Newcastle United will be offered three players in exchange for Alexander Isak by a huge European club this summer, according to a new transfer claim.

Newcastle sweating over Isak's future

Isak is enjoying a fantastic season for the Magpies, standing out as not only their star but also one of the best players in the Premier League currently, causing defenders nightmares with his pace, finishing and all-round game.

The 25-year-old has scored 19 league goals in 2024/25 to date, with only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland ahead of him in the charts, which says a huge amount about the sort of company he is now in.

Isak’s blistering form is understandably seeing him being linked with a move away from Newcastle this summer, however, with some huge clubs battling to snap him up. Chelsea and Arsenal have both been mentioned as potential suitors to sign the Sweden international, while Liverpool are also reportedly pushing to sign him in a possible £148m deal.

The Magpies are understandably desperate to keep their most prized asset at St James’ Park for as long as possible, but there will be concern that he could eye a move elsewhere, feeling he could reach another level at an even bigger club.

Newcastle to be offered attacking trio in Isak swap deal

According to RMC Sport [via NUFC Blog], Paris Saint-Germain are ready to offer Marco Asensio, Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani to Newcastle this summer, in a swap deal that allows them to sign Isak.

The bottom line is that the Magpies would surely rather retain the services of the Swede than lose him, even if it means three players heading in the opposite direction.

Granted, he hasn’t been without injury problems, so there is a tiny element of sense in cashing in on him, but he needs to be viewed as the fulcrum of Eddie Howe’s attack for the foreseeable future.

Should the worst happen and Isak move to PSG, however, Newcastle would at least be bringing in three top-quality players who have proven themselves at a high level throughout their respective careers, with the Ligue 1 champions currently paying the trio a combined £383,000 per week.

In Ramos, the Magpies could have a particularly exciting option, having been hailed by Ian Wright after a stunning hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup:

“It was very impressive, he played very well, scored a hat trick and takes all the headlines and rightly so. He held the ball up brilliantly but the first goal it set the stall for him. ‘He scores a goal that he’s not meant to score (his first goal). He hits it so well, he’s not meant to score that side of the goal but that kind of set them on the road really.”

Meanwhile, Asensio is a three-time Champions League winner from his Real Madrid days, and is currently doing well on loan at Aston Villa, recently scoring a late winner against Chelsea in the Premier League.

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Kolo Muani was famously denied by Emiliano Martinez in the dying seconds of extra-time for France against Argentina in the last World Cup final, and he has five goals in as many Serie A starts on loan at Juventus this season.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após vencer dois jogos na Arena Castelão, o Ceará volta a campo pelo Brasileirão e mede forças diante do Juventude.

– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO

O duelo será realizado no estádio Alfredo Jaconi e o Alvinegro conta com o atacante Cléber.

Em bom momento, o atleta prevê dificuldades no jogo que tem tudo para ser equilibrado na serra gaúcha.

‘Jogo difícil, na casa deles, precisamos entregar tudo para sairmos com a vitória. Sabemos da colocação que eles se encontram, mas isso não quer dizer nada, não existe jogo fácil no Brasileirão, vamos com força máxima para sair com os três pontos de lá’, afirmou.

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And so the cycle continues at Manchester United. With the end of the season on the horizon, the Red Devils will head into the summer window in need of a major overhaul yet again in this grim post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Getting it right on the recruitment front has long been an issue at Old Trafford, even stretching into the glory days under Fergie. Who can forget the 2009 window, in which the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez were replaced by Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan…

A word must also be said for 2013, when new boss David Moyes spent the summer chasing Cesc Fabregas and Gareth Bale – in came Marouane Fellaini. The 2020 window, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is another that requires further scrutiny, with the Norwegian coach handed the likes of Donny van de Beek, Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles and a teenage Facundo Pellistri.

As can be seen above, far too often have the Manchester side made a mess of things with regard to incomings, with INEOS – who may have questions to answer regarding their own business last summer – now left to try and rebuild the squad in Ruben Amorim’s image.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co will no doubt need to cover up the mess of the previous regime, with there seemingly a number of Erik ten Hag signings who need to be shown the door ahead of 2025/26.

