Over the last couple of months, Newcastle United have been plagued with PSR issues, relying on outgoings before signing any players to improve the first-team squad.

Sacrifices had to be made with academy graduate Elliot Anderson sold to Nottingham Forest in a £35m deal to try and stay within the confines of the Premier League’s rules.

However, the 21-year-old wasn’t the only player out the door on Tyneside, with fellow youngster Yankuba Minteh also sold to fellow top-flight side Brighton and Hove Albion in a £33m deal – leaving the club without making a single appearance.

The departures were made even more frustrating when Eddie Howe’s side failed to secure a move for centre-back Marc Guehi with the funds generated – with the club desperately wanting a new central defender before the end of the window.

The Saudi PIF’s ambition since taking over in 2021 cannot be understated, but some of their signings haven’t worked out, with one player in particular looking like a complete waste of money.

Matt Targett’s stats at Newcastle United

After joining Newcastle on loan for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, left-back Matt Targett made a solid first impression – so much so that the club forked out £15m to sign the Englishman on a permanent deal.

However, two years on from his move to Tyneside, he’s failed to kick on, dropping massively down Howe’s pecking order in recent months.

The 28-year-old has only made 27 appearances in all competitions over the last two campaigns, with centre-back Dan Burn often featuring out of position at full-back, a signal as to how out of favour the former Aston Villa ace has been.

Targett’s transfer fee was hefty enough, but when coupled with his £100k-per-week wages, it’s seen the club spend £25.4m on the defender up to now – a figure that has undoubtedly contributed to their recent financial issues.

However, despite his failed move to the Magpies, Targett still maintains a higher market value than one player who left the club a couple of years ago.

Matt Targett’s market value in 2024

Spanish forward Ayoze Perez was a player who provided numerous moments of magic during a dark spell on the field for Newcastle.

The now 31-year-old made 195 appearances for the club, even featuring in the Championship after relegation in 2016, registering a total of 48 goals in the process.

However, after producing 12 Premier League goals during the 2018/19 season, he departed in a £30m deal to join fellow English side Leicester City – in a move that wasn’t so well received by the supporters.

Five years on from his transfer away from Tyneside, Perez has an international winners' medal, after being a part of the Spain squad that triumphed over England at Euro 2024 – but it hasn’t stopped his market value from plummeting in recent times.

The attacker is now only valued at £5.9m as per Transfermarkt, a figure that is lower than Targett, who’s still valued at £8.4m despite his recent exclusion from the Magpies’ squad.

Whilst at the time it was seen as a disappointing deal to allow Perez to leave, the club played a masterstroke with his sale, making a huge chunk of money on a player who only managed to score 15 goals over four years at the Foxes.

His recent decline in value outlines excellent business selling a player at his peak value, with Newcastle getting a better deal than Leicester with the transfer.

Newcastle hit gold with "world-class" star worth more than Guehi & Gordon

He’s wanted by the Premier League’s biggest clubs…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 5, 2024

The Arne Slot era is off to a flyer. Liverpool wreaked devastation against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup to win 5-1 and make it six wins from seven matches in all competitions so far.

Liverpool were defeated at Anfield by Nottingham Forest in what appeared to be a hangover from the September international break, but there is so much to like, so much to get excited by.

Fans have been delighted to see different players pop up and impress. For example, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have been two of Liverpool’s best performers this season, even though both play on the left wing. Indeed, Diaz has posted five from five in the Premier League while the Dutchman has caused a storm in the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

Harvey Elliott has yet to strut his stuff, cruelly ruled out during the international break after fracturing his foot with England U21s, but he’s set to play a big part upon his return, having really come into his own at the end of the Jurgen Klopp era.

Harvey Elliott at Liverpool

At the end of 2023, Elliott expressed that he was not happy to merely play the part of ‘super sub’ for Klopp’s Redmen, instead wanting a nailed-down starting berth.

Injuries and his skyrocketing form granted that wish, and the 21-year-old would play one of the most important roles in winning the Carabao Cup and restoring Champions League football with a third-place finish, scoring one goal and adding four assists across the last six games of the term.

It makes the tribunal fee worth £4m that was paid for his services in 2019 – when he was 16 years old – feel pretty paltry, having already played a part in winning a wealth of domestic silverware and making 120 appearances for the Liverpool first team, scoring ten goals and providing 15 assists.

