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Messi scored one and saw another ruled out, while Toronto showed enough on the break to earn a tricky point at Chase Stadium

Lionel Messi scored a wonderful goal, but Inter Miami dropped points in a 1-1 draw with a well-drilled Toronto FC side Sunday night. The reigning MLS MVP found the net once, and had another ruled out after a VAR decision. But Miami were also fickle at the back, and might have suffered a disappointing home loss had the visitors not hit the post multiple times in the first half.

Miami had a couple of good chances early, Jordi Alba and Telasco Segovia both seeing efforts well denied by Sean Johnson. Toronto responded, though, twice hitting the post off well-constructed moves of their own. Messi thought he had opened the scoring after 40 minutes thanks to a wonderful curled effort – but VAR intervened thanks to a foul in the build up.

Toronto struck first, with Lorenzo Insigne finding Federico Bernadeschi, who prodded past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Messi equalized in first half stoppage time, a touch, shuffle and strike leaving Johnson stranded and setting up a fine second half.

The visitors should have made it two early in the second half after a flowing counter, but Bernadeschi fired wide. Luis Suarez matched his miss soon after, putting one just outside the post. The game tailed off after that.

Messi had his moments without carving out anything definitive. A tired Suarez was removed with 20 minutes to play. Toronto had one last go of things late on, but Callender kept Miami alive in second half stoppage time with a clever save at the near post. Fafa Picault's last second miss concluded what was an ultimately agreeable sharing of the points.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Chase Stadium.

• Goalkeeper & Defense

  Drake Callender (6/10):

  Not fully sharp between the sticks. Made a few good saves, but could have reacted quicker on the goal.

  Ian Fray (6/10):

  A selfless showing down the right. Chased a few lost causes and offered an option on the overlap.

  Tomas Aviles (7/10):

  Covered the right channel effectively, kept the ball, and won all of his tackles.

  Gonzalo Lujan (6/10):

  Made to look rather silly by Bernadeschi on the Toronto opener, but was solid otherwise.

  Jordi Alba (6/10):

  Forced a tremendous save early on. Created all sorts of issues in the final third, but didn't track back on a few occasions.

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  Midfield

  Robert Taylor (6/10):

  Held his width effectively and created space for others. Removed at half time – suggesting he will likely be in the side Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions Cup vs LAFC.

  Federico Redondo (6/10):

  Did plenty of dirty work and almost ran himself into the ground. Lacked a bit of attacking quality, though.

  Sergio Busquets (7/10):

  Held down the middle while Redondo did all of the running around him. Surrendered the ball far too easily in the run up to the Toronto first. Redeemed himself by playing a role in the equalizer.

  Telasco Segovia (7/10):

  Understatedly good. Didn't appear to be doing loads, but ended the night with four chances created and an assist.

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  Attack

  Lionel Messi (8/10):

  Had one goal disallowed, scored a ridiculous equalizer just before the break. Everything ran through him. Immensely impactful despite not being fully fit as he ramps up his injury return.

  Luis Suarez (6/10):

  Linked play effectively in the final third. Subbed after 70 minutes, getting himself a well-earned rest.

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  Subs & Manager

  Fafa Picault (6/10):

  Stretched the play with his pace, but could have moved the ball better. Missed a good chance in the last second.

  Marcelo Weigandt (6/10):

  Toronto had little joy down his wing.

  Allen Obando (5/10):

  Squandered a golden chance to give his side a late lead on his debut. Committed a couple of silly fouls.

  Yannick Bright (6/10):

  Came on and bossed the midfield for fun.

  Santiago Morales (N/A):

  No time to make an impact.

  Javier Mascherano (6/10):

  Rested a few big names with one eye on Champions Cup action midweek. His side were quality at times, but vulnerable on the break. You can't win every game, and this isn't a dreadful point – even if he would have expected three.

Celtic are said to be interested in striking a pre-contract agreement with an “unbelievable” player in January, prior to signing him for free next summer, in a new development.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops continue to push for new signings, with former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson claiming that a move for Kieran Tierney is “highly likely” to happen in January: “It’s achievable. That’s probably what both parties would want, even Arsenal wouldn’t stand in his way.

“Like you say, injuries, not playing, he’s not been part of Mikel Arteta’s squad going forward. [Him leaving] frees that space up in Arsenal’s squad, [and] for Tierney, it’s a great fit. For Celtic, it seems a great fit. That one looks like it’s got highly likely potential of happening in January.”

