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Rangers are interested in completing the signing of a hugely exciting British player who has shone at academy level, according to an update from reliable journalist Mike McGrath.

Rangers transfer news

The Gers have enjoyed a new lease of life with Philippe Clement as their new manager, with the Belgian making an immediate impact after the sacking of Michael Beale.

On Sunday afternoon, Rangers return to Scottish Premiership action as they make the trip to Aberdeen looking to keep the pressure on Celtic in the title race.

The Scottish giants conducted some important transfer business during the summer window, signing the likes of Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers, but there is still room for improvement in the squad, meaning that Clement could yet delve into the market in January.

Clement could secure an ideal Balogun heir in Rangers swoop for 6ft "revelation"

Rangers could be set to make a signing or two in January

ByRoss Kilvington Nov 24, 2023

Rangers have been linked with a move for Everton centre-back Ben Godfrey, which could be an exciting piece of business, while Motherwell youngster Lennon Miller is also seen as a target for the Gers. Now, a fresh transfer update has emerged, with another prospect potentially heading to Ibrox in the near future.

Rangers want Mason Cotcher

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, McGrath stated that Rangers are keen on acquiring the signature of highly rated youngster Mason Cotcher following his exit from Sunderland:

"England U17 forward Mason Cotcher has been training with the 1st team squad at Arsenal after leaving Sunderland. Rangers are also interested in signing the 17yr old and moving cross-border to Scotland would be for much lower compensation."

Considering he is still only 17 years of age, Cotcher would clearly be a signing for the future as far as Rangers are concerned, but he is someone with such long-term potential that a move to Ibrox would be eye-catching.

The Gers transfer target has won two caps for England's U17s, which immediately says a lot about the level of talent that he possesses, and he has scored and assisted once apiece for Arsenal's U18s in two appearances. Meanwhile, during his Sunderland days, he netted nine times in 27 outings at youth level.

While predominantly a centre-forward, Cotcher is capable of excelling on either flank, further adding to his appeal, with his versatility something that can be priceless for any squad player in the modern game.

Granted, the teenager isn't someone who is going to suddenly inject further life into Rangers' season at senior level, but bringing in one of the most exciting British talents around would be impressive long-term planning, rather than simply focusing on the present and not thinking enough about the future.

In an ideal world, Cotcher would come in as an academy player to begin with, perhaps even being loaned out elsewhere to continue to learn his trade, before eventually maturing into a first-team player and one of the first names on the teamsheet.

There is no doubt that more senior transfer targets also need to be looked at, however, with failure to strengthen Clement's squad in the January window acting as a big opportunity missed as they look to wrestle the league title away from Celtic.

Following Inter Miami's draw with LA Galaxy, Lionel Messi sent a heartwarming message to his wife Antonela Roccuzzo for her birthday.

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Messi sends birthday wishes to wifeRoccuzzo celebrating 36th birthdayInter Miami fresh from draw with LA GalaxyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine World Cup winner broke Galaxy hearts in injury time after he linked up with Jordi Alba in classic fashion to draw Inter Miami level on the night and avoid a first defeat of the season. Fast forward to today, and Messi is celebrating his childhood sweetheart-turned-wife's 36th birthday. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner shared a post with his wife as the duo celebrated the event.

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"Happy birthday, Princess! I love you," he wrote on Instagram.

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Messi and Roccuzzo met as young children in Argentina, and while he later moved away from Argentina to train with Barcelona, the two reconnected after a tragedy and eventually fell in love. The pair have three sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

While things have been spectacular for the Argentine on the personal front, Inter Miami have been struggling throughout pre-season and Messi and Co. have been toiling hard to turn around their situation. With a draw and win in their first two MLS games, the Herons will take on Orlando City on Saturday, March 2 hoping pick up another victory.

Fulham lost away at Manchester City today, but the game was not without drama, with VAR once again coming under scrutiny for failing to disallow the hosts' second goal.

What was the Man City vs Fulham score?

The Cottagers were defeated 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, in a match they would have been expected to lose, though the way it panned out will still be very frustrating for Marco Silva, as a key decision near the end of the first half changed the game.

Man City went 1-0 up just after the half-hour mark, with Julian Alvarez opening the scoring, before Tim Ream equalised just two minutes later, giving the visitors hope about taking something from the game.

On the stroke of half-time, however, Nathan Ake found the back of the net for City, heading past Bernd Leno to restore his side's lead in controversial fashion.

Although the goal was not ruled out initially, Man City journalist Sam Lee was taken aback by VAR's decision not to overturn it upon review, with Manuel Akanji appearing as though he had interfered with play.