How Man Utd's stars compare under Ten Hag & Amorim this season

When Amorim walked in the door back in November, United were languishing in mid-table, albeit with just seven points separating them and the top four, amid a slim but realistic chance of ending the season in the Champions League berths.

As it stands, the 15th-place strugglers are now 13 points behind Chelsea in fifth, having also slipped to ten points adrift of eighth-place Brighton and Hove Albion, ensuring any form of European qualification is likely to rest on Europa League glory.

Those woes lay bare the difficulties that Amorim has faced since replacing Ten Hag in the dugout, with far too many of his side having gone even further off the boil following the change in manager.

Ten Hag

Games

Goals

Assists

Bruno Fernandes

13

0

5

Amad Diallo

12

1

1

Alejandro Garnacho

14

5

3

Joshua Zirkzee

13

1

2

Rasmus Hojlund

8

2

0

Christian Eriksen

11

4

2

Amorim

Games

Goals

Assists

Bruno Fernandes

23

7

6

Amad Diallo

20

6

5

Alejandro Garnacho

23

1

2

Joshua Zirkzee

23

4

0

Rasmus Hojlund

23

5

1

Christian Eriksen

10

0

1

As indicated in the table above, the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo – prior to his cruel injury blow – have been the major beneficiaries of the Portuguese’s arrival, with the attacking pair having found their shooting boots amid the change in set-up.

On the flip side, Alejandro Garnacho – who was linked with a move to Chelsea in January – has scored just once under the new regime, with questions still to be asked over whether the Argentine truly fits in the 3-4-3 system.

The 20-year-old winger isn’t alone in having suffered of late, with Andre Onana’s strong early-season form having rapidly faded over the past three months or so.

Man Utd's "best player this season" needs to be sold

Prior to Amorim’s arrival – and the meteoric rise of Amad – there was a time in which it looked like Onana was blossoming into becoming United’s key performer, with journalist Steven Railston stating in late November that the Cameroonian had been the club’s “best player this season” at that stage.

Indeed, the former Inter stopper had produced a real highlight reel of saves in the early months of the campaign, even as Ten Hag’s fortunes dwindled, having notably produced stunning double saves away to the likes of Crystal Palace – as shown above – and Porto.

Since Amorim’s appointment, however, things have quickly taken a turn for the worse, with the 28-year-old making a string of costly mistakes across all competitions. After conceding just 17 times in 13 games under Ten Hag, Onana has now conceded 32 goals in just 20 games under Amorim in 2024/25.

Against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, for instance, the experienced ‘keeper failed to keep out Morgan Gibbs-White’s long-range effort, before both he and Lisandro Martinez watched on as Chris Wood’s header looped in at the back post.

Just days later, Onana’s errant pass out from the back was swiftly punished as Viktoria Plzen took a shock lead away in Czechia, while the new year has seemingly been the same old story, with the one-time Ajax man at fault for Brighton’s third goal after palming the ball into the path of Georginio Rutter.

That was followed by the £120k-per-week star also pushing the ball into the path of James Maddison in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, while he also produced a strange parry into the air for Abdoulaye Doucoure’s header in the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

That growing list was then added to in the narrow 3-2 win over Ipswich Town, with Onana – who had raced out of his goal – partially at fault along with Patrick Dorgu for the away side’s opener, having also failed to keep out Jaden Philogene’s curling cross.

With three errors made leading to a goal by United’s number 24 in the Premier League this term, he is now looking back to the player who proved so costly in last season’s Champions League group stage horror show.

As analyst H noted on X, Onana will “never fill the Old Trafford crowd with any sense of confidence”, be it with the ball at his feet or when making a save. As The Overlap’s tactics man also went on to state, such uncertainty and nervousness is “impossible to come back from”.

