Mushfiqur and Mehidy star in Bangladesh's historic maiden Test win against Pakistan

A spirited Bangladesh bowling unit rode on the confidence Mushfiqur Rahim’s 191 had instilled into their camp on the fourth day to skittle Pakistan for 146 on the fifth, and hand them a fifth loss in a stretch of nine winless home Tests. While Pakistan have not won a Test at home since February 2021 against South Africa, this was Bangladesh’s maiden Test win against Pakistan – a ten-wicket win to boot – and a rare one away from home. Leading into this game, they had won just two Tests on foreign soil in the last seven years.If the fourth day was about Bangladesh slowly strengthening their grip on the game, the last day was about romping to victory. Once the fast bowlers removed three of the top four Pakistan batters, the spinning duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz shared the remaining seven wickets; the ball had started to turn more than it did on Saturday, with some uneven bounce as well.Young fast bowler Nahid Rana cranked up the pace close to 150kmph to snare Babar Azam, Shakib stifled with his stump-to-stump lines from both sides of the wicket, and Mehidy struck with his zippy offbreaks to regularly create tense moments and wicket-taking opportunities.Related

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After Pakistan – led largely by Mohammad Rizwan’s 51 – set Bangladesh a mere 30 to win in the second session, Bangladesh hunted down the runs in 6.3 overs.Even though the ball wasn’t swinging as much as it did on the previous evening, Bangladesh’s quicks set up their push for victory in the first session. With Saim Ayub already dismissed on the fourth day, Shan Masood fell early when he edged Hasan Mahmud to the wicketkeeper. The on-field umpire didn’t give it out, but Bangladesh reviewed and saw the decision overturned after a spike on UltraEdge.The score of 28 for 2 could have been 28 for 3 when Babar Azam edged his second delivery, angling away from him to the keeper, but Litton Das couldn’t hold on to the chance to his right and Babar survived a pair.He grew in confidence with some runs and boundaries, but Nahid spotted his lack of footwork and plotted his fall. He peppered Babar with short balls regularly above 145kmph to push him on the back foot, and when he pitched one up outside off, Babar’s feet didn’t move quickly and far enough, and his drive resulted in him chopping on for 22. That started the slide of wickets, halted briefly only by a counter-attacking innings from Rizwan before the lunch break.Mohammad Rizwan was a class apart on the fifth-day surface•Associated Press

Saud Shakeel stepped out to negate Shakib’s turn but missed and was stumped for a duck. A patient Abdullah Shafique then threw his wicket away with just over three overs left for lunch. He attempted a wild swing over mid-off only to hand a leading edge to Shadman Islam at backward point. Two balls later, Mehidy drew Agha Salman forward with a teasing offbreak and drew his edge, with Shadman taking a sharp catch to his left this time at slip.Rizwan, in between, struck four boundaries on either side of the wicket to wipe out a chunk of the deficit that was 50 when he had walked out. He attacked a slightly tired Nahid with a hat-trick of fours and followed it with a slog sweep for another boundary next over that made it 26 runs scored off the two overs. But he was forced to curb his instincts with Salman’s dismissal and farmed the strike after the lunch break once Shaheen Shah Afridi was trapped in front by a Mehidy delivery that barely bounced.Pakistan were 111 for 7 at the time, still trailing by six. They took the lead, but Naseem Shah soon handed a catch to midwicket before Rizwan took the responsibility of building some sort of a lead with his tenth Test half-century. He was going hard at the ball through his innings and this resulted in his wicket when he chopped on against Mehidy, who also trapped Mohammad Ali to wrap up the hosts.Zakir Hasan and Shadman then ensured Bangladesh got over the line unscathed. Zakir struck three fours in his 14 and hit the winning runs with a sweep down to the vacant fine-leg fence.

Levy submits Tottenham enquiry over deal for "explosive" £40m+ rising star

Tottenham Hotspur have now submitted an enquiry over a deal for an “explosive” star, who is expected to cost in excess of £40m this summer, according to a report.

Tottenham eye new midfielder amid doubts over Bentancur's future

While Tottenham secured Champions League qualification via their Europa League triumph, their Premier League performances in the 2024-25 campaign left a lot to be desired, and new manager Thomas Frank will be hoping to oversee a major turnaround.

