All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Manchester United have already brought in a few big names, but their transfer business may not be done just yet.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has given his opinion on the Red Devils' pursuit of a Bundesliga pair and how it could pan out.

Will Manchester United make any other signings this summer?

Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund are the three high-profile additions to this United squad ahead of the new season. Now, with the end of the transfer window looming, Erik ten Hag is looking to make another addition or two.

The defensive third is where the Dutchman is targeting acquisitions for the Red Devils, with two names having been linked prominently.

Benjamin Pavard is one name put forward, with the versatile Bayern Munich man seemingly pushing for an exit from the Allianz Arena and reportedly close to joining Inter.

After Frenchman Raphael Varane scored the only goal of the game against Wolves on the opening day, international teammate Pavard was quick to leave a comment on a celebratory Instagram post, prompting many to speculate about his desire to move to pastures new.

Pavard has the ability to play both centrally and as a right-back, and it is the latter position that the other rumoured player occupies. Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, formerly of Celtic, is someone who Ten Hag admires, as reported by Football Insider.

It may well be a case of signing one or the other – if Jones’ update is anything to go by.

What has Dean Jones said about Pavard and Frimpong?

Transfer insider Jones has given an update on Manchester United’s transfer targets – particularly Jeremie Frimpong – when speaking to GIVEMESPORT.

He said: "With Manchester United going for Benjamin Pavard, he can play on the right-hand side of defence and centrally too, so I would be surprised if they were to go for Frimpong at the same time.

“I don't think Frimpong is imminent or anything like that, and I'd actually be pretty surprised if United were going to pursue that right now.

“Further down the road, perhaps, because I know he is a player that they've definitely had interest in.

“But with this Pavard deal on the back burner and Aaron Wan-Bissaka set to stay longer now, it [Frimpong] doesn't feel like one that needs to happen."

What is the latest Man United transfer news?

A third target for the Red Devils could arrive in the middle of the park. The man in question is Sofyan Amrabat, the Morocco international who starred at the World Cup and has since had a number of Europe’s elite lining up to sign him.

This makes up the majority of the news when it comes to incomings at Old Trafford, but there are also United players who could be leaving the club before the transfer window slams shut on 1st September.

One of those men is none other than former captain Harry Maguire. West Ham United seemed nailed on to land the centre-back only for his move to the capital to fall through – with Ten Hag claiming that he wanted to retain the services of the former Leicester City man.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has enjoyed a terrific start to life in the Scottish Premiership since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the dugout earlier this season.

The English boss has won 12 of his 13 matches in the league, remaining unbeaten, and is still in contention to win the Scottish FA Cup before the end of the campaign.

Since arriving during the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Beale has leaned on the experience in his squad and this has led to Connor Goldson and Ben Davies establishing themselves as the first-choice centre-back pairing, despite the emergence of Leon King this season.

How has Leon King's season gone so far?

The talented Ibrox teen burst onto the scene under van Bronckhorst in the first half of the campaign and played 11 times in the Premiership before the Dutchman's exit.

However, the 19-year-old is yet to make a single appearance in any competition since Beale's arrival, although the youngster has been an unused substitute in 11 matches.

King may not be in favour at the moment but his early season form suggests that the enforcer has the potential to be a future star of Beale's team, with the Light Blues really set to strike gold with the academy graduate.

Indeed, the head coach will look to utilise his talents further down the line, but Davies and Goldson are understandably the preferred pairing in high-pressure matches due to their experience as the Gers compete for trophies.

At the start of the season, King had an Expected Transfer value on Football Transfers of €0.2m (£177k) in August 2022 and that has soared to a whopping €4.1m (£3.6m) at the time of writing (15/03/2023).

This means that his xTV has rocketed by a staggering 1934% in less than one full season of action at Ibrox, illustrating the incredible strides the young battler has taken this term.

King, who was once described as a "big Rolls-Royce" by former Gers defender Alan Hutton, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.84 and won 56% of his individual duels in the Premiership in 2022/23.

That rating places him higher in the squad than the likes of Scott Arfield, Glen Kamara, Allan McGregor, and Scott Wright, to name a few, showing that the teenager was a solid option for the club in the heart of the defence.