Player

Errors

Arijant Muric

5

Robert Sanchez

5

Bart Vebruggen

4

Andre Onana

3

Alex McCarthy

2

Nick Pope

2

The Manchester Evening News has reported in recent days that the current first-choice is keen to stay put next season, yet with Amorim himself seemingly looking to acquire a new goalkeeper, Onana’s days at Old Trafford should well be numbered.

And so, while the £47.2m signing did show signs of life in the early months of 2024/25, old habits have crept back in since then. INEOS may have other more pressing issues to consider this summer, but seeking out an upgrade in the sticks should certainly remain high on the agenda.

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Manchester United should move on from the winger in the summer transfer window.

ByDan Emery Mar 3, 2025

Allrounder Nicola Carey declined the offer a deal and will instead focus on pre-season with Tasmania

Andrew McGlashan05-Apr-2023Phoebe Litchfield, Kim Garth and Heather Graham have been awarded Cricket Australia central contracts for the first time as part of a newly expanded list.Under the next MoU which was announced earlier this week, up to 18 contracts are now available and the selectors have opted to use 17 of them with the value of deals also significantly increasing.Fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck, who is set to make her return from a long-term injury on the Australia A tour of England in June, has retained her position. Grace Harris has also found a place on the list having been upgraded to a contract during the previous cycle.Related

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Opening batter Litchfield made her international debut late last year in the T20I series against India then impressed in the ODIs against Pakistan. Garth, the former Ireland allrounder, also made her Australia debut against India while Graham came back into the fold during 2022.”Kim Garth and Heather Graham have performed strongly at domestic level over the past 12 months, and both thoroughly deserve their spot on the list,” national selector Shawn Flegler said.”Phoebe Litchfield is a young talent who we believe has a big future, she’s built her game upon a very sound technique and we’re confident she can transfer those skills into international cricket.”We’ve had a core group of players performing well over the last 12 months which means some talented players have missed out, it’s certainly made selection tough but we’re in a fortunate position to have such depth across Australian Cricket.”Importantly, there is still the opportunity for players not offered contracts to earn upgrades through consistent performances, as we saw with Grace last year.”Allrounder Nicola Carey declined the offer of a contract with a preference to focus on pre-season with Tasmania having previously opted out of the Australia A tour of England. The retired Rachael Haynes is the other player to drop off the previous list.”Nicola expressed a desire to spend the winter in Tasmania to allow her to utilise a full preseason at home, focusing on using that time to develop skills in her game to push for international selection in the future,” Flegler said.”We offered Nic a contract because we believe she is a player of international quality, but we respect her decision to focus on a pre-season program with Tasmania and will continue to support her moving forward.”Australia’s next cricket is the multi-format Ashes tour which begins in mid-June. The players will have various camps in Brisbane during May to prepare.The next 12 months has three Tests in Australia’s calendar with away matches against England and India plus a home fixture against South Africa early next year.Australia women central contracts Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke has advised the club against selling Alejandro Garnacho this summer.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Yorke wants United to retain Garnacho
• Garnacho left out of matchday squad against Aston Villa
• Napoli want to sign winger

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Garnacho has been linked with a move away from United this summer after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim. The Argentine winger was vocal in his discontent last week, after he was only a second-half substitute in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. He was then left out of the matchday squad in the club's final game of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday.

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• WHAT DWIGHT YORKE SAID

  Club legend Yorke, however, feels that the Red Devils will make a big mistake if they opt to sell the youngster, as he told : "Manchester United would be crazy to think about selling Alejandro Garnacho. He is so young and is a super young player, there is a high expectation at United so it’s normal to see a dip in his form. The issue is that there isn’t really the squad to rest him because the replacements aren’t up to the same level, he is playing too much for his age and I sympathise with that.

  "If he was rested he would come back with more fire in his belly, he needs that learning curve and it’s up to the manager to help that. But he’s not getting enough rest because United cannot afford to rest him. I think he looks a little bit burned out rather than anything else, but I think that United would be crazy to even think about getting rid of him."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ahead of the Villa clash, Garnacho's girlfriend Eva Garcia had dropped a major hint on her Instagram on the player's future as she shared a photograph of their son's United kit and the caption "Last match" alongside a tearful emoji.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ALEJANDRO GARNACHO?

