Southampton are heading back to the Championship next season and could now have a new ace up their sleeve in the hunt for Ivan Juric’s successor.

Southampton prolong wait to evade unwanted Premier League record

Despite a slight improvement in performances over recent weeks, Southampton again fell to defeat yesterday against Fulham as their agonising wait to eclipse Derby County’s lowest-ever Premier League points total outright goes on.

Ryan Sessegnon completed a dramatic turnaround for the visitors at St Mary’s Stadium, leaving Simon Rusk and his interim team feeling a familiar sense of frustration following an encouraging point at West Ham United last Saturday.

Ultimately, the Saints’ plight is hardly a problem their temporary staff have created. It was always going to be a tall order for Southampton to stay up, something that Russell Martin and Juric found out the hard way when trying to turn their fortunes around.

Sport Republic now face the challenge of finding a new manager to steady the ship on the South Coast. Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is in the frame to take over, though he is likely to be one candidate on a lengthy shortlist.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has also been mentioned in dispatches at Southampton. Either way, Saints are likely to take their time before committing to a solution they hope will offer long-term stability.

Southampton’s three managers this season – who has the best record?

Russell Martin

19 matches – 4 wins, 3 draws, 13 losses

Ivan Juric

16 matches – 2 wins, 1 draw, 13 losses

Simon Rusk

4 matches – 0 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses

Once the season peters out, finding the man who can take the club back to the English top-flight will be the priority for all involved, and they may now have taken one step closer after shortlisting a surprise candidate.

Southampton shortlist Eric Ramsay for managerial post

According to Sky Sports, Southampton have shortlisted Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay for their managerial vacancy in their hunt for a new boss.

Having held various coaching roles at Manchester United and Chelsea, he has built up lasting relationships with peers such as Ipswich Town head coach Kieran McKenna due to graduating from Loughborough University with a first-class degree in sports science.

He was previously dubbed Manchester United’s ‘secret weapon’ internally at Old Trafford due to his tactical understanding despite being only 33 years of age.

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The Saints could appoint an impressive young manager as a replacement for Ivan Juric.

ByDominic Lund Apr 8, 2025

Technical director Johannes Spors is involved in the recruitment process, which will form part of a wider strategy to assess all avenues before making a conclusive decision.

Ramsay’s ability to speak French and Spanish fluently has attracted interest in the UK and further afield. In addition, Rohl remains in the frame despite competition for his services from elsewhere.

Finding someone who can instill a distinctive identity that can produce consistent results in the English second-tier is the priority now for Southampton. This campaign has been nothing short of miserable, but there could be some light at the end of the tunnel as they aim to build the foundations for a brighter future.

Glasgow Rangers already know that they will finish the Scottish Premiership season in second place after their city rivals won the title at the end of last month.

The Light Blues held Celtic to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on Sunday in a game that was meaningless in terms of the league table, but still meant a lot to the fans who saw their team put in a spirited display to avoid a defeat.

Rangers will want to put up more of a fight overall in the Premiership next season, though, as they bid to avoid finishing second for the fifth year in succession.

Appointing the right manager to lead the club forward is pivotal, and it does not look like Barry Ferguson will be that man, as the team are currently on a winless run of six matches under his management.

The Light Blues have been linked with external appointments to replace the Scottish boss, who is currently in interim charge after Philippe Clement was sacked earlier this year.

Gerrard lined up for Rangers return

It was recently reported by Football Insider that the English manager is the ‘favourite’ to return to Ibrox to replace Ferguson in the dugout this summer.

The outlet revealed that he is currently the leading candidate to take the job ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell look to find the club’s new head coach.

It was claimed that Gerrard is at the top of the club’s shortlist of managerial options to come in, ahead of former RB Leipzig tactician Marco Rose.

Of course, it would be the iconic former Liverpool midfielder’s second stint at Ibrox, having left the Glasgow giants to manage Aston Villa in 2021, after he had joined the Light Blues from working in academy football at Anfield down south.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st

1st

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s last 50 matches in charge of Rangers in the Premiership were nothing short of extraordinary, with just one defeat and 40 wins, including an unbeaten title-winning campaign in the 2020/21 season.

The Gers boss had some terrific players to work with during that period in the club’s history. One of the key players in that title success was, for example, central midfield star Glen Kamara, who provided a metronomic presence in the middle of the park.

