Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane were on song as Al-Nassr thrashed Al-Wehda 6-0 in the Saudi Pro League.
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Transfer expert Dean Jones has backed a "class" Southampton player to revive his St Mary's career despite currently being on loan.
The Saints will have the opportunity to make new signings when the January transfer window rolls around should Russell Martin want to improve the options in his squad.
A number of players have emerged as potential targets for Southampton in the winter window, with West Brom youngster Tom Fellows seen as a possible option. Another player who is also believed to be in their thoughts is Maximilian Entrup, with the Hartberg striker seen as an option to replace Che Adams in the event that the Scot leaves in January.
Pundit claims Southampton have "replacement" for star man lined up
The Saints are believed to be “looking at” one specific player.
By
Henry Jackson
Nov 24, 2023
There are also loanees who are currently plying their trade away from St Mary's at the moment, with the south coast club having the option to bring them back further down the line. A significant claim has now emerged regarding one of those figures, with Paul Onuachu's Southampton future assessed.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Onuachu could yet return from his loan spell and still have a successful Southampton career ahead of him.
He said: "I think it is a win-win. Onuachu obviously hasn't set the world on fire since landing at Saints, but I actually thought it was a good signing when they brought him in initially.
"I don't think he's really been given enough opportunity to show that he could crack it at Southampton. You could argue that that's not necessarily the club's fault. They've been in really bad times and they've been pretty desperate. They've had to try various things and they've had different managers. So he's kind of been a victim of that as well.
"But to see him go away now scoring goals, everyone's a winner from that point of view. I think that eventually he'll come back to Southampton and he will get another opportunity and just needs to hit the ground running when that happens."
This is perhaps an encouraging sign for Southampton, with Onuachu impressing greatly on loan at Trabzonspor at the moment, scoring six goals in eight Turkish Super Lig appearances so far this season.
The 29-year-old has averaged an eye-catching 4.5 aerial duel wins per game in the competition, highlighting his dominance leading the line, while he also has a tally of 3.1 shots per match, showing that he is often in the thick of the action.
Martin will surely be tempted to try again with Onuachu at the end of this season, assuming he continues his current impressive form. Former teammate Rasmus Carstensen has lauded him in the past, saying:
“He is on the top scorer list again, and a player who scores 30+ goals obviously has a level for more than the club he plays for. Paul has a great opportunity to take the next step. He is a class guy, I can’t say anything negative about him."
It will be fascinating to see how he fares in the coming months, and should the chance to bring him back in January even emerge, it is something they should consider.
India’s chief selector said the wicketkeeper-batsman, a ‘champion in the making’, wasn’t part of the Australia ODIs because he needed rest
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2019Rishabh Pant is “very much” part of India’s World Cup plans and his absence from the ODI squad currently taking on Australia is because he needed rest, according to MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors.”Rishabh Pant played three T20Is and four Test matches in Australia and that had an impact on his body,” Prasad told PTI. “He needed complete rest for two weeks and then we will take a call on how many matches he will play against England Lions. Let me put it straight, he is very much in our World Cup plans. He is a champion player in the making and even he is not fully aware the kind of potential he has.”The England Lions team will tour India for five one-dayers and two unofficial Tests in January-February, and, as per Prasad, Pant is likely to feature in some of the one-dayers. Prasad also felt his selection committee was vindicated after picking Pant for the Test series in England in August, given his run with the bat and his glove work since then.”Ravi (Shastri) and Virat (Kohli) had advised him to put his head down and respect the match situation, and he did exactly that,” Prasad said, referring to the 21-year-old’s century in the fourth Test in Sydney. “He proved that he can switch gears seamlessly. When we picked him for Tests, experts were sceptical about his keeping but 11 catches in a Test, record dismissals in Australia series proves that selection committee is vindicated.”The latest young player Prasad’s panel has picked is Punjab’s Shubman Gill, who will join the team for their limited-overs tour of New Zealand. Prasad said that Gill had been picked as a reserve opener.”Shubman is comfortable both opening the innings as well as playing in the middle-order. For the New Zealand series, we are looking at him as the reserve opener behind Shikhar (Dhawan) and Rohit (Sharma),” Prasad said. “I won’t comment if he will make it to World Cup but he was phenomenal as an opener for India A in New Zealand.”We have discussed with Rahul (Dravid, the A-team coach) that Shubman is ready for international cricket. The best part is the clutch of A tours which has made all these players battle ready for the biggest challenge. Look at Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal… they don’t look intimidated when thrown into the deep end of the pool.”Prasad’s panel had rested Jasprit Bumrah from the home Test series against West Indies that preceded the Australia tour, and he held that if Bumrah had played that series, the bowler wouldn’t have managed to play all four Tests in Australia, where he played a leading role in securing a series win for India.”Trust me, had Jasprit played those two Tests against West Indies, he wouldn’t have played all four Tests against Australia,” Prasad said. “The support staff has really monitored him well. He is now fitter and stronger, and with [bowling coach] Bharat Arun continuously working with him, he has improved as a bowler.”But a lot of credit should go to Jasprit because Arun gave him a plan but it was up to him to make the effort to implement the plan. He has really worked hard. When we first picked him, so many were sceptical whether it was prudent to pick a white-ball specialist but at the end of the year, we can all see the results.”
