All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Erik ten Hag and Manchester United are planning to revamp the club's defence in the summer, with plenty of turnover possible. After the club elected not to activate their option to extend his contract by a further year, Raphael Varane could leave as a free agent at the end of the season, as could 2023 signing Jonny Evans. Elsewhere, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are up for sale if the Red Devils receive appropriate offers.

United are looking into some high-profile deals for possible successors like Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo, but based on a recent report, they could also go after a hidden gem to form part of their long-term vision for their back four.

Man Utd in touch over Brighton-esque signing

According to Boca Juniors news outlet Planeta BJ, Manchester United have made contact over Aaron Anselmino. He's caught the eye of the Premier League club, as well as other top sides in Europe, with his exploits so far.

Boca recently tied Anselmino down to a new contract, one that includes a release clause worth just under £16m, but there's a provision in the deal that raises that sum beyond £20m for the final days of the transfer window. The goal may be to ensure that they don't lose the player so late that they can't replace him.

The Argentine club negotited these fresh terms on the back of losing left-back Valentin Barco to Brighton earlier this month. The Seagulls only had to pay £7.8m for his signature under an outdated clause, and Boca believed that fell well below his market value. Determined to avoid a repeat with Anselmino, they will insist on his new clause being met in full.

Anselmino's breakthrough at Boca

18-year-old Anselmino has made five first-team appearances for Boca so far and they will hope there are many more to come. He earned his full debut in the cup against Racing Club in October and kept his place for the next fixture against Estudiantes before featuring against Newell's Old Boys.

In the league, he played the whole second half of a 1-1 draw with Lanus in November, and then enjoyed a brief substitute outing versus Sarmiento. Having not made the matchday squad at all until that game against Lanus, he would be named on the bench for seven of his side's last eight fixtures overall, which may be a preview of an ascension to a much more significant role next season.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

As mentioned above, Brighton have already signed a player from the Buenos Aires outfit this month, and this too would feel very much like a Seagulls-esque deal. In recent years, they've picked up players like Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo from South America and turned them into rising stars coveted by Liverpool and Chelsea.

While United's business model wouldn't revolve around selling Anselmino on for profit, it might be sensible to invest in talented players like him at source and save plenty of money further down the line, even if £20m might seem a little steep at first. Signed in tandem with a couple of the bigger names mentioned above, he could form part of an astute midfield rebuild at Old Trafford.

Tottenham Hotspur can rest assured that chairman Daniel Levy has made good on his promise to Ange Postecoglou to strengthen the ranks, welcoming Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner to the fold.

A stunning start to affairs under their new manager this term placed Spurs in untimely title contention but a lack of depth, laid bare in November following a deluge of injuries and suspensions, pulled the club away from the forefront of the Premier League.

Now fighting for a spot back in the top four, fifth-placed Tottenham have indeed made requisite improvements this month, and while a midfielder is still pursued, Postecoglou has shifted partial attention to the summer transfer window.

Spurs search for another defender

Dragusin joined from Genoa in a £27m package a few weeks ago but Eric Dier was sold to Bayern Munich and Tottenham would welcome another centre-back to fortify the backline for years to come.

As such, reports have filtered through concerning Postecoglou's growing interest in Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite, with 90min now revealing that the London club could make their move in the summer.

The report claims that Spurs are considering a swoop for the towering titan, who they have a concrete interest in, but will only make their move at the end of the season, rather than this window.

Valued at a staggering £100m by the Toffees, Branthwaite has been immense this season and thus attracted attention from top outfits such as Real Madrid, so Spurs have their work cut out in convincing the 21-year-old gem to join their project.

Jarrad Branthwaite could surpass Cristian Romero

A colossus at 6 foot 5, Branthwaite honed his craft on loan with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven last season before returning to Merseyside in the summer to aid Sean Dyche's attempt to restore Everton's verve.

