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Glasgow Rangers podcasters Heart & Hand were left slamming Borna Barisic for his role in the opening goal conceded against Livingston on Saturday.

The Lowdown: Three points

The Ibrox outfit managed to leave Livi with all three points in the end after a poor start which saw Joel Nouble score after just five minutes.

Brilliant finishes from Scott Arfield and James Tavernier in the second half ensured that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team came away with a 2-1 win.

The Latest: Barisic mistake

Footage of Nouble’s early strike circulated on social media, where both Barisic and new signing John Souttar seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball, and in the end got themselves in a tangle.

Heart & Hand were not impressed with the defending on show, tweeting: “Just awful from Barisic and Souttar.”

The Verdict: Not his best

Barisic was certainly not at his best, losing the ball a mammoth 24 times in total, the most of any player on the pitch (SofaScore).

The £18,000-per-week dud also recorded no interceptions or clearances, and was inaccurate with all 11 of his cross attempts.

With left-back Ridvan Yilmaz signing from Beskitas, the Gers supporters would have to question whether Barisic has a long-term future at the club, especially if he keeps putting in performances like these.

Journalist Alfonso Leocadio has provided updates on Leeds United’s interest in both Charles de Ketelaere and Cody Gakpo.

The Lowdown: Leeds links

The Whites have been linked with moves for both De Ketelaere and Gakpo as the club look to bolster Jesse Marsch’s attacking ranks.

De Ketelaere is viewed as a forward by Leeds and would provide competition to Patrick Bamford, whereas Gakpo appears to be a target to come in for Raphinha, who seems to be on the verge of joining Chelsea.

The Latest: Leocadio’s ‘info’

Leocadio, a transfer market writer who is followed by reliable figures from Sky Sports and The Athletic, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to provide some ‘info’ on Leeds’ transfer targets.

He claimed that talks with De Ketelaere could happen today and that Leeds are expected to push for Gakpo to replace Raphinha, labelling the pair as ‘big targets’.

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The Verdict: Over to you Orta

It looks as if Leeds will bring in around £100m for both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha in what would be the two most expensive departures in the club’s history.

Victor Orta will be the man looking to bring in replacements for the duo, and it is vital that he gets these big money calls spot on. Mohamed Camara from RB Salzburg could be brought in for Phillips, and it seems that the club may also be able to get deals done for De Ketelaere and Gakpo.

Landing all three for roughly the combined fee of £100m that they receive for Phillips and Raphinha could be good business, so it looks set to be an exciting few weeks at Elland Road prior to the new season.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their interest in signing Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to Corriere dello Sport, PIF are eyeing up a swoop to sign the central midfielder and are set to battle with fellow Premier League side Arsenal for his signature.

The report claims that he is available for a fee in the region of €30m (£26m), with the Magpies and the Gunners the two clubs at the front of the queue to land him.

Thiago Alcantara 2.0

By securing a deal to sign the Napoli gem, PIF can land Thiago Alcantara 2.0 for Eddie Howe, as Ruiz could be a similarly graceful presence in the Premier League.

FBRef list the pair as being similar, based on their statistics over the last 365 days, and it is easy to see why as they are both Spanish central midfielders who are enjoyable to watch.

Interestingly, both players have won the MVP award at the European Under-21 Championships whilst representing Spain. Thiago won the award in 2013 and Ruiz claimed it six years later.

The Napoli man ranks in the 83rd percentile or higher in progressive carries and passes, pass completion success rate, shot-creating actions, and passes attempted among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues in his position over the last 12 months.

Meanwhile, Thiago ranks in the 92nd percentile or higher in all those categories, which shows that both players excel at passing with a view to progressing their teams up the pitch.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed Ruiz an “artist”, while journalist Josh Bunting also lauded his talents earlier this year, tweeting: “Fabián Ruiz is a beautiful footballer, he scored the only goal in Napoli’s win over Torino. His pass selection is so good, dictates the play, so smart and intelligent on the ball and off it, so good at popping into space and rotating the ball around, keeps them ticking.”

These quotes further illustrate how impressive the Spaniard is on the ball, and Newcastle must now snap him up to provide the Premier League with another Thiago Alcantara next season.

At the age of 26, Ruiz may still have his best years ahead of him, which means that he could develop over time with the Magpies – making him a signing for the here-and-now as well as the future, instead of merely being a short-term addition or a fledgling talent who isn’t yet ready for top-flight action.

AND in other news, Forget Ekitike: Newcastle now “close to” landing second summer signing, Howe will be elated…

Aston Villa are likely to be watching Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher closely this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the transfer insider suggested that the Midlands outfit will be “keeping tabs” on the Englishman in the current window, should it become clear that he won’t feature under Thomas Tuchel next term.

