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Glasgow Rangers made it four wins from four matches in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday when they beat Livingston 2-1 at Ibrox, thanks to goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande.

Danny Rohl, who has now won all of his league games in charge of the club so far, was not entirely pleased with his team’s performance in the narrow win against Livi, though, as evidenced by his post-game comments below.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach wants to see improvement from his players in the weeks and months to come, as the Light Blues look to ensure that they can make something successful out of this campaign.

Rangers are already nine points adrift of first place in the Premiership, per Sofascore, but they are still in the Europa League and have the SFA Cup to play for in the second half of the season.

As Rohl said after Saturday’s game, the Light Blues simply need to improve their performances if they want to be in contention to win things by the business end of the season.

That means that individuals need to step up and become reliable performers, as too many of them have been inconsistent at best. One of those inconsistent players has been summer signing Djeidi Gassama.

Why Rangers should be concerned by Djeidi Gassama's form

After a return of four goals in six Champions League qualifiers, per Transfermarkt, the French forward looked like he was a steal of a signing at £2.2m from Sheffield Wednesday.

He was a shining light in those European matches during Russell Martin’s dismal tenure, and even added a goal in the league phase of the Europa League against Sturm Graz in a 2-1 defeat in the manager’s penultimate game in charge.

Unfortunately, though, Gassama has been unable to deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in his time in the Premiership so far, with one goal and one assist in 12 appearances in the division, per Sofascore.

After his stunning start to life at Ibrox in the early European games, there may have been some hope that he could kick on to become the club’s new Ryan Kent, who produced 33 goals and 56 assists in 218 outings for the Light Blues, per Transfermarkt.

Appearances

12

Starts

11

Goals

1

Minutes per goal

972

Conversion rate

4%

Big chances created

0

Key passes per game

0.8

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Gassama has not provided a Kent-esque presence on the left flank for the Scottish giants in the Premiership this season, with two goal contributions in 12 matches.

His inconsistency, as evidenced by his contrasting form domestically and in Europe, should be a concern for Rangers, given that he is starting almost every league game yet failing to deliver quality on a consistent basis.

This is why Rohl may need to look at alternative options in the left wing position in the coming weeks, as the Gers may need a new starter in that role if Gassama is unable to add more consistency to his domestic displays.

Chalkboard

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

The Daily Record recently noted that Wales international Rabbi Matondo has returned to training after a lengthy injury lay-off that had seen him unavailable for the entirety of Martin’s tenure, and speculated that he could be in for a chance under Rohl.

Why Rangers should give Rabbi Matondo a chance to shine

It would be completely understandable if any Rangers supporters were not too enthused by the prospect of the Welsh forward returning to the team to get another chance, given that he has played zero minutes this season and spent the second half of last season on loan at Hannover.

However, if he is now back in training and is fit and available for selection, the German head coach should provide him with a chance to shine, because it has been his availability rather than his ability that has been an issue throughout his career in Scotland.

Per Transfermarkt, Matondo missed 20 games in his first season at Ibrox through injury, then 19 in his second, and 23 for Rangers and Hannover combined in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he simply has not been available enough in recent years.

When fit, though, the former Manchester City youngster has shown that he has the quality to be a difference-maker on the left flank, with eight goals and 11 assists in 64 appearances, per Transfermarkt, for Rangers.

Matondo, who was once lauded as “electrifying” by former manager Ryan Giggs, has averaged a goal or an assist for the Gers every 139 minutes on average, per Transfermarkt, which is an incredibly impressive return.

Appearances

218

24

67

Minutes

17,732

1,823

2,641

Goals

33

6

8

Minutes per goal

537

303

330

Assists

56

2

11

Minutes per assist

317

911

240

Minutes per goal contribution

199

228

139

As you can see in the table above, Gassama and Kent have both failed to deliver goals and assists as frequently as the Wales international in their respective Rangers careers.

One area in which Gassama particularly struggles is the creative side of the game, as evidenced by his return of an assist every 911 minutes, whilst Matondo has assisted goals even more regularly than Kent did.

This does not mean that the Welsh whiz will automatically become a star if he stays fit and plays week-in-week-out for Rohl, because he has not played a single minute this season and could need time to settle back in to playing competitive football.