And while Branthwaite was an unused substitute across both of Everton's opening top-flight fixtures of the campaign, he has since started 18 of the 19 fixtures (missing one match due to suspension) and been hailed as a "revelation" by journalist Suleyman Ozturk.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Aerial duels

(No significant weaknesses)

Interceptions

Set-piece threat

Source: WhoScored

As per Sofascore, Branthwaite has averaged 2.1 tackles, 6.4 ball recoveries, and 4.7 clearances per game in the league this term and has also come out on top in 67% of his contested duels, lauded as a “monster” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

With elite performances denoting his potential to bloom into one of the Premier League's finest defenders, Branthwaite would be a stunning capture down N17 and could even come to surpass Cristian Romero in the Tottenham rearguard.

The Argentinian ace has risen to the fore in the English capital since signing from Serie A competitors Atalanta for £42m back in 2021, praised as "best defender in the world" by compatriot Lionel Messi last year.

As per FBref, Romero ranks among the top 11% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for pass completion and passes attempted, and the top 5% for tackles per 90.

Clearly, he is a pretty decent member of Postecoglou's backline and, reckless streak notwithstanding, has almost been infallible in his duties this term, vital in Tottenham's resurgence.

The 26-year-old's Achilles heel comes in the form of his aggression, both a blessing and a curse, and with no assurances that he will avoid the violent glare of the red card, signing a rising titan in Branthwaite could be the difference-maker in the fight for silverware over the coming years.

Ange could end Richarlison's Spurs career with late January move

Ange Postecoglou would make a stunning statement by completing this transfer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 26, 2024

Branthwaite already ranks among the top 15% of positional peers for tackles and the top 14% for interceptions per 90 and has only conceded 28 Premier League goals this season – three fewer than the Lilywhites, which suggests that he could play a part in improving the club's defensive record.

Postecoglou would sign a true world-beater in the making in Branthwaite, and given his meteoric rise since returning to his parent club in the summer, the facilities and project at Tottenham could guide him closer still to the apex of the game, cementing his stature as one of Europe's finest.

Therefore, he could surpass Romero, who is four years older, in North London with more experience and development to come his way further down the line over the years to come.

Manchester United have made initial contact with a "crazy" new manager to potentially replace Erik ten Hag, according to reports over the weekend.

INEOS making changes at Man Utd

The Red Devils have enjoyed a really good week in the Premier League, sealing back-to-back victories away to Wolves and at home to West Ham. They have also progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, and for the first time in a while, there is a feeling of positivity, helped by Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquiring 25% of the club.

That's not to say that big improvements aren't required moving forward, however, and while Ten Hag is enjoying a better spell at the moment, there is still no doubt that he is under pressure to keep his job, considering his side sit sixth in the table currently and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is clearly keen to make changes.

The Dutchman has had an up-and-down time of things since arriving as manager in 2022, and INEOS have already starting identifying new faces to bring into the club, from likely new sporting director Dan Ashworth to a former recruitment chief in Sam Williams, who is now at high-flying Ipswich.

Man Utd make contact with Antonio Conte

According to a fresh update from Caught Offside, Manchester United have contacted Antonio Conte over taking charge at Old Trafford, should Ten Hag be relieved of his duties in the near future.

"Erik ten Hag’s position at Manchester United under the new ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe may not be entirely safe, with recent exploratory talks understood to have been held with two big-name managers.

"Sources with a close understanding of the situation inside Man Utd have informed CaughtOffside that the club had some initial contact with both Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte to assess them as potential candidates in case they decide to replace Ten Hag at the end of the season."

In fairness to Ten Hag, he has had to deal with lots of injury problems this season, which hasn't helped at all, and it is no surprise that results have picked up since key men have returned recently. The jury is still out with him, however, in terms of whether he is definitely the right man to lead United into the future, at a time when big changes appear to be being made with Ratcliffe's influence growing.

Whether Conte would be the right option is up for debate, with his passionate style something that can be divisive – he himself admits he is "crazy". But there is no doubt that he is a serial winner, clinching Serie A glory four times in the past, not to mention winning the Premier League title as Chelsea manager.

Man Utd titan who took 99 touches starred alongside Garnacho & Hojlund

The Red Devils star was a towering force in the middle of the park for Erik ten Hag.

