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Didier Drogba’s legacy at Chelsea is the stuff of legend.

The Ivorian striker was the beating heart of the Blues’ golden era, a colossus who combined power, skill and an unparalleled ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most, most notably in the 2012 Champions League final, where his unforgettable performance helped the Blues lift the trophy for the first time.

A decade after his departure, Chelsea are still yearning for a successor capable of replicating his impact on and off the pitch.

The club has seen a revolving door of strikers in the post-Drogba era, and while some such as Diego Costa enjoyed solid careers at Stamford Bridge, no one has been able to fully step into the legendary striker’s shoes.

From young prodigies already making their mark in west London to established European stars, we look at five players we think have the potential to take up Drogba’s mantle at Stamford Bridge.

5 players Chelsea should sign in the summer

Chelsea have fallen off the pace in recent weeks, but a promising season could lead to greater things if they get their summer business right.

By
Barney Lane

Feb 4, 2025

1

Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea

Nicolas Jackson, who Chelsea signed from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, has plenty in common with Drogba. His physical presence and work rate mirror that of Drogba’s, while his ability to link up the play is perhaps even better than the Ivorian’s. He also has great pace and clever movement.

However, where he comes up short when compared to Drogba is his finishing. Though he’s far improved this term under Enzo Maresca, he still wastes too many big chances, often needing two or three clear opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

Since moving to Chelsea, Jackson has scored 23 Premier League goals, but also missed a whopping 39 big chances in his short Blues career so far – exactly triple the amount Drogba missed since this was recorded by the Premier League.

That being said, Jackson is still just 23 years old, and minus his hit-and-miss finishing, his impressive performances at his peak suggest he’s capable of leading the line at Stamford Bridge for years to come. However, consistency and improved displays in front of goal will determine if he reaches Drogba’s heights.

2

Shim Mheuka

Chelsea

Shim Mheuka has rapidly ascended through Chelsea’s academy ranks since joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

During the 2023/24 season, he regularly featured for the Under-18s despite still being a schoolboy, netting an impressive 12 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions, including a memorable outing at Stamford Bridge in the Under-18 Premier League national final against Manchester United.

Mheuka also played a pivotal role for England in the European Under-17 Championship last summer, scoring in their opening match against Spain. More recently, he marked his first call-up to the Under-19s in style, scoring against France and the Netherlands.

Now 17, Mheuka’s powerful frame, intelligent movement, and superb finishing abilities – all qualities Drogba showcased – have already caught the attention of Maresca, with the Italian handing him his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Astana in the Conference League back in December.

There is no doubting that he has a bright future in west London, and given Drogba was 26 when he signed for Chelsea, there is plenty of time for Mheuka to prove he has what it takes to grow into a Drogba-esque talent.

3

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

Liam Delap has been one of the Premier League’s best strikers this season. Big, strong and with a lethal eye for goal, the forward has scored 10 goals in the top flight for newly promoted Ipswich Town and has proven to be a real handful for some of the top flight’s best defenders.

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By
Dominic Lund

Dec 27, 2024

Already linked with a move to Chelsea, Maresca, who coached him as a youngster during his time in Manchester City’s youth ranks, is a big admirer.

“Liam is a fantastic player, and also for his age,” said Maresca back in December before Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Ipswich, a game in which Delap scored the opening goal. “I think we spent one year together, and he scored 22 to 24 goals. He is a very good striker.

“England have many good players, many good strikers,” he added. “He’s working hard off the ball and on the ball, understands the game and can score goals. I think he can be an important player for England.” For Chelsea too, maybe?

4

Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray/Napoli

Victor Osimhen is perhaps the closest current player to Drogba in terms of style and impact.

The Nigerian forward’s scoring record at Napoli is certainly reminiscent of Drogba, not to mention continuing his streak in front of goal in a Galatasaray shirt, which is something the Ivorian did himself in between his Chelsea spells.

Osimhen came close to joining Chelsea in the summer, but the deal fell through prior to his loan switch to Istanbul.

Whilst there, he has again shown why he’s one of the deadliest strikers in world football, scoring 20 goals in 27 games, including two against Tottenham in the Europa League, which would already make him something of a Chelsea hero to some.

