Following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, Everton boss Sean Dyche has a huge summer ahead of him, that could potentially impact the club’s ever-present Premier League status.

Although the Toffees produced a phenomenal end to the season which saw them win four of their remaining six matches, the squad could be ripped apart this summer as a result of the looming PSR problems.

The club will have to part ways with at least one big-money player, just to have a fighting chance of avoiding any further punishments, with Jarrad Branthwaite the most likely, having been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.

It will undoubtedly be a huge blow for Everton should he depart Goodison Park, with the 21-year-old excelling, so much so that he’s earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.

However, the club also currently have a lot of contracted players who are past the level required of England’s top flight, with Dyche needing to brutally part ways with one player to help raise funds.

Michael Keane’s career at Everton

During the summer of 2017, Everton forked out a huge £30m for defender Michael Keane – in the hopes he could be a spare head in the club’s European ambitions.

Keane impressed in his first season at Goodison, starting 30 times over the course of the campaign and helping the Toffees secure an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.

The defender remained a crucial part of the Toffees' backline for the 2018/2019 campaign, with Keane making 33 appearances in the top flight and looking good value for his hefty price tag.

Michael Keane's PL career at Everton

Season

Games

Goals

Minutes played

2017/18

33

0

2,560'

2018/19

33

1

2,970'

2019/20

31

2

2,556'

2020/21

35

3

2,990'

2021/22

32

3

2,792'

2022/23

12

1

983'

2023/24

9

1

435'

Stats via Transfermarkt

However, he would drop down the pecking order at Goodison following the arrival of James Tarkowski, with his game time dramatically decreasing – Keane only featuring 12 times for a total of just 983 minutes in the Premier League.

Despite his decline the season prior, the 2023/24 campaign has been a new low for the 31-year-old, achieving a tally of just nine starts – with Dyche desperately needing to bin the centre-back this summer.

Michael Keane's market value in 2024

Nearly seven years on from his move to Merseyside, he’s endured a huge drop from the £30m the club forked out for him, with Keane now valued at a measly £1.8m, as per Football Transfers.

Keane, who is "always struggling" according to talkSPORT's Perry Groves, has suffered a drop of over £28m – an astronomical amount – with Tarkowski, his replacement, now worth a staggering £17.6m, less than two years after his free transfer to the club.

The one-time Manchester United man only has 12 months left on his current contract at Goodison, with this summer potentially their last opportunity to sell him before losing him for absolutely nothing.

With Keane – who was reportedly told he could leave in January – on a reported £80k-per-week, as per Capology, the club desperately needs to cut him loose in the coming months, if they are to prevent any big-name departures from Dyche’s side.

Related Everton eyeing instant Onana replacement with £102m release clause

He has been exceptional during the 2023/24 season.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 23, 2024

Chelsea have reportedly opened talks over another addition to the squad this summer as they look to balance their side under Mauricio Pochettino.

Season ending strongly under Pochettino

Despite a slow start, Chelsea are making a late push for a spot in next season's Europa League, and have showed glimpses of the side that they could become under Pochettino.

Their 5-0 hammering at the hands of Arsenal is their only defeat in the Premier League since February, and they are the fifth-best team in the division in 2024, behind only the Gunners, Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Premier League form table 2024
	Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goal Difference	Points
Arsenal	16	14	1	1	43	43
Manchester City	16	13	3	0	30	42
Liverpool	17	11	3	3	20	36
Newcastle United	16	8	3	5	10	27
Chelsea	15	7	5	3	8	26

That has seen them rocket up the table, and they are now just two points behind Newcastle United and firmly in the hunt for the final Europa League spot, while the six point gap to fifth placed Tottenham is not an impossible one to breach given the relative form of the two sides.

The Blues boss refused to describe it as a successful season, but admitted that he felt the staff and players are happy with the direction of the club.

"I cannot describe the season as a successful season if you don't win a title at Chelsea," said Pochettino. "Again, expectation is always to win titles."

"Circumstances have shown that the reality was really, really tough, from day one until today. But deep inside, the players and staff were living in the reality. I think the staff are happy and the players are so happy."

There is an expectation that the Blues will once again be active in the transfer market as they bid to complete their squad overhaul, and now light has been shed on just who they are targetting.

Talks opened for midfield maestro

That comes courtesy of the Daily Mail, who claim that Chelsea have "opened talks" for talented midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, currently at Shakhtar Donetsk.

