sold him for, after just one year on Trentside.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Hudson-Odoi

Mudryk

Goals

0.39

0.29

Assists

0.05

0.11

Progressive Carries

5.39

5.26

Progressive Passes

2.82

2.57

Shots Total

1.84

2.00

Shots on Target

0.97

0.69

Goals/Shot

0.21

0.14

Key Passes

1.75

1.83

Shot-Creating Actions

3.98

3.43

Successful Take-Ons

2.09

2.23

When you compare the numbers from last season of Hudson-Odoi and Mykhailo Mudryk, the Englishman comes out on top in six of the ten metrics we've selected, including goals per 90, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, goals/shot ratio, and shot-creating actions per 90.

Mudryk cost Chelsea around £62m as an initial fee, compared to the £3m Hudson-Odoi was sold for. With the Ukranian's value tumbling to around £29m, as per Transfermarkt, it which makes you wonder if Chelsea should have held onto the Englishman.

Chelsea flop left on a free transfer, now he's outscoring Osimhen

Ex-Chelsea man outscoring their primary striker target

1 ByConnor Holden Sep 3, 2024

أعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة برشلونة وبوروسيا دورتموند في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

والتقى الفريقان مساء الأربعاء، على ملعب “مونتجويك” معقل فريق برشلونة، في ذهاب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتمكن برشلونة من تحقيق فوز عريض أمام دورتموند، بأربعة أهداف دون مقابل، ليضع قدمًا في نصف النهائي.

ومنح “يويفا” جائزة رجل المباراة للبولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مهاجم فريق برشلونة، بعد الأداء الذي قدمه خلال اللقاء.

اقرأ ايضاً.. ترتيب هدافي دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد ثنائية ليفاندوفسكي وهدف رافينها في مباراة برشلونة ودورتموند

وسجل ليفاندوفسكي هدفين لصالح برشلونة، وقالت مجموعة المراقبين الفنيين التابعة للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم: “سجل المهاجم هدفين وبدأ الهجمة التي أدت إلى الهدف الثالث لفريقه، بالإضافة إلى عمله الجاد وضغطه الجيد باستمرار”.

جدير بالذكر أن برشلونة سيحل ضيفًا على دورتموند يوم الثلاثاء المقبل في إياب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.

MatériaMais Notícias

da wazamba： Presente na vitória do São Paulo, por 3 a 1, na primeira partida da equipe pela final do Campeonato Paulista, contra o Palmeiras, Léo elogiou o trabalho de Rogério Ceni na equipe e destacou a importância de manter uma comunicação entre os jogadores durante o jogo.

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da apostebet： O camisa 16 da equipe ressaltou a importância dos jogadores manterem uma comunicação em campo para poder acertar e arrumar o que for necessário. O jogador ainda destacou não haver nada garantido em relação ao último jogo da competição.

– Dentro de campo a gente tem que se comunicar a todo mundo. Ainda bem conseguimos nos acertar, arrumar a equipe. Saímos com o resultado. Não tem nada garantido, mas agradecer pelo resultado em casa – disse.

Léo também comentou sobre o curto tempo de preparação e sobre como o técnico Rogério Ceni realizou os ajustes necessários a equipe, que resultou na classificação do São Paulo para a fase final do Paulista e na vantagem do jogo de ida.

– Temos pouco tempo de preparação. Quinze dias que deveríamos aumentar de pré-temporada. Devagar, o Rogério foi mostrando como queria a equipe e fomos comprando a ideia. Hoje pudemos mostrar como estamos sendo eficientes. Não tem nada garantido ainda – destacou.

Além disso, para finalizar, o jogador definiu o perfil de Ceni como “vencedor”, ressaltando o fato da equipe aderir às ideias propostas pelo treinador.

– Perfil do Rogério é vencedor. Pede para entrar sempre determinado, compramos a ideia dele e estamos pegando a essência dele de como ele era como jogador – concluiu.

O São Paulo volta a campo no próximo domingo (3), novamente contra o Palmeiras, em partida válida pela segunda rodada da final da competição. O jogo será disputado, desta vez, no Allianz Parque, às 16h.

