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Four different English clubs are plotting to complete the signing of an "important" £26,000-a-week Rangers player, according to a new update regarding his future.

Rangers transfer news

This summer could prove to be a busy one at Ibrox, with new signings arriving at the club but some current players also moving on well their contracts run out.

A host of Philippe Clement's squad members are out of contract at the end of the season, with Borna Barisic, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe among those who are in that situation. Meanwhile, Abdallah Sima and Fabio Silva are on loan until the campaign comes to an end, and it remains to be seen if their moves from Brighton and Wolves respectively will become permanent.

In terms of possible signings, Eduard Spertsyan is reportedly wanted by Rangers, with the Krasnodar attacking midfielder seen as an "interesting" option who has outscored Silva this season, netting nine times in the league.

Fluminense's Jhon Arias is another player who has been linked with a summer move to the Gers, and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are also thought to be in the mix. Standard Liege goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart could also come in, with the Scottish Premiership very interested in acquiring his signature.

"Excellent" Rangers ace a wanted man

According to Football Insider, Rangers forward Roofe is wanted by four different clubs in the summer transfer window, with his future remaining up in the air.

The teams in question are English quartet Fulham, Sheffield United, Southampton and Queens Park Rangers, with "no new deal agreed to keep him at Ibrox" yet. He would rather extend his stay at Ibrox and has made that clear, but the clubs mentioned are "plotting" to snap him up, seeing him as a strong option on a free transfer.

This is a tricky decision for Rangers to make, considering what a good servant Roofe has been down the years, scoring 38 goals in 98 appearances overall, as well as registering seven assists for good measure. The £26,000-a-week ace has also been lauded as "very important" by former manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the past.

Now 31 years of age, however, there would be a risk element when it comes to handing Roofe a new deal with the Gers, considering he is already on good money but may now have drifted past his very best as a player. Only five starts have come his way in the league this season, as well as six appearances from the substitutes, with just one goal scored in the competition.

Injuries have certainly played a part in that low tally, but his fitness issues are another reason why selling him for free this summer feels like the more sensible option.

Rangers keen on signing "interesting" Celtic target who's outscored Silva

This would be a huge upgrade.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 13, 2024

Getting the Englishman off the club's wage bill could help free up funds for new signings in the summer window, allowing Clement to bring in a younger option who can play a bigger role well into the future.

West Bromwich Albion needed a slice of luck to get over the line in the end against Rotherham United, a fortuitous penalty gifting John Swift the opportunity to make it 2-0 just before the half-time whistle which was tucked away confidently.

That killed the Championship contest really, with the already relegated Millers attempting to find a way back into the game but the Baggies ended up securing the 2-0 win without much bother.

Swift was a star performer for Carlos Corberan's men away from his spot-kick finding the back of Viktor Johansson's net, the ex-Reading attacking midfielder allowing West Brom to tick going forward in the absence of Alex Mowatt creating from deep.

John Swift's performance vs Rotherham in numbers

Making a number of changes from the side that stumbled to a 2-2 draw away at Stoke City last time out in Championship action, Corberan's decision to bring Swift back into the first-team fold looked an inspired one based on his display against Leam Richardson's men.

Alongside his strike clinching the three points, the former Chelsea youth player turned seasoned Baggies man notched up two key passes in the contest in a bid to make the win even more convincing in his promotion-chasing side's favour.

Moreover, Swift would register three accurate crosses and five accurate long balls when constantly trying to create openings for West Brom to further exploit the frail nature of the lowly visitors.

The 28-year-old would last the full 90 minutes on his return to the XI, a satisfactory reintroduction into the lineup for Swift who should now start West Brom's next second-tier match versus Sunderland this Saturday.

It wasn't just Swift who was brought back into the side for this clash with the Millers and passed their assessment, with Adam Reach coming in surprisingly for Conor Townsend at left-back and succeeding with flying colours.

Adam Reach's performance vs Rotherham in numbers

The former Sheffield Wednesday man's versatility could prove to be very useful for the playoff hopefuls between now and the end of the regular season, with Reach capable of playing in midfield alongside in defence.