His exponential growth in the transfer market and the gem's performances in the Scottish top-flight at the age of just 19 suggest that Rangers have hit the jackpot by unearthing the youngster, and it does not seem likely that his cold spell will continue for too long if Beale is interested in helping him to develop further.

A big update has emerged on Sunderland's pursuit of a new striker as they appear to be closing in on a late swoop to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut.

What's the latest Sunderland transfer news?

According to journalist Igor Semyon, via the Sunderland Echo, Zorya Lugansk centre-forward Nazariy Rusyn is set for a medical on Wearside ahead of a move to the club before the deadline.

It is also stated that reports in Ukraine believe that an offer of up to €3m (£2.5m) has been lodged by the Black Cats, with a 20% sell-on clause also included within the deal.

The 24-year-old marksman is now said to be awaiting a work permit to go through before being able to officially complete his transfer to the Stadium of Light before Friday.

How good is Nazariy Rusyn?

He is an unproven quantity in English football but the talented finisher could be an exciting partner for current Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham if he is able to translate his form for Zorya over to Wearside.

The Ukraine U21 international, who has scored six goals in ten games at that level, enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 campaign as he showcased his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Rusyn caught the eye for Zorya with an excellent return of 13 goals and six assists in 30 Premier Liga outings, whilst the Black Cats target has also notched once in two league matches this season.

The £2.5m-rated has racked up 23 goals and 12 assists in 70 Premier Liga games throughout his career to date, which works out as a direct goal contribution every other clash.

His ability to be a provider from a number nine position could make him an exciting player to be deployed alongside Bellingham as the 17-year-old midfielder carries a goal threat.

The former Birmingham City prospect has scored two goals in four Championship matches so far this season and has missed two 'big chances', which shows that the teenage sensation is getting into the right positions in front of goal.

Bellingham, who scored five goals in 12 games at U18 level for his former side, could benefit from Rusyn's creativity as the Ukrainian ace's return of six assists last term was three more than any Sunderland striker managed.

This suggests that the 5 foot 10 dynamo has the creative quality to lay on chances for his teammates at an impressive rate, which could provide the 17-year-old ace with the opportunities he needs to find the back of the net with greater regularity.

The Zorya star's 13-goal haul was also three more than any current Black Cats star produced in the Championship as Amad Diallo, who has since returned to Manchester United at the end of his loan spell, was the club's top-scorer with 14 and Ross Stewart was behind him with ten.

Rusyn could, therefore, be an outstanding scoring option for Tony Mowbray's side if he can carry that form over, or even improve upon it, to English football this season.

Just imagine the £2.5m gem and Bellingham lining up alongside each other in attack to cause constant problems for the opposition with their goalscoring potential.

Chelsea's summer move for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo could now collapse, following a "key development" regarding the potential signing of him this summer.

How old is Moises Caicedo?

The 21-year-old has emerged as arguably the Blues' biggest transfer target of the summer window, as their midfield goes through something of a rebuild ahead of the new Premier League season.

N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have both left Stamford Bridge in recent times, while Jorginho joined Arsenal back in January, so new faces are needed to shine in the middle of the park alongside relatively new arrival Enzo Fernandez.

Caicedo enjoyed a fantastic season for Brighton, proving to be one of their most important players and excelling next to Alexis Mac Allister, who has already departed the Seagulls to join Liverpool earlier this summer. The Ecuadorian has seen his current club be extremely stubborn when it comes to accepting an offer from Chelsea, however, demanding huge money for his services, not helped by the amount Arsenal paid for Declan Rice, for example.

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding the Blues' pursuit of the young midfielder – one that could cause plenty of concern among the fanbase.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Chelsea are "not currently in active talks" with Caicedo over a summer switch to Stamford Bridge, having seen a second bid for him turned down. The transfer is "now facing collapse", even though the player himself is "keen" on the move coming to fruition, in what is threatening to become a potentially ugly situation. The report has described it as a "key development".

Missing out on Caicedo now would be such a blow for Chelsea, considering how much they have tried to get him since the end of last season, and he remains a standout option who could help give their midfield such an injection of youth and quality. Graham Potter once said, "it doesn’t surprise me that people are looking at him because he is playing at a fantastic level", further outlining his class as a player.

