The Inter Miami star set up Lautaro Martinez for the only goal of the game as Lionel Scaloni's side stretched their lead at the top of the table

In what has become a familiar story for Argentina, Lionel Messi bailed them out with a moment of brilliance as La Albiceleste defeated Peru 1-0 in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

The Inter Miami superstar beat three defenders to deliver an outrageous assist for Inter forward Lautaro Martinez, who scored with a stupendous overhead kick to secure all three points with his 55th-minute effort.

After a quiet first half, Argentina emerged from the break with a newfound vigour, and they netted their stunning winner 10 minutes into the second half. Peru, however, remained resilient, locking down defensively and shutting out Argentina the rest of the way while the hosts' strong defence, powered by their workhorse midfield duo of Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul, returned the favour to secure the result.

GOAL rates Argentina players from Estadio Alberto Jose Armando in Buenos Aires…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Emiliano Martinez (6/10):

Was rarely tested. Had good distribution.

Gonzalo Montiel (6/10):

Replaced Molina in the XI, but didn't have much of an impact on the match

Nicolas Otamendi (7/10):

A veteran's performance in the back line. Was composed all night, and was defensively strong when needed,

Leonardo Balerdi (7/10):

Filled in for the absent Romero with a much better showing than against Paraguay. A promising performance.

Nicolas Tagliafico (7/10):

Lights-out all night. Was a really good asset on the flank, and occupied his side of the pitch well.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Enzo Fernandez (7/10):

The Chelsea man was solid in the midfield, with the tempo flowing through him. He completed the most passes of any player on the pitch.

Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):

Another lackluster showing from the Liverpool man. Failed to make an impact in the middle of the pitch.

Rodrigo De Paul (7/10):

Was exceptional as usual. Won more tackles than any other midfielder, and created one big chance.

AFPAttack

Lionel Messi (9/10):

Outrageous assist. It was a genuinely magical moment from the team's talisman. Had a quiet first half, but made up for it with his brilliant ball for the opening goal.

Lautaro Martinez (9/10):

Superb all evening, was a nuisance in the final third throughout the match. Stunning finish for the only goal, too.

Julian Alvarez (7/10):

Wasn't as impactful as his counterparts, but played his role well to draw defenders out of position and create attacking chances.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPSubs & Manager

Nehuen Perez (N/A):

Introduced with 14 minutes to spare. Did not impact the match.

Giuliano Simeone (N/A):

Brought on with minutes to spare.

Giovani Lo Celso (N/A):

Was subbed on late to close out the match.

Facundo Medina (N/A):

Was a stoppage-time sub.

Leandro Paredes (N/A):

Was a stoppage-time sub.

Lionel Scaloni (7/10):

A rather poor first half, but he breathed life into his squad at the break, and it paid off. An impressive response from Scaloni and his team after defeat last time out, even if it was closer than expected.

حقق فريق الخليج فوزًا كبيرًا على نظيره العروبة بنتيجة 3-0 في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الجمعة على استاد الأمير محمد بن فهد بالدمام، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ15 من الدوري السعودي للمحترفين.

افتتح عبد الله السالم التسجيل للخليج في الدقيقة 22 بتسديدة مميزة بعد هجمة مرتدة منظمة، قبل أن يضيف فابيو مارتينيز الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 32 من تسديدة رائعة من خارج منطقة الجزاء بعد انفراد بالحارس.

طالع.. الخليج السعودي يرد عبر “بطولات” على أنباء اهتمامه بـ زيزو.. وموقف محمد شريف

شارك المهاجم المصري محمد شريف في الدقيقة 75 كبديل لصالح أبو الشامات، وتمكن من تسجيل الهدف الثالث لفريقه في الدقيقة 95 من كرة عرضية مميزة، مسجلًا أول أهدافه هذا الموسم مع الخليج.

بهذا الفوز، رفع الخليج رصيده إلى 23 نقطة، ليحتل المركز السابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، في المقابل، تجمد رصيد العروبة عند 13 نقطة في المركز الرابع عشر.

أنهى الخليج سلسلة نتائجه السلبية، حيث حقق فوزه الأول منذ الجولة 11 حين تغلب على الهلال بنتيجة 3-2.

With new manager Enzo Maresca at the helm, Chelsea aren’t waiting around to get their transfer business complete.

Tosin Adarabioyo is already in the door, having joined on a free transfer from Fulham, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also following the Italian to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City.

