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Manchester United have been known to make numerous big-money additions over the years, but many of which have fallen way below the levels expected of them by the fanbase.

Antony has arguably been their biggest disaster during the last five years, with the Brazilian unable to match the pressures brought by his £86m transfer fee.

The 25-year-old was able to rack up a total of 96 appearances for the Red Devils over a two-and-a-half-year period, only scoring on 12 occasions – with only five of which coming in the Premier League.

As a result of his lack of impact at Old Trafford, he was subsequently shipped off to Real Betis for just £21m last summer – resulting in the hierarchy taking a £65m loss on his signature.

However, it appears as though INEOS have failed to learn from previous mistakes in the market, as seen by their big-money transfer to land one player during the summer window.

How Benjamin Sesko compares to other PL strikers in 2025/26

After a dismal 2024/25, Ruben Amorim’s men were handed a significant chance of redemption this campaign after the hierarchy handed the manager £200m worth of funds to utilise in the market.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were just two of the additions made by the hierarchy in an attempt to bolster the options available in the final third of the pitch.

Both have made an immediate impact to life at Old Trafford, already scoring a combined six goals between them – subsequently sitting in seventh place going into the third international break of the season.

The former of the duo even won the division’s Player of the Month award, further showcasing how impressive he’s been since his own big-money switch to join the Red Devils.

However, Benjamin Sesko has struggled to match the pair in such an aspect, with the Slovenian international unable to produce the goods as yet after his £74m switch from RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old was tasked with the responsibility of spearheading the frontline, but his tally of just two goals in his 11 league appearances showcases his inability to impress in England’s top-flight.

He’s only managed to complete 64% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with such a tally ranking him within the bottom 10% of all players in the division at present.

Sesko’s lack of passing ability has often restricted Amorim’s side from reaching the next level, often struggling to provide the focal point and target man they have craved.

Other figures, such as 0.2 successful dribbles per 90 and 3.6 touches in the opposition box per 90, further demonstrate his lack of positive impact in attacking areas – undoubtedly contributing to his measly goal tally.

Both tallies rank him in the 25th percentile of other attackers in the division, meaning 75% of players in the same position have produced better numbers in the same department.

Forget Sesko: This is INEOS' biggest waste of money

United’s inability to land any top-level attackers has been apparent over the last couple of seasons, with Amorim unable to get the best out of the options at his disposal in 2024/25.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund were the two centre-forwards on the books prior to the 40-year-old’s arrival, but neither failed to nail down the number nine position as their own.

The latter of the duo subsequently left during the recent transfer window to make room for the big-money addition of Sesko – but it appears that he could also suffer the same fate.

At just 22, he has plenty of time of turnaround his fortunes around at the Theatre of Dreams, but he will certainly need to find some form amid his recent lack of impact.

However, he’s not alone in struggling at present, with midfielder Manuel Ugarte another player who could be on borrowed time after his own disappointing spell in England.

The Uruguayan joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2024 from PSG for a reported £42m, but such a transfer now looks to be one of INEOS’ worst signings in recent years.

His transfer generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but he’s failed to deliver, as seen by his recent drop down Amorim’s pecking order in 2025/26.

Ugarte now finds himself behind 33-year-old Casemiro in the United squad, with the former PSG star often an unreliable figure and unable to produce the goods when called upon.

His latest showing off the bench against Spurs highlights his recent decline at Old Trafford, as the side conceded two goals after being brought on to replace the aforementioned Brazilian.

The 24-year-old’s underlying stats from this season further showcase his dismal performances in and out of possession, with his pass accuracy of 84% – which ranks him in the 33rd percentile of midfielders in the league.

Ugarte has also created just 0.3 chances per 90 and achieved an expected assist tally of just 0.01 per 90 – the lowest in the United squad.

On that evidence, it was no surprise that one United content creator suggested that he looked “so anxious” on the ball and was “frightened to death of passing forwards”.

Games played

9

Minutes played

301

Chances created

0.3

Expected assists

0.01

Interceptions made

0.7

Tackles made

2.1

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribbled past

1.4

The latter of his two aforementioned stats also ranks him in the 5th percentile of any midfielder in the Premier League – showcasing his lack of skill in possession.

