Glasgow Rangers’ supporters have seen plenty of sublime strikers perform at Ibrox over the years.

Names such as Ally McCoist, Mark Hateley, Michael Mols and Kris Boyd roll off the tongue and how the new manager would love a goalscorer in this mould for next season at Rangers. The foundation of title wins and European runs, however, comes from an excellent defence, in particular a solid centre-back.

Terry Butcher arrived in Glasgow from England, and immediately became one of the most influential defenders in the club’s history. Richard Gough was next to follow, and he captained the Gers to nine league titles in a row at Ibrox between 1989 and 1997.

Following Gough’s departure, the likes of Lorenzo Amoruso, Craig Moore and Carlos Cueller emerged to continue the club’s ascent, with the latter helping Rangers reach the 2008 UEFA Cup final.

Who can forget David Weir? The former Everton defender was an absolute rock, despite playing until he was 41.

It took a while for the Light Blues to eventually replace Weir at the heart of the defence, but when Connor Goldson arrived in Glasgow during the summer of 2018, he looked every inch the heir to the Scot.

Conor Goldson’s Rangers statistics

Steven Gerrard’s rebuilding job that summer required a centre-back who could cope with the physicality of Scottish football.

Goldson, having played over 100 matches for Brighton and Shrewsbury down south, looked like the perfect signing.

Despite the Light Blues failing to win a trophy during Gerrard’s first two seasons at the club, progress was clear, and this stemmed from an improved defence led by Goldson.

Indeed, he missed just six and two games during those two seasons. Rarely injured and consistently excellent, the Englishman was on the cusp of helping the Gers to one of their finest seasons on record.

Throughout the 2020/21 season, Rangers conceded only 13 Premiership goals, breaking the British record of 15 set by Chelsea 16 years before.

Goldson and Filip Helander were a commanding partnership at the back. The former Brighton star won an impressive 6.6 total duels per game that term – a success rate of 71% – while being dribbled past only 0.2 times per game and making 1.3 tackles each match.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

48

0

3

2022/23

38

3

3

2021/22

61

4

4

2020/21

56

8

3

2019/20

52

4

2

2018/19

54

4

0

This was Goldson at his peak, no doubt about that. He was excellent during the club’s run to the final of the Europa League in 2022, but mistakes began creeping in steadily over the next couple of years.

His lack of pace was a worry, and he was regularly beaten in foot races against faster opponents, notably against Bojan Miovski, who got the better of the defender to open the scoring for Aberdeen in a 1-1 draw back in 2023.

He left last summer, joining Cypriot side Aris Limassol. He was awarded the best defender of the season and perhaps the club sold him prematurely?

It looks as though the Light Blues are showing interest in signing a centre-back from the Premier League. Could Cameron Burgess turn into Goldson 2.0?

Rangers eye move for Premier League defender

Leon Balogun looks set to leave Ibrox and with Rafael Fernandes returning to his parent club, the only centre-backs remaining will be John Souttar, Robin Propper, Clinton Nsiala and Leon King.

With questions over Propper and Nsiala’s lack of experience, it is evident the club need to bring in a solid, reliable, defender this summer.

Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie gave the fans some transfer news when he took to X recently, saying: “Rangers are interested in Ipswich defender Cameron Burgess as they seek to bolster their defence ahead of the new season.

“29-yo has played 18 times in the Premier League this season.”

Burgess may be approaching 30, but with Premier League experience under his belt and the physicality to succeed in Scottish football, it could be a smart move to bring the £2m-rated star north of the border.

If he impresses early on, he could be the natural successor to Goldson at Ibrox. That much is certain.

Why Rangers must sign Cameron Burgess

Scottish scout and analyst, Kai Watson, profiled the centre-back amid rumors that Rangers are keen on signing him.

He said: “Cameron Burgess may not be the most exciting signing on paper but he’ll bring necessary experience to the back, particularly if Balogun departs.

“He’s 6’4, left sided, an Australian international and uses the ball well.”