Last season, the Ecuador international averaged 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League, showing what a tenacious presence he is out of possession, but he is also a technically-strong footballer, completing 88.8% of his passes in the competition.

The hope is that there is still time for the situation to change, allowing Brighton to finally accept a bid that suits all parties, but it looks increasingly as though Chelsea could have to look elsewhere for a high-quality midfield addition, which is far from ideal with the beginning of the new season edging closer all the time.

The Blues begin their campaign with a home clash with Liverpool next month, which promises to be an exciting match, and they will be coming up against a Reds side who have already made big midfield changes this summer, bringing in both Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

If Chelsea don't ensure the same has happened by the time the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge, they could find themselves in a sticky situation in Mauricio Pochettino's first game in charge at the club.

Celtic return to action in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since the first international break of the season as they face off against Dundee at Parkhead this afternoon.

What was Celtic's last result?

The Hoops maintained their position at the top of the league table with a 1-0 win in the Old Firm clash in their last game before the national team matches kicked off.

Kyogo Furuhashi scored a stunning goal to secure all three points against Michael Beale's side at the start of the month. The Japan international raced in behind Connor Goldson, from Matt O'Riley's clever header, and rifled a terrific volley into the bottom corner and past Jack Butland.

Brendan Rodgers was without the likes of Maik Nawrocki and Cameron Carter-Vickers but Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke produced solid displays to keep a clean sheet intact throughout the 90 minutes.

What's the latest Celtic team news?

The Northern Irish head coach has revealed that Reo Hatate is back in training and could be available for selection against Dundee this weekend.

Marco Tilio, who is yet to make his Celtic debut, has also recovered from his injury issue but may need time to work his fitness levels back up and get used to the group before he hits his stride.

Meanwhile, Cameron Carter-Vickers is closing in on his return to action and could be back over the weeks to come, although he will not be in contention to start this afternoon.

The Hoops have, however, been dealt a huge blow in the build-up to this match as Liel Abada is set to be out for between three and four months with a thigh injury that was sustained on international duty, Rodgers has confirmed.

Football FanCast already published an article explaining why South Korean ace Hyun-jun Yang should come into the starting XI in place of the Israel international.

However, there could also be a change on the other flank as Luis Palma could be in line to make his Hoops debut after joining from Aris FC during the summer transfer window.

Will Luis Palma start against Dundee?

Rodgers should unleash the Honduras international from the start on the left wing as the talented ace has the potential to offer more than Daizen Maeda at the top end of the pitch.

The 23-year-old forward, who was described as "ambitious" by his new manager, was as an unused substitute against Rangers earlier this month and went on to enjoy an excellent international break with his country.

Palma produced a phenomenal performance against Grenada as he recorded a Sofascore rating of 9.1 and contributed with one goal and one assist, along with five shots on target and three chances created for his teammates across the 90 minutes.

The £3.5m signing also arrived at Celtic off the back of a terrific start to the season with Aris in Greece. He racked up two goals and three assists in five matches in all competitions, which included two goals and two assists in four Europa Conference League qualifiers.

As per Sofascore, the 5 foot 10 magician created four chances, one 'big chance', and assisted one goal in his only top-flight appearance for Aris this term, which earned him a rating of 7.7.

Palma came into the 2023/24 campaign after an impressive season last term, as he proved himself to be a reliable goalscoring option from out wide.

The gifted wizard averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.12 across 20 Super League starts and chipped in with 11 goals and four assists, along with 1.4 key passes per game.

He also contributed with two goals and four assists in seven cup appearances for Aris, including three assists in four Europa Conference League qualifiers, which meant that he scored 13 goals and provided eight assists in total throughout the campaign.

How many goals did Maeda score last season?

Maeda, on the other hand, scored 11 times and assisted seven in 49 matches in all competitions for the Hoops during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Japan international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.78 across 35 Scottish Premiership games, which included 25 starts, and chipped in with eight goals and five assists.

This means that the attacker was directly involved in a goal once every 1.92 league starts on average last term, whilst Palma produced one goal involvement every 1.33 starts on average for Aris.

These statistics indicate that the £3.5m-rated whiz has the potential to provide goals and assists with greater regularity than Maeda on the wing, if he can translate his form from Greece over to Scottish football.