5

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one of Europe’s most exciting young strikers and has often been compared to Erling Haaland due to his physical attributes and playing style. Rather crucially, he has also been mentioned in the same breath as Chelsea star Drogba.

The Slovenian forward stands at 6 foot 4, making him a real handful for defenders when the ball is crossed into the box. Not only is he big, but he’s also a terrific header of the ball. Since moving to Leipzig in 2023, the 21-year-old has scored seven headed goals.

Drogba, meanwhile, found the net with his noggin 17 times for Chelsea in the Premier League.

Like Drogba, Sesko has the ability to score from long range, best showcased by his stunning strike against Werder Bremen in January, where he unleashed a powerful drive that nearly shattered the net from 25 yards out.

Reportedly already on Chelsea’s radar, a move to Stamford Bridge could give him the chance to develop into Chelsea’s next dominant striker, potentially following in Drogba’s footsteps.

7 goalkeepers who could replace Robert Sanchez at Chelsea

Chelsea are in dire need of a new ‘keeper…

1

By
Barney Lane

Jan 27, 2025

Celtic supporters are rather enjoying this season, albeit Sunday’s derby defeat for Brendan Rodgers’s men has rather seen them come crashing back down to earth.

Kicking off a humongous 16 points clear of fierce rivals Rangers, the vast majority of those inside Parkhead were ready to party.

Well, there certainly wasn’t a party mood come half-time, given that goals from Nicolas Raskin and then Mohamed Diomandé had given Rangers a shock 2-0 lead.

However, after the break, quick-fire goals from Daizen Maeda and then Reo Hatate got Celtic back on level terms, threatening a full-scale comeback, only for some calamitous defending to allow Hamza Igamane to snatch a famous victory for the visitors.

In the context of the title race, given that there isn’t one, this defeat matters very little, but it’s still a damaging day for Rodgers, so does he and the Celtic hierarchy regret selling an under-utilised star who could’ve made all the difference?

Why Callum McGregor's Old Firm absence was important

Ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow derby, it came to light that Celtic captain Callum McGregor was a doubt due to a ‘calf injury’ suffered during the Scottish Cup victory over Hibernian a week earlier.

McGregor himself admitted he’d been doing “individual work with the physios”, unable to take part in full training, but was optimistic he’d be fit to feature.

Well, perhaps he was fibbing all along because, when the team news was released at 11:15am on Sunday, McGregor’s name was nowhere to be seen, with Rodgers revealing that his calf had “just tightened up” during training the day before, adding he “didn’t want to take a risk”.

After the match, Rodgers said, during his Sky Sports interview with Luke Shanley, that there’s “no doubt” his team missed McGregor, struggling to cope without his “tactical balance”, forced to “shift a couple of things around” in an attempt to fill his void.

Kieran Devlin of the Athletic believes that McGregor’s ‘leadership’ and ‘quality’ mean he is Celtic’s ‘most important player’, and this assertion was certainly supported by how the Scottish Premiership champions played in his absence.

Of course, replacing a player of his stature is never going to be easy, but did the Celts sell their most natural McGregor deputy for just £830,000?

Celtic's ideal McGregor deputy now starring elsewhere

Tomoki Iwata arrived at Celtic in January 2023, initially on loan but with an obligation to buy of just £838,000, thereby reuniting with Ange Postecoglou, who’d been his boss at Yokohama F. Marinos.

Due to Postecoglou’s previous work in the J League, this was part of Celtic’s Japanese influx at the time; Kyōgo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi were already at Parkhead, while Yūki Kobayashi joined at the same time as Iwata.

Upon his arrival in Glasgow, writer and analyst Stewart Ross described Iwata as ‘quality’ in possession, while Postecoglou labeled him “really committed… with some great attributes”, adding he was “very deserving” to have been named J League player of the season for 2022.

However, Iwata was given very limited opportunities, 24 of his 42 appearances coming as a substitute, totaling fewer than 2,000 minutes, unable to establish himself as a regular under either Postecoglou or Rodgers, largely due to McGregor’s undroppable status.

