Glasgow Rangers produced yet another Jekyll and Hyde display in the Premiership, scoring a late winner to seal all three points against Dundee on Saturday evening.

Dundee went into the half-time interval holding a slim 2-1 advantage, which they soon stretched to 3–1 thanks to a goal from Scott Tiffoney.

Goals from James Tavernier, Tom Lawrence and then Cyriel Dessers – on his 100th appearance for the Light Blues – sealed another comeback victory.

Despite missing several chances throughout the tie, the Nigerian striker finished as the hero for Ferguson with his game-winning goal.

Cyriel Dessers’ display in numbers vs Dundee

Starting alongside Hamza Igamane, Ferguson once again operated with a 3-5-2, aiming to dominate the midfield, with plenty of chances being created for the two frontmen.

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

It worked to an extent, with Dessers registering an incredible 12 shots – nine on target and three off – yet he missed five big chances.

He won only 50% of the duels he contested while losing possession 13 times and succeeding with just one dribble.

Accurate passes

Nicolas Raskin (47)

Key passes

Mohamed Diomande (4)

Tackles

Connor Barron (6)

Shots on target

Cyriel Dessers (9)

Ground duels won

Josh Mulligan (8)

Persistence paid off, as he slotted the ball home with three minutes left, but this shouldn’t paper over the cracks.

Igamane was also far from his best, losing the ball 17 times along with having just one shot on target. Dessers, however, appears to have finally shifted his scapegoat tag, despite still missing chances on a regular basis.

Has this now been passed on to Jack Butland? Who endured another poor display for the Ibrox side.

Rangers could now have found the new Dessers

Butland enjoyed a relatively solid debut season for the Gers. His mistake in the dying minutes of the Scottish Cup final against Celtic proved costly, but it was deemed a one-off.

Fast-forward nearly a year later, and the Englishman has made a few high-profile mistakes throughout the current season, with journalist Josh Bunting stating back in December that he was “in a real rut of form”, while looking “shaky”. His mistake against Motherwell at the start of March was costly in the eventual 2-1 defeat.

He also clattered into an opponent during the match against St Mirren on Boxing Day, giving away a penalty that saw the Gers suffer defeat.

Against Dundee, Butland took 42 touches, was accurate with just four of his 13 long ball attempts and completed only 65% of his passes.

It was his mistake for Dundee’s second goal which looked as though it could cost Rangers, however. A weak Simon Murray shot somehow spilt out of his hands and into the path of Joe Shaughnessy, who slotted the ball home to make it 2-0 to the home side.

Given that this wasn’t his first mistake of the campaign, might his time at Ibrox be coming to an end? Especially with a new manager arriving in the summer.

A large section of the fanbase certainly hope so. His penalty shoot-out heroics against Fenerbahçe a few weeks ago are now a distant memory. Mistakes like these can cost the club titles, no doubt about that.

With Dessers having turned the corner, Butland is surely the new high-profile villain for the Ibrox faithful.

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Skipper’s 82 outshines Alice Capsey’s valiant effort to hold Stars innings together

