To succeed at the height that an ambitious manager such as Ange Postecoglou strives for, a football club needs to ensure every department is improving and united in a single goal.

Take Tottenham Hotspur's fiery London rivals: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta joined back in December 2019 and took an outfit that was lacking purpose, presence and identity, instilling his tactical vision over a number of years, ensuring recruitment was sharpened and streamlined, freeing the Emirates of the flotsam and jetsam that had marooned the club on the fringes of success.

Arsenal had, candidly, become something of a laughing stock after interminably struggling to enter the ascendency post-Arsene Wenger, but now thrive as one of the Premier League's title contenders, with a framework that seems purposed to last.

But the real locus of a top-flight club's prosperity lies in the robustness of the youth academy. Manchester City are the cream of the crop in this regard, while Chelsea's Cobham academy notoriously churns out a remarkable line of teenage talents.

Tottenham, now under Postecoglou's guidance, are starting to reap the rewards of bringing the younger generation to the fore; Harry Kane is one of the finest footballers to emerge from an English club in several generations but he is something of a rarity in the Lilywhites' case.

But his career showcases the riches that can be plundered by entrusting the younger with a platform to prove their worth.

Harry Kane's career so far

Kane posted 280 goals and 64 assists over 435 fixtures for Tottenham and left last summer as the club's record scorer. Moreover, he is England men's top scorer with 62 strikes from 89 caps.

He was widely accepted as a "world-class" striker – as has been said by the likes of Antonio Conte, and is one of the most complete attacking players currently competing.

He joined Bayern in an initial £82m deal in August 2023 after scoring 30 Premier League goals in a frankly awful Spurs side last season, deciding to depart after slumping to an eighth-placed finish. He'd given his all.

But while Kane never got his hands on silverware with Tottenham, he unquestionably established himself as a true English great, with his remarkable rate of scoring in the Premier League and leadership at the front of the Spurs team leaving all onlookers in awe – Pep Guardiola, for example, has remarked that Kane remains "one of the best strikers" he has ever seen.

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260

0.59

2.

Harry Kane

320

213

0.67

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208

0.42

4.

Andy Cole

414

187

0.45

5.

Sergio Aguero

275

184

0.67

Since moving to Bayern, Kane instantly hit the rich vein of form that many expected, scoring 40 goals and adding 13 assists from 41 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, Kane ranks among the top 2% of centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 12% for assists and the top 8% for progressive passes per 90, highlighting his elite quality in the final third and his ball-playing mastery.

Kane's incredible ability to drop deeper and influence plays speaks of elite-level skills that few of his position could emulate, if any to the same degree.

His start to life in Germany has been described as "astonishing" by his manager Thomas Tuchel, and while Die Roten have been subpar this season, the forward is serving as the offensive fulcrum that could yet see the struggling German giants secure the shiniest of silverware this season.

Tottenham supporters might watch on wistfully but the Spurs legend devoted many years of service to the north London side, and while his exit is still keenly felt, a new star in the form of Mikey Moore might just prove to be the latest prodigy emerging from N17.

Why Spurs must unleash Mikey Moore

Moore is only 16 years old but he possesses that natural style and confidence that suggests he is suited for a career right at the very top.

The Evening Standard recently put together a list of London's most exciting prospects and described Moore as the pick of the bunch: 'Widely considered one of the best young talents in the capital. A strong, skilful player with a powerful build who has caught the eye with his dribbling and finishing.'

The road from Wonderkid to world-class phenom is long and freight with peril, but it is doable and if Moore's development is managed right, if he is nurtured and plies his trade diligently, then there is every chance that he can carry the quality that has earned high praise at this early stage.

Postecoglou certainly seems to think so, having allowed Moore to train with the first-team after an incredible campaign, having scored 16 goals and supplied nine assists from just 14 fixtures for the U18s this season.

This return, not including a run of six goals and four assists from five matches with England U17s and U16s, has even led transfer guru Fabrizio Romano to herald the versatile teenager as a budding "superstar."

And why not? Aged just 16, Moore has completed a week's worth of training sessions with the Spurs senior squad and is creeping toward a debut.

