كشف مصدر داخل الجهاز الفني لنادي الزمالك عن السبب الحقيقي وراء استبعاد محمد عواد، حارس مرمى الفريق الأول، من قائمة مباراة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.
وعلم بطولات، أن القرار جاء بعد أن أُبلغ عواد خلال المران الختامي أمس بعدم مشاركته كأساسي في اللقاء، وهو ما تسبب في حدوث خلاف بينه وبين المدرب أحمد عبد الرؤوف، ليتم على إثره استبعاده من القائمة بشكل رسمي.
ويحل الزمالك مساء اليوم السبت ضيفًا على كايزر تشيفز، ضمن المجموعة التي تضم المصري البورسعيدي وزيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.
طالع أيضًا | بدلاء الزمالك أمام كايزر تشيفز في كأس الكونفدرالية.. عدي الدباغ يُجاور بنتايج وبدأ الزمالك المباراة بتشكيل مكون من:
حراسة المرمى : محمد صبحي.
خط الدفاع: أحمد فتوح – محمود حمدي “الونش” – حسام عبد المجيد – عمر جابر.
خط الوسط : محمد إسماعيل – محمد شحاتة – ناصر ماهر.
خط الهجوم : شيكو بانزا – سيف الجزيري – خوان بيزيرا.
وكان الزمالك قد افتتح مشواره بفوز ثمين على زيسكو يونايتد بهدف دون رد على استاد القاهرة الدولي، فيما يتصدر المصري البورسعيدي المجموعة برصيد 6 نقاط بعد فوزه الأخير على زيسكو، مقابل 3 نقاط للزمالك، بينما يتذيل كايزر تشيفز وزيسكو الترتيب دون نقاط.
West Ham have reportedly held discussions over signing a Brazil international duo who’ve both impressed in front of goal this year, with Nuno Espírito Santo badly in need of a new focal point up front.
The club’s January transfer window plans are becoming increasingly focused on three key priorities — a defender, midfielder and forward (Sky Sports).
The urgency for a striker stems largely from the ongoing issues surrounding Niclas Fullkrug’s persistent injury problems, which have severely limited his availability and impact for the Hammers since his move last year.
Fullkrug was brought in with high hopes as a reliable goal-scoring option to lead the line, but his torrid injury record has prevented him from consistently delivering those expected contributions.
Time and again, injuries have sidelined Fullkrug, and this inconsistency has left West Ham very short of choices upfront.
Callum Marshall, while tipped for a promising career, is too inexperienced to lead the Irons’ forward line, while it is believed that Nuno privately doesn’t rate summer signing Callum Wilson.
This has resulted in Nuno experimenting with Lucas Paqueta as West Ham’s false nine in their last two Premier League matches — which both ended in defeat.
West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
The lack of a dependable number nine is a major concern for Nuno as he looks to avoid a dreaded drop back down to the Championship, which is now a serious possibility.
In the last fortnight alone, David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board have been linked with a host of intriguing options.
Real Madrid sensation Endrick is apparently a top target for West Ham, but they’ll have to move quickly as Ligue 1 giants Lyon have already made a formal approach with the player himself keen.
Journalist Alan Nixon has said that West Ham have already worked on a loan deal for Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney as well, with the Irons also holding discussions over Gonzalo Garcia (Graeme Bailey).
West Ham "offered" Brazil duo Pedro and Kaio Jorge
Now, according to Hammers News and journalist Graeme Bailey, you can add Brazilian strikers Pedro and Kaio Jorge to West Ham’s list of potential targets this winter.
Pedro
Pedro, who’s scored 15 goals for Flamengo during this 2025 season, once plied his trade for Fiorentina in Europe but has spent the majority of his career in South America — where he’s earned six caps for the national team.
Jorge’s scored a seismic 20 goals for Cruzeiro this year, and the 23-year-old ex-Juventus sensation is still yet to reach his prime.