Youngsters Omari Kellyman, Estevao Willian, Marc Guiu and Renato Veiga have also arrived in west London, with owner Todd Boehly maintaining his philosophy of investing in youth prospects.

Their current recruitment plan has been a success, with the likes of Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto thriving in the first-team after their respective moves to join the Blues.

Despite the recent influx of new additions in recent weeks, Boehly still wants to improve the side further, with numerous names still in the mix over a move to Maresca’s side.

Chelsea’s hunt for a new attacker

After missing out on Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, the club have still been working tirelessly to try and sign a new forward to catapult the club back towards the summit of the Premier League.

Whilst Jonathan David is primarily a central striker, he’s still capable of playing on either flank, with the club exploring a move for the Canadian this summer.

Despite his stellar campaign in Ligue 1 which saw him register 23 goals or assists in 34 appearances, he could be available for as little as £25m this summer, with his contract expiring in June 2025.

However, the Blues have also been eyeing another out-and-out winger to solve their issues in the final third, with Maresca’s side targeting Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma this summer.

According to Ben Jacobs on the London is Blue podcast, via The Chelsea Chronicle, Chelsea have held internal discussions about the potential signing of the Japanese international, but no official move has been made yet.

He’s been an excellent addition for the Seagulls since his £2.5m move from Kawasaki Frontale back in August 2021, featuring 67 times, and registering 13 goals.

It’s unknown how much a deal for the 27-year-old would cost the Blues, but he would certainly be a superb addition that would improve Maresca’s already impressive forward line.

However, the forward is valued lower than one Chelsea star who has taken his chance in the first-team with both hands in recent seasons.

Conor Gallagher’s market value in 2024

Academy graduate Conor Gallagher has rapidly developed at Stamford Bridge, cementing his first-team place and even being handed the captain’s armband on multiple occasions last season.

The 24-year-old started 37 games under former boss Mauricio Pochettino in the 2023/24 campaign, with his excellent form earning him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.

Games

37

Goals

5

Assists

7

Pass accuracy

92%

Dribbles completed

68%

Duels won

212

Tackles won

52

Interceptions

43

As a result of his consistent displays over the last 12 months, the midfielder has seen his market value skyrocket, with Gallagher now valued at £43.2m, as per Football Transfers.

His subsequent value is now higher than that of Mitoma, who is still only valued at £18.2m despite his excellent displays for the Seagulls.

The “elite” Gallagher, as dubbed by scout EBL, has also been subject to huge interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United this summer, but Maresca will undoubtedly want to keep hold of the talent this summer.

He may not be the easiest of footballers to watch on the eye, but he always plays with his heart on his sleeve, doing the dirty work that other players tend to shy away from.

His rise in value is hardly a surprise given his desire to go above and beyond the cause, with the midfielder potentially playing a huge role in Maresca’s rebuild of the Blues in 2024/25.

Enzo must axe Chelsea flop who earns more than Adeyemi & Calafiori combined

He’s not had the impact the club would’ve wished for upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 11, 2024

