Tag Futebol

Danny Rohl has warned his players they “gave me a lot of information” following Rangers’ damaging 3-0 Europa League defeat to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday.

The 36-year-old head coach was installed as Russell Martin’s successor on Monday but there was no dream debut in Norway. Emil Kornvig opened the scoring five minutes before the break, Jacob Sorensen added a second after 55 minutes and Noah Holm fired in a third after 79 minutes for a comfortable win for the home side.

Rangers writer and podcaster David Edgar called for two sackings immediately following the game as pressure continues to mount on Chief Executive Patrick Stewart and Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell.

"Disgrace" – Cavenagh told who to "fire" after Rangers defeat to Brann

Gers fans are furious after Danny Rohl’s first match in charge.

1 ByBen Goodwin Oct 23, 2025

Rangers are bottom of the 36-team table as they turn attention to the visit of Kilmarnock in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday.

Rohl warns players after defeat to Brann

Rohl appeared to fire a warning to the players who took part in Thursday’s humiliation, telling Rangers TV they “gave me a lot of information” and that they were not up to the required standard.

The new boss did however take responsibility for what is to come, with over two months before he gets the chance to change his squad in the January transfer window: “I have to develop and improve the players. I have to develop and improve the group. This is what I have to do. This is my job.

“We played a team who were organised, aggressive and did the basics right, and we didn’t.

“But my job is to lift them again, give them the solutions, and be ready on Sunday.”

Ally McCoist told talkSPORT he is struggling to commentate matches involving his old team.

Ally McCoist on punditry for TNT Sports.

“The three teams Rangers have played (in the Europa League) are bang average,” said the Ibrox legend on Friday morning.

“I’ll be brutally honest, last night I was as depressed as I’ve been throughout this whole debacle. I actually feel for the manager. I don’t know what he’s going to do. He might improve them in terms of a little bit of organisation.

“But I don’t think there’s anywhere near the level of improvement in that team that will be required to even get them up the league domestically. They’re just absolutely miles off it.”

The Gers will be seeking just their second win in the league this season when they host Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon. They could be 16 points off the pace at the start of play if Hearts beat Celtic in the earlier kick-off.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is braced to make a ruthless call on new manager Ange Postecoglou after his dreadful start to life at the City Ground, which was compounded by a surprise 3-2 loss to Danish minnows FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Ange Postecoglou reacts to Nottingham Forest sack rumours

Just six games into his tenure, Postecoglou is already facing reports that he could be sacked if they lose to Newcastle United this weekend.

The 60-year-old has guided Forest to four losses and two draws from his opening matches in charge, having just been appointed under a month ago, and Marinakis could ruthlessly cut ties with Postecoglou despite only just arriving.

While Forest have displayed brief flashes of brilliant, interchange attacking play, the squad is really not coping well with Postecoglou’s brand of ‘Angeball’ as they struggle to adjust to a completely new system to that of his predecessor.

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Premier League

Swansea 3-2 Forest

Carabao Cup

Burnley 1-1 Forest

Premier League

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

Europa League

Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Premier League

Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

Europa League

Unlike Nuno’s dogged, pragmatic and counter-attacking style, Forest are tasked with playing a more front-footed, open and offensive game — and this has resulted in Forest conceding 13 goals since Postecoglou’s arrival.

They’ve also looked extremely vulnerable to set-pieces, which was on full display against Midtjylland, as chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ rang around the City Ground.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle at St. James’ Park, Postecoglou sent a defiant message that he’s unfazed by the noise and solely focused on winning matches.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested that Forest could be patient with Postecoglou, but Sky Sports report that Marinakis isn’t afraid to make a cut-throat decision.

Sky Sports share Ange Postecoglou sack update out of Nottingham Forest

The broadcast giant, sharing an update via their live broadcast, says that Marinakis isn’t afraid to pull the plug on Postecoglou and could do it imminently if results continue to on a downward trajectory.

Postecoglou, if sacked after Newcastle, could break the Premier League record for shortest reign by any manager, and it would be another unwanted blotch on his CV after also making the worst start by any Forest boss for 100 years.

