Returning to Europe's top competition would give Ruben Amorim an extra £100m to work with, as well as raising the calibre of player he could target
Just a few weeks ago, Manchester United were preparing themselves for having no European football for the first time in a decade, wondering how they would fill their weeks between Premier League games. But now, they are just a couple of steps away from sneaking back into the Champions League despite their worst domestic season in 51 years.
The Red Devils have one foot in the Europa League final after their brilliant 3-0 win over Athletic Club in Bilbao, and even considering their capacity for disaster, they should be able to navigate their way through Thursday's second leg and make it to the final. Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt would await them at San Mames, where they would be one win from dining at European football's top table once more.
Winning the Europa League, then, is about far more than one glorious evening in Bilbao; it is about playing in the biggest club competition, the one that every player wants to appear in. And that means that United will suddenly be able to attract a higher calibre of player than they would were they only offering potential targets Premier League football and their storied history. And just as crucially, they will be able to afford the elite players that would previously have been out of their reach.
As Ruben Amorim put it last month: "The Champions League can change everything. If you are in the Champions League, you play top teams on a Wednesday and at the weekend. This is the best thing. If you have Champions League, you know you have a better budget to put forward a different team next season."
United will be refreshing their squad in the summer even if they are left with no European football and they are believed to be close to signing Matheus Cunha from Wolves. But if they play their cards right, then many more names that they had previously dismissed as being beyond their grasp would suddenly be within reach.
GOAL takes a look at the players United will suddenly be in the market for if they win the Europa League and seal their ticket back to the Champions League…
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Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres turned into one of the most lethal forwards in Europe under Amorim's guidance at Sporting CP, and he has continued to score goals for fun since the Portuguese left for United, as the Sweden international has netted 52 times in all competitions this season with three games to go. Naturally, Gyokeres has been seen as a dream signing for the coach at Old Trafford, particularly given Rasmus Hojlund's struggles and the Dane's measly return of nine goals this season, just four of which have come in the Premier League.
However, Gyokeres' €100 million (£85m/$113m) buy-out clause seemed to put him out of United's reach, with Arsenal instead leading the race to sign him. Champions League football would also be a must for a striker who has only recently played in Europe's top competition for the first time and thrived in it, bagging a hat-trick against Manchester City in November.
So if United can clinch Champions League football then the Red Devils would be considerably more attractive to Gyokeres. And who better to lead the line for Amorim than the man who fired him to the Portuguese title and helped make him such a coveted coach in the first place?
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Liam Delap
Only two English players have scored more Premier League goals than Liam Delap this season – Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins – and neither play for a team like Ipswich Town, who have been fighting relegation from day one. Delap has the physical prowess that matches the demands of the Premier League and could achieve great things at a top-six club. He is also relatively cheap compared to other players of his ilk, available for £30m ($40m) and therefore affordable for United regardless of whether they get into the Champions League.
But Europe's top competition is believed to be a huge draw for Delap and one of the reasons it has been reported that he would prefer a move to Chelsea over United. But if the Red Devils are playing in the Champions League after all then it becomes a much tighter race to sign him.
Chelsea, of course, are far from assured of a top-five finish in the Premier League this season, and should the Blues miss out on Champions League football, Delap's best chance of testing himself against the continent's best defences would be to move to United.
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Ronald Araujo
Until last season, Ronald Araujo was seen as the leader of Barcelona's defence for many years to come. But the emergence of Pau Cubarsi from La Masia, coupled with the the reliability shown by Inigo Martinez has threatened the Uruguayan's place in Hansi Flick's line-up, and Araujo is thus beginning to consider a move away from Catalunya to ensure he is not consigned to being a bit-part player.
Signing Araujo would be a huge coup for United given their defensive struggles, although the centre-back is wary of the fact that leaving Barca for the Red Devils could be a huge step down, especially as the Catalans are closing in on winning La Liga and reached the Champions League semi-finals this season.
However, if United are back in the Champions League and have the financial capacity to keep on growing and further boosting their squad, then Old Trafford suddenly becomes a far more attractive destination for Araujo to consider.