As many as five Afghanistan batsmen fell for ducks in the second innings

Firdose Moonda03-Mar-2021Zimbabwe sauntered to a big win over Afghanistan in the first Test meeting between these two sides, which lasted just two days, in Abu Dhabi. After bowling Afghanistan out for scores of 131 and 135, Zimbabwe needed just 17 runs to win and got them unscathed in 3.2 overs in their second innings.On a surface that was green-tinged to start where there was ample movement to be found and good bounce throughout, scoring was tough but not impossible. Zimbabwe’s captain Sean Williams, who brought up his third Test century and second as captain, and 19-year-old Afghan opener Ibrahim Zadran, who top-scored for his team with 76 in the second innings, showed the application required to craft an innings on this pitch. Solid defensive technique was a must and any errors in length could be punished, which they both did.No other batsmen on either side managed more than 44 runs, with only four Zimbabweans other than Williams getting into double figures and one other Afghan player, Afsar Zazai, making more than 30. Eight Afghan batsmen were dismissed for single figures in their second innings, five of them for ducks. Neither Zimbabwe nor Afghanistan played Test cricket for a year before this and the struggles of their batsmen was as much an illustration of the dearth of long-form cricket as it was an indication of the comparative strength of their bowling styles. Zimbabwe’s quicks Victor Nyauchi, Blessing Muzarabani and Donald Tiripano shared 16 of the 20 Afghan wickets among them while left-arm spinner Amir Hamza took a career-best 6 for 75, his second successive five-for in Tests.Ultimately Williams, and the two half-century stands he shared with Sikandar Raza and Regis Chakabva, proved to be the biggest difference between the two sides. While Raza and Williams stabilised Zimbabwe from 38 for 4 on the first day, Chakabva’s proactive presence helped push Zimbabwe into a commanding lead, while Williams acted as the fulcrum around which the innings was build.Williams lost his overnight partner Ryan Burl in the second over of the second morning, but Chakabva transferred pressure back on to Afghanistan. He scored 24 runs off the first 34 balls he faced, and struck Zimbabwe’s only six.Williams’ approach had been watchful throughout and he scored 11 runs in 22 balls in the morning before he had the opportunity to drive Yamin Ahmadzai through extra cover. Ahmadzai thought he had Williams caught behind on 70, and there seemed to be a sound, but umpire Ahmed Shah Pakteen was unmoved. But, Afghanistan did find a way to break the partnership. With less than 15 minutes for lunch, Zahir Khan drew Chakabva forward in an attempt to defend a ball that took the inside edge onto the pad and to Abdul Malik at short leg.Williams entered the 90s with a pull off Zahir before Tiripano departed in similar fashion to Chakabva. Muzarabani took the lead over 100 with a heave over square leg, and Williams went to lunch on 97. He reached his hundred in the third over after the break with a single to square leg, but only scored five more runs before flicking Hamza to midwicket. Williams’ hundred was his second successive three-figure score in Tests and he showed the temperament required to succeed in the longest format.To a lesser degree, so did Zadran, with good awareness of his off stump and an eye for any small errors in line or length. He was especially comfortable against spin and will serve as an example to the rest of the line-up, especially those in the top order.Debutant opener Abdul Malik has work to do on his technique against shorter deliveries after he picked up a pair, edging Nyauchi to Regis Chakabva in the second over. No. 3 Munir Ahmed, also in his first match, played down the wrong line to a full Muzarabani ball and Rahmat Shah was undone by swing from Nyauchi, and tried to turn a ball that dipped on him square but was hit on the pad to be dismissed lbw for a duck. Hashmatullah Shahidi top-edged a short ball to deep square leg, Zazai went forward to defend a Williams delivery that pitched on middle stump and spun past the edge to trap him lbw, and Asghar Afghan left a bat-pad gap that Muzarabani burst through with a delivery that jagged back in.By tea, with Afghanistan 49 for 6, Zimbabwe had an innings victory in their sights, which only got closer when Burl bowled fellow legspinner Abdul Wasi shortly after the interval. Hamza stuck with Zadran and shared a 48-run eighth-wicket stand that ended when Zadran’s concentration waned and he drove a wide Tiripano delivery only to edge behind. Tiripano had Ahmadzai caught at second slip off the next ball and Zahir toe-ending a slog to mid-off to end the Afghanistan innings and leave Zimbabwe with a small target to take the series lead.The second Test starts on March 10 at the same venue.

West Ham are believed to have verbally agreed a five-year deal with a "ridiculously good" target, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

West Ham transfer news

The Hammers have already brought in some key names this summer, from Max Kilman to Luis Guilherme, and it looks as though Leeds United winger Crysenscio Summerville will be the next player through the door. A deal has reportedly been agreed, with a £25m+ move expected to come to fruition sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth is one of many attacking players to have been linked with a move to the London Stadium. The 28-year-old was on fire in La Liga last season, scoring 23 goals in the competition, not to mention also registering six assists, showing that he is more than just a goalscorer.

Borussia Dortmund marksman Niclas Fullkrug is also considered a strong target for West Ham, having helped his side get to the Champions League final last season, as well as scoring twice for Germany at Euro 2024 earlier this summer, despite not starting a single game.

Lens centre-back Kevin Danso has been linked with a move to the Hammers, too, as Julen Loptegui looks to add more depth at the heart of his defence, despite having already secured the impressive signing of Kilman from Wolves. The 25-year-old started 30 games for the French side in Ligue 1 last term, averaging 3.8 clearances per game.

West Ham agree five-year deal with "ridiculously good" ace

According to Plettenberg on X, West Ham are now closing in on the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with a verbal agreement in place over a long-term deal switch for the Manchester United defender. Technical director Tim Steidten has tabled a £10m bid, although the Red Devils want up to £18m.

Wan-Bissaka may have his detectors, in terms of his technical limitations as an attacking right-back, but he could still be an excellent signing for West Ham, not least because of his defensive expertise.