That being said, despite Forest’s woeful form, Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp believes it would be “crazy” for Postecoglou to go already.

Last year, Yuzvendra Chahal the first bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in the IPL. No one else has reached there yet – the next best among active bowlers is Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 186. But a year on, and five matches into IPL 2025 for his new team Punjab Kings (PBKS), questions are cropping up about Chahal’s effectiveness.In this IPL, Chahal has picked up just two wickets in five innings at an economy rate of 11.13 and has not bowled his full quota in three games. Since making his debut in IPL 2013, Chahal – a wicket-taking option – has never had an economy rate of over 9.41 (2024) in a season. This year, he is going at 11.13, the 56 he conceded in his four overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday not helping that number.Piyush Chawal, another legspinner and the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of the IPL, felt Chahal has been playing a “safe game”, which is new for him.Related

• Hopes: Chahal 'struggling to get into the game at the moment'

• Lockie Ferguson hobbles off two balls into his spell

• Abhishek Sharma takes T20 hitting out of this world

• Abhishek Sharma's whirlwind 141 leads SRH to second-highest IPL chase

“Well, he created that chance [Chahal dropped Abhishek Sharma off his own bowling] and you need at least one chance, and he created that one and he has nobody [else] to blame for that,” Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “He almost reached there but apart from that… later on when both the batters [Abhishek and Travis Head] were going after him, I didn’t find that Yuzvendra Chahal which we used to see a couple of years back and even till last year. He was just not trying to get the batter out. He was just trying to toss it wide and playing more of a safe game, defensive bowling. That Yuzvendra Chahal we have not seen.”What would Chawla have done on a flat pitch like the one in Hyderabad where the opponents are playing a high-risk, high-reward game chasing a huge target?”I have not seen him bowling googlies also. If you’re bowling wide outside off stump for them [left-hand batters] and it’s going away from there, so you eventually get a chance to get a wicket or something like that,” Chawla said. “But he didn’t bowl that, maybe because of the lack of form. If you see this season, he has bowled some 14-15 [15] overs and he’s not bowled his four [overs] quite often, and he’s conceding more than 11-12 runs in a season at the moment, which [makes] you feel you want to play a defensive game.Yuzvendra Chahal has looked off-colour so far•BCCI

“You just want to get your four overs in and then try to pick up a wicket. But today, I felt it was the day when you have 245 runs on the board, any which way you’re going for runs, so you should better try for wickets and if you pick up those couple of wickets, then you are in the game.”PBKS, who have never won the IPL, went hard for Chahal at the auction and spent INR 18 crore for him, making him the most expensive spinner ever bought at an IPL auction. He is their premier spinner. Though PBKS have won three of their five matches so far, will Chahal’s form affect them as the race for the playoffs heats up?”I think the few deliveries that he bowled when he picked up Travis Head’s wicket, that is what we need to see Yuzvendra Chahal bowl more often,” Wasim Jaffer said. “You’re looking to spin the ball, looking to bowl googly, looking to put some revs on the ball, which I think we are missing from watching Yuzi. He is very defensive in his mindset and the pressure is pretty much visible on his face that, you know, he’s off colour. But you know for Punjab to become good, he’s the main puzzle that they need to solve.”

Manchester United have reportedly made a shock decision on Tyrell Malacia's future as Ruben Amorim's side continue to struggle in the Premier League. The Portuguese coach is facing mounting pressure after overseeing three losses in the Red Devils' first six Premier League games of the new season. United were humbled 3-1 by Brentford at the weekend, blowing the chance to record back-to-back league wins for the first time under Amorim after beating Chelsea in their previous outing.

• Bomb squad survivor back in the fold

  Malacia had been frozen out all summer, lumped into the infamous ‘bomb squad’ alongside Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony. While the others all found escape routes, temporary or permanent, Malacia stayed behind, his proposed loan to La Liga strugglers Elche collapsing before the deadline. Since then, he’s been training with United’s Under-21s, looking like a forgotten man. But in a twist no one saw coming, Malacia will rejoin the senior squad on Tuesday, as revealed by

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  United deny panic move

  United, however, are insistent that Malacia’s return has nothing to do with the side’s dire start or any injury crisis. Insiders claim this decision was always planned, part of a gradual reintegration for a player who has battled back from serious injury.