ECB Reporters Network26-May-2023

Hollie Armitage led the way with her competition career-best•Getty Images

Captain Hollie Armitage’s career-best knock in the Charlotte Edwards Cup rescued Northern Diamonds from a sticky start against South East Stars as they triumphed by two wickets in a last-ball thriller.Armitage top-scored with 82 from 59 balls at the Kia Oval, her second half-century of this year’s competition, to secure her side’s third straight victory after losing both openers with just six on the board.The Diamonds skipper’s efforts outshone those of Alice Capsey, who had smashed 71 from 48 – also a personal best in the tournament – after being dropped twice, on 15 and 32, to hold Stars’ innings together with a display of powerful hitting.But their total of 138 for 7 was not quite enough, despite an excellent spell of 3 for 12 by off-spinner Claudie Cooper and Lizzie Scott sliced the final ball from Alice Davidson-Richards over point for four as Diamonds edged home.Put in to bat, the Stars were soon in trouble as they lost both openers in the powerplay – Chloe Tryon taking a midwicket catch to remove Sophia Dunkley off Grace Hall’s bowling before a reversal of the roles signalled Bryony Smith’s departure.With Tash Farrant holing out to deep square leg, the home side were floundering at 33 for 3 and Diamonds turned the screw with a miserly mix of seam and spin that did not yield a single boundary in six overs.But Capsey capitalised on her first life – with Hall unable to hold on, stretching at mid-off – by smashing successive fours off Katie Levick and using her feet to crack the spinner over the top for six.Capsey was put down again by Leah Dobson at deep midwicket and, although the fielder took her next opportunity, pouching a skier to remove the dangerous Paige Scholfield and bring Hall a second wicket – the damage had been done.The seamer finished with 3 for 20, helped by Abi Glen’s smartly-taken catch at square leg to dismiss Davidson-Richards, but Diamonds were unable to get rid of Capsey until Glen had her taken at long-on in the final over.Capsey helped to maintain Stars’ momentum at the start of the visitors’ reply, clinging on at mid-off to collect the prize scalp of Lauren Winfield-Hill, just after Dobson had perished to Freya Davies’ pinpoint throw from square leg.However, Armitage counter-attacked, punching Scholfield’s first ball to the cover boundary and dominating her third-wicket stand of 49 with Sterre Kalis – eventually broken when Dani Gregory pierced the latter’s defences for 18.Bess Heath proved a capable foil for Armitage, dispatching Smith to the fence twice in an over to reach 19 from 18 – and the Stars skipper was left to rue missing the chance to prise out her opposite number, shelling a mid-off catch off Cooper.Armitage was eventually stumped off a Davies wide with eight required from nine deliveries, but Scott held her nerve to dispatch Davidson-Richards over the infield and clinch victory for the visitors.

تمكن فريق بوروسيا دورتموند من الحصول على آخر بطاقات التأهل إلى ربع نهائي بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، نسخة 2025، التي تستضيفها أمريكا في الوقت الحالي، وتستمر حتى 13 يوليو الجاري.

وخاض بوروسيا دورتموند مباراته في دور الـ16، فجر يوم الأربعاء، ضد نظيره مونتيري المكسيكي.

ونجح الفريق الألماني في تحقيق فوز صعب على نظيره مونتيري، بهدفين لهدف، في آخر مباريات دور الـ16 من البطولة (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة من هنا).

وتأهل بوروسيا دورتموند بذلك إلى ربع نهائي البطولة، في نسختها الأولى بعد استحداث نظامها من جانب الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا.

وضرب بوروسيا دورتموند بذلك موعدًا ناريًا مع خصمه ريال مدريد، في ربع نهائي كأس العالم للأندية لتلك النسخة.

كان ريال مدريد قد تأهل بدوره إلى تلك المرحلة من البطولة بعدما حقق فوزًا عسيرًا على يوفنتوس، مساء أمس، بهدف دون رد. موعد مباراة ريال مدريد وبوروسيا دورتموند في دور الـ8 من كأس العالم للأندية

تنطلق المباراة يوم السبت المقبل، 5 يوليو الجاري، في تمام الساعة الحادية عشر مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية.

Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat at Fulham kept them ten points behind Bournemouth on the rim of the top half of the Premier League, and it’s increasingly unlikely success will be found on the domestic front this season.

Ange Postecoglou is deep in his purgatory, cutting so many gloomy figures as the defeats roll in like hostile bowling balls. Spurs have indeed been left sprawling on the turf for much of the campaign, but hope remains.

Battling past AZ Alkmaar this month, the north Londoners are into the Europa League quarter-finals, pitted against dangerous Eintracht Frankfurt – who won the 2021/22 edition – next month.

Ange's increasingly uncertain future

Postecoglou is aggrieved as ‘Ange Ball’ has been reduced to flashes of style this season, injuries precluding his exciting tactics from being properly implemented. It has been a tough old season, and he’ll want to approach 2025/26 with a clean slate.