The Englishman has been renowned for his one-on-one ability up against opposition wingers for many years, with Tottenham ace James Maddison calling him "ridiculously good" in that area of his game.

Appearances

22

Starts

20

Goals

0

Assists

2

Clearances per game

2.5

Tackles per game

1.9

Interceptions per game

1.9

Pass completion rate

82.9%

Wan-Bissaka would represent a younger option than Vladimir Coufal, and while he hasn't always reached the expectations of him at a club the size of United, West Ham could be the perfect club for him to showcase his quality, as was the case at Crystal Palace before his move to Old Trafford.

Manchester United will be desperate to kick on after a positive end to the 2024/25 season, a campaign that was generally quite a disappointing season overall.

Despite the fact that it ended with silverware, the Red Devils’ manager, Erik ten Hag, was almost sacked from his role due to poor performance.

In the Premier League, United came in a disastrously low eighth place, finishing on just 60 points. They were level with Newcastle United, but the Magpies’ far superior goal difference of 23 compared to United’s -1 ensured that they finished in front of the 13-time Premier League champions.

However, Eddie Howe’s side did not manage to secure European football, despite initially believing they had qualified for the Europa Conference League. United’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, sent United into next season’s Europa League.

The Red Devils will no doubt be looking to strengthen their side this summer, and have all but confirmed the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. However, they are also linked with another Serie A attacker who could switch to Old Trafford this summer.

Man United target Serie A attacker

The player in question here is Juventus and Italy winger Federico Chiesa. After constant injury issues, Chiesa is not thought to be in new Juve manager Thiago Motta’s plans and could be in line to leave Turin this summer.

According to a report from Italian news outlet Gazzetta, there has “certainly been talk” of a swap deal for Chiesa and Jadon Sancho between United and the Italian giants, Juve. The Englishman has given the go-ahead for a move to Turin, but the move the other way has yet to be given the nod.

United were not the only potential destination for Chiesa, with AS Roma also interested in adding him to their squad. However, the Italian club pulled out of negations for the deal because they became “tired of his hesitations” over a move to the capital.

If, instead of a swap deal between Sancho and Chiesa, United were to pay for Chiesa, he could cost around £21m.

Why Chiesa would be a good signing

If United were to bring Chiesa to Old Trafford, they would be signing a “magical” winger, as he was dubbed by football analyst Raj Chohan. He played 33 games in Serie A last season, scoring nine times and registering three assists. He scored in the final two games of the campaign to end on a high note.

Should the Red Devils sign the 26-year-old, he could form a superb partnership with the incoming Zirkzee, who has received the famous “here we go” from esteemed journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Dutchman is an excellent link-up striker, who could drop deep and create space for Chiesa to exploit when he has the ball. The Italian is a winger who very much likes to operate in the half-space, looking to drive towards the penalty box.

He is a wonderful progressive carrier, and according to Fbref, averages 4.55 progressive carries per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 3% of attackers in Europe. However, where Chiesa could really excel when Zirkzee has vacated space is carrying into the penalty box.

He averages 2.38 carries into the penalty area each game. You can imagine how this would make him and the Bologna man a dangerous pair, with Zirkzee dropping deeper to receive the ball and play Chiesa in behind.

Chiesa carrying numbers 2023/24
Stat (per 90)	Number
Take-ons attempted	3.89
Take-ons completed	1.43
Progressive carries	4.55
Carries into final third	2.29
Carries into penalty box	2.38
Stats from FBref

The 26-year-old is also a wonderful creative passer in the final third. He averages 2.21 key passes each game, ranking him in the top 3%, as well as 1.84 passes into the penalty box, placing him in the top 4%.

The winger is also a superb crosser, and his 0.74 balls into the penalty box each game places him in the top 1% of wingers. Again, you can picture this link-up with the Dutchman who could be on the end of some wonderful service from the Italy winger.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson once described Chiesa as a “galactico”, and it is clear to see why. His potential link-up with Zirkzee, a specialist at facilitating wingers and making late runs into the box, could be a mouth-watering prospect for the Red Devils supporters. For just £21m, it could be a no-brainer for United to do that deal this summer.

Man Utd targeting Zirkzee alternative who's "like Cristiano Ronaldo"

He could be available for £30m this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jul 11, 2024

The American consortium barely put a foot wrong during the first three years of their reign – now they risk being run out of the Giallorossi

When it first emerged in June that the Friedkin Group had agreed a deal with Farhad Moshiri to buy Everton, the news was warmly received by the club's long-suffering supporters. For starters, it appeared to signal an overdue end to one of the most toxic tenures in the Toffees' history. After years of underachievement and uncertainty, the grossly unpopular Moshiri was finally on his way out of Goodison Park.