After a positive loan stint at Crystal Palace last term, the 22-year-old is set to return to Stamford Bridge for pre-season, although O’Rourke admitted that Villa will be in the mix in case his situation changes: “I think Villa and a number of Premier League clubs will be potentially looking at Conor Gallagher this summer.

“He was a massive success at Crystal Palace last year, he’s broken into the England squad, but if he’s not going to play for Chelsea, I’m sure most of the Premier League would probably sign Conor Gallagher if he became available.

“So, I’m sure Aston Villa will be no different. I’m sure they’ll be keeping tabs on his situation at Stamford Bridge just like most of the Premier League will be.”

A return to Selhurst Park has been teased by Eagles chairman Steve Parish, while Everton boss Frank Lampard is also said to be keen on the youngster, although any interested party is likely to have to fork out around £50m to secure a permanent swoop.

Villa’s own Bellingham

With the Villans seemingly on the hunt for further midfield additions – despite having already signed Boubacar Kamara – Gallagher would no doubt be an ideal fit, having proven his worth following an eye-catching season with Palace.

The one-time Swansea loanee bagged eight goals and provided a further three assists from his 34 Premier League outings, with such form even attracting the interest of England boss Gareth Southgate, who has since welcomed him into the international fold.

His displays have also drawn comparisons to compatriot Jude Bellingham, with the pair sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, according to FBref.

The fact that the teenager is a former Birmingham City man may not go down too well with the Villa support, although it is hard to deny just what a special talent he is, having belied his years with a string of impressive and mature displays for both club and country in recent times.

Already a “leader” at Borussia Dortmund – according to veteran teammate Mats Hummels – the 18-year-old has been instrumental over the past few seasons since his £25m move from St Andrews in 2020, notably scoring six goals and registering 14 assists in all competitions last term for the Bundesliga side.

The £49k-per-week starlet also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 3% for dribbles completed, progressive passes received and touches in the attacking penalty area, showcasing his undoubted knack for surging forward from his midfield berth.

Gallagher clearly has similar attributes as he ranks highly in the same metrics, ranking in the top 8% for dribbles completed, the top 11% for progressive passes received and the top 7% for touches in the attacking penalty area, with the all-action gem proving a relentless presence in the centre of the park.

He too has also been dubbed a “leader” by Ashley Cole, despite his youth, with the former West Brom appearing unfazed by the transition to life at the top level – much like the Dortmund ace.

With Bellingham clearly out of reach for even the most elite clubs, Gerrard can capture an ideal alternative in the form of Gallagher.

IN other news, Deal Imminent: AVFC now “set to sign” fifth summer addition, Gerrard will be buzzing

Aston Villa are believed to be plotting a move for England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as Liverpool name their price for the midfielder.

What’s the word?

As per the Mirror, the Midlands side have been put on ‘red alert’ with the Merseyside outfit seemingly ready to cash in on the 28-year-old, with just a year remaining on his existing deal at Anfield.

The report suggests that the FA Cup winners are set to demand a fee of around £10m this summer, having initially signed the 35-cap international on a £35m deal from Premier League rivals Arsenal back in 2017.

The report goes on to add that Villa boss Steven Gerrard is an ‘admirer’ of the £125k-per-week playmaker, albeit with West Ham United also keeping tabs on the situation as David Moyes looks to bolster his squad ahead of another European adventure next term.

Coutinho 2.0

It would appear that Gerrard is once again set to try and use his Reds connections to try and strike a deal this summer, having already plucked former teammate Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona in January – with the Brazilian having since signed on a permanent deal.

Although the possible arrival of Oxlade-Chamberlain may not appear quite as high profile as that of the former £142m man, it would certainly be another illustration of the remarkable pulling power that the Villa Park outfit possesses at present.

Aside from Coutinho, the club have already snapped up highly-rated youngster Boubacar Kamara on a free transfer from Marseille, while the latest indication is that they are also plotting an ambitious move for Sevilla’s Diego Carlos.

In what could be a significant summer for a side that only three years ago were plying their trade in the second tier, a ready-made Premier League arrival such as Oxlade-Chamberlain could prove to be a low-key masterstroke.

The former Gunners man has been hampered by injuries in recent times, although in full flow he is undoubtedly a real asset, having previously been dubbed “unreal” by football writer Joel Rabinowitz.

Pundit Rio Ferdinand has also previously suggested that the £16.2m-rated midfielder “offers something totally different” in the centre of the park, with his ability to “dribble past people” making him a real, valuable commodity.

