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Celtic may bring in a new centre-forward to compete with the likes of Adam Idah, Shin Yamada, and Johnny Kenny before the summer transfer window slams shut.

Brendan Rodgers confirmed that the Hoops want to “improve” their “forward” options after his side beat St Mirren 1-0 at Parkhead in their first match of the Scottish Premiership season.

When looking at potential options to add to the club’s striker ranks, the Premiership champions do not have to sign a marquee forward from one of Europe’s major leagues.

In fact, one of Celtic’s most successful striker signings in the past 15 years or so was Gary Hooper, who joined from Scunthorpe United in 2010.

Celtic hit the jackpot with Gary Hooper

In the two seasons prior to his move to Glasgow, the English marksman scored 19 goals in the Championship and 24 goals in League One for Scunthorpe, but he had never played in the Premier League.

The Hoops took a gamble on a player from the lower leagues in England and they hit the jackpot with Hooper, as he went on to be a roaring success at Parkhead.

In 138 matches for the Scottish giants, the prolific forward racked up an eye-catching haul of 82 goals and 30 assists in all competitions, before sealing a move to Norwich in 2014.

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Hooper was an exceptional striker for the Hoops, as evidenced by his sensational goal return, and Celtic can now repeat that masterclass with a swoop for Richard Kone.

Why Celtic should sign Richard Kone

The Scottish giants are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Wycombe Wanderers star, who is valued at £7m by the English club, as he could be Hooper 2.0.

As was the case when Hooper joined, Kone would arrive at Parkhead without any top-flight or European football under his belt. He has only played at League One level with the Choir Boys to date.

This means that the Ivorian marksman would join as a young, at the age of 22, and hungry striker who has everything to prove, rather than being an experienced forward who may see a move to Celtic as a step down or a last payday.

His form for Wycombe in League One last season also suggests that Kone has the potential to be an effective and exciting number nine option for Rodgers to call upon if the Hoops get a deal over the line for him.

24/25 League One	Richard Kone	Percentile rank vs STs
xG	15.89	Top 7%
xG on target	16.84	Top 6%
Goals	18	Top 7%
xA	3.33	Top 8%
Assists	3	Top 32%
Successful dribbles	44	Top 6%
Duels won	240	Top 5%
Aerial duels won	131	Top 9%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Kone outperformed his xG by just over two goals and ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of metrics, as a goalscorer, a creator, and as a physical presence.

These statistics suggest that he could thrive in a Celtic team that creates plenty of chances, as evidenced by the three ‘big chances’ that were created for Idah against St Mirren.

Idah failed to take any of those three opportunities to find the back of the net, but the Wycombe star’s form last term suggests that he would not be as wasteful.

Kone, whose nine-minute hat-trick in League One last season was dubbed “extraordinary” by pundit Gabriel Sutton, could be the lethal and consistent striker that Celtic are looking for, which is why they should be pushing to sign the lower leagues star in a Hooper repeat.

Celtic can drop Yang with move for "top-level talent" who earns £150k-p/w

Brendan Rodgers could drop Hyun-jun Yang with a move for this reported Celtic target.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 5, 2025

Nathan Lyon is confident Mitchell Marsh will be able to play a role with the ball in Adelaide but is ready to take up any extra workload that comes his way should that not be the case.Marsh’s fitness has been one of the key watching briefs around the Australia side after he pulled up sore following Perth. Uncapped allrounder Beau Webster is part of the squad but it appears likely that Marsh will retain his place regardless of how much he can bowl. Since returning to the side in last year’s Ashes, Marsh is the only incumbent batter to average over 40 which appears set to keep him in the side.”I honestly think we’ll see Mitch Marsh bowl,” Lyon said on Wednesday. “I’m not concerned about Bison’s fitness if I’m being honest. He’s been brilliant for us since he’s come back in. He came [back] in that game in Leeds during the Ashes and [has] really dominated so got full confidence in Bison. Happy to bowl his overs.”Related