Why Glen Kamara was important for Steven Gerrard

The impressive central midfielder, who signed for Gerrard’s side in January 2019 from Dundee, played a pivotal role in midfield in the 2020/21 campaign.

Kamara played 33 of the 38 league matches, starting 29 of those games, and provided quality in and out of possession for the English tactician in his 4-3-3 system.

The Finnish star only scored one goal in the Premiership that term, as shown in the clip above, but he contributed in other ways with his brilliant midfield performances.

Kamara utilised his physicality, mobility, and technical quality to dominate the middle of the park by winning his duels and being incredibly reliable with the ball at his feet in the Premiership.

Appearances

33

Goals

1

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

91%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.0

Ground duel success rate

59%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

As you can see in the table above, the Finland international won the majority of his battles on the ground and in the air, whilst rarely giving the ball away with his passes.

These statistics illustrate how important Kamara was to Gerrard’s side because he could combine technical quality with physical robustness to provide balance in midfield for the Light Blues.

Now, Rangers have a promising young talent on their hands who could develop into being Gerrard’s new version of Kamara, if the Gers appoint the English head coach for a second time, in the form of Bailey Rice.

Why Bailey Rice could be the new Glen Kamara

Like the Finnish ace, the 18-year-old midfielder is a player who has the potential to provide technical quality in possession with strong defensive qualities in the middle of the park.

Of course, Rice is not the finished article and should not be expected to be, at the age of 18, and is a starlet who could develop and improve under Gerrard’s management, with a view to him becoming a star further down the line.

The teenage dynamo has played 12 times for the first-team so far in his young career, and nine of those games have been in the current campaign.

In those matches, Rice has shown glimpses of the kind of quality he could consistently provide in the future if his development continues on the right track, and he is given enough opportunities by managers moving forward.

The Rangers starlet did enough to leave TNT Sport pundit and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand in awe against the Red Devils in the Europa League earlier this term, as the former England international hailed his “wonderful” pass and how “composed” the midfielder was, whilst admitting that he liked the look of the youngster.

Rice won 75% of his aerial duels and created one ‘big chance’ for his team in his three appearances in Europe this term, whilst he has also shown glimpses of quality in the Premiership.

Appearances

4

Starts

1

Pass accuracy

80%

Long pass accuracy

67%

Duels won per 90

5.93

Duel success rate

60%

Aerial duel success rate

70%

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues teenager has showcased his defensive ability for the Gers by winning the majority of his physical battles, despite being just 18, and almost won six duels per 90.

Analyst John Walker claimed that one of Rice’s qualities is his “aggressive nature to break lines with forward passes”, but his 80% pass accuracy suggests that there is still work to be done to translate that to first-team level effectively.

Therefore, the qualities are all there for the young midfielder to develop into a star who can play in a similar way to how Kamara did for Gerrard in the 2020/21 campaign, due to his ability in and out of possession.

If Gerrard is the next Rangers manager, the former England international, who played in midfield in his playing career, could work with Rice on the training pitch to turn him into his next version of Kamara at Ibrox in the years to come.

Bad news for Dessers: 4-3-3 boss becomes leading candidate for Rangers job

Rangers have identified their leading candidate to replace Barry Ferguson at Ibrox.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Monday was the day. Leeds United officially confirmed their promotion to the Premier League at the second time of asking at the start of this week.

The Whites knew that they had a chance to get out of the Championship if they beat Stoke City, and they ran out emphatic 6-0 winners against the Potters.

Five of their goals came in the first half, before Wilfried Gnonto got in on the act in the second 45, and that result meant that they could cheer Burnley on against Sheffield United in the evening kick-off.

The Clarets beat the Blades 2-1 at Turf Moor in a result that confirmed Leeds and Burnley’s places in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign, whilst the two teams must still battle it out in the final two matches to see who wins the title.

Daniel Farke can now start to think about his preparations for next season and how his team will attack the top-flight; the players who will remain key to the starting XI, and those who may not be up to the task of stepping up.

One player whose future will be interesting to see unfold is centre-forward Joel Piroe, who has struggled at times this season but provided a reminder of his quality against Stoke.

Why Joel Piroe could be replaced this summer

The former Swansea City marksman is a terrific finisher at Championship level, that cannot be denied, as he has scored 19 goals from 16.41 xG and only missed 12 ‘big chances’ in the division this term.

