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Wednesday's Champions League clash between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain should have immediately seen the top two players in the 2025 Ballon d'Or vote squaring off against one another. However, while Lamine Yamal has returned to full fitness just in time for the game at Montjuic, Ousmane Dembele will remain sidelined for at least another couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, the injury-enforced absences of Raphinha, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have robbed the fixture of further star quality – but Vitinha has been included in the PSG squad for the game in Catalonia after recovering from the knock that forced him off in Saturday's Ligue 1 win over Auxerre.

Consequently, the Portuguese is set to go up against Pedri, his one true rival for the title of the best midfielder in the world right now – and a player with whom he has quite a bit in common…

Getty Images Sport'I'm going to smash it'

Vitinha was fully deserving of his place on the podium at last week's Ballon d'Or ceremony. Truth be told, he would have made for a more worthy winner than Dembele, given his greater importance to PSG's play.

The Portuguese midfielder, though, still found his third-placed finish "unbelievable" – and one could understand why. After all, he's come an awful long way since failing to lock down a regular starting spot during his season-long loan at Wolves in 2020-21.

However, despite being regularly overlooked by Nuno Espirito Santo, Vitinha never lost faith in his ability.  

"The coach was hard on him," former Wolves defender Fernando Marcal later told . "Despite doing amazing things in training, he couldn't convince him.

"Nuno wanted Vitinha to keep it simple, to release the ball more quickly. Vitinha tried to follow instructions but he didn’t want to lose his identity. So, I asked him how he thought the following season would go for him and he replied: 'I'm going back to Porto, I'm going to smash it there and the season after I'll be playing for one of the eight best teams in Europe.'

"I thought to myself, 'Wow, this guy can't get a game at Wolves and he thinks he's going to sign for Man City or a club like that? He's a bit crazy!' But no, he certainly wasn't."

Indeed, Vitinha was so good upon his return to Porto that he earned himself a 2022 move to PSG, where his career really took off.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMessi's blessing at Barcelona

The start of Pedri's top-flight career was slightly different to that of Vitinha, in that nobody ever had any doubts over his world-class potential.

From the moment he arrived at Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2020, Pedri's talent was obvious. Consequently, a teenager signed for just €5 million (one of the best buys in the Blaugrana's history) and only expected to feature sporadically during his debut season at Camp Nou – quickly became a first-team regular.

Even Lionel Messi was blown away by the teenager's talent, and there was a lovely moment during a 3-0 win at Real Valladolid when the No.10 made history by becoming the player with the most goals for a single club in football history. Rather than bask in his individual glory, Messi immediately pointed to Pedri, the provider of an outrageous backheeled assist.

Looking back on it now, it was a wonderfully symbolic moment, Barca's glorious past acknowledging the arrival of a future star.

However, shortly after Messi left, Pedri began to break down. Basically, Barcelona and Spain ran the 18-year-old into the ground over the course of the 2020-21 campaign – during which he played a ridiculous 73 games for club and country.

The net result was Pedri being plagued by a succession of muscular problems – until Hansi Flick took charge of Barca in the summer of 2024.

AFPThe Flick factor

Initially, there was a fear that Pedri's body might buckle under the pressure of playing for such a notoriously demanding coach renowned for his intensive pressing – but it actually proved the making of him.

"Physically, I notice that I am doing much better, able to do different things," Pedri told shortly after the start of the 2024-25 season. "We are working much harder at the club than before and I think the physical trainers who have come in are doing us a lot of good."

No player benefited more from the arrival of Flick and his fitness team than Pedri.

He missed just one game in La Liga last season (through illness) and also ended up playing (59) and starting (56) more matches in all competitions than any of his Barca team-mates.

Flick was also key in that regard. The German deployed Pedri in a midfield pivot, usually alongside the revitalised Frenkie de Jong, as he saw that the Spaniard was just as capable of winning the ball as he was distributing it.

The net result was Pedri being directly involved in 14 goals during Barca's domestic treble, while at the same time winning possession more times (389) than any other player across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues.

Basically, the Flick factor, coupled with a clean bill of health, has allowed Pedri to take his game to a whole other level.

