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Glasgow Rangers have signed players for a second or even third spell at Ibrox throughout the years to varying degrees of success.

Kenny Miller returned to the Gers in the summer of 2008. Despite playing for Celtic a year prior, the striker scored 56 goals over the next two and a half seasons, helping the club win two domestic titles before leaving in January 2011.

Craig Moore spent a few years at Rangers during the nine-in-a-row era before moving to Crystal Palace in 1998. After a few unsuccessful months in England, the Australian centre-back returned to Ibrox and became a prominent member of the squad until he left in 2004, notching up plenty of trophies in the process.

Not every player who returns for a second spell enjoys this sort of success, however. A few players have joined Rangers in the past in an attempt to try and replicate their first spell, but it just didn’t work out as planned.

Names such as Kyle Lafferty, Mark Hateley and even the great Jim Baxter couldn’t repeat the magic which was prominent during their initial time at the club, but one of the worst returns of recent times was that of Kris Boyd in 2014…

Kris Boyd's second Rangers spell

Boyd was a machine during his first stint with the Gers between 2006 and 2010. He may not have been the hardest worker or most skilful player in the starting XI, but the moment the ball was played into the box, Walter Smith wanted just one player to get on the end of it – Boyd.

The Scottish striker was incredibly clinical upon moving from Kilmarnock, going on to score 128 goals which saw the Ibrox side return to prominence under Smith, with Boy winning six trophies.

Ahead of the 2014/15 season, the hitman returned to Glasgow hoping to replicate these feats as the club was looking to return to the top flight after a three-year absence.

Despite playing 43 times for Rangers during that campaign, Boyd managed to find the net just ten times as they failed to make it out of the second tier and the striker left to join Kilmarnock for a third time.

With the January transfer window now open, it appears a former crowd favourite has been linked with a return to the Light Blues this month.

If he does, it may well be a repeat of the Boyd disaster rather than a Miller or Barry Ferguson repeat…

Rangers facing Boyd repeat in January

Ryan Kent left Rangers in the summer of 2023 after his contract expired, going on to join Turkish side Fenerbahçe ahead of the following campaign.

Things didn’t go well for the winger on the continent, and he was eventually released by José Mourinho after making just 19 appearances in just over 12 months.

Since October, he has been without a club and, naturally, the rumour mill has been in overdrive regarding a move back to Rangers, but it appears as though things have accelerated recently.

According to a report from Turkish outlet Kontraspor earlier this week, Kent has the offer of a six-month deal with an option of a one-year extension if things go well, in order to kickstart a career that has stalled since leaving Scotland in 2023.

Transfer Focus

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

There is no doubt Clement requires some reinforcements ahead of the second half of the season, but is Kent really the answer? Especially considering the volume of talent who can play on the left wing at the club?

Ryan Kent’s Rangers statistics

If the Belgian signed the same player who shone during his first three seasons at Ibrox, then a return would surely be a priority for the club.

After signing on loan from Liverpool, the youngster registered 15 goal contributions which was enough to persuade Steve Gerrard to try and secure his signature permanently.

With just hours to go on transfer deadline day in 2019, Rangers got their man. The £7.5m fee was one of the highest the Gers had paid and over the next two seasons, it looked as though this could turn into a bargain.

21 goals and 18 assists were registered during that time, with the Light Blues winning the Premiership title in 2020/21 and Kent was even described as “unplayable” during the run to the Europa League final in 2022 by reporter Andrew Dickson.

His final season was a poor one, however, with Kent scoring just three times, and it was evident that his head lay elsewhere.

Why Rangers shouldn’t sign Ryan Kent

Yes, the winger would be available for free, but this doesn’t mean that Clement should be rushing to get a deal over the line. If anything, a move for Kent should be avoided, especially judging by his form since the summer of 2023.

During his maiden season in Turkey, the former Liverpool starlet only registered three goal contributions across 18 appearances in all competitions.

In the Turkish Süper Lig last term, the Englishman created only two big chances and averaged 0.6 key passes per game, while succeeding with only 0.9 dribble attempts per match.