ByDan Emery Feb 4, 2024

The Italian's style of play can be pragmatic, however, which may not appeal to United fans, so if Ten Hag does lose his job at some point soon, the Red Devils would perhaps be better looking to bring in a younger alternative who adapts more modern tactics, such as Julian Nagelsmann or Roberto De Zerbi.

Glasgow Rangers secured all three points against Ross County at Ibrox last night, but truth be told, the evening should have been a lot more comfortable than it was made to be.

The Light Blues took a total of 43 shots, of which 23 were on target, yet only won the game 3-1. A truly remarkable statistic and it proves exactly what area of the team Philippe Clement needs to invest in during the summer.

Cyriel Dessers may have scored a brace, but he also missed three big chances during the clash, and he continues to be a conundrum.

Aside from the missed chances, the vast majority of the starting XI were excellent, notably Todd Cantwell.

Todd Cantwell’s game in numbers vs Ross County

The Englishman was once again deployed in his preferred number ten role, and he excelled during the match, despite not scoring or providing an assist.

He did create two big chances and made four key passes, however, as the attacking midfielder looked to get things going right from the first whistle and his close control was sublime, jinxing through opponents like a knife through butter.

Cantwell also completed 89% of his passes and took 89 touches during the match, showing a desire to be involved constantly, and he came so close to scoring during the second half and a goal would have rounded up his performance nicely.

Rangers TV awarded the former Norwich City ace their Man of the Match award and given how dominant he was at times, there could be no arguments.

James Tavernier was the only player who was better from a statistical point of view, as the captain received an incredible perfect 10 rating from Sofascore for his display.

James Tavernier was excellent vs Ross County

With Dessers opening the scoring in the first five minutes, it looked as though it was going to be a relatively straightforward evening.

The Staggies equalising was not part of the script, but Tavernier kept pushing his men on, and he proved to be the catalyst for the Gers claiming all three points.

Not only did he take 139 touches, but the right-back assisted all three goals, created three big chances, and managed to take six total shots – albeit he failed to get on the scoresheet.

Tavernier also made eight (yes eight) key passes during the whole match as he continued to create chance after chance for the Light Blues on what was becoming a nervy evening in Glasgow.

John Souttar scored in the dying minutes to round off a win and while the captain lost possession a staggering 32 times, it was only because he was intent on bringing the ball deep into opposition territory to generate another barrage on the County backline.

Three points is all that matters, but on an evening where the Ibrox side could have scored ten goals, it will be looked upon as a major missed opportunity for Clement and his side.

The result sees Rangers move level on points with Celtic at the top of the Premiership table and if they keep on winning, they have an excellent chance of winning league title number 56.

Manchester United have been far from impressive this season, with inconsistency being the most appropriate word to describe Erik ten Hag’s team.

After winning their last four Premier League games, the Red Devils were handed a 2-1 home defeat by Fulham yesterday.

This result highlighted the lack of depth and quality of those backup players. However, the most concerning aspect is that some of those individuals are being paid by the club to offer very little success on the field.

It’s well known that United have been taken advantage of in the transfer market and by players demanding high wages, but let’s take a look at a player that has cost them millions over the past two seasons.

Christian Eriksen’s salary at Man Utd

Christian Eriksen moved to Man United on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, in an attempt to provide technical quality, creativity, and, most importantly, depth to the United team.

Last season, the 32-year-old was heavily relied upon by Ten Hag, often deploying the number ten by trade in a defensive role alongside Casemiro. Eriksen started 28 Premier League games over the campaign, registering eight assists.

However, to secure Eriksen’s services, United offered him a three-year contract, which sees him earn £150k-per-week without bonuses.

This means that over last season and this campaign, the former Tottenham Hotspur star will have cost the Red Devils a huge £15.6m in wages, as per Capology.

What Eriksen earns compared to the United squad

This season, Eriksen hasn’t been able to live up to the standards he set prior to his ankle injury last season, and in November, he suffered another setback that kept him out for eight matches.

Nonetheless, the number 14 has played in 16 Premier League games this campaign, making nine starts and contributing with just a solitary goal. Indeed, he is beginning to get exposed for his lack of athleticism and also his defensive ability.