Hailed as a “special talent” by The Athletic’s James Pearce, Elliott has really gone from strength to strength over his years spent at Anfield, and could now reach new heights entirely under Slot’s wing, with the new boss implementing a 4-2-3-1 system that could really benefit the playmaker.

Harvey Elliott's transfer value in 2024

Interestingly, Elliott principally operates as an attacking midfielder for England U21s. Across his last five appearances in the role for his nation, he has scored seven goals and claimed three assists.

Central midfield

24

3

9

Right winger

16

1

1

Attacking midfield

13

0

1

For Klopp last year, however, he was utilised in a deeper and more compact way. The German’s heavy-metal brand of football required immense work from those in the middle of the park, fuelling the turbo-charged attack.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Now, Elliott could move into a more suitable role at number ten, as Dominik Szoboszlai does for Slot, who likes more of a stretched triangular shape to his midfield, with a player like Elliott perched at the frontal point.

It might just see the technician raise his game to the next level. As per FBref, Elliott ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 19% for tackles won per 90 – now just imagine if Slot succeeds in shaping him into an even more formidable forward.

He’s certainly got the talent, and that’s recognised by his rise in market value. According to Transfermarkt, Elliott is worth about £30m at present, which marks a 650% rise in the five years since he made the move to Merseyside.

To be honest, that figure could balloon over the coming years, for this is a rising star who has what it takes to become one of the best in Europe.

He lost the ball 19 times: Slot must drop 6/10 Liverpool man after West Ham

He’s not good enough for a regular starting role…

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 26, 2024

انتهت مواجهة الزمالك وبتروجيت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لكل فريق، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشرة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز، على ملعب السلام.

شهد اللقاء إثارة كبيرة، حيث حصل الزمالك على ركلة جزاء احتسبها الحكم نادر قمر الدولة، قبل أن يتراجع بعد العودة إلى تقنية الفيديو المساعد (VAR).

طالع.. ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد تعادل الزمالك مع بتروجيت

أهداف المباراة جاءت في الدقائق الأخيرة، حيث افتتح مصطفى الجمل التسجيل لصالح بتروجيت بتسديدة قوية في الدقيقة الخامسة من الوقت بدل الضائع، سكنت شباك الحارس محمد صبحي. لكن الزمالك نجح في إدراك التعادل سريعًا، عن طريق ناصر منسي، الذي استغل تمريرة رائعة من عبد الله السعيد ليضعها في الشباك من أول لمسة.

بعد هذا التعادل، يحتل الزمالك المركز الثالث في جدول الترتيب برصيد 27 نقطة، بعد تحقيقه 8 انتصارات، و3 تعادلات، وتعرضه لـ3 هزائم، أما بتروجيت، فيتواجد في المركز السابع برصيد 18 نقطة، حيث فاز في 4 مباريات، وتعادل في 6، وخسر 4 مواجهات. رجل مباراة الزمالك وبتروجيت في الدوري المصري

وحصل مصطفى الجمل صاحب هدف بتروجيت على جائزة رجل المباراة كأفضل لاعب في اللقاء.

MatériaMais Notícias

Presidente histórico do Flamengo, Márcio Braga esteve na Sede da Gávea nesta manhã e votou nas eleições presidenciais do clube. O ex-mandatário declarou apoio à continuidade da gestão de Rodolfo Landim, que concorre à reeleição, mas fez uma ressalva: “tem muito dirigente amador no futebol do Flamengo”.

RelacionadasFlamengoEm clima tranquilo na Gávea, candidatos à presidência do Flamengo votam e falam ao LANCE!Flamengo04/12/2021FlamengoHugo salva o Flamengo da derrota contra o Sport e mostra que é o futuro do time na posiçãoFlamengo04/12/2021

– Eu gosto dessa festa da democracia. Eu gosto de eleição, e está indo muito bem. Temos bons candidatos. A perspectiva é de termos a reeleição do Rodolfo Landim, que está fazendo um excelente mandato. É dar continuidade a isso. Os demais precisam pensar em 2024 – afirmou Márcio Braga, antes de completar:

– Acho que tem muito amador no futebol. Eu acho que tem muito dirigente amador no futebol do Flamengo. É preciso descer mais fundo na profissionalização do futebol – finalizou Márcio Braga, neste sábado, na Gávea.