Piroe scored four goals from four shots, totalling 1.35 xG worth of chances, against Stoke on Monday, showcasing his ruthless edge in front of goal.

However, he found himself completely unmarked in the box for all four of those chances, as the Stoke defenders left a lot to be desired with their performances, and the striker may not get that kind of time and space in the Premier League.

The left-footed forward had failed to score in his previous nine Championship starts, leading to doubt about his place in the team before his exceptional showing on Easter Monday, and Farke may question whether or not he has the attributes to be the club’s starting number nine in the top-flight.

24/25 Championship	Joel Piroe
Appearances	44
Dribbles completed per game	0.3
Dribble success rate	33%
Ground duels won per game	1.7
Ground duel success rate	27%
Aerial duels won per game	0.6
Aerial duel success rate	20%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Piroe’s work off the ball has left a lot to be desired in the Championship this term, as he has been dominated by opposition defenders on the ground and in the air.

The 25-year-old striker is too lightweight at times, as shown by his dreadful success rate in duels, and that is a big concern ahead of a Premier League season where Leeds will be with their backs against the wall and fighting to avoid relegation.

All three newly-promoted teams, assuming Ipswich do not win all five of their remaining games and West Ham lose all of theirs, are being relegated from the Premier League this year, as they were the year before, which illustrates how difficult it will be for the Whites.

This means that Leeds will likely need a centre-forward who can alleviate pressure on the team by holding the ball up, duelling with defenders, and by running the channels to stretch the play and open up space for the midfielders to work.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unfortunately, Piroe’s physical data suggests that he will not be cut out for thatrole in the Premier League, which is why Farke could replace him with a new signing this summer.

One star from the 6-0 win over the Potters who should not be replaced in the starting XI for next season, though, is right-back Jayden Bogle, who has been an even better signing than Piroe.

Why Bogle has been a better signing than Piroe for Leeds

The English full-back was reportedly signed for a fee of £5m from rivals Sheffield United last summer, whereas Piroe was signed from Swansea for a reported fee of more than £10m in the summer of 2023.

Despite costing less than half as much as the Dutchman, Bogle has been far more consistent in his performances over the course of this promotion-winning campaign at right-back, showing that the club hit the jackpot with their deal for the defender.

Piroe has dipped in-and-out of the team at times, coming off the bench on ten occasions, and has gone through dry spells, with zero goals in nine games prior to the Stoke match, as well as struggling with his lack of physicality consistently throughout the season.

Bogle, on the other hand, has started all 42 of his appearances in the division, averaging 87 minutes played per game, which illustrates how much Farke has relied on him week-in-week-out.

Jayden Bogle’s complete performances (24/25 Championship)
Tackles + interceptions	3.2	xG	5.09
Ball recoveries per game	3.5	Goals	6
Ground duel success rate	55%	Big chances created	9
Aerial duel success rate	53%	xA	5.63
Error led to goal	0	Assists	4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old full-back has shown that he can mix defensive quality and strength with outstanding attacking contributions from a defensive position.

Bogle, whose pass to Piroe against Preston was dubbed “tremendous” by Aidy White, has the drive and quality to motor down the right flank to deliver goals and assists – assisting Piroe’s second against Stoke.

The ex-Sheffield United star has also won the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air, without making any errors that have directly led to goals against for Leeds.

Therefore, Bogle is a complete full-back who seems to have the qualities required to make the step up to the Premier League in Farke’s current team, because he has the physicality and the technical ability to deal with the step up.

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This is why he was an even better signing than Piroe because he can handle both sides of the game, making him a player with top-flight potential, and he cost less than half as much, which shows that Farke hit the jackpot by signing him from the Blades.

Manchester City would have been watching the Premier League results coming in on Saturday with glee, especially when Arsenal shockingly collapsed to a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth.

That surprise loss at the Emirates means Pep Guardiola’s men – off the back of downing Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 on Friday night – are only three points off matching the Gunners in second spot, meaning the rest of May could be a fight now to see who is second best to Arne Slot’s runaway Liverpool.

With an FA Cup trophy also potentially in their hands, this season, once written off as a misfire, might well have some positives after all, with some big buys in the summer boosting City’s chances of becoming Premier League title challengers again.

Man City close in on big-money target

Guardiola and Co have been linked to a whole host of names as the 2024/25 campaign begins to wind down, with the main face dominating conversation being Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz.