• Cummins hopes for more proactive Labuschagne in pink-ball Test

• Marsh 'hopefully right and ready to go' but questions over bowling

• Webster bolsters Australia squad amid Marsh concerns

• Hazlewood ruled out of second Test; Abbott, Doggett in

• Perth report: India hand Australia 295-run thrashing

While in recent times Lyon has been part of an Australia attack that has featured either Marsh, Cameron Green or sometimes both, he has also featured in a considerable number of sides that have not had a genuine allrounder, instead using the four frontline bowlers with some part-time overs from members of the top order.Lyon’s ability to be both an attacking and defensive bowler means he can play a key role in balancing the bowling unit in the absence of a genuine fifth bowler where, if needed, he can look to control the run rate in the first innings before searching more for wickets as the game develops.”I’m very clear on my role within the team,” Lyon said. “Nothing really changes with me…if I can get the opportunity to bowl more overs, I’ll jump at it.”Lyon expects the Adelaide pitch – which will start with 6mm of grass – will take turn as the game develops. In day-night Tests at the ground, spinners average 24.72 on the third day and 22.91 on the fourth, compared to 113.25 on the first and 60.60 on the second.Lyon was economical in India’s hefty second innings in Perth although was largely nullified by the top order before having Rishabh Pant stumped when the lead was already considerable. This Test brings Lyon back to the ground where he has had most success in Test cricket with 63 wickets at 25.26 from 13 matches, seven of which have been day-night encounters.2:13

Clarke: Mitch Marsh needs to be bowling

“We understand that we didn’t play our best cricket in Perth and India totally outplayed us,” he said. “But with all the other stuff, it’s been quite humorous in a way looking at how much has been said and the reactions of so many different people after one loss.”The beauty of a five-match Test series…is you get the opportunity to turn that around and that’s the challenge of what we face right now. We are coming up against a world-class India side that played an exceptional game of cricket over in Perth but that’s been nine days or so ago now, so come Friday we go again which I’m excited about.”We are humans, we are going to make mistakes, but if we can go out there and try and learn along the journey then we are going to put ourselves in a better position come our next fixture. We’ve got a great record here, playing at one of the best venues in the world on a great wicket, so looking forward to that.”He expressed surprised that both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out in Perth with India preferring Washington Sundar. “[It] more than surprises me,” he said. “That’s the quality of Indian cricketers they have in that squad. You’ve got Ashwin with 530-odd wickets [536] and then Jadeja over 300 wickets [319]. It’s pretty remarkable to see the quality of players sitting on the bench.”In an encouraging sign for Australia, Josh Hazlewood was doing some gentle run throughs of his action alongside the other bowlers during the evening training session on Wednesday after he was ruled out of the second Test with a mild side strain. Scott Boland is expected to be his replacement for this Test.

David and Victoria Beckham face competition from a new sporting power couple, with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tipped to "bury Posh and Becks".

• David & Victoria set the standard
• New 'marketing juggernaut' forged
• Swift tipped to become a trillionaire

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  For a long time, the Beckhams have set the standard when it comes to A-list partnerships in world sport. The former England captain, who is now working with Lionel Messi as a co-owner at MLS side Inter Miami, married his Spice Girls star wife in 1999.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE GOSSIP

  Another pop icon in the form of global phenomenon Swift is now preparing to tie the knot with NFL superstar Kelce after they announced their engagement. They have already been dominating the American football scene, with it becoming clear early in their relationship that a “marketing juggernaut” was being forged.

  It is now being suggested that Swift could go on to become the “first trillionaire”, with David and Victoria Beckham being left trailing in her wake as the art of maximising earning potential is taken to new heights.

• WHAT SPORT FINANCE EXPERT SAID

  Sport finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has told : “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will bury Posh and Becks. There is a huge amount of money in the NFL. It’s a massive, massive market. Taylor Swift is Taylor Swift. They’re already a billion dollar pairing but the fact together they transcend culture is important here.

  “They bring together sport and music so if you go to someone like Beyonce and Jay-Z, that's all music industry and entertainment. That's optimised but not in the same way as you can with a cross-market strategy. It certainly exceeds what the Beckham era did and allows Swift and Kelce to really exercise a lot of power in global markets.

  “I wouldn't want to put any limits on what they could do or what they could earn. I think it is so unique and if their relationship is solid, and it is a genuine relationship that's deep rooted and they have this long history together, like Posh and Becks, I don't think you could really put a ceiling on what they potentially could earn. “It'll get to a point where they might say, OK, that's enough. Enough's enough. Or they'll become really philanthropic a bit like Bill Gates. It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that they move into owning a franchise or something like that, and then you're into lifestyle, fashion, wellness, it’s just marketing juggernaut in action.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Wilson added: “Could her marriage to Travis Kelce propel Taylor Swift beyond the likes of Elon Musk to be the first trillionaire? Yes, but the markets that they access are very different.

