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Tottenham Hotspur are only five points better off in the Premier League this season than they were last year, but Ange Postecoglou is clearly shifting the cogs to chart a course to success unseen in many years.

A painful reminder, but unless Tottenham pull off a sensational and implausible title triumph, a barren trophy drought will stretch to 16 successive seasons without silverware.

This interminable wait for the unbridled joy that one of the game's major honours would bring rages on, but Postecoglou arrived in the summer to steer the ship back on course and has navigated through several obstacles to instil his vision and give the squad an identity.

Harry Kane ended his career-long affiliation with the London club in August and headed for the footballing riches Bayern Munich can offer, but Heung-min Son was handed the primary talismanic role and Spurs spent shrewdly to counter the blow.

Micky van de Ven and shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario proved excellent pieces of business to shore up a defence that leaked goals like a ruptured container, but it is the capture of James Maddison from relegated Leicester City that has been the centremost success of Postecoglou's reign so far.

Why Tottenham signed James Maddison

Signed for £40m in June, Tottenham saw an opportunity following the Foxes' demise in 2022/23 and snatched it, bypassing lasting interest from wealthy Newcastle United to steal away with one of the Premier League's standout playmakers.

Last season, Leicester fell into the second tier on the final day but Maddison emerged with his head held high, posting ten goals and nine assists from just 28 starting appearances.

He also ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and progressive passes and the top 1% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, making good on praise from pundit Jermaine Jenas that he is "on the verge" of being world-class.

The £170k-per-week star started life in London with a bang, crowned the Premier League's Player of the Month for August and having now plundered three goals and six assists from 13 matches, also completing 86% of his passes and averaging 2.8 key passes per game.

With Heung-min Son and Richarlison raking in goals for Postecoglou's side this season, Maddison's efficiency in his creative endeavours has proved invaluable for the club's progress this term, and he's undoubtedly one of Tottenham's most important and influential members.

Spurs could have signed "monster" £100m Richarlison replacement

Ange Postecoglou’s side still need a centre-forward to replace Harry Kane.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 5, 2024

He's not, however, the Spurs star with the highest market value right now, that tag lies with Dejan Kulusevski, who has been phenomenal this season and is arguably Postecoglou's most underrated ace.

Tottenham's signing of Dejan Kulusevski

Spurs captured Kulusevski and centre-midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus back in 2022, with the former joining on an initial 18-month loan.

An electric start to life on English shores saw the Sweden international clinch five goals and eight assists across the latter half of the 2021/22 Premier League season, but he was very much at the core of Spurs' issues last term and scored twice from 37 outings in all competitions, said to be "blowing hot and cold" by pundit Glenn Murray.

The 23-year-old has always been regarded as a high-class talent and there was clearly a tacit belief that he would return to the forefront under Postecoglou's wing, with a £25m permanent transfer agreed upon last summer.

Dejan Kulusevski's market value now

Typically found on the right wing but capable of doing fine work centrally, Kulusevski is actually considered to be Tottenham's most valuable player by Football Transfers and this is an illustration of his prowess and unrelenting energy – the very quintessence of his manager's fluid, guns-blazing approach.

1.

Dejan Kulusevski

£46m

2.

Brennan Johnson

£40m

3.

James Maddison

£34m

4.

Heung-min Son

£33m

5.

Richarlison

£32m

More valuable than Maddison (who, admittedly, is sure to see a sharp rise in the near future), Kulusevski is versatile and dynamic and is finally flourishing with the kind of constancy that portends an illustrious future at the top of the game.

As per Sofascore, the 6 foot 1 phenom has scored five goals and supplied two assists from 21 matches in the top flight this year, though his brilliance stretches far beyond the constraints of direct goal contributions.

Indeed, he has also completed 83% of his passes, averaged 1.7 tackles, 4.3 ball recoveries and 4.2 successful duels per fixture, leading Sky Sports journalist Jamie Weir to state: "Dejan Kulusevski really is a special special player. Works so hard, covers every blade of grass. Hell of an engine on him, and just so much heart."

The former Juve starlet also ranks among the top 18% of positional peers for tackles made per 90 to emphasise the application that has made him such an indispensable figure for his side.