Chosen to replace Townsend in this one, Reach – who has had a stop-start Baggies career since joining in 2021 – put in an admirable shift to help his side keep a clean sheet on top of clinching the 2-0 victory.

Minutes played

90

Clearances

3

Tackles

4

Duels won

10/11

Accurate passes

51/60

Assists

1

Reach demonstrated his varied game by battling bravely at the back with four tackles registered alongside winning ten duels, but also showed his knack of foraying forward with confidence by assisting Brandon Thomas-Asante's opening goal on the night.

Amassing 86 touches playing out from the back four too, Reach was crucial to how West Brom played moving forward in the contest away from just teeing up Thomas-Asante to bag and filled in for Townsend excellently with the usually preferred left-back given a breather against the division's basement club.

Corberan wouldn't think twice about starting Reach or Swift for the test of the Black Cats this coming Saturday now, the Spanish boss thrilled with his rotated side's performance against Rotherham.

West Brom were rinsed by record flop who earned double Wallace’s wages

West Bromwich Albion were made to regret signing this terrible flop.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 4, 2024

Two men stood head and shoulders above everyone else on an attritional day as Zimbabwe compiled 228 for 6 in Mirpur.

The Report by Liam Brickhill22-Feb-2020On an attritional first day’s play in Mirpur, two men stood head and shoulders above everyone else on the field as Zimbabwe compiled 228 for 6. Craig Ervine was the glue in Zimbabwe’s middle order, compiling the fourth hundred by a visiting captain at this ground,and one that mixed studied defence with some exotic strokeplay. For Bangladesh, Nayeem Hasan twirled tirelessly through 36 overs to take 4 for 68, repeatedly pegging Zimbabwe back whenever they threatened to take control.Both men were somewhat fortunate to find themselves in their respective positions: Ervine is captaining Zimbabwe for the first time in this game only because regular skipper Sean Williams stayed at home to be present for the birth of his daughter, while an out-of-sortsMehidy Hasan’s absence from the playing XI opened the door for Nayeem to seize his opportunity.Mehidy has been off-colour since taking 15 wickets against West Indies at home in 2018, after which he took six wickets in four Tests last year. He missed the Rawalpindi Test earlier this month due to an injury, and was subsequently dropped for the first time in ahome Test since he made his debut against England in 2016. This gave, Nayeem, who took 13 wickets last week in a first-class match, his chance. His second delivery dipped and gripped to beat a groping Ervine’s outside edge, and he troubled everyone in Zimbabwe’s top order with fizz, bounce and an unerring line almost throughout.It was a sharp piece of fielding from Nayeem that brought Ervine to the crease this morning, Abu Jayed finding reward during a disciplined opening spell with the dismissal of opener Kevin Kasuza in the eighth over after Zimbabwe had won the toss. Three overs later,Nayeem started a spell that would stretch on for a full 36 overs through the day, and an absorbing battle between the offspinner and the left hander began to unfold.Ervine certainly didn’t have it all his own way, Nayeem teasing his outside edge on several occasions early on, with leading edges flying through – and over – cover and point. Between times, however, Ervine held firm and his response to the sight of significant turnand bounce even from a fresh, uncharacteristically grassy track was to unfurl a succession of sweeps both orthodox and reverse.Taijul Islam bore the brunt of his early strokeplay, leaking 43 runs from his first seven overs, and Zimbabwe surged ahead as Bangladesh turned ragged in the field, missing three chances – one of them very tough, but two clear drops – in the space of three overs.With Prince Masvaure well set at the other end, having compiled a competent half-century, Ervine sensed an opportunity to go on the offensive, slashing Abu Jayed for three boundaries, some more convincing and deliberate than others, in the space of an over.The quick runs pushed Ervine and Masvaure’s partnership beyond 100, but Nayeem struck back with the vital dismissal of Masvaure, bending low to hold a drive slammed firmly back at him. Yet another sweep off Taijul took Ervine to fifty at the other end, but Nayeemonce again put the brakes on Zimbabwe by dismissing Brendan Taylor via a slightly fortuitous inside-edged reverse sweep.At 134 for 3, the innings was in the balance, and Nayeem kept threatening further breakthroughs, with iffy strokes aplenty against his probing bowling. While Taijul continued to mix tight deliveries with freebies, failing to bowl a single maiden throughout theday, Nayeem changed his line of attack to a settled Sikandar Raza. Coming around the stumps, he had Raza playing for turn as the ball rushed on with the arm, a thin edge being safely snaffled by Liton Das behind the stumps.With Timycen Maruma focused on survival, Ervine continued to take the attack to the bowlers, stepping out to crunch Nayeem back over his head and cruising through the 80s with a pair of bruising thumps through the covers off Jayed. After a brief rest, Nayeemresumed his battle with Zimbabwe’s captain, drawing some fidgety pokes outside off as he entered the 90s.Having used one review to good effect, Maruma wasted another when he was trapped plumb infront by Jayed shortly before Bangladesh took the second new ball. Ervine, meanwhile, was equally at home against the new pill as he was the old, flaying Abu Jayed once again through the covers and then moving to 99 with a pair of sweeps off Nayeem.A glance off Ebadot Hossain took Ervine to three figures, but it was Nayeem – who else? – who finally won the battle. In the penultimate over of the day, he followed up a loopy floater with a zippy quicker one that rushed through Ervine’s tired defence, castling him for 107.While the teams had stayed pretty much neck and neck throughout the day, with the advantage shifting back and forth, Nayeem’s late strike tilted the balance in Bangladesh’s favour. Just one frontline batsman, Regis Chakabva, remains for the visitors. Bangladesh willgo into day two fancying their chances of quickly rolling the tail over, while Nayeem while have his eye on a five-wicket haul and a milestone of his own to match Ervine’s.

