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We’ve picked 20 landmark moments from the first 1000 T20Is. Vote for your favourite

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2019From the very beginning, T20s at the international level have been a sporadic exercise, coming into focus during the World Cups played every few years. A number of memorable moments have come in those World T20s, with a few record-breaking feats coming in bilateral games. We’ve picked 20 landmark moments from the first 1000 T20Is. Which of these is your favourite?Is there any big one that pops up in your mind that we’ve missed? Let us know by tweeting us or mailing [email protected]

Four takeaways from the group stages of the T20 World Cup Qualifier

Peter Della Penna28-Oct-2019Associate parity growsIn the first several years of this tournament, upsets were rare and most favourites could be chalked up to win not just group matches but to hold form in the playoffs as well. That started to shift a bit in 2015. Jersey knocked off Hong Kong in their opening game, Papua New Guinea ended Ireland’s 21-match unbeaten streak at the tournament, USA notched back-to-back wins over ODI sides Hong Kong and PNG, Hong Kong beat Afghanistan for the first time ever in T20 cricket and Oman produced a string of upsets in group play before outlasting Namibia in the playoffs to go to the 2016 T20 World Cup.Path to the T20 World Cup for the qualifiers•ESPNcricinfo LtdThis trend has now gone even further. Two ODI nations – USA and Nepal – did not even make it to qualifier in the UAE because they were knocked over in their regional tournaments by Bermuda and Singapore respectively. Nigeria also arrived in place of the suspended Zimbabwe because they finished above Uganda in the Africa regional final (though rain played a part). Even Jersey, who have performed to a high competitive standard in the UAE, winning three out of six matches, barely scraped out of Europe after advancing past Germany on hundredths of a net run rate point.This increase in the level of competition came through on the opening day of this tournament when Singapore upended Scotland. Canada, a team which no longer has ODI status and had never beaten a Full Member in a T20I, got past Ireland midway through the tournament. Jersey managed to trip up Oman on the final day of group play to deny them an automatic berth in the T20 World Cup despite Oman having been in sensational form all month beginning with a pentangular series win on home soil.The T20 World Cup Qualifiers – playoff schedule•Getty ImagesDeath bowling has improved among Associate teamsIf you’re looking for evidence of the impact that the proliferation of televised T20 franchise cricket has on Associate teams, look no further than the skills on display at the death. On pitches that have generally favoured spin bowling for most of the tournament, whether in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, it is actually the pace bowlers who have consistently been at, or near, the top of the wicket-takers’ list.The amount of slower balls, cutters, and wide yorkers that have been sent down successfully throughout the week demonstrates that Associate players are improving these precise and in-demand skills. Likewise, the batsmen have showcased fantastic abilities in their efforts to counter, with the likes of Bermuda’s Kamau Leverock and Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus showcasing deft ability to innovate and scoop.The T20 World Cup Qualifiers – Group A•ESPNcricinfo LtdFielding and fitness standards generally have improvedWith a few exceptions, the general fitness of all teams at the T20 World Cup Qualifiers has gone up greatly. Oman’s first appearance at this event in 2012 saw them finish 0-7 in their eight-team group, with most matches being incredibly one-sided. Their rise in the ranking has not been just about batting and bowling improvements. Their fielding and fitness standards have gone through the roof and it is evident in plenty of other teams too.Most notably, the foundation of Papua New Guinea’s success is their fitness and fielding. They don’t have anyone who bowls above 130 kph but they have outworked and out-hustled most teams to top their group. Their infectious energy will bring a brilliant spark to the opening stages of the T20 World Cup in Australia, and perhaps into the main draw of the tournament too. It is emblematic of a rise in standards across the board from past tournaments, when teams were flagging by the midway stage and players were regularly dropping with hamstring, groin and other soft tissue injuries.The T20 World Cup Qualifiers – Group B•ESPNcricinfo LtdBroadcast every match for the next qualifierMany readers may be scratching their heads at some of the points above because unfortunately, a high proportion of televised matches have been one-sided. As a matter of fact, most of the best matches of the tournament were played off camera at the ICC Academy in Dubai and at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi: Canada beating Ireland, Singapore over Scotland, Scotland clinging on at the end to beat PNG by four runs, Singapore getting past Bermuda at the wire.It’s not just the matches as a whole but some great individual moments as well: Norman Vanua’s hat-trick against Bermuda, Leverock and Janeiro Tucker making spectacular one-handed catches against Singapore, Janak Prakash’s courage coming back onto the field just 17 balls after he was struck in the face by a drive from Kyle Coetzer to bowl at the death against Scotland. Most regional qualifier matches were live-streamed and yet so many great moments in the UAE were played in the dark. It’s up to the ICC to mandate this going forward.