1.

Heung-min Son

11

2.

Pedro Porro

10

3.

Dejan Kulusevski

8

4.

James Maddison

6

5.

Brennan Johnson

4

With tools to inflict damage on opposition from many, many angles, Kulusevski is sure to feature at the centre of Tottenham's projected rise under their Australian manager, and while he doesn't have the finishing ability of Son, or the raw creative excellence of Maddison, he is undoubtedly one of the most important ingredients in the Spurs side – the flour in the cake, if you like, vital and unseen.

The acquisitions of both players are just an illustration of the upward curve that Spurs are seeking to continue, embarking on a new journey under new leadership with a fresh vision and rekindled optimism.

Next summer, Levy will bolster Tottenham's ranks further, with centre-forward and central midfield signings likely, and given the judiciousness that is at the centre of the recent business, the future looks bright and the likes of Kulusevski will be at the heart of it.

Kylian Mbappe has hinted that he won't be interested in representing France if the people vote for far-right parties in the upcoming election.

Article continues below

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• Mbappe talks about upcoming French election
• Urges youngsters to give their votes
• Echoes Thuram's calls to push out far-right

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  With the elections set to begin for France's Legislative Assembly, Mbappe refrained from publicly endorsing or disparaging any political party. The striker, however, stood by his team-mate Marcus Thuram's remarks from Saturday, stating that the latter "had not gone too far" in urging the nation "to fight every day" in order to prevent the far-right National Rally (RN) from winning the elections.

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• WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  Speaking to the media, the France captain said: "I think we are at a crucial moment in the history of our country. That's why I really want to address all the French people and especially the young generation. I think that we are a generation that can make a difference.

  "We see very clearly that the extremes are at the gates of power and we have the opportunity to choose the future of our country. This is why I call on all young people to go vote and to become aware of the importance of the situation I hope that my voice will carry as much as possible.

  "We need to identify with this country, to identify with our values which are values of tolerance, diversity, and respect. I trust the French, every voice counts. I really hope that we will make the right choice and that we will be proud to wear this jersey on July 7."

  When asked about Thuram's opinions regarding stopping RN, Mbappe said: "I share the same values as Marcus, I am with him. For me, he did not go too far, he gave his opinion, and I side with him.

  "I don’t want to represent a country that doesn’t correspond to our values."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  France's legislative elections will be held in two rounds with the first round set to begin on June 30 and the second round to be held on July 7. The election will appoint 577 members to the 17th National Assembly of the Fifth French Republic. RN (far-right) have been gaining more and more momentum since 2012 following the ascension of Marine Le Pen, who took over from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. In 2022, RN gained 89 seats in the Legislative Assembly as compared to eight in 2017, and two in 2012.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  The Real Madrid superstar will be in action next up when France take on Austria on Monday, June 17 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf.

Whilst most of Tottenham Hotspur's focus will be on incomings in the January transfer window, Ange Postecoglou's side could still do with sanctioning some departures to clear some space for new arrivals. The Lilywhites saw the headlines dominated by Harry Kane's departure in the summer transfer window and will no doubt be looking to avoid another high-profile exit. Instead, they could look to show the exit door to those on the cusp of Postecoglou's squad and unlikely to find adequate game time in North London.

With that said, reports suggest that Spurs could now lose one particular midfielder with his talks with a European club underway ahead of a potential winter move.

Tottenham transfer news

Spurs used the money gained from the sale of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich to fund deals for the likes of James Maddison and Micky van de Ven, improving all round as a result. Now, as things stand, the North London side sit fifth and just one point adrift of Arsenal in the final top four spot in the Premier League. If Spurs can qualify for the Champions League in Postecoglou's first season in charge, then it will be seen as the ultimate success. To do that though, they may need reinforcements and those may not arrive without January departures.

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.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

According to Gazzetta via Football Italia, Napoli have opened talks with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg over a January move. The Italian giants have already been busy this month, with Pasquale Mazzocchi reportedly set for a medical and a verbal agreement reportedly reached to sign Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardzic.