According to reports, Bayern Munich are also interested, meaning City would have to pursue alternative targets in the midfield areas, with the likes of Gabriel Sara also reportedly on their radar.

Transfer Focus

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

But, a different path could be explored by the serial winners shortly, with a new report by journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that long-standing City target Morgan Gibbs-White is contemplating his future at Nottingham Forest.

Both Liverpool and Newcastle United are also keen to add the 25-year-old attacking midfielder to their rosters, but it remains to be seen which club would be willing to splash out the mammoth £100m asking price to land the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man.

Whether or not City want to pay that price, according to Fabrizio Romano on Sunday, the Citizens are planning to advance their efforts to sign the Englishman soon.

After all, City have already seen what Gibbs-White is capable of when he assisted this sweet strike versus them back in March, with the potential here for the two-time England international to strike up a fierce relationship with Erling Haaland up top.

How Gibbs-White could get more out of Haaland

The Nordic goal machine does have his deficiencies when it comes to long spells out of the side with injury, but when he’s at the peak of his powers and purring in front of goal, there are few attackers better than the 24-year-old in world football.

Overall this season, Haaland finds himself on a blistering 30 strikes from 40 clashes, with 21 of those coming in the bread and butter of the Premier League, even when City have regularly found themselves off the boil.

Therefore, throwing in Gibbs-White to the mix could only work wonders for Haaland’s potency, with the 25-year-old actually bettering the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in terms of assists this season in the Premier League.

In the words of by football statistician Statman Dave, he has been a “magician” for the Tricky Trees, amassing nine assists in the league, with his equally impressive goal count of five strikes from 30 league games no doubt enhancing Guardiola’s men in the forward areas even more if a signature was reached.

While De Bruyne makes more key passes per game with two, Gibbs-White isn’t far behind with 1.5 in the Premier League this season. That’s a number that would rank him fourth in the City squad, ahead of other midfielders in the shape of Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Rodri.

1. Savinho

27

8

2. Kevin De Bruyne

25

7

3. Jeremy Doku

26

6

4. Matheus Nunes

24

5

5. Ilkay Gundogan

31

5

Evidently, City do need to freshen in the attacking midfield spots with De Bruyne heading for the exit door and Gundogan failing to find the back of the net in the league this season from 31 contests.

Therefore, Gibbs-White might be the transformative body City desire, with the £100m target also a potentially perfect teammate for Haaland to bounce off of to enable the goals to flow even more from their clinical number nine.

Man City sold arguably the "best forward in the world", now he's like Wirtz

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ByKelan Sarson May 3, 2025

Sheffield United look as if they’ll be narrowly missing out on automatic promotion at the very top of the Championship with their opponents on Easter Monday in Scott Parker’s Burnley perhaps clinching a return to the Premier League at their expense.

Indeed, the Clarets can seal an immediate return to the promised land of the top-flight if they beat the travelling Blades, with Leeds United also only one victory away if Burnley get the job done against Chris Wilder’s men and they win themselves.

The South Yorkshire titans don’t have the most glittering record when it comes to the lottery of the playoffs unfortunately, with the Blades losing out during their last five playoff adventures, away from triumphantly managing to go up via the more drama-free top-two.

Wilder has only ever got his side up via these automatic spots, with other bosses such as the passionate Neil Warnock also clinching a passage up to the top-flight at the end of the 2005/06 season without the agony of the playoffs courtesy of Phil Jagielka’s heroics at the back.

Jagielka's heroics at Sheffield United

Before Jagielka went on to cement himself as a Premier League regular at Everton, the Blades youth product would initially make a name for himself at his boyhood side.

The 40-time England international amassed a whopping 305 appearances for United across two spells, with his efforts at the back during the aforementioned 05/06 campaign more than helping his team leap up to the top-flight, having bagged a sizeable eight goals as a titan defensively.

He went on to help himself to a further four goals the following campaign even whilst Warnock’s men tragically fell straight back down to the EFL, leading to Everton swooping in to land the 5 foot 11 defender to make him a recognised name in the big time.

Amazingly, Wilder might well be brewing United’s next Jagielka now during the dramatic promotion run-in.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Sheffield United's modern-day Jagielka

Wilder has shown this campaign that he’s unafraid to make a team selection that throws the cat amongst the pigeons, with faces such as £10m striker Tom Cannon regularly left out.