Rasmus Hojlund, injured for the start of Manchester United's season, underwent facial treatment this summer to address a long-standing acne issue.

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Hojlund revealed acne problem 'blew up' over last two yearsTreatment understood to cost between £1,099 and £1,399Danish striker sidelined with hamstring injuryWHAT HAPPENED?

A video was posted to TikTok of Hojlund receiving the PicoSure Laser Skin Rejuvenation treatment with KLNIK in Harvey Nichols Manchester, costing up to £1,399. Hojlund was treated by 'Dr Rosh,' an expert in the field with more than 500,000 followers across social media.

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@drroshofficial

Addressing acne & scarring with Rasmus Hojlund #acne #acnetreatment #glassskin #stemcells

♬ original sound – Dr Rosh

WHAT HOJLUND SAID ABOUT TREATMENT

"I'm actually quite surprised because [the acne] blew up the last two summers I had," Hojlund said during his treatment.

Speaking about the procedure, Dr Rosh said: "He's been troubled with a bit of acne with some scarring, so we're helping to harmonise that texture, reduce the scarring, and reduce the redness.

"We've used the Picosure Pro Laser here to deliver channels and break down the skin and then exosomes to help with that inflammation and healing to give him the best result possible."

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Hojlund picked up a hamstring injury in United's pre-season game against Arsenal last month, ruling him out of action for around six weeks. While he has seemingly spent his down time addressing his acne, the 21-year-old was also pictured in a cryo chamber during pre-season, in order to assist his recovery from injury.

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has admitted that he has been left baffled by some of Rangers and Celtic's recent dealings in the transfer market.

Rangers and Celtic moving away from Scottish talent?

Neither Rangers nor Celtic are able to boast the same level of Scottish talent as they used to be able to, despite Scotland's national team success. This season, Brendan Rodgers' Scottish Premiership side contains just two Scots on a regular basis, in the shape of fullback Greg Taylor and skipper Callum McGregor in a first choice XI, while the likes of James Forrest and Anthony Ralston have had bit-part roles.

"Genuinely…" – Ally McCoist makes bold Celtic vs Rangers title prediction

It could be their last chance at saving the season.