Jorge only has one senior appearance for Brazil so far, but considering his stellar 2025 campaign, Carlo Ancelotti will certainly be keeping a keen eye on the striker ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Bailey reports that West Ham have held discussions with agents about signing Pedro and Jorge, with Nuno’s side “offered” the duo by representatives.
That is as far as it’s gone, but there is reason to believe shopping in the Brazilian Serie A market could prove fruitful.
Jorge carries a market value of just £15 million according to Transfermarkt, while Pedro’s value comes in at around £17.5 million — making them pretty affordable options.
They’re also both represented by Bertolucci Sports, an agency that’s helped Brazilian talents like Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes and Matheus Cunha seal moves to the Premier League in recent years.
أنهى فريق مانشستر سيتي استعداداته لمباراته المرتقبة في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء يوم الثلاثاء، ضد خصمه فريق باير ليفركوزن الألماني.
ويستضيف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة فريقي مانشستر سيتي وباير ليفركوزن، في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، موسم 2025/26.
وتدخل كتيبة بيب جوارديولا تلك المباراة وهي تمتلك سجلًا خاليًا من الهزائم في المباريات الأربعة الماضية، حيث حققت فوزًا في 3 لقاءات وتعادلت في واحدة حتى الآن.
اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا قبل مواجهة باير ليفركوزن: نسينا الهزيمة أمام نيوكاسل.. وما زلت أرتكب أخطاء فادحة
وذكرت شبكة “سيتي إكسترا” الإنجليزية أن 24 لاعبًا شاركوا في تدريبات مانشستر سيتي، يوم الإثنين، استعدادًا لمباراة باير ليفركوزن في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وأوضحت أن النجم المصري عمر مرموش تواجد في تدريبات مانشستر سيتي اليوم، حيث يأمل المشاركة في مباراة الغد بعدما عانى من قلة مشاركته في اللقاءات السابقة، في ظل اعتماد جوارديولا على إيرلينج هالاند، جيريمي دوكو وفيل فودين.
وجاءت قائمة اللاعبين المشاركين في تدريبات مانشستر سيتي اليوم استعدادًا لمباراة ليفركوزن، على النحو التالي:
حراسة المرمى: جيانلويجي دوناروما، جيمس ترافورد.
خط الدفاع: ريكو لويس، ماتيوس نونيز، جادل كاتونجو، عبد القادر خوسانوف، روبن دياز، جون ستونز، جوسكو جفارديول، ناثان آكي، ريان آيت نوري، نيكو أوريلي.
Na véspera do início do Campeonato Brasileiro, o jornalista André Rizek, do SporTV, fez projeções para a competição e colocou Palmeiras e Flamengo como os favoritos ao título. Entre os times que vão brigar contra o rebaixamento, Rizek citou três grandes clubes: Corinthians, Cruzeiro e Vasco.
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– Pela lógica, eu sou obrigado a colocar como os grandes candidatos ao título o Palmeiras, o atual campeão, e o Flamengo, pelo elenco que tem. O Atlético-MG, pelo time titular que tem, é um candidato correndo por fora. Já os times que vão brigar na parte de cima da tabela são o Fluminense, atual campeão da Libertadores, ainda que não esteja jogando bem até o momento; o Internacional, pelos jogadores que tem; o Grêmio, que com Renato sempre conquistou a classificação para Libertadores; e o Botafogo, mas sem o protagonismo do ano passado – afirmou.
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Rizek também citou os times que, segundo ele, vão fazer um campeonato seguro, sem muito risco:
– O Bahia, o Atlético-PR, o Fortaleza, que todo ano faz campeonatos seguros, e o Bragantino. Em relação aos times ameaçados pelo rebaixamento, eu acho que Corinthians, Cruzeiro e Vasco são os grandes que começam o campeonato preocupados com o risco de queda, além dos quatro que subiram (Vitória, Criciúma, Atlético-GO e Juventude) e o Cuiabá, que briga todo ano, mas consegue ficar – disse.