Across his 18 Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town this term, Burgess has won 3.6 total duels per game – a success rate of 68% – and made 0.9 tackles and 6.9 clearances per game in the top flight.

Kieran McKenna, Burgess’ manager at Ipswich, hailed the defender as “excellent” back in 2022 and there is no doubt he would be a reliable option for the new manager to call upon next term, given his dominant duel success rate that compares well to Goldson’s aforementioned form at Ibrox.

While his passing statistics may not be out of this world, mainly due to Ipswich not having much of the ball during games, he makes up for it by impressing across other metrics.

Indeed, when compared to fellow defenders in the English top flight, the Australian ranks in the top 2% for clearances (7.48), in the top 21% for aerials won (2.57), and in the top 5% for percentage of dribblers tackled (81.8%) per 90 this season.

Although bringing the ball out from the back is important, having a player who is able to get the better of the opposition forwards – both in the air and on the ground – is something that the Gers have struggled with this season.

Propper often struggles with the physicality of strikers from clubs lower down the league table, even though his passing is fairly reliable (88% pass success rate).

Burgess might not be a flashy new signing that will get supporters out of their seats at Ibrox next season. What he will offer is a solidity at the heart of the defence.

Following a campaign of disarray, this is exactly what is required for 2025/26.

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Nottingham Forest are believed to have advanced interest in an “amazing” Premier League player this summer, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Nottingham Forest preparing for Chelsea showdown

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s 2-1 win away to West Ham last weekend has set up one of the Reds’ biggest matches in years this weekend, as they prepare to host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Forest’s final Premier League game of the season is their most important, with victory over the Blues still giving them a chance of making it into the Champions League against all odds. But Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes they may just miss out, saying on Monday Night Football:

“They [Nottingham Forest] will give Chelsea a tough day, 100%. I’m not sure Chelsea can go there and win, I’ll be really honest with you. I think if Aston Villa win, they’ll get into the Champions League because I think Forest will take points off Chelsea.”

Champions League qualification would be absolutely huge for Forest, especially in terms of the calibre of player they could entice to the City Ground this summer, and a top-level footballer has now been linked with a switch there, amid some heavyweight competition for his signature.

Nottingham Forest prepare bid to sig £70m Eze

That’s according to Caught Offside, who state that Nottingham Forest have “advanced” interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and are even preparing a bid.

Tottenham are also in the same boat, with the England international having a £70m release clause in his contract, while Liverpool are also “long-standing admirers” of him.

Eze could be an incredible signing for Forest this summer, although missing out on the Champions League is likely to give other possible suitors an advantage in the race to snap him up.

The England international is still flying after his season-defining FA Cup final goal against Manchester City, as he wrote his name into Palace history, sealing a first-ever triumph in the competition in the Eagles’ history.

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Oliver Glasner is under no illusions as to how good his star player is, saying of him after a memorable goal in the semi-final victory over Aston villa: “The goal against Latvia and his first for England means a lot for him him. He always has the confidence, we know he’s an amazing finisher to cut inside on his right foot with an amazing finish. We need this quality, he helped us today massively.”

Eze’s flair and confidence on the ball, as well as his unpredictability, could make him an immediate hit at Forest, and if they did strike a deal for him, it would be a major statement of interest ahead of next season.

The 26-year-old could feel that now is the time for a new challenge in his career, feeling he has come as far as he can in a Palace shirt, and he could dovetail superbly with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood.

Granted, £70m is a lot of money, which could be a potential stumbling block, but Champions League qualification this weekend could help hugely in that respect.

Aston Villa have sent scouts to watch an “outstanding” Galatasaray star in action ahead of a potential move this summer, according to a new transfer report.

Aston Villa eye signings amid Champions League push

It’s another important weekend for Unai Emery’s side, as they look to squeeze into the top five in the Premier League, sealing a place in next season’s Champions League. They are currently seventh in the table and three points adrift of fifth-place Chelsea, with the Midlands outfit hosting Fulham on Saturday lunchtime.