However, he was mainly brought to the club for his ability to break up the play, but that part of his game has also been satisfactory at best over the last few months.

Ugarte has only made 0.7 interceptions per 90 and has only completed 2.1 tackles per game – which further highlights the decline he’s enduring since Amorim’s arrival.

There’s little disputing that Sesko has struggled to make an impact of late, but it’s to be expected from such a young talent who has made a leap of faith to further his career in a completely new country.

As for Ugarte, he’s already had over a year to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, but ultimately, it’s evident that he’s no longer a player who should be a key member of the first-team squad.

£50m for his signature has been nothing short of a waste of money, with INEOS desperately needing to remember such a deal during the upcoming January window.

Perfect for Sesko: Man Utd open talks to sign £100m star in club-record move

Manchester United are set to make a mammoth offer for one talent in the January transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 11, 2025

Arsenal have learnt some worrying news on Martin Odegaard's fitness after Norway manager Stale Solbakken revealed a concerning update on the midfielder's injury progress, casting serious doubt over when the 26-year-old will return to action with fears he could be sidelined beyond the international break.

Gunners hit with fresh concern over Odegaard

Odegaard has been out since suffering medial ligament damage in his left knee during Arsenal’s 2–0 victory over West Ham on October 4. The injury occurred midway through the first half after a collision with winger Crysencio Summerville, which forced the Norwegian off after just 30 minutes. 

At the time of the injury, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed the severity of the problem, saying: "We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking."

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesSolbakken provides update on captain

Initial scans suggested a six-week layoff, and Arsenal were hopeful of having him back for the north London derby against Tottenham later this month. But Solbakken’s latest update has cast doubt on that timeline. 

Speaking ahead of Norway’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Italy, the manager said, "It is steady. It is going in a steady direction but he is some distance away."

Despite being unfit to play, Odegaard has joined up with the national squad in a non-playing role, helping motivate his team-mates as Norway chase their first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades. Solbakken confirmed that the Arsenal star would continue his rehabilitation under Norway’s medical team, first in Oslo and then in Milan, where the squad will travel for Sunday’s showdown with Italy.

"He will fly in [to Oslo] after his rehab on Thursday," he said. "Then he will continue his rehab with us and will be with us from Thursday afternoon. I don't know when the flight leaves. But he will be with us until Milan."

Odegaard Opens Up on His Recovery Journey

Odegaard recently revealed that he has been training relentlessly to regain full fitness: "The rehab is going well. I had a few days off after the West Ham game, because I couldn’t do much work and had to rest my knee anyway, so I went to Norway. But I’ve been back for a week now and working every day to keep my fitness up as well as trying to heal the injury, so it’s busy days at the moment. It's hard work and long days in recovery, but that’s what you want and I feel like it’s going well so far."

The Arsenal skipper also shared details of the remarkable technique he’s using to accelerate his return. 

"It’s going well and I’m progressing a lot," Odegaard said. "I’ve started moving around more and I’ve been running on the anti-gravity machine this week. It’s hard work, but nice to feel that progression; it gives you more motivation."

At Arsenal’s London Colney training base, several anti-gravity treadmills allow players to train without placing full strain on injured joints. These machines use a pressurised air chamber to reduce body weight in one per cent increments, letting athletes move pain-free while rebuilding strength and balance.

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GettyNorway’s World Cup dream still alive

While Arsenal monitor their captain’s recovery, Norway are fighting to seal qualification for their first World Cup since 1998. A win against Estonia on Thursday could secure their ticket to next summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, provided Italy drop points against Moldova. Norway hold a commanding +26 goal difference, well ahead of Italy’s +10, and boast a superior head-to-head record after thrashing the Azzurri 3-0 in Oslo earlier this year.

Glasgow Rangers parted ways with sporting director Kevin Thelwell at the start of last week after the Englishman had just one transfer window in his role.

In the summer, the former Everton chief was given plenty of money to spend and splashed £8m on Youssef Chermiti, which made him the club’s most expensive signing in 25 years, since they paid £12m for Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

The Portugal U21 international has scored one goal in 15 matches for the Light Blues in all competitions, per Sofascore, which illustrates how difficult he has found the move to Ibrox so far.