When compared to his positional peers in the Europa Conference League during 2023/24, Kent fails to even rank in the top 50% for total shots (1.13), shot-creating actions (3.01), non-penalty goals (0) and touches in the attacking penalty area (2.44) per 90.

On this basis, does a move for Kent sound justifiable? With Nedim Bajrami, Ianis Hagi and even Hamza Igamane all being used on the left flank of late, he might not even make it into the starting XI.

Add to that Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo returning from injury and this is a position which appears to be stacked with quality.

This is a potential move which the manager should be avoiding, as it could end up being a repeat of Boyd’s dismal second spell back at Ibrox.

Imagine him & Igamane: Rangers could land Hagi 2.0 in "incredible" star

Rangers will be looking to make a few signings this month…

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 4, 2025

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has won The Masters after an 11-year-long wait, and Manchester United have sent a message to their superstar fan.

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• McIlroy wins tight affair at The Masters
• Becomes sixth player to win the Grand Slam
• Man Utd congratulate their fan after triumph

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  McIlroy has become a superstar of the sport, however, the Northern Irishman has agonisingly missed out on one of golf's four most illustrious tournaments, The Masters. The 35-year-old went into Sunday with a two-stroke lead over Justin Rose, and despite the Englishman's comeback forcing a replay of a one-hole playoff on hole 18, McIlroy succeeded after sinking a four-foot putt to birdie to claim the trophy.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 35-year-old achieved a career grand slam by winning all four majors in golf with his triumph at The Masters. McIlroy joins Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as the only other players to achieve the feat. McIlroy, who is an ardent United fan, has now been congratulated by the Red Devils.

• WHAT MAN UTD POSTED

  On X, Manchester United posted photos of McIlroy winning The Masters and his photo at Old Trafford, and captioned the post: "Warm congratulations to United fan, Rory McIlroy, on your triumph at The Masters."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  It is highly likely that McIlroy will be commemorated at Old Trafford sometime in the future for his Grand Slam, as has happened earlier in his career as well. However, Ruben Amorim's side will now be hoping that they can conjure up some sort of inspiration from McIlroy's victory as they look to make a strong end to a terrible season.

Ex-Premier League star Gus Poyet has suggested that Liverpool boss Arne Slot has a "personal issue" with Darwin Nunez.

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• Nunez has struggled in attack for Liverpool
• Has just five Premier League goals this season
• Poyet advises striker to consider summer exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Nunez, who joined Liverpool in a big-money deal from Benfica in the summer of 2022, was expected to blossom into a dependable goalscorer. However, things haven’t panned out that way for the Uruguay international. With just five Premier League goals to his name this campaign, the 24-year-old has struggled to cement his place in Slot's starting XI, raising questions about his future at Anfield.

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  WHAT POYET SAID

  Nunez’s stop-start Liverpool career has seen glimpses of his potential, but few sustained runs of form. Now, in a candid assessment of the striker’s current predicament, Poyet was unambiguous in his belief that something deeper may be plaguing Nunez.

  “I think he needs to make a decision this summer on whether he’s happy with his role at Liverpool or he wants something different," the former Uruguay and Tottenham star told bettingexpert.com."He’s the number one striker for the national team and he’s the kind of player you don’t want to play against. But with Liverpool he’s in and out and he gets treated differently to other Liverpool players."

  Slot’s apparent preference for other attacking options, coupled with Nunez’s underwhelming output, has left Poyet wondering whether the relationship between manager and player has reached an impasse.

  "(Cody) Gakpo can go 10-15 games with no goal and it’s not a problem," he added. "Nunez it’s always a problem. It’s difficult to deal with and it’s personal. It up to him as to whether he’s happy with his role and his family being in England dealing with the scrutiny. Liverpool is a big club and moving countries is difficult.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With the summer transfer window approaching, clubs in the Saudi Pro League are already laying the groundwork for ambitious signings, and Nunez is reportedly among the names on their radar. The proposition of a new beginning – likely with a lucrative contract and less pressure – might appeal to Nunez, especially if he remains on the fringes at Anfield.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Liverpool’s immediate attention shifts to their upcoming Premier League fixture against West Ham on Sunday. With their title ambitions almost fulfilled, the club will aim to get another three points and potentially widen the gap to second-placed Arsenal. It remains to be seen whether Nunez features in the game or remains as an unused substitute.