A series of injuries this season have hindered the teenager – he was expected to cement a place in Wayne Burnett's U21 squad, top of the Premier League 2, but for a fractured leg suffered while on international duty. Still, he's overcome adversity and his prolific record bespeaks his immense powers of recovery.

There's every chance that Moore will find a place in Tottenham's pre-season plans, and should he make a good impression, a senior debut might even be less than one year away.

كشفت تقارير صحفية أن لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول يخطط لمغادرة أنفيلد في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي المقبل.

ويحتل ليفربول صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 28 نقطة، بينما يحتل أيضاً صدارة ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا برصيد 12 نقطة.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | أبو تريكة: حالة واحدة تدفع مرموش للرحيل في يناير .. ومحمد صلاح سيستمر مع ليفربول

وبحسب ما جاء في شبكة “فوتبول إنسايدر” فإن حارس مرمى ليفربول، كويمين كيليهر، يخطط إلى مغادرة الريدز بنهاية الموسم الحالي.

وتابعت أن الحارس الأيرلندي سيناقش دوره المستقبلي مع آرني سلوت مدرب الفريق قبل اتخاذ قراره النهائي.

وقدم كيليهر مستويات مميزة رفقة ليفربول في الموسم الحالي والماضي تعويضاً للحارس البرازيلي أليسون بيكر حينما يتعرض للإصابة.

وصرح سلوت في وقت سابق أنه وبمجرد جاهزية أليسون بيكر، سيتمكن من حراسة مرمى الريدز بشكل أساسي.

وتزداد شكوك كيليهر حول مستقبله مع الريدز، خصوصاً ومع قدوم حارس فالنسيا المعار من صفوف ليفربول جورجي مامارداشفيلي في الموسم القادم.

حيث يعتقد الدولي الأيرلندي أنه قادراً على أن يصبح الخيار الأول لمركز حراسة المرمى سواء داخل ليفربول أو مع أي نادي اخر.

ونتيجة لذلك، من المقرر أن تقوم إدارة ليفربول بالاستغناء عن خدمات كيليهر في الصيف بمبلغ قدره 30 مليون جنية إسترليني.

England fans are delighted with the FA's decision to appoint Lee Carsley as Gareth Southgate's successor on a temporary basis.

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Southgate resigned after Euro 2024 disappointmentCarsley announced as interim Three Lions bossGuardiola linked with permanent positionWHAT HAPPENED?

The FA have decided not to jump the gun and appoint an instant successor to former head coach Gareth Southgate. Under-21s boss Lee Carsley has been named as the interim boss while those in charge at England take some more time to sound out a permanent solution. Pep Guardiola is one of several names alongside Eddie Howe and Carsley himself who have been linked with the job.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

X user @Hullensian1904 believes this is a sign that England are waiting for their man. He said: "Waiting for Pep, I see what you're doing."

However @TheBurnleyWay believes Carsley might be a permanent solution. He posted: "Quality decision, don’t be surprised if he becomes permanent."

@MoroccanSunset8 is excited to see the interim boss in action, posting: "His U21s are absolutely superb. Really pleased he's getting a chance."

Another supporter @CraigHosking40, agreed, adding: "Excellent decision. Spain did it with their Under-21 manager, and it worked. If he proves himself in the upcoming games, he’ll surely get it on a permanent basis."

Although, not everyone was pleased. @LeeJD73 posted: "Terrible choice, how can he expect to be able to tell Foden, Bellingham etc how to play?"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As one of the posts mentioned, Carsley has the chance to emulate what Luis de la Fuente did with Spain. The former U21 coach stepped into the senior role and led La Roja to victory in Euro 2024. If the 50-year-old wants to earn the job permanently, he will have to hit the ground running, although he does have the tools at his disposal to do just that.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CARSLEY AND ENGLAND?

Carsley's first match as England boss will come against the Republic of Ireland – who he represented during his playing days. Following that, the former 40-cap international and the Three Lions will take on Finland in their other Nations League match in September.

A decision into Manchester City's 115 charges isn't expected to be made public until next spring.

