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Glasgow Rangers target Cyriel Dessers is keen on making the move to Ibrox this summer, according to reliable reporter Scott Burns.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Dessers?

Michael Beale has made a quick start to the club’s summer transfer plans by bringing in four players already. The Gers have signed goalkeeper Jack Butland, full-back Dujon Sterling and attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell on free transfers. The club have also spent some money by bringing in forward Sam Lammers from Italian side Atalanta for €3.5m.

Despite already bolstering the attacking ranks, Beale and Rangers seemingly want to strengthen their option in the final third even further, with Dessers a real target.

A bid was submitted for the Cremonese forward earlier this month, although a report recently stated that the player has said no to a move to Scotland and favours remaining in Italy.

However, that doesn’t appear to be the case in a fresh transfer twist shared by Burns. Writing for The Daily Record, the reporter said:

“Dessers remains keen on a move to Ibrox and is waiting for Rangers to make another offer.

“Reports in Italy claimed the Nigerian international had turned down a switch to Ibrox. Sources close to all sides of the deal are adamant that is not the case. Dessers is very much keen on a move to Scotland and for the chance to play in the Champions League.

“Rangers have already made multiple bids for the striker but have still to reach an agreement with Cremonese. The Ibrox side are expected to go back in for the 28-year-old but won’t be rushed into a deal.”

Who is Cyriel Dessers?

Dessers, hailed as "phenomenal" by members of the media, is 28 years of age and is an out-and-out centre-forward. The Nigeria international previously plied his trade in Belgium and the Netherlands before moving to Italy with Cremonese last summer.

In total, Dessers has made 280 club appearances throughout his career, scoring 111 goals and registering 40 assists. As per FBref, the striker ranks in the 92nd percentile for touches in the penalty area and 93rd for goals per shot on target, showing how he can be a real danger in the box.

He certainly knows where the back of the net is and has been described as someone who is “awkward to play against” because of his physical strength by journalist Josh Bunting, so he could prove to be a smart signing, joining Lammers in the process.

Chelsea have placed Rasmus Hojlund on their list as a potential striker they could move for this summer, according to a report from Evening Standard.

Are Chelsea signing Rasmus Hojlund?

The 20-year-old currently plays his football in Italy for Atalanta and helped the side to a fifth place finish in Serie A this campaign thanks to his goals and assists. Having been played more times this year than ever before in his career – he featured in 32 league games for the side – he was able to produce his best ever goal haul of nine, and had two assists to boot.

In addition to that, when compared to some of the other strikers across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe, he emerged as a leading attacker despite his youth. Hojlund's non-penalty xG rate of 0.47 per 90 for example led to him being ranked in the top 16% in his position over the course of the year – an excellent feat considering his relative inexperience and age.

With eleven progressive passes received per 90 too, he actually ranks in the 99% percentile for that figure. It shows that not only is he adept at hitting the back of the net but is able to make clever runs, get into good positions and receive the ball in dangerous areas.

This has led to interest from Manchester United in the Premier League but it appears they could now have a rival in their race to sign the player. That's because according to a report from Evening Standard, the player is on Chelsea's radar as a striker they could sign should other deals not materialise. Boss Mauricio Pochettino is looking at potential forwards to sign and Hojlund's name has cropped up as an alternative to Nicolas Jackson, who is mentioned in the same report.

When does Rasmus Hojlund's contract expire?

With the player's deal only running out at Atalanta in 2027 – having only arrived in Serie A at the beginning of the campaign – they won't be too keen to let him go and could demand £65m for his signature according to this report.

However, his performances have clearly caught the eye of those at Stamford Bridge – and he's also impressed many in the game too – talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that the player is a "complete forward" and an "absolute monster". If the Blues desire a younger striker to lead the line for the club and to help Pochettino get the side back to winning ways, it appears as though that could be Hojlund.

Manchester United are admirers of Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka as Erik Ten Hag looks to bolster his midfield with some quality additions this summer, journalist Dean Jones has suggested.

What's the latest transfer news involving Manchester United and Leon Goretzka?

According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United are monitoring Goretzka as a potential alternative to Declan Rice, who has also been a target for the Red Devils this window.

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg stated: "News Goretzka: Man Utd is monitoring his situation! MUFC is aware of the fact that his future his uncertain because of Rice. But no concrete talks or negotiations yet. Goretzka is staying calm and his position is clear: He definitely wants to stay as he identifies 100 % with FC Bayern! And: Rummenigge supports him."

As per The Daily Mail, Bayern Munich are also keen suitors in the hunt for West Ham United midfielder Rice, potentially creating a transfer domino effect; however, The Guardian have since revealed that the 24-year-old could be en route to Arsenal in a deal worth a fee in the region of £100 million.