The January transfer window officially opened for business on Wednesday and Celtic could look to make a few changes to their playing squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Their 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday was only their second loss in all competitions this term, with the 7-1 hammering by Borussia Dortmund the other, but that does not mean that there is not room for improvement.

In fact, Brendan Rodgers is already looking to close in on his first signing of the window with Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney said to be an active target.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that the Hoops are in talks to reach an agreement to bring the Scotland international back to Glasgow for a second spell, with the player keen on re-joining the club.

This could put Greg Taylor’s future, as the current first-choice left-back at Parkhead, in doubt, particularly amid reported interest from Dinamo Zagreb in the defender.

Taylor is not the only Celtic player who should be worried about potential recruits coming in to take their place, as central midfielder Reo Hatate could also be in danger.

Reo Hatate's performances this season

The Japan international’s inconsistent performances have been an issue for him this season, as the midfield star has failed to nail down a consistent run of excellent displays for the Hoops.

His 2024/25 campaign can be summed up by his last three matches for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. In the games against St Johnstone and Motherwell, Hatate produced a goal, an assist, and created two ‘big chances’, offering a big threat at the top end of the pitch.

However, the Japanese lightweight followed that up with a disappointing showing against Rangers in the 3-0 defeat in the Old Firm clash at Ibrox on Thursday.

As you can see in the table above, Hatate offered very little out of possession, winning one duel, and struggled badly on the ball, creating more shots for the Gers – with two errors that led to shots – than he did for Celtic.

The 27-year-old midfielder has scored five goals and assisted one in 19 Premiership appearances for Celtic to date, which shows that he has offered a decent, but not outstanding, threat at the top end of the pitch.

Hatate has also lost 53% of his duels, which shows that opposition players have found it a bit too easy to get the better of him at times, and averaged under one tackle (0.9) and under one interception (0.3) per game.

These statistics show that the Celtic midfield man has struggled off the ball at times, letting himself down with the physical side of the game, whilst also being inconsistent with his use of the ball at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, Hatate could be in danger if the Hoops decide to swoop to reinforce their midfield options this month, particularly amid reported interest in a player in his position.

Celtic's interest in English midfield star

The Boot Room reported last month that Celtic are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop to land Burnley captain Josh Brownhill to bolster their squad.

It was claimed that the Hoops and Rangers are both prepared to send pre-contract offers to sign the English midfielder, whose contract at Turf Moor is due to expire at the end of the season.

Fiorentina and Lazio, meanwhile, have already made offers to the former Bristol City star, whilst Everton, West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Leeds are also said to be keen on snapping him up.

The report did not reveal whether or not Brownhill would be willing to make the move up north to Glasgow but did state that he has not signed the new contract that is on the table from Burnley, opening the door to an exit from Turf Moor.

It is now down to Rodgers and his team to convince the player that a move to Parkhead is the best next step for him in his career, as the midfield star could be a terrific addition to the side and an upgrade on Hatate, whether he joins in January on a free transfer in the summer.

Why Josh Brownhill is an upgrade on Reo Hatate

The 29-year-old maestro’s performances for Burnley in the Championship this season suggest that he could come in and offer more than the Japan international in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants.

Brownhill, who produced four goals and two assists in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, is an attack-minded midfielder who can also contribute out of possession to help his team.

As you can see in the graphic above, the £45k-per-week dynamo ranks incredibly highly in a number of key attacking metrics over the last 365 days, with his Premier League and Championship statistics included in that.

In the current campaign specifically, Brownhill has contributed with nine goals and three assists in 24 appearances in the second tier for Burnley, which shows that he has offered a big threat at the top end of the pitch for Scott Parker.