According to Monday’s Telegraph, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is one of the leading candidates to take over at Tottenham Hotspur should Ange be given the boot.

Postecoglou will make a compelling case to Daniel Levy regarding the importance of keeping him in the dugout, but the 42-year-old Bournemouth boss would be the perfect replacement, should the headsman be summoned.

What Andoni Iraola could bring to Spurs

If Tottenham fall against Frankfurt after the international break, Postecoglou will earn no reprieve as Levy’s patience finally wears gossamer thin.

Especially if the Lilywhites chairman gets a whiff of something promising from Iraola’s corner.

Bournemouth appointed the tactician in June 2023 after the expiry of his Rayo Vallecano contract. It was a bold, some even felt brazen, decision to oust Gary O’Neil after he kept the seaside town afloat, but a tremendous one in hindsight.

Tenth in the standings this year, Bournemouth trail Chelsea in the top four by a mere five points. Much is owed to Iraola’s stylish tactics.

According to Understat, the Cherries are behind only Liverpool in terms of xG (expected goals this season. They have converted 48 chances but should have notched 59.42, speaking of profligacy in front of goal.

What does this tell us? Well, for one thing, it makes a declaration on Bournemouth’s attacking quality, with aggression and a pack mentality toward winning turnovers and advancing into dangerous positions proving the nuts and bolts of the approach play.

While Postecoglou is a fiercely attack-focused manager himself, there are signs Iraola has his number. After all, Understat also record the Australian’s squad to have an xG total of 52.90 in the Premier League this year.

Dominic Solanke was brought in last summer as a belated Harry Kane replacement down N17. The 27-year-old joined from Iraola’s Bournemouth, signing for a club-record £65m figure.

In keeping with the season’s narrative, the £90k-per-week Solanke has suffered a share of injury misfortune, though he’s still managed to chalk up 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions, starting 27 of his 33 outings.

But he’s not quite hit the heights the lofty price tag spoke of. A seven-goal return in the Premier League across 20 matches is average at best. Ten big chances missed, as per Sofascore, further detail a lack of incisiveness that Tottenham have desperately needed to stem their defensive problems.

Dominic Solanke – Past Five Seasons (Premier League)
Season	Club	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
24/25	Tottenham	20 (20)	7	3
23/24	Bournemouth	38 (37)	19	3
22/23	Bournemouth	33 (32)	6	7
19/20	Bournemouth	32 (17)	3	1
20/21	Bournemouth	10 (2)	0	1
Data via Transfermarkt

Were Iraola to take the helm in the summer, the England international may return to the prolific heights of 2023/24, when he plied his trade under the Spanish gaffer’s wing.

That season saw Bournemouth break free of the relegation fodder and make headway in the top flight, fuelled by an attractive brand of football. Solanke was riding the crest of a wave, for sure, clinching 19 goals across the term, missing just 14 big chances and averaging a key pass every game (his rate stands at 0.7 with Spurs).

This serves as more corroboration as to Tottenham’s inferiority (this year, at least) in front of goal. Iraola is churning out a higher rate of clinical production and doing so with a flourish.

Solanke has already thrived in the system, the manager even hailing him as “good for any system,” his technical qualities making him the “complete number nine.”

As a consequence, it could just be a match made in heaven.

Manager Focus

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There is of course optimism that Solanke can make a name for himself over the coming years, maybe even the coming months. Postecoglou’s ideology should be perfect for him, but Iraola has showcased a tactical grasp beyond that of Spurs’ somewhat rigid boss, eking every ounce of potency from him last year.

Postecoglou once presented the blueprint for total success at Tottenham. It was a new dawn, the start of a chapter promising prosperity. But the cracks have since splintered the playing surface, running deep. The period following the international break will be critical.

And if Levy gets some encouragement from Iraola’s camp? Why, he’d be bringing “one of the best in the league” down N17, as is the opinion of analyst Ben Mattinson.