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• City accused of breaching financial rules
• Hearing into 115 charges to begin next month
• Decision will take months to reach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It's unlikely that a decision into City's 115 charges will be made public until next spring, according to . A hearing is set to commence in mid-September – brought forward from an original start date of November due to the Premier League's desire to see the case resolved as quickly as possible – but an independent commission is expected to take some time before announcing its decision.

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• Getty
  

  THE EXPLANATION

  The hearing will last around 10 weeks, with both the Premier League and City outlining their case to the commission. They will then consider all evidence provided and announce their outcome. Given the volume of the charges and the amount of information that will be presented, it's believed that a decision will be published in March at the earliest.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Even if City are found guilty of some or all of the charges, any punishment is likely to be delayed as they will be expected to appeal the decision. All sides hope to conclude the matter by the end of 2025, however.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  The club are also preparing for the start of the new Premier League season. Pep Guardiola's side, who won the Community Shield last weekend, kick off their pursuit of a fifth-straight title away to Chelsea on Sunday.

علق حسام حسن المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول على التعادل أمام بوتسوانا في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.

وأقيمت مباراة مصر أمام بوتسوانا على أرضية استاد الدفاع الجوي، في إطار لقاءات الجولة السادسة والأخيرة من تصفيات الأمم الإفريقية.

وقال حسام حسن في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي عقب المباراة: “راضي بشكل عام عن أداء منتخب مصر في التصفيات، وكنت أتمنى المكسب ولكن الأهم إننا لم نخسر في التصفيات”.

وتابع: “حصدنا 14 نقطة وأعتقد أن هذا رقم لم يحدث من قبل في تاريخ منتخب مصر كثيرًا، والأهم أننا حافظنا على عدم الهزيمة في التصفيات، وكذلك أدخلنا عناصر جديدة لمنتخب مصر”.

وأردف: “أتمنى أن يكون هناك فرصة بالأجندة الدولية المقبلة لإقامة مباريات ودية، وكل التوقفات الدولية مزدحمة، وأتمنى خوض مباريات ودية دولية قوية”.

واستطرد: “أشكر اللاعبين على مجهودهم وأنهم مروا بضغط المباريات دون التأثير على مستواهم، ومنتخب مصر يتطور وهذا هو الأهم، وستروا في المرحلة المقبلة منتخب مصر أفضل وأفضل”.

وحول مشاركة مصطفى شوبير في مباراة اليوم؟، أجاب: “ترددت أنا والجهاز الفني إلى قبل المباراة، وكنت أرغب في مشاركة محمد عواد والمهدي سليمان وكذلك مصطفى شوبير، وعواد يقدم أداء عالي جدا مع الزمالك في الفترة الأخيرة”.

وواصل: “لو كانت النتيجة جيدة كنت دفعت بعواد والمهدي في الشوط الثاني، كنت قسمت الشوط عليهم، ولماذا نقلل من نجاحتنا ونرى منتخبات كبيرة مثل تونس وغانا تخسر؟”.

طالع | مصطفى شوبير: فخور بمشاركتي الأولى مع المنتخب.. وجائزة “كاف” ستكون مصرية

وزاد مدرب منتخب مصر: “نرى الفرق المصرية الجمهور يقول أنهم يلعبوا في مجموعة قوية رغم وجود أندية مثل الجيش الرواندي وسيمبا وفريق أبو سليم الليبي”.

وأضاف: “نحن تأهلنا كـ أول مجموعة في واحدة من أصعب المجموعات بالتصفيات، وهل رأيتم من قبل غياب الجمهور عن لقاءات منتخب مصر وغياب الجمهور بفعل فاعل، وكذلك بسبب تقليل الإعلام من المنافسين”.

وأكمل: “الأيام الماضية الإعلام كان يتحدث عن منتخبات الشباب والناشئين ومواجهة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري بـ الدوري المصري ولقاء الزمالك والمصري، ما هذا الذي يحدث؟”.