With Danny Rohl now in the building and Thelwell gone, the Scottish Premiership giants are reportedly making plans to make changes to the squad that Thelwell built in the summer.

The latest on Rangers' plans for the January transfer window

According to TEAMtalk, the German head coach wants to make three ‘major’ additions to the squad in the January transfer window next month.

Transfer Focus

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

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The report claims that the former Sheffield Wednesday boss is eyeing a new striker, another ‘dynamic’ central midfielder, and a full-back who can provide competition on both sides of the pitch.

TEAMtalk does not mention any names of specific players, but the outlet reveals that Rohl has been watching players and will be backed by the owners with funds to make these ‘major’ additions ahead of the second half of the season.

The report also states that the Rangers manager wants a ‘proven’ number nine who can hit the ground running and provide an instant threat on the pitch, rather than another ‘project’ player, like Chermiti.

Why Rangers should sell Bojan Miovski

With this news in mind, the Light Blues should ruthlessly cash in on Macedonia international Bojan Miovski just a matter of months on from his move to Ibrox.

The left-footed striker’s form for Aberdeen, as shown in the graphic above, made him an exciting signing in the summer because he was billed as a ‘proven’ performer in Scotland, arriving in what should be the prime years of his career at 26.

Unfortunately, though, it simply has not worked out for him on the pitch for the Ibrox giants so far this season, as he has scored one goal in 11 appearances in the Premiership, per Sofascore.

With Rohl looking to sign a ‘proven’ centre-forward to come in and start matches week-in-week-out, the Light Blues may need to move on one of the three senior strikers they already have in the building.

Given that Miovski was signed in the summer, for an initial fee of £2.6m, to be that proven goalscorer for Rangers, it may be his position at the club that is most under threat.

Rangers’ strikers in 25/26

Stat

Miovski

Chermiti

Danilo

Age

26

21

26

Games

18

15

20

Starts

10

7

13

Goals

2

1

3

Big chances missed

6

5

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old attacker has missed more ‘big chances’ than Chermiti and Danilo, whilst he has also scored fewer goals than the latter.

Journalist Mark McDougall described Miovski as an “awful” player who is “worse than Chermiti” at the end of last month, and it is hard to disagree when you look at their all-round play.

Chermiti, to his credit, has won 43% of his duels and 52% of his aerial duels in the Premiership, per Sofascore, which shows that he offers the team a physical outlet at the top end of the pitch. Miovski, however, has won 32% of his ground duels and 31% of his aerial duels in the league.

This shows that, whilst both players have only scored one goal in the league, it is the former Everton man who offers more to the team overall with his hold-up play and physicality.

On top of that, Chermiti is five years younger and was signed for £5.4m more, which means that there are more reasons for Rangers to stick with him and hope that he proves to be a good signing in the long run.

Therefore, attempting to cash in on Miovski in order to free up room for the proven striker Rohl wants to sign in January could make the most sense for the Light Blues.

Related 0 tackles, 0 interceptions: Rangers flop must never start under Rohl again

Rangers are still paying the price for a dismal summer of recruitment…

Posts ByRobbie Walls Dec 4, 2025

It is not an ideal situation, given that he only joined in the summer, but the Macedonia international appears to be the most viable option to sell out of the three strikers they currently have.

Mitchell battled fitness issues en route to a 118-ball 119 on a two-paced pitch, taking New Zealand to a total beyond West Indies’ reach