During his first interview as Spurs boss, Frank singled out James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dominic Solanke as three players he is excited to work with, indicating the Dane is happy with the attacking midfield options at his disposal.

However, should Bentancur refuse to sign a new contract, the Uruguayan could be moved on this summer, with a move to Atletico Madrid deemed a possibility, meaning Frank may be tasked with bringing in a replacement.

Levy now ready to smash Tottenham record by signing "unbelievable" £68m star

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ByDominic Lund Jun 29, 2025

As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Daniel Levy and Co could look to raid one of their Premier League rivals, having now submitted an enquiry over a deal for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, who is expected to cost in excess of £40m this summer.

Elliott is ready to leave the Reds, given a lack of game time last season, and first-team opportunities are likely to be even more limited in the upcoming campaign, considering Florian Wirtz’s arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool's HarveyElliottcelebrates

There is widespread interest in the 22-year-old, however, which could pose a problem for Spurs, with nearly half the Premier League submitting enquiries of their own, while Jurgen Klopp is also looking to take his former player to RB Leipzig.

"Explosive" Elliott leads England U21s to glory in Slovakia

England U21s secured a second consecutive European Championships title with a 3-2 victory over Germany on Saturday, and manager Lee Carsley has the Liverpool midfielder to thank, given that he played a major role in the triumph.

The 22-year-old picked up the Player of the Tournament award, courtesy of scoring five goals en-route to glory in Slovakia, while he has also impressed Arne Slot in the past, with the Dutchman saying: “He’s so explosive with the way that he moves and with his end product. We are very lucky to have him.”

Not only that, but the former Fulham man places ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 by players in his position over the past year, and the 86th percentile for assists, showcasing the attacking threat he poses.

Elliott is now at an age where he needs to be playing regular football, and his exploits for England U21s indicate he could flourish at Tottenham, so a fee of around £40m seems very reasonable.

Hamstring tear rules Ben Stokes out of summer, aiming for Pakistan tour

Ollie Pope confirmed as England captain for three-match Test series against Sri Lanka

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Aug-2024Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the rest of the summer after scans on Tuesday revealed England men’s Test captain has torn his left hamstring.Stokes sustained the injury playing in the Hundred for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals on Sunday. Called through for a quick single early in Superchargers’ chase, he pulled up injured on completing the run, before falling to the floor and clutching his left leg. He had to be helped on the field and returned to the team dugout with crutches.A scan on Tuesday revealed the extent of the damage, with Stokes now unable to play any part in the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka which begins in Manchester on August 21. It means Ollie Pope, Stokes’ vice-captain for over a year, will assume full captaincy duties for the series. He was subsequently withdrawn from London Spirit’s squad for their final Hundred match against Northern Superchargers on Tuesday evening.Related

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Ben Stokes on track for Pakistan tour comeback after hamstring tear

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Jamie Smith open to being England's No. 6 in Ben Stokes' absence

The ECB said in a statement that Stokes is aiming to return for England’s winter Test tour of Pakistan, which will start in Multan on October 7. Zak Crawley, who is missing the Sri Lanka series with a finger injury, is also targeting the Pakistan tour for his return.England have decided not to name a replacement for Stokes in their squad to face Sri Lanka. In his absence, Jordan Cox will come into contention to make his Test debut as a specialist batter at No. 6. Alternatively, they could change the balance of the team by moving Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes up to No. 6 and 7 respectively, and select an additional seamer in Matthew Potts or Olly Stone.Ollie Pope will captain England against Sri Lanka•Getty ImagesStokes is expected to join the rest of the squad in Manchester this weekend, as originally planned, and it is understood he will try to be with the team for every day of the series, which includes two Tests in London.At the same time, England will hope Pope embraces his temporary promotion, having been made Stokes’ deputy in 2023 with a view to giving him more responsibility to harness his leadership potential. His promotion to No. 3 came on similar grounds, which has largely been a success, averaging 44.63 in that position, with five centuries.Pope’s captaincy experience is limited to a single first-class match, leading Surrey against Glamorgan in September 2021, though he did take the reins for their 2024 Vitality Blast campaign with regular skipper Chris Jordan away with England at the T20 World Cup.He has previously captained England XIs in warm-up matches in the UAE ahead of the 2022 Pakistan tour and in New Zealand at the start of 2023, after Stokes opted to sit out of both.