The pair have a strong relationship after Chelsea signed Mykhaylo Mudryk from the Ukrainian outfit, and Sudakov appears to be the next star bound for Europe, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all reportedly chasing his signature, though it is Chelsea that seem to lead the race.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar President Sergei Palkin has been touting his services at every opportunity.

£110,000-a-week Chelsea star now reaches total agreement to join new club

It should all be confirmed soon after a verbal pact was made a couple of weeks ago.

By
Ben Browning

May 6, 2024

"This summer window, he has a big chance to move to some big clubs. We have had some contacts with big clubs and some are not negotiating with us directly but are getting a feel for the summer environment", he explained.

"He will definitely move to a top European club this summer. When I was at Chelsea versus Everton, many people asked me about Sudakov."

There is a release clause in his contract set at £128m, but it is believed that £65m would be enough to land the 21-year-old midfielder this summer. The midfielder has racked up nearly 100 appearances for his current side, and has come in for some heavy praise while doing so.

Coach Marino Pusic dubbed him an "exceptionally talented" footballer, but added that he works hard to become better too: "He is an exceptionally talented footballer. Talent comes from nature or God, but you have to do something with it to develop it."

It is added that Sudakov is viewed as "first team ready" by Chelsea, while his addition could finally help bring the best out of Enzo Fernandez, who has struggled since his arrival 18 months ago. Could he be the missing piece in Pochettino's midfield?

The U.S. rightfully has high hopes for the expected next head coach, but the players need to take accountablity

A new coach can make countless differences, and if – as expected – Mauricio Pochettino eventaully takes over the coaching reins for the U.S. men's national team, he surely will.

But at some point, players need to take responsibility.

That's the reality the USMNT is facing after an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Canada Saturday. Their recent struggles aren't simply about coaching. They're also about attitude.

This isn't outside-looking-in speculation, either. This isn't kicking a team when they're down. No, it's an admission straight from the players themselves. More than anyone, those in the U.S. locker room realize that they have continuously been underperforming.

One word thrown around a lot following the unexpected loss – the first by a U.S. squad to Canada on home soil in 67 years – was "mentality" – or rather, a lack thereof. The mindset hasn't been right and the effort hasn't been there. As a result, 2024 has been – by most accounts – a disaster.

A Copa America was squandered, and then a chance to respond in an important friendly – and the chance to impress a new coach – ended in yet another embarrassing moment. This year could have been a big step toward the 2026 World Cup. Instead, it's resulted in very real concerns about this U.S. less than two years out from the world's biggest soccer tournament.

"It's tough to say," Christian Pulisic admitted when asked to identity what's going wrong for the U.S. "It's something that we have to fix, but I really don't have an answer."

How does the USMNT rediscover the mentality that can make this team ready to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in of the world? How do you recapture the fire that has clearly been lost?

Well, for all the understandable anticipation about the reported new coach, it doesn't start with Pochettino. It didn't start with Gregg Berhalter or Mikey Varas or Anthony Hudson or B.J. Callaghan or any of the other U.S. coaches. This must start with the players themselves. Something has to change, and it has to come from within.

• USA Today Sports
  

  Speaking truth

  Following the loss to Canada, Varas pulled no punches. He was willing to accept responsibility, as every coach should. He wasn't, though, willing to accept all of it. After what he'd just seen, he couldn't justify shielding the players entirely.

  In Varas' first game in charge in an interim role, the U.S. had been dominated by Canada. It was a 2-1 loss that felt much worse. Canada, led by American-born coach and former USMNT candidate Jesse Marsch, bullied their southern neighbors. In the end, the U.S. fell to Canada at home for the first time since 1957.

  The loss largely came down to individual mistakes. Johnny Cardoso's heavy touch directly led to Jacob Shaffelburg's opener. Tim Ream's misplay in the box led directly to Jonathan David's goal. There were plenty of isolated mishaps in between that could have led to two, three or four Canada goals.

  "We probably should get into the half with more than one," Marsch said. "We're still struggling to really capitalize on a lot of our moments, but we'll get better and better at that."

  Marsch's opposing coach, Varas, had plenty more to criticize. He admitted that the changes he had installed may have overwhelmed players, leading to some of the rocky sequences in the attack. But the defending? There was plenty of blame to go around.

