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Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man in the summer transfer window as he has wasted no time in attempting to bolster his squad at Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland have all been snapped up on free transfers from Norwich, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace respectively and will officially arrive on the 1st of July.

The club have also completed the permanent signing of Dutch centre-forward Sam Lammers for an undisclosed fee from Serie A side Atalanta to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

However, one number nine from the Italian top flight who will not be joining the Light Blues this summer is Cremonese ace Cyriel Dessers.

The Gers were reportedly closing in on an initial €4.2m (£3.6m) deal for the Nigerian but the 28-year-old has opted to turn down a move to Ibrox as he would prefer to remain in Italy, despite his team's relegation to Serie B.

Rangers transfer news – Lyndon Dykes interest

Beale could move on from Dessers this month by completing a deal to sign reported transfer target Lyndon Dykes, who is currently playing in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers.

The Scotland international has the potential to be a shrewd addition to the squad as he has already worked with the Light Blues boss in the past and is a proven performer in the Scottish Premiership.

Dykes played under Beale at the start of 22/23 before the Englishman made the switch to Ibrox and plundered six goals in 21 league outings before he went on to score two in the 18 games after the coach's departure.

The 27-year-old, who registered a goal and an assist in Scotland's recent 2-1 win over Norway, clearly thrived under the Rangers chief and this is backed up by the 42-year-old saying "he is giving me everything he can give me" during their time together.

Adapting to football in the Premiership could also be easy for the Australian-born marksman, who ex-boss Mark Warburton hailed as "outstanding", as the powerhouse racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 28 top-flight outings for Livingston before his move to England.

Dykes could be an ideal option to bolster the club's number nine options due to his pre-existing relationship with the manager and his knowledge of Scottish football.

Therefore, Beale could forget about Dessers and move on from the forward, who scored six Serie A goals in 22/23 and has no experience in Scotland, by reuniting with the £8k-per-week QPR ace this summer.

Manchester City are reportedly in pole position to sign RB Leipzig and Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol, leading Premier League rivals Liverpool in the race to sign the 21-year-old.

Manchester City transfer news – Josko Gvardiol

The highly-rated defender is high of the watchlist of a number of big European clubs, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has tipped Manchester City as the most likely to secure the signing.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano hinted that the champions of England and Europe are best placed to sign the central defender who starred at the World Cup for Croatia.

"Leipzig are not even accepting €80 million as a price tag for Gvardiol, so I think it will be around €100 million [£85m] instead and I see Man City being in a better position to sign him, but only if they are willing to spend that money, otherwise the player could stay in Leipzig for one more season," he said.

Josko Gvardiol could be City's next Vincent Kompany

City have a wealth of quality at the back, and signing Gvardiol would improve their elite defence even more.

Pep Guardiola tweaked City’s system this season, opting for an unusual 3-2-4-1 formation instead of their traditional 4-3-3 formation in which full-backs were constantly overlapping.

In the defensive three were three ball-playing centre-backs.

Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias were typically the trio, while John Stones was turned into a transitional midfielder in a hybrid holding role.

Although Dias would be considered the premier defender in this side, City have yet to match the quality of club legend and former captain, Vincent Kompany.

Gvardiol could be that very replacement, and at just 21 years-old, he could become a pivotal part of the Manchester City team for years to come.

The Croatian "monster" – as hailed by Romano back in December – is the glue of the RB Leipzig defence.

The Bundesliga outfit have won 32 of the 59 games the centre-back has played.

Similar to the no-nonsense Kompany, Gvardiol loves a tackle, registering 219 of them in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season and winning 60 aerial duels.

Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra both put the Leipzig defender in their World Cup 2022 team of the tournament, with Ferdinand proclaiming that the City target was his favourite centre back at the tournament.

“He’s young, he’s 21 years old, so to come and perform the way he did, so mature, so calm.

“He is really good on the ball, in the early stages coming out with the ball a lot. Against Messi and Argentina he got turned quite a few times, but this is Messi, so I would put that to one side. In general, I thought he was [a] stand-out for me. I think he has got a chance to go on and become one of the best defenders in the world, if he can continue improving like this.”