Lee said: "Goal given! I am very surprised by that, would have been very easy to say Akanji was in the way of Leno imo."

Fulham podcaster Sammy James was even more critical of VAR's failure to restore parity, after what appeared to be a blatant offside, saying: "That is one of the worst decisions I've ever seen. If Akanji isn't there, Leno saves it. An absolute joke."

Speaking live on Sky Sports, former referee Mike Dean also expressed his shock with the decision, saying: "It just can't stand. He's jumped over the ball, he has to be interfering,

"It just has to be disallowed."

Such was the Fulham players' frustration with the costly decision, some outlets reported that they initially refused to restart the game, with it ultimately proving to be a game-changing moment, as Man City ran out 5-1 winners.

How did Fulham play against Man City?

Although the Cottagers ultimately lost 5-1, there were some positives to take from the game, particularly their performance in the first half, during which they recorded two shots on target, and a higher xG value than City, indicating they were creating good chances.

However, the game turned on its head in the second half following the bizarre decision from VAR, with the hosts going on to dominate possession and score three goals from three shots on target, with Leno putting in a poor display.

The German recorded a Sofascore match rating of just 5.7 – the joint-lowest on the pitch alongside Antonee Robinson, who also struggled for large periods of the game. Only Raul Jimenez received a rating above seven.

As such, while the VAR decision ultimately changed the course of the match, Silva will also be frustrated with the performances of some of his players, as the second-half performance was subpar.

Up next for Fulham in the Premier League is a home match against Luton Town next Saturday, in which they will be hoping to bounce back with a victory.

Newcastle United host Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday evening, but they have suffered a potentially massive injury setback ahead of the game.

Which Newcastle players are fit vs Brentford?

The Magpies have endured a stuttering start to the season, having strutted into it as likely top-four candidates after a stellar campaign last time around, in which they finished fourth in the table.

The 5-1 win at home to Aston Villa on the opening Saturday of 2023/24 suggested that Eddie Howe's side had gone up another level as a team, but since that point, things have spiralled rather alarmingly. While there was no shame in losing 1-0 away to Premier League champions Manchester City, the 2-1 loss at home to ten man Liverpool at St James' Park was worrying, before being beaten 3-1 at Brighton.

Newcastle return to action after the international break on Saturday evening, hosting a dangerous Brentford side, and the hope is that this is a game that allows them to turn their season around.

There are injury problems going into the game, with Joe Willock still out, although the likes of Sven Botman and Elliot Anderson are expected to be fit.

Will Sandro Tonali miss Newcastle-Brentford clash?

According to The Chronicle, who relayed the information from Howe's press conference, Newcastle could now be without Sandro Tonali for Saturday's visit of the Bees, acting a possible huge blow:

Howe said: "He came back from Italy duty with a strain. He’s had a scan but we will see."

Tonali is already a vital player for Newcastle, announcing himself in style with a goal in the win over Villa, and while he is still adjusting to life in the Premier League, being without him against Brentford would hinder their chances of getting a positive result at St James' Park. The Bees actually top the expected goals table so far this season, so they certainly carry plenty of threat, especially if the spine of your side is weakened.

The Italian has already been described as "magnificent" by Howe, who clearly values him greatly as a player, and the Magpies would lose so much without him in the starting lineup, whether it be his quality on the ball or work ethic off it.

With both Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton searching for their best form at the moment, Tonali's absence could be felt even more, so the hope is that he passes a fitness test and is ultimately named in the team on Saturday.

The importance of a win cannot be stressed enough, following three defeats in succession, and if Newcastle are to secure back-to-back top four finishes, these are the sort of matches where dropped points can be so costly.

Granted, Brentford are a good side in their own right, but with the battle for Champions League football set to be far more fierce this season – the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea should all be a lot stronger than they were in 2022/23 – Howe's men need to get on a good run in between these two international breaks, or risk falling away before the campaign has properly got into full swing.

Will the region be ready to host 100,000 cricket fans in seven months?