In 2022/23, Goretzka, who has been hailed as a "chameleon" by Bundesliga and an "incredible goal threat", made 40 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions and managed to notch six goals and six assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Salary Sport understand that the Germany international earns around £231k-a-week on a contract that runs until the summer of 2026.

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that Goretzka is definitely a player that is liked by chiefs at Old Trafford.

Jones suggested: They also need to sort the midfield, where Marcel Sabitzer was on loan last season and Fred and Scott McTominay prepare to have their partnership broken up once and for all. We have seen them make early strides for Mason Mount but look out for the likes of Romeo Lavia. Other players they admire are £230,000-a-week star Leon Goretzka – described as being an "extraordinary" player – Declan Rice and Adrien Rabiot but top target Frenkie De Jong is off limits.

Who else have Manchester United been linked with?

Manchester United have been linked with several players this summer as their hunt for signings gets underway and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has emerged as a key target, with a bid expected to be formalised for the England international, as per Sky Sports.

Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is also on the radar at Old Trafford and has been earmarked as a priority target this off-season, according to Foot Mercato via ESPN.

Sky Sports also claim that Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is someone who has been identified to spearhead Manchester United's attack, though a bid for Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane is unlikely.

Ten Hag will be keen to see if he can build a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title next season and Manchester United fans will be pleased to see that their club are taking a proactive approach in the transfer market.

Liverpool will be in the market for a number of central midfielders this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster a squad that fell way short of expectations this season.

After only qualifying for the Europa League following a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, the Reds may find it a little harder to recruit the top talents that may have been on their shortlist heading into the summer.

However, midfield reinforcements will be a priority for Klopp after the exits of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, with Borussia Monchengladbach ace Manu Kone one man who could arrive at Anfield.

What has Fabrizio Romano said about Manu Kone?

According to transfer specialist Romano, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old after his impressive performances in the Bundesliga this term.

He wrote: "Manu Koné, one of the midfielders on Liverpool's list. He’s highly rated as LFC are already informed on conditions of the deal.

"Parties feel there’s a chance for Koné to leave this summer, as BILD called — he’s a name to consider for Liverpool plans."

Previous reports have claimed that the defensive-minded midfielder could cost around £26m this summer, which could represent a bargain for the Reds if he can live up to his potential at Anfield.

Would Manu Kone be a good signing for Liverpool?

This season saw Kone feature regularly in Daniel Farke's side, making 30 appearances in the Bundesliga and averaging a solid 6.81 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He had previously averaged a strong 6.99 rating in the 2021/22 campaign so has been impressive in Germany for some time now, and it seems likely that the former Toulouse man could be destined for a big move in the upcoming window.

WhoScored suggests that the young midfielder excels at dribbling, passing and tackling, so he could be the ideal man to replace Keita as a ball-carrying midfield in Klopp's squad, while his obvious potential and strong performances at Monchengladbach certainly suggest that he could eclipse the Guinean at Anfield.

Just this term, he amassed a healthy 1.9 dribbles per game and an impressive 2.5 tackles per match, numbers that would have ranked him joint-top and the very best in the entire Liverpool squad for those metrics. It's those very performance that have seen him tipped to become a "monstrous" asset in the future by scout Jacek Kulig.

On the flip side, the former RB Leipzig man never lived up to expectations at Liverpool, with injury issues plaguing his time in the Premier League, as he mustered just 129 appearances in five years with the Merseyside club, contributing 11 goals and seven assists.

His lack of minutes in the Premier League this season was always going to make an exit likely but Klopp will still need to replace him after midfield depth became a key issue for the Reds throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Kone is certainly highly-rated, doesn't have too high a price tag and has plenty of room to grow at just 22, so he could be an excellent first signing by Jorg Schmadtke this summer.

Ireland have been boosted ahead of their one-day series against Pakistan next month by being able to name Niall O’Brien, Craig Young and Boyd Rankin in their squad for the two ODIs.O’Brien (calf) and Young (elbow) missed the recent series against Afghanistan due to injuries while Rankin was unavailable because of Warwickshire commitments.The return of Rankin and Young will add depth to the pace-bowling department when they take on Pakistan in Dublin on August 18 and 20 but there is no place for left-arm spinner George Dockrell.O’Brien’s presence will bring experience to the top order which continues to rely heavily on Ed Joyce who scored 339 runs at 169.50 in four innings against Afghanistan. The next highest scorer was Kevin O’Brien with 145 runs in four innings.Dockrell, meanwhile, had initially been left out of the squad to face Afghanistan before being recalled as a replacement for the injured Mark Adair. He played one match in the series taking 1 for 52. Andy McBrine and Paul Stirling will provide the spin options in this squad.