Villa are reportedly eyeing a stunning move for Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne this summer, with the Belgian confirming that he is leaving the Etihad. While he may no longer be at the peak of his powers, he could still be a hugely exciting addition.

The Villans have also been backed to make a move for Albacete Balompie striker Christian Kofane, with the 18-year-old considered one for the future. Manchester United are thought to be eyeing him up as well, alongside “half of Europe”.

There are some doubts over the future of Morgan Rogers at Villa, with Liverpool among those mentioned as being interested in him in recent days, and Sverre Nypan has been talked about as a possible replacement. The 18-year-old is a highly-rated young midfielder at Rosenborg, already registering 25 goal involvements (14 goals and 11 assists) in 65 appearances for the Norwegian side

Aston Villa send scouts to watch Gabriel Sara

According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, Aston Villa and Monchi have sent scouts to watch Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara in action, as they eye a summer move for him. It is stated that City, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Wolves are also in the same situation as the Villans, with the 25-year-old potentially available for £34m at the end of the season.

Sara could be just what Emery is looking for this summer, as he looks to bolster his midfield options, with the Brazilian even having experience of English football, making 96 appearances for Norwich City and scoring 21 goals in that time.

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David Wagner, who was his manager at the Canaries at the same time, lauded him during their spell together: “He is an outstanding player. Not only for us but in this division – no one has a doubt about this. It’s crystal clear. All the goals, (barring) the penalty which was lucky, were top class.”

At 25, Sara is at a sweet spot in his career, picking up years of experience but still having lots of time to improve, and he could become a fulcrum of Villa’s midfield, combining quality and defensive work, having bagged six assists and averaged one aerial duel win per game in the Turkish Super Lig this season.

A Madrid journalist has now dropped a significant new update regarding Davide Ancelotti’s chances of becoming Rangers’ next manager this summer.

Rangers manager search rumbles on

A host of candidates have been mentioned as options to take charge at Ibrox at the end of the season, at which point Barry Ferguson’s spell as interim manager is expected to reach its conclusion. Steven Gerrard has long been a front-runner to come in and enjoy a second stint at Rangers, having won the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21, but Ancelotti has also emerged as an intriguing option recently.

The 36-year-old is currently the assistant manager to his father Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, going through a disappointing season at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the European giants going trophyless.

He has been hailed by the Madrid boss though, who has said of his son: “Davide is a competent, disciplined, professional and very calm assistant coach. He works alongside Francesco Mauri, who is very young too. Luis works with the goalkeepers, Pintus with his experience on the physical side of things. I have a young and very competent coaching team. We combine their enthusiasm with my experience well.”

It was thought that that the Italian is contemplating moving into management on his own, taking on a head coach role and moving away from his father, but now a significant update has dropped regarding Rangers’ pursuit of him.

Ancelotti set to join Brazil instead of Rangers

Taking to X on Friday morning, Madrid journalist Alberto Pereiro revealed Ancelotti won’t become Rangers’ new manager, instead deciding to follow his father to be his assistant with Brazil’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

This is an update that will stun Rangers given all signs pointed towards the Italian moving out on his own, with the Madrid assistant standing out as one of the more exciting candidates to be their next manager.

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Granted, he hasn’t yet been a head coach in his career, which would make the Gers hiring him a risk, but he will have learned so much from his father and would bring a winning mentality with him, having helped both Bayern Munich and Madrid achieve so much success down the years.

Davide Ancelotti’s 12 trophy wins

Club

Year

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich

2017

German Cup

Bayern Munich

2017

German Cup

Bayern Munich

2018

Champions League

Real Madrid

2022

La Liga

Real Madrid

2022

Spanish Cup

Real Madrid

2022

Club World Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Spanish Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid

2023

Champions League

Real Madrid

2024

La Liga

Real Madrid

2024

Spanish Super Cup

Real Madrid

2024

Now, the Scottish giants will have to look elsewhere at options, however, and it could be that Gerrard ends up being the man to come in, with the Liverpool legend feeling he has unfinished business at Ibrox.