ByBen Browning Apr 26, 2024

At Rangers, John Souttar is the only Scot to have racked up more than 15 starts in the Premiership, though injury has hampered Ryan Jack. While Philippe Clement's squad boasts eight Scotsmen, three are reserve goalkeepers with another (Alex Lowry) having spent the first half of the season out on loan at Hearts.

SPL minutes played by Scots at Rangers and Celtic

Player

Club

Minutes

Callum McGregor

Celtic

2485

Greg Taylor

Celtic

2546

John Souttar

Rangers

2027

Anthony Ralston

Celtic

788

Scott Wright

Rangers

611

Stephen Welsh

Celtic

429

Ryan Jack

Rangers

446

James Forrest

Celtic

365

Scott Bain

Celtic

150

Leon King

Rangers

9

McCoist questions Old Firm transfer policies

Now, Rangers icon Ally McCoist has accused both Rangers and Celtic of letting too much talent slip past them, and pointed specifically to a pair of stars now shining outside of Scotland. McCoist racked up over 400 league appearances for Rangers during a 14 year spell at Ibrox, grabbing 251 goals in the process, and spent all but two seasons of his career in the Scottish top flight.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of TalkSPORT BET, McCoist claimed he would never have let John McGinn leave Scotland, and pointed to Lewis Ferguson (who joined Bologna in the summer) as another who has slipped through the net.

"There's been a couple of players who have left Scotland that I think Rangers and Celtic will be absolutely kicking themselves with. I mean, John McGinn going to Aston Villa. And you know, Celtic, I dont care what anyone says, they'll regret that.

"For example, Lewis Ferguson going to Bologna. It baffles me how Rangers and Celtic never went in for him either."

It comes amid claims that Scottish talent has begun looking away from the SPL and towards the English leagues or abroad in a bid to get regular game time. And while McCoist admits the Scottish league is not as strong as it once was, he added that Celtic and Rangers in particular have to find better ways to get the most out of what is available.

"So I don't think there's any doubt, we can argue about is there as much talent as there once was in Scotland. We can argue about that all day but the fact that there is still talent in Scotland. I am not sure Rangers and Celtic are maximising that at this moment in time.

"There definitely is talent about you know, teams have good seasons, St Mirren have had a good season. Derek McInnes has done a fantastic job done at Kilmarnock, so I'm not sure, being honest with you, that Rangers or Celtic for that matter, have utilised the Scottish market just as well as they could have, and perhaps should have.

"History would tell me, certainly, it's worth the gamble [signing Scottish players]. If you're going to go and pay three, four or five million players from abroad, that's all very well. But if you're paying that kind of money, you need to be 110% sure that they're going to do you a turn.

"Sometimes players within Scotland know the Scottish game, know what Rangers and Celtic are all about, although they haven't played there yet. But they've got a fair idea idea what it's all about."

‘I am talking more about off-field stuff than on-field performance,’ he said looking ahead to the one-off ODI in Pakistan next month

