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Milos Kerkez is reportedly set to complete his medical ahead of a Bournemouth to Liverpool transfer.

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Kerkez long-term Liverpool targetsBournemouth ace set for medicalDate for transfer move revealedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Athletic, Bournemouth left-back Kerkez is flying into the United Kingdom from Belgrade, Serbia, on Monday (June 23) to complete a medical, before sealing the transfer on Tuesday (June 24).

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 21-year-old is nearing a £40 million ($54m) switch to Liverpool, with the Hungarian international expected to secure a five-year deal. If he signs, this will be the Reds' fourth deal of the summer after the statement recruits of Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, along with Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akademia.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kerkez joined Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar for around £15.5m ($20m) in July 2023 and went on to make 67 appearances in all competitions. This season, the defender helped the Cherries finish ninth and scored six goals and added two assists.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

If Kerkez completes this Liverpool transfer, he is likely to compete with left-back Andrew Robertson and Konstantinos Tsimikas in Arne Slot's starting XI next season as the Reds try to retain their Premier League title.

علق الإعلامي أحمد شوبير على تعادل منتخب مصر أمام بوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026، مؤكدًا أن المنتخب حقق الهدف المطلوب رغم الضغوط الكبيرة التي تعرض لها الجهاز الفني بقيادة حسام حسن، ومشيرًا إلى أن الهجوم المتواصل على الجهاز في هذا التوقيت.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء: “الحمد لله والشكر لله، منتخب مصر في حالة جيدة، وحسام حسن كان سعيدًا بعد المباراة، وتحدث عن أننا لعبنا أمام منافس قوي، فيما أكد إبراهيم حسن بتصريحات عقلانية جدًا أن تأهل مصر إلى المونديال يجب أن يكون أمرًا اعتياديًا”.

وتابع: “سعفان الصغير مدرب حراس المرمى بكى، وإبراهيم حسن بكى أيضًا، وقال الأول (كنت أتمنى أن تشاهد أسرتي المباراة ويكون والدي على قيد الحياة)، لكن البركة في الموجودين يا كابتن سعفان”.

وواصل: “لكن بكاء إبراهيم مع بكاء سعفان يوضح حجم الضغوط الشديدة التي كانت واقعة على منتخبنا، دعونا نكون منصفين، فاللاعبين والجهاز الفني كانوا تحت ضغوط رهيبة جدًا، لأنه، وأنا بصراحة كدت أجن، كان هناك عدد كبير جدًا جدًا يطالب بأن يكون حسام مدرب المنتخب، وحسام جاء وتم استقباله استقبالًا رائعًا في البداية”.

طالع أيضًا | عبد الظاهر السقا: لا أحد يعلم ما يدور بين حسام حسن ولاعب منتخب مصر

وأشار: “ثم فجأة بدأت القصة، هجوم متواصل وضغط بشكل غريب جدًا، يخرج أحد الصحفيين ويقول لك حتى لو تعادل مع بوركينا فاسو مهدد بالإقالة! لماذا؟”.

وواصل: “يا بني لماذا هذا؟ والناس مقبلة على مباراة مهمة؟ لماذا هذا ومصر كلها كانت تنتظر اللقاء؟ أمر عجيب وغريب وأنا في حالة استغراب”.

وأردف: “حتى اختيار التوقيت كان عجيبًا، أن تبدأ بالهجوم بهذا الشكل وفي هذا الوقت، وأن تبدأ بالتشكيك في هذا التوقيت تحديدًا، البعض يقول: سنسحق بوركينا فاسو، وآخرون يقولون: سنتلقى هزيمة قاسية، وفي النهاية عندما نتعادل يقولون لعبنا بشكل سيئ! الله! ألم تقولوا إننا سنسحق؟”.

واستكمل: “ألم تقولوا إنه ليس لدينا أمل حتى في التعادل مع بوركينا فاسو؟ فلماذا عندما يحدث التعادل يظهر هذا الكلام؟ الأمر في الحقيقة غريب جدًا وعجيب جدًا، وهذه الحالة دائمًا موجودة، وعلى فكرة ليست مع حسام وإبراهيم فقط”.