Celtic are also believed to have made an enquiry over the signing of Manchester City youngster James McAtee, who made a positive impact against Leicester City on Sunday, coming off the bench and playing a key role in Erling Haaland’s goal.

Chelsea pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka has also been linked with a move to Celtic, with neither managing to play important roles for the Blues this season, finding themselves below several top-quality players in the midfield pecking order.

Celtic change tact to pre-contract agreement for Tierney

According to a new report from Football Insider, Celtic are now “working on a deal” to sign Tierney in a pre-contract agreement in January, in a development from Robinson’s comments above.

It is common knowledge that the Hoops are eyeing a reunion with the 27-year-old, having struggled to become a key player at Arsenal in recent years, even being loaned out to La Liga side Real Sociedad.

Bringing Tierney back to Celtic would be great news, and while some will be impatient and want to see him arrive in January, signing him for free in the summer instead could make more sense.

There is no desperation for the Hoops to bring in a new left-back currently, so waiting for a few months longer and snapping up for no transfer fee is the better outcome.

Kris Boyd has lauded the Arsenal man for his on-pitch relationship with Andy Robertson for Scotland, saying: “Now, the understanding they have is unbelievable. The understanding they have all over the pitch is brilliant and you can see why the assists have come from that left-hand side.”

Hopefully, Tierney will jump at the chance to return to Celtic, where he won five Scottish Premiership titles first time around, enjoying a successful second stint.

Not just Engels: 135-touch Celtic star now has to start in the Old Firm

Celtic powered to another thumping 4-0 win on Sunday afternoon

By
Robbie Walls

Dec 29, 2024

He is a popular figure at Parkhead, despite leaving to join the Gunners, with his team ethic and attitude always standing out, not to mention the attacking quality he provides from left-back. Bringing him back would feel like a real coup for Celtic, especially as he is still very much in his peak years.

Newcastle United are believed to have sent a proposal for an “extraordinary” former Premier League title winner, as they look to sign him during the January transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies continue to be linked with plenty of potential new signings with January looming, with Barcelona defender Eric Garcia one player who has been mentioned as an option. The Spaniard is struggling for playing time at the Camp Nou this season, only managing four starts in La Liga under Hansi Flick.

In goal, Newcastle may be looking for a long-term replacement for Nick Pope between the sticks, and James Trafford continues to be backed to seal a switch to St James’ Park. The Englishman was seen as a target throughout the summer window, but a move failed to materialise.

Meanwhile, Southampton teenager Tyler Dibling has also been linked with joining the Magpies, with the 18-year-old one of the few positives to emerge from a dismal campaign for Saints so far. Seen as similar to England stars like Cole Palmer and Jack Grealish in style, he could add much-needed quality in attacking midfield, proving to be a good option on the right-hand side.

In what would be a controversial piece of business, Newcastle are also said to be eyeing a move for Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard, which would not go down well with Black Cats supporters.

Newcastle send proposal to sign "extraordinary" player

According to a new update from Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are pushing to sign Barcelona centre-back Garcia in January, now taking the first major step in a move by sending a proposal to Barca. The details of the offer are unknown, but the Magpies are looking to entice the 23-year-old away from the Catalan giants.

Garcia could be a really astute signing by Newcastle, even though his lack of game time at Barca may put some supporters off the idea of bringing him in. Centre-back reinforcements are imperative for the Magpies, with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn both ageing players, and the former Manchester City player has one Premier League title to his name, making 19 appearances in the competition.

He has been hailed by Xavi, who has said of him: “Eric is extraordinary. I value him a lot, he is important to us. He plays in a very complicated position because, at Barca, a centre-back is always exposed. But he is a role model in the dressing room and we value him a lot.”

Granted, Garcia hasn’t necessarily kicked on as much as some expected during his younger years at City, but he is still only 23 years of age, meaning his peak may still be some time away.

"Terrific" £15m player "would love" Newcastle to make new move for him

The move has been described as “one to watch”.

By
Dominic Lund

Dec 23, 2024

Leaving his £95k-a-week deal at Barca doesn’t appear to be an option in his own head currently, but if Newcastle were able to lure him to the club with a great offer, he could be a mainstay at the back for a long time.

Crystal Palace's game with rivals Brighton descended into chaos as three men were sent off, including substitute Eddie Nketiah in a 10-minute cameo.