His average of 14.06 is the second-lowest average for a batsman with a Test century

Gaurav Sundararaman01-Dec-2019ESPNcricinfo Ltd 7 – The number of batsmen Test hundreds coming in at No. 8 or below against Australia. The previous instance was in 2017, when Wriddhiman Saha made 117 in Ranchi. 2006 – The last time a Pakistani scored a Test hundred at No. 8. Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal made 113 against India in Karachi, a Test Pakistan won to take the series 1-0. Yasir is the ninth Pakistani to achieve this feat.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1 – Only one batsman – Jerome Taylor (12.96) has a lower average than Yasir Shah while scoring a Test century. Yasir’s average after the century stands at 14.06. 213 – Runs added by the last four Pakistan batsmen in the first innings in Adelaide. This is the second-highest for Pakistan in Australia. The best was in 2016 when the last four added 230 at the Gabba in Brisbane. 105 – Runs added by Babar Azam and Yasir, the best seventh-wicket stand for Pakistan against Australia. 87 – The ninth-wicket stand for Pakistan, their highest for that wicket in Australia. Overall, it’s the second-highest ninth-wicket stand against Australia. 89.33 – The average seventh-wicket stand for Pakistan in this series. This is the most they’ve averaged for any wicket in this series. Pakistan’s top five wickets average 18.77 runs while the bottom five average 40. 2015 – The last time Australia enforced the enforcingfollow-on in Tests, against West Indies in Hobart. They’ve not chosen to enforce the follow-on on five occasions since. Pakistan were last made to follow-on at Centurion against South Africa in 2013.

Leeds United looked on course for a triumphant return to the Premier League when convincingly putting Sheffield United to the sword 3-1 at Bramall Lane back in February.

Now, however, everything has seemingly gone pear-shaped again on the end of Daniel Farke and Co, with the once confident table-toppers tumbling out of the Championship top two after a third successive draw in the division against Luton Town.

Much like last season when Leeds failed to win promotion, there are a number of underperformers who have failed to reach the heights expected of them across the last few worrying clashes, with one player in Farke’s camp now replicating Jaidon Anthony’s poor loan stint.

Anthony's poor stint at Leeds

Sometimes in football, certain moves just don’t go to plan, with Anthony’s forgettable season-long loan spell at Elland Road last campaign seen as one of those.

The AFC Bournemouth loanee would only start two Championship games all campaign for Farke’s Whites, with just one meagre goal coming his way off the back of such sparse game-time.

Thankfully for the former fringe Leeds winger, he has since bounced back on loan with new employers Burnley, with the Clarets amazingly now top of the second tier at the expense of his ex-outfit.

The two golden strikes that took Scott Parker’s men to the very summit actually came about from Anthony, with six goals and six assists in total for the Lancashire side in league action across 2024/25 far outweighing his measly Elland Road output.

Leeds will just hope another situation similar to Anthony’s isn’t playing out in West Yorkshire right now, with Farke sparingly using this attacker much like the now rejuvenated 25-year-old.