واختتم: “لكنها دائمًا موجودة مع الجميع وفي كل المجالات، وقد قلت لكم أمس هذا الكلام، وهو ما قيل أمس أيضًا، لكنه الواقع، المهم أن المنتخب تعادل وظل متصدرًا، ولم يتبق سوى خمس نقاط فقط، أو فارق خمس نقاط”.

South Africa head coach says his inexperienced players now know the ‘harsh reality of Test cricket’ after being thrown in the deep-end

Firdose Moonda08-Feb-2024South Africa’s Test players in New Zealand feel like “Burnley going to Anfield every week” according to coach Shukri Conrad, who called their 281-run defeat in the first match a “jolt and a wake-up call.”While Conrad has known for seven months that he would not have a full-strength squad for the series because of player obligations to the SA20 and prepared accordingly, the gulf between his side and New Zealand’s seems to have hit home in Mount Maunganui after South Africa were completely outplayed in all areas and lost in four days.”It’s not okay. It’s tough for everyone here. It’s like Burnley going to Anfield every week,” Conrad said. “If it was a T20, you know one performance can win the game. [In Tests] it’s five days of relentless effort and pressure. You’ve got to be on top of your game all the time against a quality side like New Zealand.”Related

• Mighty batting meets smart bowling in blockbuster SA20 finale

• SA in player availability conundrum for NZ Tests as T20 leagues encroach on bilateral commitments

• Conrad hopes SA draw inspiration from success of women's side, WI and Bafana Bafana

• Jamieson, Santner bowl NZ to victory after Williamson's twin centuries and Ravindra's 240

For context, Burnley are currently 19th on the English Premier League table and take on leaders Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.Conrad described the players, six of whom were on debut in the first Test, to be “in decent spirits,” but admitted they have been made to confront the quality of their own abilities. “A few of them would have taken a knock in terms of the harsh realities that Test cricket brings, and possibly how far away they still are. Many feel that they’re closer to the Test side than they currently are,” he said. “You go through a few days like they have been through, and that’s a jolt and a wake-up call.”He was particularly critical of two aspects of the team’s game: fielding and batting. South Africa dropped both Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra in the first innings which proved extremely costly. The pair shared a stand of 232, Williamson went on to score 118, Ravindra piled on 240 and South Africa conceded 511 in total.”If we took our chances on day one … you know you’re going to have to live on the breadcrumbs. Every now and again, when a slice comes around, you’ve got to grab it with both hands. And we didn’t. That first day could have been different. And then if we batted properly…”Only David Bedingham scored a half-century for South Africa in the Test match, while Keegan Petersen and Zubayr Hamza failed to convert starts. Those three were the batters who had played Tests before the New Zealand tour, and Conrad said he expected more from them given the inexperience through the rest of the rank.”Pressure does a hell of a lot of things to you,” he said. “Often guys come to this level and feel silver bullets need to be landing from all over. In fact all you do is simplify matters. It’s easy to say go out and back yourself but when your every move is magnified and your technique is being cut to shreds on TV and elsewhere, that’s what the harsh reality of Test cricket is. This is what players are going to have to deal with.”Asked if the batting performance, specifically, was an indictment on South Africa’s first-class system, Conrad said: “When Tony de Zorzi walked in to make his debut, he walked in after Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar,” he said. “Then Temba Bavuma walked in at No. 4. There was lots of experience at Test level.”If he had walked out to bat for the first time the other day, he would have walked out with somebody who was also making his debut, and at three was also someone making his debut. All of these guys are inexperienced at this level. They’ve got heaps of first-class experience but they don’t have any Test experience, and there’s a massive gap anywhere in the world, not only in South Africa.”The current South African squad averages 96 first-class caps per player, which speaks to Conrad’s point that there is a level of know-how in the squad. But it seems that their initial hopes of emulating the women’s team – who won a T20I and an ODI against Australia for the first time on their current tour – were setting the bar a bit too high.”Every time you play in a Test there’s an expectation that, even though maybe you can’t do all the swimming strokes, perhaps you can doggy paddle for a reasonable time and not drown,” Conrad said. “Yes, they’ve been thrown in the deep end. But it’s a great opportunity for the players to put their hands up and, as a group, to go back to the first-class system and spread the gospel in terms of what the requirements are and what their experiences were. Hopefully in that way we can uplift the standard and not create expectation at every turn when someone gets a five-wicket haul or scores a hundred at domestic level. But, yes, it is a sink or swim situation.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing a defender who could be available for £29m this summer, but they may have to do battle for his signature with their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Tottenham returning to form in the Premier League