  The 20-year-old is yet to make a decision on his future, but reported on Sunday that newly-crowned Italian champions Napoli have shown interest in signing the Argentine star, while Chelsea have previously been linked.

The USMNT legend has been appointed as a High-Level Supporter for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with special focus on Haiti

Altidore to raise awareness and funds for WFP's emergency food assistance programsHaitian-American soccer star brings personal connection to humanitarian efforts in regionBuilds on Altidore's established track record of philanthropy in Haiti Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

The World Food Programme has officially named Jozy Altidore, the renowned Haitian-American soccer player, as its newest High-Level Supporter. He becomes part of an esteemed group of High-Level Supporters, joining the ranks of American celebrity chef Eitan Bernath, Bolivian mountaineers Cholitas Escaladoras Maya, Congolese footballer Distel Zola, Brazilian chef and TV personality Rita Lobo, and Congolese musician Innoss’B.

The announcement establishes Altidore as an official advocate for the organization's mission to combat hunger globally, with particular emphasis on emergency food assistance and nutrition programs in Haiti and throughout the Caribbean region.

“Being named a High-Level Supporter of WFP is more than a title, it’s a personal mission. With deep roots in Haiti, I’ve seen how hunger can devastate entire communities,” Altidore told World Food Programme (WFP). “I’m committed to using my voice and platform to help WFP bring hope and lasting change where it’s needed most.”

AdvertisementWHAT BARRON SEGER SAID

“We are thrilled to welcome Jozy to our esteemed team of High-Level Supporters,” said Barron Segar, World Food Program USA President and CEO. “Jozy brings tremendous passion and an infectious energy and enthusiasm to our mission that we hope will inspire younger Americans, athletes, and sports fans alike to join us in fighting global hunger.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Altidore's new role with WFP builds upon his established history of philanthropic work in Haiti. Prior to this appointment, he had already demonstrated commitment to the country through fundraising for education and health programs, constructing a school and soccer field, and supporting hurricane relief efforts following devastating storms. Not only that, in April 2025, he helped amplify WFP's emergency response to the Myanmar earthquake.

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Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

Looking ahead, Jozy Altidore is expected to participate in field visits to WFP operations in Haiti and other countries, engage with donors and policymakers to advocate for increased support, and leverage his social media platforms to raise awareness about specific hunger crises.