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Jonathan Tah
With United low on cash and cutting costs at every corner, they have naturally taken a keen interest in one of the top defenders in the world who is running down his contract will be available on a free transfer this summer. Jonathan Tah – described by Arne Slot as "the best defender in Germany" – underpinned Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten season and Bundesliga title win last year, and has already been linked with Barcelona as he prepares to depart the BayArena.
Barca's struggles to register new players due to their deep financial problems is, however, believed to be a stumbling block to the move, and United would be well-placed to step in and hijack the move – as long as they win the Europa League.
The Germany international will have plenty of other suitors this summer, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and United might end up losing out to those two giants in the end. But to stand a chance of winning the tug-of-war they simply have to be able to offer Tah Champions League football.
It is fair to say that Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign has not gone to plan as they currently sit 15th in the Premier League and closer to relegation than the top four.
They started the season with Erik ten Hag in charge and swiftly moved on from the Dutchman before appointing Ruben Amorim in November, but the Portuguese boss has failed to turn their form around.
The Red Devils fought back to secure a 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, a game in which they lacked spark at the top of the pitch for the most part.
United do not have a centre-forward who can win them games with moments of magic, dragging them to wins, as they once did with a former Everton striker, Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney's Manchester United record
Back in the summer of 2004, Manchester United swooped to sign the English number nine from the Toffees for a reported fee of £27m to bolster Sir Alex Ferguson’s attacking options.
Wayne Rooney's Manchester United record (timeless)
As you can see in the graphic above, Rooney went on to score a staggering 253 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils, leading the club to five Premier League titles in total.
He played in a multitude of positions during his time at Old Trafford, but the generational attacker scored 188 goals and provided 92 assists in 374 matches as either a centre-forward or a second striker, which shows that he provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
Rasmus Hojlund (two) and Joshua Zirkzee (three) have combined for five goals in the Premier League this season, which shows that Amorim does not currently have a striker who is anywhere near as good as Rooney was for the club.
Man United may have their next Wayne Rooney
The Portuguese head coach could, however, have a young talent with the potential to develop into a Rooney-esque talent for the club in the future in the form of 17-year-old prodigy Chido Obi-Martin.
United signed the teenage prospect from Premier League rivals Arsenal in the summer and he made his first two top-flight appearances against Spurs and Everton this month.
The Denmark U18 international, who was described as a “wonderkid” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 12 appearances for the Red Devils at youth level this season, which has earned him first-team recognition in recent weeks.
Chido Obi-Martin (U18 Premier League)
23/24 (Arsenal)
24/25 (Man Utd)
Appearances
18
6
Goals
32
5
Assists
3
1
Minutes per goal
45
68
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, his impressive form for Manchester United this season comes off the back of his extraordinary campaign for Arsenal in the U18 Premier League last term.
Obi-Martin, who has scored seven goals in three FA Youth Cup matches this season, was once hailed as a “goalscoring machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and his statistics for United and Arsenal back that claim up.
The young star, who scored ten goals in one U16 match against Liverpool in 2023, is a special centre-forward with potential, as further evidenced by Amorim’s decision to include him in the first-team squad in the last two games.
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It is now down to Obi-Martin to make the step up to the first-team and translate his exceptional goalscoring prowess at youth level over to the senior side, as his form for the club’s academy suggests that the potential is there for him to emerge as the new Rooney at Old Trafford in the years to come.