He had sustained a back injury on October 6 during the National T20 Cup

Umar Farooq09-Oct-2021Pakistan’s Sohaib Maqsood has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup after failing an MRI scan on his lower back. Shoaib Malik will replace him in the squad, the PCB has confirmed*. Maqsood had sustained a back injury on October 6 while playing for Southern Punjab against Northern during the National T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, which required him to rest and undergo an extensive rehabilitation process.”Sohaib is devastated to miss out on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as he had worked hard for this event and was in sparkling form,” chief selector Muhammad Wasim said in the PCB release. “We feel for him but injuries are part and parcel of the sport. I am sure after undergoing rehabilitation, he’ll fully recover to be available for future assignments.”In his place and following discussions with the team management, we have decided to include Shoaib Malik in the side. I am sure Shoaib’s experience will be handy for the entire squad.”Related

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Malik was the captain of the side in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and was a member of the squad that lifted the trophy in 2009. He also played in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 editions.But he has not played for Pakistan since the England tour last year and the selectors initially opted against picking him for the World Cup by preferring a younger prospect, while looking into the future. Malik continued to play T20 leagues around the world, averaging 30.85 with a strike rate of 133.16 in the last one year in 49 games. His inclusion now has made him the most capped player for Pakistan in ICC events – two ODI World Cups (2011 and 2019), six Champions Trophies, and this will be his sixth T20 World Cup.More recently, however, Malik did not have a great run in the CPL for Guyana Amazon Warriors. In 11 games for them, he managed just 67 runs at an average of 7.44, the worst for a specialist batter (in the top six with minimum 10 innings) in a T20 tournament.Maqsood had been in good form since making his return to the national team after a gap of five years, making a mark in recent tours of England and the West Indies. He then followed it up by helping Multan Sultans to the PSL title this year, scoring five half-centuries from 12 innings at the top of the order and getting more runs in boundaries than any other player in the league.Since the start of 2020 and leading up to this season’s PSL, Maqsood had the highest T20 strike rate among Pakistan batters and the ninth best on the global list (among those with a minimum of 500 runs and 20 innings). It was a marked improvement for the batter, who was previously striking at 125.79.The Pakistan squad will depart for Dubai on October 15 and will play two warm-up games, against West Indies and South Africa on October 18 and 20, before they begin their main campaign in a high-profile clash against India on October 24 in Dubai.Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan (vice-capt), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik. Traveling reserves: Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir.*11.10 GMT: The story was updated after the PCB issued a release

Cricket Australia is continuing to work towards hosting the final men’s Ashes Test as scheduled in Perth in January with negotiations ongoing with the Western Australia government about the requirements to get the tour into the state but it will remain tough to get over the line.Over the weekend, the ECB board gave conditional approval to the tour going ahead if certain “critical conditions” are met over the coming weeks – related to visas, travel exemptions and details over biosecure plans – and on Sunday the squad was named.England will arrive into Queensland in two groups during November – the Test-only and Lions players on November 5 followed by those at the T20 World Cup later in the month – where they will undertake 14 days quarantine with additional freedoms around their resort hotel. Families will be able to join the tour.The first Test takes place at the Gabba on December 8 followed by the second in Adelaide with travel between Queensland and South Australia currently free of significant restrictions. The tour then swings to Melbourne and Sydney with the expectation they will be open to each other by then, but the sticking point remains travel to Perth with WA indicating it is unlikely to lift their hard border to New South Wales until next year.There is hope that the situation could have eased by mid-January as vaccination rates increase. But the likelihood is that if the Test does get the green light for Optus Stadium that the squads would need to return to tighter restrictions for the final week of the tour which could prove a hard sell to England who are strongly against strict bubbles.Related