"I feel liberated," Pedri admitted. "I think Flick has also conveyed that to me: to play without pressure, to do what I know how to do and I feel much more relaxed now."

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AFP'Vitinha is vital for us'

Luis Enrique's appointment as PSG coach was just as pivotal a moment in Vitinha's development.

Before the Spaniard took over from Christoph Galtier, Vitinha had quite a lot of "chores" at the Parc des Princes, as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe didn't do a lot of defensive work.

Vitinha maintains to this day that it was a privilege to play in the same side as three legitimate superstars – but he also admits that he much prefers the new PSG project, which focuses on younger players with something to prove.

There is certainly no room for slackers in Luis Enrique's line-up, while Vitinha is also a big fan of the coach's brutal honesty.

"The best thing about him is that he's very direct," Vitinha told . "He will not lie to you. What he wants to say, he says. So you don't get the wrong impression with him.

"It's a very good thing for a player: you know what the coach thinks about you all the time. I like it a lot. Sometimes, coaches are not so direct, to protect themselves."

Unsurprisingly, Luis Enrique is just as enamoured with Vitinha, around whom he has built one of the most exciting and successful sides in Europe.

"Vitinha is unique," the former Barcelona boss says. "In possession, he is vital for us in his pivot role, he manages the ball perfectly, he does not lose it, and brings a lot to the team.

"He is strong physically, mentally, and he plays a difficult and complicated role in the PSG midfield. He embodies the perfect midfielder."

Graham Potter admitted that his recent face-swap meme trend "made my son laugh" amid pressure to turn around West Ham fortunes. Potter's reign is hanging by the thinnest of threads, and fans have already decided his fate; through 'ridicule'. After last weekend's bruising home defeat to Crystal Palace, the Hammers faithful unleashed their trademark gallows humour, flooding social media with pictures of his face swapped onto others.

• Hammers fans showing no mercy

  The Palace defeat lit the fuse. From then on, Potter’s face has been plastered onto everything from sitcom icons Del Boy and Rodney to the Chuckle Brothers. In one of the cruellest edits, supporters even swapped him onto the body of co-owner David Sullivan’s fiancee, Ampika Pickston, herself embroiled in a messy spat with fans online.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Potter reacts to viral trend

  Potter has admitted that he’s seen the memes and even revealed his teenage son found them hilarious. 

  "It made my 15-year-old son laugh a lot," he told reporters. "You have to accept what comes with it. In part it's criticism, it's at times ridicule, but that's the environment we're in…I've got a few more things to think about than that."

• Owners dithering on the axe

  Despite the humiliation, the board have so far resisted pulling the trigger. A gap of nine days before the Hammers’ next clash, a daunting away trip to David Moyes’ Everton, seemed the perfect time for change. But club insiders suggest the hierarchy is reluctant to hand a new boss two nightmare fixtures right off the bat, with Everton and Arsenal looming before the October international break. That might just buy Potter a stay of execution, but few believe it will stretch beyond those two games.

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• Big names circling the job

  Nuno Espirito Santo, recently dismissed by Nottingham Forest, is already being touted as the frontrunner. Slaven Bilic, Kieran McKenna, Scott Parker, Sean Dyche and Gary O’Neil have all been linked as well. The shortlist is a clear sign West Ham’s owners are bracing for life after Potter, and it’s simply a question of when, not if.

Some players moved closer to Mauricio Pochettino's World Cup squad in September friendlies, but others now challenged

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mauricio Pochettino said it several times throughout the course of this international break: the focus is on the World Cup. From the start, the U.S. men's national team head coach said that this would be the last meaningful opportunity to experiment before narrowing down the players he wants to bring with him on this road to next summer.

A mixed bag of results followed. There was the 2-0 loss to South Korea, a game in which the USMNT were underwhelming. There was the 2-0 win over Japan, a game in which the USMNT played up to their level. By Pochettino's own logic, though, that matters little – per the plan, what matters is how the individuals fared.

Some players clearly boosted their World Cup stock, putting in performances that show why they can contribute to this team next summer. Others have some work to do, although the chances will seemingly be harder to come by going forward as Pochettino welcomes back key regulars and settles on a more structured roster for October friendlies.

