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The start of the new Premier League season remains just under a month away, yet Manchester United appear keen to get their business done swiftly now that Euro 2024 and the Copa America have drawn to a close, with Leny Yoro edging closer to becoming the club's second signing of the window.

Shock horror, the teenage centre-back – who is set to sign on an initial £52m deal from Ligue 1 side Lille – is neither Dutch nor has any prior Eredivisie connections, with this high-profile coup looking like a deal that has INEOS, rather than Erik ten Hag, written all over it.

Yoro's 2023/24 Ligue 1 season in numbers
32 games (30 starts)
2 goals
0 assists
92% pass accuracy rate
13 clean sheets
1.1 tackles per game
1.1 interceptions per game
3.9 balls recovered per game
65% aerial duels won
63% total duels won
Stats via Sofascore

With the 18-year-old's impending arrival set to follow the £36.5m capture of Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, it remains to be seen what Dan Ashworth and co will have left in the coffers to pursue further targets, although that has not prevented speculation regarding additional recruits making their way to Manchester.

Latest on Man Utd's midfield search

With the backline and the attacking ranks having already been strengthened, the next issue now appears to be bolstering the midfield unit, with the ageing duo of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen seemingly up for grabs, while Scott McTominay is believed to be generating significant interest at present.

As per Sky Sports, the Red Devils have reportedly rejected a bid of around £17m from Fulham for the Scotland international, with the Cottagers now debating whether to return with an improved offer for the 27-year-old.

This piece adds that with McTominay's future in doubt, United continue to keep tabs on Paris Saint-Germain star, Manuel Ugarte, having kept up contact with the French outfit over the potential signing of the £38m Uruguayan.

How Ugarte compares to Scott McTominay

Now, it must be said off the bat that Ugarte would not necessarily represent a direct replacement for McTominay in the centre of the park, with the latter man having typically operated in a more advanced attacking berth last season – culminating in career-best figures of ten goals in all competitions.

That said, much of the in-demand talent's work for the Old Trafford side has come at the base of the midfield in years gone by, while it is difficult to see him ousting either Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo in those more advanced roles on a permanent basis.

As such, the main hope of McTominay nailing a starting berth would be in place of Casemiro in front of the back four, yet in that regard, Ugarte – who has been lauded for his "relentless" approach by writer Zach Lowy – would represent a significant upgrade.

That can be seen by the fact that in relation to his peers across Europe's top five leagues, the former Sporting CP warrior ranks in the top 1% for interceptions and the top 4% for tackles made per 90, with McTominay, meanwhile, ranking in just bottom 51% and the bottom 17% for those same two metrics, respectively.

What also sets the PSG man apart is the innate quality that he showcases on the ball, ranking in the top 5% across the last 365 days for pass completion (91.2% average), with his United counterpart ranking in just the bottom 44% (81% average) in that regard.

As Lowy also noted, there are games where it "seems he’s doing the defensive work of two players", such is Ugarte's presence as that midfield pivot, with such an addition no doubt needed after United were repeatedly left exposed last season – the midfield having been described as "non-existent" by Gary Neville at one stage.

With Ugarte a more natural fit to operate as a defensive-minded asset – while McTominay is something of an all-action, box-crashing threat – there would be wisdom in cashing in on the academy graduate to fund the Red Devils' pursuit.

Man Utd want to sign £84m "superstar" who's more exciting than Yoro

Manchester United are closing in on their second signing of the summer.

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 17, 2024

Leeds United missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.

The Whites attempted to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking under head coach Daniel Farke but finished third in the second tier, just below automatic promotion, before falling short in the play-offs.

This means that the West Yorkshire side are now preparing for a second season in the Championship and have to be wary of losing their best players throughout the summer transfer window.

Teenage sensation Archie Gray has already completed a move away from Elland Road to sign for Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, with Joe Rodon returning to Leeds on a permanent deal coming the other way.

The Whites are also at risk of losing some more of their top players as it was recently reported that Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto, and Georginio Rutter are 'likely'.

Alongside the superstar names who could depart from Yorkshire, Leeds are also reportedly on the verge of selling one of their key performers from last term.

Leeds ace set to leave this month

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the club have agreed a deal with Ligue 1 side Rennes to sell defensive midfielder Glen Kamara this month.

The two teams have reached an agreement for a fee of €10m (£8.4m) and the Finland international is now set to complete an exit from the side after just one year.