Glasgow Rangers had little to play for but pride and bragging rights when they faced Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Their city rivals had already wrapped up the league title last weekend, resigning the Gers to another second-placed finish, but Barry Ferguson’s men restored some pride with a 1-1 draw in front of their home fans.

Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the opening 45 with a tidy finish just before the half-time break, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot after Liam Scales failed to complete a tackle on him, before Adam Idah’s second-half equaliser.

The Nigerian forward held the corner flag aloft and basked in the joy of the home support, able to celebrate in view of away supporters, finally, in an Old Firm clash.

It was his 17th goal of the season in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, which is a respectable return but does not tell the full story of his campaign.

Why Rangers could sell Cyriel Dessers

With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Rangers will have some big decisions to make on the players currently in the squad, as they have now failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons.

The Light Blues have to find a way to improve and close the gap to Celtic in the league in order to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and Dessers is one star who could be a candidate to move on from Ibrox.

During the Sky Sports commentary of the 1-1 draw with Celtic, former Gers midfielder Scott Arfield noted that Dessers is “on his heels” too often when the ball comes forward, which limits how effective the team can be in transition when passes are played down the sides of the defenders.

Appearances

35

32

Goals

16

14

Assists

4

2

Pass accuracy

70%

73%

Duels won per game

2.3

1.9

Ground duel success rate

29%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

32%

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers striker struggles with the physical side of the game, losing the majority of his duels without winning many per game, and is not particularly reliable as a passer.

Dessers has also missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership and European competitions combined since the start of last season, which shows that the striker is very wasteful in front of goal to go along with his struggles out of possession.

The 30-year-old forward could, therefore, be sold if the new Rangers manager does not want him to be his first-choice striker, and that could be the case if the latest report is to be believed.

The latest on the Rangers manager search

According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the leading candidate to take the permanent Rangers job as manager this summer.

The report claims that the English head coach is now the ‘favourite’ to land the role for the second time in his career, having left the club back in 2021.

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It states that the former Aston Villa boss, who is currently out of work, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Rangers manager ahead of Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig tactician.

Football Insider reveals that the 49ers are expected to play a key role in the appointment and that the 4-3-3 favoured boss is currently at the top of their list of targets for the job.

If the iconic Liverpool midfielder does become the Gers manager for the second time, this could be bad news for Dessers and his future at Ibrox beyond this season.

Why Gerrard's appointment would be bad news for Dessers

The English boss returning for a second go at Ibrox would be bad news for the Nigeria international because of the kind of striker he liked in his first spell at the club.

Only Connor Goldson (182) and James Tavernier (178) made more appearances for Rangers as outfield players under his management than Alfredo Morelos (158), which illustrates how important the Colombian star was for him in Glasgow.

Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, won the league title for the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign with the Colombia international as his main man up front.

Morelos, once described as a “real battering-ram” by ex-coach Scot Page, scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 29 Premiership outings, but it was also the physicality in his performances that made him so influential for the Scottish giants.

Appearances

29

26

Goals

12

11

Assists

4

7

Pass accuracy

80%

80%

Duels won per game

3.7

4.1

Ground duel success rate

42%

41%

Aerial duel success rate

36%

48%

As you can see in the table above, the powerful forward provided a physical presence in the number nine role for Gerrard, winning more duels and winning a higher percentage of his duels than Dessers has in his two seasons at Ibrox.

The current Rangers striker does not have the pace, the raw strength, or the mobility that Morelos consistently displayed under the English boss during that successful period in the club’s history, as evidenced by his struggles in the Premiership this season.

Dessers’ wasteful finishing in all competitions is another reason why Gerrard may not want the Nigerian number nine to lead the line for his team next season, should he be appointed as Ferguson’s successor this summer.

Therefore, the ex-Serie A marksman may not want the legendary former midfielder to get the job because it could spell the end of his career at Ibrox if he wants a forward who is similar to Morelos at Ibrox.