The Honduras international's aforementioned 1.4 key passes per game also suggest that he could provide more creativity than the Japanese marksman as he only conjured 0.8 per match last season.

So far this season, Maeda has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 and assisted one goal, whilst he has failed to find the back of the net once in four Premiership starts for the Bhoys.

He has already missed four 'big chances' in front of goal, which comes after he spurned 11 of them last term, and this shows that the 25-year-old gem has been wasteful at the top end of the pitch.

Whereas, Palma has only missed one 'big chance' in 30 league games since the start of last season to go along with his 11 goals in that time, which means that the 23-year-old maestro could be a far more reliable option in the final third for Rodgers in comparison to Maeda.

Therefore, the Northern Irish head coach must now move the Japan international aside and onto the bench for this clash with Dundee in order to offer Palma the opportunity to showcase his quality on the left wing.

The talented whiz is coming off the back of an impressive international break and could, therefore, be full of confidence and ready to produce a big performance on his debut for the Scottish giants this afternoon.

Maeda has not provided a regular source of goals or assists over the last 12 months or so and Palma's statistics for club and country during that period indicate that he could be an upgrade on him, if he can adapt to life in Scotland and hit the ground running today.

Tottenham Hotspur have played host to some immeasurable talent over their illustrious history, although a lack of it in recent memory has fed into their frustrating avoidance of silverware.

The Lilywhites have not won a trophy since their EFL Cup triumph in 2008, and despite having some immense players in the years since then, it always felt like those stars appeared at unfortunate times for the club, or under the completely wrong manager.

That's not to suggest that they did not leave their mark, with the likes of Luka Modric, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and many more all widely recognised as outstanding players to have graced north London, but left without having won a thing.

Perhaps their most frustrating departure of players of this ilk was Gareth Bale, who had smashed through his ceiling to become one of the Premier League's elite assets. So, when Real Madrid came calling with a world record fee, it was not something to be turned down.

Although they were seemingly powerless at the time, had the club been run with precision and intelligence, perhaps there might have been a squad talented enough to convince the Welshman to stick around in England.

Despite that, he would leave for Spain in an £85m move, where, like many others, the 34-year-old would win a host of trophies to build on the sole cup success earned with Spurs.

What did Gareth Bale achieve?

It almost seems an impossible task to quantify the quality of Bale with mere words given what he offered to the sport, having retired as one of the most decorated British players of all time.

Although the bulk of his silverware was won in the Spanish capital, it could be argued that some of his best days were actually enjoyed in the Premier League, as he worked his way up from a left-back on the verge of leaving the club, to their star right winger.

Boasting a unique physical profile that blended his bulky 6 foot 1 frame with lightning pace, former Saints player David Prutton had always predicted big things for the Southampton youngster: "You could see that he was unfazed, you can see that he was fit, you can see he was a real weapon to have. You could see when he was playing left-back, maybe, just maybe…

“He had the athletic ability to cover ground, at speed, at real volume. I’m not simplifying what our tactics were but a lot of it was down the left-hand side with the ball being rolled out to Gareth who would tear off down the left wing and put a decent ball in or having a crack at goal. He soon became very effective at doing that."

Bursting onto the scene with his European hat trick against a legendary Inter Milan outfit, this would mark the platform for the 111-cap star to shine. After all, the following season he would score ten and assist 14 in the Premier League alone, creeping towards the immeasurable figures that would catch the eye of Los Blancos.

1

Harry Kane

278

2

Jimmy Greaves

162

3

Heung-min Son

148

4

Jermaine Defoe

140

5

Robbie Keane

122

In what was his final year for Spurs, Bale would score 26 and assist 14 across all competitions for an outfit that finished fifth in the league, rightfully winning the PFA Player of the Year award. He was far too good, and everybody knew it. Playing with the elite was only fair.

Clearly unburdened by the financial weight of his price tag, instantly the speedster would translate this form into a new country, recording 28 goal contributions alone in that first year in La Liga. Despite a rocky relationship with his new fanbase, upon departing the Santiago Bernabeu he had amassed three Spanish league titles, a host of domestic honours and five Champions Leagues, two of which he scored decisive goals in the final.