Last time out in the second tier, the Blades boss even left out ex-Liverpool defender Jack Robinson to gift Crystal Palace loanee Rob Holding a start, a decision that was immediately vindicated when assessing his top display against Cardiff City.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

70

Accurate passes

58/61 (95%)

Accurate long balls

11/14

Clearances

4

Blocked shots

1

Tackles

1

Total duels won

4/8

The brand-new United number five was calm and controlled on the ball throughout, particularly considering it was just his second league start since a January switch.

That was epitomised by his pass completion rate, with only three of his 61 passes missing their intended target during his time on the field.

Moreover, he also battled well against the relegation-threatened Bluebirds with four clearances tallied up alongside four duels being successfully won, leading to Wilder lauding the ex-Arsenal man as “outstanding” post-match.

As a result, the club may well have unearthed their next version of Jagielka. That’s considering Holding – much like his now retired counterpart – has a wealth of top-flight experience under his belt, having amassed 162 appearances for the Gunners in total away from injury issues.

With discussions centring in on the fact United could try to tie down Holding to a permanent deal, Wilder would love for the 29-year-old – like Jagielka – to continue putting in stern displays when called upon to try and clinch promotion.

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ByKelan Sarson Apr 16, 2025

Can Celtic start to rebuild some momentum ahead of the Scottish Cup Final?

On Sunday, the Hoops fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with fierce rivals Rangers at Ibrox, with Adam Idah equalising shortly after half time, before Daizen Maeda squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to snatch victory right at the death.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have therefore won only one of the five Glasgow derbies played this season, excluding penalty shootout victories, but it matters not, given that the Celts were crowned champions a week earlier, still a whopping 17 points clear at the top.

Nevertheless, Rodgers will still want to see his side get back to winning ways when third-placed Hibs visit Parkhead on Saturday, with the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen to come at Hampden a fortnight later.

Off the park, attention has already turned towards plans for the summer transfer window, so do Celtic have a player from within the Premiership in their sights?

Latest on Celtic's summer transfer search

According to a report by Stephen McGowan of the Herald, Celtic are ‘considering’ a move to sign Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan on a free transfer, with his contract at Pittodrie set to expire this summer.

Given that Kasper Schmeichel is currently sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Viljami Sinisalo has started Celtic’s last six matches in goal, earning decent reviews, with Graeme McGarry of the National outlining that the 23-year-old has taken ‘it all in his stride’.

It’s unclear where Doohan would fit into the pecking order, but his potential arrival could see current third-choice Scott Bain depart, having not featured since a two-minute cameo on the final day of last season.

Doohan, for his part, is currently second-choice at Aberdeen, behind Dimitar Mitov, albeit he has made 18 appearances this season, described as “brilliant” by Dons captain Graeme Shinnie, following Celtic’s hard-fought 1-0 win at Pittodrie in December.

So now, could the 27-year-old, who was previously on Celtic’s books between 2013 and 2022 without ever making a senior appearance, be set to return to Glasgow’s East End?

Celtic's best value-for-money signings from within the Premiership

It’s hardly the most inventive or ingenious strategy, but Celtic have often sign the best players from within the Scottish Premiership, not only strengthening themselves, but simultaneously weakening their rivals in the process.

Here is a selection of the most recent examples.

Celtic signings from within the SPFL (2015-present)

Players

Selling club

Fee

Celtic appearances

Luke McCowan

Dundee

£1m

37*

Benjamin Siegrist

Dundee United

Free

2

David Turnbull

Motherwell

£3.25m

134

Greg Taylor

Kilmarnock

£2.2m

213*

Scott Bain

Dundee

Free

78*

Jonny Hayes

Aberdeen

£1m

68

Lewis Morgan

St Mirren

£300k

31

Jack Hendry

Dundee

£1.5m

27

Nadir Çiftçi

Dundee United

£1.5m

26

Scott Allan

Hibernian

£275k

17

Ryan Christie

Inverness CT

£500k

151

Gary Mackay-Steven

Dundee United

£250k

62

Stuart Armstrong

Dundee United

£2.5m

144

*indicates that the player is still at the club

All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table proves, Celtic’s domestic signings over the last decade have been pretty hit-and-miss; Greg Taylor, Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong all made a big impression, while others, looking at you Benjamin Siegrist, contributed very little at all.