This was highlighted in his performance against Bayern Munich in the 4-3 defeat in the Champions League last September, when he lost all five of his duels and was dribbled past twice while also conceding a penalty, with creator Liam Canning tweeting:

“Eriksen a passenger, unfortunately, in games like these. Completely overrun in midfield and isolated.”

Casemiro

£350k

Raphael Varane

£340k

Marcus Rashford

£300k

Anthony Martial & Mason Mount

£250k

Bruno Fernandes

£240k

Antony

£200k

Jadon Sancho & Harry Maguire

£190k

Luke Shaw & Christian Eriksen

£150k

Lisandro Martinez

£120k

With his performances declining and Eriksen firmly taking up the role as backup, it is fair to say that he is costing the club far too much for what he is currently offering on the field.

The Dane did feature in the defeat versus Fulham, but his lack of ability to cover ground was taken advantage of by Adama Traore, which ultimately handed Fulham all three points.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems to reportedly have the same viewpoint, with Eriksen one of the names on the list of players that have question marks over their future at the club, and considering he is the ninth most paid player, it is reasonable to presume he could be out the door at the end of the season.

A new era awaits Liverpool at the end of the season when Jurgen Klopp departs after nine years in charge. And with that new era, the Reds could welcome fresh reinforcements to boost their next manager in charge even further.

Liverpool transfer news

Off the pitch, all eyes are on the future at Anfield with FSG looking to get the club's next chapter off to the best start possible. According to reports, Michael Edwards is the man the owners want to shape the next era at Anfield after he previously proved to be an incredibly successful sporting director. Edwards, however, reportedly wants full control of what comes next in Merseyside to even consider taking the position, leaving FSG with a decision to make.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that FSG have offered Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso a three-year deal and now face the anxious wait over whether he'll accept the offer or take his expertise elsewhere. If Liverpool managed to welcome both Alonso and Edwards this summer, then everything is pointing towards another successful decade at Anfield.

Liverpool's new Adam Lallana outshone Jayden Danns in the FA Cup

Klopp’s youngsters prevailed in tough circumstances once again to advance to the quarter-finals.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 29, 2024

Whilst all the action takes place away from the pitch, however, the Reds will still have an eye on reinforcements who could make an impact on the Anfield turf, including Bryan Mbeumo. According to The Express, Liverpool could turn to Mbeumo this summer to land a bargain deal if Brentford are relegated from the Premier League and in the event that Mohamed Salah is lured to Saudi Arabia in a big-money move.

Mbuemo, currently out injured, has starred for Brentford since their promotion and carried the torch in the place of Ivan Toney earlier in the campaign. Still just 24-years-old, he would be an excellent addition at Anfield for the right price. As the Bees prepare to lose Toney this summer, they now seemingly face the prospect of losing two key men at the same time.

"Brilliant" Mbeumo is ready for big move

All the focus at Brentford may be on Toney and where his future lies, but Mbeumo's talent shouldn't become an afterthought. Mbeumo's numbers highlight just how impressive he's been for the Bees this season, even in the absence of Toney.

Non-penalty expected goals (0.38)

94th percentile

Non-penalty goals (0.29)

70th percentile

Expected assists (0.27)

80th percentile

Assists (0.29)

84th percentile

Aerials won (1.29)

89th percentile

Brentford boss Thomas Frank will be desperate to keep hold of his winger, having previously praised Mbeumo so highly, saying via FourFourTwo: “It’s brilliant I must say. He’s been brilliant for us this year in the Premier League. He came back from a minor injury, we knew that he wanted to play ready for Tuesday. And three quality finishes, very composed.”

That said, if Liverpool step up their pursuit of Mbeumo this summer, then it will be incredibly difficult for the 24-year-old to reject such a big move, potentially leaving Brentford incredibly short on firepower ahead of next season. Liverpool, meanwhile, would be getting yet another addition to a frontline that already boasts Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.

Tottenham face-off against top four rivals Aston Villa this weekend, in what will be an all-important game to determine which of the pair goes on to play Champions League football next season.