Whilst rumours circled surrounding his retirement in January 2023, which he would later confirm, his agent Jonathan Barnett noted: "When you reach a level that he’s at I think it’s important that you bow out at the right time. He doesn’t need to do anything else, he’s proved everything, he’s got a list of achievements that are quite amazing. I think he’s the best player Britain has ever produced. Why carry on? He couldn’t play at the level he wanted to anymore."

With 236 Spurs appearances to his name, and a trophy cabinet to rival the very best, Bale's is a legacy few will even come close to in their careers.

However, there is one man already at the north London club that has forged a reputation to rival the retired superstar's.

Having signed in 2015, Heung-min Son has quickly grown into one of the Premier League's most dependable and prolific goalscorers from the left flank.

Is Heung-min Son better than Gareth Bale?

Cutting in onto his wicked right foot, although it could be argued his left is just as good, few have been able to quell the threat that Son's pace, directness and lethal touch over his eight years in England have provided.

In fact, across every full league term the 31-year-old has enjoyed with the Lilywhites apart from his debut, the South Korean has hit double figures. Even during his best season for goal contributions, which saw the £40m-rated dynamo notch 32 during the 2021/22 league campaign, surpassed that aforementioned term where Bale scored 21 and assisted eight in the league.

It is no surprise that the ex-Bayer Leverkusen ace has been lauded too, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp even claiming: "One of the big mistakes in my life was that I didn’t sign him. Outstanding player. World class player and one of the best strikers in the world. Yeah, you should be proud."

All their figures in front of goal point towards Son actually having already surpassed Bale's tenure at Spurs, with the only difference being that sole trophy that the former Wales international won in 2008.

However, with positivity radiating around the club following Ange Postecoglou's fine start to life as their new leader, and the experienced winger the man tasked with now captaining the side, there is every chance that he could overcome that final hurdle to comfortably surpass the legacy left by Bale, should a trophy or two fall his way.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently reaping the rewards of what proved to be a relatively smooth summer of business despite the sale of talisman Harry Kane, with Ange Postecoglou's new additions helping to contribute to an unbeaten start to the new Premier League season.

Such astute dealings in the transfer market – including arguably the "signing of the summer" in the form of James Maddison, as per TNT pundit Joe Cole – have not always been commonplace at N17 over the last decade or so, evidenced by the fact that two former club-record arrivals, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele, have both been shipped off to Turkish giants, Galatasaray.

The at-times scattergun approach of chairman Daniel Levy – which famously saw the 'magnificent seven' acquired following the sale of Gareth Bale – was also best illustrated with the signing and subsequent sale of polarising right-back, Serge Aurier.

How much did Tottenham pay for Aurier?

The Lilywhites had been searching for a new option at right-back following the departure of Kyle Walker to rivals Manchester City on a £50m deal, with Mauricio Pochettino seemingly keen to find a worthy competitor to Kieran Trippier in that defensive berth.

Amid that quest to find a Walker replacement, Levy and co looked the way of Aurier despite the string of misdemeanours that the Ivorian had carried out during his time at former club Paris Saint-Germain, notably insulting manager Laurent Blanc in March 2016, while also being convicted of elbowing a police officer just a few months later.

Despite that back catalogue of controversy, the north Londoners opted to splash out £23m in order to sign the full-back in the summer of 2017, having notably racked up 15 assists in just 81 games during his time at the Parc des Princes.

That deal quickly looked like something of a mistake for those of a Spurs persuasion, however, with the 5 foot 9 enigma proving rather "erratic" in truth, as described by pundit Teddy Sheringham following his club debut.

How much did Tottenham sell Aurier for?

Despite enjoying a solid record of eight goals and 17 assists in 110 appearances during his time in the capital, the former Toulouse man was something of a rash and reckless liability at times, notably earning two red cards while in a Tottenham jersey.

That 'erratic' nature was particularly evident during the 2021 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, with Aurier giving away the free-kick that led to the game's decisive goal, following a needless foul on Raheem Sterling.

That incident – which saw his defending branded "criminal" by ex-Spurs man Michael Dawson – seemingly epitomised his time at the club as a whole, with Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher subsequently dubbing the one-time Lens asset as "one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football".

Following such a costly mistake, it was then no surprise that Aurier was moved on that summer amid the arrival of Emerson Royal, with Levy agreeing to terminate the player's contract a year early, thus seeing him walk away for nothing.