Cricket Scotland has announced that it will offer paid contracts to players in its international women’s team for the first time.Scotland sit 14th in the ICC’s T20I rankings and missed out on qualification for February’s T20 World Cup in South Africa but will move towards professionalism as part of the board’s bid to make cricket a “fully inclusive” sport in the country.”This builds on the move to pay equal match fees to the men’s and women’s players introduced in 2021 and will enable a number of players to devote more time to training and practice and is a start to putting the women’s game onto a fully professional footing,” Cricket Scotland said in a statement.Scottish cricket was plunged into crisis earlier this year after the publication of a damning report into institutional racism within the sport, and revealed a number of measures on Thursday which the board hopes “will underpin long-term success for the international teams and deliver a more sustainable governing body in the years ahead”.Cricket Scotland will recruit a new head of communications, an EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) manager and a conduct in sport manager, and will not renew contracts of seven staff within the strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and support services provision.”The changes are required to refocus the governing body’s priorities and to establish a strong financial base from which to launch an ambitious new strategy for the sport in the coming months,” the statement said.Gordon Arthur, the board’s interim chief executive, will stay in post until November 2023 on a fixed-term contract “to ensure stability and continuity during this period of substantial restructuring”.Arthur said: “We need to reset and rebuild to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position to deliver real and meaningful change across Scottish cricket. This won’t be without challenges but we have a great opportunity to take the sport confidently forward in the years ahead.”Anjan Luthra, who was appointed as chair last month, said: “This a watershed moment for the sport of cricket in Scotland. The investment announced today into the women’s game is an important building block in our desire to make cricket in Scotland a fully inclusive sport where there is no place for racism, discrimination or inequalities.”We have an opportunity to create a bold new vision for our Scottish cricket and we are committed to doing so by driving positive change at every level within our sport.”At the same time, we are rebuilding capacity within the governing body and addressing the weaknesses and failings identified through the Changing the Boundaries report so that we build a first-class governing body for Scottish cricket.”
Still desperately searching for reinforcements, Manchester United are now reportedly set to accelerate a move to sign a young forward in an alternative to Mathys Tel ahead of Monday’s deadline.
Man Utd transfer news
After a month full of frustration on the transfer front, the Red Devils are at least set to get their business underway and welcome Patrick Dorgu from Lecce. The left wing-back will finally provide Ruben Amorim with a natural option for his 3-4-2-1 system and solve a Luke Shaw problem that has persisted under a number of different managers over the years.
However, those at Old Trafford may not be done there. Bayern Munich’s Tel still has quite the decision to make after seemingly rejecting Tottenham Hotspur and becoming the subject of Manchester United’s interest, making him one to watch.
He’s not the only young forward on their radar, though, and the Premier League giants could yet turn towards an alternative if they suffer the same fate as Tottenham in the coming days.
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According to FootMercato, Manchester United are now accelerating their operation to sign El Bilal Toure before Monday’s deadline. However, to say that any deal would be a complicated one would be an understatement.
First and foremost, Stuttgart are reportedly looking to make Toure’s loan move from Atalanta permanent by triggering their €18m (£15m) option.
The German club will then reportedly aim to sell the 23-year-old to Manchester United for €25m (£21m) plus bonuses before loaning him back from Old Trafford for the rest of the season.
El Bilal Toure for Stuttgart.
It’s worth noting that to complete all of those stages, Manchester United, Atalanta and Stuttgart have just two days until the window slams shut.
"Strong" Toure could be Hojlund repeat
23 years old and a player who’s yet to truly set the world alight on the goalscoring front, Toure is showing far too many similarities to Rasmus Hojlund, who has struggled in a Manchester United shirt. And the last thing that the Red Devils need is another struggling striker having already welcomed Joshua Zirkzee last summer.
Minutes
314
1,089
Goals
2
2
Assists
1
0
Expected goals
1.6
2.4
Struggling for minutes on loan at Stuttgart, Toure is unlikely to find the game time he needs at Manchester United, even as Hojlund and Zirkzee continue to struggle under Amorim.
That has not stopped the praise from coming his way since arriving in Germany, with Stuttgart board member Fabian Wohlgemuth saying via the Bundesliga’s official website: “El Bilal Touré is another strong addition to our attack.
“He has demonstrated his qualities in France, Spain and most recently in Italy with Atalanta. He’s the type of player we haven’t had before, and his exceptional speed will add another important facet to our attack.”
Manchester City are reportedly unlikely to receive a verdict on the 115 financial fair play charges levied against them before the summer.