  “The followings that they are each able to activate are very, very different, and this crossover enables the Swifties to start consuming a bit of NFL content and it just kind of just gets bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger from there.

  “They'll be very, very well advised by some of the leading marketing technicians in the world because culturally it's geared up around profit maximization. It will be about extraction of cash at every single stage if they're being advised in that way. The potential is unreal.”

تحدث هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة بعد فوز فريقه على نيوكاسل يونايتد بهدفين لهدف واحد في الجولة الأولى بمرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال فليك في تصريحات نقلتها “بي بي سي” البريطانية: “لقد كانت أجواء رائعة، رأينا كيف يلعب نيوكاسل بحماس كبير، هذا ما توقعناه”.

وأضاف :”لقد كنا واثقين من أنفسنا وآمنا بنقاط قوتنا، من المهم جداً حصد الثلاث نقاط في بداية الموسم، لقد خسرنا العام الماضي ضد موناكو، هذا يساعدنا على التحسن أكثر فأكثر”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. رجل مباراة برشلونة ونيوكاسل في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وواصل مشيداً بلاعبه ماركوس راشفورد الذي سجل هدفين: “دائماً ما نرى هذا من راشفورد في التدريبات وقد رأيناه اليوم، أنا سعيد جداً من أجله”.

وتابع فليك: “في الهجوم لدينا العديد من اللاعبين الجيدين وهو واحد منهم، أنا سعيد بوجوده معنا، إنه يمنحنا خيارات أكثر لسير المباراة، لقد سجل هدفين سيساعدانه في الوصول للمرحلة التالية، من المهم جداً أن يتمتع بالثقة ويشعر بأنه بخير، هذه الأهداف رائعة له في المراحل القادمة”.

وأكد فليك: “من الجيد جداً أن نبدأ البطولة بهذه النقاط الثلاث هنا، كان الفريق رائعا، أوضحنا للفريق أهمية الحفاظ على نظافة شباكنا أول 15 دقيقة، كانت المباراة بأكملها جيدة جداً، حتى بعد تلك الدقائق الـ15 في الشوط الأول، استحوذنا على الكرة بنسبة 64%، كان ذلك إيجابياً للغاية، ربما ارتكبنا الكثير من الأخطاء لكني سعيد جداً”.

وسئل فليك عن تغيير سيناريو المباراة، ورد: “مع بيدري وفرينكي ليس من السهل الضغط علينا، لقد قدما مباراة جيدة جداً اليوم، أنا سعيد لأنهما يلعبان بهذه الثقة على الملعب، نحن فريق شاب جداً، ما أراه أن الفريق يلعب بثقة وهذا أمر بالغ الأهمية”.

So India and South Africa it is. How many times have they met in ICC finals? Or a knockout match?

This will be the first time that the two teams meet in the final of a men’s ICC tournament. India and South Africa did meet in the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final, which India won.

Can they be called the two best teams in this tournament?

Well, one can say that the two most in-form teams have made it to the final. Both India and South Africa are unbeaten in the tournament, and both teams topped their respective groups in the group stage and the Super Eight, although South Africa have an extra win under their belt given India’s washout against Canada.Whoever wins the final will be the first team to win a men’s T20 World Cup unbeaten.

Which team has taken the tougher route?

South Africa registered wins over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Nepal in the group stage before beating USA and England in the Super Eight. They faced West Indies in their final Super Eight match, knowing that a defeat would knock them out, but eked out a three-wicket win in a tight contest that was shortened by rain.Related

• Luggage holds sway over historical baggage in tight turnaround to final

• Heartbreak or glory, India and South Africa are already winners

• Unbeaten India and South Africa come face to face in bid for glory

• SA team delayed in Trinidad because of runway closure in Barbados

• Shamsi: 'Huge achievement, but we didn't come here to get to the final'

After a string of narrow victories, South Africa hammered Afghanistan by nine wickets in the semi-final to march into the final.India, meanwhile, began their campaign with wins over Ireland, Pakistan and USA. Their perfect record in the group stage was marred by rain, as their game against Canada in Lauderhill was washed out. India started the Super Eight stage with big wins against Afghanistan and Bangladesh and capped it off by beating Australia.In the semi-final, India put in another comprehensive performance to down England by 68 runs.In terms of opposition, it could be argued that India faced tougher teams, having to overcome Pakistan, Australia and then England in the semi-final, but South Africa were seriously tested in most games but still found a way.