  "The mentalities of the players, sorry, they know it. They know," Varas said. "We speak the truth to each other. I love those guys, but they know that mentality of fighting and running, it's a sacrifice… It's a combination between me and them, all of us together."

  What accounted for the lack of intensity?

  "I'm not a psychologist, so I don't know," he said. "I felt that the trainings were intense. They were aggressive, but when the game comes, you got to get going, and the players are the ones that bring that. Coaches can only get you so far from a mentality perspective."

Advertisement

• Imagn
  

  The stats behind the loss

  The eye test told you how bad things were against Canada. Even someone with a basic understanding of the game could see the difference between the two teams. Canada was flying and the USMNT looked afraid and unsure.

  Beyond the eye test, though, the actual statistics were even worse. The numbers show just how much intensity the U.S. lacked from the opening whistle to the final whistle.

  In the end, Canada finished with 31 tackles. The U.S.? Just 12. According to TruMedia, that's the worst tackle difference for the U.S. in 67 games dating back to 2020. Canada also won 64 duels compared to the USMNT's 46, further showing the difference in intensity between the two sides.

  Yunus Musah had little chemistry with Cardoso, which is what allowed Canada to dominate the midfield. And Cardoso was far too loose on the ball early on in a game that was essentially an audition for a bigger midfield role. 

  "The biggest message was that we're losing all the duels," Varas said of the halftime discussion. "We're not running enough. We're not fouling in transition."

  The hustle ultimately paid dividends for Canada. In the first half, they outshot the U.S. 11-1. By the end, it was a more flattering 17-8. Canada looked like a team that simply wanted it more, which should be considered unacceptable by this U.S. squad.

• Getty
  

  Finding pride in the shirt

  For the better part of two decades, the USMNT was built on pride. They were rarely the most talented team on the field, but they were gritty and unafraid. Their mentality carried them to victories that they had no business getting. It became the foundation of the program.

  That foundation has begun to decay. in Tim Ream's eyes. It's not irreparable, but it requires all involved to self-evaluate and admit that change is required. The status quo is no longer acceptable.

  "It's something that I think we need to get back to: really taking immense pride in wearing the jersey," Ream said. "And that's not to say that we aren't proud to wear the jersey, but I think there's a certain standard that we need to hold ourselves to and we haven't been doing that. That's on us as individuals, as players, and it has to come from within us.

  "You can't coach intensity. You either have it or you don't, and you either bring it or you don't, and we haven't been bringing it."

  It's a point that one of Ream's fellow U.S. centerbacks, Walker Zimmerman, echoed at the Olympics. Zimmerman hasn't been with the senior team recently, but was a key figure for the Olympics after starting at the 2022 World Cup. In his mind, some of the fight has been sucked out of the USMNT player pool in recent years.

  "I think, to some degree, we've gotten away from that and feel like just because we're whoever you are, that you just can get called in," Zimmerman said in August. "That stuff pisses me off. I think guys, every time they put on the jersey, I don't care how talented you are, you want to play with pride. I think we have the characters to do it, but we don't always do it."

  Ream, to his credit, accepted blame. He, more than anyone, will know his mishap on the second Canada goal was inexcusable. He's been around long enough to understand the vital ability to point a finger at yourself. The question now is if some of his teammates have found that same ability.

  "At the end of the day, you really just have to look at yourself and understand that either you bring it or you don't bring it," he said. "I've said this for a long time: the more you don't bring it, the quicker you're going to be out of the game. It's tough, but we do have to speak up a little bit. I think guys know, guys understand."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  A silver lining

  What's the quickest way to remind players that there's a high bar they they need to maintain? Find a teammate willing to push them. With the World Cup looming, the USMNT is fortunate to have no shortage of players ready and willing to push.

  On Saturday, the substitutes Varas turned to did exactly that. From the moment they arrived, the level lifted. That is, admittedly, easier when coming into a game against tired legs and blatant problems that need fixing, but it's still a positive step.

  Varas was full of praise for Aidan Morris, who earned a bigger chance in midfield with a standout performance after coming on. He pointed to Haji Wright and Ricardo Pepi, who provided life to the attack, and Cade Cowell, who stretched the defense a bit with his pace. And then there was Luca de la Torre, who scored his first USMNT goal and added a bit more composure to a midfield that was previously being torn apart.