Alagappan Muthu16-Nov-2025 • Updated on 17-Nov-2025Everyone climbed onto the struggle bus in Christchurch, even Daryl Mitchell whose seventh ODI century cost him a little bit of his good health. A groin injury left him inside the dressing room for the entirety of the second innings, which wasn’t the worst thing ever. He could put his feet up and watch New Zealand pull off a seven-run victory.A two-paced pitch that offered sideways movement throughout the day made batting a distasteful exercise. Mitchell seemed immune initially but soon he was battling not just a disciplined West Indies attack but also his own body breaking down from the stress. The fact that he was able to ride those challenges – and take New Zealand to a total of 269 – made the innings all the sweeter.Mitchell must have felt it too. As soon as he reached his hundred, he whipped his helmet off and roared the word “yes” with so much emotion even the veins on his shaved head were popping all over the place. Performances like these were once the purview of Kane Williamson or Ross Taylor, two all-time Black Caps legends. Increasingly though, Mitchell has been putting himself up on their level, this 119 off 118 a prime example. No one else was able to make even half of those runs with Sherfane Rutherford’s 55 off 61 the next best score. Conditions at Hagley Oval on Sunday were not for the faint of heart.West Indies suffered in their chase, the help that was already available in the day now exaggerated under lights. Keacy Carty spent most of his 67 balls as a crash test dummy. He would’ve been fine if it was just swing or just seam or just bounce. But all three kept combining at the behest of New Zealand’s quicks and all the West Indian No. 3 could do was steel himself for the body blows. The first 10 overs produced just 32 runs. The next nine 27. There were 30 balls in between when only seven scoring shots were possible. And this was the change-bowlers – Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes – in operation.Matthew Forde helped West Indies start well with the ball•Getty Images

Shai Hope (37 off 45) and Rutherford fared a little better and New Zealand shelled a series of catches in the back end, but West Indies had fallen too far behind to capitalise.They came into this game with five changes – three spinners out, three seamers in. The best of them was Matthew Forde who was on a hat-trick in the seventh over, removing Rachin Ravindra for 4 and Will Young on his 50th ODI for a golden duck.That’s when Mitchell walked in and immediately flipped the game on its head. Till then, New Zealand’s batters were trapped in the crease and Forde was given the leeway to do whatever he wanted. Mitchell, though, walked at the fast bowler, trusting his reflexes to deal with the speed of the ball – which on average was only 122 kph – and negating the biggest thing that Forde had going for him – sideways movement, particularly into the right-hander. West Indies tried to stop that by bringing the wicketkeeper up but that only slowed Mitchell down. It didn’t uproot him.Mitchell was 33 off 37. He needed 24 deliveries to get to fifty. New Zealand were 91 for 2 in the 18th over. Only two of the next 16 would go for even a run a ball. Five of them almost became maidens. West Indies were remarkably tight, particularly Roston Chase, who harnessed the wind blowing across the ground to appear unhittable (just one four from his 10 overs) and mask the loss of Romario Shepherd (4-0-23-0) to a hamstring injury.Kyle Jamieson picked up 3 for 52 on ODI return•Getty Images

It was a small miracle the offspinner only ended up with one wicket – that of Michael Bracewell – because he created enough opportunities – three against Bracewell alone – to be driven to exasperation. “Jeeeesus,” Chase said when Hope missed a straightforward stumping.New Zealand were 192 for 5 in the 42nd over, but of greater concern was Mitchell pulling up in the middle of running a single and needing repairs to his left leg. He was 78 off 92 at that point, just starting to cut loose. Now, he was hampered running between the wickets and left to just stand and deliver. Good thing he’s six feet and change of pure muscle. Mitchell belted out those straight hits that he’s renowned for, thundering to his seventh ODI century, an innings that had so many phases.The initial acceleration, where he showcased a mutant pull shot, bringing the cross-bat up high and then whirling his wrists on impact with the ball to generate pace and find the boundary in front of square. The slowing down (from 33 off 37 to 56 off 77) because he knew he had to be there till the end. The injury (78 off 92) complicating things. The will to keep going. And the power to finish strong (41 off 26).West Indies could have had Mitchell for 19 and 67 but Chase at point and Jayden Seales at long-on put down two tough catches. New Zealand also benefited from Devon Conway’s persistence at the top of the order, where he scored 49 off 58 despite looking far from his best.Having specialist fast bowlers helped as well. Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Duffy all produced standout spells (29-4-146-4). They had the pace and the faith to go short, generating extra bounce. That was a clear a point of difference. West Indies got none of that, a drawback perhaps of having allrounders making up the majority of the seam attack. Justin Greaves, Shamar Springer and Shepherd stuck to the basics and were tidy (21-0-136-1) but in conditions that were often unplayable tidy doesn’t cut it.

Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from the ODI series but is in the T20I squad

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-20251:19

Chopra: Rohit’s place in the side will now depend on form

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been picked in India’s ODI squad for the series in Australia starting on October 19, marking their international comebacks after last playing in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in March. The squad will be led by Shubman Gill, who has replaced Rohit as the ODI captain, with Shreyas Iyer the vice-captain.The selection panel, headed by former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, met on Saturday in Ahmedabad, where India won the first Test of the series against West Indies by an innings and 140 runs.There are five changes to the ODI squad from the 15 that won the Champions Trophy in the UAE in March: Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy are missing, Hardik Pandya is recovering from a quadriceps injury, Rishabh Pant has not yet fully recovered from the broken foot he suffered in England, and Jasprit Bumrah has been rested. They have been replaced by allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was injured for the Champions Trophy, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal.Related

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“With regards to Jaddu [Jadeja], I mean look, at the moment to take two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible. He is clearly in the scheme of things with how good he is, but there will be some competition for places,” Agarkar said. “Of course he was there in the Champions Trophy squad, because we took those extra spinners with the conditions there [in UAE]. At the moment we could only carry one and get some balance in the team with Washi [Washington Sundar] and Kuldeep there as well. I don’t think we are going to need more than that in Australia. It’s a short series, you can’t accommodate everyone and unfortunately at the moment he is missing out, but it’s nothing more than that.”Bumrah is part of the T20I squad for the five matches in Australia after the ODI series. The only change to the T20I squad that won the Asia Cup last month is Hardik being replaced by Reddy, while Washington has been added, making it a squad of 16.”We have already rested him for the one-day games. When we can manage his workload, we will do that,” Agarkar said about Bumrah. “Wherever you can give him a break, you will, because we all know how important he is, but we have also got to see what is in the interest of the team. And when we need him to play, he is always available, but we will look after [him]. Not just him, Siraj bowls a lot of overs as well. There are other guys who do play Test cricket, who will end up having a lot of bowling to do, so we will try and manage all the seamers, so that we minimise the risk of injuries.”Agarkar indicated that Gill and Rohit were likely to open in the ODIs, which means Jaiswal could miss out on a place in the starting XI. He also said Jurel was picked ahead of Sanju Samson in the ODI squad due to batting position, while KL Rahul is likely to remain the first-choice wicketkeeper.”Sanju Samson bats at the top of the order,” Agarkar said. “I think when he got a 100, I think he batted No. 3, if I am not wrong. Jurel usually bats lower down the order. KL bats there as well. You have seen how good a player Dhruv is. Again, you are looking at spots. I don’t think there is room at the top again. So, we are looking at guys who can fit in those spots. Obviously, Sanju at the moment in T20 cricket is batting there [middle order] and we are trying him there. But in one-day cricket, it’s a little bit different. So, that’s basically the thought. It’s more the position than anything else.”India play three ODIs in Australia on October 19, 23 and 25, followed by five T20Is between October 29 and November 8.

India’s ODI squad for Australia

Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal.

India’s T20I squad for Australia

Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-capt), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.

Manchester City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, with Pep Guardiola personally a fan, and the Italian club’s asking price has been revealed.

Man City made a real statement by defeating reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Guardiola was left particularly impressed by Jeremy Doku’s performance, describing the winger as “outstanding.”

Doku completed a remarkable seven dribbles throughout the match, six more than any other player, in what was a top performance, but the 23-year-old was not the only City forward that caught the eye.

Indeed, Erling Haaland once again found the back of the net, with the Norwegian putting his first-half penalty miss behind him and bagging his 14th Premier League goal of the season, which puts the 25-year-old six clear of nearest-rival Igor Thiago in the goalscoring charts.

Guardiola is clearly blessed with a number of top-quality attacking options, but the manager remains keen on strengthening his forward line even further…

Man City closely monitoring Rafael Leao

According to a report from Caught Offside, Man City are now closely monitoring AC Milan forward Leao, who has a €150m (£131m) release clause included in his contract, although the Serie A club have set a more affordable asking price of €80m – €85m (£70m – £75m).

Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are also in the race for the Portugal international, with Mikel Arteta personally an admirer, but City could rival their Premier League title rivals for his signature, given that Guardiola is a fan.

Indeed, the Spaniard admires the 26-year-old’s versatility, given that he is capable of playing out wide, in attacking midfield or even at striker.

At the moment, Milan are hopeful they will be able to keep hold of their star forward, but a January exit could be on the cards if talks over a new deal do not progress.