Leeds swooped to sign the star from Glasgow Rangers last summer for a reported fee of £5m and are now set to make a profit of more than £3m on a player who turns 29 later this year.

That appears to be good business on paper for the Whites, purely from a financial perspective, as they are set to make money on an experienced ace, rather than an up-and-coming talent, which could then give them money to reinvest in the team.

Farke could now perfectly replace Kamara before the end of the transfer window by swooping to sign reported target Oliver Skipp from Tottenham Hotspur.

GIVEMESPORT claimed at the start of July that the club want to snap up the former England U21 international but they could struggle as Spurs are not desperate to cash in on them, due to the homegrown quota in the Premier League.

However, it was said that his relationship with Farke, who he worked with during their time together at Norwich, could help Leeds in a potential deal.

Skipp could come in as a brilliant replacement for Kamara in the middle of the park for Leeds as he can offer similar qualities at Championship level.

Glen Kamara's metronomic play for Leeds

The Finland international provided a calming and reliable presence on the ball for the Farke in the second tier during his first, and likely only, season at Elland Road.

He used his athleticism and quality to buzz around the pitch and pop passes off to control games by dictating the tempo and moving teams around to then find the team's attacking players in dangerous positions.

Kamara ranked within the top 10% of Championship midfielders for passes attempted per 90 (65.01) and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90 (6.87).

This shows that the former Rangers star, who also provided three assists in 37 league outings, is an excellent passer as he ranked highly among his positional peers at getting on the ball and progressing play with his passes.

Appearances

37

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

Ball recoveries per game

4.1

Ground duel success rate

58%

Aerial duel success rate

54%

As you can see in the table above, Kamara also provided quality out of possession for Leeds with his strong play in duels both on the deck and in the air.

The 28-year-old ace used his physicality to win the ball back multiple times per match, through tackles, interceptions, and recoveries, to cut out opposition attacks.

These statistics show that he was an ideal deep-lying midfielder for Farke due to his quality play in possession, getting on and progressing the ball, and his strength in duels to compete in challenges defensively.

This is why his exit will come a blow to Leeds in the here and now, but Farke could move on from Kamara by brilliantly replacing him with Skipp.

Why Leeds should sign Oliver Skipp

The Whites must push to secure an agreement with Spurs to sign the former Norwich loanee as he is a proven Championship performer who has also worked with the manager before.

Farke, who hailed the midfielder as a "perfect" and humble person, had the young starlet on loan with the Canaries during the 2020/21 campaign, and the English ace's performances landed him a place in the league's Team of the Season that term.

Skipp has not played more than 23 Premier League games in a single season since he returned from Norwich in the summer of 2021 and Leeds could look to tempt him with the prospect of regular game time under a manager who knows how to get the best out of him.

When he did play week-in-week-out for Norwich in the 2020/21 campaign under Farke in the Championship, the 23-year-old metronome's performances suggest that he would be a fantastic replacement for Kamara.

Appearances

45

37

Goals

1

0

Big chances created

3

2

Dribbles completed per game

0.6

0.5

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.3

1.9

Ground duel success rate

62%

58%

As you can see in the table above, both players offer very little in the final third when it comes to scoring and creating goals but excel out of possession.

Skipp made 1.4 more tackles and interceptions per game and won a higher percentage of his duels on the ground in comparison to Kamara, which suggests that the potential is there for him to improve Leeds' play off the ball.

The £40k-per-week ace also ranked within the top 28% of midfielders for progressive passes per 90 (4.86), which shows that he can also progress play in a similar fashion to the Finnish star.

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ByDan Emery Jul 10, 2024

Therefore, Farke could brilliantly replace the Rennes-bound ace by signing another midfielder who can dominate opposition midfields with his play in and out of possession.