Where is Serge Aurier now?

Despite the criticism that the 30-year-old received during his four-year spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – with Carragher branding him the type of player who would "put you off management" due to his "crazy decisions" – it only took 12 months for the experienced figure to return to English football, having joined newly-promoted Nottingham Forest last year after spending just a solitary season at Villarreal.

Bizarrely, it does look as if the £50k-per-week talent has proven a solid performer for the Tricky Trees after having been hailed as "a fantastic player with great quality" by teammate Chris Wood, following his brace of assists against Sheffield United earlier this season.

Across the last 365 days, he also ranks in the top 2% for both aerial duels won and clearances made among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues, as well as in the top 11% for tackles made, illustrating that perhaps improvements have been made to his defensive game under Steve Cooper.

Those strong showings at the City Ground will not, however, take away from Aurier's wretched record in north London, with his 2017 signing having proved particularly costly both on the pitch and financially for Levy and co.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat for a few months now. The latest update from transfer insider Dean Jones to GIVEMESPORT is that “they will keep pushing this to make it happen” as the start of the new Premier League season looms.

Sofyan Amrabat saga continues…

Amrabat first rose to mainstream prominence after his impressive performances for his country at the Qatar World Cup last year. Since then, he has attracted a lot of interest and Manchester United are at the front of that queue, if terms can be agreed, as per Fabrizio Romano when speaking to GIVEMESPORT.

Football is a world of revolving doors and so if the Fiorentina man is to arrive at Old Trafford, others will surely have to move on. Amongst the most likely are midfield duo Scott McTominay and Fred. Sky Sports are reporting that West Ham United are not only pursuing McTominay but also former United captain Harry Maguire as he continues to slip further down the pecking order.

There was previously interest from Newcastle United in the Scottish central midfielder whereas Fred would most likely leave England altogether. According to Metro, Turkish club Galatasaray is the most likely destination for the Brazilian where he would line up alongside a number of star names, including Wilfried Zaha, Lucas Torreira and Mauro Icardi.

What does Dean Jones have to say on the future of Amrabat?

“They [Manchester United] are really hot on this deal, I think they will keep pushing this to make it happen because there seems more intent than any time up to now.

“There is still the Atletico Madrid factor to fend off but United want to make Amrabat their next signing after Hojlund and if they can pull that off it’s going to be a real accomplishment.

“United’s transfer window was redefined over the course of July and now August will be used to put the finishing touches to the deals and glam up the squad. I’m told there is evert confidence that can make the numbers work on this one, so it’s a pretty exciting time.”

Where else could Amrabat end up?

As Dean Jones alludes to, Man United’s pursuit of World Cup star Amrabat isn’t without its obstacles. Football Italia were reporting over a month ago that the 26-year-old had agreed personal terms with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, only for that to go quiet due to Fiorentina demanding more money than Atleti were prepared to offer.

Jones’ wording suggests that Atletico are still interested in securing the services of Amrabat and there is a spot in the midfield at the Wanda Metropolitano following the departure of Geoffrey Kondogbia. The former Valencia man, along with fullback Renan Lodi, joined Marseille on a permanent deal in the region of £7 million.

Prior to this summer, it was Barcelona who were closest to snapping him up fresh off of the Qatar exploits of the World Cup star. Again, Fiorentina held strong though and so it could be the finances of the red half of Manchester which prevails after all.

Glasgow Rangers secured a solid 2-0 victory over Ross County in the pouring rain at Dingwall, setting them up nicely for the trip to Eindhoven in midweek.

Michael Beale made a few changes from the 2-2 draw against PSV at Ibrox on Tuesday, and this included a start for Kemar Roofe – his first since April 2022.

Having lost their first Premiership tie against Kilmarnock and slipping immediately behind Celtic, all three points were required, and they duly delivered.

How did Rangers perform vs Ross County?

A solid, if unspectacular performance secured another win, and Beale will be pleased by how comfortably the game went by, especially in the first half.

Captain James Tavernier led by example with yet another wonderful performance, and his goal was a sight to behold.

Striding forward with purpose, the right-back looked in a menacing mood and unleashed a stunning, dipping shot that nestled into the top corner to give the Light Blues a two-goal advantage following Kemar Roofe’s opener.