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Rizek destacou que “o futebol é o esporte que existe para desafiar a lógica”, e que neste ano, em especial, há um grande desafio para derrubar qualquer palpite lógico: a Copa América, que – somados os amistosos antes dela – vai desfalcar os times em até nove rodadas.
– Imagine o Flamengo perdendo até nove jogadores por até nove rodadas? A Copa América pode ser grande rival de vários times brasileiros, principalmente do Flamengo – ressaltou.
Alana King fights with three wickets but can’t avoid 89-run loss at Chester-le-Street
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay24-Jul-2025
Hollie Armitage made Durham Women’s first professional century•Durham CCC
Durham 257 (Armitage 111, Windsor 55, King 3-31) beat Lancashire 168 (Fraser 3-33) by 89 runsAn excellent century from Durham captain Hollie Armitage led her side to an 89-run win in their Metro Bank One Day Cup clash with Lancashire Thunder.Durham’s total of 257 was supercharged by Armitage’s century, the first scored by a Durham player in professional women’s cricket, but three wickets from Alana King restricted the hosts in the closing period of the innings.Lancashire’s chase got off to a bad start as they found themselves 59 for four and they never really got going after that, with Durham bowling them out for 168 to continue their quarter-final pursuit.Armitage won the toss and elected to bat, but the hosts’ innings got off to a bad start as Lancashire got a moment of good fortune when Bates was run out backing up for 12.Armitage then came to the crease and played a delightful shot through the covers off the bowling of Sophie Morris, while Marlow played a tidy shot off her legs for four to keep the Durham total ticking over.The Durham pair were looking good, but a mix up between the wickets meant that Marlow had to depart as she was run out for a well-made 37.King then got her first as Mady Villiers edged a delivery straight into the hands of Eve Jones at slip for one. Armitage then passed fifty for the fourth time in the competition, with this one coming from 61 balls.Emily Windsor, making her Durham List A debut, joined Armitage and looked good as she launched a Morris ball down the ground for four.Lancashire had a chance to get the key wicket of Armitage when she mistimed a slog sweep off Tara Norris but Seren Smale failed to take a catch on the boundary with the Durham batter on 71.The attention quickly turned to a milestone at the other end as Windsor picked up her first half-century in a Durham shirt, with it coming from 47 balls.Windsor didn’t last much longer as King got her caught behind for a fluent 55, but Armitage continued to flow as she picked up back-to-back fours off Norris, but two quick wickets fell at the other end as King got Heath and Phoebe Turner was run out.However, Armitage managed to get her seventh List A century from 110 balls, but Norris got Katherine Fraser with the next ball.Gaur then got Grace Thompson, while Armitage and Sophia Turner were run out in the final over to leave Durham on 257 all out.Lancashire’s opening pair of Emma Lamb and Eve Jones guided their side through the opening overs with minimum fuss, but when Mady Villiers came into the attack that changed as she got Lamb, the top run scorer in this competition, caught behind for 12.Durham struck again to remove Tilly Kesteven for four as the Lancashire batter mistimed a cut shot off the bowling of Fraser and Thompson produced a superb diving catch at backward point.Lancashire’s poor start to their chase continued as Jones chipped one straight back to Fraser for 24 and the visitors were in trouble at 47 for three.Ellie Threlkeld relieved some pressure as she smashed Phoebe Turner’s first ball down the ground for four, but the Durham bowler struck back as she bowled the Lancashire captain with a beauty.Ailsa Lister played a glorious shot over the field on the offside for a much-needed boundary.Smale continued to tick the score along for the visitors, knowing that her partnership with Lister was key to any Lancashire victory hopes, but that partnership didn’t last much longer as Katie Levick got Lister caught at cover for 18. King failed to have the same impact with the bat as she did with the ball as she was caught behind off the bowling of Levick for four.Durham were on the brink of victory as Villiers got Smale LBW for 32 to leave Lancashire seven down.Kate Cross looked to offer some resistance as she played a pair of nice shots off the bowling of Phoebe Turner, but Fraser picked up her third as she removed Norris.Sophia Turner then got in on the act as she bowled Cross for a resolute 34 and she wrapped up the win, bowling Morris for a golden duck.