Ipswich Town now in advanced talks to sign "strong" £10m star after Kipre

Having already agreed a loan deal to sign Cedric Kipre from Stade de Reims, Ipswich Town are now reportedly closing in on their second signing of the summer in the form of another Ligue 1 star.

Ipswich set to sign Cedric Kipre

It’s been a slow summer transfer window at Portman Road so far as Kieran McKenna looks to build a side capable of earning an instant return to the Premier League without Liam Delap. The talented forward was always destined to depart once relegation was confirmed and he did just that when Chelsea came calling to win a frantic race for his signature.

Replacing the forward remains the toughest task for Ipswich this summer, but not one that sits top of their list of priorities. Instead, according to recent reports, The Tractor Boys are set to commence their summer business by signing Kipre on loan from Reims to hand the central defender his first move back to English football since leaving West Bromwich Albion last year.

Kipre will need little introduction to Championship fans given his extensive experience in England’s second tier, and that experience should prove to be key for McKenna’s side next season.

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Whether signing Championship experience is part of the overall plan for Ipswich this summer remains to be seen. Recent links have emerged with the likes of Kwame Poku have been mentioned in recent weeks before his move to QPR, but those at Portman Road could first welcome a midfield reinforcement to match the potential arrival of Kipre this summer.

Ipswich in advanced talks to signing Matusiwa

As reported by Le Parisien, Ipswich are now closing in on a deal and are in advanced talks to sign Azor Matusiwa from Stade Rennais this summer. The defensive midfielder initially cost the French side around €16m (£14m) back in January 2024, but is seemingly set to move on just 18 months later in favour of McKenna’s side.

Minutes

2,078

1,959

Progressive Passes

134

59

Tackles Won

39

22

Ball Recoveries

134

107

As far as replacements for Jens Cajuste go, it’s fair to say that Matusiwa is an impressive option. The midfielder outperformed the former Ipswich loanee and Napoli midfielder in several key departments last season and will thrive in the Championship if he completes a summer switch.

In a deal worth £10m, Matusiwa could even turn into an excellent bargain at Portman Road. During his time at Reims, the midfielder found himself at the centre of praise more than once, including from Ben Mattinson in 2023. The analyst described the Dutchman’s anticipation as “great” and went on to praise him as “strong” as well as “agile”.

Azor Matusiwa celebrates for Reims.

So, although Ipswich have taken time to get going, both Kipre and Matusiwa would represent solid signings to kickstart their transfer window at long last.

Even "better" than Declan Rice: West Ham make offer for £138k-p/w "engine"

Have West Ham United reinvested the money that they gained from selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in 2023 well? They made over £100m from that sale, and whilst they have signed plenty of big-name players since then, including the now-departed Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, they have yet to have a better season than when Rice was in their midfield.

Of course, losing your captain to a London rival is never going to be an easy pill to swallow. However, they have spent money on two midfielders since his departure, namely Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, and signed Guido Rodriguez for free and Kalvin Phillips on a brief loan.

Wolves midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

Yet, there still feels like a Rice-shaped hole in the midfield for the Hammers. Perhaps that will change this summer.

West Ham’s latest midfield target

It has certainly been a frustrating time for the Hammers when it comes to replacing their captain, and an England starter. Rice’s influence in the middle of the park has certainly been missed as they slowly slide down the table.

Transfer Focus

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

However, a report from Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, suggests that the Hammers may have found the man to finally replace Rice, in the form of Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz. The report states that the Hammers have actually made a loan bid with an option to buy the Brazilian.

Indeed, the option to buy the 27-year-old could become obligatory if certain conditions are met. Luiz, who earns £138k-per-week according to Capology, would cost the Hammers £8.6m ahead of the loan.

Douglas Luiz in action for Juventus.

They’d then need to pay a further £26m if he ends up moving to the London Stadium permanently.

Why Luiz would be a good signing

Despite a tough campaign for Juve in the 2024/25 season, with the midfielder constantly out of favour under a couple of managers, his quality is undeniable. He has already had success in the Premier League with Aston Villa.

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz

His single season playing for the Old Lady so far certainly did not go to plan. He only made 27 appearances last term in all competitions, without scoring or assisting. The former Villa star notched up just 877 minutes, the equivalent of only 9.7 full 90-minute games.