Alongside his goal, the Englishman also demonstrated how effective he is going forward by making four key passes during the tie, while also succeeding with one successful dribble and taking three shots during the game.

Defensively, he won 50% of his ground duels along with making one tackle and one interception, as well as committing just one foul, which was good enough to help his team keep a clean sheet.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

But as good as Tavernier was, it was centre-back John Souttar who was an absolute rock at the back for Beale against the Highland side, and he was a major contributing factor to the club keeping a clean sheet.

How did John Souttar perform against Ross County?

Speaking to the media before this match, fellow defender Leon Balogun praised the Scot, saying:

“I think he’s a very strong player. Last season didn’t go the way he planned as he got injured early on. Since I’ve come back, you can see that he’s a good defender and there are a few things that I’ve wanted to copy from him.

“We’ve got really good defenders in the backline and there’s no point being sour because we have big targets this season. In order to achieve them, you need a strong squad and that’s what we have.”

Against County, Souttar was a rock, while also showing how comfortable he is on the ball by taking 77 touches and completing 48 passes as he looked to start attacks from the back often.

Souttar won eight of nine total duels during the match, showcasing his physicality. He also made seven clearances, three interceptions and two tackles, and wasn’t dribbled past once across the 90 minutes.

It was a commanding performance by the former Hearts defender, and he has certainly emerged as a first-choice centre-back alongside Connor Goldson.

With two tough games against PSV and Celtic to come next week, seeing the 26-year-old in this sort of form will undoubtedly please Beale ahead of tougher tasks.

Much of the attention on West Ham United’s transfer window has been around the club’s midfield situation.

The Irons had to combat the loss of Declan Rice with the additions of James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez, whilst also adding Mohammed Kudus to relieve the creative burden off Lucas Paqueta’s shoulders in the Premier League.

So far this summer, David Moyes has only added one defender in Konstantinos Mavropanos, but the Scotsman is reportedly on the hunt for some fresh faces for the backline…

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

According to the Evening Standard, the Hammers have submitted a formal bid to sign Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards.

Negotiations between the clubs over a fee are ongoing, with Moyes keen to sign a player who can provide centre-back cover and stands out as a prospect for the future.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The fact that the titan is still at the League One side is baffling to some, including Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony, who said:

“It’s an absolute joke Ronnie is still here. We are all amazed and it’s not because we are being greedy or silly.

“He’s as good as he’s ever been, He answered all the questions about him after the gaffer came back to the club in January. He was outstanding in both legs of the play-offs when he was up against some giants.

“He’s now far too good for us and I don’t believe he will still be with us when the season starts as he is made for some of the teams in the Premier League.”

Would Ronnie Edwards be a good signing for West Ham?

Last season, the 20-year-old gem made 40 starts in the third tier, where he averaged two tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, was only dribbled past 0.3 times per game, was part of 14 clean sheets, made no errors leading to a shot or a goal, completed 75% of his dribbles and won 73% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

He has forged a formidable reputation thanks to his potential and consistency whilst also establishing prominence on the international stage. In June 2022, Edwards was included in England’s U19 squad for the 2022 UEFA European Championship and started in the final as his side won the tournament with a 3-1 extra-time win over Israel.

Later that year, the youngster made his England U20 debut and in May 2023, he was included in the Three Lions’ squad for the U20 World Cup. At the tournament, he started all four games, kept two clean sheets, managed 90% pass accuracy, averaged 2.3 clearances per game, won 67% of his duels, and made no errors leading to a shot or a goal.

Similarly to Edwards, Mavropanos is another supremely talented centre-back – a potent combination of ball-playing excellence and defensive solidity.

Ranked against his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, the Greek titan sits within the best 12% for progressive passes per 90, progressive carries per 90, and successful take-ons per 90, as well as the highest 18% for tackles per 90, interceptions per 90, aerials won per 90 and blocks per 90.

Having been described as a “Rolls-Royce” by Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry, Edwards deservedly looks destined for Premier League football, and he could gloriously flourish at the London Stadium.

Moyes could have a central defensive pairing for the ages, should his recruitment staff get a deal for the young Posh sensation over the line before Friday's transfer deadline.