Kompany was of the world’s best defenders in his time at City, and Gvardiol could become the second coming of the Belgian international for the blue half of Manchester.

He, at 22, made a similar switch from the Bundesliga, signing for the Manchester giants from Hamburger SV back in 2008.

Good teams don’t wait until the team becomes stale to begin rebuilding, they continually look to improve whether results are good or bad.

Guardiola, fresh from the treble, could send out a major statement signing one of Europe’s hottest young prospects to add to his already stout defence.

Eddie Howe is expected to be backed significantly in the transfer window as he prepares Newcastle United for a busy upcoming season.

What positions are Newcastle looking to improve?

Aware of the extra workload his side will face next season following their qualification for the Champions League, Howe is desperate to bolster his squad. This is not just in terms of quality, but strength in depth too.

Journalist Dean Jones also expects Newcastle to spend big in the summer and acquire a number of new talents, pinpointing two positions in particular that the Magpies will look at reinforcing.

Speaking to The Football Terrace about Newcastle's move for Sandro Tonali and hunt for a central defender, Jones stated: "As well as that, you're going to get them looking at another central midfielder and a full-back as well."

"So, you have got four more signings to come at Newcastle this summer, and they're certainly trying to level up. But it's going to be tough because they punched above their weight last season, they made the Champions League and now those expectations are there, and you have got a lot of teams that are expecting to catch Newcastle."

The implication from Jones is that Newcastle will look for another midfielder regardless of whether they sign Tonali from AC Milan, although that deal looks inevitable now. Considering the Magpies already have Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff as first-choice central midfielders, another two (including Tonali) would take their total to six, allowing for better rotation.

Jones fails to mention whether the full-back Newcastle are interested in plays on the right or left-hand side, but Howe does lack quality depth on both flanks.

While Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn have enjoyed fantastic seasons at right-back and left-back respectively, beyond them there are few top class options. Emil Krafth, Javier Manquillo, Jamal Lewis and Matt Targett are all yet to show that they can fill in when called upon at the highest level.

Who will Newcastle sign?

Looking specifically at the two positions in question, there are already a host of names linked with Tyneside.

In central midfield, Tonali's international teammate Nicolo Barella of Inter has been linked, fresh from a disappointing Champions League final defeat to Manchester City. His energy and technical qualities would make him a perfect fit for Howe's Magpies, but his price tag would likely be significant.

James Maddison of Leicester City has been frequently mentioned, but Newcastle face a potential bidding war with Tottenham Hotspur for the Englishman's services. Nice's Khephren Thuram, who is currently at the U21 European Championships with France, is also on their radar, but this time it is Liverpool who will compete with the Toon for the player's signature.

Meanwhile, at full-back, Arsenal's Kieran Tierney is the most prominent name being linked, with the Scot perhaps looking for more playing time after spending the season as Oleksandr Zinchenko's understudy. The 26-year-old left-back did make 27 league appearances last season, but the majority of them came from the bench.

Leeds United have been craving someone to replace Raphinha ever since his departure last summer. His exit was an expected one, as the Brazilian had offered all he could to the club that he had admittedly outgrown.

His future was destined to be at a much better and brighter side, and having won La Liga in his first year in Barcelona, this has been proven correct. Meanwhile, the Whites fell to relegation from the Premier League.

In an effort to finally recapture that true maverick, who can be a match-winner all on their own, now the 49ers must search for such an asset within their new level.

The Championship boasts plenty of untapped talent just waiting to be unleashed, but in Joel Piroe, many throughout this division will already know his name.

Standing at 6 foot 1 but retaining blistering speed and skill, the Dutchman terrorised defences for fun last term.

If the rumours are true, he could be set to repeat this feat again next season, but in Elland Road rather than Wales.

Is Joel Piroe similar to Raphinha?

Having come up through the academy at PSV Eindhoven, Swansea City secured a huge coup when they tempted him to join them back in 2021.