Amid the injury crisis at N17, Tottenham have been through a tricky spell, but they are now showing much more promising signs in the Premier League, winning their last three games on the spin.

Most recently, Ange Postecoglou’s side put Ipswich Town to the sword at Portman Road, emerging as 4-1 winners, and the good news doesn’t stop there, as several key members of the squad are set to return soon.

Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero should be available for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie against AZ Alkmaar, which will be welcome news for Postecoglou, having been severely limited on options in defence for some time.

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When everybody is fit, Postecoglou has some solid options at centre-back, with Kevin Danso also joining from Lens in the January transfer window, but a report has revealed Tottenham are looking at signing another defender in the summer.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Spurs are keen on signing Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti, with the Italian club open to selling for a fee of €30m – €35m (£25m – £29m) in the summer in order to fund their own transfer business.

West Ham United and Nottingham Forest are also named as potential suitors for Gatti, so there could be competition for his signature, but the Lilywhites are thought to be particularly keen.

The 26-year-old is thought to be open to a move to the Premier League, but the fact he may not be guaranteed a starting spot in Postecoglou’s side could prove to be a stumbling block.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures	Date
Manchester City (h)	February 26th
AFC Bournemouth (h)	March 9th
Fulham (a)	March 16th
Chelsea (a)	April 2nd
Southampton (h)	April 5th

Gatti could be a solid squad player

The injury crisis Postecoglou has been forced to endure this season underlines the need to have strength in depth, particularly when competing in Europe, and there are signs the Juventus defender could be a solid option.

Lauded as an “absolute hero” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Italian has been a regular starter for Juventus in the Serie A this season, while also making nine appearances in the Champions League.

It would of course be difficult to displace Van de Ven and Romero in the starting XI, but Gatti’s experience at the top level make him a good rotation option to have at the very least.

The only issue is it could be difficult to convince the Rivoli-born defender to make the move without a guarantee of regular game time, but it is certainly worth a try.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet7： O clássico entre Botafogo e Flamengo, previsto para acontecer no dia 25 de fevereiro, deve ser realizado no estádio Mané Garrincha, em Brasília. A informação foi publicada primeiramente pelo “Distrito do Esporte” e confirmada pelo LANCE!.

Com Nilton Santos em obra, Botafogo vem buscando outros locais para mandar seus jogos. O clube obteve uma renda significativa no jogo do último domingo em Brasília e espera conseguir uma boa receita no clássico.

+ATUAÇÕES: Tiquinho Soares brilha e recebe maior nota em goleada do Botafogo

RelacionadasBotafogoBrilho de Tiquinho aponta caminhos e desafios para o Botafogo aprimorar seu poderio ofensivoBotafogo05/02/2023BotafogoBotafogo alcança feito na ‘era Luís Castro’ ao fim da vitória sobre o BoavistaBotafogo05/02/2023BotafogoTiquinho e Victor Sá brilham, e Botafogo goleia o Boavista no Mané GarrinchaBotafogo05/02/2023

da bet sport： +Luís Castro valoriza goleada do Botafogo, mas vê equipe ainda em construção

Não é a primeira vez que Botafogo e Flamengo se enfrentam em Brasília. No primeiro turno do Brasileirão do ano passado, os dois clubes duelaram no estádio Mané Garrincha e os alvinegros venceram por 1 a 0 com gol do atacante Erison.