However, his statistics for Rangers throughout his career suggest that he has the potential to be Rohl’s own version of Kent as a lightning-quick winger who can provide a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals, which is something Gassama has failed to do so far.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rohl must bin "missing" Rangers flop after Livi

Rangers did claim another league win over Livingston on Saturday, but one player went “missing” at Ibrox, registering fewer touches than Jack Butland.

ByBen Gray Nov 23, 2025

Boult’s success – wickets and the economy rate – in the death overs this season has transformed a side that looked down and out not even a month ago

Sidharth Monga23-Apr-20251:43

Is Rohit Sharma well and truly back?

We know Trent Boult is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the first over in IPL history. He is now also only 11 behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 77 wickets in IPL powerplays, getting to 66 with the wickets of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) fourth straight win, which made it only four powerplay wickets for him in IPL 2025.However, there is another development that MI will be pleased about. Boult has never taken more than nine wickets at the death in a single IPL season. He already has six this year. Then again, wickets should not ideally be the yardstick at the death because batters are just swinging, as we saw with his dismissals of Abhinav Manohar and Pat Cummins in the last over. The real yardstick should be the economy. Boult has never finished an IPL with a better economy at the death than his 9.37 this year so far.It is all the more striking because in his years at Rajasthan Royals (RR), Boult was hardly ever seen as an option to bowl at the death. In his three years with RR, Boult bowled at the death in only 20 matches out of 41. And never more than an over. This year, he has bowled an over at the death in eight out of the nine matches he has played. It makes him a bit of a specialist in the slog overs.Related

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Fourteen bowlers have bowled more than six overs at the death this IPL. Four have a better economy than Boult’s. One of them is Jasprit Bumrah, who usually bowls two per game at the death unless MI desperately need a wicket earlier. Bumrah is going at 7.75 an over at the death this IPL. MI are not anywhere near the best bowling team at the death this IPL but that’s because Bumrah was not available sooner. Since Bumrah’s return, they are bowling three death overs for 25 on an average.”You just need to be prepared for any role anytime,” Boult said in the press conference after the match. “At Rajasthan, I was prepared to bowl at any stage of the match. I’ve been lucky enough to play ten IPL seasons where it hasn’t always been the same recipe every time.”The first thing is you have to always want the ball. This tournament’s such a big tournament, you’re coming up against the best players, and it’s always a big desire for me to take on the best players. Having that mindset of wanting the ball, and wanting to take on the big players, is always a good start.”With complete bowlers such as Bumrah and Boult, it is not about being more suited for one phase over the other. They will find ways to be effective in any phase. Of course, you want Boult to be there when the swing has to be maximised – which is perhaps why RR used him more at the top – but if you ask him to bowl at the death, he is good enough to bowl well there too. And since MI have Deepak Chahar to use the new ball, they can afford to keep Boult back for one quality over at the death as well.Boult and Bumrah also happen to be the two bowlers on whom MI’s last IPL triumph was built, back in 2020. Since the two have come together this year, MI have won four out of five matches. Is this the sauce they have been looking for?

Manchester United aren’t quite at the level of competing with Arsenal yet in the Premier League, but Ruben Amorim’s men are definitely in a healthy spot right now after so much turbulence at Old Trafford.

Indeed, the Red Devils are now deep in a five-match unbeaten run in the top-flight, with fantastic attacking displays against Sunderland and Brighton and Hove Albion, matched by a real desire to fight until the end, as seen in Matthijs De Ligt’s dramatic equaliser, clinching a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Away from the Dutchman finally coming good, United are also cooking on gas with the majority of their recruits from the hectic summer transfer window just gone.

INEOS really did splash the cash this summer, as they attempted to move on from the Red Devils’ depressing 15th-place finish come the end of the 2024/25 season, as quickly as possible.

Thankfully, Amorim and Co. prioritised signings that were desperately needed, who also had Premier League experience, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both joining the building from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively, for a whopping £133.5m, to boost United’s weak attacking areas.

That was a significant chunk of the £216m that was overall spent, but it’s paid off, with six goals shared between the attacking pair in Premier League action so far this season.

Thankfully, Bryan Mbeumo has not fallen victim to the Antony curse, but one of their big-money signings has done.

How Antony is playing after leaving Man Utd

Having gone his first seven Premier League games in United red with just one goal next to his name, the £71m recruit of Mbeumo has now come into his own to be seen as one of the standout bits of business INEOS signed off on in the summer, scoring a fine header against Spurs, taking his tally to six since moving.