Ever since that switch, he has proven himself to be a more than dependable source of goals and assists in the Championship, recording 19 strikes last term, following the 28 goal contributions he had posted the season before even that.

Despite naturally being a centre forward, he has been deployed from the right wing too, enabling him to cut into his deadly left foot with devastating effect. Such blistering form in front of goal even led his former manager Russell Martin, who has since departed for Southampton, to brand him "clinical".

Their former Brazilian trickster was also a star down that flank, scoring 11 league goals as the Yorkshire outfit narrowly avoided the drop before his departure. He could beat a man, create and, quite clearly, score with ease.

Although Piroe might represent a far more physical alternative to the 26-year-old, his ability to win matches on his own makes him even more similar than could be imagined. Not to mention that he also maintained 0.8 key passes per game (sixth-best at Swansea) and an 83% pass accuracy last season too in the league, suggesting he is far more than just a classic brutish number nine.

Should Daniel Farke, who is the frontrunner for Leeds' vacancy, opt to keep Patrick Bamford as his striker for next season or even subscribe to the links for Viktor Gyokeres, this £12k-per-week 23-year-old could still thrive should he join even if his favoured position is occupied.

This versatility, plus his ability to do the spectacular, only emphasises the dynamic that the 49ers could recapture in acquiring Piroe.

Everton will scope out potential additions they can bring in from the Sky Bet Championship this window as Sean Dyche seeks to bolster his squad, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving Everton and Championship players?

According to Football Insider, Everton are keen on Blackburn Rovers defender Scott Wharton and would be willing to offer two players in exchange to initiate a deal for the 25-year-old.

Ellis Simms and Neal Maupay are the pair in question that the Toffees may look to use as a makeweight in any transfer, with Dyche keen to get them off the wage bill in an attempt to cut costs at Goodison Park.

As per The Daily Mail, Swansea City striker Joel Piroe is another name that has been mentioned in connection with Everton this window as they explore the Sky Bet Championship market and the Swans have reportedly discussed a swap deal that would involve Simms moving to the other way.

FootballTransfers claim that the Toffees admire Leeds United trio Rodrigo Moreno, Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto; however, the former has attracted attention from the Middle East and may be offered more lucrative terms in the Gulf region than on Merseyside.

Journalist Alan Nixon has communicated via his Patreon that Blackburn Rovers midfielder Adam Wharton, brother of Scott, has come into Dyche's thoughts and could be a potential replacement for West Ham United-linked Amadou Onana.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown expects Everton to shop in the Sky Bet Championship this summer as they look to add some depth to their thin squad.

Brown told FFC: "I do think Everton are looking in the Championship at the moment. It seems pretty clear from the kind of names that are gradually being leaked out that it is one area Everton are looking at. Normally, you have to pay a bit of a premium for players who've done really well in the Championship because they obviously have a lot of value to their own clubs."

How will Everton manage to navigate this transfer window?

Everton are in a tight spot with regard to their finances and find themselves in special measures with the Premier League, as they have recorded losses exceeding £370 million over the last three years, meaning they may not have a hefty amount of money to spend in the transfer window, as per The Daily Mail.

Players could be sold this summer to help their financial footing and Belgium international Onana's future is up in the air, with West Ham United placing him on a shortlist to replace outgoing captain Declan Rice, as per Football Insider.

The Daily Mail cite that Chelsea are close to signing Toffees youngster Ishe Samuels-Smith for a fee of around £4 million in a deal that will see one of Everton's brightest talents leave Goodison Park.

I News understand that attacker Demarai Gray has commanded interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal alongside two Premier League clubs, though they would demand more than £10 million despite their openness to let him leave this off-season.

In truth, Everton will be set for a major reshuffle in the coming weeks that could breed widescale change in Dyche's squad and they will need to try and be acute in the transfer market to pick up bargains when they emerge in light of their financial situation.

Leeds United have been handed a boost in their efforts to sign Emmanuel Dennis in the summer transfer window, with Nottingham Forest happy to sell him after an underwhelming spell at the club.

Do Leeds want to sign Emmanuel Dennis?