Ex-Celtic striker Charlie Mulgrew has told the Hoops exactly what they must offer Jurgen Klopp to become their Brendan Rodgers replacement in what would be a sensational move.
The Bhoys are still looking for their next manager as Martin O’Neill continues to be a success as interim boss. The 73-year-old made it two wins from two on Sunday after defeating Old Firm rivals Rangers 3-1 after extra-time in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.
It was just like old times for O’Neill, who watched on as goals from Callum McGregor and a first goal for Callum Osmand ensured that his side got one over on their biggest rivals once again.
Relieved to earn a place in the final, O’Neill told reporters at full-time: “It was an incredible game. We were terrific and got the goal in front and got one disallowed for offside.
“We were in command, but I was saying to [assistant] Shaun Maloney we needed a goal to kill the game off and six or seven minutes later, Rangers get the penalty. I was 73 on Monday… I’m 94 now!”
Victory against Rangers has done O’Neill’s chances of becoming the next Celtic manager no harm, that’s for sure. Although the Northern Irishman was quick to admit that he’s just keeping the seat warm when first arriving, two wins from two has sparked rumours that he could yet get the job until the end of the current campaign.
With Ange Postecoglou taking a break from football and reportedly pulling out of the race and other candidates such as Nicky Hayen still in a job, O’Neill may make perfect sense. He’s more experienced than most, especially at Celtic Park, and he is already turning things around.
But he’s not everyone’s first choice. Instead, Mulgrew has urged Dermot Desmond to “go big” and turn to a Champions League winner in Klopp.
Mulgrew urges Celtic to "go big" and hire Jurgen Klopp
Speaking on the latest edition of The Warm-Up Show, ex-Hoops player Mulgrew urged Celtic to hire Klopp and offer the former Liverpool manager a contract worth as much as £7m-a-year, which works out at £135k-a-week.
There’s no denying that it would be an incredible appointment. Klopp transformed Liverpool, awaking English giants and taking them back to Champions League glory, but it seems unlikely that he would make a return to the dugout for Celtic.
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Celtic have another future superstar who is as exciting as Callum Osmand in their academy.
ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2025
That said, whilst unlikely, all hope isn’t lost. The Liverpool legend recently admitted on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast that a return to management is still possible – saying: “I’m 58, that means I could make the decision in a few years, I don’t know. Do I have to make the decision today?
“Then I will not coach again. But thank God, I don’t have to do that. I can just see what the future brings.”
Atual campeão carioca, o Flamengo dominou a seleção da competição em premiação realizada nesta segunda-feira (8). O Rubro-Negro contou com oito atletas no time ideal.
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Em 15 partidas disputadas, a equipe do ex-treinador do Brasil conquistou o torneio de forma invicta, sendo oito vitórias e quatro empates. O time também encerrou o Cariocão com o melhor ataque e defesa.
Vice-campeão, o Nova Iguaçu colocou dois jogadores dentre os 11 melhores da competição: Bill e Carlinhos. Amém disso, Carlos Vitor foi eleito o melhor treinador. O Vasco, que chegou a semifinal, mas foi derrotado pelo Carrossel da Baixada, emplacou Lucas Piton na lateral-esquerda.