A big-money addition, Amorim and Co will be thankful that he’s made a more vibrant impact than a certain Anton.

It feels like a lifetime ago since the Brazilian forward left Ajax behind to move to England for an eye-watering £81.3m in 2022, with only Paul Pogba burning a bigger hole in United’s pocket at the £89m mark.

At the time, it would have been viewed as a considerable amount to fork out, but it would have also been deemed an expensive gamble worth pursuing, with a mightily impressive 24 goals and 22 assists coming his way for the Amsterdam giants.

Ex-United legend Edwin Van De Sar – who also shone for Ajax during his playing days – would even hail him as being a “potential world star” on his arrival at the Theatre of Dreams, with his trickery clear for all to see in flashes in Manchester.

While it ultimately didn’t happen for him in red, he’s certainly made a much brighter impact in the green and white of Real Betis. Having left England behind in the summer, the wide forward has now scored six goals and registered two assists in his ten outings this term.

All these tricks and flicks from Antony were rarely followed up with consistent output, with the Brazilian only managing to find the back of the net a weak 12 times from 96 games in Manchester, leading to another Red Devils icon in Paul Scholes criticising him as a “one-trick pony”.

Man United's new Antony

Unfortunately, there is one fresh recruit who is heading in the dire direction of becoming United’s new version of Antony, as a high price tag potentially becomes the undoing of another underwhelming attacker.

Benjamin Sesko is the man and like Antony, he has also felt the wrath of United legends during his early stint at Old Trafford to date. Notably, Gary Neville suggested that the former RB Leipzig striker was “miles off it” up top.

Like Antony, Sesko joined the English game with a revered reputation for being a nuisance for opposition defences to handle, with the Slovenian commanding a steep £74m price tag out of the Premier League giants off the back of bagging a mighty 27 Bundesliga strikes from 64 contests.

Games played

11

Goals scored

2

Assists

1

Big chances missed

3

Goal conversion

11%

However, much like Antony found out the hard way when making the bumpy transition from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, Sesko hasn’t looked confident at all since leaving the comforts of Germany behind, with only two top-flight goals heading his way from 11 games.

United would even manage to collect that 2-2 draw away at Spurs after Sesko had limped off late on, leaving them down to ten men.

Before that, the low-on-confidence number 30 – who was said to be “struggling” post-game by Amorim – had been played through twice in glorious positions, only to fluff his lines.

Sesko won’t be written off just yet, but the alarm bells are there considering his shoddy displays in the opening few months of his stint in English football.

But, Sesko will know he needs to show why he cost such a high amount soon; otherwise, he is in danger of just being disregarded as a frustrating flop down the line, who had moments here and there of magic.

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Glasgow Rangers were dealt a big blow in their 3-0 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, as Nedim Bajrami was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after 21 minutes.

The Albania international had scored one goal and created seven chances in his last two starts in the league, per Sofascore, which shows that he was finally finding his feet in the 2025/26 campaign.

Unfortunately, the former Sassuolo man is now set for a spell on the sidelines after this latest injury blow, which means that Danny Rohl will need to find a new left winger for the game against Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

Why Findlay Curtis should not start against Ferencvaros

Academy graduate Findlay Curtis came off the bench to replace Bajrami in the 21st minute against Kilmarnock on Saturday, but the Scottish youngster failed to take his chance to impress.

Perhaps it was nerves, as it was only his third appearance since the start of November, but the 19-year-old winger produced a shaky display before being substituted in the 76th minute.

Per Sofascore, Curtis completed one of his three attempted crosses, created one chance, and failed to score with either of his shots on goal, whilst one of those failed crosses sailed high and wide in the first half and led to some frustrated reactions in the penalty area.

Chalkboard

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

The teenage forward also struggled with the physical side of the game. Per Sofascore, he lost three of his four ground duels and was dribbled past three times, which shows that the Kilmarnock players found him too easy to get the better of on the night.

With this in mind, Rohl could solve the Bajrami injury blow by leaving Curtis on the bench to be an impact sub and starting Thelo Aasgaard in a new role.

The new role that Thelo Aasgaard could play for Rangers

It is fair to say that the summer signing from Luton Town has not enjoyed an ideal debut season with the Ibrox giants so far, with a return of one goal and one assist in 22 appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore

He was described as a “passenger” by Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar last month, and his lack of goals and assists for the Light Blues backs up that comment.