• Injury troubles derail Malacia's career

  Malacia’s Old Trafford journey has been anything but smooth. He became Erik ten Hag’s first signing in 2022, arriving from Feyenoord for £13 million ($16m) with €2m in add-ons. His debut season at United was promising, racking up 39 appearances and looking every inch a modern full-back. Then disaster struck. A brutal knee meniscus injury wrecked his progress, keeping him sidelined for a staggering 550 days. He only re-emerged late last year, making Amorim’s very first squad against Ipswich Town in November.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  Red Devils’ next test against Sunderland

  United are back in action on Saturday with a tricky clash against Sunderland. Anything less than a win will only sharpen the knives for Amorim, who has faced fierce criticism for his rigid tactics. For Malacia, though, the return to the first team offers a shot at redemption, a chance to prove he can still play at the top level after a largely miserable three years.

Aston Villa president of football operations Monchi has stepped down from his role at the club and now details behind his exit have come to light. Unai Emery's side have had a difficult start to the season after a summer transfer window where they spent just €30 million (£26m). Real Sociedad's former sporting director Roberto Olabe will replace Monchi but all is not well at Villa.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Villa confirmed Monchi's exit on Tuesday, with the club 18th in the Premier League after a winless start to the campaign. He will, however, remain in an advisory role at Emery's team. The club's failure to reach this season's Champions League has hit them hard in terms of what they can spend due to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. But how has a relationship that looked so fruitful come apart at the seams?

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentTHE EXPLANATION

On Tuesday, Cadena Ser, via Sport Witness, claimed that Monchi decided to leave Villa due to disagreements with the club. Now, Diario de Sevilla state that there was an 'emotional factor' behind this move and also that the inclement weather in Birmingham had an impact as well. The report adds that sporting and financial aspects have ‘created a perfect climate’ for Monchi to return to Spain, too.

The newspaper article reads: "The grey skies of Birmingham have had as much, if not more, influence on Monchi’s decision than Aston Villa’s poor start, which has only been able to invest around €30m due to exceeding the Premier League’s fair play rules, where it has the lowest salary cap of the 20 teams. Roberto Olabe, a close associate of Unai Emery, is replacing him at Villa Park."

Monchi and Villa on his exit

Villa, who are owned by V Sports, did praise Monchi for his work since joining from Sevilla in 2023. 

"Firstly, I would like to thank Monchi for his hard work and invaluable contribution as president of football operations during an exciting period at Aston Villa," chairman Nassef Sawiris said. "His commitment and vision has directly contributed to the club's recent successes, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League as well as qualifying for Europe for three consecutive seasons. We are delighted that Roberto is joining Aston Villa. He has built a reputation as someone who can spot talent that can be developed and we look forward to supporting him to achieve the ambitions we have for V Sports and Aston Villa."

And Monchi added: "We have enjoyed so many special moments together and I look forward to continuing to support V Sports in an advisory role."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty Images SportNot let up for Aston Villa

Villa, who have scored just one goal this term, will hope to secure their first win of the season when they begin their Europa League campaign on Thursday at home to Bologna. They then host Fulham on Sunday in the Premier League.

علق أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة على أخر المستجدات الخاصة بـ أزمة سحب أرض فرع أكتوبر من نادي الزمالك، موضحا الانتظار لنتائج تحقيقات النيابة.

وكان نادي الزمالك قد أعلن في وقتٍ سابق أنه تم سحب أرض النادي في مدينة السادس من أكتوبر، بقرار من وزارة الإسكان.

وقال أشرف صبحي في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة اون سبورت: “استقرار نادي الزمالك يمثل أولوية بالنسبة لنا، وقمنا بدورنا بالتعاون مع وزير الإسكان وهناك جانب قانوني قيد التحقيق في النيابة، ونحن نتابع هذا الموضوع”.

وأكمل: “مجلس الإدارة يؤدي دوره بناءً على الأسس القانونية، وطالما أن هناك تحقيقًا جاريًا، فإننا ملتزمون بمتابعة القضية، مع الحرص على عدم إهمال المؤسسة”.