ICC announces “new-look calendar” to make up for postponements caused by Covid-19 pandemic

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Dec-2020

Nepal and USA will travel to Oman in March•AFP via Getty Images

The qualifiers for the 2023 50-over World Cup – to be held in India – will now be played in June-July 2023 in Zimbabwe as part of a mammoth rescheduled “new-look calendar” announced by the ICC to make up for delays and postponements caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.The qualifiers in Zimbabwe will run from June 18 to July 9, while the men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 ODIs will be played from March 19, 2021 when Oman – currently on top of the table – host USA and Nepal in the sixth series of the tournament. Six ODIs are going to be played there, and 96 overall in the 14 series that are scheduled to be played in 2021 and 2022, with two more in early 2023.Related

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The men’s CWC Challenge League A will be played in August next year, with Canada hosting Denmark, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore and Vanuatu what will be a total of 15 games. Also, the Challenge League B will be held in Jersey in September 2021, with Bermuda, Hong Kong, Italy, Kenya and Uganda competing in 15 matches. The final Challenge League B event has been scheduled for February 2022, while that of the Challenge League A for September 2022, with 60 List A matches set to be played.In a statement, the ICC explained the qualification process thus: “After the 21 tri-series in League 2 have been completed, the top three teams will confirm their place in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023. The bottom four teams will drop into the Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-Off 2023 – which is a repechage event to the Global Qualifier – and will be joined by the winner of Challenge League A and B. The top two teams from the Play-Off – which has also been rescheduled to 2023 – will keep their hopes alive of participating in India 2023, by qualifying for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023.”These two leagues will run concurrently with the World Cup Super League, which kicked off when cricket resumed around the middle of 2020. Australia (40 points from six games), England (30 from nine) and Pakistan (20 from three), are the top-three teams on that table, with India, Zimbabwe and Ireland below them, all on ten points from three games.India, the hosts of the 2023 tournament, and the other seven top Super League teams will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the bottom five teams from the Super League will play in the 2023 Cricket World Cup qualifier, joining the best three teams from League 2. The World Cup itself has been scheduled for October-November 2023.”When we rescheduled the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 to October and November 2023 it enabled us to extend the window for qualification events to take place and thereby ensure we maximise the opportunity for qualification to be decided on the field of play,” ICC head of events Chris Tetley said in a statement. “We have worked very closely with Members and stakeholders to reschedule 96 ODIs and 60 List-A matches and will continue to maintain the safety of participants in our events as our highest priority.”

The six limited-overs matches in Sydney and Canberra have almost sold out

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2020

The view across Adelaide Oval•AFP

The prospect of the opening Test between Australia and India remaining in Adelaide has received a boost with South Australia to come out of its strict Covid-19 lockdown three days early on Saturday.The state was put into a hard six-day lockdown on Thursday amid growing concerns around a Covid-19 cluster which emerged last weekend, but on Friday it was announced that new information had come to light which would allow an early loosening of restrictions.Last week Cricket Australia flew international and BBL players into New South Wales to avoid the risk of them being unable to travel if further borders were closed.A number of players who had been involved in the Sheffield Shield hub which finished in Adelaide earlier this month had to go into self-isolation in their home states when the cluster emerged, but CA was able to get approval for those involved in the limited-overs and Australia A squads to fly to Sydney.Currently the South Australia-Victoria border is closed but it is hoped that it can reopen on December 1 if the Covid cluster is kept under control. That will be a key part of staging the first Test in Adelaide on December 17 because the teams then need to be able to travel to Melbourne ahead of the Boxing Day Test.Throughout last week CA remained committed to hosting the opening Test as planned in Adelaide even if restrictions mean reduced or no crowds.The tour starts with the first ODI at the SCG on November 27 with the three ODIs and three T20Is split between Sydney and Canberra. As of Friday, all but one of the six limited-overs game had sold out with just under 2000 tickets remaining for the first ODI. Both venues are operating at 50% capacity.

Arsenal have come a long way over the last few years, and while they're yet to lift the Premier League title, it's starting to feel more like a matter of when rather than if.

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have rejuvenated the Gunners squad and created a genuinely impressive team full of stars like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

Despite the strides made, the departure of Granit Xhaka last summer, the positional shift of Kai Havertz, and the potential exit of Thomas Partey this summer have left a void in Arsenal's midfield that needs to be addressed.

So, it's unsurprising that the latest player touted for a move to N5 could be the perfect person to complete Arteta's midfield trio.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are keen on signing Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino this summer.

Juanmarti claims that Arteta has a strong desire to bring the Spanish international to the Emirates and that, following conversations, the player has become "seduced" by the Gunners' proposals.

The journalist goes on to reveal in an article for Sport that the Basque side would be tempted into selling if the North Londoners make an offer in the region of €25m, which is around £21m.

He might not be a name overly familiar to Premier League fans, but given how keen Arteta is to land the player, the reasonable fee, and the potential to solidify the team's midfield, this seems like a transfer too good to pass up.