"We need to call the players that can perform," Pochettino said. "If the players, for different reasons, are not performing, why are we going to call them? We aren't going to just call players who performed four years ago unless they perform better than another player. That is, for me, the most important thing. I was telling the players that the door is always open. It's not closed. You all have the possibility to stay on, and then it's going to be our decision."

The USMNT will play both Ecuador and Australia in October, and then close the year against Paraguay and Uruguay in November, with the World Cup on the horizon.

Some players moved closer to being a part of that squad with their performances in these games. Others will be left wondering if they did enough. Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

Getty ImagesSTOCK UP: Alejandro Zendejas

Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Alex Zendejas had given him reason to "doubt" his prior assessment. As a player, what else can you do?

After coming on and providing a jolt of energy against South Korea, Zendejas provided more of the same against Japan while adding a goal for good measure. The goal was classy as can be: a truly perfect left-footed volley that left the goalkeeper with no chance. It was a goal that required technical ability, quality and timing. It also required confidence.

"I like to float around in that pocket, and I feel like Coach Pochettino, for sure, gives me that freedom to roam around, get on the ball and feel free," Zendejas said. "I feel like myself on the ball. He really gives us that confidence to not be nervous, to get on the ball and do what we do with our clubs. It gives us that creativity that players like us need."

Zendejas, too, might provide the creativity that the USMNT needs. At the very least, he's earned another chance.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSTOCK DOWN: Tristan Blackmon

Full credit to Tristan Blackmon for bouncing back. Given the events of Saturday, in his USMNT debut, it couldn't have been easy to get ready for the Japan match. Despite a few small hiccups, Blackmon was much improved against Japan, showing a performance more like the ones that earned this initial USMNT opportunity.

Unfortunately, the road to a World Cup is cutthroat, and first impressions are hard to shake. That applies double to a centerback picture this crowded, even if there could be three, not two, starting in that position each game.

Blackmon has proven to be a quality MLS defender, no doubt, but his mistakes against South Korea certainly hurt his USMNT chances. Chalk them up to nerves, and that's likely the cause. But at this level, those types of mistakes carry consequences.

It's unfortunate, because Blackmon could certainly grow into a role with more reps. Unfortunately, it's hard to see why he should get those reps over the likes of Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Truty, none of whom were included in this camp.

This may not be the last we see of Blackmon. Unfortunately, though, that first impression could dash his World Cup hopes.

Getty ImagesSTOCK UP: Folarin Balogun

In some ways, we didn't learn anything we didn't already know about Folarin Balogun. He is, in fact, a very dangerous striker. Realistically, though, that's why the USMNT recruited him two years ago. Nothing has changed there.

Call it a reminder, then. In this camp, Balogun showed everyone that he still has the ability to be this team's No. 1 striker, even after missing so much time due to injury.

Coming on against South Korea, Balogun was lively, adding the right speed and timing to an attack that needed a jolt. Against Japan, he was given the start, and he proceeded to make life hell for Japan's defense. Time and time again, he put Japan's backline in uncomfortable spots, not just with his pace but with his mind.

"What I've noticed most about Balo that is really good for the team is that he gives an outlet," Christian Pulisic said after the win over Japan. "Whether that's coming into pockets and laying off the ball or runs in behind that relieve the team, when we're under pressure, he gives that. When I turn, I feel like I can look and he's making those short runs across the backline. That's what he's really good at."

We'll see what happens when Ricardo Pepi is fit but, right now, Balogun has the look of a World Cup starter.

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Getty ImagesSTOCK DOWN: Josh Sargent

Harsh on Josh Sargent, to be sure. He played in only one game and, in that match against South Korea, he was largely deprived of service. The USMNT was largely disorganized and looked to play long. The system didn't suit him.

That said, Balogun looks like a man for any system. Pepi, too, has shown the ability to score goals in a variety of ways. Sargent, for whatever reason, still hasn't shown that in a USMNT shirt – his infamous national team scoring drought dates back to 2019 – and it's why he may be on the outside looking in at the moment.

The Norwich striker is a hell of a forward, one that scores goals for fun on the club level. His lack of goals with the USMNT comes down to a variety of factors. But if other strikers are scoring, those factors become harder to overlook. With Balogun now fit and Pepi seemingly on his way back, it seems that there will be fewer chances for him to step up, which is what will make the path forward even harder, regardless of what Sargent does for his club.