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“We would desperately like to play the fifth Test in Perth, it’s absolutely our intention to do so,” Nick Hockley, the Cricket Australia CEO, said. “Those discussions are going on right as we speak. We are encouraged by the experience we had last summer when we were able to play five BBL matches in January.”There’s been a whole winter of experience of playing elite sport at Perth Stadium in biosecure conditions. We have strong relationships and are working through the detail as to what that might look like. It’s really important we are giving both squads, match officials and broadcasters a great experience and their wellbeing is front of mind.”Comments from WA premier, Mark McGowan, reinforced the view that there remain plenty of hurdles. “They’ll have to comply with the rules that are put in place,” he said. “I’ll continue to talk to the chief health officer about that but the rules are there for a reason, they keep us safe. NSW is riddled with Covid…we have to have pretty strong rules in place to protect our state and that will continue.”Hockley said it was “premature” to talk about contingencies should a Perth Test not get across the line – CA has previously insisted the order of the Tests would not change – but the options would range from hosting a second match in either Sydney or Melbourne, taking the series to Canberra or potentially Hobart which will lose out on hosting Afghanistan.In terms of the conditions the two squads will face once quarantine is complete for those who have to go through it – which will include Australia players from New South Wales and Victoria – they will vary from state-to-state but will allow various recreation and outdoor dining.”The environment has changed with people becoming vaccinated. We’ve really tried to prioritise the wellbeing of all concerned,” Hockley said. “A lot of it is about common sense, socially distancing and keeping safe, but through the course of the summer we would like the ability for our players to enjoy a round of golf, go to the beach, enjoy a meal outside.”Although Covid case numbers remain significantly lower in Australia than the UK, the risk of looser restrictions was shown during the English season when the home side had to name an entirely new squad for the ODI series against Pakistan then the final Test against India was called off.”Last season we played every match without a single case,” Hockley said. “If there was a case, there are clearly detailed protocols but it’s analysing the situation on a case-by-case basis, involves isolating the person who has tested positive then working quickly and forensically to work out whether there has been any close contact. That’s why we have a fantastic medical team. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.”Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Test, which was due to start in Hobart on November 27 and provide a lead-in to the Ashes for the Australia players, has been all-but certain to be called off since CA took their stance on the potential exclusion of women from the sport with confirmation expected this week. However, Hockley said there remained a commitment to try and play the game in the future.”The work we’ve been doing is to understand the situation on the ground,” he said. “We made our position very, very clear off the back of some earlier comments around cricket potentially not being supported for women and girls. It’s most likely that we will postpone the Test until a time when there is more clarity following consultation with the Australia government.”

Both teams come into the Super 12s on the back of impressive performances

Saurabh Somani24-Oct-20211:43

Should Nabi open the bowling? Should Scotland attack Rashid?

Big PictureComing into the second stage of a T20 World Cup already means you’ve had quite a journey, from succeeding in the qualifiers against tough competition, and then succeeding again in the first round against tougher competition, before you get to mix with the big boys.Afghanistan know that journey, having been part of the Associate cricket world not too long ago. Scotland have lived that journey, and now find themselves with a chance to make a further statement if they can beat the team that’s been the poster child for rising through the ranks. While Afghanistan will be the favoured side in this contest, especially because of their bowling strength, Scotland have the edge in preparation. They’ve had three games to test their resilience as well as flex their might, and are coming into the Super 12s as primed as can be.Related

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On the other hand, though Afghanistan did play two warm-up games, they haven’t had the easiest preparation, and had visa issues before the squad assembled too. At the back of the minds of all the squad members will be the volatile situation back home. Whether that becomes a burden that stifles, or hardens their resolve to provide some cheer to fans in Afghanistan in grim times, we’ll know soon.Form guideAfghanistan WWWTW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Scotland WWWLWIn the spotlightHe was appointed captain in rather chaotic circumstances, when Rashid Khan stepped down minutes after Afghanistan’s squad was announced, but Mohammad Nabi was a leader – and former captain in any case – in the group earlier too. He was on point as bowler and captain in their second warm-up game, against West Indies, bowling his four overs in a row first up and proving to be nigh unplayable. Nabi bowled 22 dot balls out of 24, and conceded only two singles, taking 3 for 2. In Sharjah, where spinners have received purchase, he could be crucial with ball, with his power-hitting and his on-field generalship.Josh Davey has been excellent with the new ball for Scotland•ICC/Getty Images

Josh Davey has been Scotland’s enforcer and controller both, so far in the T20 World Cup. The right-arm seamer has hit his rhythm well, troubling batters with accuracy and movement. He hasn’t always had a smooth ride in a career that began in 2010, but at 31, he has the experience without having lost his zing, to hit the sweet spot of effectiveness. With Afghanistan’s batting being top-heavy, Davey’s overs up front have the potential to give Scotland good leverage in the contest if he can strike early. He’s already taken eight wickets in three games, conceding runs at less than a run a ball.Team newsAfghanistan’s opening combination of Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad showed how devastating they could be when a team missed its lengths, as West Indies found out in the warm-up game between the two. Their pairing at the top is what Afghanistan will rely on while batting. The bowling is already well manned with Nabi, Rashid and Mujeeb ur Rahman almost guaranteeing 12 high-quality overs.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Hazratullah Zazai, 2 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 3 Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 4 Najibullah Zadran, 5 Asghar Afghan, 6 Mohammad Nabi (capt), 7 Karim Janat, 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11 Naveen ul HaqScotland’s progress so far has been of the best kind, because it’s not been overly dependent on one single individual. Different people have stood up at different times, which gives the team a well-rounded look. They will look to Davey, the pacy Brad Wheal and the canny Mark Watt to rein Afghanistan in, while the likes of Richie Berrington and George Munsey will have to marshal the batting against a potent attack.Scotland (probable): 1 George Munsey, 2 Kyle Coetzer (capt), 3 Matthew Cross (wk), 4 Richie Berrington, 5 Calum MacLeod, 6 Michael Leask, 7 Chris Greaves, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Josh Davey, 10 Safyaan Sharif, 11 Brad WhealPitch and conditionsWhile the pitches at Sharjah, during the IPL and the first round of the T20 World Cup were slow and difficult to get big scores on, the match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka a day before this one, suggested that this was not always the norm. If the pitch does play better, the conditions swing towards batters because of the small boundaries. This is a night game, so dew might also come into play more.Stats and trivia Calum MacLeod once took 49 runs off Rashid Khan in an ODI – the second most any batter has taken against Rashid in an ODI. MacLeod had faced just 31 balls from Rashid in that game. In six T20Is played between these two teams so far, Afghanistan have won each time, though they haven’t played each other in this format since 2016. Quotes”The fans are really waiting for the games because the only happiness in Afghanistan is cricket. If we do well in the tournament and win games, there will be lots of smiles on faces.”
.”Just because we’re now into the Super 12s, I don’t think that changes much for us. I think we’ll come and play the aggressive type of cricket we want to play”