How Merino could complete Arsenal's midfield

So, at the moment, Arsenal have two midfielders who are nailed on for a place in the starting lineup practically every week: Rice and Odegaard.

The former captained West Ham United to a European trophy from a defensive midfield position and then, upon moving to N5, swapped between sometimes playing as a six and sometimes an eight.

However, he did start as the former 30 times for the Gunners last season, and when speaking to TNT Sport (via talkSPORT), he claimed it was his "best position" on the pitch, so it makes sense to keep him there.

On the other hand, the club captain has firmly established himself at the tip of the midfield trio for Arteta, racking up an impressive haul of 44 goals and assists over the last two campaigns.

Therefore, the final position that needs to be sorted out is central midfield, or the left eight, which is where the "underrated" Merino, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, comes in.

Merino's season

Competitions

La Liga

Champions League

Copa de Rey

Appearances

32

7

6

Goals

5

2

1

Assists

3

1

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

0.42

0.33

All Stats via Transfermarkt

The Sociedad star made 45 appearances last season – 38 of which were starts in central midfield – in which he scored eight goals and provided five assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 2.81 games.

However, while this is undeniably impressive for a deeper player, the other side of his game that probably caught the Arsenal manager's attention more is the number of duels he won last season.

According to Squawka, the 23-capped international was the only player in Europe's top seven leagues to win over 300 duels, coming in at a final number of 326 – staggering.

You can practically see him helping Rice break up play in the middle of the park before driving forward and helping Odegaard craft another exquisite chance, proving Mattinson's claim that the Spaniard is "effective in all 3 phases" right.

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Ultimately, Arsenal look like they are going to need a new all-action number eight this summer, and considering his performances last season and his price tag, signing Merino is a no-brainer.

Essex are on course to reach the final of the Bob Willis Trophy after a thrilling three-wicket win over Sussex at Hove left them with the only 100% record in the competition. Simon Harmer set up victory by claiming his 20th five-wicket haul for the county champions as Sussex were bowled out for 141 in their second innings, leaving Essex with a target of 196 in 52 overs.George Garton revived home hopes with four wickets, including Alastair Cook for the second time in the match, and when Mitch Claydon took two wickets in an over they were seven down needing 24 to win. But Paul Walter and Aaron Beard held their nerve, Beard hitting the winning boundary with 6.1 overs to spare.With matches against Hampshire at Arundel, starting on Saturday, and Middlesex at Chelmsford to come Essex will fancy their chances of reaching the final at Lord’s next month after making it three wins out of three.Cook and Nick Browne had launched the chase with a confident stand of 42 in nine overs but Garton, who took five wickets in the first innings, dragged Sussex back into contention by removing both in five balls. With his fifth delivery the left-armer had Cook well caught low down at slip driving at an outswinger before Browne unwisely tried to turn a yorker-length ball to leg and was lbw for 19.Dan Lawrence and skipper Tom Westley settled things down either side of tea with a stand of 69 in 16 overs but Westley lost his off stump to give Stuart Meaker, Sussex’s winter signing from Surrey.Lawrence looked like bringing Essex home when he brought up only the second half-century of the match but departed for 60 off 76 balls after gloving a lifter to give Garton his ninth wicket of the match. Claydon returned to have Adam Wheater caught behind and Harmer taken at second slip but there were no more twists.Earlier, Sussex struggled to make headway against the Harmer’s accuracy and a seam attack admirably led by Jamie Porter, whose three wickets gave him eight in the match. Porter broke through in the sixth over of the day when Salt, driving loosely, got a thin edge to wicketkeeper Wheater. Sussex scored just 15 runs in the first 11 overs of the day and there was little respite when Harmer came into the attack.Tom Clark was leg before only half forward and Ben Brown beaten in the flight coming down the pitch. Harmer struck again with the last ball before lunch when Garton padded up.The South African offspinner completed his five-for by removing Meaker and the dangerous Delray Rawlins, the only Sussex batsmen who looked comfortable against him. Rawlins made 40 off 42 balls and deposited Harmer for successive sixes over mid-wicket before missing a sweep shot. The left-hander had put together a valuable stand of 40 for the sixth wicket which ended when Aaron Thomason clipped Matt Quinn’s slower ball to square leg. Porter wrapped up the innings to finish with three for 28 when he plucked out Henry Crocombe’s off stump.