Ireland squad v Pakistan

William Porterfield (capt), John Anderson, Peter Chase, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Stuart Poynter, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Craig Young

“It’s great to have an almost full strength squad to choose from,” John Bracewell, Ireland’s head coach, said. “The bowling unit performed superbly against Afghanistan with the younger seamers in particular putting their hands up. The return of Boyd and Craig adds to that department and gives us plenty of options which is exactly what a coach wants.”The return of Niall adds experience to the top order. We tried a few different permutations with the batting order last week – some of which worked and some which didn’t. Ed Joyce was obviously the stand-out performer in his new role as opener, and it was great to see Gary Wilson return to form.”The last time Ireland faced Pakistan was at the 2015 World Cup where William Porterfield hit a century but Sarfraz Ahmed’s unbeaten 101 led Pakistan to victory. In 2013, Pakistan visited for a two-match series with Ireland securing a tie in the first game of the series.Their most famous meeting remains the 2007 World Cup clash in Jamaica which Ireland won by three wickets.

Graeme Welch has resigned as Derbyshire’s elite performance director just hours before the start of the NatWest T20 Blast match against Leicestershire

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2016

Graeme Welch has resigned as Derbyshire’s elite performance director just hours before the start of the NatWest T20 Blast match against Leicestershire.Derbyshire are currently second from bottom in Division Two of the County Championship – the position they finished in 2015 – with two defeats and five draws, the most recent result being a 10-wicket loss to Sussex at Hove. In the early stages of the Blast they have won one and lost one.”I have decided to resign as elite performance director. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club and learned so much,” Welch, who was appointed in January 2014, said in a brief statement. “I would particularly like to thank the chairman and board for their support over the last few years and I wish them all the best for the future.”The chairman, Chris Grant, said: “Over the last two and a half years, we have seen a number of players develop under Graeme’s guidance. We have also seen a clear increase in the levels of professionalism and work ethic within the club.”Whilst on-field results have been disappointing, Graeme leaves the club with stronger foundations in place. The board would like to thank Graeme for his contribution and we wish him every success in the future.”The club said elite performance coach John Sadler will take charge of coaching affairs supported by four-day captain Billy Godleman and limited-overs captain Wes Durston.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension are 'pushing' to get a deal done for Leicester City star James Maddison, according to reports.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

The north Londoners are currently prioritising the search for a new manager after Antonio Conte's departure, with assistant coach Ryan Mason taking charge until the end of this Premier League season.

Spurs are apparently set to step up talks for a plethora of candidates, including Ruben Amorim and Xabi Alonso, as discussions have already been held with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique (The Evening Standard).

However, with the summer transfer window lying just around the corner, Levy must also get to work on identifying summer transfer targets for next campaign.

The responsibility falls on Levy and chief football officer Scott Munn after former sporting director Fabio Paratici was forced to resign from his post.

Spurs are thought to be interested in signing a central defender to shake up their defence, with the likes of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi previously linked.

Perhaps above all, though, the Lilywhites are reliably believed to hold a serious interest in Maddison, as reports suggest Spurs are one of the favoured destinations.

The Foxes playmaker has been a shining light for Leicester in an otherwise dismal campaign, with Football Insider sharing the latest on his proposed move to Spurs.

According to their information, the club and Levy are pushing to get a deal done for Maddison, who they could sign for £60 million as things stand.

This is apparently part of a "huge" summer overhaul, but Spurs aren't the only club interested in a deal, with Newcastle United and Liverpool also eyeing a move.

What could Maddison bring to Spurs?

The 26-year-old has been Leicester's star player bar none, standing out as their best-performing player by average match rating whilst chipping in with 17 goal contributions (WhoScored).

No Leicester player has averaged more attempts at goal or key passes completed in the final third than Maddison, with pundit David Connolly tipping him for an England call as far back as 2021.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former West Ham and Leicester man said this on Maddison when filing a scout report:

"He's been absolutely magnificent. His versatility has been a huge asset for Brendan Rodgers. He's going to have a real chance of getting a call up."

£60m for a fully-fledged Premier League star, and one barley at his peak, is surely a fair price to pay and Tottenham must keep pursuing a deal.

Despite Todd Boehly’s priorities lying in securing a new permanent Chelsea manager, there is still plenty of talk surrounding potential summer signings.

Indeed, according to Spanish outlet Diario AS, Chelsea have reportedly met with Barcelona youngster Gavi and his representatives in order to secure the signature of the player during the summer.

The 18-year-old only signed his first professional contract with the La Liga side which will keep him there until 2026, however, due to their ongoing financial problems, they have been forced to remove him from their registration of first-team players and this means the £160m-rated talent could remarkably become a free transfer this summer.

This is music to Boehly’s ears, with arguably one of the finest teenage stars in world football able to move without the need for a transfer fee and the American is aiming to make the midfielder one of the highest earners in the Premier League.