Not stopping there, the Serie A champions have seemingly turned their attention towards England and are weighing up a move for either Hojbjerg or Leicester City loanee Boubakary Soumaré. Given that the Spurs man is currently out-of-favour, a move could suit all parties, and the Italian outfit have apparently already begun talks with his camp.

"Excellent" Hojbjerg should make Napoli move

With a new era underway at Spurs, if Hojbjerg wants to be starting games ahead of Euro 2024 then he should move on this month. The Denmark international has struggled to break into Postecoglou's side this season and the chance to play for the Italian champions is not one he should turn down, should the opportunity arise.

Hojbjerg's playing time tells the story quite simply – the 28-year-old has started just four Premier League games all season and a total of five in all competitions in a frustrating period.

Full of praise for the out-of-favour midfielder nonetheless, Postecoglou said after Spurs' 3-3 draw against Manchester City this season: “I think it helped. I thought Pierre was excellent in the second half. His experience out there, I thought we just as a group had a lot more conviction about our football, just passing it and not second guessing ourselves and being hesitant with our passes like we did in the first half."

With that said and when considering Spurs' lack of squad depth, it remains to be seen whether Hojbjerg will get a departure from North London this month amid Napoli's reported interest.

George Bartlett made the most of being dropped first ball to score a career-best 137 as Somerset fought back against Surrey at Guildford.Bartlett was put down by Rikki Clarke at slip off Matt Dunn and made Surrey pay as Somerset, who will return to the top of the first division if they win, were bowled out for 344. Surrey openers Rory Burns and Mark Stoneman negotiated two overs before stumps and will resume on 0 for 0.It was Bartlett’s second hundred of the season after he scored 133 against Nottinghamshire and was made in front of ECB Technical Director Andy Flower, the former England coach.Somerset had struggled against the new ball and would have been 35 for 4 had Clarke clung onto the chance to remove Bartlett straight away.Instead, he shared stands of 95 with Tom Banton and Steve Davies and 73 with Craig Overton before Morne Morkel, armed with the new ball, had him caught behind in the 84th over.It was an outstanding effort by the 23-year-old, who was born a few miles from Guildford in Frimley, as Somerset once again showed the battling qualities which have already earned them three Championship wins this season.Banton, who had come into the side after Azhar Ali pulled out with a throat infection, gave Bartlett excellent support and hit Ryan Patel – who took four wickets in five balls in this fixture last season – for three successive boundaries as the fourth-wicket partnership took shape.But after lunch Banton went 24 balls without scoring and then edged Matt Dunn to gully for 44. Bartlett, however, found another reliable partner in ex-Surrey man Steven Davies who contributed 41 before Dunn, the pick of the Surrey attack, went around the wicket to hit off-stump with a ball which held its line.Bartlett reached his third first-class century in the last over before tea by glancing Clarke off his hip for his 13th boundary. He also lofted Gareth Batty over long on for six and played fluently again after tea, straight-driving Morkel to the boundary to bring up his career-best. The South African, though, had his revenge in the next over when Bartlett feathered an edge as he pushed forward. He faced 213 balls and hit 19 fours.Surrey wrapped up the rest of the innings quickly. Clarke returned to pick up Craig Overton, who played on for 40, and his brother Jamie, who made 20, in successive overs while Morkel had Tim Groenewald and Jack Brooks caught behind as the last four wickets fell for 24 in 5.3 overs. Morkel finished with 4 for 64.It was a strong finish to the day for Surrey, who had dominated the first hour too, as they look for their first win of the season in defence of their title.After winning the toss, Somerset had started solidly enough but, on 21, skipper Tom Abell edged Morkel low to second slip, where Dean Elgar took a good catch. Marcus Trescothick had struck a couple of boundaries with the confidence of old but on 18 he was caught behind trying to guide Clarke down to third man. Somerset lost their third wicket when Dunn trapped James Hildreth in front, but the major part of the day was dominated by Bartlett.