Over the years, Everton have done an excellent job of developing youngsters who have gone on to feature in first-team or even make a name for themselves elsewhere.

Unsurprisingly, Wayne Rooney is the name that springs to mind, after he burst onto the scene back in 2002/03, scoring his first senior goal in superb fashion, with his long-range effort against Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Anthony Gordon is the latest big name to come out of Finch Farm, featuring 78 times for the Toffees’ first team, before departing for £45m to join Newcastle in 2023 – thriving this season scoring 11 times in the league.

However, the club currently have an ageing squad, with the average age of Sean Dyche’s first team standing at 26.7, the fifth oldest in the division this season.

The club need to inject some more youth into the side, with Jarrad Branthwaite thriving with regular game time – subsequently being subject to £70m interest from top-flight rivals Manchester United this summer.

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, Dyche will want to add to his squad. But, he can save himself and the club a lot of money, by unleashing one youngster who has excelled within the club’s academy.

Roman Dixon’s record with Everton’s U21s

An England youth international, right-back Roman Dixon has impressed for the club in the Premier League 2 this season, featuring 17 times and starting 80% of those matches.

He’s previously excelled within the academy, including a speedy and direct solo run against Manchester City, topped off with an excellent finish – an example of the quality he possesses.

Dixon also featured three times in the Bristol Street Motors trophy this season, gaining valuable experience facing off against League One and League Two opposition in his first taste of senior football.

The youngster is yet to feature in any capacity under Dyche, but with his excellent form and the need for a right-back at Goodison, next season could be a perfect time for the talent to break into the first team.

Seamus Coleman has featured at full-back for well over a decade, but with the Irishman coming towards the end of his career, it’s time Dyche banished the hero from the starting lineup and injected some needed youth into the side.

Why Dyche must replace Coleman next season

The 35-year-old defender has featured 421 times for the Toffees since his debut way back in 2009, with Coleman becoming a staple under numerous different managers on Merseyside.

However, his age has caught up to him, with the defender starting to struggle with his injuries in recent seasons.

Coleman's injuries since the start of 2020/21
Season	Injury	Days missed	Games missed
2020/21	Muscle	19	3
2020/21	Muscle	40	8
2021/22	Hamstring	28	6
2022/23	Knee	206	28
Stats via Transfermarkt

The club can easily dip into the transfer market to replace the experienced full-back, but given the club’s troubles surrounding PSR in the last 12 months, they can save themselves a fortune by utilising Dixon, who’s already on their books.

The “outstanding” teen, as dubbed by The Athletic’s Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland, has all the qualities to thrive in the Premier League as a modern-day full-back.

His pace and tenacity would easily fit into Dyche’s system – having been hailed as 'a speedy and powerful right-back' by the club's official website – with the youngster needing a chance to prove himself up to the demands of England’s top flight.

He’s certainly still a raw talent, but given his success within the club’s academy setup, he could well be ready for the jump into senior football – Coleman's expiring contract offering the perfect opportunity for a changing of the guard.

Considering the club's financial situation, they may not have the funds to find a suitable replacement for Coleman, thus allowing them to devote more first-team minutes to Dixon and ensuring the club reap the rewards in the long term.

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The ratings for Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are out now

EA Sports FC 25 has hit our screens, with the new game set for a worldwide release on September 27, 2024.

Shop EA FC 25 on Amazon USBuy nowShop EA FC 25 on Amazon UKBuy now

EA Sports whetted appetites with a series of deep dives into the newest features and different game modes, but the most eagerly anticipated news each year is the player ratings.

READ MORE:The best young players on EA Sports FC 25

Of the men's players, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri and Erling Haaland share the podium with a top rating of 91, with four players being given a 90 rating. Lionel Messi is a little off the top nowadays, but the Inter Miami star remains among the best in the game, while Cristiano Ronaldo is now deemed outside of the elite crop in the game.

Here, GOAL takes a look at the best players in the game according to their official EA Sports FC 25 ratings.

GettyKylian Mbappe | ST | 91

Skill Rating

PAC97SHO90PAS80DRI92DEF36PHY78AdvertisementGettyRodri | CDM | 91

Skill Rating

PAC66SHO80PAS86DRI84DEF87PHY85GettyErling Haaland | ST | 91

Skill Rating

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GettyJude Bellingham | CAM | 90

Skill Rating

PAC80SHO87PAS83DRI88DEF78PHY83

William Saliba made history during Arsenal's win over Wolves as the centre-back set an incredible club record that may stand the test of time.