O Glorioso volta a campo no próximo sábado, diante do Bangu, às 18h, no Luso Brasileiro, em partida válida pelo Campeonato Carioca.

Immediate on-field issues aside, both teams will have Champions Trophy qualification and Delhi’s air quality on their minds

Madushka Balasuriya05-Nov-20233:48

Finch wants to see Shakib at No. 3

Big Picture: Problems to address for both teams

This may not be the must-win scenario either side would have envisioned towards the tail-end of this tournament, but the ICC’s confirmation that the top seven finishers (and hosts Pakistan) will gain qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy has given what would have been a largely inconsequential game some much needed purpose.Both sides’ troubles are well documented. Since their opening game win against Afghanistan, Bangladesh have lost six on the trot. Only England have a worse record, and Bangladesh have lost to them too. For a side that had won 24 of 39 ODIs since the start of 2021, this has been the most underwhelming of tournaments, especially in conditions that on the face of it looked like it might have suited them.The unsettling of a settled batting order could be pinpointed as one of the key reasons for this downturn in fortunes. They will be hoping to regain enough lost ground to overcome a Sri Lankan side that has its own set of issues.Related

• 'Asthmatic' Bangladesh players skip training on eve of Sri Lanka match due to air pollution in Delhi

Sri Lanka, for their part, have done what they’ve always done – at least in the recent past – mixing in brilliance with despair, jubilation with fatalism. Whichever way you splice it, this was an undercooked Sri Lanka side at least in terms of ODIs – one geared towards a T20-style and rediscovering its ODI bearings. It was also one seemingly caught up in muddled thinking.”I want them to be aggressive to be honest,’ stated head coach Chris Silverwood prior to their defeat to India, and after an oddly timid display against Afghanistan. “I want them to play their game and obviously do things their way but have a positive mindset.”All sound in theory, but words that were betrayed by the fact that their sole aggressive opening option – Kusal Perera – was dropped for both losses to Afghanistan and India, in favour of the conservative Dimuth Karunaratne. Whether they stick with that will almost certainly speak towards the approach they’re likely to take.And this is all without getting into the crux of the off-field issues, where the fallout from their campaign has seen a public back-and-forth between the country’s sports minister and Sri Lanka Cricket, while there have been questions posed of the impact of the coaching staff and whispers of a selection committee shake-up. Hardly ideal when trying to play fearless, aggressive cricket.Both teams will also have the Delhi air to deal with.

Recent form

Bangladesh – LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka – LLWWL

In the spotlight: Mushfiqur Rahim and Dilshan Madushanka

Mushfiqur Rahim started this tournament at No. 6, a position he had played in for the previous seven months, though not one he had occupied for the five years prior to that. But with just 171 runs at 28.50 across this tournament, he is now back at his favoured No. 4 slot. Of his 7577 ODI runs, 4372 have come at four, while his average in that role of 42.03 is a significant uptick from his career average of 36.78 and the 37.35 he was producing at six. This may have been largely a World Cup to forget for Mushfiqur but now back in a familiar role against familiar opposition, Bangladesh will be banking on him to help end their tournament on a high.Sri Lanka’s tournament might have been one largely to forget, but you don’t have to strain hard for the silver linings. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama are a couple of positives, but it’s Dilshan Madushanka that has firmly left his mark. In seven games, he’s picked up 18 wickets – the second best in the tournament so far – and gone wicketless just once, taking at least two in every other game including a maiden five-for against India – a game in which his impact trumped that of an attack that ransacked their opponents for just 55. His list of victims is already a veritable list of modern-day greats, and he’s still only 23.AFP/Getty Images

Team news: Kusal Perera back?