طالع | هشام نصر يوضح حقيقة تفكير مجلس الزمالك في الاستقالة بسبب أزمة أرض أكتوبر

وأردف: “بعد تطبيق قانون الرياضة، نشهد حالة من الاستقرار العام، والانتخابات تسير بشكل منتظم في جميع الأندية، واستقرار هذه الأندية يهمنا جميعًا، ومع ذلك، طالما توجد شكاوى تم رفعها إلى الجهات القانونية، يجب علينا انتظار نتائج تحقيقات النيابة، في الوقت نفسه، نحن ملتزمون بدعم المؤسسات وعدم التخلي عنها”.

وأتم: “القانون الجديد للرياضة منح الأندية مساحات أوسع لإقامة شراكات مع الشركات لدعم الأندية الشعبية، وهذه ميزة كبيرة حققناها واليوم، نحن نغطي العديد من الجوانب ونتعامل معها بشكل مباشر”.

As Chelsea continue to assess their wide options in the transfer market, their focus has returned to one long-standing target.

While efforts remain ongoing to secure Xavi Simons, the club are also monitoring a dynamic winger who combines the explosiveness of Noni Madueke with the creativity of Pedro Neto.

Having emerged as a Premier League force in recent seasons, this forward’s statistical output paints a compelling picture.

Not only does he rival Madueke for goalscoring impact and Neto for progression and movement, but he also offers a unique blend of the two that could fit Chelsea’s evolving attacking blueprint.

As relations with his current club continue to sour, and with his valuation falling significantly, Chelsea are understood to be keeping close tabs, ready to move if circumstances allow.

Chelsea looking at Premier League star

Alejandro Garnacho has long been touted as a future star.

Since arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2020, the Argentine has impressed at every level, from leading Manchester United’s youth side to FA Youth Cup glory, to making a smooth transition into the senior setup.

Transfer Focus

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

Senior figures at Old Trafford have long spoken about Garnacho’s ability to spark games into life.

After a Europa League match in 2022, Paul Scholes drew early comparisons with one of United’s most iconic players. “I think this lad was really entertaining. Almost like a young Cristiano at that age.”

Former Manchester United winger Febian Brandy echoed the sentiment, labelling Garnacho a “full-back’s nightmare. He can go either side, cut inside, he makes it difficult for defenders all game.”

Despite all of that, it looks as though he could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old wants to remain in the Premier League, with Chelsea and Aston Villa among those monitoring his situation.

Initially priced at £70m, United have now dropped their asking price to £40m according to other reports, a valuation that may tempt Chelsea if they wish to act before his value rebounds.

How Garnacho compares to Madueke and Neto

According to data from FBref, Madueke and Neto are the first and fifth most similar players in European football to Garnacho across the last year.

More generally, across his senior career, Garnacho has averaged 0.27 goals per 90 minutes, behind Madueke (0.39) but ahead of Pedro Neto (0.16). In terms of total goal involvement per 90, he sits between the two as well: 0.40 for Garnacho, compared to 0.58 for Madueke and 0.42 for Neto.

Garnacho’s directness is a defining trait. He averages more shots per 90 (3.50) than either Madueke (3.09) or Neto (2.12), though his shot accuracy (31.3%) is lower than Madueke’s 42%.

Those numbers reflect a player still learning to pick his moments, but with a clear intent to impact games regularly. In terms of progression, he also offers plenty. Garnacho averages 5.93 progressive carries per 90, again, sandwiched between Madueke (6.56) and Neto (5.10), underlining their ability to get at their full-back.

His passing numbers are more modest: 2.19 progressive passes per 90, compared to Madueke’s 3.90 and Neto’s 2.32. But he still maintains a healthy pass completion rate (77.2%), while registering a solid 3.77 shot-creating actions per 90.

While he attempts fewer take-ons than his Arsenal and Chelsea counterparts, with just 1.45 successful dribbles per 90, Garnacho’s overall attacking involvement is consistent. He touches the ball in the attacking third 27.3 times per 90, just behind Neto (28.5) and Madueke (30.4), suggesting a player fully embedded in the final-third phase.