The Everton faithful were also encouraged by the way in which the Friedkin Group had already revived Roma – another once-great club with a fantastic fanbase that had fallen on hard times. The Giallorossi won the Conference League just two years after being taken over by the American consortium, in 2020, and also reached the Europa League final the following season.

However, with the Friedkin Group still trying to wrap up its proposed acquisition of a 94 percent stake in Everton, it's worth noting that Roma have since descended into complete chaos, with many bitterly frustrated fans now trying to drive the owners out of a club presently searching for its fourth manager of 2024…

• 'Friedkin go home!'

  On Tuesday morning, the front page of the warned that the "crisis at Roma risks becoming a joke". In truth, that ship had already sailed.

  Just the day before, it had been claimed that, in the hope of avoiding detection, Dan and Ryan Friedkin were staying in a hotel in Ladispoli, a town on the outskirts of the capital city. Those reports were unconfirmed, but that didn't deter some irate Roma fans from trying to send a message to the under-fire owners by hanging a banner outside the building that read, "Friedkin go home!"

  Such a sentiment would have been unthinkable even just a few months ago. The Friedkins had barely made a mistake since acquiring Roma from James Pallotta just over four years ago. However, they've now made several disastrous decisions that have turned many fans against them.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Sometimes football is not fair'

  On June 25, Daniele De Rossi signed a new, three-year contract with Roma. The team's form had tailed off at the end of the 2023-24 season, but it still felt like just reward for the club legend, who had done a fine job in lifting the spirits at Trigoria after Jose Mourinho had left the team at "rock bottom" when he was finally fired in January.

  Consequently, De Rossi's dismissal less than a month into the new season stunned Serie A. Nobody had seen it coming. Roma may have drawn three of their first four league games, while losing the other, but there had been no talk of dressing-room discontent. On the contrary, the players seemed as shocked by the news as they were upset, with star player Paolo Dybala left lamenting the fact that "sometimes football is not fair".

  It was a move that appeared to make little sense. Roma had clearly had a project in mind with De Rossi and yet they had decided to abandon it after little more than a slow start. Looking at the Friedkin family's reign up until that point, it felt completely out of character, at odds with their previously patient and prudent approach to everything from appointments to the transfer market.

  Many fans pointed the finger of blame squarely at CEO Lina Souloukou, whose influence and power at Roma had only increased following the departure of Thiago Pinto as sporting director in February, as it had been reported that she had clashed with De Rossi over the club's handling of the summer transfer market. even claimed that Souloukou had to be placed under a light form of police protection before she stood down just four days after De Rossi's sacking.

• Getty Images
  

  'Very explosive situation'

  The Friedkin Group hired Ivan Juric to replace De Rossi – another odd choice in the circumstances. The former Verona and Torino boss was a hard-working disciplinarian who is widely respected in Serie A, but did not look like a good fit for the squad that Roma had been putting together for De Rossi.

  "Juric is the last coach you would want to bring into this situation," fellow Croat and former AC Milan director Zvonomir Boban told . "He is good at a very different style of football, he wants very physically strong players with stamina, whereas he has taken on a squad with a great deal of technical quality. He is also not suited to taking over midway through a season without any work over the summer in training.

  Boban couldn't have been more correct. Roma won their first two league games under Juric, against Udinese and Venezia, but then capitulated, as it quickly became clear that there was a colossal disconnect between the coach and his players, who, it must be said, have not been spared the ire of the supporters, who have labelled them "traitors" and "pieces of sh*t".

  When Juric confronted defender Gianluca Mancini over the concession of a goal in the first half of Roma's embarrassing 5-1 loss at Fiorentina on October 27, the pair reportedly came close to exchanging blows during the interval. Mancini did not emerge for the second half at all, refusing to even take his seat on the bench. And nor did Bryan Cristante, who had been substituted after just 32 minutes.

  The also alleged that sporting director Florent Ghisolfi went to the dressing room to ask for an explanation for the dismal display after the game and was told by captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, "No one asked us about the issue and, after four games, you sent away a coach who had taught us a certain type of football to take someone from the antipodes!"

  By that point, it was clear that Juric was on borrowed time, with the likes of Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini pointing out that he had been put in an almost impossible position. "It's a very explosive situation, born of the sacking of De Rossi," the Atalanta coach told .