Além de Rodolfo Landim (Chapa Roxa), três nomes concorrem ao cargo de presidente do Flamengo no triênio 2022/24: Marco Aurélio Asseff (Chapa Azul), Walter Monteiro (Chapa Ouro) e Ricardo Hinrichsen (Chapa Branca).

Márcio Braga pediu a continuidade de Rodolfo Landim, mas afirmou: “Tem muito amador no futebol do Flamengo.” #lanceFLA pic.twitter.com/5SkxDI5MfQ

— Matheus Dantas (@matheusdantasfr) December 4, 2021

Somerset 159 for 5 (Hildreth 61*) beat Yorkshire 158 for 5 (Revis 58*) by five wicketsJames Hildreth blasted a brilliant 61 off 34 balls as Somerset continued their strong defence of the Royal London Cup with a five-wicket victory over Yorkshire at Taunton.In a game reduced to 20 overs per side by rain, the visitors ran up 158 for 5 after losing the toss, Matthew Revis leading the way with his best List A score of 58 not out.Fellow teenager Will Luxton contributed an unbeaten 31 to an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 69. Left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy was the pick of the Somerset attack with one for 17.In reply, the hosts reached 159 for 5 with five balls to spare, Hildreth’s sparkling knock, including 5 fours and 4 sixes.A 5,000 crowd was kept waiting for some action as rain began falling moments before the first over could be bowled at 11am. Soon it became torrential and left casual water on the outfield.The majority of spectators stayed on. They were rewarded when the sun broke through and a major mopping up operation allowed play to start at 3.30pm.Yorkshire began poorly when Harry Duke was caught behind off Josh Davey, attempting a scoop shot, in the second over.Gary Ballance soon followed, bowled off his body by Kasey Aldridge, and at the end of the four-over powerplay the scoreboard read 38 for two.Will Fraine hit the first six of the innings over backward point off Aldridge and brought up the fifty up in the seventh over before being caught at deep square off the same bowler for 23.Jonathan Tattersall fell for a duck, advancing down the pitch to Goldsworthy, and at halfway Yorkshire were 66 for four.Revis cleared the ropes at fine leg off Aldridge and George Hill smacked a straight six off Ben Green before being caught on 23 at deep square in the same over.From 89 for five in the 13th over, Revis and Luxton batted with great maturity, putting together a fifty stand in 31 balls. Revis moved to his own half century off 35 deliveries, with 4 fours and 2 sixes.Somerset were 25 for one off their first four overs, losing Steve Davies, caught at cover looking to hit a third boundary in succession off Ben Coed.Rookie Sam Young played well for his 25 before falling to Revis in the eighth over and by mid-innings the home side were well-placed at 75 for two.Seventeen-year-old James Rew marred a promising debut with an injudicious reverse sweep that saw him caught for 20 by Gary Ballance at backward point off Jack Shutt.Hildreth had survived a difficult chance to Balance at mid-off when on 15 and began to take charge, reverse sweeping off-spinner Shutt for four and then six off successive balls.He followed up with an off-driven boundary in the same over, the 14th of the innings, and then cracked another six off Revis to put his side in sight of a third victory from four group games, the other being a no-result.Goldsworthy made a useful 21 in a match-clinching stand of 66 with Hildreth and a couple of late wickets for Matthew Waite proved too little too late.

He smashed seven sixes and four fours in his 38-ball 67

Andrew McGlashan12-Jul-2021

So, those questions about Chris Gayle’s form. The opener put on a thunderous display, with his first T20I half-century since 2016, to secure a series victory for West Indies as he pummelled the Australia attack around St Lucia in what became a cakewalk of a chase.Having made 102 runs in nine innings since his recall earlier this year, Gayle launched seven sixes in an innings that took him past 14,000 T20 runs. After he departed, stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran ensured there was no hiccup in the chase he closed it out with more than five overs to spare. It is the first time West Indies have won a bilateral series (or more than one match) against Australia in any format since 1995.Australia had made three changes – two enforced by injury to Ben McDermott and Ashton Agar – and changed tact by opting to bat first when Aaron Finch again won the toss, but it was a laboured effort after some initial momentum in the powerplay. Moises Henriques and the recalled Ashton Turner added 59 but it took almost eight overs.Watch cricket on ESPN+

West Indies v Australia is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the match.