Ravi Bopara’s failure to reach the Ageas Bowl in time to lead Sussex in their Vitality Blast tie against Hampshire was followed by a chaotic, and at times utterly doltish, batting display that ultimately cost them a 10-wicket defeat as their inoperative captain watched a little sheepishly from the bench.Sussex’s 144 had been made on a dry, grippy hybrid surface which encouraged imaginings that they were not quite out of the match but Hampshire, the defending champions, strutted to victory with 31 balls to spare – their first-ever 10-wicket victory in this competition. Hampshire go third, but Sussex are second bottom and have lost their last two matches heavily at the start of a period of six games in eight days.Hampshire’s experience is coming to the fore again. Ben McDermott was in robust mood as he made his first half-century in 14 innings and James Vince, who this season has already become the highest career run-scorer in the Blast, was once again in imperious form. is His unbeaten 71 took 31 balls, the highlights a couple of immense slog-sweeps, and he now level with Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen in the Blast run-scoring table with 351 runs at an average of 175.50. “I didn’t think I played all that well,” he said, further berating himself for almost running out McDermott with a handful of runs needed.McDermott, who dominated the strike early on, imposed himself with a towering six down the ground off George Garton and then ramped the next ball over the ropes. The pair’s first fifty stand of the season came off the last ball of the powerplay, but they ended the match with Hampshire’s highest first-wicket stand in T20.In a record-breaking week, Vince now has 20,000 runs for Hampshire across all formats. Samit Patel and Madsen are the only other current players to have as many runs in county cricket. Typically, his beauty of stroke was achieved in remarkably undemonstrative fashion, as if his sheer elegance animates those who watch him more than it delights himself.Bopara was caught in a traffic jam on the M27, caused by a serious accident around 4pm which caused the eastbound carriageway to be closed throughout the evening. As Sussex’s captain, he might have been expected to get there earlier than most, but he was the only player or official not to make it in time for the game, although there were many late arrivals in the crowd. He passed on the captaincy to Tom Alsop as he sat motionless in traffic.Paul Farbrace, Sussex’s head coach, restricted his comments to Sussex’s on-field shortcomings. “There is a lot of inexperience and it is showing,” he said. “It is showing in our shot selection and reading of the game. We had glimpses of good cricket and then we had some unbelievably dozy cricket.”We had an education tonight from the best T20 team in county cricket. They taught us a lesson in so many ways. Their professionalism, the way they set their fields, the way they threw the ball in, ran between the wickets, struck boundaries and attacked our bowlers. The ones who are sharp enough in our team will learn from what they saw tonight.”Few county careers have been observed so fondly as Bopara’s over the past two decades. His laidback nature has been part of his popularity, even as it has occasionally driven his coaches to distraction. Somehow, he managed to play 171 times for England in all formats without ever quite feeling a permanent member of the side, which was quite an achievement.Much has been made of his disorganised and forgetful nature. A memorable article about him in 2011, after he promised to be more reliable, listed four aims and ambitions to cement that England place, of which No. 3 was “remember passport” and No. 4 was “buy a louder alarm clock”.But as England celebrate a new, attacking era, he deserves more recognition for being a progressive, too, because no England player was more outspoken in the dressing room about how the game was changing. It was Bopara who dared to speak out with feeling after England’s timorous 2015 World Cup campaign and said they must “develop braver players and stop fearing”. He was 29 and didn’t play for England again, but he was right. Bazball? Perhaps it should have been coined Raviball.For the second match in a row, Farbrace despaired at Sussex’s self-destructive batting display. First Essex, now this. Three run-outs, a frozen innings of 1 in 11 balls from Pakistan’s Shadab Khan (back in the side after his on-field collision with Nathan McAndrew, who remains absent) and Garton’s determination to get out on the reverse sweep were all contenders when it came to raising Farbrace’s blood pressure.Sussex were handily placed at 60 for 2 in 7.1 overs, driven forward by Tom Clark’s 36 from 25 balls. Then Clark cut Liam Dawson through the hands of backward point, pushed Dan Ibrahim for a second run he didn’t fancy and the batter was well short as Ross Whiteley sprinted off the cover boundary and flung in to the bowler’s end.When Scott Currie outdid Clark in the following over, squared up as he turned to leg and edging to short third, Sussex’s decline was set in motion: Currie is shaping up for a breakthrough season. Shadab, who had a poor season at Yorkshire last summer, never fashioned a response and eventually swept Dawson straight up in the air. Two balls later, Dawson slipped one through the gate as Michael Burgess came down the pitch and McDermott grabbed and missed, but inadvertently thighed the ball into the stumps to complete the dismissal. Dawson’s 2 for 14 revealed the left-arm spinner at his best.Sussex’s misadventure worsened. Garton was fortunate to escape when his reverse sweep against Mason Crane was almost palmed between two fielders at backward square. Astonishingly, he repeated the shot next ball, was undone by the legspinner, and James Fuller held the catch without the assistance of a team-mate.Two calamitous run-outs followed. James Coles fell attempting an impossible run to backward point (Fynn Hudson-Prentice, the striker, was ball watching, so he was not much better) and Ari Karvelas was sent back as he envisaged an equally crackpot second run to Vince’s misfield. Even Vince’s errors are turning out well in a magnificent run of form.