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  'We apologise to the fans'

  Juric was finally put out of his misery on Sunday – just over half an hour after Roma's 3-2 loss at home to Bologna, which left the capital club 12th in Serie A, just four points above the relegation zone.

  He had made numerous mistakes during his seven-week reign, chief among them claiming Dybala was not fit to play while the Argentine's agent was telling everyone else otherwise. However, while his name had been whistled even before kick-off, most of the fan fury was now being directed at those that had put him in the firing line in the first place.

  "Friedkin, who's seen him?" read one banner at the Olimpico, which was a reference to the fact that Dan – and Ryan – had apparently cancelled plans to fly in from the U.S. before the game to avoid putting themselves in an awkward position. If they had turned up at the Olimpico, they'd have been subject to all sorts of abuse. If they hadn't turned up despite arriving in Rome, they'd have been accused of cowardice. In the end, it was Ghisolfi who faced the media after Juric's inevitable sacking had been finally confirmed.

  "Ivan is an ambitious coach who demands a great deal from his players," the Frenchman told . "This is not the moment to evaluate the technical and tactical issues, he arrived in a very difficult situation. It is also time for us to take our share of the responsibility. We apologise to the fans who are suffering right now and recognise our responsibility for the situation.

  "The Friedkin family and I maintain the same long-term project, which is to win and keep investing to achieve that aim. Right now in the short-term, we have to focus on getting things back on track. I don’t like the term 'transition period' because this is Roma and we ought to perform from the start, but we must face this situation as best we can."

  Tellingly, when pressed on whether getting rid of De Rossi had been a mistake, Ghisolfi conceded, "History would suggest that. At this moment, all we can do is take on our responsibility, along with the players and the club, to get out of this situation as soon as possible."

Ipswich Town supporters will be nervously counting down the days until the Premier League season finally gets underway, as the tense Tractor Boys get thrown straight into the thick of it versus Liverpool on the opening day.

Manchester City are then the next almighty test of Kieran McKenna's side's character, but those high-profile contests won't determine whether the Suffolk outfit stay up or go down come the end of the 38-game marathon.

The popular former Manchester United figure will want more bodies in through the door before the end of the month to help his underdogs pull off another incredible feat and try to survive, with this out-there target now on the agenda from Serie A.

Ipswich looking at another defensive addition

According to Italian football outlet Calcio Mercato, AC Milan defender Fode Ballo-Toure is being talked about as a potential Ipswich Town purchase this summer, with the left-back's agent attempting to win him a deal to the Premier League this campaign away from Italy, having offered him to McKenna and co.

Watford and Leeds United are also named as interested parties from England, but Ballo-Toure is keen on the idea of playing top-flight football in his potential new surroundings, if he is to move away from the esteemed Rossoneri for pastures new.

What Ballo-Toure can offer Ipswich

Having played in the Premier League with Fulham on loan previously, Ballo-Toure could be seen as an instant upgrade on another new Ipswich recruit in the form of Conor Townsend, with the Senegalese full-back even lining up to play in the Champions League during his underwhelming time at the San Siro to date.

Moreover, when looking at the 27-year-old's numbers for his previous employers over his disappointing time with Milan, he could well be a more attack-oriented option over the steady ex-West Bromwich Albion man, which will suit Ipswich more if they need another gung-ho presence down the left if Leif Davis is sidelined.

The £20k-per-week defender – as per Capology – has also shown his attacking credentials in flashes for Milan too, seen in this last-gasp winner he managed against Empoli during the 2022/23 season, which remains the only effort that has found the back of the net from 26 games for the Serie A giants.

However, his Ligue 1 days before a move to Italy transpired saw the experienced talent perform as a far more confident and consistent presence when bombing forward, with nine assists registered from 108 French top division clashes.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Townsend

Games played

42

Goals scored

0

Assists

4

Big chances created

6

Interceptions*

0.7

Tackles*

1.3

Ball recoveries*

3.0

Clearances*

2.1

Clean sheets

11

Total duels won*

3.8

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at Townsend, compared next to Ballo-Toure, the former Baggies man wouldn't exactly thrill Ipswich supporters next season if he was thrown into the deep end of the starting XI.

Mustering up four assists last season, the 31-year-old will worry his position in the Ipswich pecking order will be troubled if the Senegalese defender joins this summer, knowing what his counterpart has been capable of previously in his career when at his A-Game.