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It is now down to the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell to convince Gerrard to take the job, if he is their favoured candidate, to bring glory back to the club next season and beyond.

Liverpool will have a commanding presence in the transfer window this summer and could use that leverage to pull off an audacious player-plus-cash deal to land an exciting target, according to a report.

Liverpool look to build on Premier League title triumph

After laying claim to their second title of the Premier League era, the Reds are winding down for the campaign and won’t be too frustrated at surrendering a two-goal advantage in their draw with Arsenal last weekend.

Ultimately, Arne Slot has led his side to the goal they set out to achieve at the start of the season. Now, many are beginning to wonder what happens next once their celebrations are in the memory bank.

That is still a while off yet, though Liverpool are active in their pursuit of summer reinforcements and could look to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield. The Netherlands international is someone the club are aware of as far as his situation goes, with a release clause of between £29.5 million and £33.8 million being something they are willing to exploit.

Lyon winger Malick Fofana is also being targeted by Liverpool, potentially becoming a replacement for Luiz Diaz amid the latter attracting interest from Saudi Pro League outfit.

Liverpool’s final Premier League assignments
Brighton & Hove Albion (A)	Amex Stadium
Crystal Palace (H)	Anfield

Darwin Nunez is another that could be moved on to free up funds and space for reinforcements in a period where Slot is expected to be ruthless in his decision-making to mould a squad fit to defend their crown. Realistically, Liverpool have nothing to prove to anyone, but they could potentially surpass their jointly-held record of 20 titles that they share with Manchester United next term with a repeat performance of this season’s excellence.

Making strides to equip themselves to do so, the Reds are now eyeing a swap deal that could see one of Europe’s revered attackers arrive on Merseyside.

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The Liverpool star could now be thrown into a potential swap arrangement after struggling to make an impact following his move from Juventus. Earning £150,000 per week, the Italy international has scored twice and registered two assists in just 13 outings, making him a prime candidate for a summer departure.

That said, it remains to be seen whether a swap would be the preferred option for both clubs or if conducting seperate deals is a more viable alternative to put through the books.

Burnley didn’t blow anyone away in attack during their recent promotion-winning feat out of the Championship as their rock-solid defence instead stole all the plaudits.

That is understandable considering the Clarets only leaked a seriously impressive 16 goals all season long, but only 69 goals would actually be scored by Scott Parker’s men on the flip side.

To add context, Leeds United were crowned champions ahead of Burnley purely because of their heftier goal difference, helped by their mammoth 95 strikes.

Therefore, upon their re-entry into the top division, Burnley could be on the hunt for a new, potent attacker to call their own, with Parker praying he can uncover his next Aleksandar Mitrovic in the process, having worked alongside the lethal Serbian at previous employers Fulham.

Mitrovic's potency under Scott Parker

Mitrovic is the very definition of a modern-day legend at the Cottagers, having ended his 206-game association with the West London side by bagging a ridiculous 111 strikes.

30 of those would come under the bumpy reign of Parker, before the now Al-Hilal attacker became an even more ice-cold finisher of chances when Marco Silva took on the managerial reins after the 44-year-old’s dismissal.

Still, the deadly 30-year-old first kicked on donning Fulham white under the guidance of Parker with the Clarets boss arguably also playing a key part in Dominic Solanke’s development at AFC Bournemouth prior to his major switch to Tottenham Hotspur.

Off the back of this, Burnley could be tempted to go after an experienced striker to lead the line next season, knowing he has been as clinical as Mitrovic when previously performing at the peak of his powers.

Parker could sign his new Mitrovic

Most of the chatter involving Burnley this summer has honed in on the alarming amount of potential outgoings as both Maxime Esteve and Josh Brownhill reportedly continue to be eyed up by higher up suitors.

Thankfully, rumours involving who they could add to their promotion-winning squad are also now coming to the surface, with former hero Danny Ings being lined up for a stunning Turf Moor return.