كشف مارسيلو جاياردو، المدير الفني لفريق ريفر بليت الأرجنتيني، عن كواليس المفاوضات مع قائد البرتغال والنصر السعودي، كريستيانو رونالدو، قبل انطلاق منافسات كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

وتلقى النجم البرتغالي عدة عروض من أندية تشارك في منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، مع دخوله عامه الأخير مع فريقه النصر باقتراب نهاية عقده في الشهر الجاري.

ويتواجد ريفر بليت في المجموعة الخامسة بمنافسات كاس العالم للأندية، بجانب كل من إنتر ميلان، مونتيري بالإضافة إلى أوراوا رد دايموندز.

اقرأ ايضاً.. صحيفة برتغالية: مباراة الأهلي مصيرية في مستقبل بورتو

وقال مارسيلو جاياردو في تصريحات لـ شبكة “ESPN”: “تواصلت مع كريستيانو رونالدو من خلال صديق مشترك بيننا، وأخبرته أننا بحاجة إليه للمشاركة معناً في كأس العالم للأندية، وأخبرته أيضاً أنها بطولة صممت خصيصاً لشخص مثله بعد أن ترك بصمة كبيرة في عالم كرة القدم”.

وتابع جاياردو: “رونالدو قدر هذا الاقتراح وفكر به أيضاً، حيث شعر بالتكريم وأخذ وقتاً للتفكير، لكنه في النهائية أخبرني أنه سيركز على الاستعداد للموسم المقبل”.

وأضاف: “كانت المحادثة غير رسمة لدرجة أنها كانت ستبقى سرية تماماً، كما هو الحال في الكثير من الأمور، لو لم يثرها بنفسه، ولهذا السبب انكشفت”.

يذكر أن الدولي البرتغالي، كريستيانو رونالدو، ألمح في وقت سابق إلى أنه قد تلقى دعوة للمشاركة في كأس العالم للأندية من أحد أندية الأرجنتين دون ذكر اسم النادي.

In what could deal the 49ers an instant blow at Ibrox, one European club are reportedly now prioritising a move to sign one of Rangers’ best players when the summer transfer window swings open.

49ers could be dealt instant Rangers blow

The 49ers certainly have a hefty task on their hands when it comes to catching Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. The Bhoys have raced away towards yet another league title this season in a reign of dominance which has looked unlikely to end since the beginning of the campaign. Rangers, meanwhile, have struggled on the domestic front yet again.

That said, the Gers did at least manage to get one over on their rivals in the Old Firm derby last time out, scoring late on to win a five-goal thriller 3-2 in front of the Celtic Park faithful.

The hero of the hour, Hamza Igamane, has been a rare bright spark in a season to forget for the Scottish giants. At just 22 years old, the forward looks destined for big things, however, and that could yet see the Gers suffer a frustrating exit.

According to French news outlet But, Marseille have now made signing Igamane a summer priority in a deal that would cost them just £8m in the coming months. The Ligue 1 giants aren’t alone in their interest though, with the likes of Everton also linked with the forward’s signature in recent weeks.

Related Scored winner vs Rangers: 49ers may now land bargain deal for "special" ace

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From Old Firm hero, Igamane could break Ibrox hearts this summer. Having only just arrived last summer, the in-demand striker may well be forced to make the most important decision of his career so far when the transfer window opens. Rangers, meanwhile, could be left fearing the worst.

Rangers must keep hold of "brilliant" Igamane

With 14 goals to his name in all competitions, including four in eight Europa League games, it’s not just in the Old Firm derby that Igamane has stolen the headlines at Rangers this season. The Moroccan has been the main man at Ibrox and could yet fire the Gers to another European outing to remember when Athletic Club come to town in April.

Earning plenty of praise as a result of his fine form, former Rangers man Derek Ferguson told reporters when asked about Igamane earlier this season: “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man.

“The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games, he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

Whether it’s Everton, Marseille or another interested party, Rangers must keep hold of Igamane if they are to stand any chance of catching Celtic next season. As the 49ers look to make their mark, the young forward is likely to be their biggest star.