استطاع نادي ريال مدريد مواصلة سجل انتصاراته في بطولة الدوري الإسباني، وتمكن من الفوز على نظيره ليفانتي بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة من المسابقة المحلية.

وجعل هذا الانتصار رصيد ريال مدريد 18 نقطة مبتعدًا بصدارة الدوري الإسباني، وبفارق 5 نقاط عن برشلونة صاحب المركز الثاني وبشكل مؤقت.

ويقدم ريال مدريد عروضا رائعة منذ بداية هذا الموسم، حيث حقق الميرنجي 7 انتصارت في كافة المسابقات بواقع 6 انتصارات في بطولة الدوري الإسباني وانتصار في دوري أبطال أوروبا مرحلة الدوري على أوليمبيك مارسيليا 2-1.

طالع .. ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بعد فوز ريال مدريد على ليفانتي موعد مباراة ريال مدريد المقبلة في الدوري الإسباني

وسوف تكون مواجهة ريال مدريد المقبلة أمام نظيره أتلتيكو مدريد في ديربي العاصمة الإسبانية مدريد، وذلك في قمة الجولة السابعة من الدوري الإسباني.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على أتلتيكو مدريد في ملعب واندا ميتروبوليتانو في لقاء صعب على الفريق الملكي، والذي سيكون تحدي حقيقي للمدرب تشابي ألونسو.

مباراة ريال مدريد أمام أتلتيكو مدريد سوف تقام يوم السبت المقبل في تمام الساعة الخامسة والربع عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، في لقاء سينتظره عشاق الدوري الإسباني.

ويعول ريال مدريد على حالة لاعبيه المميزة خلال الفترة الأخيرة خصوصًا فينسيوس جونيور الذي تألق في لقاء ليفانتي وسجل هدفًا وحصل على جائزة رجل المباراة.

Aston Villa are now “ready to make a move” for a “special” £60m star, with Unai Emery believed to be a “big fan”, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Aston Villa eyeing striker amid Watkins uncertainty

Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri recently revealed that Villa have held talks over selling Ollie Watkins to Manchester United, and with the Englishman keen on a move to Old Trafford, Emery may need to bring in a replacement this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani is on the shortlist as a potential heir to Watkins, while the Villans have also set their sights on Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, having made initial contact over a deal for the striker earlier this week.

There has now been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Jackson, with O’Rourke revealing that Emery is a huge admirer of his former player, and the Football Insider report states the ex-Villarreal man could jump at the move.

O’Rourke said: “Unai Emery remains a big fan of Nicolas Jackson, so it’s no surprise that Villa are in the market for him.

“We know Villa need reinforcements in attack – they still haven’t really replaced Jhon Duran – and Jackson’s future’s is up in the air at Chelsea as well.

“If he does become available before the end of the window, there’s no doubt that Aston Villa will be one of those clubs ready to make a move for him, because Unai Emery is a huge fan of his.”

The Chelsea forward is thought to be unsettled by the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, which could open the door for a move to Villa Park.

NSWE now prepared for bidding war to sign "underrated" star for Aston Villa

The Villans could light a fire in the transfer market.

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 18, 2025 Jackson could be "special" signing for Aston Villa

A deal for the Senegalese striker is unlikely to be cheap, with previous reports suggesting the Blues could hold out for £60m, but there are signs he could be an exciting signing for Villa this summer.

While the arrivals of Delap and Pedro suggest Enzo Maresca doesn’t fully trust the 24-year-old, he has maintained a solid goal and assist record since his arrival in the Premier League.

Journalist Rahman Osman was also left impressed by the improvements the Chelsea ace made to his game last season.

Jackson could be an exciting addition to Emery’s squad, but if possible, the manager should also hold onto Watkins, given that the England international has amassed a very impressive 87 goals and 42 assists in 223 games since arriving at Villa Park.