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CONFIRA A SELEÇÃO DO CARIOCA: Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira, Lucas Piton, Pulgar, De La Cruz, Arrascaeta, Bill, Pedro e Carlinhos. Técnico: Carlos Vitor
Allrounder’s century lifted Derbyshire from ruin after the Indian leg spinner took 3 in 11 balls
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025
Chahal appeals took four wickets on day one•Getty Images
Derbyshire 348 for 8 (Andersson 105, Chahal 4-116) vs Northamptonshire Martin Andersson led a Derbyshire fightback with a spirited 105, his third century of the summer, as his side rallied to 348 for 8 on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.It came after Indian legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal struck three times in 11 balls to tip the morning session firmly in Northamptonshire’s favour; the visitors ruing their decision to bat as they slipped to 98 for 5 at lunch, despite 39 from Luis Reece.But Andersson (148 balls, 14 fours) then dominated a 102 run-partnership with Aneurin Donald (37) during the afternoon, before sharing a further stand worth 61 with all-rounder Zak Chappell (32).Chahal, who found turn and bounce on a pitch previously used for the Vitality Blast Women Tier Two Finals Day on Saturday, later removed Chappell to finish with figures of four for 116.Earlier Derbyshire had a tough opening hour against some tight Northamptonshire bowling, the bulk of early runs coming through fine leg, their first wicket falling when Caleb Jewell (16) was undone by a George Scrimshaw delivery that jagged back and kept low, trapping him lbw.It brought Reece together with Harry Came (17) who combined in a confident 48-run stand off 69 deliveries, Reece unfurling a handsome cover drive against Scrimshaw to bring up Derbyshire’s 50 in the fifteenth over, before using his feet against Chahal to collect three boundaries over the infield.With Came taking on the seamers, momentum was running in Derbyshire’s direction, before Chahal intervened. First, he turned one across Came to trap him lbw and then picked up Reece who flicked straight to short leg. Brooke Guest’s stay was short, Chahal getting one to grip and turn to take the edge through to the keeper.Justin Broad capped the perfect morning for Northamptonshire, putting a dampener on Wayne Madsen’s 250th first-class game, when he was caught behind playing a lazy shot down the legside.After lunch Andersson and Donald came out fighting, bringing their 50 partnership up off 60 balls, Andersson sweeping and cutting Chahal and pulling seamer Liam Guthrie to the ropes.With 40 runs coming in the first 20 minutes of the session, Chahal then applied the brakes. Racing through his overs, he pushed the ball through quicker too, keeping both batters in check, despite bowling occasional short balls and legside deliveries. And, with fellow spinner Rob Keogh finding some drift at the other end, the scoring rate slowed markedly for a time.Finally though, Andersson got one away, sweeping Chahal for four before playing the same shot against Keogh to reach his 50 from 66 deliveries. Donald meanwhile, managed just two boundaries in his 37 but deployed the reverse sweep to keep the scoreboard ticking over against Chahal as the pair’s stand reached three figures.Keogh made the breakthrough, flighting the ball up and turning it back in sharply to bowl Donald between bat and pad. It brought Chappell to the crease, who began in typically positive fashion. He had advanced to 22 when Scrimshaw put down a straightforward chance at backward point and Derbyshire went into tea on 237 for 6, having added 139 for the loss of just one wicket in the afternoon.Chappell’s reprieve was short lived. After tea he clubbed Chahal down the ground to bring up Derbyshire’s 250 but then edged an attempted reverse sweep straight to slip.Andersson took two boundaries off Chahal through extra cover to reach his century, but the new ball brought immediate rewards when he came down the track to Procter and edged behind.New batter, teenage debutant Joe Wilkins showed no nerves though, looking highly impressive as he drove confidently. With Ben Aitchison also playing some stylish shots the pair put on an excellent unbeaten 48 for the ninth wicket.
هاجمت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية النجم الدولي المصري محمد صلاح، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول بعد الأداء المتواضع الذي يقدمه مع الريدز.
وخسر ليفربول بقيادة مدربه آرني سلوت برباعية مقابل هدف أمام آيندهوفن في مفاجأة كبيرة للغاية وسط جماهيرهم، والتي تعتبر أول هزيمة أوروبية على آنفيلد هذا الموسم.
وخاض محمد صلاح المباراة كاملة لكنه ما زال غائبًا عن زيارة الشباك كما أنه قدم أداءً متوسطًا أمام آيندهوفن.