Before the “phenomenal” veteran – as he’s been previously labelled by pundit Noel Whelan – would go on to cement himself as a Premier League distinguished striker for the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton, the 32-year-old first burst onto the scene as a dangerous goal machine in Lancashire.

After ripping up the Championship with Burnley by firing home 21 goals – much like Mitrovic had shown on the books of Fulham – Ings would get his first big break in the Premier League with the Clarets during the 2014/15 season, with a temptation surely on the ageing attacker’s end now to return to his ex-side shortly to try and recapture his frightening best and help Parker’s underdogs beat the drop.

24/25

West Ham

15

1

2

23/24

West Ham

20

1

1

22/23

West Ham

17

2

2

22/23

Aston Villa

18

6

0

21/22

Aston Villa

30

7

6

20/21

Southampton

29

12

4

19/20

Southampton

38

22

2

18/19

Southampton

24

7

3

17/18

Liverpool

8

1

0

15/16

Liverpool

6

2

0

14/15

Burnley

35

11

4

As can be seen looking at the table above, when Ings isn’t in and out of the treatment room with injuries, he is a reliable goalscorer at Premier League level which is what Burnley are crying out for after a mediocre campaign in front of goal in the league below.

It will all just rest on whether Ings can break free of his recurring injury issues, but with Parker’s track record with Mitrovic, he could well be an ideal figure for the 32-year-old to shine under.

The nervous Clarets will also be able to land their ex-number ten on a free transfer, meaning it could go down as a very shrewd deal if he rolls back the years on his return.

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Liverpool’s season may well be over, but that’s only because Arne Slot’s side have wrapped up the Premier League title with plenty of time to spare.

Anfield’s chief decision-makers are bound to be hard at work right now, perhaps finding their transfer plans accelerated after such dominance in the English top flight.

Of course, that’s not the only reason Liverpool’s season is done and dusted, if we’re being candid. The Merseysiders have no FA Cup or Champions League final to prepare for, having been dumped out of both competitions at premature stages.

This isn’t really to the detriment of Slot’s squad, merely a reflection of the unforeseen heights reached this season. Few expected Liverpool to go from strength to strength after Jurgen Klopp left last year, let alone win the league title.

Slot has been stringent in his team rotation, and will need to add depth this summer. Luckily, he’s had an absolute rock of a leader in Virgil van Dijk, unflappable, unmovable.

The importance of Van Dijk to Liverpool

The importance of Van Dijk. It really can’t be overstated how significant a part of Liverpool’s rise and rise he has been. Without this towering Dutchman, Klopp’s dynasty wouldn’t have scaled the mountain between good and greatness.

The art of spending wisely. Sure, Van Dijk cost Liverpool a world-record £75m fee, leaving Southampton on the South Coast in January 2018, but has there ever been a defender in that ballpark, and there are more, who have given their new employers the same bang for their buck?

Van Dijk took the captain’s armband from Jordan Henderson at the end of the 2022/23 season, but he’s been a leader ever since he arrived.

However, that level has been notched up since assuming the new weight of responsibility, for he led the resurgence last year, put Liverpool back in the Champions League and scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup final. Now, he’s skippered his way toward a second Premier League title, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher saying, “he’s too good for the highest level” of football.

Tying the 33-year-old down to a new deal was always going to be imperative, and now he joins Mohamed Salah in devoting two more years of his prime to this wonderful club.

Maybe the final two years of his career at the highest level. Maybe, time works its hands onto every world-class player, and there will come a point when Carragher’s effusions no longer ring true.

Maybe Liverpool would be prudent to find and sign a successor this summer.

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Dean Huijsen is the talk of the town, but Liverpool might actually be ready to head down a different track and sign Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.

According to DaveOCKOP, 22-year-old Murillo is one of the shortlisted names ahead of the summer window, his blend of meaty athleticism and technical quality making him the perfect option for a team challenging at the top of the European pyramid each year.

However, he wouldn’t come cheap. It was suggested a few months back that Forest will demand £80m for the defender, with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also considered suitors.