Talks of a sacking might be held in abeyance at the moment, but Postecoglou is quickly running out of time. With Iraola doing such good work on the South Coast, indeed getting the best from Solanke, bringing him in as a replacement might be a golden ticket toward a new level of success.

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Dominic Lund

Mar 17, 2025

Stand-in captain Jake Libby notches another fifty but injury-hit Derbyshire land their punches

ECB Reporters Network25-Jun-2023Anuj Dal again enjoyed himself at Worcestershire’s expense as bottom-placed Derbyshire put their injury problems in the bowling department behind them to bring about a collapse by the home side on day one of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter at New Road.Dal had scored a hundred and a fifty plus picking up a five-for in the corresponding fixture in 2022 after scoring a century in the match between the teams at the Incora County Ground. He continued in that vein by returning figures of 18.3-5-45-5 as Worcestershire, who were 105 for 1 at one stage, were dismissed for 237 in 83.3 overs.The Peakites were without frontline bowlers Saranga Lakmal, Zak Chappell and Sam Conners and in addition Ben Aitchison limped off after being unable to complete an over. But Derbyshire, who signed Surrey’s Conor McKerr on loan for a third spell at the club, stuck to their task against a Worcestershire side who themselves had fitness problems.Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira, Jack Haynes and Kashif Ali were all ruled out and it meant handing a debut to rookie pro Rehaan Edavalath in addition to India pace bowler Navdeep Saini.Stand-in skipper Jake Libby continued his rich vein of form by top-scoring with 78 to take his run tally to 373 in his last three knocks. But only fellow opener Gareth Roderick and Adam Hose offered him much substantial support.Saini, who played for Kent in the Championship last summer, struck with his first delivery to dismiss Harry Came and Derbyshire ended on 32 for 2 after losing Luis Reece to the final delivery of the day from Dillon Pennington.Libby opted to bat after winning the toss and he and Roderick scored freely against the Kookaburra ball which is being used during the next two rounds of Championship matches.They completed their third successive half-century stand since joining forces at the top of the order in the previous Championship game against Sussex. The partnership was worth 70 when Roderick was bowled through the gate by Aitchison with a delivery that nipped back.The game started to swing in Derbyshire’s favour once Azhar Ali was dismissed to the final delivery before lunch when he drove at Dal and was caught at slip.Edavalath came out for his maiden innings at the start of the afternoon session but lasted only three balls before he missed a straight delivery from Dal and was lbw for nought.Libby completed an excellent half century from 106 balls with a push through the covers for two off Dal who bowled a probing 10 over spell either side of lunch of 10-2-32-2.Hose has been in prime form in Championship and T20 cricket and he again looked in good touch and helped Libby add 54 in untroubled fashion. But Hose edged Nick Potts to slip and Libby’s fine knock was brought to an end by Dal with keeper Brooke Guest holding onto the chance. Libby has now scored 614 first class runs this summer, the third highest figure on Division Two.Ed Pollock, recalled to the Championship side, got his head down but was dismissed to the last ball before tea when he shouldered arms to Dal and was bowled.Matthew Waite showed positive after the interval, striking Aitchison for three boundaries in the first over to bring up the 200. But he was bowled on 19 by a delivery from McKerr which nipped back a long way.Joe Leach clipped McKerr tamely into the hands of mid wicket and Josh Baker pushed forward to Luis Reece and was bowled. Dal completed his five-for by shattering Pennington’s stumps.Saini made the perfect start as Came offered no shot to a delivery angled into him and was bowled and then Reece edged the final delivery of the day from Pennington to first slip.

Chelsea have paid out £5 million to send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United but he could be on the move again soon.