Ben Coad, Steven Patterson and Duanne Olivier bring Hampshire back down to earth as Yorkshire win by an innings and 44 runs

ECB Reporters Network14-Apr-2019

Ben Coad was among the wickets again•Getty Images

Yorkshire 554 for 7 dec (Ballance 148, Root 94, Leaning 77, Lyth 67, Tattersall 52) beat Hampshire 302 (Northeast 99, Dawson 57) and 208 (Dawson 92, Barker 64, Patterson 4-47, Coad 3-27) by an innings and 44 runs
Yorkshire romped to an innings victory over Hampshire to continue their unbeaten start to the County Championship season.Ben Coad took three of the five wickets needed on the final day as he produced figures of three for five from his morning spell before Steven Patterson and Duanne Olivier finished the job in the afternoon.Yorkshire were held up by half-centuries to Liam Dawson and Keith Barker in a 131-run stand for the ninth wicket, but confirmed their triumph by an innings and 44 runs at 2.40pm.Yorkshire move above Hampshire, and up to second, in the Division One table having secured maximum points at the Ageas Bowl.Hampshire, who had won their first fixture against Essex to claim the full 24 points on offer, were brought back down to earth as they only gathered four pointsThe White Rose county had fought to draw their opening Championship fixture at Nottinghamshire – after a monumental partnership between Joe Root and Gary Ballance.The pair had set the win on course having scored 94 and 148 respectively before the bowling attack teamed up to enforce the follow-on.Yorkshire needed five wickets on the final day, having catapulted the Hampshire top order the previous evening.Steven Patterson had been the chief destroyer having taken three for nine from seven overs – accounting for Joe Weatherley, James Vince and Sam Northeast.Matt Waite also leaned in with the wickets of Aiden Markram and night-watchman Kyle Abbott as Hampshire ended day three on 54 for 5 – following on having been bowled out for 302 in response to the visitors’ 554.Hampshire attempted to batten down the hatches to save the match – only scoring one run in the opening seven overs off the bat.But during that barren spell, they lost their first wicket of the day as Rilee Rossouw, playing an unfamiliar defensive role, was lbw to Coad to the 33rd ball of the day.Gareth Berg lasted just three deliveries before he completed a pair for the match – edging Coad to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip.Hampshire were forced to invoke the concussion rule, where a county can bring in a like-for-like replacement if a player suffers a head injury during the match, after Lewis McManus was struck twice on the helmet by Olivier and was deemed unfit to bat. He was replaced by all-rounder Ian Holland.But the Australian’s only involvement in the match was to be struck on the pads first ball by the rampant Coad, although Barker blocked out the hat-trick ball.Dawson and Barker held up proceedings with their partnership – a record for the ninth wicket both for Hampshire against Yorkshire and at the Ageas Bowl.Both played their natural game, with Dawson in particular driving freely on his way to a 90-ball fifty – his fourth in as many first-class innings this season.Having taken the game into a 11th session, Barker raised his bat on an 88-ball maiden half century for his new county – having arrived from Warwickshire in the winter.But Barker fell for 64 when he edged Patterson behind having occupied the crease for just under 36 overs, before Dawson, after an entertaining burst to try and reach a century, skied to Kohler-Cadmore at mid-wicket.

Tottenham Hotspur have received an enquiry to ask whether they would be willing to sell one of their loan players permanently in January, according to a reliable journalist.

Tottenham ins and outs

The Lilywhites sanctioned the sales of nine players during the previous transfer window, with four of those being on a permanent basis, while the remaining five were sent out on loan for the rest of the season in order to increase either their experience and game time or simply their price tag.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Djed Spence (Leeds United)

Harry Winks (Leicester City)

Tanguy Ndombele (Galatasaray)

Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray)

Sergio Reguilon (Manchester United)

Lucas Moura (Sao Paulo)

Joe Rodon (Leeds United)

Japhet Tanganga (FC Augsburg)

Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou also have Eric Dier, Ivan Perisic, Hugo Lloris and Brandon Austin who will have all reached the expiration of their deals upon the conclusion of the campaign, so they could additionally soon be heading for the exit door (Tottenham contracts).

Back in 2020, Sergio Reguilon first put pen to paper in the capital from Real Madrid, but the left-back has found it extremely difficult to nail down a place in the starting line-up since joining having only made 67 appearances over the course of the past three years (Transfermarkt – Reguilon statistics).