Thus, few eyebrows were raised, nor questions asked when, last summer, the 27-year-old was sold to Birmingham City for around £830,000, the club thereby essentially making their money back, albeit his performances in the English Midlands may have changed a few minds.

His current manager Chris Davies praised the midfielder for being “intelligent”, adding that “he’s quick across the ground and… sees the game really well”, with the Japan international a key cog in the Blues side currently 12 points clear at the top of EFL League One, having made 36 appearances across all competitions so far.

Meantime, fan pundit Mike Gibbs told Football League World that Iwata’s performances have been ‘absolutely outstanding’, going one further by exclaiming that he has been the Blues’ ‘best player’.

Iwata then garnered wider public attention with this astonishing long-range rocket against Newcastle in the FA Cup, described by Rob Smyth of the Guardian as a ‘monstrous’ strike.

So, let’s assess how Iwata and McGregor compare this season.

As the table outlines, stylistically, McGregor and Iwata are very similar, with the Japanese international actually coming out on top when it comes to interceptions and tackles, on a per-90 basis.

So, while selling Iwata, who Transfermarkt believe has almost doubled in value this season, may not be a season-defining mistake, he certainly would’ve improved Celtic’s chances of a victory in Sunday’s Old Firm.

Worse than Schlupp: 4/10 dud had his worst game in a Celtic shirt

The Celtic defender was even worse than Crystal Palace loanee Jeffrey Schlupp.

By
Dan Emery

Mar 17, 2025

La Liga president Javier Tebas has publicly criticised Real Madrid head Florentino Perez, accusing him of trying to 'fire' him.

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• Tebas blasts Madrid president Perez
• Duo do not share a cordial relationship
• La Liga chief accused Perez of trying to 'fire' him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The saga involving the war of words between La Liga head honcho Tebas and Madrid president Perez has seen the arrival of its latest chapter, as the former accused the latter of trying to 'fire' him from his post as the league's president.

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• WHAT JAVIER TEBAS SAID

  Speaking on , Tebas spoke about his strained dynamic with Los Blancos, saying: "With Real Madrid as a club, as it should be, beyond the problem we have with sports broadcasts, we can continue to do well."

  Then, he explained why him and Perez don't look each other in the eye: "And with Florentino Perez, there is currently no relationship because we maintain two very different positions regarding the organisation of professional football. Florentino maintains a Super League-like, elitist and oligarchic idea in terms of decisions, and we are not on that path. The Real Madrid president keeps saying at every meal that he's going to fire me, that the CSD (Spanish National Council) agrees to oust me… well, they won't agree with the management model when I have the vast majority of the rest of the clubs and Florentino doesn't want it."

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  Tebas and Madrid, especially their president Perez, have had a history of conflicts. The chief of La Liga has time and again protested his staunch disapproval of Perez's obsession and personal project, the European Super League. The club's constant public criticism of referees has also drawn the ire of Tebas.

  "Real Madrid are a crying club," said Tebas in February after the club released a long video criticising the referees via their main channel, Real Madrid TV. The war of words has not been limited between just Perez and Tebas, with ex-head coach Carlo Ancelotti hitting back at the latter in one of the press conferences earlier last season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  The 15-time European champions will return to action next week in the revamped Club World Cup, which begins on Saturday. Xabi Alonso's men, though, will play their first game of the tournament on June 18 against Al-Hilal.

Liverpool will have to ‘settle’ for only winning the Premier League title if they want to secure a piece of silverware before the end of the season.

The Reds are 12 points clear at the top of the league table, with nine games left to play, and are in a commanding position to land their second Premier League title.

Arne Slot’s side lost in the final of the League Cup last weekend and were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties earlier this month.

Liverpool are on course to win the league title, though, and that is largely down to the exceptional form of Mo Salah, who has racked up 27 goals and 17 assists in 29 appearances in the top-flight.

The Egypt international, however, is out of contract in the summer, and it remains to be see whether or not Slot will be able to call upon his talents next season, which means that the Dutch boss may have to hope that other players can step up.

Liverpool will need other players to carry the load in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond, if Salah moves on from Anfield, and Cody Gakpo is one player with the potential to step up.