Despite previously admitting his desire to play regularly in midfield, the Portsmouth-born monster also offers invaluable versatility to any potential new club, having wing-back role on occasion during his time at the Emirates.

Like Coutinho, he also provides a wealth of experience at the elite level having tasted glory both domestically and in Europe, while he could well add a second Champions League winner’s medal this weekend.

Gerrard has already seen the benefit of bringing in one former Liverpool man, he could well be about to enjoy a similar success story again.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

West Bromwich Albion bowed out of their disappointing Championship season on a high at The Hawthorns, in an impressive team performance that will give fans new hope for next season.

The Baggies put on a four-goal show in the final game of the season in front of their home fans following a difficult campaign of highs and lows for the club, showing resilience and a taster of what is to be expected when they return to chase promotion back into the Premier League in August under new manager Steve Bruce.

West Brom dominated on all fronts throughout the game with 65% possession, five more shots on target, more big chances created and over twice as many accurate passes than their opponents on Saturday afternoon.

Karlan Grant found the back of the net twice to bag a brace, with Adam Reach and Matthew Clarke in an attacking display that Barnsley just couldn’t cope with and one player, in particular, gave an incredible all-round performance despite not getting on the scoresheet.

Jayson Molumby put on a phenomenal display after securing his future permanently at the club earlier this week in a three-year deal and certainly showed the West Brom faithful exactly what he is capable of offering over the time he has in the future.

The Baggies midfielder had an astonishing 104 touches of the ball against Barnsley, completing 76 passes, winning nine out of his 15 duels, making two interceptions and three tackles, proving that the 22-year-old was intent on making his presence known on the pitch and became a complete nuisance for his opponents.

Bruce spoke out this week about the former Brighton player’s new deal (via BBC Sport);

“We’re really pleased to have Jayson on board permanently.

“He’s managed to force himself into our XI recently and now his challenge is to stay there by continuing to show improvements in his game.”

Following the West Brom manager’s comments, Molumby clearly wanted to show his boss exactly why he deserves to be included in the team going forward and show that he can continue to improve at the club, which will surely put him in good stead to regularly feature next season.

Despite Bruce securing this masterclass signing, there is still a huge amount of work to do to ensure that West Brom doesn’t suffer another season of disappointment and can challenge throughout to secure Premier League promotion at the end of their next campaign.

AND in other news: West Brom eyeing summer swoop for “brilliant” 19 y/o “cheat code”, Bruce needs him

South Africa’s dominance in Centurion, Rohit vs Rabada, and more

Sampath Bandarupalli28-Dec-2023163 First-innings lead conceded by India in Centurion. It was the fourth-lowest lead they conceded when they suffered an innings defeat. It was also the first time in 40 years that India lost a Test by an innings despite falling less than 200 runs behind after the first innings.The last such instance was against West Indies at Eden Gardens in 1983, where they were bowled out for 90 after conceding a 136-run lead in the first innings.1 Innings wins for South Africa since their readmission in 1992 with a first-innings lead of less than 163. They had defeated England by an innings and 12 runs at Lord’s in 2022 despite a lead of only 161 runs.7.66 South Africa’s win-loss ratio in Test cricket at SuperSport Park in Centurion. It is the joint-highest for any team at a venue where they played 20 or more Tests. Pakistan also have a 7.66 win-loss ratio at Karachi’s National Stadium.South Africa have won 23 of the 29 matches they have played at SuperSport Park, a win percentage of 79.31, the highest for any team at a venue in Test cricket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 Innings wins for South Africa at home against India, both in Centurion. The first one came in 2010, when they won by an innings and 25 runs.1263 Balls bowled in the Centurion Test, making it the shortest completed Test between South Africa and India. The previous shortest was the Ranchi Test in 2019, lasting 1325 balls.34.1 Overs India’s second innings lasted, their joint-shortest all-out innings in South Africa. In 1996 as well, they were bowled in 34.1 overs in Dubran, for 66.Their second-innings total of 131 is their third-lowest in South Africa, after 66 and 100 they posted in that 1996 Durban Test.51 Test wickets for Kagiso Rabada against India. He became the fifth South Africa bowler to take 50 or more Test wickets against India.12.8 Rohit Sharma’s batting average in South Africa. It is the second-lowest for any player with at least ten innings in top six in the country. Mohammad Hafeez averaged 11.83 in 12 innings he batted in South Africa. Rohit’s average against Rabada in South Africa is 6.2, with five dismissals in six innings.