The Whites are still working hard on making new signings, with their 2023/24 Championship opener at home to Cardiff City now only three weeks away. The summer started slowly in the transfer market, with more focus on finding a new manager, but their business could now intensify in the coming weeks.

One player who has been linked with a move to Leeds this summer is Dennis, who experienced a tricky first season with Forest last term. Steve Cooper found it hard to promise him regular playing time, and in the end, he made only seven starts in all competitions for the Reds, with likes of Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of him in the pecking order.

For that reason, it appears as though the 25-year-old is an expendable figure at the City Ground this summer and the club will be willing to see him move on and enjoy a new challenge elsewhere.

Now, another update has emerged regarding Leeds' pursuit of Dennis, who has enjoyed past spells with Club Brugge and Watford in the past, too.

What's the latest on Emmanuel Dennis to Leeds?

According to Football Insider, Forest have given the Whites the green light to sign the Nigeria international before the new season gets started. They are "prepared to let him leave" and Leeds are "aware" of that, looking to swoop in and make the most of the situation.

The Reds' squad is described as "bloated", highlighting the need for them to trim it down this summer, and they are "willing" to make Dennis one of the players who can leave.

Dennis has the potential to be an excellent signing for Leeds, coming in as someone with the ability to take the Championship by storm, given his overall pedigree as a footballer.

He has scored 12 times in 52 Premier League appearances – a solid return in arguably the world's most competitive and toughest division – and he has also played nine times in the Bundesliga during a loan spell with FC Koln back in 2021. There is also the small matter of him winning eight caps for Nigeria to date, and he scored in his one appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations last time around.

While some Leeds fans may point towards Dennis' disappointing spell at Forest and have doubts over the signing, the drop down in standard from the Premier League to the Championship may mean that the Nigerian could take the league by storm in 2023/24, especially if he can get back to his 2021/22 form which saw him contribute to 16 Premier League goals for Watford.

It looks as though Leeds could have a relatively clear path to his signature – Claudio Ranieri has said he is "fast, has good skill" and "always runs straight to the goal" – and they may look to get a deal over the line following this update.

Paulo Dybala wouldn't be a "very good fit" for Tottenham Hotspur at this point, and after the player "strung them along" last time, it would be a huge surprise to see the club interested again, claims journalist Paul Brown.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news – what's the latest on Paulo Dybala?

The rumour mill has been in overdrive over the last few days after Argentinian star Dybala was spotted in London, attending both the British Grand Prix and Wimbledon.

Talk of a move to the capital wasn't helped when Chelsea defender Thiago Silva admitted to Sky Sports Italia that he had chatted to the former Juventus man about a move to the Blues, saying:

"I saw him inside the paddock. Normally he and I speak in Spanish or Portuguese, I was pleased to see him here because I've read news that maybe he's coming to Chelsea. If he's coming? I don't know, I asked him but he didn't want to tell me. I'd like to have him at Chelsea, he's a star player."

The Roma star's presence in London has also stirred up rumours that, after all these years after their first failed attempt, Spurs might finally land their man and bring him to North London.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sports Witness), the Lilywhites are watching the 29-year-old 'with great attention', especially with the price reportedly required to get him out of Rome being just €12m (£10m).

What has journalist Paul Brown said about Paulo Dybala to Tottenham Hotspur?

Brown explained that the club's previously unsuccessful attempts to sign the player might've permanently ruined any future chances for Dybala to join Spurs and that the arrival of new players makes it hard to see where he would fit into the side.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "Spurs tried quite hard to sign Dybala once before, and he kind of strung them along, left them hanging and then said no, so I'm not sure that there's a huge appetite now that he's a much older player to try and go down that route again.

"I can understand why the links have resurfaced, but he doesn't really feel like he'd be a very good fit for spurs right now either. I think they fulfilled that potential role by bringing James Maddison in and I don't really see how he could possibly dovetail with Dybala. So I'd be very surprised if spurs followed up any interest there."

How good is Paulo Dybala?