Okay, so why is this final a big deal for South Africa?

Well, it is a historic occasion for South Africa because it is the first time they will be competing in the final of a men’s World Cup, ODI or T20. In fact, apart from winning the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998, South Africa have not made the final of any ICC men’s tournament.They have come close on many occasions, reaching the semi-finals in five ODI World Cups (1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2023) and two T20 World Cups (2009 and 2014) before this year, but for the first time they have got to within one win of the title.

And why is it important for India?

While India won the first ever T20 World Cup, in 2007, they are without a World Cup title since 2011 and their last ICC silverware was the 2013 Champions Trophy. They have come close since, reaching the final of the T20 World Cup in 2014, and the semi-finals in 2016 and 2022, as well as the semi-finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups. They also finished runners-up in the two World Test Championship finals – in 2021 and 2023. Last year, they were unbeaten en route to the final in a home ODI World Cup, but faced heartbreak in the final. Less than 12 months later, they have a chance to heal some of those wounds and end their barren run in global events.

When was the last time a World Cup was held in the West Indies?

The 2010 T20 World Cup was the last one hosted by the West Indies. That year’s final, between England and Australia, was also played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

So what do we know about the pitch and conditions?

Well, this will be the ninth match of the tournament at the venue. The first game here went to a Super Over, but there haven’t been any close contests here since.The teams batting first won three of the next four completed matches at the venue, and Scotland had raced to 90 for no loss in 10 overs against England before that game was called off. The last two matches in Bridgetown had West Indies and England bowling USA out cheaply and completing comfortable chases.South Africa haven’t played here this tournament, but India have had one game here – a 47-run win over Afghanistan.

Wind, is that going to be a factor?

It could be windy, with wind gusts predicted at 35 kmph from the east, going up to 45 kmph. But it probably won’t have as much of an influence as it did in Gros Islet when India took on Australia.

The India-England semi-final was affected by rain. What’s the Barbados weather forecast looking like for the final?

According to AccuWeather, there are some showers expected, so we may face interruptions. There is a roughly 50% chance of precipitation in the morning between 4am and 9am, but that comes down to roughly 30% between 10am (the scheduled toss time) and 1pm, when it goes up again to roughly 50%. There will be 190 minutes of extra time allotted on Saturday to try and complete the game. Both teams need to bat at least 10 overs for a winner to be declared.

So there is a reserve day?

Yes, the final does have a reserve day. The match will only go into Sunday if at least 10 overs each is not possible on Saturday even with extra time. The game, if already underway, will pick up from where it left off on Saturday, not start from scratch.Like match day, the scheduled start of play on the reserve day is 10.30am local time. There are some showers forecast for Sunday too, though the forecast for match hours is relatively better (about 20% chance of rain) than what’s expected overnight and later in the day.

What happens if we can’t get a result even after the reserve day?

If the weather prevents the match from being completed even on the reserve day, both teams shall be declared joint-winners.

And what happens if it’s a tie?

A Super Over will decide the result, and if that also ends in a tie, there will be another Super Over and so on until a result is achieved.If the Super Over is abandoned because of poor weather after a tied game, the two teams will be declared joint winners.

Burnley’s intimidating defence last season in the Championship was one major factor behind why Scott Parker’s men sealed automatic promotion on 100 points.

Whilst the Clarets did score a reasonable 69 strikes across the 46-game marathon, they amazingly only gave up 16 goals across that same period, culminating in the Lancashire outfit losing just two second-tier contests all season long.

Burnley have been known to be a well-drilled machine in this regard for many a year, with Sean Dyche the first notable manager to make the Clarets a hard-to-beat unit when he was situated in the Turf Moor dug-out.

Throughout his well-known stint at the Clarets, Dyche regularly called upon the likes of James Tarkowski to ensure opposition attackers knew they were in for a tough fight when attempting to break down Burnley’s rock-solid defence.

Tarkowski's defensive heroics at Burnley

Now lining up for Everton at 32 years of age, Tarkowski has Burnley to thank for initially kickstarting his career at the very top.