Bangladesh rejigged their batting order against Pakistan and it’s likely to stay the same.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Litton Das, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Towhid Hridoy , 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Shoriful Islam.Sri Lanka might opt to bring Perera back into the fold after Karunaratne failed to impress in his stead. Dushan Hemantha could also make way for Dunith Wellalage if Sri Lanka opt for more batting strength.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera/Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk) 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Angelo Mathews 7 Dushan Hemantha 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Kasun Rajitha, 10 Dushmantha Chameera 11 Dilshan Madushanka

Pitch and conditions

The top two highest scores at Kotla have come during this World Cup, and Sri Lanka will be keenly aware of the nature of this surface having leaked 428 runs against South Africa last month.The overall weather conditions in Delhi though have worsened since then, with both sides cancelling scheduled practice sessions over the past few days owing to poor air quality. Any call on the match perhaps not taking place will only be taken on the day of the game.

Stats and trivia

• Dilshan Madushanka is five wickets away from equalling Chaminda Vaas and Muthiah Muralidaran – 23 – for the most wickets by a Sri Lankan in a World Cup. He currently is level with Lasith Malinga on 18.
• Of active players, Shakib Al Hasan has the fourth most runs in ODI World Cups with 1250, and the most of any Bangladesh player.
• Shakib’s 41 World Cup wickets is the second-most taken by a spinner. Muralidaran has the most with 68.

Quotes

“Our doctor has kept a close eye on players. Some of the players didn’t turn up for practice because they are asthmatic so they stayed in indoors. And even for practice, we’re very conscious. We train what we have to train, and they go back into the dressing room. They don’t spend time unless they’re bowling or batting.”

da dobrowin： Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate need of investment from the hierarchy this summer if they are to reach the next level under Thomas Frank’s guidance.

da betcris： The Dane has been appointed to help build on their Europa League triumph at the end of the recent season, but if he is to do that, he will need to receive funds from the board.

However, despite their European success in 2024/25, their Premier League standing was nothing short of a disaster, finishing in a measly 17th position, losing 22 matches out of their 38 outings.

The new boss will have to find the right balance between their Champions League efforts and their attempts to rise back up the table, something which has become vital to owner Daniel Levy.

As previously mentioned, the lack of squad depth could be a huge hindrance to Frank’s efforts, needing to make key additions if he is to be an immediate success in North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo has been a key target for Spurs throughout this window, after registering 18 goals in 34 outings for French side Stade Rennais this season.

Xavi Simons is another player on their radar throughout the off-season, as the Lilywhites aim to add a new dimension to their forward line ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, another name has entered the frame in recent days, with Belgian centre-back Koni de Winter emerging as a potential defensive reinforcement, according to Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness.

The report claims that Frank’s side are currently leading the race for the Genoa star, who could be available for as little as £25m throughout this summer.

It also states that the 23-year-old is subject to a lot of interest at present, with Crystal Palace also in the race for his signature, but that the Lilywhites currently hold the advantage in the pursuit of his services.

Why De Winter would be a better signing than Semenyo for Spurs

Antoine Semenyo is an attacker who has caught the eye in the Premier League this season, registering 16 combined goals and assists for Bournemouth.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough year in England’s top-flight, something which has captured the attention of Frank’s side – subsequently entering the race for his signature.

However, Manchester United are also in the race to land the Ghanaian international this window, with the Cherries demanding a fee in the region of £65m to part ways with the star man.

Given his tally in front of goal this campaign, he would certainly provide needed depth within the final third, but De Winter would certainly be a better addition for Frank this window.

Cristian Romero has been hugely touted with a move away from North London during the off-season, with Atlético and Real Madrid both keen to land the Argentinian.

Such a move would leave a huge hole in the starting eleven, something which the manager would need to address, with De Winter arguably the perfect fit for the backline.

The 23-year-old, who’s been labelled “imperious” by journalist Sacha Tavolieri, has completed 87% of the passes he’s attempted, with 1.7 per 90 going into the final third – handing an option for the side to play out from the back if needed.