During his 49-ball 92 against Punjab Kings, Dhawan repeatedly walked towards the off side to work the ball behind square leg

Hemant Brar19-Apr-20213:05

Ian Bishop: ‘Shikhar Dhawan just looks like a man on top of his game’

Fifteenth over of the chase. Jhye Richardson is bowling around the wicket to Shikhar Dhawan. It’s a slow, dipping full toss but way outside off. Dhawan could have easily hit it through the off side. Instead, he moves across, goes down on one knee and taps it towards square leg. Riley Meredith throws himself to his left to keep it to one.It was a shot that won’t make it to the highlights package but it highlighted Dhawan’s new approach to batting. An approach where he is not scared of trying out new things to add another dimension to his game.Once a mainstay for India in limited-overs cricket, Dhawan is no longer guaranteed a place in the T20I XI. One of the reasons behind that is in the last few years, the format has moved at a pace Dhawan couldn’t keep up with. Since the start of 2019, 25 openers from Full Member nations have played ten or more T20I innings. Only Fakhar Zaman (110.00) has a worse strike rate than Dhawan’s 114.24.With the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in India later this year, Dhawan is leaving no stone unturned to claim his spot back. In the last two years at the IPL, he has improved his strike rate significantly, however, his 49-ball 92 against the Punjab Kings on Sunday exhibited a different aspect of his game.Until not so long ago, a typical Dhawan innings would be brimming with cover drives. If he played a cover drive early in his innings, the probability of him scoring big went up. While that may still be true, Dhawan showed he is not afraid of exploring other scoring zones.Shikhar Dhawan repeatedly walked towards the off side in order to work the ball behind square leg•BCCI/IPLDuring his Player-of-the-Match performance, which helped the Delhi Capitals chase down 196, Dhawan repeatedly walked towards the off side in order to work the ball behind square leg. He also deployed a much-improved slog shot, targeting the midwicket area in particular. As a result, 53 out of his 92 runs came in the arc from midwicket to fine leg. In comparison, the whole off side yielded only 32 runs.In all, Dhawan scored 13 fours and two sixes. Out of those, eight fours and a six came in the aforementioned region.After the match, Dhawan said he has been focusing on improving his leg-side game. “I worked on those shots in the nets, like going towards the off stump and using the pace of the bowler,” Dhawan told Star Sports at the post-match presentation.He further expanded on his approach in a chat with R Ashwin on . “Once I know the bowlers are bowling yorkers or wide yorkers and they have set up a field [for that], it’s hard to find a boundary on the off side. So I try to use the pace and I enjoy doing that, playing those cheeky shots.”My slog shot has improved a lot. It was there earlier as well but now I play it more freely. I am not afraid of changes, I keep on trying things. But I make sure I give them a good shot in the nets first and then bring it out in a game.”While such cheeky shots look great when they come off, they also carry an inherent risk element. In fact, Dhawan lost his wicket while trying a similar shot. In an attempt to hit Richardson towards fine leg, he ended up shuffling so much outside off that once he failed to connect, the ball hit the off and middle stumps.Related

How have India's T20 World Cup hopefuls done so far in the IPL?

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Dhawan, though, is aware of the risk-reward equation. “I am not scared of getting out. Today, I got out but these are the shots where I can score runs as well, so I back myself.”I have been playing for so many years now that I feel more relaxed. Relaxed but at the same time I am attentive so that I don’t take things for granted.”At the moment, with 186 runs from three innings, at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 163, Dhawan is the leading run-scorer in IPL 2021. But he also knows that all his runs have come in the batting-friendly conditions at the Wankhede Stadium. In fact, both his half-centuries have come while chasing, when the dew makes batting a lot easier.The Capitals will play their next two games in Chennai, where the batters haven’t been able to score that freely so far. Dhawan, however, is up for the challenge.”It [the Wankhede pitch] has got a true bounce and the ball comes at a nice pace,” he said. “Because of the dew also it gets much easier for the team batting second. For my batting style, I enjoy using the pace of the ball, and against a spinner, if it’s not turning, I can play my slog sweeps, but I have to be a bit mindful of when I am going to play in Chennai.”I have been seeing on TV that the wicket is turning and is a bit slow. I am already preparing for it and looking forward to playing against them and grabbing the opportunity.”Dhawan knows he won’t get a better opportunity than the IPL to win back his place in India’s T20I XI.

England winger Bukayo Saka knows he has to bring his club form to the international stage – and his manager Thomas Tuchel agrees.

The 24-year-old, whose early season was curtailed by injury, returned to Tuchel’s side for the 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley and marked the occasion with a stunning goal.

That saw him become the top-scoring Arsenal player in an England shirt with 13, though Tuchel quipped it should be 30, not 13.