Despite the outrageously low number of minutes played for Juve to date, Luiz certainly has the mettle to play in the Premier League. He racked up 204 Villa appearances, scoring 22 goals and registering 24 assists in that time. Statman Dave described him as a midfield “engine”, which is certainly what the Hammers are looking for.

Stepping into the shoes of Rice at the London Stadium will not be an easy task for Luiz. Let’s not forget just how much of an iconic figure the former Hammers captain is at the club.

He lifted the Conference League as captain in 2022/23, just weeks before he left.

In total, the London-born midfielder played 245 times for the East Londoners, scoring 15 goals, including this solo effort in their run to the Conference League final. Chelsea and England legend John Terry described him as “the best in his position in world football” back in 2021.

So, for former winger turned pundit Jermaine Pennant to claim that Luiz “can do everything that Rice can do and better” shows just how good of a midfielder he is. Indeed, there are stats which back up this bold claim from the former Liverpool winger.

Looking at numbers on FBref from 2023/24, Luiz’s last season in the Premier League, there are some standout stats. For example, that season he averaged 5.53 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, compared to 4.97 each game from Rice, while providing more of an impact in terms of goal contributions.

Luiz and Rice key stats 2023/24 PL season compared

Stat (per 90)

Luiz

Rice

Goals and assists

0.42

0.35

Pass accuracy

85.7%

83.4%

Passes into penalty area

1.17

1.11

Blocks

0.96

0.86

Ball recoveries

5.53

4.97

Stats from FBref

Signing Luiz on a loan deal with an option to buy him could be the dream move for West Ham. He is proven in the Premier League, and perhaps better, whisper it quietly, than Rice, a player they have struggled to replace over the last two years.

Douglas Luiz at the Club World Cup with Juventus.

This relatively risk-free move could be ideal for the Hammers to help strengthen in midfield and climb back up the table.

Dream Kudus replacement: West Ham open talks to sign "special" £30m star

West Ham United can soften the blow of Mohammed Kudus leaving by signing this £30m star.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 15, 2025

He's a bigger talent than Mbeumo: Man Utd make contact to sign £55m star

Manchester United’s business during the ongoing summer transfer window could prove to be crucial in Ruben Amorim’s stint as manager at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have demonstrated with their Premier League finish in 2024/25 that they’re miles behind where they should be, especially given the money spent in recent seasons.

Former boss Erik ten Hag spent in the region of £600m on players in his three summers in the role, with many of his additions failing to impress in England’s top-flight.

Erik ten Hag

The likes of Anthony, Tyrell Malacia and Rasmus Hojlund all arrived during the Dutchman’s tenure at the club, but all look set to depart this summer after falling down Amorim’s pecking order.

Any funds from such departures will likely be reinvested by the hierarchy to help the current boss in his quest for success, with numerous names already on their list this summer.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Bryan Mbeumo looked almost certain to be a United player next season, after he agreed personal terms with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford this window.

However, despite placing two separate bids for the 25-year-old this summer, no agreement has yet been reached with Brentford, with staff behind the scenes in Manchester said to be growing frustrated.

As a result, attention has been turned to other potential attacking reinforcements, with Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling a key target, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He claims that Amorim’s side have made an approach for the 19-year-old’s signature this summer, but could face tough competition from fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur.

Plettenberg’s update also claims that the forward could be available for a fee in the region of £55m this summer, despite suffering relegation back to the Championship at the end of last season.

Why United’s £55m target is a bigger talent than Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo has been one of the Premier League’s most deadly talents in recent seasons, as seen with his tally of 20 goals during the 2024/25 campaign.

Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts

The Cameroonian is more than deserving of a big-money move this window, with United the side pushing the most for his signature despite their recent unsuccessful offers.

The player himself has stated his desire to join Amorim’s side during the off-season, but ultimately, no deal can be completed until a fee has been agreed between the two clubs.

Many supporters will still see Mbeumo as the number one option in attacking areas, but they could land themselves a bigger talent in the form of Dibling, should they choose to pursue a move for the teenager’s signature.

Last campaign was his first at senior level, but he wasted no time in impressing, leading to one Liverpool analyst comparing the forward to Gareth Bale after his display at Anfield.

Such a comparison is no mean feat, given the Welshman was arguably one of the division’s best players a handful of years ago, managing to score 71 goals for Tottenham Hotspur across two separate spells.

Despite also being six years younger than Mbeumo, he’s also managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, further highlighting why he’d be a more exciting talent.