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2020Improving Bangladesh’s team culture will be of top priority for newly appointed Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal. The 30-year old has called for greater discipline and collective effort after taking over from Mashrafe Mortaza, whose five-year stint ended earlier this month.The BCB’s top brass had convinced Iqbal to succeed Mortaza as captain although the cloud of Shakib Al Hasan’s comeback hangs over his new job. Shakib is BCB’s preferred long-term captain across formats, despite being suspended till the end of October this year.”I want to take small steps to improve ourselves,” Iqbal said. “How we can improve our training, how much better can we play as a team, how can I contribute to someone else’s process, and vice-versa. This is my starting point. We will take it one step at a time. Without focusing much about the long process of everything, we should break it down into small steps. On the field, a lot of things remain out of control but the team culture is within our control. How we think off the field, how professional we are.”I want to improve on our team culture, so that with time, you can see results in that aspect. We get more disciplined and work harder, minimise our mistakes. When I think how I will take this team forward, the first thing that comes to mind is that we have to fix all our off the-field issues. I think we are one of the most disciplined teams in world cricket, but we can get better. If I can get to work there and we start seeing it reflected in the field, we are good.”ALSO READ: Life in the time of Mashrafe Mortaza, by Tamim Iqbal and MahmudullahBangladesh’s next assignment is a one-off ODI in Karachi on April 1, but that is in doubt, like all other international fixtures, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Iqbal, though, said that a win over Pakistan in Karachi will boost the confidence of the current group. “When we beat Pakistan under Mashrafe Mortaza in 2015, we started to believe as a group that we can beat bigger teams,” he said. The current squad, which has a lot of young players, needs to win against a big team as soon as possible, to bring back that belief.Mashrafe Mortaza played a key role in reviving the careers of Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah•AFP via Getty Images”This is a different team than 2015. There are a few key players missing. Form is also different. We have at least four or five new players. We are the type of team that needs five or six people performing to beat good teams, so we need that one big win to break the ice. They need the confidence.”Iqbal also spoke of his challenge to bring the best out of each player. He reserved special praise for Liton Das, who forged a strong partnership with Iqbal at the top and amassed 311 runs of his own in the recently concluded three-match ODI series at home against Zimbabwe.”There is a difference between how Liton thinks now to how he thought six months ago,” Iqbal said. “You can see the reflection in the field. I think the young players are positive towards their cricket. They want to do well. But everyone needs improvement in those areas, including myself.”We are all professional cricketers. You have to treat each individual differently. There are different ways to treat Mushfiq (Mushfiqur Rahim) and Riyad (Mahmudullah) , for example, to get the best out of them. I am talking more about off-field stuff than on-field performance. The sooner, as a team, we can come back into the right track, better for us.”Mortaza ended his ODI captaincy tenure with 50 wins and while it would be difficult for Iqbal to emulate his predecessor’s success, the new captain said that his “close relationship” with Mortaza will hold him in good stead.”I am not an experienced captain. You have to give me time for anything,” Iqbal said. I don’t know what my performance is going to be in six months’ time. Our fans have to be a little patient. I will do for the best interest in the team. You also have to remember that it will be very hard to reach the level of the previous captain. We have achieved a lot under him, but you have to give me some time to reach his level.”I am lucky that I have a close relationship with him. I saw him from close quarters, and we have played a lot together. I know how he thinks and I can take as much as I can. But, those are very difficult shoes to fill straightaway. I hope that I will take the positives from him. If I face trouble, he will be the first person that I will call to take advice.”

Carlo Ancelotti has warned Endrick that the tough competition at Real Madrid will affect the Brazilian teenager's playing time this season.

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Endrick waiting for Real Madrid debutTeenager considering making a loan moveAncelotti is happy with the BrazilianWHAT HAPPENED?

Endrick finally joined Madrid this summer after initially agreeing to sign for the club in December 2022. However, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Arda Guler all competing for a place in the starting XI, the 18-year-old will have a tough time establishing himself as a regular starter.

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The striker is yet to make his debut for the European and Spanish champions, having been left on the bench for the UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta and the 1-1 draw against Mallorca in the first La Liga game of the season. Due to fears he may be locked out of the team this season, Endrick is reportedly considering leaving the club on loan for a year to gain experience elsewhere.

WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

While Ancelotti is happy with the way Endrick is settling in, he said the new signing must consider the competition for a place in the team.

"He's doing very well, like the others," Ancelotti said at a press conference. "He's adapting very well. He has impressive qualities and he'll get the minutes he deserves, taking into account the competition there is in this team."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

The Brazil international will hope to finally make his Madrid debut when they meet Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday. Otherwise, he may look for a late loan deal either before the close of the window or in January.

Manchester United feared that Jadon Sancho had grounds to sue them over Erik ten Hag's treatment of the winger in 2022, per a new report.

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United manager exiled SanchoSancho's mental health struggles were revealedRed Devils feared legal repercussionsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Daily Mail reports that United feared that Sancho could potentially sue the club after Ten Hag publicly claimed he was struggling with his mental health in 2022. The fears came from the club's Human Resources department, and while Ten Hag believed he was being supportive, it is reported that he never received approval from Sancho to speak about his struggles in front of the media.