The Spain international has therefore been sent out on the road temporarily on two occasions, the first time being to Atletico Madrid and the most recent to Premier League rivals Manchester United, but there’s a chance that the 27-year-old’s spell could be cut short at Old Trafford.

Borussia Dortmund want Reguilon

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Patrick Berger, Borussia Dortmund are keen on Reguilon and they have already registered their interest in him ahead of January.

“The second left-back that the black-yellows have on the note is Sergio Reguilon. The 26-year-old is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United, but only played there once over the full 90 minutes in the Premier League.

"Interesting: Reguilon has a clause in the contract with which he can terminate the loan himself at any time. The Spaniard could become an issue in the next few days if BVB works in. Dortmund has already inquired about the player.”

Sell "worst of the bunch" Reguilon while you have the chance

At Man United, Reguilon currently ranks as Erik Ten Hag’s 13th overall best-performing player out of 26 squad members, so he’s not quite been able to make the huge impact that he would have hoped for when deciding to leave Tottenham (WhoScored – Man United statistics).

The Madrid native, who is naturally left-footed, has also failed to record a single goal or assist during his time with the Red Devils, so considering that he hasn't proved what he’s capable of or showcased his talents when handed the opportunity to do so really says it all.

According to Spurs expert John Wenham, Reguilon is the “worst of the bunch” from Jose Mourinho's crop of players and "so average it's untrue", so the hierarchy would be making completely the right decision to sanction his sale for good while they still have a chance to earn some cash from his departure.

Aston Villa are in dreamland under Unai Emery after defeating both Manchester City and Arsenal in back-to-back games to leave them as high as third and two points away from Premier League leaders Liverpool. The Midlands club have gone from relegation contenders under Steven Gerrard to a side fighting a winning battle to earn a place in next season's Champions League. Their recent rise has been astonishing.

Emery isn't the only one who deserves credit for Villa's turnaround, however. The recruitment team at Villa Park has rarely put a foot wrong in the last couple of years and could repeat their transfer trick once more in January, given the reported plan of owners NSWE.

Aston Villa transfer news

Aston Villa proved their progress on and off the pitch during the summer transfer window with the arrival of the likes of Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Nicolo Zaniolo, and they've reaped the rewards for their recruitment ever since. Now that they're in a position to potentially break into the Champions League though, the Villans won't want to miss out and the January transfer window could go a long way towards securing their place in the Premier League's top four.

According to reporter Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, NSWE are now ready to back Emery by funding a big January signing blitz in what is an exciting transfer update. This comes after recent reports suggested Villa wanted to sign two new attackers, and they have now seemingly got the green light from those at the top. Among those could be Oscar Gloukh, who may cost between £40m and £50m next month.

Aston Villa eyeing move for "superb" player who Unai Emery knows well

They could finally get their man.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 8, 2023

Having proved that they're not afraid to splash the cash during the summer transfer window, Villa now reportedly look set to target further additions for Emery's side pushing for a shock Champions League place come the end of the campaign.

Aston Villa's January targets

It remains to be seen just who Aston Villa sign during the January window, but reports suggest that Gloukh is joined on their shortlist by Juventus fullback Andrea Cambiaso and Villarreal winger Alex Baena, making next month all the more interesting. Gloukh seems to be the name mentioned the most regarding a move, with Villa reportedly looking to add the attacking midfielder to their side.

By signing the Red Bull Salzberg midfielder, Emery could be adding goals to his midfield. Gloukh's stats so far this season highlight how talented he is when it comes to contributing to his side, with six goals and six assists to his name in Austria. His arrival would only hand Watkins a further boost too, which could eliminate the need for Villa to sign an out-and-out striker in January.

As the season goes on and those at Villa Park potentially welcome reinforcements, Emery's side could go up yet another level. As things stand, they remain on course to compete for a top four finish, but further additions could suddenly strengthen their shock title credentials. Just two points adrift of Liverpool, Villa could find themselves top at Christmas if results go their way – a position only a handful of sides have failed to win the title from in Premier League history.

After going four games without a win in the Premier League, Manchester City avoided disaster at Luton Town with an unconvincing 2-1 victory to get them back on track. A battling result, Pep Guardiola will now hope to see his side return to their best in the hope of closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool, who currently sit four points clear of last season's champions.