Pacy Filer in the wickets, but Sciver-Brunt and Gardner looked to have done enough to win

ECB Media29-Jul-2024Manchester Originals held their nerve with ball in hand to defy a record partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ash Gardner and take the victory at Emirates Old Trafford in The Hundred.Sciver-Brunt (56 not out) and Australian all-rounder Gardner (36) combined for a record fourth-wicket partnership of 86 and looked primed to take Trent Rockets over the line, but with three balls left and victory in sight Kathryn Bryce dismissed Gardner to drag the game back in the home side’s favour.Ultimately Sciver-Brunt needed a final-ball boundary to win the game, but could only manage two.Bryce’s momentum-swinging intervention rounded off a team performance for Manchester Originals, who would have been happy to post 137 for 6 on a slow pitch after being asked to bat first.Eve Jones (34), Beth Mooney (24) and Bryce (32) herself were the mainstays of their effort – their highest total since 2022 – and once again captain Sophie Ecclestone added late momentum with a powerful five-ball 13.Early wickets in Trent Rockets’ reply from the pacy and impressive Lauren Filer saw the Originals ahead of the ledger as far as WinViz was concerned, but once Sciver-Brunt and Gardner came together the Rockets appeared increasingly comfortable despite the rising run-rate.When Sciver-Brunt hit Ecclestone for two fours within the final 15 deliveries, she appeared to have done enough to make it two wins from two for her team but Bryce and the Originals had the final say to get off the mark in the fourth year of The Hundred.Meerkat Match Hero Filer said: “It was a real team performance today. Everyone did their job and it’s just so good to get over the line.”The pitch is actually a bit slower than last game. We batted very, very well on it and we thought it was a good total.”We talked about doing the simple things for longer and nailing our skills, and I think we did that today.”

Tottenham Hotspur are set for a very intriguing summer transfer window, which has been made all the more important after their qualification for the Champions League next season.

Tottenham preparing bid for £30m colossus wanted by Napoli, Milan and Inter

Spurs could scupper Antonio Conte in the race for his signature.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 21, 2025

Spurs were handed a monumental boost both on and off the field after their triumphant Europa League final win in Bilbao last month, with Thomas Frank set to reap the rewards as he prepares for his first-ever job managing an elite-level club.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The financial windfall gifted to Tottenham, not to mention the greater player-pull they now possess as a result of competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition, will play an absolutely pivotal role in attracting the club’s top transfer targets to N17.

However, that isn’t to say that they’re guaranteed to keep their best players.

Son Heung-min may well have already played his final game for Spurs, with sides in Saudi Arabia expressing a serious interest in the South Korean, while Atlético Madrid continue to sniff around star defender Cristian Romero.

The 27-year-old was crowned UEFA’s official Europa League Player of the Season and was vital for Ange Postecoglou throughout the tournament, helping Spurs to end their 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware.

Romero is also a leader in the dressing room, according to teammates like Micky van de Ven, who showered praise on the Argentine for helping his transition to Premier League football.

“For me, he is world-class. He is a leader. He is always one hundred per cent. He is a top-class player with the ball and without the ball when defending,” said van de Ven to Optus Sport.

“I can promise you he is not scared of anyone. He keeps going every game. From day one here he has helped me. He is just a world-class player.”

With Tottenham facing the prospect of losing their imperative defender, who’s reportedly told chairman Daniel Levy he’s keen to leave the club this summer (Marca), reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold has taken a look at who could replace him.

Tottenham could replace Cristian Romero with Marc Guehi

As per Gold, Tottenham have been fans of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi for a “long time”, and he’s a potentially “obvious” candidate to step into Romero’s shoes.

Spurs made a very public £70 million bid for the England international in January, which was rejected out of hand by Palace chairman Steve Parish, who had precious little time to source a replacement for the defender.

Gold warns that, while Tottenham could offer Guehi Champions League football, any move would depend on defensive sales as Frank is currently stocked with centre-backs, and by the time they agree to some sales, the 24-year-old may have already found a new club.

Arsenal are believed to be “very keen” on Guehi, as are Liverpool, so Spurs may even have their work cut out for them in this instance. He’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park, but Palace will still demand around £50 million, according to GiveMeSport.

Aston Villa are in a position where they may need to sell players to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and there is plenty of contention surrounding their situation from fans, pundits and journalists alike.