Farke's next Anthony at Elland Road

The German has shown across recent crunch games in the Championship that he can go against the grain with his team selections, seen in first-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier being axed.

But, even though Farke has shown some signs of flexibility by dropping the ex-Lorient shot-stopper, he has still left Largie Ramazani mainly rooted to the substitutes bench.

Ramazani hasn’t always found himself on the periphery at the promotion chasers, however, with the ex-UD Almeria attacker racing out of the blocks all guns blazing after his summer move from Spain, with this strike against Norwich City his second goal from five Leeds outings in the league.

He has since notched up two more goals in the unpredictable second tier, alongside also registering a promising two assists, but Farke’s reliance on starting the likes of Manor Solomon and Daniel James week in week out down the wings has seen the Belgian’s own minutes disappointingly deplete.

Games played

26

Games started

7

Average minutes

29

Goals scored

4

Assists

2

Indeed, the £17.5k-per-week attacker has started just seven of his 26 league clashes for Leeds so far this campaign, with a worry that Ramazani will just fade into the background now despite such promising beginnings.

Farke didn’t even bring on the “explosive” winger – as he was previously branded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – in any capacity during the 1-1 draw away at Luton, stating that the £10m man needs to “step up” his game in order to be considered for more first team opportunities.

The door hasn’t been completely slammed shut, but Ramazani’s time at Leeds hasn’t exactly been a rip-roaring success so far, with a concern that any possible departure down the line could see him shine much like Anthony is now proving for one of the Whites’ fierce promotion rivals.

Leeds thought they had "the new Van Dijk", but Farke sold him for just £2m

Leeds United may have prematurely sold a player who could follow in Virgil van Dijk’s footsteps.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 4, 2025

It’s no secret that a striker will be at the top of Arsenal’s transfer wishlist this summer.

However, with Liverpool having scored 17 goals more than them in the Premier League alone this season, a centre-forward won’t be enough; the Gunners will also need a new winger to complement Bukayo Saka.

Fortunately, there have been more than a few reports linking the club to a whole host of sensational wide talent in recent weeks, but perhaps the most consistent since last year has been to Nico Williams.

The Spanish superstar is an incredibly exciting player, but the North Londoners might be after a more sure bet, as recent reports have linked them with a Premier League star who’s like a better version of the Athletic Bilbao star.

Arsenal's summer transfer window

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other stars Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing this year, with one of the leading names still being Viktor Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

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

The Swedish international has been in sensational form this term, scoring 44 goals and providing 11 assists in 45 appearances for Sporting CP, and, according to a recent report from Fabrizio Romano, remains a firm target for the Gunners.

Another attacker who seems to be on the North Londoners’ radar is Kingsley Coman, who looks set to leave Bayern Munich in the summer and could be available for around £39m.

However, given the Frenchman’s injury record and lack of involvement this term, he’s not a player that’s likely to excite the Emirates faithful, which couldn’t be said about Anthony Gordon.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal hold a ‘strong interest’ in the former Everton star.

However, there are a couple of problems, with the first being interest from Liverpool and the second being the fact that Newcastle United will not want to let one of their star players leave, and should they qualify for the Champions League, it’s unlikely that they’d have to.

Moreover, reports from last year claimed that he’d cost at least £100m, meaning it would require a near club-record offer from the Gunners.

However, while it would be an expensive and complicated transfer to get over the line, Gordon would be worth it, as he’s a better version of Williams.

How Gordon compares to Williams

So, before we get into their output, it’s worth examining where the comparisons between the two wingers come from, beyond their positional similarities, of course.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Spaniard is the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Englishman.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, goals per shot and shot on target, expected assists, passing accuracy, progressive passes and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.47

0.35

Progressive Passes

3.73

3.14

Goals per Shot

0.10

0.10

Goals per Shot on Target

0.33

0.26

Passing Accuracy

72.1%

70.4%

Expected Assists

0.20

0.20

Key Passes

2.08

1.86

Goal-Creating Actions

0.51

0.62

Successful Take-On %

37.6%

36.6%

However, while they do rank closely for many of those metrics, it’s important to note that the Newcastle United gem actually does slightly better in the majority.