There are signs the Portuguese forward could be capable of taking City’s attack to the next level, having been lauded as “world-class” by journalist Carlo Garganese, while also proving himself as a reliable goalscorer over a number of years at AC Milan.

The Milan star has amassed a whopping 75 goals and 63 assists in 268 games for the Serie A giants, scoring a brace in what was a fantastic display against Fiorentina earlier this season.

The former Lille man clearly has the ability to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, but Doku’s recent performances suggest the Belgian winger could now be entering his prime, with his all-round display against Liverpool particularly eye-catching.

As such, Leao would perhaps be a luxury signing, rather than a necessary addition to Guardiola’s squad.

Rafael Leao has been named as one of the best wingers in the world

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Charlie Smith

Nov 28, 2025

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has already achieved something that Russell Martin did not manage in his time at Ibrox by winning successive Scottish Premiership matches.

The German head coach oversaw a 1-0 win at Easter Road against Hibernian on Wednesday night, after beating Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox at the weekend.

A brilliant Jack Butland save from the penalty spot was needed to secure all three points, but it was a resolute display that was worthy of a win.

The match-winner, in terms of the goal that was scored, was Brazilian centre-forward Danilo, who has seemingly revived his career at Ibrox under Rohl.

How Danilo has revived his Rangers career

Prior to Rohl’s arrival in Glasgow, Danilo had been an unused substitute in three of his last four appearances in the matchday squad, and had not featured in the Scottish Premiership since August.

Since the German head coach came through the door, though, the former Feyenoord marksman has scored two goals in two games to lead the Gers to two wins.

Danilo, as you can see in the clip above, brilliantly found the back of the net with a blistering left-footed finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to win the game for the Gers.

Chalkboard

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

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His career at Ibrox, which looked on the ropes under Martin, appears to have been revived because of Rohl’s trust in him, and his performances when called upon in the last two games.

Danilo is not the only star who has revived his career at Rangers since the new manager arrived at the club, though, as Nasser Djiga falls into the same category.

How Nasser Djiga has saved his Rangers career

Prior to Rohl’s first match in charge, Football FanCast suggested that the Wolves loanee could be in danger of being ditched in January, because of his errors during Martin’s time in charge.

Before Wednesday night’s win over Hibs, Djiga had been an unused substitute in six of his last eight appearances in the matchday squad, which shows that he fell way down the pecking order under the former Gers head coach.

Rohl’s decision to go to a back three system has provided the Burkina Faso international with an opportunity to revive his career at Ibrox, and his performance against Hibernian suggests that he has taken it.

Vs Hibernian

Djiga

Souttar

Cornelius

Minutes

90

90

89

Tackles won

2/3

0/0

1/2

Clearances

9

7

4

Interceptions

3

0

1

Last man tackles

1

0

0

Ground duels won

3/4

2/2

4/7

Aerial duels won

4/4

2/3

0/0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Wolves loanee was the standout defender in the back three with his exceptional display at Easter Road, winning more duels, making more clearances, making more tackles, and making more interceptions than John Souttar and Derek Cornelius.

He was incredibly aggressive in his defending to mop up situations before they got too close to Butland, and his standout moment came when he recovered brilliantly to make a last-man challenge in the box in the first half to prevent a one-on-one situation.

Djiga was even better than Danilo, who lost 100% (2/2) of his duels on the night, because it was his all-round defensive dominance that played a major role in Rangers coming away with all three points, whilst the Brazilian had one moment of magic in an otherwise uneventful outing.

Overall, a mixture of Rohl’s tactical tweak and Djiga’s brilliance when called upon has seemingly saved the loanee centre-back’s career at Ibrox, for now.

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Posts ByBen Gray Oct 28, 2025

Arsenal have been almost faultless this season, but on Sunday, their unbeaten run finally came to an end.

Mikel Arteta’s side once again came unstuck at the hands of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa and now sit just two points clear of Manchester City atop the Premier League table.

It wasn’t a dreadful showing from the league leaders, but it was a disappointing and potentially worrying one.

Moreover, it was another game in which a particular player flattered to deceive, a player who could end up being Arteta’s worst signing since Fabio Vieira.

What went wrong for Fabio Vieira at Arsenal

Arsenal fans largely remember the summer of 2022 as the window when Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived from Manchester City and helped the team on their first title charge in a generation.