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Man City hit with 115 FFP chargesCase complexity causes delayVerdict timeline revealedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to The Telegraph, due to the number of charges and the complexities involved in City's alleged financial breaches, an outcome is unlikely to happen for a couple of months at the very least.
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This is one of the biggest footballing stories in modern times, and if City lose this case, they could face a huge points deduction – though trophies being stripped and relegation seems unlikely. But these are criminal charges they are facing, and a lot is on the line for Pep Guardiola's City, the Premier League, and many other teams, too.
DID YOU KNOW?
City boss Pep Guardiola said back in February that he thought a verdict would happen by the end of March but here we are in April and no such thing has occurred.
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It remains to be seen if this verdict will come out before the 2025/26 Premier League season, which begins on August 16.
Na 5ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Corinthians venceu o Red Bull Bragantino por 1 a 0, ampliando a vantagem na liderança do torneio. O resultado fez Gil, Rafael Ramos, Du Queiroz, Renato Augusto e o técnico Vítor Pereira figurarem na seleção da rodada do campeonato. A votação foi feita através de voto popular no perfil do Brasileirão no Twitter.
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> GALERIA – Veja todos os técnicos estrangeiros do Corinthians
Gil, que completou 350 jogos pelo Timão contra o Massa Bruta, foi o zagueiro mais votado, com47,6% dos votos.
Ainda no setor defensivo, Rafael Ramos desbancou Daniel Borges, do Botafogo, Raúl Cáceres, do América-MG, e Dieguinho, do Goiás, sendo eleito o melhor da rodada na lateral-direita, com52,8% dos votos.
> TABELA – Confira a tabela e simule os jogos do Timão no Brasileirão
No meio-campo, Du Queiroz, que deu o passe para o gol do clube alvinegro na partida, foi o volante com maior porcentagem dos votos, 65,2%. Ele também ganhou o prêmio de melhor assistência da rodada.
Renato Augusto, autor do gol, recebeu69,6% dos votos, sendo o melhor meia na opinião dos internautas.
Vítor Pereira também foi prestigiado pelos torcedores, sendo eleito o treinador da rodada. Ele superou Fabián Bustos, do Santos, Luís Castro, do Botafogo, e Vagner Mancini, do América-MG. O lusitano recebeu45,9% dos votos.
A seleção da 5ª rodada ficou: Gatito Fernández; Rafael Ramos, Gil,Víctor Cuesta e Abner Vinícis; Du Queiroz, Rodrigo Fernández, Renato Augusto e Brayan Angulo; Erison e Léo Baptistão. Técnico: Vítor Pereira.
O resultado diante do Bragantino deixou o Timão na liderança do Brasileirão, com 12 pontos. Na próxima rodada, no sábado (14), o time de Vítor Pereira visita o Internacional, às 19h (de Brasília), no Beira-Rio.
Antes disso, o Timão tem o duelo de volta pela terceira fase da Copa do Brasil na quarta-feira (11), às 21h (de Brasília), contra a Portuguesa-RJ.
Liverpool could look to use this January as a way to bolster their squad ahead of a Premier League title run-in, with positive incomings then balancing out talk of damaging outgoings.
Of course, it’s understandable that both bits of news involving Trent Alexander-Arnold potentially leaving for Real Madrid and Mohamed Salah’s issues surrounding a new contract would dominate the conversation, but Arne Slot will hope a few new faces here and there see his team confidently soar to a top-flight triumph.
Liverpool haven’t always been notorious spenders in the winter market, however, but when they have forked out a pretty penny in the past, it has worked wonders.
Liverpool's best winter buys
Although this time last year saw no purchases come through the door across the window, the Reds have been proactive previously.
Mid-way through the 2022/23 campaign, Jurgen Klopp managed to tempt Cody Gakpo away from PSV Eindhoven, with the 25-year-old now blowing teams away down the left wing under Slot by picking up 11 goals in all competitions this season.