Dibling, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Ivan Juric, managed to register a higher tally of progressive passes per 90, along with a higher pass completion rate – having the ability to aid others within the final third.

He also managed to complete more take-ons per 90, along with an increased tally of carries into the final third, showcasing the direct nature he possesses with the ball at his feet.

Games played

33

38

Goals & assists

2

27

Progressive passes

3.8

3.4

Pass accuracy

81%

66%

Take-ons completed

2.2

1.3

Carries into final third

2.4

1.8

Key passes made

1.9

1.8

Fouls won

2.4

1.1

The youngster was a constant nuisance to various backlines last season, including the Red Devils’ winning a penalty against them at St Mary’s, contributing to his tally of 2.4 fouls won per 90.

£55m may be seen as a huge investment for such an inexperienced talent, but it’s a risk worth taking given the levels he’s produced at a below-average Premier League outfit.

He’s already proven that he can outperform Mbeumo in numerous key areas, undoubtedly only going to get better too, playing alongside top-level talents for many years to come should he move to Old Trafford this window.

Perfect for Bruno & Mbeumo: Man Utd to make bid for £20m star this week

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Liverpool have "concrete" interest in £300m attacking overhaul after Guehi

It has been the summer of red thus far and one which has seen Liverpool break the British-record transfer fee to sign Florian Wirtz. But FSG are not done there, with reports now suggesting they’ve got three more “concrete options”.

Liverpool in advanced talks to sign Marc Guehi

Having already signed a left-back in the form of Milos Kerkez and a right-back to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool now look destined to welcome a third defensive reinforcement. This time, a centre-back is on their wishlist and Marc Guehi sits at the very top of that.

The Crystal Palace star has just one year remaining on his current deal and the Reds are looking to take full advantage to land a cut-price deal in comparison to his £70m valuation just one year ago.

Whilst their interest came as a surprise initially, Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen alongside the fact that Ibrahima Konate is into the final year of his current contract makes Guehi the perfect option for Arne Slot.

In one swoop, Slot could have Guehi, Virgil van Dijk, Konate and Joe Gomez to choose from in what would represent the best depth in that role in the Premier League, perhaps even European football.

Salah & Wirtz will love him: Liverpool pushing to sign "unstoppable" CF

Liverpool want to sign a world-class central striker this summer.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 1, 2025

However, even if the England international is top of Liverpool’s list of priorities, he is not the only name on their wishlist despite how much they’ve already spent. Reports are now suggesting that the Premier League champions have three more “concrete options” in mind.

Isak among "concrete options" for Liverpool

As reported by Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Alexander Isak, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitike are “three concrete options” for Liverpool this summer after sporting director Richard Hughes completed checks on all of the forwards.

None of those stars will come cheap, however, which suggests that Liverpool could be ready to spend big once again. Just how much their hefty budget stretches will be the big question. Isak, for example, is reportedly unlikely to leave Newcastle United for anything less than £150m, whilst Ekitike has been priced at £85m and Osimhen at £64m, totalling the three out just shy of £300m.

If those at Anfield are able to splash out again then it is a case of simply taking their pick. Whether it’s Ekitike, Osimhen or Isak, all three would be instant upgrades on Darwin Nunez and all three would complete what is becoming a frightening squad for others to match around the Premier League.

رسميًا.. تياجو ألكانتارا يعود إلى برشلونة

أعلن نادي برشلونة بشكل رسمي منذ قليل، عن عودة تياجو ألكانتارا من جديد إلى صفوف الفريق الكتالوني، وذلك بعد سنوات من الرحيل عن النادي الإسباني.

تياجو يعتبر من بين أبناء نادي برشلونة وتدرج في الفئات السنية لحين أصبح لاعبًا في الفريق الأول، ومن ثم غادر إلى نادي بايرن ميونخ عام 2013.

اقرأ أيضًا.. “علاقة سامة” بين فيرمين لوبيز وجافي في برشلونة.. وفليك ينتظر المنقذ

وعاد ألكانتارا هذه المرة إلى برشلونة في ثوب المدرب وليس اللاعب، حيث اعتزل ابن الـ34 عامًا كرة القدم قبل عامين.

وأكد برشلونة في بيان عبر موقع النادي الرسمي، أن تياجو أصبح عضوًا في الجهاز الفني للفريق بناءً على طلب من المدير الفني هانز فليك.