Koni de Winter’s stats for Genoa in Serie A (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

25

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

87%

Passes into final third

1.7

Tackles won

58%

Aerials won

3.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Stats via FotMob

He’s also won 58% of the tackles he’s entered, whilst winning 3.2 aerials per 90, offering an extremely talented defensive option that would improve the situation in the defensive third.

De Winter has also made 1.1 interceptions per 90 and 4.8 recoveries, helping the Italian side keep 10 clean sheets and secure a mid-table finish in 2024/25.

£25m in today’s market would be an excellent deal for the Lilywhites, handing Frank the platform he needs for success during his first year at the helm in North London.

Whilst Semenyo would be a superb signing, the need for added defensive reinforcements will be needed, especially if Romero departs, with the Belgian having the tools to fill any void.

Related Frank's own Kane: Spurs in talks to sign one of the "best STs in the world"

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making moves to land a new talisman this summer.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 26, 2025

Celtic have now submitted an offer of up to £2.5m for an “amazing” versatile star in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer update.

Hoops supporters will be hoping to see a flurry of attacking reinforcements between now and the end of the current window, with Bojan Miovski one such player who has been linked with a summer switch to Parkhead.

The 26-year-old is now plying his trade at Spanish side Girona, but he has proven his worth in the Scottish Premiership in the past, proving to be a star man for Aberdeen and scoring 44 goals in 98 appearances for them.

Meanwhile, Rapid Vienna winger Isak Jansson has been mentioned as a possible replacement for the outgoing Nicolas Kuhn, who is on the verge of joining Serie A side Como.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claimed Celtic have enquired about the availability of Jansson, and there has now been another key development.

Celtic make £2m+ bid for Jansson

According to a new update from Celts Are Here, Celtic have now submitted an offer of as much as £2.5m for the signature of Jansson this summer.

That said, a bit in excess of £3.4m has reportedly been made by an unnamed club, so the Hoops won’t have things all their own way. A rumoured valuation of £8.6m is said to be “super ridiculous”, according to the report, perhaps set with the goal of making Celtic and others enter a bidding war.

Losing Kuhn will clearly hurt the Hoops, considering what a dangerous and prolific performer he was for the Scottish champions last season, but in Jansson, they could have a fantastic option lined up.

The Swede has been capped internationally across four different youth age groups and can play on either wing or through the middle as a number nine, and he has racked up 17 goal contributions (10 goals and seven assists) in 45 appearances for Rapid.

Sweden Under-21s

3

0

Sweden Under-17s

20

2

Sweden Under-16s

1

0

Sweden Under-15s

2

1

At 23, Jansson is still a young player with plenty of time to improve as the years pass, so Brendan Rodgers may like the idea of developing him as a footballer, with Rapid sporting director Marcus Katzer lauding both his ability and sell-on value.

“One week after we exercised the purchase option in the season, we had an offer of more than £1 million on the table. He will clearly be transferred for many times what we paid for him. He has been an amazing success for us.”

There is a lot of competition for Jansson’s signature, however, so it won’t be easy for Celtic to strike a deal, but he is an ideal right-sided winger to come in and fill the void left by Kuhn, while his versatility also allows him to add depth across the attack as Rodgers prepares to fight on multiple fronts next season.

Sunderland’s summer transfer window has been choppy so far, with both Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson deserting the Black Cats after the ecstasy of promotion.

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Regis Le Bris and Co, however, as Enzo Le Fee has at least put pen to paper on a permanent Wearside stay to bolster the midfield areas.

Still, the Frenchman will want more and more new signings to enter the Stadium of Light in their unlikely bid to survive in the Premier League.

The former Lorient boss will surely be prioritising some defensive additions to help his team navigate the frightening step-up in quality, with a new, imposing target now reportedly on their agenda.

Sunderland interested in former Leeds colossus

As per a report from French outlet Jeunes Footeux, Sunderland are interested in landing former Leeds United centre-back Charlie Cresswell this summer, off the back of his impressive stint out in Ligue 1 with Toulouse.

It’s stated that Le Bris wants young, solid players who are already seasoned at the highest level, with Cresswell ticking those boxes for sure, considering he was also in and around the senior picture at Elland Road during the Whites’ brief stays in the Premier League.