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• Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0
• Saliba was formidable
• Set a historic club record

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mikel Arteta's side, buoyed by goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, kicked off their 2024-25 Premier League campaign with a win for the third consecutive season, but it was Saliba's achievement that stole the limelight.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 23-year-old defender, who has become a cornerstone of Arteta's backline, set a new club record by reaching 50 Premier League victories in just 66 appearances. This remarkable feat sees Saliba outpace any other Arsenal player in achieving this milestone, highlighting his rapid impact since he moved to the Emirates Stadium.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Saliba's defensive record is equally impressive, with only eight defeats and 30 clean sheets in his 66 appearances. To further put his achievement in perspective, former Arsenal players like Nacho Monreal (70), Kolo Toure (72), and Sol Campbell (73) reached the same milestone but needed significantly more games. Even Arteta himself, who now manages the club, required 77 games as a player to reach 50 Premier League victories.

  Despite his remarkable achievement, Saliba's record is not the quickest to 50 Premier League wins in the competition's history. In fact, 13 players have reached this milestone faster than the Arsenal defender, with Manchester City players dominating the list. Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte lead the way, both achieving 50 wins in just 59 appearances, setting an extraordinary standard. Other notable names ahead of Saliba include Didier Drogba, who reached 50 wins in 60 games, Arjen Robben with 61, and Gabriel Jesus, Saliba’s current teammate, who accomplished the feat in 62 games.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  While Saliba may not hold the Premier League record, his achievement is still monumental for Arsenal. As the Gunners continue their pursuit of silverware this season, Saliba will be central to their ambitions. His ability to marshal the defence will be crucial in high-stakes matches, particularly against top-six rivals and in European competitions. He will next take the field against Aston Villa next Saturday away from home.

In a summer that should see Rangers in a position of strength if they win the Scottish Premiership, Philippe Clement faces the growing prospect of losing as many as six players on free deals, much to his frustration.

Rangers transfer news

Ahead of Clememt's first summer in charge, he has the chance to make a long-lasting impact on his side with links already emerging to the likes of Gijs Smal and a permanent deal for Oscar Cortes, who has impressed on loan. If the Gers have been this good without a full season or summer transfer window under Clement, then it's easy to worry for Celtic's title ambitions next season.

As things stand in the Scottish Premiership, Rangers sit just one point behind Celtic with a game in hand and the most important Old Firm derby for a long time just around the corner. Clement has the chance to all but complete an incredible title turnaround and cement his place in the Ibrox history books without even taking charge of a full campaign.

But it's not all good news at Ibrox, with several players set to leave on free deals this summer as things stand. According to Matthew Lindsay of Rangers Review, Clement is unhappy at the prospect of losing six players in free deals this summer. Those six players are Leon Balogun, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, John McLaughlin and Kemar Roofe.

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Lundstram's situation will particularly frustrate Rangers fans, given that earlier reports indicated that a new contract for the midfielder was seen as a priority at Ibrox ahead of this summer. Yet, now in April, Lundstram is still on course to leave on a free. Meanwhile, the likes of Jack offer plenty of experience when fit, perhaps raising questions as to why he's being allowed to leave for free this summer.

Rangers must focus efforts on Lundstram deal

With 27 starts to his name in Rangers' 30 Scottish Premiership games this season, there's no doubt that Lundstram is one of the most important members of Clement's squad, highlighting the need to sort his contract situation as soon as possible. The longer that the Gers fail to agree a new deal, the more likely the former Sheffield United midfielder is to leave.

If Clement's side are to pick up where they're likely to leave off come next season, keeping hold of players of Lundstram's calibre is arguably more important than ever.

Lundstram earned plenty of praise during his Sheffield United days, with former teammate Billy Sharp once telling the Sheffield Star: "He’s got all the attributes. He runs so much in a game, he provides assists and goals. He’s a real menace to other teams and a great player to have. He gives us a lot of energy and he got an assist as well, which is important.”

With that said, it's no surprise that Clement is reportedly unhappy over the prospect of losing not just one of his most important midfielders but five other players on top of that ahead of a crucial summer transfer window approaching.