Andrew Miller05-Jul-2006In the Caribbean, the magnitude of the task that awaits the region next March is slowly beginning to dawn. Too slowly for comfort, in theopinion of many observers. In seven months’ time, the curtain will be raised on the ninth cricket World Cup, and at present the preparationsare lagging behind on all fronts.Yesterday Chris Dehring, the tournament director, finally confirmed what the rest of the world had already worked out – the influx of100,000 cricket fans, on top of the usual peak-season demands of the Caribbean tourist industry, means that hotel rooms throughout theregion will be at a premium. “We don’t expect to satisfy the entire demand,” he admitted candidly. “It is really going to be a challenge.”Contingency plans are urgently being sought, including the option of using a fleet of cruise-liners as auxiliary accommodation, but thelogistics of the tournament are threatening to overwhelm the hosts. The rich heritage of West Indian cricket has long distracted from theground-level reality: never before has such a high-profile tournament been strung across so many small – and in some cases, tiny – countries.In total, nine sovereign states with a combined population of roughly seven million (which would barely place them in the world’s top 100)are being asked to pull together to create the third biggest sporting event in the world. It is a huge undertaking for some of the world’ssmallest economies. In terms of Gross Domestic Product, five of the participants – Antigua, St Lucia, Guyana, Grenada and St Kitts & Nevis – are among the smallest 21 in the world, and only Trinidad & Tobago (89) features in the top 100 (out of 180).The Caribbean’s enduring popularity with tourists means that the poverty of much of the region has long been overlooked. The situationis not so very different from expecting Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast and Senegal to cut deals with their neighbours (and rivals) to host theOlympics or football World Cup. It is notable that neither of these events has yet taken place in Africa, and when the football doesfinally arrive in 2010, it will be held exclusively in resource-rich South Africa.The Trelawny pitch is rolled for the first time, as Jamaica steps up preparations for the World Cup•Andrew Miller/Andrew MillerLast week, Cricinfo was invited to Jamaica, where West Indies themselves and Pakistan are to be based for the event. The World Cupwas the only topic on anyone’s lips. Unfortunately, it was the wrong World Cup. At present, everything stops for football. Taxi driverssimply won’t budge while a match is in progress, meetings have to be delayed to accommodate penalty shoot-outs. And all the while, theclock ticks down as vital preparations remain unaddressed.Nowhere is this more apparent than in the state of the island’s venues. Last week, the disrepair at Sabina Park was showcased to theworld as West Indies slipped to defeat in the fourth Test against India. A recent cement shortage, coupled with industrial action fromthe Jamaican workforce, meant that the great ground was just a husk of its former (and future) self. Only the George Headley stand and theKingston Cricket Club pavilion were still in operation – which amounts to barely one third of the projected 21,000 capacity.And further to the north, there is the Greenfields Stadium at Trelawny. Cut from virgin scrubland and perched scenically on the topof a hill near the coast, it is the venue for the tournament’s opening ceremony and a selection of warm-up matches. Greenfields is intendedto become a prime sporting location, but at present it is just another building site, served by a single dirt track and presided over by aclutch of 110 Chinese labourers, in whose hands the island’s entire construction project seems to have been placed.China’s involvement in the Caribbean is controversial but far-reaching, and as the clock ticks down, increasingly essential. As Lyndon James, the venue manager at Greenfields, admitted, their work ethic is “very different” to that of the Jamaican population, as demonstrated by the countdown board outside their on-site compound, declaring “xxx days [sic] hard work left”.”Hopefully some of their attitude will rub off on our guys,” added James, although seeing as the interaction between the two camps wasvirtually nil, there seemed little prospect of that. The state of the wicket was none too encouraging either. In March, the JamaicaGleaner reported optimistically that the square could be ready for matches as early as June.Chinatown at Trelawny: Jamaica’s new stadium is reliant on immigrant workers•Andrew Miller/Andrew MillerIn fact, July was just days away when we saw it being rolled for the first time, under the supervision of Sabina Park’s groundsman, PatGordon – arguably the least relaxed Jamaican on the island. “We won’t know what it’ll be like until we play on it,” he stated baldly. Otherwell-placed sources confided that the ground is so remote that, after the tournament has been done and dusted, it may never again hostanother cricket match.The saddest aspect of the tournament preparations is that there seems to be little attempt to engage the local population in the activities- although seeing as they are sure to be priced out of most of the matches, it is hardly surprising that such apathy is taking hold. ACategory 1 ticket to matches at St Kitts costs US$420, roughly two months’ wages for the average blue-collar worker, while the ICCregulations stipulate that Kingston Cricket Club members have to pay for entry to their own pavilion at Sabina Park, a move that hasbeen met with predictable resentment.Perversely, what the region needs is to be cut some slack. The Caribbean lifestyle is as languid as it gets, and for all the currentfrustrations, it is this inimitable trait that will provide the World Cup with its best and most reliable failsafe. “No problem!” is Jamaica’s catchphrase, as reprinted on countless souvenir T-shirts. For those who do sample the country’s hotels, beaches, cocktails andnightlife, the experience promises to be unforgettable.What is less clear, however, is the extent of the legacy that will remain when the eyes of the world are averted once again. At present, there is little excitement, little involvement, and little evidence that the third-greatest show on earth is coming to town. It’ll be alright on the night, as these things usually are, but will the Caribbean reinvent itself in the manner that Germany has done through the football World Cup this past month? On the current evidence, the answer has to be “no”.