Japhet Tanganga s also very much on the Black Cats’ radar as they look to add in some new defensive bodies here and there, with the Millwall brute perhaps gaining somewhat of an advantage when you glance at his modest £1.2m valuation.

But, if Sunderland are willing to pay a few million on top of Tanganga’s price-tag, they could win themselves an upgrade on the ex-Tottenham Hotspur youth product in Cresswell, with the 22-year-old no doubt champing at the bit to return to England to prove himself further.

Why Cresswell would be an upgrade on Tanganga

Cresswell has settled into life in the top division in France swimmingly, meaning he could be ready to take the plunge back into the English game with the newly promoted Black Cats.

This season for Toulouse, Cresswell would chip in with four strikes when putting his lofty 6-foot-3 frame to effective use, alongside also coming away from his 31 appearances in Ligue 1 with a respectable tally of nine clean sheets.

Tanganga did end up with 14 clean sheets of his own in the Championship, but he was present for nine more games at the heart of defence for the Lions than Cresswell was for Carles Martínez Novell’s men, away from falling short of the 22-year-old’s goal total by one.

Regardless, Cresswell has actually shown off his strengths as a no-nonsense centre-back option at the Den himself away from Tanganga’s standout campaign, with the table below further backing up why he might be worth the extra cash at around the £8m ballpark, as per Transfermarkt.

Games played

28

31

Goals scored

4

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

53.5

63.3

Accurate passes*

28.1 (71%)

41.2 (83%)

Total duels won*

7.6

4.9

Clean sheets

5

9

Indeed, the table proves that Cresswell can battle it out in England, away from just his spells in the Leeds senior mix, with a ridiculous 7.6 duels won on average during his breakout 22/23 campaign in South East London. To add context, Tanganga only won 5.8 last season, on the contrary.

Moreover, with a full Ligue 1 season now under his belt which saw him collect nine clean sheets – which is two more than his former Spurs counterpart ever managed in North London in the elite division – Sunderland could now direct all their focus on attempting to land the Preston-born youngster, over winning a cut-price deal for Tanganga.

Currently out with England at the U21s Euros, where he’s rubbing shoulders with the likes of Premier League regulars Harvey Elliott and Elliot Anderson, the “outstanding” star – as he’s been glowing labelled in the past by Leeds content creator Joe Wainman – will believe the time is right for him to make this next move.

Sunderland will be hopeful he can be one key part of the puzzle that secures survival.

Sunderland plot move for "amazing" £15m+ star who scored 19 goals in 24/25

The Black Cats are eyeing reinforcements through the middle…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 15, 2025

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin knew that he had to make a fast start to the summer transfer window, especially with the Champions League qualifiers zooming into focus.

Indeed, his first competitive match against Panathinaikos is just a few weeks away, leaving no margin for error.

Date

Opposition

Competition

July 22

Panathinaikos

Champions League qualifiers

July 30

Panathinaikos

Champions League qualifiers

August 2

Motherwell

Premiership

August 9

Dundee

Premiership

August 23

St Mirren

Premiership

Lyall Cameron had agreed a pre-contract agreement with the Ibrox side back in January, but Martin has moved to bring in Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez to bolster his squad.

Of course, there will be several outgoings as well. Cyriel Dessers looks like he is set to leave Glasgow this summer. Hamza Igamane is another player who could be departing, with French side Lille reportedly agreeing personal terms with the young striker.

These potential sales will raise funds for the manager to further strengthen his squad as the weeks go on.

Aarons will add plenty of competition for James Tavernier at right-back next season, while Rothwell has played under Martin before, therefore knows his style of play well and won’t take long to get settled in.

Fernandez is a curious signing, however. He played in a Peterborough side that finished 18th in League One last season.

Aged just 23, there is plenty of room for growth, but can the Englishman turn into the next Calvin Bassey at Ibrox?