وأشار: “كيف يتم غلق استاد القاهرة، ولم يسألنا أي شخص عن رأينا في هذا الأمر، وأرضية استاد الدفاع الجوي سيئة جدًا وذلك أثر علي مستوانا بمباراة اليوم وعلى اللاعبين، وكنت أعاني خلال التدريبات من سوء الأرضية، وأنا لا أحب إلا اللاعب على أرضية استاد القاهرة، وخاصة أني لا ألعب سوى مباريات قليلة على مدار العام، وكذلك شكرًا لـ بيراميدز على استضافة اللقاء”.

وأضاف: “في البداية كان لدينا مشكلة في كافة المراكز، وعند غياب رامي ربيعة ومحمد عبد المنعم لا يوجد شخص يتذكر بدائلهم، وأحمد العش لديه مشكلة في تصريح التجنيد من أجل السفر، وكذلك عمر فايد لا يشارك كثيرًا ولكني أتابعه، وإصابة بيكهام في الظهر وسيقوم بعمل أشعة رنين”.

طالع | موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد التعادل مع بوتسوانا في ختام تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا

وأوضح: “منذ أيام الكابتن محمود الجوهري لم نقدم أداء مثلما نقدم الآن، وكنت أريد لعب المباراة في استاد غزل المحلة أو هيئة قناة السويس، ولكن ستاد المحلة لم يوجد موافقات عليه من الكاف وستاد الهيئة يستضيف بطولة شمال أفريقيا للشباب”.

واختتم: “من حق جماهير المحافظات أن ترى مباريات المنتخب، واجعلوا منتخب مصر رقم 1 يا جماعة، وتريزيجيه لديه الاستعداد للتألق دائمًا ولا يرغب في الغياب عن أي مباراة ودائمًا يريد المشاركة واللعب”.

MatériaMais Notícias

A dividida envolvendo Lucas Paquetá não causa motivo de preocupação inicial na comissão técnica da Seleção Brasileira. De acordo com a assessoria da CBF, o meio-campista, que em seu último lance na vitória do Brasil sobre o Peru, por 1 a 0, pela semifinal da Copa América, sofreu um corte na perna esquerda após sofrer uma entrada de López, não terá graves problemas para atuar na decisão do torneio.

> ATUAÇÕES: Veja quem se destacou na vitória da Seleção Brasileira!

A assessoria da CBF informou que, ainda no vestiário, foi realizada uma sutura no local onde o meia sofreu o corte. Segundo o médico Rodrigo Lasmar, Paquetá está bem e fará a recuperação e o pós-jogo ao lado dos demais atletas.

O camisa 17 foi o autor do gol da vitória da Seleção Brasileira sobre o Peru, por 1 a 0, na noite desta segunda-feira, pela Copa América.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says selling Scott McTominay is a "gamble" and that teams need players of his ilk to win the Premier League.

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McTominay nearing £25m Napoli transferFerdinand says move is a "gamble" for Man UtdClub "need" such players to win Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?

United have reportedly agreed to sell the 27-year-old to the Italian outfit for £25 million ($34m), but the Scotland international is yet to agree personal terms. Ahead of a possible move, former Red Devils defender Ferdinand has expressed his concern about letting academy product McTominay go as he says replacing him may cost around £40m ($53m).

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT RIO FERDINAND SAID

He said on his YouTube channel: "I look at Scott McTominay and not every player can be a star, a standout player. But to win the league you need the likes of John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher… you need a Julian Alvarez at Man City. They might not start every game but they were huge, you need those players and most of them know the DNA of the club, especially ones who have come through the academy, there’s a lot to be said for that. It really doesn’t sit well with me. To replace him you’re going to have to spend £30m or £40m and give him £150,000 a week probably. It’s not going to be cheap and it’s a gamble, you don’t know what you’re going to get, whereas with McTominay you know what you’re getting. He might not always be a nine out of 10 but invariably he’s a solid seven out of 10 and sometimes he will be an eight out of 10 and get you a goal."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

McTominay is in the last year of his contract and the Red Devils are certainly open to selling the Scot – who would go down as pure profit on the balance sheet as he is an academy product. He scored 10 goals last term and finding a replacement may not be easy, but his sale could help fund the purchase of Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Having come off the bench in all three of their competitive games this season, McTominay may have had his last outing for United. The next time they take to the field will be at home to Liverpool on September 1 – two days after the summer transfer window shuts.