Even as results have suffered, however, City have remained a side with a plan for the future. The ultimate goal will be to continue their success for as long as possible and that could see several young players emerge. Among those could be a particular gem who has reportedly impressed Manchester City scouts.

Man City transfer news

Manchester City spent big once again in the summer to welcome reinforcements. Guardiola welcomed Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic, but has seen his side struggle to replicate last season's blistering form, though it is still early days. After a busy summer transfer window, reports suggest that those at the Etihad have now turned their focus to talents for the future, as they look to maintain their incredible success.

According to Football Insider, Manchester City are eyeing a move to sign Real Vallodolid youngster Gui Ruck, who has been described as a "future superstar" by talent spotters. Leaving City's scouts blown away, Ruck could find himself on the move come the end of the season when his current contract comes to an end.

Man City could now sign two new players in January

It could be a busy start to 2024.

ByCharlie Smith Dec 13, 2023

Whilst a compensation fee will still be required to sign the Brazilian who is as young as 14, City are rarely short on funds. With Real Madrid also reportedly interested in the teenager, City may have to act quickly if they want to secure a reported gem for the future.

Ruck proves extent of Man City's planning

Some clubs may have decided to sit back and admire their work after winning the treble, but Manchester City have seemingly decided to do the exact opposite when it comes to work away from the pitch. The Citizens, using the likes of Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb seemingly want to ensure that their era of success is permanent rather than just a long chapter. And beating Real Madrid to Ruck's signature could go a long way to maintaining their place among Europe's elite for many years to come.

The midfielder has spent the majority of his career so far in Portugal, playing for the likes of Vitoria Guimaraes, Braga and Porto, before opting to make a move to Spain back in 2020. Since then, Ruck has played for both the academy of Rayo Majadahonda and Valladolid, where he attracted the reported interest from City and Real Madrid.

With just six months left on his current deal, it looks increasingly likely that Ruck will have a crucial decision to make in 2024. Those at Manchester City will just be hoping that the midfielder chooses a move to the Premier League over one of the biggest clubs that Spain has to offer, making this one to watch.

Glasgow Rangers made the decision to part ways with head coach Michael Beale at the start of last month after a dismal opening to the campaign.

The Light Blues boss lost three of his first seven league matches in charge of the Scottish giants after failing to win a single trophy throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

That came after the English tactician was allowed to oversee an overhaul of the playing squad with a host of exits and arrivals at Ibrox.

The likes of Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara, and Antonio Colak were allowed to move on, either on free transfers or on permanent deals to other clubs.

Meanwhile, new new signings were made to bolster the side; including Leon Balogun, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers, Danilo, Sam Lammers, Jose Cifuentes, Kieran Dowell, and Dujon Sterling.

His work in the transfer market did not have the desired effect as the Gers struggled at the start of the Scottish Premiership season, with the aforementioned losses, and Beale lost his job as a result of that.

However, the summer window was not a complete failure as the likes of Butland, Danilo, and Sima have all caught the eye at times with their performances for the side.

Rangers transfer news – Sima

In fact, Football Insider reported at the end of last month that the Light Blues are exploring the possibility of being able to sign Sima on a permanent basis.

The outlet claimed that the Gers are prepared to look into another swoop to sign him permanently next summer after his impressive start to life at Ibrox.

He is currently on a season-long loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and the club do not have an option to purchase him in 2024.

Football Insider also added that the Light Blues could face competition to land his signature as other, unnamed, European sides could challenge them at the end of the campaign.

However, there is no mention of how much it could cost to land the Seagulls forward, who was signed from Slavia Prague for a reported fee of £7m in 2021.

It also remains to be seen whether or not the English side would be willing to cash in on Sima as they did not include a purchase option within his current loan deal and Roberto De Zerbi may want to take another look at him next summer.

If Rangers are able to secure a permanent move for the talented winger, though, then new manager Philippe Clement could repeat the masterclass that the club paid with Ryan Kent.

The English whiz joined the Gers on an initial loan from Liverpool and they were then able to bring him on a long-term deal after an excellent debut campaign in Scottish football.