Why Cody Gakpo could become a Liverpool star

There is no doubt that Salah is the main man for Liverpool, the one the team relies on to step up with vital goals and assists, and this means that the other forwards have to step out of the spotlight to let him shine.

However, Gakpo is a player with the potential to step into the spotlight next season to be the main man for the Reds, or at least one of the go-to stars at the top end of the pitch.

The Netherlands international, who joined the club at the start of 2023 from PSV, has scored 23 goals for the club to date in the Premier League, whilst Salah has 27 in the current campaign alone.

Gakpo’s finishing quality in the top-flight this season, though, suggests that the potential is there for him to be a dependable figure for Slot in the future, as he has the ability to make the most of the chances that are created for him.

As you can see in the table above, the former PSV star has scored eight goals from just 5.99 xG in the Premier League for Liverpool in the current campaign, which shows that he is an efficient finisher.

This suggests that his output in the final third could increase as a result of Salah’s exit, as the team could create more chances for him to score instead of funneling the ball down the Egyptian’s side more often than not.

Liverpool, though, are now showing an interest in a player who could come in to be even better than Gakpo in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Liverpool plot surprise move for France international

According to GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool could make a ‘surprise’ move to sign Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki at the end of the season.

The report claims that the Reds are plotting a potential swoop to land the France international to bolster their attack in the summer, after they held an interest in him in the recent January transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the club are preparing for a ‘busy’ summer as they want to bring in several new forward options to improve the depth and quality of Slot’s squad.

The outlet reveals that the Lyon sensation is ‘highly-regarded’ by Liverpool chiefs, who are assessing targets ahead of the summer window, but does not state how high up he is on their list.

Cherki, whose performances have led to him being compared to some of the best wingers in Europe, was valued at around £20m in January, but it remains to be seen how much Lyon will demand for his services later this year.

Why Liverpool need to sign Rayan Cherki

If Salah moves on from Anfield this summer, Liverpool will need a player with the ability to step up as the main creative presence on the pitch for Slot.

Excluding Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is also out of contract this year, Salah is the only Liverpool star with more than four assists in the Premier League, and the only ace with more than 1.5 key passes per game made.

Gakpo, meanwhile, has only produced three assists and 1.2 key passes per match on average in the top-flight, which does not suggest

that he is likely to be the main man from a creative perspective.

Cherki, on the other hand, has racked up a staggering 18 assists in all competitions for Lyon this season, whilst averaging 2.5 key passes per match in Ligue 1.

This suggests that the French maestro has the creative ability to replace what Salah has provided in that sense this season, and journalist Dean Jones once claimed that he has the potential to be one of the best in the world.

Cherki, who can play as an attacking midfielder or on either flank, could also come in to be the main man over Gakpo, despite the Dutch forward’s potential, based on their respective performances this term.

As you can see in the table above, the Lyon magician has offered a relatively similar level of goalscoring in domestic and European action, whilst both players have outperformed against their xG.

However, Cherki is significantly better than Gakpo when it comes to creating high-quality chances for his teammates, with ten more ‘big chances’ created in their respective domestic leagues.

These statistics suggest that the French dynamo would be even more influential than the Dutchman at the top end of the pitch at Anfield next season if Michael Edwards can strike a deal for the £20m-rated ace, because he could contribute to more goals and assists combined overall.

Cherki is a forward who can ruthlessly finish the chances that come his way whilst also being an exceptional creator for others, whilst Gakpo has only shown himself to be the former.

He earns more than Gakpo: Edwards must sell Liverpool's "pointless" star

The Liverpool chief must ruthlessly cash in on the forward who has been outperformed by Cody Gakpo.

By
Dan Emery

Mar 19, 2025

It is now down to Liverpool to ensure that they win the race to land the Lyon ace in the summer transfer window, as he could help to soften the blow of possibly losing Salah and Trent on free transfers.

Despite Marc-Andre ter Stegen's outrage over Joan Garcia's signing, Barcelona have decided not to provide any clarifications to their captain.

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• Barca set to complete Joan Garcia transfer
• Ter Stegen to become third-choice goalkeeper
• German won't be provided any explanations

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona are close to finalising the signing of goalkeeper Garcia from Espanyol, with the club taking a firm stance on not needing to explain the decision to current No. 1 Ter Stegen, reports. The club views squad planning as the responsibility of director of football Deco and head coach Hansi Flick, and believes reinforcing the team doesn’t require prior consultation with individual players — goalkeepers included.