Offspinner, who played nine Tests for South Africa, has signed up for new ‘minor league’ T20 competition

Firdose Moonda27-Mar-2020

Dane Piedt took 26 wickets in his short Test career•Getty Images

Dane Piedt, the nine-times capped South African Test offspinner, still harbours hopes of playing at a 50-over World Cup, albeit not for the country of his birth.Piedt will move to the USA in the next few months to be part of the new Minor League T20 tournament, which is due to launch this summer, ending his career at home.And he intends to meet qualifying criteria to play for the USA national team and hopes to be part of their campaign to appear at the ICC’s flagship event.”The USA were given ODI status last year so it’s not completely out of the question,” Piedt told ESPNcricinfo, from his home in Kenilworth in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, on the first day of a three-week nationwide lockdown aimed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.It may be far from the ideal occasion to sign an employment contract that will take Piedt thousands of kilometres away but for him the timing was right. “I just signed the deal this morning but no-one really knows when I will be able to travel. It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up, financially and for lifestyle reasons, but it was still a tough decision to make.” In opting to move abroad, Piedt has not only taken himself out of contention for national selection but he has also ended a decade-long association with the Cobras franchise, where he has played throughout his career and is entering the complete unknown. He has never travelled to the USA and doesn’t even know where he will be based in the long term. “I’m a massive basketball fan, so that helps,” Piedt said. “I will have a choice of four cities – New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Seattle – to live in but the rest will be a surprise.”Piedt has been taking tips from former Warriors seamer Rusty Theron, who helped him secure the deal. Theron has been living in the USA for several years, studied teaching in Miami and made his ODI debut for the country last year. “He has given me some information, especially about the cricket scene there. It’s a decent set-up and I know they have some good cricketers like Xavier Marshall and a few Australians and Indians who played in national Under-19 teams and then moved.”ALSO READ: New York, Chicago, Boston, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competitionMarshall played seven Tests, 24 ODIs and six T20s for West Indies and he along with Theron is the only other former international in the American squad. All that means that Piedt has a realistic chance of pushing for a place in the American national side, something that he can no longer say with regards to South Africa. Despite leading the wickets chart in first-class cricket last summer and finishing in the top 10 in the two seasons before that, Piedt has lost ground to other spinners and sees himself quite far back in the queue.”Shammo [Tabraiz Shamsi] has really made a mark in white-ball cricket and Keshav [Maharaj] has done exceptionally well for the Test side, he has done exactly what the team needs,” Piedt said. “And if you look at the schedule, South Africa are not due to tour the subcontinent again soon and that’s the only place where I might get a game.”That is exactly what happened when Piedt was recalled to the South African side to tour India last September, more than three years after being dropped. Like most of the squad that were blanked 3-0, he had a tough time but returned home to captain the South Africa A side against England and was hopeful of still being in contention for the national side. “Enoch [Nkwe] was the coach at the time and he gave me a call and said I was still in the plans,” Piedt said.Dane Piedt celebrates a wicket off his first ball in Tests•AFP