  "All the guys who started, they'll all wish that we would have started the game with more energy, like we found probably in minute 52 or 53, when we started building that energy," Varas said. "At the end of the day, I'm going to watch the game back, because it's a collective team, right? It's a collective sport. It's not always everyone. It can be one or two or three whose mentality was missing the most. It's not everybody is equal like that, so we'll have to analyze that and see."

A key update regarding the future of Newcastle United ace Bruno Guimaraes has emerged, courtesy of CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

Bruno Guimaraes' Newcastle future unclear

There are numerous important figures at St James' Park who could leave the club at the end of the season as they look to navigate Financial Fair Play laws while strengthening the squad, but Bruno is arguably the player being linked with an exit the most.

The Brazilian has been such a popular figure ever since arriving at Newcastle in January 2022, not only providing box-to-box quality in the midfield but also injecting the type of fight and passion that immediately endears a player to any fan base.

He played a big role in his side getting into the Champions League last season, following a superb fourth-place finish in the Premier League, and he is arguably their best and most important player.

It could be that Bruno's head is turned by a move elsewhere in the summer transfer window, however, with Manchester City one of the teams believed to be in the race to sign him. The reigning champions see him as a strong target, and the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are also in the mix – all teams who can offer a place in Europe's elite competition next term.

There is no definite decision regarding the 26-year-old, who will clearly be weighing up his future, but reports of him buying a new £4m house for his family in nearby Darras Hall will have acted as a boost to the supporters, suggesting he may be staying put.

Latest Bruno Guimaraes update a worry for Newcastle

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs explained that there is a "verbal agreement" between Newcastle and Bruno that could allow him to leave for less than his £100m release clause.

In many ways, the fact that Bruno is being linked with so many top clubs shows what an outstanding signing he has been for Newcastle, being hailed as "superb" by St James' legend Alan Shearer. The Magpies' failure to get back into the Champions League could be a big issue, however, should the midfielder want to be playing in Europe's leading club competition next season.

Bruno is right at the peak of his powers, and may not want to waste those years despite his clear affinity for the club, so the thought of heading to a European powerhouse could appeal.

Newcastle make first move for "incredible" in-demand free agent for Howe

The Magpies could land a bargain deal.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 28, 2024

The hope is that he sees Newcastle's good recent form as a reason to stay put, though, continuing to be one of the poster boys of this exciting era under Eddie Howe, but it is easy to envisage a scenario where he has moved elsewhere come the start of next season.

Paul Mullin says Stok Cae Ras was "rocking" during Wrexham's thumping win over local rivals Shrewsbury Town.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Wrexham beat Shrewsbury 3-0Red Dragons go top of League OneMullin says Stok Cae Ras was "rocking"WHAT HAPPENED?

Goals from Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee, and Jack Marriott secured Wrexham an impressive home win on Saturday. Mullin, who came off the bench in the victory, said there was a terrific atmosphere in the ground – on what was a "splendid day" overall.

AdvertisementWHAT PAUL MULLIN SAID

On Saturday night, the striker, who missed the first two games of the season with a back injury, tweeted: "Splendid day down at the Cae Ras it was rocking!! ❤️ @Wrexham_AFC."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

After winning the National League and backing it up with automatic promotion out of League Two in two straight years, expectations have been high over what Wrexham can do in League One. But few would have expected they would be unbeaten from five games and sit top of the table – a feat they achieved after the Shrewsbury win. It is early days, but Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side have started superbly.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT?

Forward Mullin could get his first start of the season when Wrexham take on League Two side Salford City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, before travelling to League One title rivals Birmingham City next Saturday.

