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Glasgow Rangers are far from finished in the transfer window, with another couple of players looking likely to arrive before the end of August.

Michael Beale is also undertaking a massive Ibrox overhaul too, moving on those who don’t have a future at the club and Glen Kamara could be the next person to leave the Gers.

How much is Glen Kamara worth?

According to Football Insider, Kamara is ‘closing’ in on a £5m move to Championship side Leeds United as he is in ‘advanced talks’ to secure a move south of the border.

Despite having two years left on his current contract, it appears as though Beale is keen to move him on this summer in order to raise some funds for future purchases, looking set to make a stunning profit on him in the process.

The 27-year-old cost just £50k when Steven Gerrard signed him from Dundee in January 2019, turning into one of their finest pieces of transfer business conducted in recent years.

Why are Rangers selling Glen Kamara?

The reason Beale can move on Kamara is due to the imminent arrival of Ecuadorian midfielder Jose Cifuentes at Ibrox.

The Los Angeles FC star signed a pre-contract agreement with the Light Blues, but now The Athletic have claimed Rangers will pay a fee to sign him this summer, something that gives the manager the licence to ditch Kamara.

The former Arsenal youngster started just 18 games across all competitions last term and found that his influence heavily waned to that of previous seasons as he ranked a lowly 14th for accurate passes (33.6), tenth for key passes (one) and 25th for tackles (0.5) across the whole Rangers squad in the league last term.

He was even dubbed “terrible” by Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie back in April 2022, and it appears as though this is when his performances began to dip.

In contrast, Cifuentes was in excellent form and emerged as one of his side's finest performers during the 2022 MLS campaign as LAFC won the season-ending MLS Cup.

The 24-year-old ranked ninth in his squad for accurate passes (27.9), fourth for key passes (1.3) and third for tackles per game (1.8) during the successful season, and he appears to be a great deal ahead of Kamara in terms of winning the ball back in midfield along with exuding his creative talents with regard to making key passes often.

His forward-thinking mentality could also be of use to Beale. Compared to positional peers across eight similar leagues to the MLS, Cifuentes ranks in the top 5% for progressive passes (8.14) and successful take-ons (1.78) per 90 along with featuring in the top 10% for progressive carries (2.53) and touches in the attacking penalty area (2.41) per 90, showcasing his ability to get forward as often as possible and contribute heavily when his team are attacking.

Although the potential fee for Cifuentes is unknown, it won't be near as much as the £5m Rangers are getting for the sale of Kamara, something that could turn out to be a wonderful piece of business conducted by Beale and his team ahead of the new campaign.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إنجليزية، عن اقتراب مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول الإنجليزي من الرحيل عن صفوف الريدز بنهاية الموسم الحالي.

ويحتل ليفربول المركز الثاني في سلم الترتيب العام للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 71 نقطة.

اقرأ ايضاً.. رسميًا.. عودة رباعي ليفربول المصاب إلى التدريبات قبل مواجهة أتالانتا

وذكرت صحيفة تيليغراف الإنجليزية، أنه لم يوافق اللاعب الكولومبي، لويس دياز، على تجديد عقده مع ليفربول بعد، وقد يغادر اللاعب النادي الإنجليزي هذا الصيف.

وسينتهي عقد لويس دياز مع ليفربول في صيف 2027، بعد أن وقع لمدة 5 سنوات في موسم 2022 قادماُ من فريق بورتو البرتغالي بصفقة بلغت 45 مليون يورو.

وتابعت الصحيفة الإنجليزية، أن نادي باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي مهتم بالتعاقد مع الجناح الكولومبي بهدف تعويض رحيل كيليان مبابي في نهاية الموسم الحالي.

يذكر أنه في حال مغادرة لويس دياز عن ليفربول، ستكون تكلفة انتقال المهاجم الكولومبي إلى نادي العاصمة الفرنسية 75 مليون جنيه إسترليني.

وشارك لويس دياز هذا الموسم في 42 مباراة مع ليفربول في جميع المسابقات، حيث أحرز 13 هدفاً وقام بصناعة 4 أهداف طوال الموسم.