تمكن لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي نانت الفرنسي، مصطفى محمد، من تسجيل هدف أول في مرمى لوريان في اللقاء الودي الذي يجمع بين الفريقين.
ويلاقي نانت نظيره لوريان على ملعب “ليو لاجرانج”، في إطار المباريات التحضيرية الودية استعداداً لمنافسات الموسم الجديد.
اقرأ ايضاً.. “يشارك في دوري الأبطال”.. ليكيب: مصطفى محمد على رادار نادٍ ألماني
وأحرز مصطفى محمد هدف نانت الأول أمام لوريان بحلول الدقيقة 41 من عمر الشوط الأول.
وجاء الهدف بعدما تلقى مصطفى محمد لتمريرة حاسمة داخل منطقة الجزاء، ليسدد على مرمى لوريان لكن حارس المرمى يتصدى للكرة، قبل أن يقوم المهاجم المصري بمتابعة الكرة وإحرازها في الشباك.
جدير بالذكر أن المواجهة المقبلة ستكون أمام كريستال بالاس على ملعب “سيلهوريست بارك”، قبل انطلاق منافسات الدوري الفرنسي. هدف مصطفي محمد في مرمي لوريان بالودية
Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared some Tottenham Hotspur transfer news as Spurs cast their eyes on an "interesting" £39m star
The departure of star forward and club-record goalscorer Harry Kane has scarcely been noticed so far. Instead of suffering without their former talisman, Spurs have reinvented themselves as a more fluid attacking team, with new captain Son Heung-min thriving in a more central role. Tottenham, after their latest 2-1 win on Friday night, have extended their unbeaten run to 10 games; winning eight of them in a real statement to the rest of the Premier League.
New manager Ange Postecoglou is seemingly transforming the club, and things haven't looked better than this for quite a long time. However, despite thriving without a traditional number nine of Kane's ilk, there have been suggestions that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and incoming new transfer chief Johan Lange could still sign a new striker next year.
Tottenham are interested in Brentford's Ivan Toney, for instance, who looks set to become one of the hottest commodities in English football once he returns from his ban for alleged gambling breaches. Spurs are eyeing Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez as well, according to recent reports, with one agent even saying this week that Spurs are among the "closest" sides to getting him.
Now, a very reliable transfer source in Romano has shared his own update on the matter. While he confirms that Gimenez is being watched by Spurs, things don't appear as advanced as previously suggested. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalis backs that he's a player really "interesting" Postecoglou's side. Romano also says that Gimenez could leave for just £39 million.
“We know very well that many top clubs around Europe are keeping an eye on the boy,” said Romano.
“From what I’m hearing, something around €45million (£39million) could be the right fee to make it happen. Let’s see if (it’s) in the January window or in the summer window it depends on Feyenoord, more than on the player. The interest of many clubs is there. I think we saw Tottenham linked, because from what I’m told, Tottenham scouts have been following the player already last year.
“While they were following the manager (Slot) they saw that Santi Gimenez is absolutely a very good striker. So Santi Gimenez for sure is a player interesting for Tottenham, but also for many other clubs around Europe, and this is why decisions will be made in the next months. But at the moment, no statement from people close to the player and the only person (handling his transfer business) is the father.”