Per Transfermarkt, all of his starts this season have come in central positions. This is why Rohl should flip the script and attempt to ignite Aasgaard’s Rangers career by playing him in a brand-new role on the left flank.

AM

70

20 + 10

LW

21

5 + 0

CM

19

1 + 0

LM

6

1 + 1

CF

5

0 + 1

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian talent is no stranger to playing on the left flank, as he has played 27 matches there in his career, which suggests that he is capable of playing out wide.

A return of seven goals in those 27 games also suggests that moving him out on the left could ignite his goalscoring potential at Ibrox, after a run of one goal in 22 matches in central positions so far for the Light Blues.

Unlike Curtis, Aasgaard has the physical and defensive attributes to his game that could make him a reliable operator out of possession in a left wing position. Per Sofascore, he has won 58% of his ground duels and only been dribbled past once in 12 appearances in the Premiership.

The Scottish youngster, meanwhile, has lost 53% of his ground duels and been dribbled past three times in 119 minutes of football, which suggests that the summer signing from Luton offers more physicality on the pitch.

Physicality is not everything, though, and Aasgaard will still need to prove that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis if Rohl opts to provide him with a chance to shine on the left wing after injuries to Bajrami and Oliver Antman in recent days.

With Mikey Moore, who can play centrally or out wide on either flank, also returning to fitness, it will be interesting to see what the German head coach ultimately decides to go with against Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

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It could be a good move, though, to unleash Aasgaard over Curtis in that left wing spot on Thursday night, both because of the physical element and how it could ignite the ex-Wigan star’s career at the club.

Timo Werner is pushing for a move away from RB Leipzig this winter, with reports in Germany revealing a sensational interest in joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. The former Chelsea striker has fallen out of favour in Leipzig and sees MLS as his next destination despite rejecting a switch to the New York Red Bulls. With his future uncertain, Miami’s glamour and sporting profile appear to be drawing the German forward.

Werner eyes Miami move as Leipzig exit looms

The German forward's future at RB Leipzig is essentially over, and the 29-year-old is now reportedly targeting a high-profile move to Inter Miami, where he hopes to line up alongside superstar Messi. Werner has played just one minute of football this season and no longer features in Leipzig’s matchday squads, leaving a winter exit increasingly likely.

reported that Werner is especially tempted by Miami’s project and the global pull of playing with Messi, whose presence continues to reshape the MLS landscape. The glamour surrounding the club, both in sporting ambition and lifestyle appeal, is said to suit Werner and his wife Paula, making South Florida an attractive landing spot as he seeks a fresh start.

A move to MLS had already been on the table last summer, when the New York Red Bulls made inquiries through the Red Bull network. At the time, Werner remained reluctant to leave Leipzig due to his sizeable salary and the belief he could still revive his career in Germany. But his situation has deteriorated drastically, and with his contract expiring in 2026, a winter departure is now seen as essential to avoid drifting toward free agency.

AdvertisementWhy New York Red Bulls plan didn't work out

Werner’s most concrete MLS opportunity collapsed when the New York Red Bulls ultimately walked away from talks, a decision explained in detail by the club’s athletic director Julian de Guzman.

Last week, De Guzman confirmed that the forward had been on the club’s radar, saying: "There have always been rumors about Werner," before stressing that any deal had to suit New York’s long-term strategy. He added: "We have to make sure it makes sense for us here in New York."

The Canadian executive made clear that Werner’s profile was highly appealing from a fan standpoint, stating: "Werner is a great name. I think the fans would have loved him. The opportunity was there, but I don't think we were 100 percent convinced that this was the right thing for New York. That's why we didn't fully commit to it."

Salary considerations also played a key role, as Werner earns a reported €10 million per year in Leipzig, while New York were unable, and ultimately unwilling, to match anywhere near that level for a Designated Player slot. The striker was similarly unwilling to reduce his wage demands to complete the move, contributing to the breakdown of discussions.

Why Inter Miami now appeal to Wermer

With the Red Bulls stepping aside, Werner has shifted his attention to the other side of the MLS spectrum – Inter Miami, a club defined by star power, global attention and a clear pathway to compete for trophies. Messi’s presence remains the biggest draw, with the Argentine continuing to exert a transformative influence on the club’s recruitment and profile.