These statistics suggest that the Clarets skipper could provide more quality than Hatate, who has scored five league goals, in front of goal for the Hoops if they manage to bring him to Park.

The graphic above also illustrates that Brownhill could offer a greater presence defensively, with twice as many tackles and interceptions per game on average this season.

Therefore, the Burnley ace, who was once described as a “fabulous” player by pundit Lee Hendrie, could come in to be an upgrade on Hatate with both his use of the ball and his work out of possession, scoring more goals and making more interventions to win the ball back for his side.

Celtic can sign new Rogic in move for "special" star who's "like Odegaard"

Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League talent.

By
Dan Emery

Jan 2, 2025

That is why Rodgers must push the board to win the hotly-contested race for the 29-year-old ace’s signature either this month, or in free agency in the summer.

Once again turning their attention towards future stars, Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly made preliminary contact to sign an 18-year-old forward who could replace Evan Ferguson.

Brighton transfer news

The Seagulls are already set to miss out on one young talent this month it seems, with Vitor Reis reportedly edging closer and closer to Manchester City despite Brighton initially taking the lead in the race to sign the Brazilian central defender. So, they’ll undoubtedly be keen to avoid a repeat of that failure and complete what would be a vintage move from those in Sussex by welcoming a future star before the end of the window.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side represent an attractive squad to become a part of too, as highlighted in their recent thrashing of Norwich City in the FA Cup. Advancing through to the next round to match their impressive rise into 10th in the Premier League so far this season, Brighton remain a side to watch under the youngest manager in the division’s history.

Away from the action, meanwhile, the Seagulls have also seemingly been busy. According to reports in Spain, Brighton have made preliminary contact to sign Christian Kofane from Spanish second division side Albacete this month.

The 18-year-old forward has emerged onto Brighton’s radar – which rarely misses such talent – and could soon find himself on his way to the Premier League as a result.

Brighton now plotting move to sign "incredible" new Premier League winner

He would be an impressive coup…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jan 10, 2025

Of course, it’s interesting to see the Seagulls linked with a young forward amid recent speculation over Evan Ferguson’s future. The Irishman has struggled to reach the same heights as his initial breakthrough in the last year or so and has been linked with a move away to the likes of West Ham United as a result. If Brighton now welcome a young striker, his future may be thrown into greater doubt than ever.

"Jewell" Kofane is one to watch

Described as a “jewell” by Spanish journalist Carlos Gomez, Kofane is undoubtedly one to watch – not least because of Real Madrid’s reported interest. The European giants could yet rival Brighton in pursuit of the young forward in what those in Sussex will hope ends in a sensational victory against a club of Madrid’s calibre.

The fact that interest has arrived before Kofane has even made his first-team debut for Albacete paints the picture of an emerging talent destined to reach the very top.

Brighton have already seen one European giant swoop in ahead of them in the race to sign teenage sensation Reis. Now, they must hope to fend off an even greater club in Real Madrid if they want to secure Kofane’s signature and a star striker for years to come as a result this month. The race looks destined to only heat up in the coming weeks.

The team's most visible supporter brought his trademark spirit to Q2 Stadium, energizing the home side

• McConaughey high-fived fans before kickoff

• Austin FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory

• Actor celebrated with players following match

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Ahead of Austin FC’s clash against LA Galaxy, Hollywood superstar Matthew McConaughey fully embraced his role as Austin FC's most visible supporter. The Academy-Award winner was seen walking in front of the supporters' section and high-fiving numerous attendees before kickoff.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Austin FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over LA Galaxy in a tense Western Conference matchup at Q2 Stadium. Brandon Vazquez converted the decisive penalty kick midway through the second half, giving the Verde and Black three crucial points at home.

  The match ended with heightened emotions as players from both teams engaged in a post-whistle scuffle, requiring Galaxy forward Joseph Paintsil to be restrained.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Thanks to their tense 1-0 win, Austin FC have moved up the Western Conference table and into second place with 16 points, behind only conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps (19). They go on the road next to face the Houston Dynamo on April 26, followed by a home clash against Minnesota United on May 3.