Crucially, Chelsea are weighing his profile not just against their current squad, but against their future vision.

Garnacho’s combination of aggression and youthful energy offers a stylistic contrast to more intricate wingers like Cole Palmer.

For a side seeking to sharpen its transitions and threaten on the break, he offers a compelling solution.

Yet despite that promise, United are keen to let him go.

A strained relationship with manager Ruben Amorim has meant Garnacho, along with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, has reportedly been told to find a new club this summer.

Rashford has already joined Barcelona on loan, while Garnacho’s own future appears to lie away from Old Trafford.

He may not be the finished product, but the underlying data, coupled with a proven ability to excite and influence matches, makes him one of the more intriguing options on the market.

Whether Chelsea firm up their interest may depend on the Simons deal and their broader squad strategy. But in Garnacho, they could secure not just a winger but a player who, if harnessed correctly, could help reshape their attack for seasons to come.

Chelsea star says yes to joining Madrid; his exit can fund Simons & Rodrygo

Losing the international star would be far from ideal for Chelsea.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 23, 2025

The 20-year-old was allowed to leave Nottinghamshire despite having a year remaining on his contract

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2024Worcestershire have signed Nottinghamshire spinning allrounder Fateh Singh on a three-year deal after the 20-year-old impressed during a loan spell at the club over the summer.The slow left-arm spinner impressed at New Road during the One-Day Cup, taking 15 wickets at 24.13 – the second-most for the county, with a career-best 4 for 52 against Somerset. He went on to make his first-class debut at the end of the 2024 season for Northamptonshire during another stint on loan.A former England U19, Singh was part of the cohort that reached the final of the 2022 U19 ODI World Cup, though made just two appearances at the tournament.He was contracted to Nottinghamshire until the end of the 2025 season, having been a part of the county’s set-up since the age of nine. However, the club were happy to facilitate a move away from Trent Bridge for the good of his development. He made just 12 appearances for Nottinghamshire – all in the One-Day Cup – and had been usurped by 16-year-old off spinner Farhan Ahmed.Singh will get the opportunity to further his career at Worcestershire, who cemented their Division One status with an impressive sixth-place finish last season – their highest since the two-tier County Championship structure was introduced in 2000.”I’m absolutely thrilled to sign this contract and be back with Worcestershire long term, I had such a great experience with the Club last summer,” said Singh, in a statement released by Worcestershire on Wednesday.”Playing regularly and contributing with wickets as part of a young attack was very rewarding. I was made to feel so welcome, and I found a strong rhythm with the ball. With several players out injured, everyone stepped up, which was brilliant to see.”I’m excited to be back at a club known for nurturing young talent, and I hope to follow in the footsteps of players like Jake Libby, who has thrived since joining from Nottinghamshire.”I’m committed to continuing my development and aiming to make an impact.”Worcestershire chief executive Ashley Giles said: “We’re delighted to secure Fateh’s signing, which is a crucial step as we continue to build our squad.”Fateh demonstrated his potential last summer in the One Day Cup, and strengthening our spin department has been a priority.”We are putting together a team capable of competing at the highest level and building on last season’s successes.”The move reinforces Worcestershire’s spin stocks after they were rocked by the tragic passing of left-arm spinner Josh Baker at the start of the summer. The club opted not to secure the services of Amar Virdi following his release from Surrey despite the off-spinner undertaking two loan spells at the club.

“It will be a challenging series but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series”

Mohammad Isam15-Sep-2024Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto says his side is confident going into the first Test against India in Chennai, after their 2-0 win against Pakistan earlier this month. The two-match Test series against India starts on Thursday, followed by three T20Is.”It will be a challenging series but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series,” Shanto said in the pre-departure press conference in Dhaka. “I guess the whole country has that confidence now. Every series is an opportunity. We want to win both Tests, but we have to stick to our process. If we do our job, we can get a good result.”They are well ahead of us in the rankings. But we did play well recently. We want to play well for five days, that’s our goal. We want to get the result in the last session of the Test match. At that time, the match can go in any direction. It is an opportunity [to get our first win in India]. We will play with a win in mind. But we don’t want to think too far ahead. We want to do well for five days, and play to our strength. That’s most important.”Related