In total, the imposing veteran would go on to make 219 appearances for the Clarets, with his reputation throughout his stay at the club centring on his no-nonsense approach aerially.

His breakout season in the Premier League for Burnley would come about during the 2018/19 campaign, with the centre-back scoring three goals when putting his towering 6-foot-1 frame to good use, alongside winning a ridiculous 7.8 duels per league clash.

No longer at Turf Moor, he is certainly ageing like a fine wine. He secured ten clean sheets in league action across 2024/25 and most famously scored that thunderbolt of a goal in the dying embers of Goodison Park’s last Merseyside derby.

He’s a man for the big occasion and as Parker and Co go about strengthening their ranks, they’ll certainly be hoping to find their next Tarkowski.

Burnley's "outstanding" new Tarkowski

Unfortunately, it looks unlikely that Burnley will be able to keep all the components of their robust defence together past this transfer window, with CJ Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve both reportedly heading for the exit door.

Therefore, a new, strong defender will surely be high up the Clarets’ shopping list, with rumours coming to the surface now from journalist Graeme Bailey suggesting 6-foot-4 brute Chris Mepham be on Parker’s radar as they aim to add numbers at the back.

Burnley are already well aware of how tricky a defender Mepham can be to get the better of, having clashed with him last season when he was out on loan with eventual playoff winners Sunderland.

The Welshman stood out as a powerful centre-back throughout that loan spell, and with plenty of Premier League experience in the tank at 61 top-flight games and counting, he could be just what Burnley desire in trying to land an up-to-date Tarkowski.

Mepham’s league numbers for Sunderland (24/25)

Stat (* = per game)

Mepham

Games played

38

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches*

65.7

Accurate passes*

45.2 (87%)

Ball recoveries*

3.6

Clearances*

6.1

Total duels won*

4.9

Stats by Sofascore

His similarities to Tarkowski are even more striking when glancing at the table above, with Mepham both a defensive option that is comfortable with the ball at his feet and joining in with attacks, but also a figure who will valiantly throw himself into duels for the cause, like the ex-Burnley captain.

Black Cats skipper Dan Neil would even herald Mepham as “outstanding” for his brave efforts during Sunderland’s promotion story, with Parker hopeful he could make a similarly quick impact at the heart of the Clarets’ defence if signed.

Burnley won’t want to just roll back the years in winning themselves a gritty defender like Tarkowski, however.

Even more so, the Lancashire underdogs will pray they can become a Premier League regular again, with Mepham joining potentially strengthening their chances of immediately staving off the drop.

Related Burnley can land dream Esteve replacement by signing £12m "warrior"

Burnley would immediately bounce back from Maxime Esteve’s potential departure by snapping up this Premier League-calibre warrior.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Jun 8, 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.

Gerrard's next Defoe: Rangers could sign PL "living legend" this summer

Rangers must make a move for a current Premier League striker this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 2025

Glasgow Rangers need to change their transfer strategy if they wish to compete domestically next season.

Celtic will wrap up their fourth successive Premiership title soon, and if the Light Blues don’t change things this summer, the drought could go on for much longer.

Of course, much will depend on who becomes the new manager of the Ibrox side this summer as Barry Ferguson’s interim spell looks set to end in a few weeks.

Last summer, Philippe Clement signed players such as Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, and Jefte. This trio could potentially make the club plenty of money when the time to cash in arrives.

Signing a few experienced squad members is still important this summer, but the vast majority of transfer business should be focused on those who are yet to hit their peak.

With Lyall Cameron already making the move from Dundee to Rangers this summer, it appears the Gers are looking at raiding the Dens Park side for the second time in a matter of months.

Rangers target move for Josh Mulligan this summer

Journalist Joshua Barrie of the Rangers Review has recently stated that the Light Blues are interested in making a move for Mulligan in a bid to add more Scottish talent to their squad.

The 22-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer, which means the club won’t have to pay a penny in order to secure his signature.

This type of move is one that could offer plenty of rewards for the Gers for such a low-risk signing, something which needs to happen more often.

With James Tavernier’s future uncertain as he enters the last year of his deal in Glasgow, Mulligan could be an ideal heir for the Englishman.

Why Josh Mulligan would be a great signing for Rangers

The Scottish U21 international can play across a range of positions. For Dundee this season, he has played in the centre of the midfield, on the right flank, and at right-back.