What Murillo would bring to Liverpool

Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders at Forest. He’s transformed the club from relegation stragglers to genuine Champions League contenders, with their fate hanging in the balance ahead of the final few matches of the season.

Forest were hit with a points deduction after breaching financial fair play (FFP) rules in the 2022/23 season. The windfall from securing a seat at Europe’s eminent table would ease their worries this summer, but FFP compliance will be a tricky slope to navigate in any case, and Liverpool could take advantage.

Certainly, Murillo still has progress to make in his professional journey, but that’s why Liverpool should act now, adding the Brazilian to a rich backline and allowing him to learn under Van Dijk’s wing before settling into an enhanced role.

Make no mistake, Murillo’s already got enough in his locker to make a marked improvement on Liverpool’s defence. Hailed for his “monstrous” performances by journalist Ryan Taylor, he’s menacing and unflinching in his duties.

The Tricky Trees star isn’t the finished article, but he’s already performing at a level that challenges Van Dijk for his throne.

Matches (starts)

35 (35)

34 (34)

Goals

3

2

Assists

1

0

Clean sheets

14

11

Touches*

90.5

54.9

Pass completion

92%

79%

Key passes*

0.3

0.4

Dribbles*

0.1

0.8

Ball recoveries*

3.1

3.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

2.5

Clearances*

5.1

6.8

Aerial duels won (%)*

3.2 (71%)

1.3 (66%)

In fact, he’s been described as being “easily one of the best defenders in the league” by talent scout Jacek Kulig only a few months ago, not all that far away from Liverpool’s main man.

Murillo is energetic and creative too. While defending his goalkeeper serves as his principal aim, the £xxk-per-week talent has also garnered something of a reputation for his powerful surges forward, thus sparking creative opportunities for his forward-placed teammates.

FBref back it all up: across Europe’s top five leagues this season, Murillo ranks among the top 3% of positional peers for blocks and clearances, while also ranking among the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90.

You can see why Liverpool are so interested in striking a deal this summer, with Murillo ticking all the boxes.

6 foot even, he’s not the tallest of centre-back but Murillo uses his aerial prowess so well, and must be brought to Anfield this summer to begin the next chapter in his career, one building toward a point in which he succeeds Van Dijk as Liverpool star man at the back.

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Chelsea have done it. Enzo Maresca’s side have won the UEFA Conference League, beating Spanish outfit Real Betis 4-1 in Poland.

The Blues have made history in winning the title, becoming the first side to have won all three major European titles currently on offer, a historic achievement for the club.

In terms of the game, it got off to the worst start possible for Chelsea. Their LaLiga opponents took the lead just nine minutes into the clash, with left winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli firing a well-struck effort into the bottom right corner past goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.

It took Chelsea until the 65th minute to equalise. Cole Palmer set Enzo Fernandez up with a teasing ball. The Argentine midfielder ran onto his cross and headed home into the bottom left corner to score a crucial goal for his side.

From there, the floodgates opened. First, Nicolas Jackson struck, once again set up by the irresistible Palmer. Second-half substitute Jadon Sancho soon got in on the act to make it 3-1. His strike was sublime, bending a shot from the left-hand corner of the penalty area into the top right corner of the Betis goal.

Moises Caicedo’s strike from distance capped off the night for Chelsea, who were unstoppable once they got into their groove. One of the stars of the show was the scorer of the second goal, Jackson.

Jackson’s performance vs. Betis

When his side needed him most, Blues striker Jackson came up clutch with the goal which won them another European title. It was a hard-working night’s work for the Senegal international, who ran the channels diligently and looked to link up play all night long.

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His goal, which saw Chelsea take the lead in the game, was a smart finish. The 23-year-old miscued his effort, surely meaning to head Palmer’s cross home, instead bouncing the ball past Adrian off his chest. However, the run was clever, darting into the six-yard box to put the ball in the back of the net.

Jackson’s performance earned him a 7/10 rating from Standard journalist Malik Ouzia. He explained that, whilst the striker did take a ‘hideous touch’ when attempting to seal the deal late on, he ‘repaid the “debt” he owed his team-mates’ with his crucial strike, having missed the final two league games of the season through suspension.