It has been an interesting couple of years for the exciting attacker, a couple of years that have seen him leave the club he spent most of his professional career at, Juventus, to join a competitor managed by the fiery Jose Mourinho, Roma.

He was let go by the Bianconeri in the summer of 2022 after the club decided against renewing his contract, despite his consistently good performances for the Turin side during his tenure there. The capital club happily took what Juventus thought they didn't need, and he has continued to be a solid performer in Serie A.

According to WhoScored, during his last season in Turin, the "genius" attacker averaged a rating of 7.22 across his 29 games, scoring ten goals and assisting another five. He was just as effective last season as well, averaging a rating of 7.20 across his 26 Serie A matches, scoring 12 goals and assisting six, also per WhoScored.

While a move to Tottenham certainly looks unlikely at the moment, maybe Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou should try just one more time to land the dynamic Argentinean.

Manchester City star Kyle Walker could make a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich this summer as the Germans are willing to offer him a contract for "two years plus an extra year", whereas the Citizens are willing to offer just "one further season", claims Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

Is Kyle Walker leaving Manchester City this summer?

It was truly a season to remember for the blue half of Manchester last year. Not only did they win the first treble in the club's history, but they did it while beating local rivals Manchester United in a tightly contested FA Cup final.

In many ways, it felt like the culmination of everything that Pep Guardiola and the City Group had been working towards since the Spaniard's arrival back in 2016, and for one of the club's longest-serving players, it seems like it's the perfect time to bid farewell.

According to The Athletic, England and City star Kyle Walker has courted the interest of German behemoths Bayern this summer and has now reached a verbal agreement with the side for a two-year contract.

While an agreement between the two clubs has yet to be formally agreed, it's expected that the treble winners could make upwards of £15m.

Reporter Mark McAdam explained the situation live on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), saying:

"He's currently going into the last year of his contract at City. Now, there are talks that they would be willing to extend that, but only for one further season, whereas Bayern Munich are offering him two years plus an extra year – so he would extend his career at the very highest level for another three seasons, in theory.

"There is no agreement in place between Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but talks continue between the two clubs – and this is fascinating because it's always the way with these situations: guess who's playing each other next week in Japan on a pre-season tour? It's Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

"So that's the latest with that situation, but again, would Bayern Munich be making these noises publicly about Kyle Walker if they hadn't been given an indication that he would be interested in talking to them, should the two clubs agree a fee?"

How good was Kyle Walker last season?

Despite starting just 29 times across the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League last season, it was yet another campaign in which Walker demonstrated to the world just why he is so well thought of by Guardiola and why he'll go down as one of the most successful English full-backs of all time.

According to Sofascore, the Sheffield-born dynamo averaged a match rating of 6.74 in the Premier League and a seriously impressive rating of 6.96 in the Champions League, where he was included in the Team of the Week twice for his efforts.

As you'd expect for a full-back in a Pep system, his underlying offensive numbers are brilliant.

According to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the dynamic defender sits in the top 3% for attempted passes, the top 5% for progressive passes, and the top 6% for pass completion per 90.

That said, for as "exceptional" as Walker is, he is now 33 years old, and having won everything there is to win at the club, a move away to prolong his career at the very highest level could be what's best for everyone involved.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso won't push for a summer exit to Real Betis with manager Ange Postecoglou playing a big role in that.

Who is leaving Spurs this summer?

After completing deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, midfielder James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon – there are certain squad members on the chopping block to free up more squad space and funds.

Ivan Perisic, for example, has reportedly been told he can leave Spurs this summer if a suitable offer comes in. After the signing of Vicario, long-serving number one Hugo Lloris could also make way.

The Frenchman, speaking to news outlet Nice-Matin recently, admitted as much and believes this summer could be the end of an era for him in north London.

“We have reached an important moment, whether it be for the club or me,” said Lloris.

“It’s the end of an era. I have a desire for something else. I will carefully study what is possible. However, I haven’t forgotten that I have a year left on my contract at Tottenham, and in football, it’s always hard to predict what will happen."