Inter Miami’s roster structure for 2026 provides a plausible opening. The imminent retirements of Jordi Alba and Messi's right hand man Sergio Busquets will free up two Designated Player slots, while Rodrigo De Paul is expected to occupy one if his loan becomes permanent. That leaves one DP spot available, a rare opportunity Miami could use on a high-profile attacker like Werner.

From a sporting perspective, Werner would offer flexibility across the front line, potentially replacing Luis Suarez if he departs and giving Miami an experienced, mobile option heading into the new MLS calendar cycle in 2026. The lifestyle component also weighs heavily in Miami’s favour, with the city viewed by Werner as an ideal environment to reset his career.

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AFPHow likely a move can take place?

The next steps hinge on Inter Miami’s internal evaluation and their willingness to commit a DP slot, and potentially a sizeable salary, to a striker whose performances have dipped since his Chelsea days. While Werner is eager to join Messi in Florida, the report stresses that Miami’s interest is not yet confirmed, leaving the possibility of alternative MLS suitors still open.

For Leipzig, the winter window will be decisive, and Marco Rose has already marginalised the striker, and a move abroad appears the only viable solution to avoid a stagnant final 18 months of his contract. Miami, meanwhile, must navigate a busy rebuild as they prepare for the 2026 season, with decisions looming on Suarez’s future, the DP structure, and several expiring contracts.

The Pirates selected a pitcher with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 MLB draft, taking highly touted right-hander Seth Hernandez out of Corona High School in California.

Hernandez was heralded as one of the best players in the draft, and he's already drawing some comparisons to another standout pitcher in Pittsburgh; Paul Skenes.

According to Pittsburgh radio host Andrew Filliponi of 93.7 The Fan, sources have not hesitated to liken Hernandez to the Pirates' two-time All-Star and NL Cy Young candidate.

"The Pirates have their next pitching phenom after Paul Skenes. He is the best player in the draft," Filliponi's sources told him.

Hernandez was named the 2025 Gatorade National Player of the Year and dominated during his senior season at Corona, logging a 0.39 ERA in 53 1/3 innings with 105 strikeouts and just seven walks. He was considered by many to be the No. 1 player in the draft, and now he'll join a Pirates farm system that boasts plenty of high-upside arms.

A future rotation consisting of Skenes, Hernandez, Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones could be devastating if the whole group is able to unlock their potential, that is if the organization is able to keep them all in town.

Manchester United owners INEOS are taking a page out of Chelsea’s book as they swoop to secure two of the brightest talents in South America ahead of the January transfer window.

BlueCo's transfer strategy finally bearing fruit at Chelsea

Todd Boehly was heavily criticised during the early days of his reign at Chelsea, with Jamie Carragher among his most vocal opponents, questioning the sheer volume of signings made under the American.

The Blues have seen a major success story emerge from their flock of young signings however, with Estevao Willian becoming a key member of Enzo Maresca’s first team, scoring crucial goals against Liverpool and Barcelona this season.

The Brazilian is just one of several South American recruits made under BlueCo’s ownership, with the likes of Andrey Santos, Kendry Paez and Aarón Anselmino all out on loan.

The Red Devils have begun to follow the path trodden by BlueCo since INEOS’ arrival, with 18 year-old Paraguay left-back Diego Leon signed in the summer and two more South American gems now seemingly on the way.

Indeed, Manchester United have agreed a deal for midfielder Cristian Orozco and a report from AS has revealed United ‘have already begun negotiations’ for Brazilian centre-back Luis Eduardo, with a bid expected in the coming days and weeks.

Eduardo could be the next Thiago Silva

Eduardo turns 18 in January and has very liittle senior experience, making just one appearance so far for Gremio’s first team.

However, the teenager captained his country to the semi-finals at the U17 World Cup in Qatar last month, which is where he caught the eye of scouts from both United and Chelsea.

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Standing at 6 foot 1, he is not the tallest central defender around, but has been a weapon at set pieces for Brazil’s youth side, scoring three times in just 13 caps.

Similar to the 5 foot 11 Thiago Silva, the Gremio defender has been praised for his leadership, pace and timing, using his reading of the game to break up play rather than pure physicality.

United are expected to reinforce the first team in the January transfer window, but adding quality to the youth ranks can only boost their chances of returning to past glories.