Tottenham Hotspur are now leading the race to sign Leicester City star James Maddison as manager Ange Postecoglou looks to craft a team capable of competing at the top of the Premier League.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Spurs?

That's according to The Athletic, who claim that the 26-year-old is closing on a move to Tottenham, with Fabrizio Romano corroborating the news with claims that chairman Daniel Levy has now "agreed personal terms", with negotiations "finally advancing."

Spurs are hoping to sign the England international for a fixed fee of £40m plus additional add-ons, while the Foxes are holding out for £60m, which is considered exorbitant given the club's relegation from the top-flight and Maddison having just one year left on his current deal.

Newcastle United have also been heavily linked with a move after failing with a £50m bid last summer, but after agreeing a €70m (61m) deal for AC Milan maestro Sandro Tonali, Postecoglou has the lead in the pursuit for the coveted midfielder.

How good is James Maddison?

It has been a period of uncertainty and strife in the Lilywhites camp, with the exit of Antonio Conte marking the fourth managerial dismissal in as many years; Postecoglou's recent appointment was incisive, there is no doubt about that, but whether the attractive philosophy of the Australian boss can be aptly implemented remains to be seen.

The club's interminable wait for silverware continues, but to exacerbate this knowledge, Tottenham's eighth-placed finish in the Premier League has resulted in a failure to qualify for European football for the first time since 2009, and the outfit is crying out for some energy and inspiration.

Enter Maddison. The £110k-per-week ace has been described as a "magician" by Statman Dave and rightly so – the three-cap Englishman posted an impressive return of ten goals and nine assists from just 28 starts in the top division despite Leicester's tepid exit, and he is now fated to return after retaining his merit amid a turbulent campaign.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 17% for tackles per 90.

An all-encompassing scope, and one which could play into Postecoglou's hands as he injects a fresh facet into the side, especially given that the "world-class" pro – as Gareth Southgate has dubbed him – could serve up a slice of creativity unseen at Tottenham for some time.

Talisman Harry Kane is one of the most dynamic forwards around, ranking among the top 4% of forwards for progressive passes and the top 10% for shot-creating actions per 90, also plundering 32 strikes last season for good merit.

And Son Heung-min, who has been so imperious on the left wing down the N17 since his £22m arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, scoring 145 goals and supplying 80 assists from 372 matches, could also benefit immensely from Maddison's signing.

It's been an inauspicious year for Tottenham, and it's been a subpar year for Son, with the South Korean badly out of sorts until the latter phase of the year, albeit ending the season with 14 goals and six assists.

The 30-year-old forward did also end the Premier League season with an average of 1.8 key passes per game and eight big chances created, as per Sofascore, with his key pass metric the highest in the Tottenham squad. However, by placing Maddison into the fold as the creative centrepiece, Son could yet find the full scale of his prolific edge again.

In fact, the Foxes star is a great deal more creative than the South Korean, with Maddison averaging 2.3 key passes per game and creating 12 big chances, which trumps anyone in Spurs' squad and could allow Son to focus on the standout facet of his craft: his striking prowess.

Son can also only rank in the bottom 14% in Europe for progressive passes, the bottom 38% for assists and the bottom 49% for shot-creating actions, to underline how the Tottenham target eclipses him with regards to creativity.

Indeed, Maddison would open a melange of opportunities for Postecoglou's squad, and he simply has to be signed to ensure that a return to prominence is forthcoming.

Ravindra Jadeja has climbed one place to join R Ashwin at No.1 in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-20171:00

Quick facts – Jadeja’s productive home season

Ravindra Jadeja has climbed one place to join R Ashwin at No.1 in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers in what is the first instance of two spinners jointly claiming the top spot.Top five bowlers in Tests

1. Ravindra Jadeja – 892 points
1. R Ashwin – 892 points
3. Josh Hazlewood – 863 points
4. Rangana Herath – 827 points
5. Kagiso Rabada – 821 points