While he might not be able to match Tavernier for goal contributions – five assists across 36 matches this season for Dundee – Mulligan still has plenty to offer going forward.

Indeed, in the Premiership this season, he has created eight big chances while also averaging one key pass and one successful dribble per game in the top flight.

A move to Ibrox would allow Mulligan the chance to play for a team that will fight for domestic trophies, plus giving him the chance to feature in European competition, whether it be the Champions League or Europa League.

Josh Mulligan’s market valuation at Dundee

According to Transfermarkt, Mulligan is currently worth €600k (£500k) at the time of writing.

Given his impressive performances for a relegation-threatened Dundee side, this value will surely increase in the next few months, especially if he moves to Rangers and showcases his talents.

If, and it’s a big if, Mulligan shines at Ibrox and becomes the player everyone expects of him, he will make the club millions in profit.

At this moment in time, however, there is another Scottish youngster in the first-team squad who is currently worth a lot more than Mulligan – Connor Barron.

How Connor Barron has performed for Rangers this season

In one of the worst-kept secrets last summer, Rangers finally announced the signing of Barron after weeks of rumours.

The midfielder left Aberdeen upon the expiration of his contract, duly made the move south to Ibrox, and was essentially seen as an ideal replacement for Ryan Jack.

Following 76 appearances for the Dons, it was clear that Barron was looking like a solid signing. He clearly knew how to perform in the Premiership and had made six appearances in the Conference League for the Pittodrie side last season.

His performances were hailed by Scott Gemmill, Barron’s U21 manager at international level, who said: “Connor is very impressive on and off the pitch the way he conducts himself.”

It didn’t take long for him to make his mark at Rangers, starting both of the Champions League qualifying matches against Dynamo Kiev, along with operating in the starting XI for the first 13 league games.

Connor Barron’s stats for Rangers this season

Metric

Europa League

Premiership

Accurate passes per game

22.7

40.1

Pass success rate

80%

90%

Tackles per game

2.3

2.1

Balls recovered per game

4.3

3.4

Possession lost per game

7.9

7

Via Sofascore

2025 hasn’t been as productive, however, as Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande have established themselves as the main midfield duo at Ibrox in recent months.

This has left Barron resorting to appearances from the bench in order to get playing time. He did feature for 83 minutes in the recent 3-2 victory over Celtic at Parkhead and was even made captain for the 2-2 draw against Aberdeen a few weeks ago.

Overall, it has been a solid debut campaign in Glasgow for the young midfielder. In the Premiership, Barron averages a 90% pass success rate, makes 2.1 tackles, 1.1 clearances, and recovers 3.4 balls per game.

Furthermore, he loses possession only seven times per game and wins 50% of his ground duels each match for the Ibrox side, which suggests that he is reliable on and off the ball.

Connor Barron’s market valuation at Rangers

Although Barron initially arrived at Rangers for nothing, the Gers were forced to pay a fee of around £640k for the midfielder after they were due compensation because his career began at Aberdeen.

This still looks like it could become a bargain transfer for Rangers, especially considering his market value has increased recently.

Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, Barron is now worth €2.5m (£2m) following an impressive debut season in Glasgow.

This means that he is currently worth even more than Mulligan, who is valued at £500k, and that illustrates how much the Gers hit the jackpot with the Scotland international.

Much will depend on who the new manager will be, but Barron has laid the foundations for a potentially successful spell at Rangers.

He is worth a lot more than Mulligan, and this valuation should rise exponentially as time goes on.

Whatever happens, it appears as though the club are looking to bring in the best of Scottish talent this summer. With Barron and Cameron now part of the squad, Mulligan could be the next player to link up with Rangers.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 23, 2025

England’s attack leader endures a luckless day with DRS but still prises out two key wickets

Matt Roller02-Jul-2025

Chris Woakes trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal in front, and the batter survived on umpire’s call•PA Images via Getty Images