This superiority over the Pamplona-born international extends into their output as well.

For example, in his 35 appearances this term, the “exceptional” Toon ace, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored nine goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.18 games.

In contrast, the 22-year-old has scored ten goals and provided seven assists in 41 games for Bilbao, which comes out to a slightly less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.41 games.

Finally, while both players would undoubtedly improve Arteta’s squad, it might take the La Roja ace some time to get used to the Premier League, whereas the Liverpool-born maestro has already proven himself in the league and could make a real difference from the word go.

Ultimately, while it would be an expensive and complicated transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Gordon this summer, as he’d be an even better signing than Williams.

He's like Saka & Yamal: Arsenal in talks to sign "world-class" £39m star

The incredible winger would bring so much experience and quality to Arsenal’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 15, 2025

Glasgow Rangers will be on the lookout for a new manager this summer after Barry Ferguson’s time as the interim head coach comes to an end.

The Scottish boss came in to replace Philippe Clement on a short-term basis and has the job until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, when a decision will be made on the holder of the position on a long-term basis.

Ferguson has not done too much to further his claim to take the job on permanently after a fairly unimpressive collection of results in the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership so far.

His side failed to score in three of their four Europa League outings, eventually getting knocked out by Athletic Bilbao, and the Scottish manager has only won three of his seven top-flight games in charge, most recently drawing 2-2 with St Mirren.

The Light Blues may, therefore, have to look further afield to find their manager for next season and beyond, because Ferguson does not look up to the task of returning Rangers to their former glory on the evidence of his interim period in charge.

In fact, a fresh report on the club’s search for a new head coach suggests that the club are looking at other options to come in and replace the former Scotland international in the Ibrox dugout.

Rangers considering moves for two managerial candidates

According to TEAMtalk, the Scottish giants have whittled their shortlist of managerial candidates down to two in their search for a new tactician.

The report claims that former RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has emerged as a contender for the job, as the Gers hierarchy are said to be thinking about him for the job.

It states that the pending takeover will put the club in a better financial situation, and that they are looking for an exciting managerial appointment to take the team in the right direction.

Rose is said to have been sounded out about the job and that he is open to taking on a new role next season, having left his position at RB Leipzig in March.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

The German head coach, however, is not the only manager on the shortlist. TEAMtalk adds that the Light Blues are seriously considering a swoop for former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.

It states that the English manager, who left Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq in January, would be interested in a return to Glasgow to manage the team for a second time.

In fact, TEAMtalk reports that many managers see the job as an attractive prospect because of the potential to win domestic trophies, as well as the prospect of Champions League or Europa League football, which Gerrard has not had since his first spell in Scotland.

With all of this in mind, the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell, who is set to take up the position of sporting director this summer, must move to bring the Liverpool legend back to Ibrox ahead of a swoop for Rose.

Why Steven Gerrard would be better for Rangers than Marco Rose

The German boss is, certainly, a strong candidate for the job because he has achieved relative success in both Austria with RB Salzburg and Germany with RB Leipzig.

Rose won two titles in two seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga before making his way to his home country with Borussia Monchengladbach, with whom he finished fourth and eighth before joining Borussia Dortmund and finishing second in the 2021/22 campaign.

The 48-year-old boss then joined Leipzig and finished third and fourth in his first two seasons, before leaving the club in sixth place in the division this season.

This suggests that Rose, despite winning the German Cup in the 2022/23 campaign, regressed during his time at Monchengladbach and Leipzig, as their respective league positions dropped the longer he stayed.

Rangers must, now, swoop for Gerrard instead because he would be an even better appointment than the German head coach, as he is a proven quantity at Ibrox and in Scottish football.