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  The move has reportedly left Ter Stegen outraged, feeling blindsided and disrespected by what he perceives as an attempt to phase him out without transparency. Despite his years of service and leadership, Barcelona remain firm in their belief that team decisions rest solely with sporting management. Flick will manage the goalkeeper rotation as he sees fit, and any concerns players may have should be taken up directly with him. So far, no official request to leave has been submitted by the German international.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While Ter Stegen is determined to remain at the club and fight for his spot, there has been no shortage of interest in the goalkeeper's services. Manchester United are reportedly eyeing the Barca custodian to replace the under-fire Andre Onana. Turkish giants Galatasaray have also expressed interest in the former Borussia Monchengladbach player, while Saudi giants Al-Hilal are also rumoured to be keeping tabs on his situation at Barcelona.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN?

  Reports from Spain suggested that the 33-year-old was scheduled for talks with president Joan Laporta and Flick to understand his future at the club. It is widely expected that the German international will be the third-choice goalkeeper behind Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny, which could prompt him to leave Catalunya this summer.

Kyle Walker admits he would swap one of his Premier League titles at Manchester City in order to form part of a trophy-winning squad at Tottenham.

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• Defender spent eight years in north London
• Unable to help Spurs end trophy drought
• Won multiple honours at the Etihad Stadium

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England international Walker spent eight years with Spurs after joining them from Sheffield United in 2009. He formed part of squads in north London that finished second in the Premier League and reached the League Cup final.

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  He was unable to help Tottenham break a barren run on the silverware front that stretched back to 2008. They finally got over that line in 2025 when seeing off domestic rivals Manchester United in the Europa League final.

• WHAT KYLE WALKER SAID

  Speaking on his , the veteran full-back said of that contest: "That’s the first time in a long time I was nervous, and I wasn’t even playing!" Walker would have loved to form part of the celebrations that followed.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  He would even go as far as giving up a medal earned at the Etihad Stadium. Walker said: "I'd probably give up one Premier League, not the first, to have won that with Tottenham." He added: "I know what it means. I'd probably give my second. It’s hard to give one away, but for what that moment meant. To be in that Spurs squad that won a trophy…"

Chelsea haven’t been in the same high-flying form they started this Premier League campaign with, losing four of their last eight games in all competitions, including a 1-0 loss against Arsenal, a 2-1 loss against Aston Villa and back-to-back losses against Brighton.

However, despite their poor run of form, Enzo Maresca’s side still find themselves fourth in the Premier League table with nine games left to play as they enter the final stretch for UEFA Champions League qualification.

Chelsea are the Premier League’s joint-fourth top scorers, netting 53 times in 29 games so far, but whilst their defensive numbers have improved this season, Maresca will still be keen to refine this area of the pitch next season, looking to add personnel that fits his tactical ideas both on and off the ball.

Chelsea want to sign Premier League defender

Having kept a clean sheet in three of their last six games in all competitions, signing a new defender may not top Maresca’s bucket list this summer but they are on the lookout for a new centre-back, nonetheless.

Transfer Focus

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

The Blues have been linked with a move to bring Marc Guehi back to Stamford Bridge from Crystal Palace but he’s not the only Premier League star on the club’s radar.

Indeed, according to reports from Spain, via SportWitness, Chelsea are in the race for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, and will challenge the likes of Real Madrid for the 19-year-old defender’s signature in the summer transfer window.

The report mentions that Maresca will be a key figure in this deal, with the Italian reportedly being in “direct contact” with the defender’s entourage for “years” after playing for Malaga in Spain, the same academy Huijsen was with from 2015-2021.

Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that the Spanish defender has a £50m release clause, which will become active in the summer, valid for all clubs with no limitations around the deal. Romano also stated, ‘movements around the defender have already started.’

How Dean Huijsen compares to Fofana & Colwill

Bournemouth made the signing of Huijsen for a fee of around just £12.6m, with add-ons potentially taking the deal to a total of £15.2m.