Cody Gakpo celebrates for Liverpool
The top additions in attack don’t stop there either, with Luis Diaz another bumper January buy all the way back in 2022, having cost the Anfield giants £37m to obtain.
He has justified that lavish price tag since, as the Colombian has been explosive under Slot much like Gakpo, with 12 strikes picked up from 24 total contests in 2024/25.
The Dutchman will hope this ongoing trend of successes in the market continues with this January pick-up, as the table-toppers remain on the hunt for some new central midfield options.
Liverpool interested in "world class" star
As per reports from Spain, it looks as if Real Madrid are willing to offload Aurelien Tchouaméni this January as they prioritise more bodies in the middle themselves.
That has resulted in Liverpool – alongside Chelsea and Manchester United – reportedly wanting a slice of the Frenchman, with Tchouaméni perhaps viewed as an upgrade on Martin Zubimendi, who has been long linked with a switch to England from La Liga.
This does feel like a strange set of circumstances on the end of the Spanish giants, considering Tchouaméni has been largely everpresent under Carlo Ancelotti this campaign when he hasn’t suffered from injury setbacks, with 21 appearances coming his way in all competitions.
In total, the 36-time France international has also picked up three goals and five assists donning the famous Madrid white from 110 games, with one shout from football journalist Stefan Bienkowski even declaring the 24-year-old as “world-class” last year.
Real Madrid's AurelienTchouameniin action with Pachuca's Bryan Gonzalez
Whilst many a face has also showered Zubimendi with praise, Tchouameni has been on the end of glowing reviews too, with analyst Raj Chohan suggesting the French star is “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet”.
That said, across Madrid’s last four games in La Liga, the adaptable number 14 has played further back in a centre-back role, which will be music to the ex-Feyenoord manager’s ears presumably, when you consider Ibrahima Konate has had injury troubles with Joe Gomez also in the treatment room.
Minutes played
90
Touches
94
Accurate passes
76/86 (88%)
Key passes
1
Shots on goal
2
Total duels won
6/8
Tchouaméni showed off his well-rounded game last time out when Madrid dramatically beat Valencia 2-1, with 76 accurate passes tallied up displaying his calmness on the ball, whilst six duels being won ensured his team weren’t breached time after time.
One telling stat suggests why the Madrid star could be a better option than Zubimendi too. Indeed, this season, the Tchouameni has managed more accurate passes per league clash, with a 93% pass accuracy in comparison to his counterpart’s 84%, setting the tone in a more effective manner from deeper midfield positions.
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Vinicius Junior has called for Brazil to "rethink everything" after their humiliating loss to Argentina, with one eye on the 2026 World Cup.
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Vini Jr concerned one year out from World Cup
Brazil lost 4-1 against Argentina
Madrid star wants global crown
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Real Madrid star called for a change in Brazil's strategy after the Selecao suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to arch-rivals Argentina on Tuesday in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match. Vinicius was kept silent throughout the 90 minutes as the world champions dominated proceedings. After the match, the winger issued a World Cup rallying cry towards his colleagues.
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WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID
Speaking to reporters, the Los Blancos forward said: "Today we arrive at the locker room and there is not much to say. We played very poorly and Argentina played a great match in front of their fans. We have to rethink everything we do. There is only a year left until the World Cup. I have already played in one World Cup, and I do not want to lose again.
"We have to do a lot of different things to create a great team. Everyone knows the weight of this jersey, how difficult everything is. We have to improve, keep our heads up, and never give up. Let's qualify for the World Cup."
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The 24-year-old added: "I think Argentina has been working together for a long time, there are many players who have been playing together for a long time, they won the last World Cup. We're trying to find our own way of playing and building trust with the fans. It's a long process, and we have to keep improving."
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WHAT NEXT FOR VINCIUS JR?
Vinicius Jr will now focus on ending the 2024-25 campaign on a high with his club, who are still in contention to win the treble. He will be next seen in action for Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid side on Saturday as they face Leganes in La Liga.
Enzo Maresca has had a brilliant start to life at Chelsea, guiding them to third in the Premier League after 12 games played, and first in the UEFA Conference League after three games played.