Without an Mzansi Super League (MSL) deal, that was the last sliver of hope for Piedt to cling to until it became clear everything was changing. In the last two weeks of 2019, South African cricket was overhauled and it became apparent to Piedt his ship had sailed. Unlike the last time he considered walking away – three years ago when he flirted with the idea of a Kolpak contract – this time he waited for an opportunity to come to him. When it did, the Cobras management were the first people he told.”I did it the proper way. I gave the coach [Ashwell Prince] a call and explained it to him and he was very understanding. I explained that this is an opportunity to further my cricketing career,” Piedt said. “It’s something different, a new challenge. I have always been someone who goes against the grain.”Piedt has identified Zubayr Hamza, who led the Cobras in the domestic one-day cup this season and finished as the tournament’s top scorer, and Kyle Verreynne, who made his ODI debut for South Africa against Australia last month, as potential successors for the franchise captaincy. “I’d really like to see the younger guys step up,” he said. And although he will not be around to mentor them, he knows there are some veterans who will. “Someone like Rory Kleinveldt who retired this season, I know will still be involved in cricket here in the Cape when we start up again.”Though the sport was about to head into its off-season in South Africa, the season was clipped right at the end, with the playoffs of the one-day cup and the last two rounds of the first-class competition canceled, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. No teams are training at the moment, leaving professional sportspeople to do “home gym,” as Piedt put until at least April 16, when the lockdown is scheduled to end.Piedt, like millions of other South Africans, is confined to home but his period of isolation did not start too badly. He celebrated 11 months since his wedding with his wife Misha today and is taking the opportunity to enjoy some “quality time,” with her after a busy summer.”I had a lot of commitments this season because I was also working as a commentator so I was away a lot, so now we can have some bonding time,” he said. “We’ve bought five board games and my wife beat me at Scrabble yesterday. Today, we are playing a game called Sequence and my wife thinks I will win at this one because it’s all about luck. And we are trying some new recipes, same as everyone else.”But there’s a cruel twist in all of this. Piedt used to have a dog called Corona, a Husky, named after the beer, who was taken from him two years ago after suffering a stroke. “When I heard the name of the virus, I thought maybe she was paying me back for all the walks I didn’t take her on,” he said. “It’s sad but it’s life. You never know where it will take you next. Like a cricketer’s life. You just never know.”

Glasgow Rangers have five remaining matches left to turn their season around and secure the Scottish Premiership title at Ibrox ahead of their rivals.

The Light Blues are currently three points off the top of the table and the Glasgow-based outfit still have a trip to the team top of the division to come in their last five games.

Philippe Clement's side have slipped up over the last three league games, with two draws and one defeat, and could point to a lack of a goal threat in their most recent 0-0 draw with Dundee.

Rangers have scored 72 goals in the Premiership so far this season, which is eight fewer than Celtic, and this could result in the Belgian boss and Head of Recruitment Nils Koppen looking to dip into the market to add more firepower to the attack later this year.

The upcoming summer transfer window will provide the Gers pair with an opportunity to bring in fresh talent, and they have already been linked with an impressive attack-minded midfielder.

Rangers interested in £13m maestro

It was recently reported that Rangers are one of the teams interested in a summer swoop to sign Krasnodar's mercurial playmaker Eduard Spertsyan.

HITC's Graeme Bailey claimed that the Light Blues have been made aware of his potential availability ahead of the summer transfer window, and they are tracking his progress.

Rivals Celtic were also said to be keen on the Armenia international and could, therefore, provide Clement's side with competition for his services.

However, the biggest stumbling block on the track is that HITC reported that a move to the Netherlands, or somewhere else in mainland Europe, is more likely for Spertsyan at this moment in time.

It was stated that Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord are all eyeing up the talented attacking midfielder, and they seemingly have the edge over Rangers and Celtic in the race for his signature.

Earlier this season, the player himself claimed that the president of Krasnodar values him at €15m (£13m), although it remains to be seen whether or not that is the exact current valuation over his head.

It also remains to be seen whether or not Rangers or Celtic are prepared to go as high as £13m to secure his services this summer, particularly as they will also have to battle it out with several Dutch clubs, which could drive the price up further if an auction is created for his signature.

If the Gers can get a deal over the line for the Premier Liga star, though, then Clement could land a massive upgrade on current attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence.

Tom Lawrence's struggles at Rangers

Signed on a free transfer from Derby County in the summer of 2022, the Welsh attacker has struggled to provide consistency, in terms of both his availability and his performance levels when fit.

Since the start of last season, the 30-year-old whiz has missed a staggering 56 competitive matches for club and country, with an Achilles and a muscle injury.

Meanwhile, Lawrence has only made 38 appearances for Rangers in all competitions during that period, which shows that the former Championship star has been absent for more games than he has played.

Appearances

20

Goals

1

Assists

3

Big chances created

4

Dribbles completed per game

0.6

As you can see in the table above, the experienced midfielder has not provided consistent quality at the top end of the pitch as a number ten for Clement, with one goal contribution every five games on average.

He had scored 11 and ten goals respectively in his last two Championship seasons for Derby before his move to Rangers, yet has only managed three goals in 25 league matches for the Gers since the start of last term.