West Indies were excellent with the ball despite Obed McCoy being able to bowl only one over. Fabian Allen and Hayden Walsh Jr, who took his series tally to eight wickets, bowled their eight overs for 44. Allen also took a spectacular rebound catch in the deep to remove Finch in a display that further enhanced his fielding credentials.The Wade, Finch contrast
The struggle for the majority of Australia’s innings is highlighted by the fact that they had a useful 41 off the first five overs. That was largely down to Matthew Wade who again struck the ball sweetly as he did in the opening match of the series. However, with some of the issues being faced by other batters, Australia needed him to make the most of those starts and kick on but he departed when he missed a slower ball from McCoy. His opening partner is finding things aren’t quite coming out of the middle at the moment and Finch never got his timing during a run-a-ball stay where he was often losing his shapes on shots. He eventually fell to a worldie of a catch, completed by Allen at deep midwicket who remained magnificently alert when Dwayne Bravo missed the initial chance, and hurled himself low to the ground to grab it.Fabian Allen was brilliantly alert to hold rebound catch•AFP

Walsh does it again
The Finch wicket was Walsh’s second of the innings as he again did a terrific job, this time also bringing notable economy to his four overs. Pooran had held back his spinners – the match was a rare example of all the powerplay play overs being bowled by seamers of various descriptions – and when they were introduced Australia struggled to up the tempo. Allen removed the in-form Mitchell Marsh when he missed a sweep and Walsh claimed his first by ending a lively start from Alex Carey who had reverse-swept his first ball of the series for four. The spinners, which included one over from Gayle, did not concede a single six as Australia only cleared the boundary twice – both hits coming from Henriques.Gayle’s reminder
Gayle arrived for the fourth ball of the chase after Mitchell Starc, who bowled excellently after two expensive outings, had Andre Fletcher taken at midwicket. He saw out the over from Starc but then things got lively. When he got on strike to Josh Hazlewood’s first over he went 6, 4, 4, 4. There was a look in his eye of a batter on a mission. He was measured too but after a brief period of more sedate play, he deposited Adam Zampa for a straight six and followed it up in the 11th over with three consecutive sixes against the legspinner, the third of which took him to a 33-ball half-century. He saved the biggest for a huge leg-side blow off Riley Meredith that was followed by another the next ball before a top edge ended the show. Five of the last seven deliveries he faced cleared the rope. The match and the series were done and dusted.

Throughout the first few weeks of the season, it appeared that Everton’s transfer business during the summer wasn’t going to be good enough to see them retain their Premier League status.

Against Crystal Palace over the weekend, the 2-1 victory could certainly inject some confidence into the side as they aim to improve over the coming weeks.

Sean Dyche saw Orel Mangala impress during the game, controlling the midfield with ease as the Toffees claimed their first three points of the campaign.

Another summer arrival, Jesper Lindstrom, didn’t have the best of games, however, and he will have to perform better over the next few fixtures.

Jesper Lindstrom’s Everton stats

The attacking midfielder joined on loan from Serie A side Napoli in the summer as Dyche looked to add some more quality to his attacking department.

He has since played six times for the club, failing to score or assist in either the Premier League or EFL Cup.

The nadir of his spell at Goodison so far came against the Eagles when the summer acquisition was alarmingly substituted off at the half-time interval.

Goals

0

Assists

0

Big chances created

1

Total shots per game

1.3

Possession lost per game

8.3

Total duels won per game

2.8

In the top flight, the Dane has succeeded with just 0.3 dribbles, created only one big chance and averaged 0.5 shots on target per game.

Of course, he is still in the embryonic stages of his spell on Merseyside, but these stats will have to improve if Dyche is to continue showing faith in the player.

There were other attacking talents on Dyche’s list throughout the window, with a current Championship starlet among them, and he would have made for a better signing than Lindstrom…

Everton missed out on Wilfried Gnonto this summer

Wilfried Gnonto attracted the interest of the Toffees throughout the summer, even going as far to make a bid for the Italian, although this was rejected by Leeds United.

They were still keen on luring him to Goodison at the start of August, but Dyche couldn’t get a move through in the end, settling for the underperforming Lindstrom instead of the £30m-rated Leeds star.

It could prove to be a costly mistake, especially when accounting for Gnonto’s impressive spell at at Elland Road to date.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

Since joining the club in 2022, he has played 80 games, scoring 15 goals and registering eight assists, despite not turning 21 until November.