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• Chelsea pay to send Sancho back
• But winger not wanted at Man Utd
• Interest in Sancho from Saudi Arabia

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho's future is unclear after Chelsea opted against taking up a buy option in his loan contract and instead paid £5 million ($6.76m) to send him back to Manchester United. According to the Mirror, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has "no intention" of reintegrating Sancho back into the squad at Old Trafford, particularly as the Red Devils are keen to sign Bryan Mbeumo.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A move to the Saudi Pro League now appears a possibility for Sancho as top European clubs are unlikely to want to pay his £300,000-a-week wages. Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad are all keen, while Sancho is said to have "links to high-profile figures in the Saudi Pro-League which could help broker a deal." Manchester United eager to offload Sancho as he's heading into the final year of his contract and may be willing to accept a fee of £25m ($34m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sancho scored three Premier League goals and managed four assists in 31 appearances for Chelsea in the top flight.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO

  Sancho and Manchester United will now hope to find a solution that suits all parties over the summer. The winger appears to have no future at Old Trafford, and the Red Devils will hope to agree a permanent transfer in time for the 2025-26 campaign.

Glasgow Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson has enjoyed a strong start to his short-term stay in the dugout after replacing Philippe Clement at Ibrox.

The former Scotland international secured a Europa League last 16 win over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on penalties before overseeing a dramatic 3-2 win over Celtic last time out in the Scottish Premiership.

The Light Blues took the lead thanks to goals from Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande, but they needed a last-gasp winner from Hamza Igamane after the hosts battled it back to 2-2.

Vaclav Cerny had one of his quieter games, having scored four goals in six appearances before that match, and he has been speaking about his future with the Light Blues beyond the end of his current loan spell.

The Czechia international has said that he “definitely” wants to extend his stay at Ibrox, whilst speaking during the international break, but has also admitted that there has been “no contact” about a possible deal.

Cerny, therefore, is still in the dark in regards to whether or not he will be at Rangers or Wolfsburg, or somewhere else entirely, at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Why Rangers should sign Vaclav Cerny permanently

The Ibrox bosses should be doing everything that they can to secure a permanent deal for the left-footed star in the upcoming summer transfer window, or an extension on his loan if a permanent move is not possible.

Since joining the Gers on loan from the Bundesliga outfit last summer under Clement, Cerny has been in electric form for the Scottish giants on the right flank with his ability to score goals and create chances for the team.

The 27-year-old magician has racked up 17 goals and seven assists in 44 matches in all competitions for the club so far this season – making him the second-top scorer at Ibrox behind Cyriel Dessers (22).

As you can see in the clip above, Cerny has the pace to get away from defenders in counter-attacking situations, whilst also having the quality and composure in front of goal to tuck chances away.

The Czechia international has only provided two assists in 27 matches in the Premiership so far this term for Rangers, but that does not paint the whole picture of his creative performances.

Appearances

27

Goals

11

Big chances created

6

Key passes

68

Assists

2

Dribbles completed

41

As you can see in the table above, Cerny has created an eye-catching 68 chances and six ‘big chances’ in his 27 games, which suggests that his teammates have let him down with their wasteful finishing in front of goal.

The Wolfsburg loanee is valued at £7.5m by Transfermarkt and Rangers must pounce on a permanent deal for him if that is close to the value the Bundesliga side hold him at, because of his terrific performances in the final third this season.

Rangers will also have to deal with potential outgoings from Ibrox, with clubs interested in their star performers, amid a report linking Nicolas Raskin with a move away.

The latest on Nicolas Raskin's future

According to TEAMtalk, there are several teams eyeing up the Belgium international ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, thanks to his displays for the Light Blues this season.

The report claims that Aston Villa, Brentford, and Leeds United – who signed Glen Kamara from Ibrox in 2023 – are all interested in signing Raskin from Rangers later this year.

It also reveals that teams in Germany and Italy are also keeping tabs on his situation, along with the English teams, and that Rangers ‘will do well’ to avoid cashing in on the central midfield star.

Transfer Focus

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

TEAMtalk states that the Scottish giants have placed a significant price tag of at least £20m on the Belgian starlet’s head, and it remains to be seen whether or not any of the interested parties are prepared to pay that for him.

Nicolas Raskin's soaring market value

Rangers have hit the jackpot with the former Standard Liege man since he made the move to Ibrox from his home country to sign for Michael Beale’s side in January 2023, joining in the same window as Todd Cantwell.