The 22-year-old has stood out as one of Europe's most in-form strikers this season. Scoring 13 goals and notching a further three assists, his tender age and pedigree could make his reported £39 million valuation a price really worth paying. Gimenez's departure from the Netherlands is surely one to watch as we head into 2024.
Tottenham Hotspur extended their winning run in the Premier League to four matches with victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.
The meteoric rise under Ange Postecoglou's stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, and against the Eagles, while not at their best, Spurs got the job done and brandished their title-winning credentials after securing a 2-1 victory.
Whereby last season only brought misery and a fourth managerial dismissal in as many years following Antonio Conte's sacking in March, there is now a tangible possibility that silverware – a premium so agonisingly out of reach for so long at Tottenham – could be gleaned.
Spurs' win against Roy Hodgson's side means that eight victories have been collected from ten Premier League matches, having drawn the opener away to Brentford and again against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Tottenham's performance vs Crystal Palace
Palace were resilient and looked to stifle the away side's attacking verve through a cohesive, collective understanding of the match plan, and while they held their shape well for the lion's share of the first 45 minutes, the tactical tweaks in the second half swayed the odds in Spurs' favour.
Indeed, after a drab opening half, the away side knuckled down and started to thread their plan together, with James Maddison warming after an ineffective first 45 and Postecoglou's substitutions working well.
Ben Davies earned his first Premier League start of the campaign in the absence of Destiny Udogie, but the 30-year-old stalwart was hooked during the break and replaced by the more energetic Emerson Royal, who was in the thick of the action and actively progressed the play.
Maddison's whipped delivery, forcing an own goal, put the Lilywhites in the driving seat shortly after the break while Heung-min Son's eighth goal in seven Premier League matches confirmed that three points would be returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With another win in the bag, Tottenham's manager praised the "disciplined" performance, and it was indeed the kind of composed and controlled display that was often elusively out of reach last term, as the north London club slumped to an eighth-placed league finish and conceded a staggering 63 goals.
Postecoglou deserves all the plaudits for the transformative effect that he has instilled, but there is little doubt that the signings made across the summer have been nothing short of superlative, with the likes of Maddison, Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario steering the ship on course.
James Maddison was "superb" again
Maddison, of course, has been the standout so far since joining from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, having scored ten goals and supplied nine assists in the English top flight despite only starting 28 times as his outfit plummeted into the Championship.
This term, he has already posted three goals and five assists from the opening ten games of the Premier League term, winning August's Player of the Month award, and while he did not add to his tally at Selhurst Park, he was once more at the centre of the success.
Hailed for his "superb" link-up play by football.london's Alasdair Gold, the England international warmed into his role in the second half, and after forcing Joel Ward to turn into his own net, he served reliably as the conduit, ensuring his teammates had apt supplementation.
Metric
#
Minutes played
89
Touches
57
Pass completion
31/16 (86%)
Key passes
2
Ground duels won
4
Dribble attempts
1/3 (33%)
Tackles
1
Clearances
1
It was by no means his most impressive display for the club, but it is an illustration of how consistent his performances have been since the summer, and as Spurs march on, he will continue to serve as the centrepiece.
Maddison is the obvious player to shower effusive words upon, but it was the performance of Pape Sarr that perhaps went under the radar despite exhibiting the sheer collective value of this newly-vitalised team.
Pape Sarr is Postecoglou's true hero
Sarr, aged 21, moved to Tottenham from Metz in a £15m deal in 2021 but returned to the French side on a season-long loan, and while he sat on the periphery last season, he is now very much at the core of the midfield.
Praised for his “unbelievable” performance by scout Lee Mayes, who remarked at how well he "ran the whole midfield", the Senegalese starlet took 92 touches and completed 89% of his passes – very much omnipresent in his duties.
Making two interceptions and clearances apiece and succeeding with his one dribble, he was everywhere on that pitch and played a big part in both of Tottenham's goals, with Gold among those waxing lyrical after the match.