Jadeja’s seven wickets, including a first-innings six-for, in the second Test against Australia helped him occupy the top rank and assured India the No.1 spot in the ICC Test Team rankings for the annual April 1 cut-off.He shares the top spot with Ashwin, whose eight-wicket haul took him past Bishan Bedi as the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 269 scalps. However, Ashwin’s poor returns with the bat – 20 in the last four innings – meant he has dropped behind Shakib Al Hasan on the list of Test allrounders.The last time two bowlers shared the No.1 rank was in April 2008, when Dale Steyn and Muttiah Muralitharan were at 897 points. Jadeja and Ashwin are currently at 892 points each, and lead Australia’s Josh Hazlewood at No. 3 by 29 points.In the rankings for Test batsmen, Virat Kohli lost his second spot to Joe Root after managing only 40 in his last two Tests. Steven Smith maintained his reign at the top for the 77th Test, edging past Ricky Ponting’s 76 matches as the third longest stint at the top among Australians after Steve Waugh (94) and Don Bradman (93).

Burnley's promotion to the Premier League means the return of links to some big-name players, with manager Vincent Kompany hoping to put his connections to good use.

The Belgian impressed in his first season as a coach in English football by guiding the Clarets to an immediate top-flight return, breaking the Championship's 100 points barrier in the process.

Helped by the loan signing of Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City, plus the permanent arrivals of CJ Egan-Riley and Arijanet Muric from the same club, Kompany was not afraid to turn to his former employers.

That could be a trick he repeats this summer, as the Daily Mail reports that Burnley are interested in signing Albert Sambi Lokonga on loan, with the player currently managed by former City coach Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Should Burnley sign Albert Sambi Lokonga from Arsenal?

Lokonga has not had a great deal of success on the face of it during his two seasons in the Premier League, the second of which saw him loaned to Crystal Palace midway through the campaign.

However, the 23-year-old certainly has qualities that can be of use to Burnley, not least his ability on the ball. Indeed, Lokonga's 90.4% pass-completion over the past year, as per FBref, places him in the top 3% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues.

That figure climbs to 94.3% across his nine Premier League appearances for Arsenal last season, which was the most of any Gunners player to have featured more than five times.

While not as heralded, there are comparisons to be made between Lokonga and Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.

They won a very similar number of aerial duels last season (0.98 v 1.01 respectively) and tackles per 90 minutes (1.34 v 1.28), while their pass completion rates of 89.1 and 88.3 were pretty much identical.

Lokonga does not provide goals, which again is the same for Fabinho, with the pair involved in 1.23 and 1.85 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes respectively last season.

Kompany will know all about Lokonga's ability, having previously managed him during their time together at Anderlecht. It was at that time the now-Burnley boss opened up on a conversation he had with Arteta and Pep Guardiola regarding the up-and-coming star.

"The first thing I did when I saw Sambi was I went to Mikel, and also Pep, but Mikel first and I said, 'You've got to watch this guy, he's the new Yaya Toure'," Kompany told Rio Ferdinand's FIVE YouTube channel.

The £50k-per-week midfielder is not as big a goalscoring threat as former City star Toure, but the comparisons make sense on the basis of their stature and passing ability (93.5% pass-completion rate for the latter in his final season at the Etihad).

Seemingly unwanted by Arteta, Arsenal's loss could well be Burnley's gain if they are willing to make a bid and bring in a player who may yet prove to be Kompany's own Toure.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to bolster their midfield options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Newcastle?

According to The Telegraph, the Mapgies are eyeing up a possible swoop to sign Southampton central midfielder Romeo Lavia ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe are said to be exploring potential deals to improve their squad by snapping up gems from the teams that were relegated from the Premier League this season.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Saints are expected to demand a fee of up to £50m for the Belgian talent despite being knocked down to the Championship.

Would Romeo Lavia be a success at Newcastle?

Howe could finally unlock the best of Bruno Guimaraes' attacking talents in the middle of the park by securing a deal for Lavia as the 19-year-old could enjoy great success as a holding midfielder at St James' Park.

The former Manchester City gem enjoyed a strong first season in professional football in spite of Southampton's relegation and bringing in a player with his defensive attributes in the No 6 role would allow the manager to push the Brazilian ace further up the pitch.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the current Toon star made 36 appearances as a defensive midfielder and only one in a No 8 position, which resulted in four goals and two 'big chances' created in the Premier League.