It was certainly an impressive performance from Jackson, stepping up in a European final when his side needed to. However, he was perhaps overshadowed by another of his teammates.

The Chelsea player who outperformed Jackson

Just over 13 years ago, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba inspired his side to a heroic Champions League final comeback against Bayern Munich. He scored an 88th-minute header at the Allianz Arena, before sinking their opponents with the winning penalty in the shootout, to deliver Chelsea the Champions League.

Well, little more than a decade later, Palmer has just put in a performance worthy of rivalling Drogba’s iconic effort. His two assists breathed life into a flat Chelsea side, putting them into a title-winning position.

Those contributions will be remembered for the next decade, just like Drogba’s have been. His first assist was a delicate cross to Fernandez, who rose highest to nod home an inch-perfect cross.

The second was magical, teasing the Betis defenders, twisting on the spot before turning into space and delivering another perfect cross for Jackson to convert.

It was not just the assists that were exceptional from Palmer, but his overall performance. As the stats on Sofascore show, he ranked highly for several metrics on the night.

For example, no player completed more dribbles than his four, nor did they create as many as his two big chances.

Palmer key stats vs. Betis

Stat

Number

Match rank

Ground duels won

5/8

1st

Dribbles completed

4/6

1st

Assists

2

1st

Big chances created

2

1st

Key passes

2

3rd

Passes completed

32/38

7th

Stats from Sofascore

The Chelsea number 20 was so good, he earned himself a 9/10 for his efforts from Ouzia. The journalist was full of praise for Palmer, describing him as a ‘genius’ following the former Manchester City man’s two moments of magic.

So, the Blues have another European title to their name, and with it, another memorable performance from a genuine superstar. Perhaps Chelsea have found their new version of the legendary striker.

Palmer, player of the match, delivering a performance worthy of rivalling Drogba’s heroics 13 years ago. Sensational.

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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has placed a marquee forward at the “top” of his transfer target list ahead of the summer window, and the Gunners have responded by opening talks between all parties.

Arteta makes "clear" Arsenal transfer claim

Speaking ahead of their final Premier League game of the season against Southampton on Sunday, Mikel Arteta was asked about the club’s recruitment drive, Berta’s crucial role and the type of player he wants to see his club try and go for.

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Kai Havertz has returned to action already, after coming back from what was initially thought to be a season-ending hamstring injury blow, making his first appearance since February during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

The German, who’s still managed to score 15 goals in all competitions in spite of his injury woes, also looks physically transformed after months of work in the gym. However, while Havertz’s return ahead of next season comes as a boost for Arteta, he sent a “clear” message to the Gunners hierarchy that more firepower is required if they’re to mount a more successful title challenge.

“What is clear with the amount of injuries we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat, we need the firepower out there, and understanding that the context can change tomorrow,” said Arteta in a pre-match press conference.

“We cannot rely just on the numbers we had before. We have to add goals, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers and that will be in different positions.”

Arteta was also asked about their links to Real Madrid star Rodrygo, following recent reports he could well join Arsenal.

The 43-year-old didn’t get drawn in to named targets, but categorically refused to rule out a move for the Brazil international either, who’s bagged 13 goals and a further 10 assists from the right-wing, left-wing and at centre-forward this term.

Rodrygo "top" of Berta list with Arsenal talks opened

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg shared news of Arsenal working on a deal for Rodryho behind-the-scenes earlier this week, and that same reporter has now provided a further update.

Plettenberg reports that Rodrygo is actually at the “very top” of Berta’s transfer list at Arsenal too, and negotiations have begun at all avenues, presumably meaning that they’re in talks with both the £202,000-per-week forward and Real.

Arsenal are not without competition in the race for him, though, with Chelsea also reportedly holding talks with Rodrygo’s representatives ahead of the mini-transfer window from June 1 to June 10 – which would allow them to sign him before the Club World Cup.