The Blues have averaged 55.4% possession so far this season in the top-flight which happens to be the fourth-best record. Furthermore, they have taken 14.2 shots per game (8th highest in the division), scoring 23 goals in 12 games. Meanwhile, defensively, Maresca’s side have only conceded 12.1 shots per match which is the sixth lowest in the league.
In contrast, Chelsea averaged 59% of the ball last season (5th highest), took 14.4 shots per game (8th most), scoring 77 goals in 38 games. However, this came at a defensive cost, conceding 14.6 shots per match (7th highest), and conceding 63 goals in 38 games.
Chelsea have already won both of the other European trophies, winning the Champions League and Europa League, but winning the newly established Conference League would complete the trio for the Blues, and they look right on track for that this season.
Chelsea's Conference League run so far
In their opening game of the competition, Maresca’s side took on Gent at Stamford Bridge, winning the game 4-2, with goals from Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Next up was Panathinaikos, playing away in Greece, and returning with a 4-1 victory. Goalscorers on this occasion were João Félix (x2), Mykhailo Mudryk and Nkunku.
In their last Conference League game, Chelsea beat Noah 8-0, putting on a real show at Stamford Bridge with goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi, Felix (x2), Mudryk and Nkunku (x2).
On Thursday, Chelsea will face Heidenheim, who currently sit sixth in the Conference League, also winning their opening three games, as this shapes up to be the Blues’ toughest task in this competition to date.
Maresca’s side will travel to Germany for this game, before returning and preparing for their clash against Aston Villa on Sunday, just three days apart.
The manager may well look to make plenty of changes, as he has done throughout this competition, especially with one eye on the Aston Villa game this weekend, and one player, in particular, could be rested after his excellent performance last weekend.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Enzo Fernández's season in numbers
Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández has been in brilliant form in recent weeks after finding himself on the bench for multiple games in the place of Roméo Lavia.
The 23-year-old scored and assisted goals against Leicester in their 2-1 victory last weekend, and this recent upturn in form could mean Maresca looks to rest the Argentinian, keeping him fresh for this weekend’s Premier League clash.
Of their core midfield trio, Fernandez is the most creative, looking to dictate play from deep with his expansive passing range, bringing others into the game, and looking to arrive in the box to get the odd shot away, something he did well for his goal against Leicester, arriving just on time to nod it home.
Goals + Assists
0.69
0.26
0.26
Progressive Carries
1.10
0.85
0.51
Progressive Passes
5.27
5.04
2.82
Shots Total
1.09
0.60
0.00
Key Passes
2.09
0.77
1.28
Passes into Final Third
5.05
5.81
4.87
Shot-Creating Actions
3.85
2.56
1.54
Tackles
3.19
3.50
2.82
Blocks
1.32
1.37
1.03
Interceptions
0.50
1.62
1.79
Caicedo and Lavia, on the other hand, are the more defensive midfield archetypes, winning more tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90, often covering more ground, and adding more physicality in midfield out of possession, something Maresca eluded to himself recently.
The aforementioned Lavia is unavailable for this Conference League game, as he was not registered for the group stage of this competition due to injury issues last season, and the club wanted to protect him. This is a similar precaution the Blues have taken with Wesley Fofana, who also suffered from a big injury last season, and therefore they want to ensure his minutes are managed appropriately.
That leaves Caicedo as the only other first team holding midfielder, and given his importance for the Blues this season, the likelihood of Maresca deciding to rest the Ecuador international is fairly high, which could see some minutes for a certain academy graduate.
Chelsea's teenage solution
17-year-old Kiano Dyer has been described as a player who will be “world-class” in the future by some in the know, making ten appearances for Chelsea U21 this season, providing three assists in 849 minutes played.
The young midfielder is known for his quality passing range, mixed with his tenacity and ability to anticipate where the ball will land, allowing him to hoover things up in the middle, whilst also dictating the tempo.