وقالت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” إنه لا يمكن تجاهل الأداء المتواضع ومساهمات صلاح النادرة إذ لم يُسجل سوى هدفين في الدوري منذ منتصف سبتمبر، ولم يُقدم أي تمريرة حاسمة في أي مسابقة منذ فوز فريقه على إيفرتون بنتيجة 2-1 في الديربي في 20 سبتمبر.
وأفادت أنه كانت هناك أوقات حمل فيها صلاح ليفربول على ظهره بتألقه، لكن الحقيقة الصعبة هي أنه أصبح حملًا زائدًا على الفريق في وقت لا يستطيع ليفربول أن يتحمل أعباء حمله.
في الوقت الذي يحتاج فيه سلوت بشدة إلى صلاح، تلاشى وذهب نحو العدم وأصبح عبئًا على فريق يحتاج إلى الدفاع من الأمام والضغط على دفاعات المنافس ومحاولة عكس سلسلة كارثية من النتائج بطريقة أو بأخرى.
اقرأ أيضًا | “ما حدث لا يغتفر”.. تطورات إقالة سلوت من تدريب ليفربول
كان صلاح غائبًا في خسارة ليفربول أمام آيندهوفن، إنه ليس اللاعب الوحيد الذي لم يحقق النجاح المنتظر منه في الفريق في الوقت الحالي، لكنه واحد منهم وصلاح هو أحد أعظم لاعبي ليفربول على الإطلاق، ويُعرف تفانيه في عمله داخل النادي لكن سلوت يحتاج إلى شيء مختلف على الجانب الأيمن في الوقت الحالي.
في وقت يُعاني فيه النادي من نقص في الأهداف، يحتاج الفريق بشدة إلى مزيد من الثبات، أنفق ليفربول الكثير على التعاقدات الجديدة في الصيف وحان الوقت ليستمتع سلوت بها.
الحل الأخير الذي توصل إليه الكثير من النقاد والتي عرضته الصحيفة البريطانية هو أن فيدريكو كييزا ليس البديل الأمثل لمحمد صلاح لكي يلعب أساسيًا.
ولكن من المؤكد أن هناك حالة من الجدل حول إمكانية إشراك كودي جاكبو على أحد الأطراف ضد وست هام وهوجو إيكيتيكي إذا تعافى من الإصابة على الجانب الآخر مع ألكسندر إيزاك في مركز المهاجم الصريح.
وأشارت “ديلي ميل” أن صلاح لن يكون متاحًا للعب مع ليفربول قريبًا لأنه من المقرر أن يغادر في منتصف ديسمبر للإنضمام إلى منتخب مصر الذي يسعى للفوز بكأس الأمم الأفريقية وقد يغيب لأكثر من شهر بواقع من 8 إلى 9 مباريات إذا قاد منتخب بلده إلى النهائي.
واختتمت موجهة نصيحة إلى سلوت أنه ينبغي عليه أن يبدأ عملية التأقلم مع الحياة بدونه الآن، حان الوقت لإعادة إحياء الفريق بقرارات جريئة، حتى موعد مغادرته إلى المغرب، من المفترض أن يعتمد عليه سلوت على مقاعد البدلاء، وعندما يعود صلاح فسوف يلعب إما تحت قيادة مدرب جديد لليفربول أو سيواجه معركة من أجل العودة إلى الفريق.
For the first time this season, Rangers have won a home Premiership match; Danny Röhl working wonders already!
On Sunday, the Gers beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox, with Derek Cornelius breaking the deadlock, only for Killie to equalise on the cusp of half time, but goals from Danilo and Youssef Chermiti after the interval cemented the victory.
This is just the Gers second league victory of the season, beating Livingston at Almondvale in the last minute in September, thereby moving them up to fifth, just five points behind Celtic, albeit still 13 adrift run-away league-leaders Hearts.