That has proven to be a bargain with the 19-year-old making 27 appearances for the Cherries this season, scoring twice and contributing to six clean sheets in his 2,093 minutes played.

The number of minutes he’s played is particularly important here. That’s because no other teenager in the top-flight this term has played more often than him.

So, what could he offer to Maresca’s set-up and how would he improve the make-up of this Chelsea backline?

Well, when comparing Huijsen to both Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, you can see the Bournemouth defender is a combination of the two.

Indeed, Huijsen provides the aggressive duel qualities to win aerial and ground battles, make tackles and blocks, but also has the on-ball silk to pick passes, making 5.80 passes into the final third per 90 minutes.

Notable scout Jacek Kulig has labeled the 19-year-old as a “phenomenal” young centre-back who has “maturity far beyond his years” and it is clear to see why he has such a long list of suitors with these qualities.

The Spain international has the ability to partner either one of Colwill or Fofana next season, possessing both the on-ball qualities needed in Maresca’s back line – usually acquired by Colwill’s inclusion – and also having the defensive capability to step up, defend high and win his duels.

Having these three as centre-back options next season could give Chelsea and Maresca a much better chance of taking that next step and eventually challenging for a title.

Maresca can forget Neto & Nkunku by starting Chelsea "genius" in new role

Enzo Maresca could have a solution to his current Chelsea centre-forward issue.

By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 27, 2025

Andre Onana is reportedly a target for AS Monaco, but the Manchester United shot-stopper wants to stay at Old Trafford.

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• Onana wants to fight for his place
• Amid interest from Pogba-linked Monaco
• Goalkeeper has come under criticism

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Onana has been approached by the Ligue 1 side after interest was previously reported. He knocked back an advance, though communication between the French club and Onana's representatives is expected to continue. The 29-year-old has come under scrutiny throughout his two seasons in Manchester, but is expected to fight on in an attempt to keep the trust of Ruben Amorim. If he were to move to Monaco, he may get the chance to play alongside former United midfielder Paul Pogba, who has also been linked with a move.

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  Onana's time as United's number one looked to have come to an untimely end when he was dropped by Amorim in April, after the Cameroon international was at fault for both of Lyon's goals in a 2-2 draw in their Europa League quarter-final first leg. But second-choice Altay Bayindir failed to impress the following weekend and so Onana was given another chance, which he took to remain in the side. Following his move from Inter in 2023, though, United fans have not always been impressed with his consistency and have at times heaped criticism on the former Ajax man. When recently asked while on holiday if he may leave the club, Onana admitted he "did not know".

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Onana is the fourth-most expensive goalkeeper of all time, just behind superstar names such as Gianluigi Buffon, Alisson Becker, and… Kepa Arrizabalaga. If United were to sell, he could cost potential suitors £40 million ($54m).

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ONANA?

  Onana will hope to get the chance to stay at Old Trafford, and must find more consistency in his game next campaign if he is to avoid similar rumours next summer. If the Cameroon international were to depart this window, United may target Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez as a replacement.

With at least ten games to go this season, potentially more, there’s still plenty for Rangers to play for.

Prior to the international break, supporters certainly had a good week, didn’t they?

First, the Gers dumped out Fenerbahçe on penalties in the Europa League round of 16, before goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomandé and then Hamza Igamane, the latter coming right at the death, saw them beat fierce rivals Celtic 3-2 in an Old Firm derby at Parkhead.

Despite this victory, the 13-point gap at the top of the Premiership means Rangers are not going to reclaim the title, but they still have European aspirations, and their interim manager will be looking to stake a claim to land the job more permanently.

How Barry Ferguson could become Rangers' permanent manager

Last month, following a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of St Mirren, Philippe Clement was sacked as Rangers manager after 86 matches in charge.

The following day, club-legend Barry Ferguson, who made 412 appearances for Rangers as a player, was appointed interim head coach until the end of the season, assisted by fellow ex-players Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor.

As noted by Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show, many questioned this appointment, considering Ferguson’s, at best, mixed managerial career so far, having previously been in charge of Blackpool, Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic, winning only nine of 33 matches during an ill-fated spell with the Wasps.