Manchester United claimed just their fourth Premier League win of the Ruben Amorim era last night, beating Marco Silva’s Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

It was by no means a pretty game, but Lisandro Martínez’s deflected effort secured all three points for the Red Devils, moving them up to 12th in the table.

However, with the club’s current dismal situation on the pitch, it’s not about how attractive the performances are, but ultimately getting the points on the board to turnaround the recent slump.

Whilst the display wasn’t the best since the 39-year-old’s appointment, he must take some satisfaction that his side were able to walk away with all three points despite not being at their best.

That being said, numerous players failed to impress in West London, producing displays that could see them replaced before the end of the window.

Man United’s poor performers against Fulham

Despite the recent transfer rumours about his future at the club, Alejandro Garnacho started the clash in the capital but was unable to showcase why the club are demanding £55m for his services.

The Argentine featured for 81 minutes before replaced, but his performance warranted his withdrawal, losing possession 13 times during his time on the pitch.

He also only completed one of his three attempted dribbles, failing to register a single effort on goal – looking toothless within the final third for the Red Devils.

Noussair Mazraoui has often featured as a wide centre-back for United since the arrival of Amorim, but was selected to operate in a left wing-back role against Fulham – a position in which he struggled.

The Moroccan was also wasteful with the ball, losing possession 12 times, but didn’t have his usual defensive presence, completing just one tackle and unable to make any interceptions.

However, both of the aforementioned players were better than one of their teammates, who once again ensured an evening to forget despite the manager’s continued faith in him.

The Man United player who dropped a 3/10 against Fulham

Striker Rasmus Hojlund has been a player low in confidence and evidently struggling in recent weeks, but Amorim has continued to stand by his number nine to produce the goods.

However, the Denmark international has been unable to produce, failing to score in any of his last 11 outings across all competitions, only registering two goals in 18 league outings.

Yesterday was another goalless display for the 21-year-old, undoubtedly cranking pressure on his shoulders over his regular starting role – with his all-round play just as alarming as his lack of tangible contribution.

Hojlund was only on the pitch for 58 minutes before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee, a substitution that simply had to be made after the Dane’s inability to hold the ball up at the top end.

He only completed six of his attempted passes during his display, registering a measly tally of just 21 touches, with goalkeeper Andre Onana managing more than double with his tally of 47.

The striker also was guilty of squandering possession on the rare occasion the ball fell his way, conceding play 12 times also losing 82% of the duels he entered – leading to content creator Jon Denton dubbing him as United’s “worst player” and receiving a 3/10 rating from Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Hojlund also, like Garnacho, was unable to register any efforts on goal, highlighting the desperate need for investment from INEOS before the end of the ongoing transfer market.

Amorim’s current two senior striker options, Hojlund and Zirkzee, have only scored a combined five Premier League goals throughout 2024/25, with their fortunes only changing with new additions.

Viktor Gyokeres, Christopher Nkunku, Matheus Cunha and Jonathan David have all been touted with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, with all the options providing a massive upgrade on the current crop of options – all scoring more so far this campaign.

With just over a week to go, time is ticking for the hierarchy to provide Amorim with the ammunition needed to succeed and build on the latest victory, with last night’s display at Craven Cottage added evidence that the current options are simply not up to scratch.

Better than Garnacho: Man Utd eyeing "one of the world's biggest talents"

Manchester United could be in for a frantic few days towards the closing stages of the transfer window.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 26, 2025

Liverpool-linked Milos Kerkez sent a special message to compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai after the Reds' Premier League triumph.

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• Kerkez sent message to Szoboszlai after EPL win
• Bournemouth defender linked with a move to Liverpool
• Reds crowned English champions for the 20th time

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool became the English champions for a record equalling 20th time on Sunday as they outclassed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield. Following the Reds' historic triumph, Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez congratulated his compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai in a special message on social media.