However, that summer also saw the club sign Vieira from Porto for around £34m, and while it was a surprise move, it was an exciting one.

After all, the Portuguese midfielder had just come off a campaign in which he produced 23 goal involvements in 39 games.

Unfortunately, aside from the odd moment of brilliance, the Santa Maria da Feira-born talent failed to make much of a mark during his first season in North London, racking up a tally of just two goals and six assists in 33 first-team appearances.

Things would only get worse the following season, as a combination of injuries, poor form and suspensions limited him to just 16 appearances, in which he scored one goal and provided four assists.

With two disappointing campaigns under his belt in as many years, the 25-year-old was sent back to Porto on loan for 24/25, where he did improve, but only marginally and ended the season with a tally of 11 goal involvements in 42 games.

The Portuguese giants did not want to bring their player back on a permanent deal this year, and so, with few other options, the Gunners agreed to send him on another loan, this time to Hamburg, with an option to buy.

Season

22/23

23/24

Appearances

33

16

Goals

2

1

Assists

6

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.24

0.25

In all, it’s clear that Vieira is a talented player, but it’s equally clear he is not, and never was, good enough to play for Arsenal.

Worryingly, the same might eventually be said about another of Arteta’s signings, someone who could go down as his worst since the Portuguese midfielder lest he improve, and quickly.

Arsenal star in danger of becoming Arteta's worst signing since Vieira

Overall, it would be fair to say that Arsenal’s summer business this year was a success.

Chalkboard

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

The likes of Eberchi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, for example, have all looked good to great so far.

However, there is one signing who has divided opinion more than any other, and is in danger of being labelled a flop if he doesn’t improve: Viktor Gyokeres.

Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, there is every chance the Swedish international will prove his doubters wrong and become the goalscoring monster Arsenal need him to be.

Unfortunately, there have been few signs of that happening so far this season.

For example, in 17 appearances so far, the former Sporting “powerhouse” forward, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored just six goals, which is not terrible, but it’s not enough for someone who wants to lead the line for a title-winning side.

Minutes

50′

Shots

0

Expected Assists

0.03

Key Passes

0

Touches

11

Lost Possession

6

Passes

4

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Moreover, the game against Villa on Saturday was another one in which he failed to stamp his authority on things.

The 27-year-old came on at half-time, but in his 50 minutes of action, he took just 11 touches, lost the ball six times, completed four passes, failed to take a single shot or create a single big chance.

It was a worrying display, and one that could easily see the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus leapfrog him in the pecking order when they are both fully fit.

Ultimately, while there is time for him to make his mark on this team, Gyokeres has underdelivered for Arsenal so far this year and is in real danger of becoming Arteta’s worst permanent signing since Vieira.

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes 4 days ago

Aston Villa have now made contact to sign a “wonderful” midfielder, who is set to leave his current club on a free transfer next summer.

Villa looking to strengthen options in midfield

Villa’s recent resurgence has seen them rise to fourth in the Premier League table, and they have their midfielders to thank for the 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, with both Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans impressing.

Tielemans received a SofaScore match rating of 8.4, the highest of any player, after winning seven duels and making four tackles, while Kamara scored what proved to be the match-winning goal, and received high praise for his display from Troy Deeney.

The former striker said: “If he can be fully fit and stay fit, Villa have a real chance of pushing for Europe again. I think he is that good. He broke up play really well, dominated in midfield and capped it off with a goal.”

Despite being well-stocked in the middle of the park, with Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde and Amadou Onana also at Unai Emery’s disposal, the Villans are now looking to make another addition in central midfield.

That is according to a report from The Daily Mail, which states Aston Villa have now made contact over the signing of Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice, who is set to leave the Scottish club upon the expiration of his contract next summer.

Rice has been unable to agree a new deal, which has opened the door for a departure, and Villa have now made checks, alongside Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City, with a free transfer on the cards.

In fact, the two Championship clubs are willing to make a pre-contract offer next month, such is their level of interest, but it is unclear whether the Villans will be prepared to do the same.

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The Villans are planning to hold talks over a deal for a midfielder, who has impressed scouts from across Europe.