Hathurusinghe: This is the most well-rounded Bangladesh team in my time

India's stars descend upon Chennai to prepare for bumper Test season

How Bangladesh pulled off their greatest feat

Uncapped Jaker Ali replaces injured Shoriful Islam for India Test series

Bangladesh played an inspired brand of cricket in Pakistan where their batters and bowlers combined to beat the home side by ten wickets in the first Test and by six wickets in the second. Much of the focus was on their fast bowlers who combined to take all ten wickets in the Pakistan second innings in the second Test, a first for the country.Shanto knows Bangladesh’s pace attack is not as experienced as India’s, but the recent success will keep them in a positive frame of mind. At the same time, he feels Bangladesh’s spinners – Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz – are much closer to India’s.”We are in a good place with our bowling attack, both spin and pace,” he said. “Perhaps our pacers are behind them in terms of experience but our spin attack is close to theirs. They can bowl in any conditions. All I can say is that our pacers, spinners and batters will give 100%.”I think we can make a difference only if we play as a team. It is not just the spinners but the pacers and the batters also. The whole team has to play together.”Shakib Al Hasan, here with Alec Stewart, picked up nine wickets in the match for Surrey•Getty ImagesBangladesh’s batters also made an overall recovery of their form. They had an ordinary time in the last 12 months, particularly against Sri Lanka earlier this year when the team crossed 300 only once during the home series. But they batted splendidly in the first Test in Rawalpindi, with Mushfiqur Rahim getting 191 and three other batters crossing fifties. In the second Test, too, they fought hard despite a top-order collapse. Litton Das struck his fourth Test century, and Mehidy his second fifty in the series.Shanto and Shakib, though, could not get a half-century in Pakistan. Shanto hasn’t emulated his 2023 form when he scored 1650 runs across formats, with five centuries. He has scored only one century so far this year. Shakib has scored just one half-century in 16 innings. But he has continued his strong bowling form, and took nine wickets for Surrey against Somerset recently. He will join the team in India directly from London.”My personal goal would be for the team to win,” Shanto said. “I want to contribute as a batter, for which I have prepared to the best of my ability. I am hopeful [Shakib] will do well. The expectations are always the same with him. He is in good form with the ball. He didn’t get runs [for Surrey], but he had a good outing with the ball.”Before the Pakistan series, the new BCB president, Faruque Ahmed, had said that he did not want Chandika Hathurusinghe to continue as head coach, but he has reportedly toned down that rhetoric. On Sunday, he also said that the team would donate a portion of their bonus for winning the Pakistan series.”The captain [Shanto] has said that they will contribute a portion of their bonus to the flood-affected people and those who were affected in the student-led people’s movement,” Ahmed said. “The amount is BDT 3.2 crore [approx. US$270,000] for winning two Tests and the series. Some different bonuses have added up also. A portion of the amount will go to the chief advisor’s relief fund for the flood-affected people.”

It looks as though Glasgow Rangers are set to make their first sale of the 2025 summer transfer window.

Striker Cyriel Dessers has agreed terms with Greek side AEK Athens, and the Light Blues have set a £5m asking price for the player.

This would ensure that the Ibrox side secure a profit on the Nigerian international, who was signed for £4.5m two summers ago, and this would give Russell Martin some funds to bolster his team.

Dessers certainly exuded Jekyll and Hyde-like performances throughout his two seasons in Glasgow, but his professionalism and effort cannot be faulted; that’s for sure.

A return of 51 goals across 109 games is a more than respectable tally. Going forward, however, it looks as though he isn’t going to fit into Martin’s tactical system.

Cyriel Dessers Rangers statistics (2024/25)
Metric	Premiership	Europa League
Goals	18	3
Assists	2	2
Big chances missed	21	10
Shots per game	2.4	1.7
Goal conversion percentage	22%	15%
Via Sofascore

If the fee of £5m is correct, Dessers would be the first Rangers striker to be sold for this amount since a certain Nikica Jelavic departed the club in January 2012.