So far so good for Glasgow Rangers this summer. Not only has Philippe Clement recruited a few players prior to pre-season, but he has recruited well at Ibrox.

Jefte, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes are all aged 22 or under, and it looks like there will be more to come for Rangers in the next few weeks.

Striker Hamza Igamane appears to be close to a move, while players such as Callum O’Hare and Reuell Walters are other talented individuals who have been linked with a move north of the border to join Clement’s revolution.

This transfer strategy – one which sees the Gers manager forming the bulk of his squad with promising youngsters – may be a gamble, but it is one the 50-year-old has to take, otherwise he could end up like his predecessors.

Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst both spent lavish sums of money on a host of players who failed to light up Ibrox. Both were sacked as a result after just ten and 12 months respectively.

Thankfully, the Belgian has taken a different route and there is a new name being linked with a move to the Scottish side…

Rangers make enquiry about former Premier League defender

The Light Blues are hardly blessed with a transfer war chest, which suggests Clement has to be smart about the signings he wishes to make ahead of the new season.

While some funds will be spent – depending on how much is raised via sales – plenty of his business will be loans or free transfers.

One name to have cropped up recently is Ryan Sessegnon, with Rangers reportedly looking at bringing the former Tottenham Hotspur gem to Scotland this summer.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, West Ham United have made contact with the player in a bid to keep him in England next season.

They aren’t the only ones who wish to sign Sessegnon, however, as Rangers are also mentioned as a club who have made an enquiry about whether he'd like to join.

Indeed, other sides such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Real Betis, Monza and Atalanta are showing plenty of interest, which suggests Clement will have plenty of competition to fend off.

There is no doubting his talent, but the Englishman hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of times recently due to suffering from a succession of injuries.

Ordinarily, Clement should avoid moves like this, especially as it seems to sum up the club’s transfer market over the previous few years.

In Sessegnon, however, Clement could potentially get the best out of him should he decide to move to the Gers.

What Ryan Sessegnon could offer Rangers

The 24-year-old burst onto the scene with Fulham during the 2016/17 campaign when he was just 16, making a total of 30 appearances, scoring seven times and grabbing four assists in the process.

After a couple of years in the Fulham first team, Sessegnon’s displays were certainly going a long way to helping him reach the very top of the game.

In 2018, he was even compared to Gareth Bale after his ability to burst down the left flank in order to cause havoc in the final third.

After 120 games for the Cottagers across just three seasons, which featured 25 goals and 18 assists, Spurs signed him for £25m, which was looked upon as somewhat of a bargain considering how much they could potentially sell him for down the line.

Slavisa Jokanovic, his former manager at Fulham, once dubbed Sessegnon as “special” but his spell in North London was anything but.

Indeed, over five years, he made only 57 appearances, scoring just three goals as injuries hit him hard.

If Clement can get him back to the sort of form he displayed for Fulham between 2016 and 2019, then he could be a wonderful signing, but it is a big if.

Not only that, but he could form a stunning partnership with Oscar Cortes down the left wing.

Oscar Cortes’ statistics for Rangers last season

The young Colombian signed on a six-month loan back in January from RC Lens in a bid to gain some regular game time after a tough start to life in France.