ByDominic Lund Nov 30, 2025 "Wonderful" Rice shouldn't be priority signing for Villa

At just 19-years-old, the teenager is yet to become one of Rangers’ star players, but he does have 16 first-team appearances to his name, and has caught the eye at times, being lauded as “wonderful” by Rio Ferdinand after impressing against Manchester United.

That said, given a lack of senior experience, the Scot may still be some way off being able to displace the likes of Tielemans and Kamara in the starting XI, however, and Aston Villa’s number one priority should be to bring in a new striker, amid Ollie Watkins’ poor form.

After failing to score against Wolves last time out, the England international’s record now stands at one goal in 19 matches in all competitions this season, which should be a major concern for Emery.

If there isn’t a major improvement in the next month, Villa should look to sign a new striker in January, and a Premier League star is now among the targets…

India’s new ODI captain gears up for his first game in charge of a team that includes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Tristan Lavalette18-Oct-20252:29

Gill: ‘Extra responsibility brings the best out of me’

As Shubman Gill fronted the press pack in Perth, with the picturesque Swan River behind him, several locals passing by looked on curiously as if they could not quite pinpoint exactly who he was.Gill, clearly, does not yet quite have the global stature of Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. But that should soon change, with him holding the top leadership posts for India in Tests and ODIs. As the new poster boy of Indian cricket, Gill and his counterpart Mitchell Marsh are plastered on the marketing signs around the city to promote the ODI series opener between Australia and India at Optus Stadium.It represents a transition for India as they start building towards the 2027 World Cup, a tournament where they will hope to end a 16-year wait for the title.Gill, 26, has cut a relaxed figure so far on tour, appearing undaunted about stepping into the hot seat and following in the footsteps of Rohit and Kohli. He is perhaps encouraged by the successful start to his Test reign but, unlike in that format, there is the added intrigue of him now captaining these larger-than-life cricketers he grew up idolising.Related

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“These are the kind of players I used to idolise when I was growing up. The kind of hunger that they had used to inspire me,” Gill told reporters. “It is a big honour for me to be able to lead such legends of the game. I am sure there would be so many moments in this series where I would be able to learn from them.”If I get in a difficult position, I wouldn’t shy away from taking advice from them.”With Rohit remaining in the team despite being stripped of the captaincy, there has been innuendo over how seamlessly the leadership baton will be passed on. However, Gill said he has already leaned on Rohit’s experience.”The narrative that goes on outside is different. There’s nothing like that between us – things are just as they were before, ” Gill said of his relationship with Rohit. “He is very helpful. And whatever he has learned from his experience, or if I think I need some help, I ask him what he would have done in a particular situation.”I like to know everyone’s thoughts and then decide as per my understanding of the game. In that respect, I have a great equation with both Virat and Rohit . Whenever I have a doubt, I go to them and take their suggestion, advice, and they also don’t hesitate in sharing [their knowledge].”Shubman Gill addresses the press in Perth•AFP/Getty ImagesThe three-match ODI series in Australia will be the first glimpse of what type of style and combination Gill wants for his team. What has been seemingly answered, having scored five tons from 13 innings since taking charge in the Test format, is that Gill is a cricketer who thrives with the added responsibility.His Test average has risen noticeably, though that might be difficult to replicate in ODI cricket given his average currently stands at 59 from 55 matches.”I like it when I have the additional responsibility. The pressure brings out my best,” he said. “I enjoy that responsibility, though I feel when I go out to bat, I take the best decision when I think as a batsman and do not think too much about being a captain and thinking like one.”When I do that, then I put myself under extra pressure. As a batsman, I think what the team needs the most at that moment. So I try to take decisions as Shubman Gill the batsman rather than taking that additional responsibility of scoring all the runs or finishing the match.”While the ODI series is likely to be a celebration of Kohli and Rohit, as they bid farewell to a country where they have had countless battles, Gill is set to emerge into prominence in Australia where he is unlikely to fly under the radar again.”Definitely, very exciting,” he said about his debut as ODI captain. “It’s very big shoes for me to carry the legacy that Virat and Rohit have left.”How they converse and what kind of communication or messaging they had with the players is something that helped me get the best out of myself. That’s the kind of captain I would want to be, where all my players feel very secure in the job they have to do.”