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• WHAT MILOS KERKEZ SAID

  Kerkez shared a photograph of himself celebrating with the Reds midfielder in Hungary shirts and wrote in the caption: "You deserve it my friend, love."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kerkez's social media post has fuelled speculations over his future at Bournemouth as he has been strongly linked with a move to the Merseyside club in the past. The Cherries consider Kerkez to be an integral part of the team and are expected to demand a transfer fee in the region of £45 million ($58m) if Liverpool place a formal bid for the player this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILOS KERKEZ?

  The full-back will be back in action for Andoni Iraola's side this Saturday as they take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

AC Milan visits Genoa next Monday for a match that will pit two Mexican internationals against each other

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• Vásquez has 31 starts in Serie A this season

• Giménez recently ended goal drought with AC Milan

• Last encounter on opposing sides came in 2021 in Liga MX

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  All eyes will be on Serie A next Monday as AC Milan visits Genoa for a match that will pit two Mexican internationals against each other: Johan Vásquez and Santiago Giménez. The highly anticipated clash will mark a rare reunion for the two players, both of whom came up through Liga MX academies – Vásquez with Pumas and Giménez with Cruz Azul.

  Ahead of the game, Vásquez took the opportunity to send a light-hearted warning to his national teammate. In an interview with , the Genoa defender said he holds Giménez in high regard and that their bond has grown stronger since they began sharing the locker room with Mexico’s national team.

  However, he reminded the striker of the last time they faced off – nearly five years ago – and hinted that Monday might serve as a reminder of his defensive prowess.

  “He’s a great friend, someone I’m always joking around with when we’re in camp with the national team,” Vásquez said. “He played for Cruz Azul for a decade, but it’s been four or five years since we’ve gone head-to-head. Hopefully he remembers how I defend – and if not, he’ll find out on Monday.”

  Giménez recently ended a goal drought with AC Milan, though the team’s prospects are limited to securing ninth place in the league, with little hope of qualifying for European competition next season. Genoa, currently sitting in 13th place, is on the brink of achieving its primary objective: avoiding relegation.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This will be the first time Vásquez and Giménez face off since their days in Liga MX. Their last encounter on opposing sides came on March 8, 2021, when Vásquez was with Pumas and Giménez played for Cruz Azul.

  Under manager Patrick Vieira, Vásquez has established himself as a key component of Genoa’s defense. He has missed just one match this Serie A campaign, due to suspension, and has started in 31 of his 33 appearances.

  Giménez, on the other hand, has experienced a rocky start to life under Milan manager Sérgio Conceição. In his first 11 Serie A appearances, he’s logged 604 minutes and scored just three goals.

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  WHAT JOHAN VÁSQUEZ SAID

  Vásquez is enjoying one of the best stretches of his career at Genoa. The center-back just became the Mexican player with the most appearances in Serie A history, reaching 121 matches and surpassing Hirving “Chucky” Lozano’s mark of 120.

  “Playing in Europe is the dream you have since you’re a kid,” Vásquez said. “It’s been four long years – not easy ones – but I’m still hungry. I don’t see this as my ceiling; I believe I can still give more.”

  The 25-year-old also paid tribute to Lozano.

  “I think Chucky set the bar really high. He gave us that hunger to keep competing,” Vásquez said. “I’d love to be that kind of role model for other young players, the way he was for me. I hope more Mexicans can come to Europe, and that it won’t be so difficult for them to adapt and succeed.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Founded in 1893, Genoa is the oldest football club in Italy. The club has a proud legacy, having won the Italian Championship nine times – including the very first national title in 1898. Their most recent triumph came in the 1923–24 season.

  “In its early years, Genoa was a great team – it’s a historic club,” said Vásquez. “It’s always been well-known throughout Italy, and I’d love for more Mexican fans to learn about my team. Not everything is about Juventus, Inter, or Milan. Genoa has a proud tradition and has meant a lot to my family.”

The January transfer window is set to slam shut on Monday of next week and this means that Everton do not have much time left to make signings to bolster their squad.

David Moyes was brought in for a second spell at Goodison Park earlier this month, replacing Sean Dyche in the dugout, and is yet to make his first addition.