Nevertheless, so far, the rookie manager has exceeded all expectations, notably becoming the first Rangers boss to win their first Glasgow derby at Celtic Park since the legendary Walter Smith back in 1991.

He has also guided them through to the Europa League quarter-finals, thanks largely to a famous 3-1 victory in İstanbul, now set to take on Athletic Club Bilbao for a place in the semis next month.

These victories have led to speculation that Ferguson could land the job permanently, with Paul Gascoigne believing this should be the case, stating “he is Rangers through and through… he’s got the potential to be a great manager”.

However, with Paraag Marathe, President of 49ers Enterprises, poised to complete a takeover of Rangers before the summer, Harry Brent of the Daily Record reports the new owners ‘are expected to look elsewhere’, so could their dream candidate currently be shinning in France?

Rangers' dream new manager

Recent claims have suggested that Liam Rosenior could be one of the leading candidates in the frame to be the next Rangers manager.

The 40-year-old Englishman was appointed as manager of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg last summer, a decision that ‘divided the fanbase’, but he is now earning rave reviews for his performance in France’s Alsace region.

Les Bleu et Blanc, who are owned by Chelsea majority shareholder Todd Boehly, are currently seventh in Ligue 1, thereby on course for European qualification, having only featured in UEFA competition once since 2005/06.

Jack Roberts of Breaking the Lines praises Rosenior’s ‘exceptional ability to work with young players’, while he said himself he wants to “dominate possession, press the ball and be intense in the way we play”.

Meantime, when he was appointed by previous club Hull City, former Crystal Palace and Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison, speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, described Rosenior as “a top manager”, adding he could well be “one of the best coaches ever”.

Rangers supporter Findlay Marks of the Scottish Football Show expects the new owners will want to make a ‘statement appointment’, doubtful Ferguson fits that brief, but does Rosenior?

Let’s examine his managerial career so far.

As the table underlines, Rosenior may not yet be the big-name appointment the 49ers are looking for but, as noted by Senior Editor Aidan McCartney, he is ‘one of the best young managers’ in Europe right now.

Thus, this would certainly be a shrewd hire, representing a clear upgrade on Ferguson.

49ers now want to use Red Bull links to hire shock UCL manager for Rangers

They’re not messing around…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 28, 2025

Barcelona will return to Camp Nou from August 10, 2025, after over two years of major renovations to the stadium, the club have announced.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Barcelona to return to Camp Nou
• Joan Gamper Trophy will mark comeback
• Barca have not played in the stadium since 2023

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona have confirmed that they will be back in the Camp Nou for the Joan Gamper Trophy, their annual pre-season curtain raiser. The Blaugrana have not played in the stadium since March 2023, and instead played at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys as extensive renovation work was done at their home ground.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Barca have confirmed that work still needs to be done, including the completion of the third tier at the stadium, along with the 'dual VIP ring', the roof installation, and work on the interior and surrounding areas. reports that the Catalan giants expect to start the league season with three away games, and they will cap their capacity thereafter at between 50,000 and 60,000. It had been reported in May that Barca could have to wait until September to reopen the doors, but it appears that schedule was inaccurate.

• WHAT BARCELONA SAID

  Barca said in a statement: "FC Barcelona officially announces its return to its stadium, the Spotify Camp Nou, on August 10, 2025—a milestone that will mark the partial reopening of the club’s new home as part of the wider Espai Barca transformation project. The return will take place during the Joan Gamper Trophy, a very special event for Barca fans, with more details to be announced soon.

  "This comeback represents a historic moment for the club and its supporters. After more than two years of major renovations and a temporary relocation to the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barca will once again feel the thrill of football in its legendary temple, in the heart of Les Corts. It’s important to note, however, that this return will happen while construction work continues in various areas of the stadium."

  They concluded: "With this return, FC Barcelona takes a symbolic and emotional step into the future, reclaiming its home in a new era that will culminate with the complete inauguration of the new stadium. It’s a chance to feel again, to vibrate together again, and to continue building the Barca of tomorrow."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barca have not confirmed their opponents for the Joan Gamper Trophy but reports that Serie A's Como are rumoured to be the opponents, with head coach Cesc Fabregas potentially set to return to Camp Nou.