Whereas, nine of his starts came as an eight in 2021/22 and the maestro produced four goals and three 'big chances' created for his teammates.

These statistics suggest that Guimaraes' attacking output was stunted in 2022/23 because of his need to play in a deeper position in the midfield

Lavia, meanwhile, played 22 times as a defensive midfielder this season for Southampton and the "diamond" – as he was dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – could provide protection to the back four and allow the Brazil international to have more of an impact in the final third.

The Saints star, who was hailed as "exciting" by journalist Dan George, ranks in the top 29% or higher for tackles, interceptions, and blocks per 90 amongst his positional peers in the men's top five leagues over the last 365 days, which suggests that the teenager excels at cutting out opposition attacks on a regular basis and may yet only improve given his age.

He could play at the base of Howe's midfield and provide the likes of Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Joe Willock a platform from which they can build their attacks from, as they would have an excellent defensive presence behind them to sweep up and stop the opposition from creating chances.

Aston Villa are not giving up hope of signing Manchester City and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips this summer, according to a new transfer report.

Is Phillips thriving at City?

While City have swept all before them so far this season, en route to a potential treble next month, Phillips is someone who has experienced a frustrating campaign individually. He joined from Leeds United last summer in a big-money move, in what looked like a natural step up in his career, but injuries have stunted his progress, while Pep Guardiola has also struggled to fit him into his team.

Prior to the final day, the £150,000-a-week midfielder has only actually started three games in the whole of 2022/23, with one apiece coming in the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, and he was once again linked with a move to Villa last month.

Unai Emery sees him as a strong addition who could help strengthen his team in the middle of the park. While the player himself is seemingly hellbent on remaining with City, a fresh update suggests that the Villans certainly aren't giving up hope.

Are Villa hopeful of signing Phillips?

According to Football Insider, Villa "are not put off by Phillips’ public stance that he has no intention of quitting Man City", and "believe City could be willing to cash in" as they look to raise funds for other signings."

The report claims that there are "suggestions behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium that the midfielder lacks the mobility and quick one-touch passing game to thrive under Guardiola." Emery is thought to be a "huge" fan of the midfielder, and Villa are monitoring his situation as the season comes to a close.

While Phillips, who shares the same agency as Ezri Konsa, clearly wants to remain at City and prove his worth, there could reach a stage this summer where an exit materialises, should Guardiola deem him surplus to requirements.

It remains to be seen if that will happen yet, but if it does, Villa may well swoop, with the 26-cap England international a solid defensive midfielder who could add both technical quality and tenacity to the midfield.

He has been hailed as "phenomenal" by former Three Lions manager Fabio Capello in the past, such were the level of his performances at Euro 2020, and he has averaged three tackles per game in the EFL Cup this season, as well as 92.6% pass completion rate in the same competition, showing that he can be a force on and off the ball.

Rangers' move for Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes is "starting to progress", according to an update from transfer expert Dean Jones.

Is Cifuentes thriving in the MLS?

The 24-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Ibrox this summer, as the Gers look to make significant inroads in the transfer market. He has enjoyed a good spell in the MLS with Los Angeles, making 111 appearances in total since arriving from Universidad Catolica in 2020, and chipping in with 14 goals and 19 assists.

Cifuentes has also won 15 caps for Ecuador, making two substitute appearances at the 2022 World Cup, and he is clearly someone who Rangers believe could be a shrewd addition to their midfield. It could be that a move to Europe appeals to the player himself, given the step up in quality, and his current deal expires in December of this year, means Los Angeles could be willing part ways and receive a fee in the summer.

Could Rangers be set to sign Cifuentes?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that talks over a move for Cifuentes are progressing well, suggesting that other deals are also being worked on:

"We're starting to hear quite a few rumours about transfer deals that are starting to progress. They're linked with José Cifuentes from MLS, and deals like that one starting to progress just make me feel like there are a few of the old faces that aren't going to be around for much longer."

Cifuentes could be an ideal summer signing for Rangers, at a time when Michael Beale will be aware that the gap on Celtic needs to close as soon as possible. Granted, they have still had a decent season overall, but silverware has evaded them, which has to be the benchmark every year.