Ryan Kent's first season at Rangers in numbers

He was signed on loan from the Premier League giants in the summer of 2018 and cited Steven Gerrard – ex-Liverpool midfielder – and Beale – who coached him in the U23s at Anfield and was the assistant manager at the time – as big reasons behind the switch.

The exciting wizard hit the ground running in Scotland with a return of six goals and six assists in 23 regular season Premiership matches.

Rangers could land big Wright upgrade in surprise swoop for £6m whiz

The exciting forward has been touted with a possible return to Ibrox in January.

ByDan Emery Nov 21, 2023

Kent also managed two assists in four SFA Cup outings but did fail to contribute with any goals or assists in three Europa League group stage games.

His superb performances on the wing earned him the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award for the 2018/19 campaign, and was subsequently signed for a fee of £7.5m from Liverpool in 2019.

Kent's Rangers statistics

The 27-year-old ace, who joined Fenerbahce on a free transfer over the summer, went on to enjoy four full seasons as a permanent Rangers player and caught the eye with his electric wing play.

Kent scored 33 goals and provided 56 assists in 218 appearances for the club in all competitions – including his year on loan – as he showcased his ability as both a scorer and creator of goals.

His best season in a Gers shirt arguably came during the 2020/21 campaign as the talented whiz racked up 13 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. This included ten goals and ten assists as he helped the team to win the Premiership title under Gerrard.

These statistics show that the English dynamo was a successful signing for Rangers on a permanent deal after his impressive first year on loan from a Premier League side and Sima could now follow in his footsteps.

Abdallah Sima's season in numbers

Clement must push for the club to secure a long-term agreement to keep the Senegal international at Ibrox as he has been in sublime form so far this term.

Like Kent, the 22-year-old is a young, right-footed, left winger who is direct and has the quality to make things happen at the top end of the pitch to excite supporters.

Sima has started eight Premiership matches so far this season for Rangers and, in that time, has chipped in with five goals and one assist.

He has created two 'big chances' and provided 14 key passes in his 12 league appearances in total and could, therefore, have a case to say that his teammates have let him down in terms of assists.

The Brighton loanee has also been able to get supporters off their seats with his exciting wing play as only Rabbi Matondo (two) has completed more dribbles per game (1.8) than Sima.

In all competitions, the young whiz has plundered nine goals in 23 matches and this includes a return of two goals in four Europa League outings so far.

Last month, journalist Josh Bunting described Sima as being the club's most "dangerous" player and that is certainly true across the frontline as no other Gers attacker has scored as many league goals as him this term.

These statistics show that the 6 foot 2 ace has been a terrific signing for the Light Blues as he has provided a huge goal threat on the flank.

Therefore, Rangers and Clement must now push to secure a permanent deal for Sima to repeat the masterclass they played with Kent under Gerrard's management as the young ace could be a fantastic player for years to come.

The allrounder will also miss the Mzansi Super League to undergo a procedure on his right shoulder, after he aggravated a pre-existing injury

Liam Brickhill16-Oct-2018

AFP

JP Duminy will miss both South Africa’s upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia and the Mzansi Super League to undergo surgery for an injury to his right shoulder.Duminy had been announced as the marquee South African player for the Cape Town Blitz in the MSL, but he will now be replaced by Quinton de Kock. Duminy’s time out for surgery means that South Africa will be without two of their most experienced players on their trip to Australia. Earlier this week, it was announced that Hashim Amla would also not be touring as he is given time to fully recover from a finger tendon injury picked up during the Caribbean Premier League.”JP aggravated a pre-existing shoulder injury during the recently-concluded series against Zimbabwe,” South Africa team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee said. “The injury will require surgical management, thus ruling him out of the immediate tour of Australia and the upcoming MSL. At the moment, we can’t say how long he will be out for, that is dependent on the results from the surgery.”South Africa’s squad for the Australia tour, consisting of three one-day internationals and a solitary T20 international, will be announced later this week. The tour begins with a warm-up game against a Prime Minister’s XI on October 31, while the MSL kicks off on 16 November and runs until 16 December.