The 4-3-3 boss joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2018 and led the club to second-placed finishes in the Premiership in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, before winning the league title in his third year in Glasgow.

Gerrard’s team, incredibly, went unbeaten in the 2020/21 campaign in the top-flight, winning 32 matches and drawing six, to beat Celtic to the title.

It was a remarkable accomplishment by the manager, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, who won the league title for Rangers for the first time in ten years.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, and Philippe Clement have all attempted to replicate the success that Gerrard had at Ibrox, but failed and were all relieved of their duties without winning the league title.

The former Liverpool midfielder’s experience and success at Ibrox are exactly why he would be an even better appointment than Rose, because he knows what it takes to win the Premiership and has proven that he can put together a team to do exactly that.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st

1st

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard only lost one of his last 50 Premiership matches in charge of Rangers, leaving the club at the top of the table after 12 matches in the 2021/22 campaign when he left to join Aston Villa.

The Gers have lost seven of their 34 games in the league in the current season, which illustrates just how impressive that record across 50 outings was, and they clearly need a manager who can bring a winning mentality back to Glasgow.

Therefore, bringing Gerrard back to Ibrox in the hope that he can recapture the spark that he had in his first spell at the club could be a brilliant move for the 49ers and Thelwell to make.

The out-of-work tactician could bring the feel-good factor back to Ibrox, more so than Rose, who has no experience in Scotland or prior connection with the fanbase, and it is a move that seems to make a lot of sense on paper.

Rangers must axe £3m flop who has missed more games than Lawrence

Kevin Thelwell has a big job on his hands at Rangers

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2025

Chelsea have now shortlisted a Barcelona star among their “priority” targets for the summer transfer window, after hearing about the player’s release clause, with BlueCo handed a chance to sign him for £55 million.

Chelsea transfers dependent on Champions League qualification

The tight race for a spot in next season’s Champions League draw will define the success of Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, and it will also play a vital role when it comes to their summer transfer policy.

£195k-per-week Chelsea player holds talks over joining Tottenham via agents

His team are trying to find a new club.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 30, 2025

Chelsea want to sign a new centre-back, winger and striker this summer (Simon Phillips), with rumoured talks already held over a move for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jamie Gittens recently.

However, failure to qualify for the Champions League next season could threaten to alter these plans, by Maresca’s own admission in a recent press conference.

“Football is not five, 10 years ago when the rules were different,” said the head coach.

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

“Today you have to be careful how much you spend. It will be a completely different kind of target if we finish in the Champions League.”

In Chelsea’s pursuit of a central defender, Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen is reliably believed to be a serious target for Maresca’s side, but they face stiff competition from elite Premier League rivals.

Alternatively, perhaps a move for Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo could be on the cards.

The Uruguay international’s contract will include a release clause of around £55 million when it becomes active in July, presenting an opportunity for Chelsea to swoop in and strike a deal for him.

Chelsea prioritising move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo

That is according to reports in Spain, which state that Chelsea are now prioritising a move for Araujo this summer amid knowledge of the clause.

Araujo signed a new deal earlier this year, committing him to the Camp Nou until 2031, but it appears his agents negotiated this exit clause to give the South American a chance to part company if he wishes.

Injuries have largely diminished the 26-year-old’s playing time under Hansi Flick this term, but Araujo has been entrusted with the captain’s armband when fit and available.

The defender has also been lavished with praise by Barcelona legend Carles Puyol during his time in Catalonia.

“He’s in extraordinary condition,” said Puyol in 2023.

“I’ll stick with what they’ve told me, because I don’t know him personally, but he’s very professional, humble, he always gives his best in training and matches and that’s where his performance is.

“Right now, if he’s not the best central defender in the world, he’s among the top three. He’s young, he still has room for improvement and I think we have a very good central defender at Barcelona for many years to come.”

In what would be a statement of intent, Newcastle United have now reportedly made contact to sign a teenage sensation ahead of interest from European giants Real Madrid this summer.