Richarlison injury worry ahead of Aston Villa

Spurs' clash against Unai Emery's side is arguably manager Ange Postecoglou's most crucial game of the season to date, but star striker Richarlison is currently a doubt.

Tottenham laying groundwork to sign marquee striker with Paratici contacts

The Italian advises Spurs on a consultancy basis.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 6, 2024

The former Everton star, who endured a slow start to his Spurs career under Antonio Conte, is now one of the success stories of Postecoglou's early reign – even if Spurs are still said to want a new striker this summer.

Indeed, Richarlison boasts nine goals in his last 10 league games for the Lilywhites, prior to picking up a knee injury after the 2-1 loss to Wolves recently.

Tottenham 4-1 Newcastle

8.85

Everton 2-2 Tottenham

8.22

Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth

7.91

Man United 2-2 Tottenham

7.80

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Tottenham

7.67

It's an unfortunate bit of timing for the Brazilian, who was coming into his own and taking Harry Kane's mantle with real aplomb, so it will now be interesting to see when he could return to action for Tottenham.

There have been some discrepancies as to when Richarlison could be back available, as reliable journalist Alasdair Gold now points out on an episode of the ‘Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham’ podcast (via TBR).

Gold suggests Richarlison could be back for Villa

Indeed, speaking on the podcast, Gold predicts that Richarlison could be back to face Aston Villa.

“I’m intrigued to see when he comes back from his injury, because that was one of the big things from the weekend as well," said Gold.

“Every single person involved was telling us something completely different. Postecoglou told us three to four weeks in the press conference ahead of the game, Richarlison’s knee injury was going to keep him out.

“Then he told, he did a Spurs club interview which went out just, we saw it after the press conference had finished, in that he said two to three weeks. Then the Brazil manager later that day picked Richarlison in his Brazil squad and said he’ll be back next week.

“Then Richarlison said after the game to a Brazilian journalist from ESPN, ‘Oh I’m pretty much back in training now I’ll be back hopefully next week’ – which he’s then apparently told this Fred guy as well I think.

“I wouldn’t be stunned if we saw Richarlison on the bench at Villa Park, I don’t think that’s out of this world by the way people are talking. But then again we’ve also had a lot of players who think they are way further ahead than they are – often with international duty coming up as well to kind of prove a point.”

If the 26-year-old is featured on Postecoglou's bench, or even starting XI, it would be a good bit of news for Champions League-chasing Spurs.

As Michael Edwards returns for his second stint at the club, Liverpool are reportedly leading the race to sign a fresh face to lead their attacking line at the start of a new era after Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool transfer news

Reports suggest that the Reds aren't messing around ahead of this summer. FSG have already confirmed the appointment of Edwards as CEO of Football and look destined to confirm Richard Hughes as their new sporting director, as per Fabrizio Romano's latest report.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the dugout, Xabi Alonso has reportedly been offered a contract and remains the leading candidate to become Klopp's successor in Merseyside. If it is to be the Spaniard, then it will be interesting to see which direction the Reds' transfer plan goes.

They've already been linked with one Bundesliga star in Jamal Musiala amid doubts over his future at Bayern Munich, and now reports have tipped those at Anfield to move for another talent in Germany's top flight.

Liverpool could replace Szoboszlai with a "Gazza" like teenager

Jurgen Klopp should unleash the “exciting” young midfielder from the start over the former RB Leipzig star.

ByDan Emery Mar 14, 2024

According to Sport Bild, via Sport Witness, Liverpool are leading the race to sign Maximilian Beier ahead of Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest this summer. The Hoffenheim forward will reportedly cost £30m in what could prove to be a bargain deal for a player who Alonso is apparently a fan of, likely boosting the Reds' interest even further.

Of course, it was a former Hoffenheim forward who led Liverpool's last era, with Roberto Firmino now an Anfield great. So, it would be fitting if Beier stepped into their next chapter to lead the line on Merseyside.