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At the time, the two were at loggerheads, as Ten Hag had claimed he was unprofessional, while Sancho hit back by insisting it was untrue. Sancho actually felt that he was being bullied to a point by his manager, and, of course, made a loan move to Borussia Dortmund last season as he sought a fresh start.

DID YOU KNOW?

Now, with his lone appearance this season being in the Community Shield, Sancho is poised to depart United before the transfer deadline, with Juventus reportedly keen to sign him.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Sancho finally looks poised to draw a line under his disastrous United spell. In 83 games, he has scored 12 goals and provided six assists.

Stuart Broad could miss his first home Test since 2012 this summer

Matt Roller28-Jun-2020England’s bowlers have been told by the selectors that the team picked for the first Test against West Indies will be the strongest possible side, despite the acceptance that rotation will be a feature of the summer.The 30-man training group named ahead of the West Indies series includes 18 seamers, with the ECB’s performance director Mo Bobat telling ESPNcricinfo last month that “our depth will get challenged” by a “pretty brutal schedule”. England are set to play six Tests in a seven-week window across the West Indies and Pakistan series, and the team’s management are expected to give opportunities to fringe players at some stage.That could mean that Stuart Broad misses a Test match in England for the first time since 2012, breaking a streak that currently stands at 51 consecutive appearances at home. Jacques Kallis is the only pace bowler to have played more consecutive home Tests with 54. Speaking from the bubble at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday, Broad admitted that he was reluctant to miss any cricket, but accepted that there was a “bigger picture” for the support staff to consider.Stuart Broad is just three matches away from Jacques Kallis’s record of 54 consecutive home Tests•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”We’ve been told as a bowling group that the strongest team will be picked for the first Test. The aim is to get into that,” Broad said. “The last Test I missed in England was against West Indies in 2012, when I was named in the starting XI [before the toss] but it rained for the first two days and Andy Flower decided that a three-day Test match was one to take a rest from, over which we had an argument at the time.”I don’t like missing cricket. I feel fit at the moment – my fitness tests have been as strong as ever in this come-back-to-cricket period – but we all know how hard fast bowling is. One of my strengths over the years has been to play consistently, so the body has been used to the workload, and it has never had that period of stopping, to then have that shock of coming back.”That is the period we’re in now, and Ed Smith, James Taylor [England’s selectors] and Chris Silverwood [head coach] in the selection panel have been clear that, yes, we want to play our best team as often as possible, but we’re not going to put bodies at major risk.”Broad had an argument with Andy Flower when he last missed a home Test in 2012•PA Images via Getty ImagesDespite his admission that he would rather not miss a Test, Broad conceded that the risk of injury will be heightened this summer. There have already been parallels drawn with football, where the Bundesliga and the Premier League have seen a spike in injury rates, and Broad used the example of James Anderson’s injury at Newlands to illustrate the problem.

“There is certainly no panic over the strength in depth of English fast bowling”Stuart Broad

“We all wear these GPS devices now, and the stats that Phil Scott [England’s strength and conditioning coach] pulls together are quite interesting. He can almost predict when an injury might happen. If you bowl 25 or 30 overs in a day, you won’t get injured the next day – it’s a bounce of two weeks when the height of risk of injury comes, which is why rest and recuperation comes into it.”If you’re in the team on July 8 and you do your job and bowl well and you bowl the team out by only bowling 20 overs in the Test then I’m assuming you’re going to play in the next game. That has got to be your aim, and I’d love the opportunity to start. It’s always going to be hard and frustrating if you’re told you’re not playing in a Test, but there is a bigger picture for them looking after us.”We can see [from when] Jimmy came back on Boxing Day – we had a bit of illness, so he bowled loads on Boxing Day and then got injured ten days later. We want to avoid those sorts of things with our bodies not feeling as tough, as cricket-hardened as they would be in a normal summer.”ALSO READ: England’s pace attack is their best since 2005 – GoughIf England do choose to rotate, they will not have any shortage of options to choose from. Players on the fringes of selection like Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton and Ollie Robinson will push for inclusion in the final squad for this series in a three-day warm-up match starting on Wednesday, while England have already used as many as eight frontline seamers in Test cricket in the past 12 months.”You have 30 people trying to get in 11 spots, so training has been nicely intense,” Broad said. “The coaches have been telling us to make sure we control our intensity a little, because obviously if we come in and spike our workloads and get up to too high an intensity, we risk injury.”There is certainly no panic over the strength in depth of English fast bowling. We’ve all come here fit and fresh, which is rare for a fast-bowling group. The dream ticket is to board a flight for Brisbane [ahead of the 2021-22 Ashes] and having this lot of fast bowlers all ready to go.”Can we have Olly Stone, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, these sort of pace guys, Woakes, Curran, Broad, Anderson, all fit, fresh and ready to go? If we can, we’ve got a chance of winning there.”