The Scottish manager has made a strong start to life back on Merseyside, though, with wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion in his first three matches.

Everton are in the market to add more quality to the group, despite the impressive results of late, and Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters is one star who is reportedly on their radar.

The Toffees have also been linked with an interest in Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Evan Ferguson to add to their options at the top end of the pitch.

Brighton’s Ireland international is not the only attack-minded player on Everton’s list of targets, however, as the club are reportedly closing in on a deal for a new forward who could replace Abdoulaye Doucoure in the number 10 role…

Abdoulaye Doucoure's form this season

The Mali international has been a regular starter for the Toffees this season, with 19 starts in 20 Premier League appearances, but has failed to offer much in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch.

Doucoure has played more matches as an attacking midfielder than in any other role this term, yet the midfield dud is currently on zero goals, zero ‘big chances’ created, and zero assists in the top-flight.

The former Watford man, who did score seven goals in 32 matches last season in the Premier League, has simply not offered enough in the final third to make himself an influential figure for Everton.

Only Southampton (16) have scored fewer goals than the Toffees (19) in the division this season and that suggests that they need more quality from the players in the attacking areas of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, Doucoure has directly contributed to more goals for the opposition (one) than he has for his own team (zero) and has struggled with the physicality of matches, losing the majority of his duels.

This is why Everton should be in the market to find a player with the ability to offer more in the final third as a second striker behind a starting number nine.

Everton closing in on Doucoure upgrade

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, the Toffees are one step away from signing Hamza Igamane on a permanent deal from Scottish giants Rangers.

The report claims that the Premier League side are looking to finalise a deal for the Morocco U23 international before the January transfer window slams shut at the start of next week.

It states that they have identified the former FAR Rabat star as the ideal replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who suffered a hamstring injury against Brighton last time out, and are now moving in to wrap up a transfer for the Ibrox sensation.

Tuttosport adds that Everton are also willing to part ways with Portuguese centre-forward Beto, and that Serie A side Torino are willing to offer £15m to bring him back to Italy.

Meanwhile, TEAMtalk reported earlier this week that it would take a fee of £25m or more to sign Igamane from Rangers this month, because the Scottish Premiership outfit are reluctant to part ways with the forward midway through the season.

Transfer Focus

Tuttosport does not reveal how much the Toffees would pay for the striker, despite them closing in on a move, but recouping £15m for Beto could go some way to funding a deal for the Gers ace.

Whilst the report indicates that he could arrive at Goodison Park as a replacement for Calvert-Lewin in the centre-forward position, Igamane could be best suited to taking Doucoure’s place in the number ten or second striker role.

Why Hamza Igamane is way better than Abdoulaye Doucoure

Igamane has played the majority of the matches in his career as a centre-forward but he has also played as an attacking midfielder and as a wide player, which means that he is no stranger to operating behind a striker.

The 22-year-old dynamo was described as “fearless” and like “Morgan Rogers”, who plays as a second striker for Aston Villa, by analyst Ben Mattinson, which speaks to his suitability to play in a deeper position.

He may not have the physicality, given that the Moroccan ace has lost 65% of his duels in the Premiership, to lead the line as the sole striker in a Premier League team.

However, his performances for Rangers in the Premiership and the Europa League this season suggest that he does have the technical ability to come in and offer far more than Doucoure as an attacking threat in a number ten or second striker role.

Igamane is a dynamic, powerful, runner with the technical quality to make an impact at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers superstar has racked up 13 goals and six ‘big chances’ created in just 16 starts in the Premiership and the Europa League combined.

These statistics show that he has been a consistent and reliable presence for Philippe Clement in the final third. whereas, Doucoure has offered next to nothing in the Premier League as an attacker.

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By
Dan Emery

Jan 28, 2025

Therefore, Igamane would come in as a way better option than the Mali international in the second half of the season, even if he could only translate half of his form for Rangers over to the Premier League, which is why the Gers man could be an excellent signing for Moyes.