Meanwhile, Spurs accepted a bid from Russian side Spartak Moscow for defender Davinson Sanchez, though it remains to be seen whether the Colombian will agree to join them or if the transfer will even be authorised by government officials – due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

Japhet Tanganga, after limited playing time last season, comes as another player expected to depart while Spurs regular Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is being chased by La Liga side Atletico Madrid.

Lo Celso had been mentioned as a candidate to leave, but according to Spanish news site Mucho Deporte, he won't exactly force the issue.

Real Betis are eyeing a move for the Argentine, and while he's interested in joining them, there is a belief Lo Celso will not push for the transfer.

This is mostly down to Postecoglou, who is delighted with the midfielder's efforts in pre-season, and Lo Celso himself feels comfortable playing under the Australian and fits in well to his system.

It's added that the South American has fun in each training session under Posteocoglou and works hard for him.

How good is Giovani Lo Celso?

Signed for £27.2 million from Betis in January 2020, Lo Celso has endured a mixed Spurs career to date, but has showcased his quality on loan spells with Villarreal.

Just last season, during a temporary stint with Villarreal, he averaged their joint-highest rate of key passes completed per 90 in the final third – all the while scoring two goals and assisting three others (WhoScored).

The 27-year-old could fit in well to Postecoglou's system as a more advanced playmaker, with Spurs superstar Son Heung-min once showering praise on Lo Celso.

“I think he’s unbelievable!” said Son on Lo Celso's form in 2020.

“He’s working really hard in every single training session so I think every player is really happy for him to be doing so well and working so hard."

After three seasons of trying, it could well be the case that Lo Celso has found a perfect managerial fit in Postecoglou, so it will be interesting to see if he becomes a key player next season.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to add further additions to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, the Hoops remain keen on a deal to sign Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his options between the sticks.

The reporter told the CeltsAreHere’s podcast that the Bhoys are "closely monitoring" the Croatia international's situation and that his proposed move to Fenerbahce could be on the "brink" of collapse, despite the Turkish giants having agreed a fee for his services.

Fabrizio Romano had claimed that the Super Lig side had reached an agreement on a €9m (£7.7m) deal to sign the shot-stopper but this latest update suggests that they may be unable to get the move over the line, which opens the door for the Scottish giants to swoop in.

How good is Dominik Livakovic?

The 28-year-old titan's performances for club and country last season suggest that he is an exceptional goalkeeper who would be a fantastic signing for Celtic.

Livakovic has the quality to be a big upgrade on Joe Hart between the sticks for the Bhoys and could form part of a new-look backline alongside Maik Nawrocki, who recently joined the club on a permanent deal from Polish side Legia Warsaw.

At the age of 22, the Poland U21 international is Celtic's youngest central defender and could be a colossus at the back for Rodgers for many more years to come, which could be alongside Livakovic – who has plenty of seasons left in the tank.

The Croatian cat is eight years younger than Hart, who is the current no.1 at Parkhead, and could, therefore, have the best part of a decade as the club's number one if he is a success and remains loyal to the Scottish Premiership champions.

Livakovic averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 35 HNL matches last season and saved 74% of the efforts on his goal. The impressive ace also averaged a rating of 7.33 over seven World Cup outings in Qatar last year, in which time he stopped 78% of the shots against him.

Hart, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 over 37 Premiership games and only saved 65% of the shots on target from the opposition.

This suggests that the £7.7m-rated star has the quality to perform at a higher level than Hart on a consistent basis whilst being able to prevent more goals by saving a higher percentage of the strikes between his posts.

Livakovic, who was dubbed "different class" by former Hoops ace Frank McAvennie, could, therefore, form a rock-solid defence alongside Nawrocki.

The 22-year-old machine made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in the Polish top-flight last season, which is more than any Celtic centre-back managed last term.

This suggests that Nawrocki could be an upgrade on Rodgers' other options in that position in terms of the frequency at which he wins the ball back for his side, by reading the game to make an interception or using his strength and timing to make a crucial tackle.

Pair his ability to cut out opposition attacks with Livakovic's super shot-stopping quality and you have the bedrock of what could be a sturdy defence for the Northern Irish head coach this season.