Manchester United could target a surprise big name arrival in the goalkeeping department despite the recent arrival of Andre Onana at Old Trafford, according to recent reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

According to The Manchester Evening News, both Mason Mount and Harry Maguire are set to be available for selection in the Red Devils' Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace on Tuesday after recovering from their respective injury concerns.

Due to Manchester United's shortage of players capable of playing on the right flank currently, the prospect of summer signing Mount being used on the right-hand side has been mooted in recent weeks. Erik Ten Hag hasn't ruled out turning this scenario into a reality, stating in a recent interview: "This has been discussed before, but we have options on the right and we will see how we fill it in. We have the options but also they have to be available and then you have to get the routines in. But the principles and rules – they are clear."

Recent reports emerging out of Italy have emerged claiming that Manchester United could look to make another move to try and lure Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot to Old Trafford in the January transfer window. Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid are also keeping tabs on the France international's situation, which is complicated further from his current employers' point of view as his contract at the Old Lady is due to expire in the summer of 2024.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Ben Jacobs also hasn't ruled out the possibility of Manchester United bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani potentially submitting another bid as his quest to acquire full control at Old Trafford continues to roll on.

Who are Manchester United linked with?

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are believed to view Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak as an extremely attractive potential acquisition at Old Trafford, though any deal would most likely occur next summer rather than in the January window.

Oblak is said to be open to a potential switch to the Premier League giants; however, Atletico Madrid will look to demand in the region of €50 million (£43 million) before sanctioning any exit for the Slovenia international.

Labelled the "best in the world" by Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, Oblak has made a profound impact during his long spell in the Spanish capital, keeping 193 clean sheets in 398 appearances across all competitions for the La Liga giants, as per Transfermarkt.

As per FBRef, Oblak has excelled in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five divisions in the metric of goals conceded per 90 minutes, having shipped an average of just 0.82 combining his match involvement in the last 365 days, putting him in the 97th percentile for this statistic.

Despite current Manchester United number one Onana's inconsistent start to life at Old Trafford, it would seem harsh to look to bring in another elite-level shot-stopper in the mould of Oblak to compete for opportunities between the sticks so soon.

Stats highlights from the second day’s play at Eden Gardens.

HR Gopalakrishna and Mathew Varghese01-Dec-2007Stats highlights from the second day’s play at Eden Gardens.

VVS Laxman became the leading run-scorer in Tests at Eden Gardens © AFP
The day surely belonged to Sourav Ganguly, who scored his first Test hundred in Kolkata, his home town. In seven Tests prior to this one at Eden Gardens, Ganguly had only one fifty – a 65 against Australia in 1998. Ganguly has no fifty in four ODIs he’s played at the ground. It was also his first century against Pakistan. VVS Laxman continued his great run in Kolkata, and became the leading Test run-getter at Eden Gardens during the course of his unbeaten 112, going past Mohammad Azharuddin. Laxman now has 898 runs at an average of 81.63 with three hundreds – the same as Rahul Dravid – in Kolkata, but is till two short of Azhar, who had five hundreds in seven Tests. Wasim Jaffer became the third batsman to score a double-hundred at Eden Gardens, after Rohan Kanhai and VVS Laxman. It is Jaffer’s second score over 200, his best being 212 against West Indies in St John’s. India’s total of 616 for 5 declared was their second-highest against Pakistan, after their 675 for 5 declared in Multan in 2004. It was also their third total in excess of 600 at Eden Gardens; India had scored more against Australia in 1998 and in 2001 – when Laxman scored 281. Danish Kaneria finished with figures of 2 for 194 from his 50 overs, the most runs conceded in an innings at Eden Gardens.

Raphael Varane has revealed how he earned Cristiano Ronaldo’s respect, with the Frenchman saying there is “no need to be shy” around the Portuguese.

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French defender moved to Spain in 2011Would not be intimidated by anybodyLanded major silverware alongside CR7WHAT HAPPENED?

World Cup winner Varane completed a dream transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo had already been at Santiago Bernabeu for a couple of years by that point and was very much the brightest light in Madrid’s galaxy of stars.

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Varane could have been forgiven for feeling a little overawed in such illustrious company, but the classy centre-half merely made a point of making Ronaldo aware of who he was and that he would not be intimated by anybody.

WHAT VARANE SAID ABOUT RONALDO

Quizzed by on whether one of his first interactions with Ronaldo saw him respond with “I’m Rapha” after being referred to as “’Varane” by CR7, the current Manchester United star said: “Yes it’s true, I think that on the field there is no need to be shy. I am someone who is quite reserved outside but on the field you have to make your own place and be respected.”