"Fast" Beier can replace Gakpo

It's difficult to pick out a weak point in a stacked Liverpool frontline, but Cody Gakpo is the one who stands out as a struggling option at times. Whilst Darwin Nunez has seemingly found his best form, the Dutchman has struggled to make an impact in recent times and Liverpool's next manager could make a ruthless decision by welcoming a replacement in Beier.

The 21-year-old has statistically outperformed Gakpo in a number of areas so far this season, which should create doubts if the Reds pursue their reported target this summer.

Goals

12

5

Assists

1

3

Progressive Carries

44

27

Key Passes

14

13

Expected Goals

8.8

6

Beier certainly has plenty of fans in Germany too, having been praised by Christian Falk, who told Caught Offside, via TeamTalk: “I heard Liverpool are watching him but they’re not sure whether he would help them immediately. So, I think Brighton’s interest is comparatively more concrete, and there’s interest from Brentford and Nottingham Forest on top of that.

“He can play on the flanks as well as centrally, he’s done it already. It’s a little bit like Thomas Muller in the sense that he’s not exactly a winger or central striker; he can also play behind the No.9, so he’s quite a versatile footballer. He’s very, very fast as well, so that would suit Liverpool, but he’s not the first choice.”

Manchester City are battling a number of Premier League rivals for the signing of a "magnificent" player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Man City transfer news

The world-class quality and depth that Pep Guardiola has in his squad is the envy of any manager in world football, but that's not to say that new signings aren't needed in the summer transfer window.

Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar is one of many players to have been linked with a move to City in recent days, with the Serbian being seen as a possible upgrade on Stefan Ortega between the sticks to come in as a backup option to Ederson.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala is also seen as a target for Guardiola's men, with the German arguably one of the world's most exciting young players at the moment, already scoring 43 goals and registering 30 assists for his current side. A move for him could raise doubts over the future of Jack Grealish, however, considering he can thrive as a left-sided attacking player.

Bayer Leverkusen have had many heroes during a memorable Bundesliga campaign, and Florian Wirtz has been one of the undoubted stars, bagging 17 goal contributions in 24 starts. City are thought to be eyeing a move for him as well, in what could be a hugely eye-catching piece of business.

Man City want "magnificent" Premier League ace

According to a fresh update from Football Transfers, Manchester City are also in the mix to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite at the end of the season.

Rivals Manchester United are believed to be going "all in" on the young Englishman, while Newcastle United are seen as outside contenders to snap him up.

City may be well-stocked at the heart of their defence, possessing the likes of Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, but Branthwaite could be a superb signing, coming in as a long-term addition with an extremely high ceiling.

While Everton have struggled this season, the 21-year-old has been a bright spark for the Merseysiders, averaging a monstrous 4.2 clearances per game in the Premier League, as well as 2.6 aerial duel wins and two tackles per match. He has also been lauded as "magnificent" by Alan Shearer, while Ian Wright has said of him:

“I would like to give flowers to Jarrad Branthwaite. I believe now he will be in the next England squad. He has got everything. You watch how he plays, left-sided as well, he plays out well. Very brave. And then when you listen to his interview he sounds like somebody who is like yeah, I’m there, I’m here."

"Outstanding" Man City ace in line for shock return despite initial verdict

He was initially on course to miss the Arsenal game…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 29, 2024

At 21, Branthwaite is still so young, and he could mature a huge amount through working with Guardiola every day, eventually becoming one of the most imposing centre-backs in the country. A move to the Etihad would surely appeal, too, rather than being in a relegation-threatened Everton team.

Glasgow Rangers saw their clash against Dundee in midweek postponed yet again, which gives the players a few extra recovery days.

Following the 3-3 draw against Celtic last weekend, the Gers now travel to Ross County on Sunday in a bid to secure three points in the Scottish Premiership.

They could trail the Parkhead side by four points going into the game, but their league title destiny is still within their own hands. If the Light Blues win all seven of their remaining matches, a first Premiership title since 2021 will be won.

Philippe Clement is now starting to get some of his key players back fighting fit ahead of the title climax, which could give the club a major boost.