Then it was a transfer fee of £5.5m, but how would Martin love a striker of his calibre to be leading the line for the Light Blues next season?

Nikica Jelavic’s Rangers statistics

The summer of 2010 saw Rangers lose a few attacking players. Nacho Novo, who joined the club in 2004, moved on.

Elsewhere, Kris Boyd left the club when his contract expired, joining Middlesbrough. This meant Walter Smith had lost a pairing that had scored 72 and 129 goals respectively heading into the 2010/11 campaign.

Smith’s response? Sign Jelavic from Rapid Vienna for a fee in the region of £4m. It turned out to be money extremely well spent.

The Croatian hitman had scored 21 goals throughout the 2009/10 season, with three coming against Celtic in European competition, and he was seen as a direct replacement for Boyd.

His maiden season was like a dream. He may have only played 27 times due to injury, but the centre-forward produced when it truly mattered.

A return of 20 goals was excellent given the circumstances, and some were sublime efforts.

Take his overhead kick against Aberdeen at the tail end of the season, for example. With the Gers drawing 0-0, Jelavic’s stunning acrobatic effort sealed all three points.

Just weeks before, the striker had scored the winner against Celtic in the League Cup final, sealing the first trophy of the season for the club.

And who can forget the scenes at Rugby Park on the final day of the campaign? With Rangers needing a win to secure a third league title in a row, Jelavic scored once and grabbed an assist in a 5-1 victory.

Due to financial issues at the club, he was sold after just 18 months in Glasgow. His tally of 36 goals across 55 games works out as a goal every 1.5 matches for the Gers.

With Dado Prso before him and Antonio Colak a decade later, the Light Blues have enjoyed the services of excellent Croatian frontmen.

Could Martin be closing in on a move for another one?

Rangers search for a striker

With Dessers leaving, the attacking department is one that Martin will be keen on improving as the window progresses.

Israeli striker Dor Turgeman is a player who the club have shown plenty of interest in recently, and he could cost around £4m should the Gers make their move.

With firepower needed, the new manager could be set to make a bid for Croatian striker Matija Frigan in the coming days.

Indeed, according to reports coming out of Croatia (as relayed by the Scottish Sun), Martin is readying a £6m bid for the player in order to fend off interest from elsewhere.

Hamburg and Hull City are also looking to lure the player away from Belgian side Westerlo during the transfer window. The allure of playing in Europe and challenging for trophies makes Rangers favourites, as they are leading the race to land his signature.

He would be the fourth Croatian striker to play for the Ibrox side since 2004, and Martin may well unearth Jelavic 2.0.

Why Rangers must sign Matija Frigan

While he had his flaws, Rangers will be losing plenty of goals next season when Dessers departs.

Last season, Frigan scored 14 goals across 41 games, chipping in with four assists in the process.

In the Belgian Pro League, the 22-year-old recorded 2.2 shots per game, while also creating six big chances and finishing the season with a goal conversion percentage of 14% for Westerlo.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed him as a “complete forward” back in 2023 when the youngster was just making his mark, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since.

One issue Rangers have had to endure in recent seasons is a poor injury record. While Dessers may have been available almost every game, Danilo and Hamza Igamane missed their fair share of matches.

Transfer Focus

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

Since the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Frigan has featured 69 times for the Belgian side, missing only six games through injury. This would be a big bonus for Martin, who could rely on the Croatian centre-forward without worrying about missing big matches.

Aged just 22, Frigan still has plenty of development to do, and what better place to grow than at Rangers? Igamane has shown that the club could be used as a stepping stone should a player deliver impressive performances.

£6m may sound like a lot on the surface, but to truly bolster the squad, Martin will need to spend big. Frigan could become another Jelavic-like player for the club. A striker who has an eye for goal, but who is also able to contribute in other areas.

A front two of Turgeman and Frigan could be a frightening prospect ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Early business will be crucial for Martin, and if he wraps a deal for the Westerlo centre-forward, it will give the supporters a boost heading into the Champions League qualifiers.

Rangers' top 15 goalscorers of all time

Rangers have had plenty of natural goalscorers at Ibrox over the last 150 years.

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 26, 2024