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That is a mindset that Ronaldo can get behind, as someone who has spent his entire career pursuing perfection. Varane shares a similar desire to win, but added on how even the very best in the business need to learn how to turn energy levels on and off. He added: “That's the challenge for great teams, to succeed in winning while exerting less energy on the pitch. You can't put your full energy into everything when there are games every three days. You can't run a marathon every day. I had periods where we played Clasico, Champions League, Clasico – in a week you feel like you've lived an entire life!”

Ash Herron, the wife of Nottingham Forest and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner, has revealed which player broke her nose during a warmup.

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Turner moves to Premier LeagueWife, Ash, breaks nose in warm upShe reveals which player did itGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Herron has revealed she suffered a broken nose during one of the pre-game warmups while watching her husband in action. Ash is one of many wives set to feature in the new Amazon Prime Video documentary called 'Married to the Game' which will showcase the lives of significant others who are with Premier League footballers.

AdvertisementNottingham Forest TwitterWHAT HERRON SAID

“I’ve got a broken nose right now because I went to a game and got hit in the nose,” Ash Turner told talkSPORT. “It happened during the warm up. It was [Gonzalo] Montiel. I don’t think it’s glitz and glamour.”

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Turner and his family made the switch from the MLS to the Premier League back in 2022, when he sealed a move to join North London giants Arsenal.

Speaking on the difference between the MLS and the Premier League, Turner's wife added: “I don’t think I was necessarily prepared for the intensity of the Premier League. We came from MLS and obviously that’s not as high profile. This league is just developed in people’s blood and it’s a beautiful thing. The pressure for the players and their families is something I don’t think you can prepare for. You have to just go through the journey and experience it and that’s where you really learn the ins and outs of everything."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR TURNER?

Turner and his Forest teammates are looking to get back to winning ways this weekend after suffering a disappointing 3-2 loss to Newcastle United last weekend. Nuno Espirito Santo's men will host West Ham United in their next clash at the City Ground on Saturday.

Leeds United have been rocked by news that another one of their key men has now suffered a serious injury concern at Elland Road, as per recent reports.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United?

According to German outlet BILD, Eintracht Frankfurt are considering making Robin Koch's loan spell at Deutsche Bank Park into a permanent one in 2024. It is unclear whether Leeds United would be willing to agree to any such proposal; however, it should be noted that Koch has impressed since arriving back in Germany in the summer.

On Thursday night, the 27-year-old defender netted the winner for Eintracht Frankfurt in their 2-1 victory at home in the Europa Conference League over Aberdeen, lending further credence to the thought of him potentially leaving and netting Leeds United some extra cash back in the coffers, as per BBC Sport.

Cited by Leeds Live, Leeds United loanee Djed Spence is injured and will miss the Whites' Sky Bet Championship clash against Watford this weekend. Patrick Bamford and Stuart Dallas are back in full training; however, Junior Firpo is still sidelined and Joe Rodon will be suspended for the visit of the Hornets owing to his dismissal in Leeds United's 0-0 draw away to Hull City in midweek, as per Sky Sports.

Last week, it was reported by Football Insider that Leeds were keen to open contract talks with attacker Wilfried Gnonto meanwhile, who has come off the back of a summer of uncertainty due to interest from Premier League outfit Everton in his services. Nevertheless, he is now focused on Leeds United and the upcoming campaign.

Who is injured now?

Despite positive news that the Whites are keen on renewing Gnonto's contract at Elland Road, BBC journalist Adam Pope has issued a worrying update detailing that the Italy international has sustained a serious injury concern.

Referencing several of his other teammates in addition, Pope took to social media platform X to say: "Farke says Gnonto is out with lateral ligament damage to his ankle. Not sure on his return time. Ampadu is fine. Dallas will be quite a few weeks away from 1st team action."

19-year-old Gnonto has mustered six appearances for Leeds United across all competitions this campaign, registering a solitary goal in the process, as per Transfermarkt. Demonstrating his ability to cause regular problems for opposition backlines to contend with, Gnonto has had an average of around 1.8 shots per game and completed around 2.6 successful dribbles per 90 minutes in the Sky Bet Championship this term, according to WhoScored.

Nevertheless, his injury concern will come as a bitter blow to Leeds and Farke, who are hoping to climb into the playoff positions this weekend if they can see off Watford at home. Whether his injury lay-off impacts his contract negotiations at the club will also be another concern, though for now, their only hope will be that he is not out of action for too long.