“That is a f***ing joke,” Chris Woakes was caught muttering to himself on Edgbaston’s giant screen, after umpire Sharfuddoula’s on-field decision of not out was upheld via umpire’s call by the DRS. It was out of earshot, but reflected both a rare outward glimpse of Woakes’ inner steel and his disbelief that he would end a faultless opening spell with a solitary wicket to his name.It was also a moment that summed up England’s mood on the first day, as their attack toiled hard with some success only to walk off at the close with India slightly ahead of the game after being sent in. Woakes was the clear pick of the attack, although his figures of 2 for 59 from 18 overs failed to reflect the problems that he caused, particularly with the new ball.The specific source of Woakes’ chagrin was an lbw shout against Karun Nair that he was convinced should have been given out. Nair shouldered arms to a ball delivered from wide on the crease, which ball-tracking projected would have gone on to hit some – but not enough – of his off stump. It left him seething to the extent that he even called for a law change.Related

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“I need to be careful: I’ve had some [decisions] go my way over the years,” Woakes said. “In general, DRS has been good for the game. A lot more right decisions are given [than before]. The only thing I would like to come in is that if a batsman decides to leave the ball and it’s still hitting the stumps, I think that should be out – regardless if it’s clipping or not.”It was the second umpire’s call lbw in three overs that went against him, and the first could have changed the course of the day. Woakes told his team-mates in the huddle that the ball – from over the wicket to the left-hand batter – had “100 %” pitched in line and was vindicated by the DRS, but HawkEye projected a bail-trimmer, which meant Yashasvi Jaiswal survived on 12.”We could have easily had them 30 for 3,” Woakes said. “It was a pretty frustrating morning, really. Obviously emotions run high when you are desperate to do well for the team, do well for yourself, and it would’ve been nice… had those decisions gone our way, the day looks completely different, but that is Test cricket and we move on.”His first wicket came between the two referrals, and was the culmination of a severe working-over for KL Rahul. Woakes’ lengths were far more consistent at Edgbaston than they had been at Headingley last week, and his line was immaculate. Rahul played out consecutive maidens but, after two tight leaves, chopped the ball on to his stumps while defending off the back foot.2:06

‘Frustrating’ – Woakes on the DRS decisions that went India’s way

Woakes celebrated with a look to the skies, in memory of his late father Roger, who died last May. Woakes has a new tattoo dedicated to his father and has felt his absence keenly at his home venue. “He’s always on my mind, that’s for sure,” he said, his voice wavering. “There are moments where you certainly think about him. He loved his cricket; he would’ve loved this week.”But his plan to Nair eventually paid dividends against another batter: in his third spell, after a change of ends – and umpires – Woakes went wide on the crease, convincing Nitish Kumar Reddy to leave the ball alone. It nipped in off the seam to take out his off stump, highlighting Woakes’ adjustment to a slow pitch where bowled and lbw were the main modes of dismissal.”It felt like the stumps were in play all day,” Woakes said. “It didn’t feel like a massive nick-off wicket, to be honest; it didn’t feel like it had the pace in it for that… It was something which we were looking for. Basically, it was trying to find the right length that allowed you to be full enough not to get driven, but still bring the stumps into play.”0:53

Aaron: Marked improvement by the English bowling unit

Woakes made an inauspicious start to this series, taking 1 for 148 across 43 overs at Headingley, and had been noticeably struggling for rhythm. It was no surprise that he looked sharper on Wednesday, in only his fourth first-class appearance of 2025 – “I’ve always been better for overs under the belt,” he has previously said – not least given the venue.”Across a career, you don’t get that many games at your home venue: this is my fourth Test match here. They are really special weeks. You have a lot of friends and family in the ground, and I’ve got a lot of love for Warwickshire, which goes deep. It’s all I’ve ever known… There’s a lot of people behind the scenes who support you through the good times and the bad.”Woakes spent 18 months either injured or out of favour between the end of Joe Root’s tenure as captain and the 16th Test of the Stokes-McCullum era, but has since become an integral part of England’s attack again. They have only lost once with him in the side in the last two years, and at 36, he has finally emerged from James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s considerable shadows.A hard-earned reputation as one of cricket’s good guys has sometimes worked against Woakes, making it relatively easy for coaches to leave him out – or for umpires to turn down his appeals. But today his obvious exasperation reflected a self-evident truth: reaching this level of sport demands talent, but staying there for as long as Woakes has demands tenacity, too.

A final-ball thriller in Christchurch was celebrated by cricketers around the world

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Mar-2023

Unbelievable!!!! Test Cricket!!

Imagine having been in that NZ changeroom for this and the England finale. Incredible scenes. #NZvSL

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) March 13, 2023