Aston Villa's PSR situation and who may leave the club this summer

In short, Aston Villa are one of the Premier League’s most at-risk clubs with PSR heading towards the deadline on June 30th. Per The Athletic’s projection, they can only lose £15 million in 2024/25 to remain within regulatory boundaries.

Unai Emery’s men have recorded a pre-tax loss of £206.2 million in the last two years, which is the highest deficit across the top-flight in that time and leaves the Birmingham-based outfit in danger of punishment.

Big money sales such as Jhon Duran leaving for Al Nassr and Leon Bailey’s anticipated move to Saudi Arabian outfit Neom SC have left hope that the Villans can evade any form of penalty.

However, they are teetering on the brink and their failure to qualify for Champions League football ended up being a massive setback, especially when Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio’s expensive loan deals formed part of their bid to secure a place despite already treading water in their efforts to balance the books.

There have been suggestions that Aston Villa could sell stakes in their women’s team to make ends meet, an option that remains active following a failed bill to cancel that practice after Chelsea flipped £90 million in losses to a £128 million profit in 2024.

Aston Villa now seriously interested in signing "aggressive" 13-goal rival

He could be on the move.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 5, 2025

Losing a maximum of £105 million over three rolling years is the limit for Premier League clubs in order to comply. Still, not everyone is happy at the rules that their clubs have to abide by to evade sanctions.

Journalist fumes at Aston Villa PSR latest

Taking to social media platform X, iNews correspondent Mark Douglas vented his frustration at Aston Villa’s need to sell and made the point that Newcastle United have suffered a similar fate in their efforts to progress as a club.

Admittedly, PSR has become a controversial topic among football fans for a number of reasons, with some feeling that the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs are protected more than others due to the ease in making ‘pure profit’ sales or by filing via subsidiaries of their PLC’s entity.

Regulation is critical to promote fairness, though there are clear elements in the current system that leave a lot to be desired. Aston Villa find themselves in a frustrating situation and will need to meticulously ensure they don’t fall foul of the authorities.

Others will argue their wage to revenue ratio is a problem, brought on by decisions such as paying £227,500 of Marcus Rashford’s salary weekly during his stay. Either way, the rise of PSR over the last few years has become a contentious issue and continues to limit the progression of those attempting to challenge the traditional order.

Despite the new owners not being situated at Ibrox just yet, Rangers’ summer rebuild starts now.

After their bitter rivals were crowned Premiership champions for the 13th time in just 14 seasons on Saturday, those from across the city have plenty of work to do over the summer to bridge that gap.

The 17-point chasm that exists at the top of the table is despite the fact Rangers have won both Old Firm derbies in 2025, 3-0 winners at Ibrox in January and 3-2 victors at Parkhead in March, with the latest Glasgow derby coming up on Sunday.

Off the field, the Light Blues could soon have new owners, Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises seemingly set to complete his 51% takeover imminently, with big summer signings promised, including the potential arrival of a “special” youngster from within the SPFL, finally filling the void vacated by the club’s best striker of the modern-era; Alfredo Morelos.

Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career

Back in 2017, two days before his 21st birthday, Morelos joined Rangers from Veikkausliiga champions HJK Helsinki for a reported fee of £1.5m, and what a bargain this would prove to be.

Nicknamed el Búfalo, the Colombian striker was a key figure as the Light Blues went from a laughingstock to Premiership title winners under Steven Gerrard, as outlined by the table below.

As the table suggests, Morelos especially excelled in UEFA competition, breaking Ally McCoist’s all-time club-record for most goals scored in Europe, six of his 29 coming in 2021/22, as the Gers made it all the way to the Europa League Final.

Many supporters would argue the Colombian has never been properly replaced, but could that be about to change?

Rangers' interest in the SPFL's most in-demand striker

According to a report by The Chronicle, Rangers are ‘tracking’ Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson, with both Celtic and Newcastle United reportedly interested too.

Matthew Lindsay of the Herald describes Wilson as a ‘gifted young striker’, claiming that Hearts fear losing him for an ‘absolute pittance’, valued at around £1m.

So who is he, and why is he in such demand?

Well, let’s take a look at his statistics to help answer this question.