The Hoops’ most recent signing from within the Premiership is Luke McCowan, who arrived from Dundee on deadline day last summer for a reported £1m, and has impressed during his first season in Glasgow.

To date, the 27-year-old has scored six goals and registered seven assists in hoops, with Rodgers describing the midfielder as “absolutely brilliant”, adding that he’s probably “been unfortunate not to play more” throughout the season.

Thus, McCowan proves that value can be found within the Premiership, which is certainly something for Celtic to think about ahead of the summer.

Doohan, for his part, has gained plenty of experience since departing Celtic after seven years at the club as a youngster, making 80 appearances for Ayr United, 60 for Tranmere Rovers, 20 for Aberdeen and 19 in the colours of Forest Green Rovers.

In this season’s Premiership, Doohan has registered a 54.4% save percentage, saving 33 of the 59 shots on target he has faced, keeping only two clean sheets in 14 starts but, should he move to Celtic, that ratio would surely be significantly higher.

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Glasgow Rangers need to change their transfer strategy if they wish to compete domestically next season.

Celtic will wrap up their fourth successive Premiership title soon, and if the Light Blues don’t change things this summer, the drought could go on for much longer.

Of course, much will depend on who becomes the new manager of the Ibrox side this summer as Barry Ferguson’s interim spell looks set to end in a few weeks.

Last summer, Philippe Clement signed players such as Hamza Igamane, Clinton Nsiala, and Jefte. This trio could potentially make the club plenty of money when the time to cash in arrives.

Signing a few experienced squad members is still important this summer, but the vast majority of transfer business should be focused on those who are yet to hit their peak.

With Lyall Cameron already making the move from Dundee to Rangers this summer, it appears the Gers are looking at raiding the Dens Park side for the second time in a matter of months.

Rangers target move for Josh Mulligan this summer

Journalist Joshua Barrie of the Rangers Review has recently stated that the Light Blues are interested in making a move for Mulligan in a bid to add more Scottish talent to their squad.

The 22-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer, which means the club won’t have to pay a penny in order to secure his signature.

This type of move is one that could offer plenty of rewards for the Gers for such a low-risk signing, something which needs to happen more often.

With James Tavernier’s future uncertain as he enters the last year of his deal in Glasgow, Mulligan could be an ideal heir for the Englishman.

Why Josh Mulligan would be a great signing for Rangers

The Scottish U21 international can play across a range of positions. For Dundee this season, he has played in the centre of the midfield, on the right flank, and at right-back.

While he might not be able to match Tavernier for goal contributions – five assists across 36 matches this season for Dundee – Mulligan still has plenty to offer going forward.

Indeed, in the Premiership this season, he has created eight big chances while also averaging one key pass and one successful dribble per game in the top flight.

A move to Ibrox would allow Mulligan the chance to play for a team that will fight for domestic trophies, plus giving him the chance to feature in European competition, whether it be the Champions League or Europa League.

Josh Mulligan’s market valuation at Dundee

According to Transfermarkt, Mulligan is currently worth €600k (£500k) at the time of writing.

Given his impressive performances for a relegation-threatened Dundee side, this value will surely increase in the next few months, especially if he moves to Rangers and showcases his talents.

If, and it’s a big if, Mulligan shines at Ibrox and becomes the player everyone expects of him, he will make the club millions in profit.

At this moment in time, however, there is another Scottish youngster in the first-team squad who is currently worth a lot more than Mulligan – Connor Barron.

How Connor Barron has performed for Rangers this season

In one of the worst-kept secrets last summer, Rangers finally announced the signing of Barron after weeks of rumours.

The midfielder left Aberdeen upon the expiration of his contract, duly made the move south to Ibrox, and was essentially seen as an ideal replacement for Ryan Jack.

Following 76 appearances for the Dons, it was clear that Barron was looking like a solid signing. He clearly knew how to perform in the Premiership and had made six appearances in the Conference League for the Pittodrie side last season.

His performances were hailed by Scott Gemmill, Barron’s U21 manager at international level, who said: “Connor is very impressive on and off the pitch the way he conducts himself.”

It didn’t take long for him to make his mark at Rangers, starting both of the Champions League qualifying matches against Dynamo Kiev, along with operating in the starting XI for the first 13 league games.