Gold said: "Forgot to mention Pape Matar Sarr, who was terrific again. Never stopped running, providing an outlet and using the ball well on the whole. Played a big part in the second goal and still mad to think he's only 21. He's only going to get better and better under Postecoglou."
Against Crystal Palace, he demonstrated a maturity and energy that evades all but the select few midfielders who sit atop the pile, and it really is frightening to consider how good he might become over the coming years.
As per FBref, the all-action midfielder ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for assists, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 20% for passes attempted per 90.
Frankly, there is so much more to come, and Tottenham really have unearthed a jewel in this rising star, who has been sensational in the early phase of the campaign and a large reason behind such a relentless start.
And while Tottenham are currently five points clear in their table-topping position, both Arsenal and Manchester City have the opportunity to close the gap this weekend.
Nonetheless, the job that Postecoglou has done so far has been remarkable, and there would have been scant optimism that such a position of strength could have been established mere months ago.
With gifted stars like Sarr in the centre, there is every possibility that this season's success will endure, and Tottenham will prevail.
Chadwick Walton and Sheldon Cottrell have been recalled after missing out on the Hurricane Relief charity T20I match against the World XI at Lord’s in May
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jul-2018Chadwick Walton and Sheldon Cottrell have been recalled into a 13-man West Indies squad to take on Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series beginning in St. Kitts on July 31.West Indies T20I squad
Carlos Brathwaite (capt.), Samuel Badree, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Chadwick Walton (wk), Kesrick Williams
IN: Sheldon Cottrell, Chadwick Walton
OUT: Chris Gayle, Rayad Emrit
Chris Gayle, 38, was rested according to a Cricket West Indies media release. The left-handed opener scored 142 runs in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, including 73 off 66 balls in the series decider while opening in what turned out to be an unsuccessful chase in an 18-run loss and lose the series 2-1. Walton was brought back after being left out of the T20I squad for the one-off hurricane relief match against a World XI at Lord’s in May. West Indies won that match by 72 runs while defending 199. Walton is the second wicketkeeper in the squad apart from Denesh Ramdin.”We have rested Chris Gayle and have added left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell for variety to the bowling attack,” chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said. “The team reflects the last squad that performed well in the charity match in the UK.” Marlon Samuels, who missed the ODI series due to rehabilitation for a knee injury, retained his place in the T20I squad from Lord’s.Cottrell was a part of the ODI squad against Bangladesh, playing the third ODI and taking figures of 1 for 59 in nine overs. He last played a T20I in January this year, against New Zealand. He comes back into the squad in place of Rayad Emrit.Just prior to the Bangladesh limited-overs series, both Cottrell and Emrit competed in the Global T20 Canada tournament. Emrit took seven wickets in six matches for Winnipeg Hawks – including a 4 for 28 in the eliminator – at an average of 23.71 but Cottrell shone for the champions Vancouver Knights, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps in eight matches at 14.25.Walton also played for the Knights, finishing ninth overall in runs with a tally of 183 and a strike rate of 156.41. Besides Cottrell and Walton, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell are other players in the West Indies T20I squad who also played for the champion Knights, a squad that was captained by Gayle.Russell had recently injured his hamstring in the first ODI against Bangladesh and missed the two subsequent matches after that. It was feared that his recurring injury may have aggravated, but his inclusion in the T20 squad is a sign that the injury isn’t too serious.After the first match in St. Kitts on Tuesday night, the final two T20Is will be played on August 4 and 5 in Florida at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill. It is the third series visit to Lauderhill for West Indies, following matches there against New Zealand in 2012 and India in 2016, while Bangladesh will be making their Florida debut.
Liverpool's revival this season has stemmed from Jurgen Klopp's emphasis on comprehensively rebuilding a midfield that struggled to implement his tactical philosophy last year, which bitterly resulted in a fifth-placed Premier League finish.
Such a dismal campaign meant that the Reds would not play in the Champions League for the first time since 2015/16, which really was a hammer blow to an ambitious and esteemed manager in Klopp who had returned the glory to Anfield after so many years of mediocrity.
And while the return to the Europa League is not a prospect that will have filled world-class stars such as Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk with jubilation, it does present an opportunity for the German gaffer to complete the full gamut of silverware since joining the side back in 2015.