Despite only making his debut as recently as January 2024 against The Spartans, Wilson has established himself as a regular in the Hearts first team.

Indeed, he’s already scored in an Edinburgh derby at Easter Road in October before opening his European account at Tynecastle against Petrocub Hîncești in the Conference League a couple of months later.

The teenager was also sent off for a high-tackle on Dundee United’s Luca Stephenson last month, which is a very Morelos thing to do isn’t it?

In a more positive development, back in March, Wilson was handed his senior international debut by Steve Clarke against Greece during a UEFA Nations League tie at Hampden, becoming Scotland’s youngest-ever male player, breaking John Lambie’s record that had stood for a staggering 138 years.

Teammate for club and country Craig Gordon described Wilson as a “great talent” and “pretty special”, believing “he’s going to go really far”, while Hearts left-back James Penrice praised the teenager’s “brilliant season”, adding “I’m very impressed with him”.

So, it’s easy to understand why he is in such high demand.

Thus, if Rangers are able to get their hands on Wilson, could he replicate Morelos’ time at Ibrox?

Like the great Colombian, he’d be arriving as a youngster for not very much money, but potentially making a huge impact by scoring a high number of goals.

Kris Boyd 2.0: Rangers lining up move for "pretty special" SPFL talent

Rangers are eyeing up a young striker who could be the club’s new Kris Boyd.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 30, 2025

Liverpool claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over local rivals Everton last night, moving themselves one step closer to claiming the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first campaign.

Diogo Jota’s second-half strike claimed all three points for the Reds, handing them a 12-point advantage over second-placed Arsenal with just eight games remaining.

Controversy struck in the first half with James Tarkowski only receiving a yellow card for an awful tackle on Alexis Mac Allister which was described as a “leg breaker” by Gary Neville.

It wasn’t a vintage display from Slot’s men, but ultimately, it was what was needed after the previous Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park back in February.

However, that being said, numerous players failed to deliver against the Toffees, potentially putting their starting role at risk ahead of the weekend’s clash.

Liverpool’s poor performers against Everton

Virgil van Dijk has been pivotal in Liverpool’s success over the last few months but struggled against the club’s local rivals last night in one of his worst displays of the campaign.

The Dutchman made a mistake in the first half which allowed opposition forward Beto to get one-on-one, with the post bailing the centre-back from an embarrassing mistake.

As for the reliable Mohamed Salah, the winger endured a very quiet night compared to his other outings this season, often with the Egyptian unable to provide the magic he has so often this season.

He lost 11 duels during the encounter – the most of any player in the match – whilst also missing a big chance in front of goal and failing to complete a single dribble of the five he attempted.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other starter failed to deliver, with the manager needing to take action before Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

The Liverpool player who needs to be dropped by Slot

This Premier League season has undoubtedly been a successful one for Liverpool, with the transition phase under Slot being seamless – enabling them to achieve their success.

The Dutchman and his side have excelled beyond all imagination, but that doesn’t mean that numerous players have failed to deliver in recent matches.

Dominik Szoboszlai is one player who’s hit the heights in recent months, notching 12 combined goals and assists across all competitions in 2024/25 to date.

However, his showing last night was certainly one to forget, unable to reach the expectations he’s set for himself given his showings under Slot at Anfield.

The Hungarian international featured for the entirety of the contest, but only managed to win two of the seven duels he entered – often being dominated at the heart of the side.

He managed a total of 67 touches, losing the ball 12 times, and giving the ball away once every five times he had possession – highlighting his wasteful nature when having the opportunity to impress.

Szoboslai’s stats for Liverpool against Everton

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

67

Possession lost

12x

Duels won

2/7

Shots taken

1

Crosses completed

0/2

Dribbles completed

0

Stats via SofaScore

Szoboszlai also only managed one effort on goal and failed to complete any of the crosses he attempted, showcasing the lack of impact he had in the final third.

As a result of his showing on Merseyside, the midfielder was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Express’ Alex Turk – further showcasing how poor he was against the Toffees.

Given his display, Slot must drop him from his starting eleven, handing another player the opportunity to showcase their talents in the first-team.

The Reds will look to move one step closer to title glory at the weekend, but if they are to claim another victory, the manager will have a brutal call to make with his selection.

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