Dyer has been playing as the number 6 for the academy, playing a role very similar to Caicedo, where he picks up the ball from the defensive line, looks to penetrate with balls forward into the final third, and is ready to counter-press if the ball is lost.
But the youngster’s passing range is seen as his biggest strength, much like Fernandez, which could make Dyer the perfect combination of the pair, especially to take the reins in this second unit and gain experience at such a young age.
Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea
Maresca could view this as the perfect time to test Dyer in the first team, resting Fernandez and Caicedo for the weekend, whilst keeping the qualities the Italian wants in his team in this area of the pitch, meaning the team doesn’t lose that sense of rhythm in build-up.
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Measuring the greatest players to play for any given club is no mean feat, especially for a club the size of Glasgow Rangers.
The Ibrox side have enjoyed plenty of success since their formation in 1872, capturing 55 Scottish Premiership titles alongside a plethora of domestic cups and the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Each successful era has produced a handful of players that have taken the club to new heights, from the early 1960s to the trophy-laden spell in the 90s. While it is difficult to rank the greatest players for any given club, especially as there are so many different factors to take into consideration, here is our attempt at listing the best to wear a Rangers shirt.
Ranking factors Impact at the club Appearances Goals scored Trophies won
Football FanCast takes a look at the ten greatest Rangers players of all time. Some may only have stayed a few years, yet they are still being talked about today.
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ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025 10 Davie Cooper Winger, 1977-1989
Davie Cooper is one of the last great Scottish wingers. Signing for Rangers in 1977 from Clydebank, Cooper made a total of 376 appearances for the Gers, scoring 49 goals in the process.
13 major honours were won by the Scot in those 12 years, including seven League Cups, but it was his ability to simply ghost past people that made supporters stand up and take notice.
From his wonderful solo effort against Celtic in 1979 to his stunning freekick against Aberdeen in 1987, Cooper’s genius was unrivalled. Indeed, Dutch legend Ruud Gullit said Cooper “was one of the best football players I have ever seen”. High praise from one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
Sadly, Cooper died aged just 39, suffering a brain haemorrhage while filming a children’s coaching video. He won’t be forgotten by the Ibrox faithful.
9 Paul Gascoigne Midfielder, 1995-1998
Of all the players on this list, Paul Gascoigne’s time at the club is the shortest, lasting only three years and compiling just 104 matches, but boy, what an impact he made.
The 1995/96 campaign saw Gazza at his very best, taking games by the scruff of the neck and leading the Gers towards their eighth successive league title.
His crowning glory came against Aberdeen. He netted a hat-trick at Ibrox with a stunning solo goal among one the finest efforts of his career which sealed the league title.
The next two seasons saw the Englishman create fleeting moments of joy, but there is no doubting he was exactly the signing required by Walter Smith to give the Gers that added edge as they chased immortality.
8 Brian Laudrup Winger, 1994-1998
Brian Laudrup spent just four seasons at Rangers, yet he won six major trophies and gave the club the spark they needed after a difficult 1993/94 season.
The Dane would go on to make 150 appearances, netting 44 goals, which included five goals against Celtic, further endearing himself to the supporters.
There is no doubt he is arguably one of the best foreign players to feature in Scotland, if not the best. How Smith managed to lure him to Glasgow is anyone’s guess, but it was the greatest signing he would ever make.
7 Jim Baxter Winger, 1960-1965, 1969-1970
Jim Baxter was signed by Rangers in 1960 for a fee of just £17,500. It was a Scottish record at the time – but it was money well spent.
Between 1960 and 1965, “Slim Jim”, as he was known to the supporters, won three league titles, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups, as Rangers became the dominant force in Scotland. Baxter’s impact was impressive, especially in ties against Celtic.
Indeed, across 18 Old Firm games, the winger lost just twice, showcasing how good the squad was in the early-to-mid-60s.
He left in 1965, spending time with Sunderland and Nottingham Forest before returning to Rangers in 1969. His second spell wasn’t as kind as the first, but his impact on that wonderful Rangers side was simply excellent.