In the Championship this season, the youngster has already registered three goal contributions, along with creating three big chances, averaging 0.9 key passes and succeeding with 1.4 dribbles in the second tier. He’s a livewire and accustomed to English football; he was ready to make an instant impact for Dyche’s side.

It appears as though he is doing everything possible to return the club to the top flight, which could see the market value soar of this “special” player – as he was described by former Leeds caretaker Michael Skubala.

If Leeds don’t achieve promotion this term, there is no doubt the Italian sensation will seek a move to the top flight, especially with the talent he possesses.

Have Everton missed the boat on the player? It certainly seems so.

100% Everton man may have just saved Sean Dyche's job

Key Everton man returning could just save Dyche his job

ByConnor Holden Sep 29, 2024

Already thinking about their 2025 recruitment strategy, Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly eyeing a move to sign a future star in a deal that would see them beat the likes of Arsenal to the youngster’s signature.

Wolves transfer news

Those in the in the Midlands endured a mixed summer. Whilst they lost both Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, the late additions of Andre and Carlos Forbs should prove to be money well spent, though only time will tell whether that is in fact the case.

Wolves could unearth their next Jimenez with teen sensation

Gary O’Neil may have the club’s next version of Jimenez brewing in the academy…

By
Ross Kilvington

Sep 14, 2024

Andre is a particularly interesting arrival. The Brazilian previously attracted the interest of Liverpool before a move ultimately never developed. Getting his Premier League chance courtesy of Wolves nonetheless, Andre could now make the Reds regret their hesitant pursuit by becoming a key part of Gary O’Neil’s midfield.

Still just 23 years old and fresh from a standout spell at Fluminense, Andre could prove to be one of the most underrated signings of the summer transfer window in the Premier League. But Wolves aren’t done there when it comes to midfield additions, it seems.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Wolves are now keen on signing Souleymane Sidibe from Stoke City in a deal that would see them beat the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Midlands rivals Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest to his signature.

Just 17 years old, the central midfielder is already playing a part for Stoke’s first team in the Championship, grabbing an assist from the bench in his first league appearance of the season as the Potters defeated Plymouth Argyle 1-0.

Now, the teenager could get the chance to make a similar move to the one that Archie Gray completed in the summer, as he swapped Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur. Potentially following in his footsteps, Sidibe has quite the decision to make in 2025.

"Terrific" Sidibe is one for the future

For a club like Wolves, welcoming young talent before developing them into top prospects should be the way forward and there would be no better way to represent that plan than by signing Sidibe. The teenager looks destined for the Premier League and the idea of such a talent working alongside Andre and Joao Gomes is a mouth-watering one, to say the least.

The current campaign isn’t Sidibe’s first in senior football of course, having earned the praise of former manager Alex Neil last season. Neil told BBC Stoke Radio after handing the midfielder his first senior start in a Carabao Cup win over West Bromwich Albion last season: “I thought his performance justified why he’s been with the first team all pre-season and why I played him in the game.

“I had no concerns over him. He’s a terrific talent but he’s also really mature, for being so young. He did exactly as I expected him to do – he did wonderfully well and he’s played in a Stoke team that won the game, and played the majority of the match.

“I think when you’re 16 years old, most players of that age could only dream of doing something like that.”

“You have to take a bit of responsibility in these conditions and make sure you do something for your team”

Deivarayan Muthu05-Sep-2021Ajaz Patel is possibly New Zealand’s fourth-choice T20I spinner, behind Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, and Todd Astle. But, as the side’s only specialist spinner on tour in Bangladesh, he is relishing the responsibility in friendly conditions. With the series on the line in Dhaka, Patel scythed through Bangladesh in their chase of 129, returning 4 for 16 – his best T20 figures – as a second-string New Zealand pulled off a memorable 52-run win.”I guess, as a spinner, you thrive on conditions like this and you have to take a bit of responsibility in these conditions to try and make sure you can do something for your team,” Patel told the broadcaster at the post-match presentation. “It was nice to get a few [wickets] up top and I thought all our bowlers bowled brilliantly. I thought we bowled really well as a collective and our spinners [Cole McConchie (3-15) and Rachin Ravindra (1-13) were the others] did a great job.”Related

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Patel, McConchie keep New Zealand alive in series