Saka has been one of the stars of the Premier League for the Gunners over the last few seasons, recently completing 100 goal contributions, but knows he has to do more in an England shirt.

“I have missed a lot of England games, especially under Thomas and I haven’t scored for a while either, so to come back and put the ball in the back of the net is a special feeling,” he said after he found the top corner with a brilliant effort.

“The way I perform for Arsenal I want to take it into England and perform better in games and be more effective. That is always my plan.

“Last camp I was really gutted I had to miss it, so coming back into the team today is a really nice feeling and to get that opportunity to put the shirt on again and score is an amazing feeling.”

Tuchel challenges Saka to score more for England

Tuchel has challenged the winger to bring more to his side, insisting he has all the conditions to perform.

Tuchel said: “How many goals did he score for England? Thirteen? One three? It has to be more, it’s not enough.

“He needs to keep on going. I thought it was 30, at least, and then I would have said it’s not enough, because I am never satisfied.

“He is such a threat for Arsenal in the most difficult league in the world, so why would he not be at international level?

“We have the position for him, he has the attitude, the stamina, the talent, everything to be a top player at international level, and that’s what he has to show.

“We can just encourage him to be influential, like he was today. Next game, he needs to try to repeat it.”

Mousa Dembélé is a star who exceeded all expectations during his time as a Tottenham Hotspur player, with the Belgian one of the most underrated players in their history.

He would go on to rack up a total of 249 appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, often catching the eye with his physicality and dazzling feet.

Despite his massive frame, you wouldn’t expect a player to easily get past the opposition, but Dembélé used to glide past his men in North London – with many of his former players singing his praises.

However, since his departure in 2019, the first-team have lacked the dominant and ball-playing option at the heart of the side, but that could be about to change in January.

With the window now on the horizon, Thomas Frank is starting to draw up a list of players who could improve the options at his disposal in the middle of the park.

Spurs’ hunt for a new midfielder in the January window

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been one of the Premier League clubs linked with a potential winter deal to land Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

Manchester United were massively touted with a deal to land the Cameroonian international in the summer, but were massively put off by his £100m valuation.

The same could be said for Frank’s side in January, with the Lilywhites wanting to land the 21-year-old, but are unwilling to fork out the current asking price for his signature.

However, he’s not the only midfielder in their sights at present, with Atlético Madrid talent Conor Gallagher once again appearing on their radar ahead of the upcoming window.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Englishman is available for a fee in the region of €60m (£52m) next month, with Fabio Paratici wanting to fork out such a fee for his services.

It also states that the player himself could be keen on a move back to the Premier League, but Diego Simeone’s side will only sanction a move if the asking price is met.

How Gallagher compares to Dembele

Spurs have often formed numerous rivalries in the Premier League over the years, with Chelsea just one of the sides in which they have had many fierce contests with.

Frank Lampard was a player who regularly starred against the Lilywhites, often leaving the fanbase wishing they had their own version of the English midfielder.

He featured against the club on 41 separate occasions, winning 22 of which and only losing eight times – often providing the difference in the London derby.

The now-retired star scored ten times within the aforementioned meetings, the third-best record against any time in his professional career – further showcasing his impact against Spurs.

Mixing a player of Lampard and Dembélé’s quality is always going to be a difficult ask, but it’s one that Gallagher has managed to do during recent months in Madrid.

He’s been a dominant player for Simeone’s men in LaLiga, with his underlying stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcasing his incredible ability at both ends of the pitch.

Gallagher has won 2.5 tackles and made 1.6 interceptions per 90 this season, with such numbers showcasing his dominant ball-winning presence that Dembélé possessed.

He’s also made 0.9 carries into the opposition box as part of his 2.7 progressive carries per 90, another component of his game that the Belgian demonstrated in North London.

However, his ability in possession has also caught the eye, with England U21 manager Lee Carsley previously stating that the midfielder is just “like Lampard”.

Gallagher has completed 88% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with 3.9 of which per 90 going into the final third – something which Lampard became known for with the Blues.

His crashing nature also handed the Spurs fans numerous moments of anguish, something which the Atletico star has demonstrated with his tally of one goal and 1.4 shots per 90.

£52m may appear to be a huge investment in the former Blues star, but his all-round stats in Spain’s top-flight this season showcase his elite-level output at both ends.

Should he merge the levels achieved by Dembélé and Lampard in the Premier League, it would be a stellar signing and one that can take Frank’s side to the next level.

Saved by Romero: Frank must bin Spurs flop who had fewer touches than Vicario

Tottenham Hotspur were fortunate to walk away with a point against Newcastle United last night.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 3, 2025