6 Andy Goram Goalkeeper, 1991-98
Andy Goram was voted the club’s greatest goalkeeper in 2001, and it is hard to argue. Over seven years at Ibrox, Goram’s shot-stopping ability undoubtedly helped Smith and his team fend off Celtic to win nine league titles in a row.
His save against Pierre van Hooijdonk in 1995 has to be seen to be believed, as he kept out a goal-bound effort from just yards away to prevent the Dutchman from scoring.
Such was his stature for the Gers, former Celtic manager Tommy Burns stated that “Andy Goram broke my heart” would appear on his gravestone.
Nicknamed ‘the goalie’ by those at Ibrox, Goram passed away in July 2022 after a short battle with cancer. There hasn’t been a ‘keeper like him since.
5 Barry Ferguson Midfielder, 1997-2003, 2005-2009
Barry Ferguson
Reared from the academy, Barry Ferguson made his senior debut on the final day of the 1996/97 season and didn’t look back.
He slowly became a key figure in the club’s recent history, helping the Gers to trebles in 1998/99 and 2002/03, captaining the side during the latter.
A £7.5m move to Blackburn Rovers didn’t exactly work out and Ferguson was back at Ibrox 18 months later. His second spell wasn’t as productive, yet he still led the club to the UEFA Cup final in 2008 and won another six major trophies.
Some say the Light Blues have never produced another academy talent like him, with Ferguson among the greatest players to adorn the shirt.
4 Richard Gough Defender, 1987-1997, 1997-1998
Richard Gough is one of only three players to have played a part in every single one of the nine-in-a-row title wins, establishing himself among the greatest players in the club’s history in the process.
Gough was a no-nonsense centre-back who was a commanding presence at the heart of the defence. He often played through the pain barrier for the club, further endearing himself to the Ibrox faithful. Across 11 years at the Light Blues, Gough won 18 major honours.
He left in the summer of 1997, just weeks after lifting the coveted ninth league title in succession, moving to America. Such is the mark of the man, Gough returned to Rangers a few months later to help Smith as an injury crisis engulfed the squad, showing his true passion for the club.
3 Sandy Jardine 1966-1982
Sandy Jardine ranks second in the list of all-time appearances for Rangers, just behind John Greig, demonstrating how much of an impact he had across several generations.
Jardine’s 674 games came over a 16-year period, taking in three decades and five different managers. During this spell, he won 14 trophies, including the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup, as the club battled for domestic supremacy with Celtic during his spell.
Jardine passed away in 2014, with his lasting legacy having a stand named after him, with the Govan Stand renamed the Sandy Jardine Stand in his honour.
2 Ally McCoist Forward, 1983-1998
Ally McCoist is Rangers’ greatest-ever goalscorer. Across 581 competitive matches, ‘Super Ally’ scored a staggering 355 goals for the Gers.
The impact of some of his goals is also legendary. Take the winner in the 1993 League Cup final, for example. Returning from a broken leg, McCoist netted a stunning acrobatic effort to claim the cup for the Gers.
His header against Leeds United in 1992 helped the club secure a place in the Champions League group stages, while few can forget his final Old Firm goal in the 1998 Scottish Cup semi-final and the emotional celebration that followed.
McCoist could score from anywhere, such were his finishing skills. His legacy stretched into coaching and management with the Ibrox side too, assisting Smith between 2007 and 2011 before managing Rangers from 2011 to 2014.
The Light Blues will never have another striker like him.
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John Greig
John Greig is the epitome of Rangers Football Club. Making his debut in 1961, Greig amassed a club-record 755 appearances over the next 17 years, leading the club to three domestic trebles while captaining the team to their only major European honour in 1972.
Greig’s impact stretched way beyond his playing days. He managed Rangers for five years between 1978 and 1983, winning two Scottish Cups and two League Cups, although he wasn’t able to win a league title in that spell.
Greig was named the ‘Greatest ever Ranger’ in 1999 before being named the club’s honorary life president in 2015.