Newcastle could deal Real Madrid another blow

As the summer transfer window approaches, the Magpies have already reportedly commenced their spending by securing the arrival of Antonio Cordero from Malaga. The young winger reportedly had interest from both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but has chosen Newcastle ahead of the Spanish giants.

Cordero may just be the start for those at St James’ Park this summer too, with Eddie Howe potentially backed in the transfer market for the first time in over a year as Newcastle break free from their PSR constraints.

With that in mind, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast surrounding just who could arrive in the coming months. The most prominent targets have so far arguably been both Liam Delap and Jonathan David, whilst names such as James McAtee have begun to steal headlines as of late.

All three of those names would undoubtedly add something to Howe’s side, but whether that results in a trio of arrivals for the Magpies remains to be seen. Of course, something which would change the landscape of Newcastle’s summer is if Alexander Isak decided to depart for a club-record fee.

PIF join tug-of-war to sign "special" midfielder who thrashed Newcastle 4-0

He’s a wanted man…

ByTom Cunningham May 1, 2025

Instantly, PIF’s spending power would become clear in the face of Isak’s departure. Ultimately, however, it’s a situation that all involved at the club would rather avoid before setting their sights on targets of their own.

Newcastle make contact to sign Kofane

According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle have now made contact to sign Christian Kofane from Albacete this summer and are looking to beat Real Madrid to a second La Liga 2 striker in a matter of months. It’s not just the Magpies and Madrid who have registered their interest though, with ‘half of Europe’ reportedly plotting to sign the 18-year-old sensation.

That interest should come as no surprise, either. Like Cordero, Kofane has thrived in Spain’s second division – scoring six goals and creating one other in 15 La Liga 2 appearances so far this season.

With a reported release clause worth just €5m (£4m) too, Newcastle could land a bargain deal for a young player on the rise and one that RD Scouting described as a player with an “interesting” profile.

A third FA Cup victory in six years for Manchester City might not make up for a dismal 2024/25 campaign, but it could plant the seed for rejuvenation under Pep Guardiola next term.

Losing Rodri so early on in the season proved to be the catalyst for the club’s worst run of form since the Spaniard took over in the summer of 2016.

This ensured none of the big prizes would be heading to the Etihad. But it wasn’t just losing Rodri that impacted the club. As a group, the team underperformed as the most successful era in the club’s history drew to a close.

Phil Foden has gone from 40 goal contributions last season to registering just 16 throughout 2024/25 in what has been a steady decline.

Elsewhere, Jack Grealish has also been poor, recording only eight goal contributions all season, while even Kevin De Bruyne hasn’t quite been his influential self as he shows signs of slowing down.

One of the biggest disappointments was Erling Haaland. The Norwegian had scored 52 and 38 goals across his first two seasons at the club, but has failed to hit those sorts of numbers this term.

Why Erling Haaland has struggled for Man City this season

The striker certainly began the campaign with a bang. Across his first five Premier League games, Haaland netted an impressive tally of ten goals.

This included back-to-back hat tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham United. At this point, it appeared as though no one was going to prevent him, or City, from powering to another top-flight title.

Between the start of October and the end of 2024, however, Haaland managed to find the back of the net just three times. Even though his form picked up between January and March, an ankle injury sidelined him for a few games, and he hasn’t scored since March 30.

To put it into context how much of a drop-off the forward has endured this term, he has averaged a goal every 123 minutes in the Premier League this season, compared to every 95 minutes last year.

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

37

27

21

Goal conversion percentage

29%

22%

20%

Shots per game

3.5

3.9

3.6

Goal frequency (minutes)

77

95

123

Assists

8

5

3

Via Sofascore

Furthermore, Haaland’s goal conversion rate has dropped from 22% to 20% while he is averaging fewer shots per game (3.9 vs 3.6). These statistics might not indicate a serious drop-off, but considering he is about to end the season with his worst goal tally at a club since the 2021/22 season, there is a problem.