Rangers team news vs Ross County

With the Dundee clash rearranged for next Wednesday, Clement spoke to the media ahead of the County game on Sunday, giving an update on the squad, saying:

“Diomande had an operation on his thumb after a contact in the Old Firm match, he will be missing this weekend.

“It's not a long-term one.”

It looks as though there are no further injuries and that Clement has a solid squad to pick his starting XI from.

The Belgian manager used his substitutes well against Celtic last weekend and this could see Rabbi Matondo unleashed in the starting lineup, as he seemingly deserves it.

Rabbi Matondo has shone in spells for Rangers this season

His debut campaign in Scotland ended with zero goals and just five assists across 28 matches in all competitions, hardly numbers that set Ibrox alight.

It looked as though Michael Beale was going to move on Matondo last summer, yet he knuckled down and enjoyed a solid pre-season which began to reap the rewards early on in the current campaign.

5

3

0.7

4

1.2

He scored his first goal for the club against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifier first leg clash, before chipping in with two assists and a goal in the Premiership before suffering a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the next 11 games.

By the time he recovered, Clement was the new man in charge, but the Welsh winger has managed to impress him in recent months.

Since the start of February, he has scored four times in the top flight, including wonderful efforts against both Hibs and Celtic in recent weeks, proving himself to be quite the impact player of late.

He came on for Fabio Silva with just 20 minutes remaining and caused the Celtic backline some problems as the match drew to a close.

With the Light Blues trailing 3-2 and their title hopes up in flames, Matondo received the ball on the left flank and cut inside to his right foot, unleashing a stunning curling effort that nestled into the back of the Celtic net, rescuing a point in the process.

There is no doubt the winger deserves a chance on the left wing from the very first whistle on Sunday, the question is, will Ridvan Yimaz be able to start at left-back in order to provide him with some support going forward?

Ridvan Yilmaz has missed the last few matches due to injury

The £12k-per-week defender suffered an injury whilst on international duty for Turkey during the recent break and has missed every Rangers match since, including the 3-3 draw with Celtic.

In his place, Dujon Sterling began the game at left-back, but having the Turkish international back in the starting XI will give Clement a major boost.

With Borna Barisic close to leaving the Gers following the expiration of his contract at the end of the season, Yilmaz has established himself as the number one choice on the left side of the defence.

Ridvan Yilmaz’s statistics this season for Rangers

An injury-hit debut campaign saw the 22-year-old make just 15 appearances for the Glasgow side in all competitions.

It was beginning to look like he was struggling to settle in Scotland, but after netting his first ever goal for the club during a League Cup tie against Livingston, he began to make more appearances.

It wasn’t until the start of 2024 that he really began to showcase his true talents to Clement, displacing Barisic at left-back and emerging as one of the most consistent performers in the team.

Since the turn of the year, he started seven league matches prior to suffering his injury, displaying some excellent attacking statistics.

Indeed, across 22 top flight games this term, Yilmaz has created six big chances, averaging 1.7 key passes per game while succeeding with 1.3 dribbles per game – a success rate of 64% – as the defender regularly bombs up and down the left flank, adding an extra threat.

The previous few months have convinced Clement that Yilmaz is the undisputed choice on the left side of the defence and his future could certainly be bright if he remains injury free.

The 50-year-old was also quick to praise the youngster, saying: "He has made a really big evolution – Ridvan is a fighter and we need fighters…"

This fighting quality has transformed him from an unassuming talent to a regular in the starting XI, proving that the Belgian can identify a talented player and get them performing at their best.

Against Ross County, he could unleash both Yilmaz and Matondo on the left flank in order to terrorise the opposition defence, as both players have shown plenty of attacking vigour throughout the season.

This is why the boss must finally unleash the Turkish international, who has not featured since the 14th of March, from the start on Sunday.

All that matters in the Highlands on Sunday is a win and three points, which would allow the Gers to keep up the pressure on Celtic, who will likely have stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points.

Having some important players back fit and raring to go could make all the difference, with Yilmaz and Abdallah Sima beginning to shrug off their injury problems of late.

The title race could go right down the wire this season, suggesting every single player must be at their best across the final seven games of the season in order to help the Gers claim their 56th league crown.