Connor Barron’s stats for Rangers this season
Metric	Europa League	Premiership
Accurate passes per game	22.7	40.1
Pass success rate	80%	90%
Tackles per game	2.3	2.1
Balls recovered per game	4.3	3.4
Possession lost per game	7.9	7
Via Sofascore

2025 hasn’t been as productive, however, as Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande have established themselves as the main midfield duo at Ibrox in recent months.

This has left Barron resorting to appearances from the bench in order to get playing time. He did feature for 83 minutes in the recent 3-2 victory over Celtic at Parkhead and was even made captain for the 2-2 draw against Aberdeen a few weeks ago.

Overall, it has been a solid debut campaign in Glasgow for the young midfielder. In the Premiership, Barron averages a 90% pass success rate, makes 2.1 tackles, 1.1 clearances, and recovers 3.4 balls per game.

Furthermore, he loses possession only seven times per game and wins 50% of his ground duels each match for the Ibrox side, which suggests that he is reliable on and off the ball.

Connor Barron’s market valuation at Rangers

Although Barron initially arrived at Rangers for nothing, the Gers were forced to pay a fee of around £640k for the midfielder after they were due compensation because his career began at Aberdeen.

This still looks like it could become a bargain transfer for Rangers, especially considering his market value has increased recently.

Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, Barron is now worth €2.5m (£2m) following an impressive debut season in Glasgow.

This means that he is currently worth even more than Mulligan, who is valued at £500k, and that illustrates how much the Gers hit the jackpot with the Scotland international.

Much will depend on who the new manager will be, but Barron has laid the foundations for a potentially successful spell at Rangers.

He is worth a lot more than Mulligan, and this valuation should rise exponentially as time goes on.

Whatever happens, it appears as though the club are looking to bring in the best of Scottish talent this summer. With Barron and Cameron now part of the squad, Mulligan could be the next player to link up with Rangers.

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Liverpool have reportedly “identified” a “fantastic” replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer, with the player in question excelling in the Premier League this season.

Trent's Liverpool future still unknown

With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk tied down to their respective new two-year deals in recent weeks, Reds supporters have been able to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

That said, there are still huge doubts surrounding the future of Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, with the vice-captain heavily linked with a move from his boyhood club to Real Madrid.

The fact that the 26-year-old has done little to play down the rumours at any point suggests that his head may well have been turned by a high-profile summer switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, in a decision that would have the potential to harm his legacy at Anfield.

If Alexander-Arnold does leave Liverpool this summer, it is vital that a top-quality replacement comes in, with SC Freiburg’s Kiliann Sildillia mentioned as a target. Bayer Leverkusen ace Jeremie Frimpong has also been backed to join the Reds, having shone under Xabi Alonso for the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Liverpool eyeing "fantastic" Trent replacement

According to an update from Caught Offside on Sunday, Liverpool have “identified” Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina as a new target and option to replace Alexander-Arnold at the end of the season, assuming he leaves.

The 28-year-old has shone for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side throughout the 2024/25 campaign, proving to be a key player in their push for unlikely Champions League qualification.

The £40,000-a-week Aina is a strong option for Liverpool alongside the likes of Sildillia and Frimpong this summer, with his performances for Forest showing what an asset he could be.

The Nigerian has averaged 2.9 clearances and 0.4 aerial duel wins per game in the Premier League across 30 appearances, which is superior to Alexander-Arnold’s tallies in that area, as the table below illustrates.

Appearances

30

28

Starts

30

26

Minutes played

2575

2158

Goals

2

2

Assists

1

6

Clearances per game

2.9

1.6

Aerial duel wins per game

0.4

0.1

Interceptions per game

1.0

1.1

Aina has also been lauded for one attacking moment of quality earlier this season, with Glenn Murray full of praise for his goal against Aston Villa:

“Sometimes when you come on to a shot like that the temptation can be to leather the ball with your laces. But, it’s a side foot, it’s controlled and it’s a fantastic finish, it really is.”

At 28, Aina is two years older than Alexander-Arnold, however, and wouldn’t necessarily represent a long-term option for Liverpool, which is arguably the biggest negative against them signing him.

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The Reds would arguably be wiser to look at younger targets, such as those mentioned above, allowing them to sign someone with more scope to improve as the years pass.

Leeds United are currently enjoying their title party and could already be set to kick that up a notch after identifying two candidates to join them on their Premier League journey, according to a report.