After what has been a phenomenal few weeks for Everton, it is no surprise to see multiple of their key assets linked with moves away from Goodison Park this summer.

Sean Dyche's side secured survival against all the odds following their eight-point deduction this season, after three successive wins against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford.

The Toffees would currently be sat in 13th position had they avoided any PSR breaches, with the club pushing closer to a mid-table finish after a couple of years of final-day survival successes.

However, Dyche's side aren't out of financial trouble yet, with the Toffees at risk of further punishment next season if they don't raise further funds during the transfer window.

Jarrad Branthwaite is likely to depart Merseyside over the off-season, with the young defender constantly linked with a move to fellow Premier League side Manchester United.

The 21-year-old would be a huge miss for Dyche's side, but they have been linked with another promising talent who could potentially fill the boots of Branthwaite at Goodison.

Everton enter the race to sign Premier League youngster

According to journalist Steve Kay via Football Transfers, Everton have joined Crystal Palace in the race to sign Luton Town centre-back Teden Mengi this summer.

The 22-year-old only joined the Hatters last summer, with Rob Edwards looking to bolster his side as they contested in the Premier League for the first time in the club's history.

Mengi, a product of the Manchester United academy, has excelled with regular game time at Kenilworth Road this season, featuring in 28 matches in the league – his highest tally during his relatively short career so far.

Despite his consistent appearances, it might be in vain, with Luton edging closer to an immediate return to the Championship, sitting three points behind Forest with just games remaining in 2023/24.

Should the Hatters be condemned to England's second tier next season, it's likely Mengi will depart for a cut-price, with Everton needing to be all over the deal with the youngster producing some impressive numbers this campaign.

Why Mengi would be the perfect Branthwaite replacement

Mengi, in what is his first full season of Premier League football, has excelled at Kenilworth Road, proving to be a shining light in the club's historic season.

The "dominant" 22-year-old, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has averaged 2.1 interceptions and 1.5 blocks per 90 this campaign – tallies that are both better than current Toffees centre-back Branthwaite.

He's also managed to register a tally of 5.2 clearances per 90, with Branthwaite only able to muster 4.7 despite his excellent season at Goodison.

The pair cancel each other out with tackles per 90, both averaging 1.9, but Dyche's defender does manage to come out on top for aerials won, with Mengi unable to match Branthwaite's tally of 2.8.

Tackles

1.9

1.9

Interceptions

2.1

1.5

Blocks

1.5

1.4

Clearances

5.2

4.7

Aerials won

2.2

2.8

All things considered, the duo aren't far apart on their stats in the Premier League this season, with Mengi's solid from certainly going under the radar.

With the Everton centre-back being linked with a £60-70m move to Old Trafford, the Toffees will seemingly have ample funds available to sign a suitable replacement.

Should Luton drop back down to the Championship, Mengi will undoubtedly depart the club, especially given his recent figures. That being said, Dyche's side should push hard to sign the youngster, with the defender having the potential to be a key player for many years to come on Merseyside.

Everton may lose "fantastic" £125,000-a-week star too alongside Branthwaite

The Toffees could be set for a frustrating summer…

ByTom Cunningham May 2, 2024