Patel went too short and wide with his first ball, which was laced through the covers by Liton Das, but soon eased into his rhythm and outwitted the batters with his variations, including a yorker that cannoned into Afif Hossain’s off stump.”You know, for me, it was trying to get a read for the player. I knew Mahedi (Hasan) was going to try and take me on, so I tried to tighten him up, bowl a little bit quicker and flatter and try to squeeze one through him,” Patel said after the match. “Obviously, Shakib (Al Hasan) – we know how dangerous a player he is, so it was about trying to make sure I take some pace away from him.”I was fortunate there; he kind of mistimed it, and Afif, I bowled him a couple of slower ones, so it was really about the next one, trying to make sure I can fire a quicker, flatter one in.”Patel explained that darting the ball into the Dhaka pitch on an in-between length posed the biggest threat to the batters. “Obviously, over here, we’ve realised it differs quite considerably from day to day. It’s about figuring out what the pace for the surface is and what’s the most dangerous ball,” Patel said. “So, for me, it was really about trying to get over the top of the ball today, make sure I bowl the ball into the wicket and make sure I spin the ball hard.”So, that was my main focus today, and from thereon it was about changes of pace, line and variation, using the crease. As a fingerspinner, you know that you are limited in terms of how many ways you can turn the ball, but you can definitely use the crease and changes in pace and variations that way to kind of make a difference.”Cole McConchie also earned his career -best bowling numbers•AFP via Getty ImagesMcConchie also netted his best T20 figures to give Patel good support from the other end. Das had picked off the offspinner for back-to-back leg-side fours and when he went for another sweep two balls later, McConchie found just enough turn from a good length to trap him for 15 off 11 balls. As for Ravindra, he got the wicket of Mohammad Naim, the other opener, and didn’t concede a single boundary in his four overs.Patel credited McConchie and Ravindra for ramping up the pressure on Bangladesh. Even Mushfiqur Rahim couldn’t put them away as he laboured to an unbeaten 20 off 37 balls. “It’s always great to have other spinners alongside you and both of them bowled brilliantly tonight,” Patel said. “And it could’ve easily been them with three or five wickets. Oh, Cole did get three wickets, but Rachin could’ve easily got three or four as well.”So, it’s great in that sense that we can communicate and have a chat about what’s working and what’s not working. I guess, for me, I’ve played a little bit more cricket; it’s a small responsibility that I take on myself to kind of make sure that I can give them some feedback on what the surface is doing and what we can look to do.”Patel acknowledged that the 66-run sixth-wicket stand between Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell was central to New Zealand keeping the series alive. Nicholls and Blundell came together at 62 for 5 in the 11th over and after bedding in, they took 46 off the last five overs. Nicholls belted Mustafizur Rahman’s whippy cutters down the ground and over extra cover for fours while Blundell pulled off eye-catching scoops despite the lack of pace from Rahman.”I thought they both batted brilliantly. Obviously, it’s not easy on that surface to kind of go out there and bat and feel comfortable,” Patel said. “But they scrapped hard and played some great cricketing shots and put some pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers. We were fortunate that they got us close to 130 [128 for 5] and we thought that was a reasonable score but we were in with a chance if we bowl well. I guess we started off quite well, which allowed us to put a bit more pressure on the Bangladesh batsmen. Batting, obviously, is the tough part out here and I thought our batters did a great job today.”Patel believed that New Zealand could yet snatch the series if they keep digging deep. “It’s great that the series is still alive,” he said. “We really feel like if we fight and scrap well, we’ve got a good chance. So, it’s just making sure we turn up next game and put our best foot forward again and make sure we’re ready for a fight.”

It is safe to say that Glasgow Rangers’ business in the transfer window over the previous few years has been sketchy, to say the least.

Of course, there have been a few gems. Steven Gerrard signed youngsters such as Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey, who departed for £6m and £20m respectively, after productive spells at Ibrox.

Despite the lack of real success on the pitch since the League title was won in 2021, signings such as Mohamed Diomande, Dujon Sterling and Jefte suggest Philippe Clement is going for a youth-based approach in a bid to make a serious profit in the near future.

Some may argue that the side have regressed to where the club was prior to Gerrard’s appointment in May 2018, especially considering the club’s record against Celtic.

Hopefully, things get better under the Belgian, as the Ibrox faithful are still clearly traumatised by the period between 2016 and 2018, as Mark Warburton and Pedro Caixinha failed to make an impact in the top flight.