New manager Röhl may only have been in situ for a week, but now faces a crucial seven days, with a tricky trip to Hibernian to come on Wednesday, before the small matter of a Glasgow derby at Hampden in the League Cup semi-finals next Sunday.
Ahead of these massive games, has Röhl unearthed an “exciting” talent who could replicate, arguably, the Premiership’s best striker?
Why Rangers should have signed Lawrence Shankland
During the summer, Rangers were heavily linked with a move for Scotland international striker Lawrence Shankland, given that his contract at Heart of Midlothian expired on 30 June.
After only a few days unemployed, Shankland decided to stay at Hearts, signing a new contract on 3 July, and he certainly showed Rangers what they could have had last month, scoring both as the Jambos won 2-0 at Ibrox.
Well, Heart of Midlothian are certainly the talk of Scottish football at this moment in time.
On Sunday, Derek McInnes’ side beat Celtic 3-1 at a raucous Tynecastle, going in front thanks to an early own goal, before quick-fire strikes from Alexandros Kyziridis and then Shankland from the penalty spot cemented a 3-1 victory.
This leaves Hearts eight points clear at the top, looking to become the first non-Old Firm champions of Scotland since Aberdeen 41 years ago, not facing one of the Glasgow giants again until they travel to Celtic Park on 7 December.
Shankland himself has now scored eight goals this season, five of which have come in the Premiership.
In contrast, right-back James Tavernier is the only Rangers player to have scored more than one league goal across their nine fixtures to date.
Thus, the Hearts captain, a boyhood Rangers fan, spotted at Ibrox for April’s Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club, would unquestionably improve the Gers’ current team, but did Röhl discover his answer to Shankland during Sunday’s match, a forgotten star who could propel Rangers up the table?
Rangers have their own answer to Shankland
Sunday was certainly a memorable afternoon for new signing Youssef Chermiti, scoring his first senior goal since May 2023, but Danilo was the striker who caught the eye.
When he joined the club from Feyenoord for a reported fee of £6m in the summer of 2023, then-manager Michael Beale labelled him an “exciting player who likes to create and score goals”.
Meantime, Melvin Dupper of the Rangers Review described him as ‘quick’ and an ‘amazing instinctive finisher’, praising his work rate and pressing ability, but supporters have seen very little of any of that in the two and a bit years since.
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The Brazilian has scored just 14 goals in 61 outings for the club, sitting out 65 matches due to injury.
Sunday’s header was just his second goal since netting during the 3-0 demolition of Celtic in January.
Overall, as the table below outlines, Danilo had a very productive afternoon against Kilmarnock, despite limited involvement.
Danilo vs Kilmarnock
Stats
Danilo
Match rank
Goals
1
1st
Shots on target
1
2nd
Accurate passes
11
19th
Duels won
3
19th
Touches
18
22nd
Sofascore rating
7.3
4th
Stats via Sofascore
As the table documents, Danilo was not often involved in build-up play, emphasised by the fact he touched the ball just 18 times in 69 minutes on the park, three touches fewer than goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Nevertheless, when his sole opportunity of the afternoon came, he took it, heading past Killie keeper Eddie Beach.
It may be stating the obvious, but having a reliable goalscorer could transform this team, with new manager Röhl attempting to rebuild a sinking ship that has hit rock bottom, following Russell Martin’s catastrophic if only brief reign.
Hearts would not be clear at the top if it wasn’t for the goals scored by Shankland and summer signing Cláudio Braga, with Rangers still searching for their own talisman in attack, following a scattergun summer of recruitment.
New signings Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski look substandard when compared to the pair they are supposed to be replacing, namely Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, so could Danilo, a player they already had, but many had written off, prove to be the centre-forward Röhl can hang his hat on?
0 passes made: Rohl must drop Rangers flop who was worse than Aasgaard
Danny Rohl must drop this Glasgow Rangers flop who was even worse than Thelo Aasgaard against Kilmarnock.