It also presents a great opportunity to unleash some of the club's younger talents, which is exactly what Klopp has done thus far.
Indeed, Ben Doak, still only 17, started against LASK in the 3-1 win in September, while Stefan Bajcetic and Jarell Quansah have also earned starting berths across the first two games – with both prospects very much looking talented enough for starring roles in the future.
With an ostensibly weaker calibre of opposition, healthy squad rotation certainly becomes less strenuous, and with six points already Liverpool are in a good position to cruise through the remainder of the group phase. Though these feel like famous last words.
One player who has featured prominently has been Kostas Tsimikas, who has played second fiddle to Andy Robertson since joining from Greek side Olympiakos in a £12m transfer in 2020.
However, with the 62-cap Scotland captain withdrawn due to injury on international duty earlier this week, the 27-year-old might be called upon for greater responsibility in the Premier League, where he has made just one substitute appearance this term.
Is Andy Robertson injured?
Robertson has been ever-present under Klopp's tutelage and has emerged as one of Europe's foremost full-backs after bursting onto the scene following his £10m transfer from Hull City in 2017.
The £100k-per-week machine has been hailed as a "Duracell Bunny" by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott for his remarkable energy and workrate, and has played every minute of the Reds' league season this year.
Player
Apps
Mohamed Salah
315
Trent Alexander-Arnold
280
Andy Robertson
275
Alisson
240
Virgil van Dijk
229
This is why his injury suffered on international duty will come as such a blow to his club team, who have clicked into gear this term after enduring that incohesive 2022/23 campaign.
The shoulder issue – which might be a dislocation – could result in a spell on the sidelines for the talented defender, who will possibly now miss the Merseyside derby against Everton next weekend – a big blow to Liverpool's fluidity and prospects.
As per FBref, the 5 foot 10 marauder ranks among the top 11% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90.
Very much one of Liverpool's chief creators, Robertson's injury will leave a void in the restored system, and while Tsimikas is a productive force himself, having provided 12 assists from merely 65 outings, he's not the most consistent of performers, with one LFC podcaster criticising him for his "abysmal" performance against LASK.
As such, it might be high time for Klopp to make good use of that aforementioned youth quality, with an exciting left-back in Calum Scanlon taking great strides in his development and now perching on the cusp of a senior debut for the Merseyside outfit.
Who is Calum Scanlon?
This summer, young Scanlon was included in Klopp's pre-season squad after impressing for Liverpool's development squad over the past few years.
Noted for his “aggressive” approach by reporter Jack Lusby, the defender was signed for the Reds for a reported fee of £500k in December 2020 when he was just 15 years old, having impressed for Birmingham City throughout his youth days.
Considered one of the brightest talents of his age, Scanlon, now aged 18, has now spent three years on Merseyside and has chalked up 38 appearances for the club's various youth sides, scoring twice and providing four assists.
Signing his first professional deal last year, there is clearly hope at the club that he can work his way into a prominent position in Klopp's senior set-up, with reporter Neil Jones noting that he has looked "so good" this season, earning an assist during a 3-0 win over Morecambe Town in the EFL Trophy in September.
The emerging sensation is also among the youth players registered for the Europa League via List B this season – which means players who are aged 21 or younger and have been registered for their club for over two years.
This is a big demonstration of faith in his precocious skill set and one that may well be enacted soon following Robertson's injury, which could mean that Tsimikas is required to take centre stage for a while..
Should the 29-year-old star be sidelined for several weeks or more, Kostas Tsimikas is the number one candidate to serve in his stead, but with Liverpool competing across four different competitions it will not be possible for the Greek dynamo to play all the time.
As such, Scanlon could find himself stepping in to impress, and should he live up to Jones' praise – who also claimed that he is “very talented” – then he might just find that that shot at the first-team sticks.
Every world-class phenomenon starts as an unknown commodity, and every club has its success stories starting from within the youth ranks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is evidence of Liverpool's thriving formative fold, and Scanlon could now emulate his positional peer and walk the same pathway toward prominence under the Anfield lights.
Chelsea are now "100%" keen on signing a wonderkid who has been tipped to be a future icon, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.