The Ecuadorian could add a mixture of quality and bite to the Gers' midfield, having registered two assists and averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the MLS this season, and at 24, he is at a brilliant age to come in and develop as a player, enjoying his peak years into his mid to late 20s.

It certainly feels as though a move is likely at this point, and as Jones alludes to, this could hopefully be the start of an influx of signings in the summer transfer window, with fellow midifelder Kieran Dowell already acquired from Norwich City earlier this week.

Chelsea could still sign Sadio Mane this summer, but others will have the leave the club first, according to an update from transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Mane having a good season?

The 31-year-old moved to Bayern Munich from Liverpool last summer, following six memorable years at Anfield that had seen him become one of the best players in the Premier League. Big things were expected of him in Germany, but in truth, his first season there has been a disappointment.

After a promising start to life at Bayern, Mane has seen injuries disrupt his rhythm and playing time – he also missed the World Cup – and it has affected his performances at the same time since returning. Not only that, but a recent scuffle with teammate Leroy Sane saw him suspended and fined by the club, further suggesting that all is not well.

It could be that the £306,000-a-week star is allowed to leave Bayern at the end of the season, and with Chelsea looking for attacking reinforcements this summer, they have been linked with a move for him in the coming months. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the situation.

Could Chelsea snap up Mane?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said that Mane could indeed sign if Mauricio Pochettino backs the deal, but only if other unwanted individuals leave Stamford Bridge at the same time:

"So, Mane back to the Premier League? I could see that, but let’s wait until Poch is through the door before knowing whether that switch is genuinely doable. Maybe Pochettino is behind a move for Mane, but they cannot make a move like that unless others are heading out the door."

Chelsea's potential signing of Mane is a scenario that has both positive and negative elements to it, so it is a difficult one to weigh up overall.

On the plus side, the 95-cap Senegal international remains a good player with huge pedigree, and the fact that he has scored 111 goals in 263 Premier League appearances is proof that he knows how to excel in the division. That being said, at 31, his best days are now probably behind him and he has lost the electric pace he once possessed, meaning Chelsea could be wiser to look at younger alternatives.

It certainly wouldn't be a bad thing if the Blues snapped up Mane, especially if Pochettino personally wants him, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him come in and not be the force of old.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly wants to keep midfielder Mason Mount at the club beyond this season, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

Could Mason leave Chelsea this summer?

The future of the Blues star has been a big talking point in recent months and he is still yet to make a decision on where he will be playing his football next season. He hasn't reached an agreement over a new deal at Stamford Bridge, and with his current contract expiring next year, that is concerning.

Not only that, but Mount has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool numerous times, with the Reds seeing him as a strong option to come in and bolster their midfield options. It feels as though any outcome is possible at this point, although the terms of any potential extension will need to be improved if Chelsea are to keep hold of the 24-year-old.

What's Boehly's stance on Mount?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs said that Boehly has made it clear that he wants to retain Mount's services moving forward:

"I think the first thing to say is that Chelsea haven't held any new, formal talks with Mount yet. Although Todd Boehly reiterated to Mount directly and quite recently that he wants him to stay, that wasn't a formal conversation or negotiation.

"The last negotiations that have taken place between Mount and Chelsea, the parties were reasonably far apart in terms of striking a deal, so they agreed to discuss it during the summer. That's still the plan at the moment."

It is at least encouraging to hear that Boehly values Mount as a player and wants to keep him, with the Englishman registering 70 goal contributions (33 goals and 37 assists) in 195 appearances for Chelsea, as well as being hailed as "incredible" by Statman Dave earlier this season.

At 24, losing him at this point in his career would be criminal, with the midfielder capable of finding another level into his late-20s, as he matures as a footballer. It seems clear that Mount will remain stubborn when it comes to a potential new deal, however, and if he doesn't feel valued and his £80,000-a-week wages aren't increased significantly, he will have no hesitation in moving on.

The lure of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp could also be great, given the German's standing in the game, so it is set to be a tense few months ahead, even though opinion may be split among the Blues fanbase, especially after a fairly underwhelming season by their No.19.