Ten Pakistan players who tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week will not be part of the squad that flies out to Manchester on Sunday. The 18 players who tested negative, alongside the support staff who have been tested, will be the only ones to board the charter plane arranged by the ECB – provided the results of their second test, which the PCB will announce on Saturday, also come out negative.This was confirmed after the ECB announced in a press release that members of the Pakistan travelling party who had tested positive would “not be permitted to travel with the advance group”. Though it did not specify if those players would need to return two negative tests to be permitted to travel, the idea of an “advance group” implied there would be members of the Pakistan side not part of the original travelling group on June 28.That would appear to end any hopes the PCB harboured of sending all 28 players in the squad on the same flight, after they were understood to be considering dropping the requirement of two negative tests before permission to depart for England was granted.That would have had implications for the ten Pakistan players and one member of the support staff who returned positive tests for Covid-19 earlier this week, though all of them were asymptomatic. They were tested a second time on Friday, and if the two-negative test rule had been ditched, would have been able to travel with the other 18 players if the test results turned out negative. As things stand, the PCB will revert to the original schedule, which means those ten players will be tested a third time on June 29, and catch a commercial flight to England later on once they have provided two negative tests.ALSO READ: Pakistan may drop need for two negative Covid testsFive reserve players were called up as cover and tested for the virus on Thursday, with the results expected on Saturday. Bilal Asif, Imran Butt, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Musa and Rohail Nazir have all undergone tests, as has masseur Mohammad Imran. Nazir, the PCB announced, was called up as a back-up wicketkeeper after Pakistan’s first-choice Mohammad Rizwan tested positive for Covid-19. Rizwan was, according to the PCB CEO Wasim Khan, the only one of the ten whose result had implications for the Test leg of Pakistan’s tour of England, which will be played before the three-match T20I series.On Thursday, the 18 players who tested negative, as well as 11 support staff personnel, underwent a second round of tests. Should all of them return negative tests once more, they will be cleared to depart for England on June 28 according to schedule.The ECB also announced that the Pakistan squad that lands in Manchester on Sunday will undergo a 14-day quarantine period in Worcestershire before transferring to Derbyshire’s Incora Country Ground on July 13. That would reflect a change in plan from the original schedule, which would have seen the Pakistan squad quarantine in Derbyshire, although an ECB spokesperson said that the original itinerary had not been set in stone.The tour comprises three Test matches and three T20Is in August and September. All six games will be played behind closed doors.

Ange Postecoglou’s first season as Tottenham Hotspur manager ended in a frustrating manner, failing to secure a Champions League spot ahead of Aston Villa. That is largely down to the 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City, a game which, had they won, Spurs would have snuck into fourth.

With that being said, it is still a season in which Spurs can be happy, with fifth place lining up with many fans’ and neutral’s expectations. They had an incredible start to the season; their first ten games saw them win eight and draw two. Not only that, the 26 points Postecoglou’s side accumulated is the most by a manager in their first ten fixtures in charge in the Premier League, as per Opta Joe.

This season has certainly given Spurs and Postecoglou a platform from which they can launch next season. Of course, the demands of European football, a Thursday to Sunday schedule specifically, will return in 2024/25.

With that in mind, the summer transfer window in 2024 will be crucial for the Lilywhites. According to ESPN’s senior writer James Olley, Postecoglou has “asked the club for at least three new signings in the summer transfer window”, with several players on the way out of the club.

There is one player whom Spurs have been linked with in recent weeks, who could kickstart Postecoglou’s spending spree this summer.

Spurs looking to sign Premier League striker

The player in question here is Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke. The 26-year-old has been somewhat of a journeyman during his career so far but has found a home at Bournemouth, and after a wonderful season in the Premier League, is attracting interest from elsewhere.

According to Alex Crook of talkSPORT, Spurs are one of the clubs who are interested in signing the Englishman this summer and are contemplating a swoop. Despite the fact that it would take a “hefty bid” to purchase Solanke, Bournemouth owner Bill Foley knows that a deal could be struck this summer.

Indeed, Spurs will not be the only Premier League club interested in signing Solanke once the transfer window opens. As per reports, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side are also strikingly interested in purchasing the 26-year-old.

It could cost Newcastle £60m to persuade the Cherries to sell Solanke, so it is safe to assume it will be a similar fee for Spurs, too. We could well be about to witness a big transfer saga surrounding the former Chelsea and Liverpool man.

How Solanke and Harry Kane compare

This season in Solanke’s game, there has been a certain likeness to former Spurs talisman Harry Kane.

The Bournemouth centre-forward bagged 19 goals in the Premier League this term and was only behind Erling Haaland with 27 goals, Cole Palmer with 22 goals and Alexander Isak with 21 goals for the Golden Boot.

This was also comfortably Solanke’s best return in the Premier League. In six previous top-flight campaigns so far in his career, the attacker has not scored anywhere close to 19 goals combined.

Of course, Solanke’s numbers are not close to those that Kane put up in the Premier League; the England captain is “the best striker in the world” according to international teammate Harry Maguire. However, the Cherries striker's 19 goals outscored Kane in three of his ten full Premier League years, showing he can keep up at that goalscoring rate Spurs lost when he left.