With Guardiola keen on bolstering his squad this summer, it looks as though he is eyeing a move for one of the finest wingers in Europe.

Could his potential arrival revive Haaland next season?

Man City eye move for Real Madrid superstar

City’s main transfer target this summer appears to be Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. His agents apparently flew to England recently, but it is unclear whether they spoke to City about a move when the window opens.

It would be a major coup if they could secure his signature, but is another one of Europe’s finest being earmarked for a move to the Etihad?

According to Spanish news outlet Sport, City have contacted Real Madrid sensation Rodrygo in the hopes of bringing him to England.

The Brazilian will likely wait until Madrid have appointed a new manager following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure to take over as the Brazil manager.

The right offer could certainly tempt the La Liga giants into a sale, with a price tag set at around the €100m (£85m) mark, then the winger could be on the move.

Much will depend on how much Guardiola is willing to spend on the player, especially if he is successful in a deal to sign Wirtz, but City are lining up a swoop for the Brazil international.

Rodrygo on the right flank could certainly provide some much-needed attacking dynamism to the first-team, and he would work wonders for Haaland.

Why City should sign Rodrygo

Across 267 games for Madrid, the 24-year-old has registered 118 goal contributions – 68 goals and 50 assists in all competitions.

These goal involvements have helped the club win two La Liga crowns and two Champions League titles, but it looks as though his time in the Spanish capital might be coming to an end.

Capable of scoring goals in the biggest and most important games, he was hailed by journalist Dougie Critchley as being a “big game player” and this is someone Guardiola would surely love to have at his disposal next term.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, the Brazilian ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes, progressive carries, touches in the opposition penalty area, and progressive passes received per 90.

Additionally, he also ranks in the top 9% for assists and top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90 across the previous 365 days.

These qualities could be a dream for the Norwegian sensation. With Rodrygo getting into dangerous positions so often, especially in the attacking penalty area, Haaland would be the one to benefit, being offered countless chances in front of goal.

In La Liga this season, the Madrid winger has created five big chances while averaging 1.6 key passes per game. Add in the fact he succeeds with 1.6 dribbles – a success rate of 52% – per game, and it is clear to see exactly what he could offer to City from this summer onwards.

He and Haaland would make for a dream partnership that Guardiola would hope not only gives the club a chance at reclaiming back the Premier League title, but also for another chance of winning the Champions League.

A lot of factors will have to work in City’s favour for a move to go ahead, but as the Spaniard knows, he cannot afford for his team to perform so poorly throughout 2025/26.

With Rodri set to return from injury soon, plus new signings like Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush settling in nicely, City have the tools ready to begin a brand-new era at the Etihad.

Adding Rodrygo would be the icing on the cake.

Perfect Reijnders alternative: Man City preparing bid for "magic" £60m star

Man City could well be ready to step up their interest in an alternative to Tijjani Reijnders

ByJoe Nuttall May 14, 2025

Glasgow Rangers and 49ers Enterprises could be a marriage made in heaven. Of course, things are still very much in the pre-wedding phase.

The club were crying out for new investment and this summer can see the beginning of a new era for the Light Blues. First of all, a permanent manager must be appointed, preferably sooner rather than later, especially given the size of the task at hand.

It remains to be seen just how big a budget the manager will be given this summer to improve the squad. It might be the case that he will have to sell a few players in order to raise funds and reduce the wage bill.

Vaclav Cerny, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, and Rafael Fernandes have all returned to their parent clubs following their respective loan spells at Ibrox.

Elsewhere, Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence, and Leon Balogun have all departed following the end of their contracts. Balogun and Hagi were both part of the squad that won the Premiership title in 2021.

A new era indeed. Regardless of who the new boss is, players such as Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell could be sold, especially after strong loan spells at Birmingham City.

Robin Propper must be another player who has to go this summer.