Why Rangers signed Emmanuel Fernandez

The first port of call for Martin upon his arrival at Rangers was to sort out the defence. Last season, the Gers conceded 71 goals across 58 competitive matches, which works out as 1.2 goals conceded per game.

Transfer Focus

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This figure has to improve if the Light Blues wish to challenge for domestic supremacy this season, no doubt about that. In comparison, Celtic conceded 59 goals in 57 matches last season.

Leon Balogun has already left, and it looks like Robin Propper could well be off in the coming weeks, leaving Martin with work to do.

With Aarons already signed, the announcement of Fernandez came as no surprise. The Ibrox side reportedly spent £3.5m to sign the centre-back and, at that price, Martin will be hoping he can settle quickly at the club.

The manager will utilise a possession-based style of play, encouraging his defenders to play out from the back, hence the move for Fernandez.

In League One last term, Fernandez succeeded with 67% of his dribbles, while also averaging a pass success rate of 87% for the Posh.

He even ranked in the top 17% when compared to his positional peers for touches in the opposition box (41), proving that he finds himself in dangerous positions on a regular basis.

These statistics certainly fit in with Martin’s style of play, and he could be a decent signing, provided that he contributes from the start.

Rangers haven’t had much success recently with players from the EFL, as they have largely struggled to adapt to Scottish football.

Fernandez will be the first of a few defenders through the door this summer. Recent news indicates that Martin is closing in on another centre-back in the coming days…

Rangers closing in on Premier League defender

The former Posh defender will surely be the first of several centre-backs making the move to Ibrox.

Leicester City defender Conor Coady has been linked with a move to Glasgow, although it remains to be seen whether he swaps the Foxes for Rangers.

Harry Darling was also linked with a reunion with Martin at Ibrox earlier in the transfer window, but he has decided to join Norwich City instead.

Journalist Anthony Joseph has given an update on the club’s chase for new signings, saying that Rangers are “close to agreeing a loan deal” for Wolves centre-back Nasser Djiga.

Joseph went on to add that the move would be a “straight season-long loan”, with the Ibrox side hoping to have the player booked in for a medical “in the coming days”.

Nasser Djiga

An initial temporary deal could work out well for both parties and Djiga could even turn out to be an instant upgrade on Fernandez, that’s for sure.

Why Rangers must sign Nasser Djiga

The African defender only joined Wolverhampton Wanderers during the winter window from Red Star Belgrade, but he found game time hard to come by in the Premier League.

Indeed, the 22-year-old only played five times for the Old Gold in the top flight and experience north of the border will surely bolster his long-term ambitions at Molineux.

His performances at the Serbian outfit were impressive, however, especially during the first half of the season. While Fernandez can play out with the ball, it appears as though the 6 foot 4 Burkina Faso international is even better.

Across 17 Serbian top-flight matches, Djiga not only succeeded with 95% of his passes, but the defender also succeeded with 80% of his dribble attempts, showcasing his desire to burst forward from the heart of the defence.

When compared to his positional peers in the Champions League last term, Djiga ranked in the top 5% for progressive carries (1.63) per 90, while also ranking in the top 23% for touches in the opposition penalty area (1.13) per 90.

Considering these statistics were recorded at the highest level of the game, Djiga should have no problem settling in at Ibrox.

Judging by his performances in Europe’s top club competition, the Wolves centre-back appears to be an instant upgrade on Fernandez and this could see him slot straight into the starting XI once he seals his move to Rangers.

Scottish analyst and content creator Kai Watson profiled the youngster amid his links to Ibrox, saying:

“He hasn’t been given a chance at Wolves but at Red Star he was a strong passer of the ball with a good understanding of the game. He seems like the ideal CB for Russell Martin.”

Martin’s aim is to bring in players who might not be massive names, but who fit his style of play perfectly.

Only then, can Rangers truly begin to challenge for domestic superiority.

The dream squad Rangers can build: £19.5m quartet & "sublime" star all sign

Rangers will be eyeing plenty more signings this summer

4 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 5, 2025