Ward strikes maiden T20 half-century as 141 target taken down with ease

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2023

Shadab Khan took four wickets and finished the game with an unbeaten 28•Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Harrison Ward struck a brutal half-century to propel Sussex Sharks to a comfortable seven-wicket triumph over South Group rivals Gloucestershire in a one-sided Vitality Blast contest beneath the floodlights in Bristol.The left-hander smashed 51 from 27 balls, with five sixes and two fours, and dominated a match-winning opening partnership of 83 with Tom Clark as Sharks chased down a victory target of 141 with 6.4 overs to spare.Aristidis Karvelas had earlier put the skids under Gloucestershire with 4 for 20 in 3.2 overs, including three wickets in eight balls during the powerplay. Legspinner Shadab Khan weighed in with 4 for 27 during the middle part of the innings as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 140 in 19.2 overs.Overseas hired hand Grant Roelofsen top-scored with 41for Gloucestershire, and they were indebted to Matt Taylor and Tom Smith, who added 31 for the last wicket to at least provide a veneer of respectability.A seventh defeat in 11 games signalled the end of Gloucestershire’s quest for a place in the quarter-finals, while victory moved Sussex level on points with their opponents, albeit in the lower reaches of the table.If Gloucestershire were relying upon the left-handers in their top order to exploit a short boundary, they were quickly made to think again as Miles Hammond and Ben Charlesworth fell to consecutive Karvelas deliveries in the first over with the score on nine. Hammond top-edged a short-pitched ball to Shadab Khan at third man, while Charlesworth offered a meek return catch and departed without scoring.Karvelas struck again in his next over from the Ashley Down Road End, inducing Ben Wells to slice to third man as the home side lurched to 15 for 3, leaving opener Roelofsen and new batter Ollie Price to recover a parlous situation the best they could.Understandably averse to taking too many risks, the fourth wicket pair progressed the score to 43 by the end of the six-over powerplay, Roelofsen plundering a brace of boundaries at the expense of Henry Crocombe to afford the home side some much-needed momentum.Visibly growing in confidence, Roelofsen greeted Shadab’s leg breaks with a towering six over midwicket to equal his highest score in the competition for Gloucestershire and then repeated the feat in the spinner’s next over to pass 40 for the first time this season.Just when it looked as though a half-century was his for the taking, the South African fluffed his lines, cutting Shadab to backward point and departing for 41, having faced 27 balls, dominating a stand of 50 with Price. It seemed no Gloucestershire batter was able to convert a start into a big score and apply significant pressure, Price advancing to 19 before hoisting Shadab high to George Garton at cow corner as the hosts slipped to 78-5 in the eleventh.Zafar Gohar then played and missed a straight one from Shadab, who had Tom Price held at wide mid-on five balls later to further reduce Gloucestershire to 93 for 7 at the end of the thirteenth. Graeme van Buuren edged a catch behind off Garton, David Payne was held in the deep off James Coles and it was left to Taylor and Smith to save face at the death.Gloucestershire desperately needed to take early wickets if they were to have any hope of defending a paltry total. But Ward and Clark were clearly reading from an altogether different script, these two managing to take full advantage of the short boundary in a whirlwind opening stand of 83 in 6.4 overs.Ward took matters into his own hands in the fifth over, smashing three huge sixes off Taylor to bring the rate down to below a run a ball, while Clark drove Tom Price for a maximum of his own to propel Sharks to 78 without loss at the end of the powerplay and effectively take the game away from Gloucestershire. Clark also weighed in with a quartet of fours in a 19-ball knock of 27, which ended when he drove slow left armer Smith to Hammond at extra cover.But there was no respite for the home side, Harrison going to 50 via 25 balls as Sharks continued to make good progress. Smith removed the hard-hitting opener in the ninth over and Zafar bowled Oli Carter for 10 as spin made inroads, only for experienced captain Ravi Bopara (11 not out) and Shadab (28 not out) to see their side home in a no-thrills unbroken stand of 36 for the fourth wicket.