With Gavi being admired, it could well spell the end of Mason Mount’s time at the club. Liverpool have shown a keen interest as of late, and it could be time to cash in once the season is finished.

Could Chelsea sign Gavi this summer?

Chelsea certainly have the financial clout to lure Gavi to England there is no doubt about it, however, due to financial fair play regulations, there will surely have to be some major outgoings in order to balance the books with the Blues potentially set to ditch Mount.

The Englishman has featured 24 times in the league this term and with an average Sofascore rating of 7/10, he ranks as the ninth-best player in the squad according to overall rating.

It’s been a solid if unspectacular campaign for Mount, registering just five goal contributions and creating only three big chances. Therefore, it might be time to bring in someone who not only could improve the team but will also become a mainstay for the next few years.

Gavi was lauded by journalist Miguel Delaney as being “sensational” while Josh Bunting claimed the youngster is “excellent to watch” and there is no doubt that his feats over the previous 18 months have caught the eye of a lot of clubs.

He became the youngest-ever scorer for Spain in the World Cup when he netted against Costa Rica in the group stage victory and his statistics over the previous 12 months suggest he is one of the finest players on the continent.

Indeed, the 18-year-old ranks in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues when it comes to pass completion rate, interceptions, blocks, aerials won and touches in the attacking penalty area, suggesting his all-round ability would be crucial for Chelsea.

That final fact marks him out as someone who could well flourish in Mount's more advanced position. While not a natural goalscorer like the England star, the Barca youngster has proven his creative talents already by producing 12 assists at club level to date.

The next few weeks could be an interesting time for the club in their approach for the Spaniard and he could well be donning the blue of Chelsea come 2023/24.

Reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has suggested that Tottenham could well tempt out-of-work boss Julian Nagelsmann to join the club.

The Lowdown: Spurs seek Conte replacement…

Spurs have reportedly been seeking an heir to current head coach Antonio Conte after his outburst against Southampton last weekend.

The Italian had been linked with a departure from north London at the end of this Premier League season but an astonishing post-match rant last Saturday could push his exit forward.

Conte questioned the very culture of the club and lack of silverware in a thinly-veiled dig towards the Tottenham hierarchy, all the while questioning his squad’s overall desire.

“They are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress,” exclaimed a furious Conte.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”

Spurs are still pushing for a top four Premier League finish and their next move will be a crucial one, yet the newly-found availability of Nagelsmann presents a real opportunity.

The Latest: Nagelsmann could be tempted by Spurs…

The north Londoners have been heavily linked with Bayern’s former boss in the last 24 hours and ever since his surprise departure from the Allianz Arena.

Gold, writing in a piece for football.london and on Twitter, claims he is a manager Spurs have contemplated hiring twice before.

The journalist says that Spurs ‘might be able to quickly tempt’ Nagelsmann into joining, especially when factoring in he ‘developed real affection for the club’ during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure.

The 35-year-old apparently forged a real connection with Spurs while Pochettino was in charge and became a big fan of their playing style.

The Verdict: Boost for Spurs?

Bayern’s surprise decision to sack Nagelsmann has presented the north Londoners with a chance to sway him for the third time of asking.

Third-time lucky is the age-old saying and RB Leipzig’s former boss would come with both pedigree and the status of being Europe’s most exciting young coach.

Already boasting a league title on his CV at such a young age, Nagelsmann’s brand of intense, high-pressing football could also excite Spurs supporters.

Called a ‘sensational manager’ by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, it’s safe to say the German would come as a brilliant Conte replacement given his free agent status.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has come under a lot of criticism online after he failed to impress while on international duty with England.

What’s the latest on Harry Maguire and England?

The Three Lions were able to pick up all three points on Thursday in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Italy in Naples to kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

After Declan Rice scored the opener, Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane made it two before half-time when he netted from the penalty spot to become his country’s all-time top scorer with 54 goals.

However, the second half was a lot more complicated for Gareth Southgate and co, as the Italians lifted their game in front of their own fans.

And in the 56th minute, Maguire stepped out of the defence to try and win the ball back for England but only succeeded in fouling Nicolo Barella. Not only would the Man Utd man be later booked for the challenge, but the referee played advantage, and with the centre-back horribly out of position, the Italians managed to score via Mateo Retegui.

It was a bad moment for the Red Devils – who is supposedly the club’s ninth-best paid player on around £190,000 a week – and Erik ten Hag won’t have been pleased to see Luke Shaw later sent off on what turned out to be a disappointing day for the United duo.

Despite these mistakes, England still managed to hold on and pick up all three points with the 2-1 victory, but it’s safe to say that fans on Twitter weren’t going to forget Maguire’s error anytime soon.

Indeed, a number of supporters quickly arrived on social media to make their feelings known. Here are some of the strongest reactions…