Why Rangers must sell Robin Propper

Last summer, Philippe Clement sought several signings that would turn his side from also-rans to title winners.

In came players such as Nedim Bajrami, Hamza Igamane, and Cerny, but it was the defence that the club really needed to strengthen.

Connor Goldson was sold after six years at Ibrox and a new centre-back was identified as being a priority for Clement ahead of the season.

This led to the Gers bringing in FC Twente captain Propper, who had made over 100 appearances for the Dutch side. On the surface, it looked like a shrewd signing, especially as the club paid just £1.5m to secure his signature.

After a few months, however, it was evident that the Dutchman was struggling to cope with the physicality of Scottish football. He was regularly being out-muscled and outfought by strikers of teams further down the table, while his lack of pace didn’t help either.

He delivered worse performances in the Europa League, and when compared to his positional peers in the competition, his statistics are poor to say the least.

Accurate passes

57.9

Tackles

1.6

Clearances

4

Total duels won

5.6

Possession lost

8.5

Balls recovered

3.3

Indeed, he ranks in the bottom 75% for pass completion percentage, progressive passes, progressive carries, and tackles per 90 in the Europa League. The defender just cracks the top 45% for blocks and clearances per 90 for the Light Blues.

While Rangers may have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, they might have gone further had Propper not been part of the team.

He will turn 32 in September, and it is obvious that his best days are behind him, based on his disappointing performances for the Gers this season. Depending on the style of play of the new manager, Propper must surely be aiming to look for another team this summer.

With Balogun already departed and Ben Davies likely to be sold as well, signing a centre-back or two during the transfer window is imperative, and the arrival of a new one could result in Propper’s exit.

Could the 49ers turn to the Premier League to bring someone in?

Rangers eye swoop for Premier League defender

Last week, Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie delivered some transfer news on X surrounding the club’s interest in Ipswich Town centre-back Cameron Burgess.

He posted: “Rangers are interested in Ipswich defender Cameron Burgess as they seek to bolster their defence ahead of the new season.

“29-yo has played 18 times in the Premier League this season.”

The link certainly came out of the blue, but it was a welcome one. With Ipswich suffering relegation from the top flight, now could be the perfect time for the Gers to make a move for the Australian.

If so, the manager must axe Propper.

Why Rangers should sign Cameron Burgess

Across his 18 Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town this term, Burgess has won 3.6 total duels per game – a success rate of 68% – while also making an impressive 6.9 clearances and 0.9 tackles per game for the Tractor Boys.

It wasn’t enough to see them slip back into the second tier, but Burgess wasn’t the problem, far from it.

Burgess has showcased his talents when compared to other defenders in the Premier League, ranking in the top 21% for aerial duels won (2.57), the top 2% for clearances (7.48), and in the top 5% for percentage of dribblers tackled (81.8%) per 90 this season.

Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson hailed the defender amid the links to Rangers, saying: “Cameron Burgess may not be the most exciting signing on paper but he’ll bring necessary experience to the back, particularly if Balogun departs.

“He’s 6’4, left sided, an Australian international and uses the ball well (Ipswich struggled to keep it which impacts his %s).”

As Watson mentions, Burgess uses the ball well at the back, but what Rangers need is a defender who is physically capable of getting the better of opposition forwards in the penalty area.

Too often have the club seen opposition players get plenty of time in the final third, which has given clubs such as Motherwell, St Mirren and Hibs chances to secure victory against the Glasgow side this season.

Propper was a big factor in some of these defeats. By signing Burgess, the Gers will be getting someone who is currently at the peak of their powers.

His contract expires in a couple of weeks, which means he won’t cost the Light Blues a single penny, making the move all the more attractive.

Perhaps not the big-name signing many of the supporters are hoping for, but the Australian would offer some solidity to a backline which has struggled throughout 2024/25.

He won’t demand a massive wage either. Everything points to this being a smart piece of business by the club; that much is certain.

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