Struggling to make an impact for Fulham last campaign whilst on loan, with just eight games handed to him in total across the 2023/24 season, Ballo-Toure will hope he gets another opportunity to shine again in the tough league with the Tractor Boys, even with Townsend already boosting the left-back spot.

The African full-back was even described as being "talented" by Cottagers Head of Football Operations Tony Khan when the move to Fulham was unveiled, only for it to go rather pear-shaped.

Yet, Townsend has a relegation on his CV when last playing in the Premier League, and with McKenna in charge who loves attack-minded footballers and has turned Davis into an assist machine, Ballo-Toure could well shine for the Suffolk club if he is signed ahead of the new season finally kicking off soon.

Imagine him & Szmodics: Ipswich in the running to sign Odobert upgrade

Ipswich Town would terrify Premier League defences if this signing gets over the line.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 5, 2024

Glasgow Rangers endured a frustrating start to their 2024/25 campaign with a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership season on Saturday.

The Light Blues finished second in the division last term and are now already two points behind their Glasgow rivals after matchday one in the league.

Philippe Clement must now turn his attention to the Champions League, though, as his side face Dynamo Kviv away from Ibrox in the first leg of their qualifying clash this evening.

The Belgian head coach will be looking for a positive result to take back to Glasgow next week in order to give his team the best possible chance of progressing through to the next round of qualifying.

After the 0-0 draw with Hearts on Saturday, Clement may need to make some alterations to his starting XI in order to make sure that his side carries enough of an attacking threat to cause Dynamo problems throughout the game tonight.

With this in mind, Scottish winger Scott Wright is one player who must be ruthlessly ditched from the starting XI after his display against the Jam Tarts.

Scott Wright's performance against Hearts

The 26-year-old dud was selected to start on the right side of the attack, with Tom Lawrence in the middle and Oscar Cortes on the left behind Cyriel Dessers as the lone striker.

This was a slight surprise after a summer of speculation linking the former Aberdeen man with a move away from Ibrox. Sheffield Wednesday have reportedly been in talks to secure a deal to take him to the English Championship before the end of the window.

It was a gigantic opportunity for Wright to show Clement, and the fans, that the club need to keep him around, rather than offloading him to the Owls before the deadline.

Unfortunately, the right-footed flop once again proved why Rangers should be looking to move him on as he produced an underwhelming performance.

The Light Blues, of course, were held to a goalless draw by the Jam Tarts and Wright's struggles in the final third in his 60 minutes on the pitch contributed to that.

Scott Wright

Vs Hearts

Minutes played

60

Goals + assists

0

Key passes

0

Dribbles completed

0

Duels won

2/7

Crosses completed

0/3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish dud made no impact at the top end of the pitch, with no goals, no assists, no chances created, no dribbles completed, and no crosses completed.

Sheffield Wednesday's summer target was also a liability out of possession by losing five of his seven physical duels on Saturday, on the deck and in the air combined, which shows that opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him.

The potentially frustrating part of his performance for supporters was that it was predictable based on his displays for the club over the last two seasons.

Scott Wright's attacking struggles for Rangers

To say that the 26-year-old winger has struggled for form in the Premiership over the last couple of years would be a bit of an understatement.

In the 2023/24 campaign, Wright was handed 23 appearances in the top-flight by Michael Beale and Clement combined but only contributed with two goals.

He created one 'big chance' for his teammates and produced less than one key pass per game (0.6), which led to zero assists in the division for the Gers.

The Rangers flop was also dominated by opposition players in physical battles as he lost 60% of his duels on the air and on the deck combined.

2022/23 Premiership

Scott Wright

Appearances

23

Goals

0

Assists

1

Big chances created

1

Key passes per game

0.4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Wright struggled badly in the final third throughout the 2022/23 Premiership campaign, with zero goals and one assist in 23 outings.

This means that the Scottish lightweight has produced two goals and one assist in his last 46 league games for Rangers, which shows that he rarely makes an impact for the club on the pitch.

Wright does not create 'big chances' or make key passes on a regular basis for his teammates and does not offer a regular goal threat, which is why Clement must brutally ditch him for this big Champions League clash.

Who Rangers must unleash ahead of Scott Wright

The Belgian boss must boldly unleash Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny from the start as he has the potential to offer significantly more from a right wing position.

Rangers recently swooped to land the 26-year-old star on a season-long loan deal from the Bundesliga outfit and he made his debut off the bench against Hearts.