The Gers reportedly paid Norwich City a fee of £1.5m to sign Cantwell and the English midfielder racked up 14 goals and 12 assists in 64 matches before being sold to Blackburn Rovers for just £500k last summer.

That was a gamble that, ultimately, did not pay off for Beale or Rangers as the attacking midfield star was sold for a third of the price that they paid for him.

Raskin, who scored against Celtic last time out, was reportedly signed for a fee of £1.32m from Standard Liege, and that gamble is one that could be set to pay off.

Rangers reportedly value the Belgium international at a staggering fee of £20m, which means that his value has soared by a whopping 1,900%, from £1.32m to £20m, and it means that he is currently worth £12.5m more than Cerny, despite the Czech winger’s impressive form this term.

Appearances

26

10

Goals + assists

6

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.8

5.2

Ball recoveries per game

5.4

8.0

Ground duel success rate

59%

46%

Aerial duel success rate

59%

57%

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star has provided impressive defensive performances in midfield in the Premiership and the Europa League to earn that interest from abroad and his huge valuation.

Rangers have, therefore, hit the jackpot with Raskin because they have turned a £1.32m investment into a £20m-rated asset who is now worth even more than their star loanee, as well as being worth 1,900% more than the fee they paid for him.

UCL club chasing "quick" Rangers star and he could now leave with Igamane

A concern for the Gers…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 25, 2025

Whilst the Light Blues should want to keep hold of their best players in every transfer window, selling Raskin for a big profit would be a huge success story for the recruitment team and, potentially, convince other young prospects to join Rangers to follow in his footsteps.

The Uruguayan coach compiled an impressive record, with 17 wins, eight draws and just two losses

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Cruz Azul likely to trigger buyout clause in Larcamón’s contract

He has a 10-3-6 record with NecaxaHe won the 2022-23 Champions Cup with LeónFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Cruz Azul has officially announced the departure of Vicente Sánchez as the head coach of the men’s first team. In a statement released Friday, the organization confirmed that both parties agreed to end Sánchez's tenure.

"By mutual agreement, the tenure of Professor Vicente Sánchez as the head of our men's first team has come to an end today. His leadership, along with the institutional coaching staff, was instrumental in securing the club’s seventh CONCACAF Champions Cup title," the club said in a statement.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Cruz Azul confirmed that a new head coach will be announced in the coming days. According to multiple sources, the leading candidate is Argentine manager Nicolás Larcamón, currently in charge of Club Necaxa.

Talks between the clubs are reportedly in their final stages, with Cruz Azul expected to trigger the $2.5 million buyout clause in Larcamón’s contract.

The intention is to finalize the appointment swiftly, as the club gears up for the 2025 Apertura tournament and prepares for its participation in the Intercontinental Cup, to be held later this year in Qatar.

Larcamón, who previously managed Puebla and León, has built a reputation for developing competitive squads within Liga MX. His arrival at Cruz Azul is expected to usher in a new era, as the club seeks to build on recent success and establish itself as a dominant force both domestically and internationally.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Despite leading the team to continental glory with a resounding 5-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Champions Cup final, Sánchez's position had already been under scrutiny. The Uruguayan coach compiled an impressive record during his 27-game spell: 17 wins, eight draws and just two losses.

At one point, he orchestrated a 19-match unbeaten run that lasted until the second leg of the semifinals against Club América – a match that ultimately sealed his fate.

Though successful on the pitch, Sánchez reportedly struggled to gain the full backing of the club's front office.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL?

With Larcamón expected to take charge, Cruz Azul has already begun shaping its roster ahead of the upcoming Apertura 2025 tournament. The club is working to provide its soon-to-be head coach with the right reinforcements to mount a serious title challenge.

Among the names generating the most buzz are Serbian striker Luka Jović, currently with AC Milan, and Argentine midfielder José Paradela, who plays under Larcamón at Necaxa. Both are reportedly high on the wish list as the club looks to bolster the squad.