2013/14

N/A

N/A

10

3

2014/15

N/A

N/A

34

21

2015/16

N/A

N/A

38

25

2016/17

N/A

N/A

30

29

2017/18

21

1

37

20

2018/19

10

0

28

17

2019/20

32

3

29

18

2020/21

N/A

N/A

35

23

2021/22

N/A

N/A

37

17

2022/23

33

6

38

30

2023/24

38

19

N/A

N/A

Aside from his impressive record in front of goal this season, Solanke has previously been slathered with comparisons to England's skipper. Former Bournemouth player Charlie Daniels explained that he is “a bit like Harry Kane” in the way he “combines the role” of a nine and 10, before explaining the fact that “his movement’s the same as Harry’s and they’ve the same intelligence”.

Comparisons with their creativity and link-up play can certainly be drawn when looking closer at the stats, too. Both players average one key pass per 90 minutes, according to Sofascore, although Kane did create 13 big chances compared to Solanke’s three in 2023/24.

With that being said, perhaps Spurs should look no further than Solanke as they hunt down a Kane replacement this summer. There is certainly merit to say Spurs should pursue this deal, and as Daniels points out, could have a striker in the ilk of their record scorer once more.

Spurs eyeing dream Gallagher partner who's like Mousa Dembele

The Lilywhites could be looking at a bargain option to strengthen their midfield ranks…

ByRobbie Walls May 22, 2024

سجل نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، هدفين في مباراة فريقه أمام نيوكاسل، بمنافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتمكن محمد صلاح من تسجيل هدف ليفربول الثاني خلال المباراة وذلك بالدقيقة 68، مستفيدًا من تمريرة ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، وسجل المصري من لمسة واحدة.

ثم سجل صلاح هدف ليفربول الثالث في الدقيقة 83 من عمر المباراة وأيضًا بتمريرة من أرنولد.

وارتفع رصيد محمد صلاح إلى 13 هدفًا، ليتصدر الترتيب متجاوزًا نجم مانشستر سيتي إيرلينج هالاند.

ورفع كول بالمر لاعب تشيلسي رصيده إلى 9 أهداف بعدما سجل هدفًا في الفوز أمام ساوثهامبتون (5-1). ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي

1 محمد صلاح، ليفربول، 13 هدفًا.

2 إيرلينج هالاند، مانشستر سيتي، 12 هدفًا.

3 كول بالمر، تشيلسي، 9 أهداف.

4 كريس وود، نوتينجهام فورست، 9 أهداف.

5 نيكولاس جاكسون، تشيلسي، 8 أهداف.

6 بريان مبيمومو، برينتفورد، 8 أهداف.

7 يوان ويسا، برينتفورد، 8 أهداف.

8 ماتيوس كونيا، ولفرهامبتون، 7 أهداف.

9 أولي واتكينز، أستون فيلا، 6 أهداف.

10 داني ويلبيك، برايتون، 6 أهداف.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2024/25، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا

Rangers are reportedly lining up the signing of a "terrific" £24,000-a-week player in the next transfer window, with the individual in question now confirming he'll be available this summer.

Rangers title hopes & transfer news

Philippe Clement and his players are gearing up for their biggest game of the season this weekend, with the Gers making the trip to Celtic for a potentially defining Scottish Premiership clash on Saturday afternoon. They are three points behind their biggest rivals, so they need to go to Parkhead and win, in what promises to be nerve-shredding occasion.

Either way, Rangers have to ensure that this season hasn't simply been a one-off under Clement, building an even stronger team with new signings, and showing that this is just the start of a memorable era at Ibrox.

One important piece of transfer news that has emerged is rumour linking Oscar Cortes with a permanent move to the Gers, having come in on loan from Lens during the January transfer window. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented him from featuring regularly, with only six league appearances coming his way, but he has shone when he has played, scoring and assisting once apiece, as well as averaging 1.2 key passes per game.

Meanwhile, Birmingham City centre-back Dion Sanderson is considered a perfect replacement for Connor Goldson, having done his best to keep his side in the Championship this season, albeit failing to. He has been hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" of a defender by former Sunderland manager Lee Johnson.

Rangers line up move for "terrific" player

According to a new update from The Belfast Telegraph, Rangers are considering a summer move for Paddy McNair, with the centre-back confirming that he is leaving Middlesbrough after an impressive spell, saying on Instagram: "After six years and 219 appearances, my time (at Middlesbrough) has come to an end. Big thank you to all of the players, staff and the fans for the support throughout the years. Looking forward to the next chapter."