These statistics show that Lawrence has not been an impressive performer for the Scottish giants, with his injury issues seemingly taking a toll on his displays, and that is why Clement should now look to land an upgrade on him this summer.

At the age of 30, there may not be much development left in the Wales international and signing a younger, better, alternative could be the way to go for the Light Blues ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Rangers should sign Eduard Spertsyan

The Ibrox side must swoop to sign the Krasnodar star, if a deal is financially viable, as he has the quality to be a massive upgrade on Lawrence in a number eight or ten position.

Spertsyan, who Ajax director Sven Mislintat lauded as "special" last year, has the ability to score and create goals on a regular basis when at his best, after an incredible 2022/23 campaign for the Russian side.

Last season, the 23-year-old gem racked up ten goals, 11 assists, and eight 'big chances' created in 28 league games in the Premier Liga, which speaks to the impact he can make in the final third.

Appearances

23

20

Goals

9

1

Assists

2

3

Big chances created

2

4

Dribbles completed per game

1.0

0.6

As you can see in the table above, the Armenian star has also been directly involved in seven more league goals for his team in only three more appearances.

Since the start of last season, the £13m-rated ace has scored or assisted 32 goals in 51 league matches for Krasnodar, which is a goal contribution every 1.52 games on average.

Lawrence, meanwhile, has been directly involved in eight goals (three goals, five assists) in 25 Premiership outings for Rangers, which is one every 3.12 clashes on average.

These statistics suggest that the Gers target has the potential to be a massive upgrade on the Welshman in the middle of the park, as he could score and create goals far more frequently.

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The Armenia international has also only missed four games through injury since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, which also suggests that he would be a significant upgrade from an availability perspective, as the young star rarely misses matches.

This means that Spertsyan could be far more reliable over the course of a season, due to his durability, whilst also offering more quality on the pitch than Lawrence when fit.

Therefore, Clement and Koppen must now work hard to swoop in for the Krasnodar star and win the race for his signature ahead of Celtic and the Dutch sides over the months to come.

The agent of a transfer target for both Arsenal and Tottenham has been spotted in North London, according to a recent report.

Spurs and Arsenal battling on and off the pitch

The rivalry between Arsenal and Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham side remains as strong as ever, and with added incentive for both sides heading into the latest instalment.

After drawing 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium back in September, it was Tottenham's turn to play host to Arsenal on Sunday, knowing that a win over their fiercest rivals would be a major boost in their own Champions League aspirations for next season, as well as effectively ending Mikel Arteta's side's hopes of first Premier League title since 2004, where they clinched the Premier League title at White Hart Lane in front of the Spurs faithful.

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The match started just about perfectly for the Gunners, whose near unstoppable set piece dominance was helped this time by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg heading in at his own near post, with Kai Havertz then nodding home a similar finish to make it three after Bukayo Saka brilliantly slotted in a second on the break.

Cristian Romero tucked home what looked like a consolation after a mistake from David Raya, and while Son Heung-min's well-taken late penalty set up a nervous finish, Arsenal continue their march towards title glory.

Agent of transfer target spotted in north London

With the battle on the pitch now over for another season, attentions turn to matters off it, and the agent of a player wanted by both halves of North London has been touting his client's services.

The player in question? Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, who Tottenham are believed to hold a strong interest in this summer. However, recent reports have placed Arsenal at the front of the queue for his signature, with the 21-year-old thought to be available for around £60m this summer, far below his £128m release clause.

It has already been confirmed that Sudakov will leave this summer, by no other than Shakhtar's own president Sergei Palkin: “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.

Sudakov's stats this season

Appearances

19

Goals

3

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

5

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

Now, Sudakov's agent has been spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, taking to Instagram to show off his time in N17, where he likely met with Spurs representatives to discuss a potential move.

However, The Mirror claim that Spurs are not interested in getting into a bidding war, which Shakhtar managed to spark to good effect over Mykhaylo Mudryk before eventually selling him to London rivals Chelsea, where he has since flattered to deceive.

The image will only serve to further fuel the fire around Sudakov, and will leave Spurs fans hopeful that they can get one over their rivals by agreeing a deal to sign the midfielder ahead of the new season.