La Máquina is set to kick off its campaign on July 12, hosting Mazatlán FC at home.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians encerrou na tarde desta terça-feira (16) a preparação para o jogo de volta das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, contra o Atlético-GO.

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+Mercado fechado: confira o balanço da janela de transferências do Corinthians

O Timão tem o desafio de tirar uma desvantagem de dois gols de diferença, que o Dragão construiu na primeira partida, em Goiânia, há três semanas.

Vindo de uma eliminação nas quartas de final da Libertadores e uma derrota no clássico contra o Palmeiras, que distanciou o clube alvinegro do título brasileiro, a partida deste meio de semana ganhou um grande peso ao Timão.

+ Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil e simule os jogos da reta final

O técnico Vítor Pereira comandou uma atividade de posse de bola em campo reduzido, seguido por um trabalho tático visando a partida, que será disputada na Neo Química Arena.

O elenco corintiano também treinou bolas paradas, incluindo batidas de pênaltis. Caso vença por dois gols de diferença, o Corinthians terá que passará pela disputa de penalidades.

Por já ter disputado a Copa do Brasil pelo Internacional, o zagueiro Bruno Méndez é desfalque garantido para o jogo diante do Dragão. O lateral-direito Rafael Ramos é dúvida, após ter sentido um problema muscular na coxa no Dérbi do último fim de semana.

Com isso, a provável escalação corintiana tem: Cássio; Fagner, Balbuena, Raul Gustavo e Fábio Santos; Fausto Vera, Du Queiroz (Cantillo) e Renato Augusto (Giuliano); Gustavo Mosquito (Adson), Yuri Alberto e Róger Guedes.

Tottenham Hotspur could now look to “get rid” of a midfielder this summer, as Ange Postecoglou is not happy with his options in the middle of the park, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Tottenham planning midfield revamp

There are signs Tottenham could be planning to revamp their midfield in the summer transfer window, having identified a number of potential targets, most recently making the first move to sign Sunderland’s Chris Rigg by submitting a £38m offer.

Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney is another name on Spurs’ shortlist, having recently entered the race for the 22-year-old midfielder, who could be brought in as a replacement for Yves Bissouma, with the Mali international’s future now in major doubt.

Plans to sell Bissouma in the summer are said to have been approved, with the 28-year-old playing a more sporadic role in the Premier League this season, often being limited to appearances as a substitute.

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Ange Postecoglou could make a statement signing in the off-season.

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Everton are interested in signing the former Brighton man, with Tottenham now ready to sell, but he is not the only central midfielder who they could look to cash-in on this summer.

According to former scout Mick Brown, Postecoglou is unhappy with his options in the middle of the park, casting Rodrigo Bentancur’s future into doubt.

“Ange Postecoglou is not happy with his midfield options. It’s such a key area of the team, and the players at his disposal have not been good enough.

“They’ve failed to impress when called upon so far this season, and Bentancur now is not part of Tottenham’s plans moving forward.

“So if they can get rid of him and bring in a decent fee, it’s definitely something they’ll consider. I hear there are clubs in Europe who have been looking at a move in the summer.”

Bentancur impressing defensively

It has been a disappointing season all-round for Tottenham, and Bentancur hasn’t exactly stood out, with WhoScored ranking the midfielder 11th in terms of average rating in the Premier League.

That said, some of the Uruguayan’s defensive performances over the past year indicate he could be worth keeping hold of, ranking highly on some key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Rank vs midfielders in big 5 leagues

Interceptions

2.14 (99th percentile)

Clearances

2.01 (81st percentile)

Blocks

1.67 (87th percentile)

Aerials won

1.69 (87th percentile)

The 27-year-old has predominantly featured in a defensive midfield role this season, which may have hindered his ability to contribute going forward, having picked up just two goals and one assist in all competitions.

However, the £75k-per-week midfielder’s defensive contribution cannot be questioned, so it would feel a little harsh for Tottenham to sanction a departure this summer, but reports from February suggest Bentancur signing a new contract is also a possibility.