Last season, Cerny had a difficult year and, yet, still managed to outperform Wright whilst playing at a higher level. He racked up four goals and one 'big chance' created in 22 Bundesliga appearances for Wolfsburg.

The Czechia international, who was hailed as an "exciting" player by Clement, had joined the German side from FC Twente after his outstanding performances in the Netherlands during the 2022/23 campaign.

22/23 Eredivisie

Vaclav Cerny

Appearances

32

Goals

13

Assists

11

Big chances created

17

Key passes per game

2.4

Dribbles completed per game

2.0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the impressive forward showcased his ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis from a right wing position.

The £27k-per-week ace also ranked within the top 5% of Eredivisie attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.77) and assists per 90 (0.41), which speaks to the quality of his creativity.

Overall, Cerny has plundered 17 goals and 11 assists in 54 league appearances for Wolfsburg and Twente combined over the last two seasons, compared to Wright's two goals and one assist in 46 Premiership games for Rangers.

Related Rangers could ditch Dessers in swoop for £3m star who 'wants the move'

The Scottish giants have been linked with a transfer for the centre-forward this summer.

Posts ByDan Emery Aug 4, 2024

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the Gers loanee to come into the team against Dynamo Kviv tonight and offer significantly more quality at the top end of the pitch, which is why Clement must unleash him from the start over the Scottish dud.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will be hoping for a much improved Premier League campaign in 2024/25 – after his side only managed to finish in seventh place last time around.

They would’ve been featuring in Europe had it not been for Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph, but it gives the Magpies a less hectic fixture schedule to allow them to potentially reach the heights they set in 2022/23.

Their excellent performances secured Champions League football for the first time in 20 years – an unimaginable feat at the time of the Saudi PIF takeover in 2021, a sign of how far the club has progressed in such a short period.

However, now the fanbase have had a taste of Europe’s elite at St James’ Park, it’s an expectation that the club are constantly competing at the level, potentially even securing a first trophy under the new ownership.

To meet those expectations, new signings may be needed to provide added depth and quality, with Howe’s side entering talks with one player who would dramatically improve the options currently at his disposal.

Newcastle make contact to sign international star

According to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Newcastle have made contact with the representatives of midfielder Adrien Rabiot over a potential move to Tyneside this summer.

The 29-year-old is a free agent after rejecting a new contract with Juventus at the end of the last campaign, with the report claiming it’s the Frenchman’s priority to feature in the Premier League.

However, the Magpies aren’t the only English side in the hunt for his signature, with Manchester United and Liverpool also in contact with the former Paris Saint-Germain man.

He was a key part of the French national side at Euro 2024 this summer, with his stats undoubtedly aiding Newcastle’s Champions League push, whilst allowing them to sign a talent who is similar to one of the best midfielders in world football.

Why Rabiot could be like Rodri for Newcastle

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has cemented himself as one of the most talented players in Europe after his recent success at club and international level.

The Spaniard only recently saw a 74-game unbeaten run come to an end with defeat in the FA Cup final, having won multiple Premier League titles, along with the Euros this summer, where he was crowned the Player of the Tournament.

His form at the European Championships this summer is just an example of the quality that he possesses, but he only just bettered Rabiot in numerous key areas – with the Frenchman going under the radar.

The pair are ranked as similar players via FBref, with the comparison understandable when looking at their respective figures from the tournament.

The “extraordinary" ace, as described by Juve legend David Trezeguet, only registered a 1% lower pass accuracy rate whilst pretty much matching the Spaniard for progressive passes.

How Rabiot & Rodri compare per 90 at Euro 2024

Statistics

Rabiot

Rodri

Games played

5

6

Minutes played

374

521

Pass accuracy

92%

93%

Progressive passes

6.8

6.9

Successful take-ons

1.2

0.4

Tackles won

2.2

2.4

Interceptions

0.2

0.2

Stats via FBref

However, defensively is where Rodri excels, but he was unable to better Rabiot for interceptions per 90 with the pair averaging the same amount of 0.2.

Rodri did win slightly more tackles, but Rabiot has demonstrated that he’s capable of being a threat in and out of possession – a feature that would hugely improve the Magpies’ midfield.

With Rabiot being available on a free transfer this summer, it is a risk worth taking for Newcastle, with the Frenchman’s experience at the highest level of club and international football massively increasing their chances of returning to Champions League football next season.

Related After Guehi: Newcastle make contact for £25m ace who's better than Madueke

The club are still on the hunt for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Aug 8, 2024