وقال برشلونة في البيان: ”بدأ لاعب برشلونة السابق تدريباته على العشب اليوم كعضو في الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول كمدرب مساعد لهانز فليك، وسيشمل دوره المساعدة في الجوانب التكتيكية والتحضير لجلسات التدريب، من بين أمور أخرى مستفيدًا من خبرته ورؤيته الكروية لإثراء العمل اليومي للفريق”.

ويعرف فليك ألكانتارا جيدًا حيث دربه في نادي بايرن ميونخ وقدم وقتها تياجو أفضل مستوياته في مسيرته الكروية، مساهمًا في حصول الفريق البافاري بموسم 2020 على ثلاثية تاريخية.

Jayawickrama gets one-year ban for breaching anti-corruption code

He has admitted to breaching article 2.4.7 of the code, which relates to obstructing or delaying an ACU (anti-corruption unit) investigation

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2024

Praveen Jayawickrama has played five Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is for Sri Lanka•BCCI

The ICC has banned Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama from all cricket for one year, of which the last six months are suspended, after he admitted to breaching the global body’s anti-corruption code.In August the ICC charged Jayawickrama with two breaches of the code. He has admitted to breaching article 2.4.7, which relates to: “Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU [anti-corruption unit], including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.”Related

Sri Lanka spinner Praveen Jayawickrama faces ICC corruption charges

The charges, according to an ICC release, relate to international cricket and the Lanka Premier League (LPL).Having made his international debut in a Test against Bangladesh in April 2021, Jayawickrama has played five Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is. His last appearance for Sri Lanka was in a T20I series at home against Australia in 2022.In LPL 2021, Jayawickrama was a part of the Jaffna Kings side that won its second title. He played one match that season, taking two wickets. In LPL 2024, he turned out for Dambulla Sixers.

Rangers make approach to sign "great" new forward who left Chelsea in 2022

Setting their sights on their seventh arrival of the summer, Rangers have now reportedly made their first approach to sign a talented young winger for Russell Martin.

Rangers open pre-season with Club Brugge draw

It’s been all change at Ibrox so far this summer. New owners have arrived in the form of the 49ers and a new manager soon followed in the form of Martin. Since then, to no surprise, several much-needed fresh faces have also made their way to Glasgow as the Gers look to turn things around after last season’s failure.

First through the door were Oscar Cortes, who completed a permanent move following his loan spell, and young Scottish talent Lyall Cameron. But those two were just the start for Rangers. Since then, they’ve welcomed four others, with Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons and Thelo Aasgaard all putting pen to paper on Ibrox deals.

The likes of Aarons and Fernandez featured as Rangers opened their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Belgian side Club Brugge and there are still some debuts to come in the next few weeks.

Following his first game in charge, Martin told reporters: “It was very good opposition. It will really help prepare us to get better and we will learn a lot from today.

“It was nice to walk out at Ibrox with the team. I got a great reception which I’m incredibly grateful for when I walked out for the warm-up. The first half, we started okay then conceded a goal.

Russell Martin watches on whilst in charge of Southampton.

“What was interesting, and we’ll learn a lot, is that the habits we’re trying to instill changed a little bit and the team didn’t quite look how we wanted it to, and they managed to gain a bit of momentum again.”

As pre-season continues and fresh faces enter the Ibrox turf, however, Rangers reportedly still have unfinished business in the transfer window and may yet welcome another attacking reinforcement.

Rangers make first approach to sign Ballo

As reported by Florian Plettenberg, Rangers have now made their first approach to sign Thierno Ballo from Austrian side Wolfsberger AC this summer. The impressive 23-year-old has also attracted interest from Ajax and Mainz 05 to form a busy race to secure his signature as he looks to move on ahead of next season.

The Chelsea academy graduate left the Blues in 2022 for Wolfsberger AC on a free transfer. He was praised for his “great” form for both club and country by scout Jacek Kulig back in March, and he could now bring that form to the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers line up bid for 26 y/o Vardy alternative and Celtic transfer target

He has scored four times against the Gers in the past.

1

By
Henry Jackson

Jul 9, 2025

After scoring 13 goals in all competitions last season too, there’s every chance that the Austrian would be capable of replacing Hamza Igamane if the Rangers star did complete a departure this summer.

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