The Englishman did return the Gers to the Premiership, but things soon started to unfold during the 2016/17 season, especially after a poor summer in the transfer market.

Mark Warburton’s signings for Rangers

The Ibrox side swept everything aside during the 2015/16 campaign, securing the Second tier title with ease as new signings such as James Tavernier, Jason Holt and Andy Halliday settled in rather well at the club.

The moment the Championship crown was secured, thoughts turned to life back in the top flight. Of course, no one was expecting a title challenge, especially after spending four long years outside the top division.

Player

Club signed from

Joey Barton

Burnley

Matt Gilks

Burnley

Joe Dodoo

Leicester City

Joe Garner

Preston

Jordan Rossiter

Liverpool

Clint Hill

QPR

Philippe Senderos

Grasshoppers

Niko Kranjcar

NY Cosmos

Josh Windass

Accrington

Matt Crooks

Accrington

Emerson Hyndman

Bournemouth

Lee Hodson

MK Dons

“My expectation is that we have to go into that league and be highly competitive,” Warburton said before the start of the season.

“We have to be a very tough team to beat and break down, and we must go into games expecting to win them.”

One thing that the former Brentford manager would have to get right is recruitment, yet the Gers failed to bring in the necessary quality to inspire a title challenge.

The likes of Joe Garner, Clint Hill, Jordan Rossiter and Philippe Senderos added a mixture of youth and experience to the squad, but they all failed to make an impression during their time at Rangers.

One signing that did stand out, however, was that of Joey Barton. The Englishman arrived with massive hype generated among the supporters and pundits alike, but the reality was very different…

Joey Barton’s arrival at Rangers

The once-capped England midfielder linked up with Warburton in July 2016, having plenty of experience in the Premier League.

He had even been named as Burnley’s player of the year as they claimed the Championship title, sealing a return to the top-flight in the process.

“At Rangers, he will hope to compete for trophies and be asked to be a figure of authority and know-how to help develop younger players,” said BBC Sport journalist Richard Wilson.

With a player of this quality added to the heart of the midfield, Warburton had a wealth of experience which looked like it could prove to be vital.

As the season began, it soon transpired that things were going to be much more difficult than imagined, especially as the performances on the pitch were not up to the required standard.

Joey Barton’s statistics at Rangers

Despite being 33 when he signed for the Light Blues, Barton was expected to go straight into the starting XI under Warburton.

A substitute appearance against Annan Athletic during the group stage of the League Cup suggested he was being eased into proceedings by the manager, but he did start against Stranraer and Peterhead, as a win against the Highland side saw Rangers through to the quarter-finals.

In the Premiership, the former Manchester City gem started the first five games of the season, but the first Old Firm clash of the campaign against Celtic would prove to be his final appearance for the club.

With the media going wild regarding a clash between Barton and Celtic captain Scott Brown, the actual game was a non-contest, as the Gers suffered a dismal 5-1 defeat.

It was the aftermath of that match which was Barton’s undoing, however…

Joey Barton's exit from Rangers

Following a training ground incident with Andy Halliday after the Old Firm loss, Barton was suspended for six weeks by the club. In November, it was announced that Rangers had terminated his contract and he eventually returned to Burnley.

Overall, he ended up featuring just eight times for the Glasgow side and former captain Barry Ferguson had his say on the matter after Barton was suspended in September, saying: “I don’t see a way back now.

“I’m disappointed because I was excited when he joined Rangers. I thought he would have been a great signing, but I don’t think he’ll play again.”

A great signing he was not, failing to look like the player who made an appearance for his national side in 2007, while racking up a total of 269 appearances in the Premier League for four clubs.

Warburton ended up departing Rangers just a few months later in what was yet another controversial decision, as the Gers ended up finishing the season in third place, behind Celtic and Aberdeen.

Hopes were undoubtedly high when Barton was announced as a Rangers player in 2016, as many felt he could add something different to the midfield, despite his reputation for being an outspoken and often controversial player.

It was clearly a gamble Warburton was willing to take, but it didn’t pay off. It was just one of the many signings the club made during this period that didn’t work out, seeing the Gers pay big wages and sometimes lavish fees in the process.

Hopefully, Clement has learned from his predecessors in the role as he hopes to change the club’s transfer strategy going forward.

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