Leeds crowned champions after stunning win at Plymouth

Daniel Farke has endured plenty of trials and tribulations this term, but his side have been a class above and deservedly find themselves top-flight bound after a successful campaign climaxed with a last-gasp title winner from Manor Solomon at Plymouth this weekend.

Many would argue that a club of Leeds’ stature belong in the Premier League, though there is plenty of work to be done to ensure his squad are equipped to take on the challenge of surviving after promotion from the Championship.

Dipping into the market, Farke has identified Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda as a primary target at Elland Road following his freescoring campaign north of the border. The Japan international is valued at £25 million, while Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are among a host of clubs ready to swoop for his services.

Confidence is high that Solomon will join Leeds on a permanent deal after a fine campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, with the player said to have agreed to a return next term.

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Kalvin Phillips and Tomas Soucek have been mentioned in connection with the Whites. The former hardly comes a surprise due to his links with his boyhood club, but it remains to be seen if a fairytale return is on the cards.

Scaling up ahead of their Premier League return won’t be easy for Leeds, given the level of side they are likely to come up against on a weekly basis compared to the English second-tier. Nevertheless, they now have two talented players in their sights that could make all the difference, per recent developments.

Leeds want Nicolas Kuhn and Cameron Carter-Vickers from Celtic

According to TBR, Leeds are in the mix to sign Celtic duo Cameron Carter-Vickers and Nicolas Kuhn to strengthen their Premier League survival bid. The pair earn £50,000 per week between them at Parkhead and have lit up the domestic scene in Scotland, emerging as two of the best players in the top-flight, with Carter-Vickers playing a part in the Bhoys conceding only 22 goals in 34 league matches.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – key statistics in 2024/25 (Scottish Premiership)

Duels won

160

Aerial duels won

119

Recoveries

123

Dribbled past

3

Interceptions

32

Nicolas Kuhn – key statistics in 2024/25 (Scottish Premiership)

Chances created

47

Completed dribbles

55

Shots on target

24

Touches in opposition box

157

Duels won

107

On the other hand, Kuhn has notched 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions, earning plaudits for his consistent displays coming off the right flank.

Celtic’s involvement in Champions League football may be a sticking point for Leeds if negotiations were to occur, though the lure of Premier League football can be a tempting one for top performers in Scotland.

Arsenal have made an enquiry over the signing of a “spectacular” £85m forward who has been linked with an exit from his current club.

Gunners pursuing new forwards

With the Gunners once again falling short in their Premier League title pursuit, there is a feeling that a top striker could be the missing piece of the jigsaw, and they are now stepping up their pursuit of one of their key targets.

Talks have now been held over a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who could be a more attainable target than Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, with the Magpies very unlikely to be willing to strengthen a direct rival.

Signing a new striker may be the number one priority, but there is also a willingness to strengthen in wide areas this summer, with Mikel Arteta being left a little light on options at times this season, given that Bukayo Saka spent a long time on the treatment table.

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Manchester United’s Antony has now emerged as a surprise target, with the north Londoners reportedly enquiring about the Brazilian, while they have also made an approach for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

That is according to a report from Spain, (via Caught Offside), which states Arsenal have enquired about the terms of a summer deal for the Brazilian, but they have discovered that he will not come cheap, with the Spanish side holding out for €100m (£85m).

Madrid believe they will be able to hold out for a huge fee, given that there is widespread interest in the winger from the Premier League, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United also in the race for his signature.

The desire to sign the 24-year-old comes amid doubts over both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, with the duo not performing at their best this season.

"Spectacular" Rodrygo could become "superstar" at Arsenal

Former Arsenal man Emmanuel Petit is clearly a big fan of the winger, having instructed the Gunners to make a move for him in the past, saying: “He could be an absolute superstar for Arsenal and I rate him very much. He scores goals, gives assists and gives great energy on the pitch.”

The Brazil international has also been lauded as “spectacular” by manager Carlo Ancelotti, and his attacking numbers for Madrid in La Liga over the past few seasons suggest he could make a real impact in Arteta’s side.

Season

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

34

9

9

2023-24

34

10

5

2024-25

30

6

6

The only doubt over the signing of the Madrid star will be the fact he has been on a goal drought in 2025, failing to record a goal contribution in his last 12 La Liga outings.

Rodrygo’s previous exploits indicate that he could still be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, but a fee of £85m is a little on the expensive side, given his current form.