The Blues have recently been linked with a move for a new left-back, as US Lecce's Patrick Dorgu has revealed that he dreams of signing for the club, despite the fact Barcelona are also keen, although it is unlikely Mauricio Pochettino targets a player in that area of the pitch.
Another youngster the west London club are interested in signing is Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, who has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League sides, with Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Everton also interested.
At the end of the summer transfer window, it was revealed that Chelsea set their sights on Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, going as far as to submit a £26m bid, but they were unable to get a deal over the line with limited time remaining. However, there has now been a suggestion the Blues could come back in for the winger, with the club clearly focussing on making young additions to the squad, as Jacobs has now credited them with an interest in an interview with GiveMeSport.
When asked whether Chelsea could be scouting the 18-year-old, the reporter said: "Yeah, 100%. Chelsea came in towards the end of the last window for Nusa, and it was made clear to them, with the player driving this narrative, that there wasn't anything possible this year. That's because he's young and currently quite settled at Club Brugge.
"From what I'm told, Nusa spoke to the manager there and very quickly decided that it was not the right time to move, especially not to Chelsea, because you look at their project full of other young stars, and, to an extent, uncertainty, and unless Chelsea could buy him and, for example, loan him back, his gametime could well have been limited. I think from this point of view, he believes there will be more suitors in 2024, whether in January or the summer and that Chelsea could well be back."
The Club Brugge starlet has done enough to impress football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who branded him a "future icon of Norwegian football", while he has also likened him to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. The Norwegian youngster is an exceptional dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.
Although he is still very young, the forward has already managed to break into the Brugge starting XI, and he has been very impressive at the beginning of the Belgian Pro League season, weighing in with two goals and two assists in five games.
Nusa may not immediately be able to challenge for a starting spot at Chelsea, given that they are blessed with attacking talent, but he clearly has a lot of potential, and he would be an exciting addition to Pochettino's squad.
TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole has now urged Rangers to appoint a “great” up-and-coming coach as their permanent manager to replace Philippe Clement at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement relieved of his Rangers duties
Clement was finally sacked as Gers boss after the dismal 2-0 defeat against St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon, but in truth, the writing had been on the wall for quite some time, with the Belgian suffering some very poor results this season.
The defeat at the weekend may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, but there have been some even more disappointing losses in recent weeks, with the Light Blues also crashing out of the Scottish Cup against Queen’s Park.
After relieving Clement of his duties, the board moved quickly to bring in former captain Barry Ferguson as interim manager until the end of the season, but they continue to run the rule over permanent replacements for the summer.
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast (via Metro), Cole has now urged Rangers to appoint a different manager, however, talking up former teammate Ashley Cole.
“Where do they go, Rangers? I’m going to throw a name in there. He’s our guy, Ashley Cole. I’m going to throw him in. I know he’s got a great job working with the England U21s.
“I worked with him doing a bit of media in a foreign country. We had the afternoon off, and we were sitting on the sunbeds, ordered a couple of drinks, and I’m thinking, “This is a good job, Coley, I’m enjoying myself!”
“I’m watching the world go by, 90 degrees, and he just gets his laptop out and he’s showing me throw-ins!
“The dedication… his dedication to football. We love him. But that would be perfect for him.”
“Rangers had such a great spell with Stevie G, another ex-England legend, and I can see Coley going into that job.”
TalkSPORT pundit makes on-air claim about new Rangers owners' manager plans
Who will become the Gers’ next permanent boss?
ByHenry Jackson Feb 25, 2025 Cole building up his coaching CV
Although the former Chelsea man is yet to be given a chance as a head coach, he has been building up his coaching CV through spells with Birmingham City, Derby County and Everton, and he has been described as a “great coach” by Frank Lampard.
More recently, the 44-year-old was appointed as a full-time coach for the England national team, having assisted Lee Carsley as the U21 assistant manager, and the former Ireland international believes he has a “very bright future”.
Carsley is also said to have relied on the former left-back to draw up attacking plans, despite him featuring as a defender in his playing career, indicating he is an attack-minded coach.
Rangers have had success appointing former England internationals in the past, with Steven Gerrard leading them to Scottish Premiership glory, but it would of course still be a risk to appoint Cole, given that he has no experience as a head coach.