McNair could be a brilliant signing this summer, not only because of his pedigree as a player, but also because the report notes that the £24,000 per week central defender is "a boyhood Rangers fan".

At 29, the 49-time capped Northern Ireland international is a hugely experienced and versatile defender, but he is also still at a good age to remain at a high level for at least another two or three years, if not longer. Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has lauded him in the recent past, saying: "I thought he was terrific today, probably the best player throughout the game with his passing from the back and composure on the ball."

Rangers "working" on early transfer who could be even better than Sima

Rangers appear to be eyeing a signing ahead of the transfer window opening…

ByRoss Kilvington May 6, 2024

With Goldson set to leave Rangers at the end of the season, a void will appear in the middle of Clement's defence, and McNair, who can also play in defensive midfield, stands out as an ideal option, not least because he also made 27 appearances for Manchester United during his younger days, knowing what it takes to play for a huge club.

Sunderland won't be exactly gutted when the regular Championship season comes to a close this coming Saturday, with another defeat to Watford last time out their 21st loss of a dismal campaign.

It's been a car-crash on Wearside with Michael Beale and Tony Mowbray also occupying the dug-out at one point before a lacklustre Mike Dodds took on the poisoned Black Cats chalice, the latter man set to walk out of the Stadium of Light at the end of the campaign dejected with his efforts as interim manager.

Black Cats fans will want to enjoy watching their side again next season after poor displays have become far too common under Dodds, with this potential new face bringing excitement back to proceedings if given a chance as his successor.

Sunderland's search for a manager

Various different names are being touted to join Sunderland in the off-season as their next boss, as some left-field faces now begin to gain traction.

Even former Sunderland star Jermain Defoe has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next Black Cats boss, with reports even suggesting that informal talks have taken place recently between the now-retired striker and the powers that be at the Stadium of Light.

There's a different manager, however, that looks to be the frontrunner away from these outlandish reports, with the Black Cats potentially trying to replicate the success story of Danny Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday in this pursuit.

A report from the Northern Echo suggests that Sunderland – who are also believed to be looking at Rohl – have made contact with Bayern Munich U19s coach Rene Maric about taking over in the summer, the 31-year-old having previously experienced English football with Leeds United as assistant manager to the divisive Jesse Marsch.

With Rohl working wonders at Hillsborough after also previously being attached to the Bavarian giants, this could be the fresh and bold appointment the stuttering Championship side need to go all guns blazing for promotion next season.

Maric as Dodds' replacement

Maric feels like the right fit potentially for a Sunderland group who is equally as exciting and as raw as the Austrian manager is, having made his Bayern U19s side into a fun watch this season.

With Maric at the helm, the U19s have bagged an impressive 29 goals from just 13 matches with an attacking 4-3-3 formation the 31-year-old's preferred set-up.

This would certainly make the Black Cats a more entertaining side to watch next season if Maric took on the reins, with Dodds sucking the enjoyment out of Sunderland's game in April with just two goals scored all month by his dire side.

Maric's Bayern compared to Dodds' Sunderland this season
Manager	Games managed	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals scored
Maric	13	7	0	6	29
Dodds	12	2	3	7	7
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Described as "exciting" by football journalist Josh Bunting when commenting on the speculation, it's clear to see why he's being favoured as the next manager for Sunderland.

The likes of Jack Clarke would be licking their lips at the prospect of the Bayern U19s man coming in therefore, potentially wanting to stick around at the Stadium of Light to become the main hero of the new full-throttle era instead of moving on.

Sunderland will also be looking at Maric with a view to try and mimic how well Rohl has done at Wednesday to date, with the German manager transforming the Owls from relegation certainties into having their heads above water in the race to stave off the Championship drop-zone.

Only four years older than Maric with no previous main management credentials on his CV in the EFL before taking on the Owls job, Rohl has managed to pick up an impressive 15 wins from his 37 games in charge so far in West Yorkshire.

Sunderland will aim to catch teams off-guard with a similar left-field appointment if they can get a deal over the line, hoping that the misery of Dodds is far behind them soon.

Sunderland could hire O'Shea alternative who'd be perfect for Clarke

Sunderland could keep Jack Clarke around for longer with this managerial appointment.

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 24, 2024