He made just four appearances for the Ligue 1 side, yet managed to score and grab an assist, showing massive potential.

During the early stages of his Ibrox spell, Cortes shone when called upon on the left flank, scoring once and chipping in with two assists before an injury against Kilmarnock in February ruled him out for the season.

In just six games, the 20-year-old created a big chance, averaged 1.2 key passes and 1.7 shots on goal per game, showing his attacking intent.

Now, imagine if a player like Sessegnon was playing just behind him, linking up with the Colombian winger down the left side of the pitch. The duo could cause havoc.

During his final season in the Championship for Fulham, Sessegnon registered six assists, created 11 big chances and averaged 1.2 key passes per game.

Adding in the fact he succeeded with 1.2 dribbles, it becomes clear that if Clement can bring him back to his best, the Englishman could be a superb signing.

It won't be easy, especially considering the problems the former Fulham gem has endured recently, but managing to secure his signature on a free transfer would allow the manager to keep his precious transfer funds for other targets.

There is no doubt he will demand a decent wage to swap England for Scotland, yet for the chance to win trophies and play in Europe, it could be a move that breathes new life into a career which has gone from promising to stagnant in a blink of an eye.

Much will depend on how much of a gamble Clement is preparing to take on Sessegnon. Plenty of players from down south have arrived at the club and struggled, failing to make much of an impact.

The 24-year-old could be different. That is if he can stay fit and healthy.

Imagine him & Barron: Rangers ready to move for "irreplaceble" star

The Light Blues are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the Scotland international.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 25, 2024

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the third day of the second Test between Pakistan and England in Abu Dhabi

George Dobell in Abu Dhabi27-Jan-2012Shot of the day

Azhar Ali’s cover drive off James Anderson just four overs before the close of play was not only timed as sweetly as anything we have seen on this somewhat truculent surface but it spoke volumes about the class and assurance of the next generation of Pakistan batting. Azhar and Shafiq came together with their side still trailing by 16 and the experienced batsmen already dismissed but if the pair were in any way overawed they didn’t show it. They batted with discipline and composure. The shot, and the stand, bore the hallmark of real class.Drama of the day

Pakistan have enjoyed little luck with umpiring decisions in this match. Yes, they have not helped themselves with poor judgement using DRS but they could also claim, with some justification, that a few marginal decisions have not gone their way. So it was when Stuart Broad survived a run-out appeal on 33. Broad, committed to an optimistic single, threw himself into a dive with outstretched bat in an attempt to beat Azhar Ali’s direct hit from cover. Replays were not absolutely clear: in one frame, just before the stumps were broken, it appeared that Broad’s bat had bounced and was in the air. In the next, the stumps were broken and Broad’s bat was grounded. With no frame in between, the third umpire, Billy Bowden, decided – quite reasonably – to give the benefit of the doubt to the batsman. Broad survived and scored another 25 to help England add another 59.Ball of the day

The word “unplayable” tends to be overused but may be the best description of the delivery that dismissed Younis Khan. Drawn well forward, he was beaten first by the flight and then by the turn as Monty Panesar produced the perfect ball that pitched middle and clipped the top of off stump. It was almost an action replay of Leeds in 2006, when Monty dismissed the same batsman with the same delivery.Let-off of the day

A strong contender was Junaid Khan’s dropping of Matt Prior – a simple chance at this level – but Prior’s dismissal for the addition of just one more run ensured Pakistan escaped punishment. It might remind Khan that unless he improves his fielding, he risks his international future: Pakistan have several good, young bowlers and fielding ability could well be the decisive criteria. But the let-off on the third day came when Kevin Pietersen, running in from cover, missed with his underarm throw from little more than ten feet. Had he hit, Asad Shafiq would have been run out for 26 and Pakistan would have been 93 for five. Pietersen had three stumps to aim at and has endured a very poor series to date. Shafiq went on to help Pakistan to stumps with Azhar Ali and sustained Pakistan’s hopes of another win.Sight of the day

Watching spectators streaming into the ground was an immensely heartening sight. Many people took advantage of the free entry and at one stage there were queues outside and a sizeable Pakistan contingent within; this after the lack of spectators for the first five days of this series. So why the low attendances on other days? Several reasons: unlike the UK, there are few retired people interested in the game – Pakistani workers tend to return to Pakistan when they retire – and most working people here say they cannot afford to take the time off during the working week (Friday and Saturday constitute the weekend in the UAE). Locals still show little interest in the game. Still, the ground authorities deserve credit for the free entry idea and it did show that interest in the game – if not in attendance – remains high.