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• Crystal Palace beat Brighton 2-1
• Three red cards in fiery clash
• Sub Nketiah dismissed after 10 minutes

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  During Palace's 2-1 win over Brighton at Selhurst Park on Saturday, Nketiah and Marc Guehi were sent off late on for the hosts and Jan Paul van Hecke received a red card in stoppage time. Former Arsenal striker Nketiah only came on 22 minutes from time but received his marching orders for a second booking a mere 10 minutes later.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While both sides will be concerned about losing important players for the next game, Palace rose to 11th in the Premier League and closed to within just four points of their bitter rivals.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring for Palace in the third minute, only for Danny Welbeck to equalise for Brighton just after the half-hour mark. Daniel Munoz restored the home team's advantage 10 minutes after the interval and the Eagles held on for a crucial three points.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR PALACE & BRIGHTON?

  Palace are next in Premier League action away at Manchester City next Saturday, whereas Brighton host lowly Leicester City on the same day.

PSG director Luis Campos is currently working on a book about his three-year stint at the club, and could reveal secrets of Kylian Mbappe's exit.

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• Club is working to extend director's contract
• Mbappe and Campos have good relationship
• Secrets could come out in new book

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fabrizio Romano has reported on Campos' plans for the book, which will "share everything" about his work at the club and how he has built the Parisians' sporting strategy.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Of course, that means we can expect insight into the departure of Mbappe. Campos and Mbappe have a long and fruitful relationship, both from their time in Monaco and the French capital. After his exit from the club for Real Madrid in 2024, Mbappe said had it not been for Campos and his manager Luis Enrique, he'd have likely never played for PSG again following a dispute with top brass in the summer of 2023. Mbappe has expressed his intention to remain at the club for the remainder of his deal, but depart for free.

• AFP
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Campos has an outstanding track record in the transfer market. During his time at Monaco he pieced together the side that would win Ligue 1 in 2016-17, flipped players like Rafael Leao, Gabriel Margalahes and Nicolas Pepe for massive profit at Lille, and has rebuilt PSG into a significant threat to the Champions League trophy without Mbappe, Lionel Messi and other big name stars.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LUIS CAMPOS?

  Campos has yet to sign a new contract with the PSG. His current deal ends in the summer. He had previously been linked with Arsenal's vacant sporting director role, which was filled by Andrea Berta last month.

With rumours regarding Andreas Pereira’s potential exit not going away, Fulham have now reportedly set their sights on signing an in-demand Premier League midfielder for Marco Silva.

Fulham transfer news

The Cottagers remain one of the most exciting sides to watch in the Premier League. No longer a side scrapping away in the battle to avoid relegation, Fulham have once again become an established top-flight side under Silva – who is doing an excellent job. His side’s recent success may not come without its consequences, however. In fact, they could fall victim to their own success.

Fulham now keen to sign "special" Man City star ready to leave in January

He’s a man in demand…

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 28, 2024

With the January transfer window now open, Fulham are reportedly fearful that Marseille could reignite their interest in Pereira and secure the Brazilian’s signature this month. And they’re not the only club reportedly interested. Recent reports have indicated that Brazilian club Fluminense are progressing in talks to sign the midfielder in what would be a major blow this month.

It seems as though that fear has led them straight to a potential replacement too. According to Football Insider, Fulham are now eyeing a move to sign Will Hughes in what could come at no cost at all if he leaves Crystal Palace as a free agent at the end of the season.

The London club aren’t the only side interested, however, with West Ham United and local rivals Brentford also keeping an eye on the situation. A player with plenty of experience in the top flight, the interest in Hughes’ signature should come as no surprise.

From a business standpoint, selling Pereira for an impressive fee and welcoming a possible replacement in the summer without having to splash out, themselves, could represent a shrewd move for all involved at Fulham.

"Leader" Hughes could seamlessly replace Pereira

More combative than the elegant Pereira, Hughes would step straight in to replace the Brazilian at Craven Cottage and sit next to both Alex Iwobi and Sasa Lukic. Forming a tireless midfield three, Silva’s side could even benefit from swapping the old for the new all whilst wisely cashing in.

Also able to create whilst completing impressive work off the ball, it’s no surprise that Hughes has been at the centre of Oliver Glasner’s praise throughout his Crystal Palace tenure.

The Palace manager told reporters as relayed by Tribal Football last month: “Will Hughes not just a performer, he’s also a leader in the dressing room. He’s an experienced guy, an English guy, he’s been here for several years, he knows the club, he knows his teammates, and of course he’s an outstanding good football player.

“His passing, his fighting spirit, and he’s one of the few players, maybe a little bit old generation, who is talking on the pitch. Every manager is looking for some guys who are talking on the pitch, he’s one of them, so he’s very important for our game.”

Crystal Palace do have the option to extend Hughes’ Selhurst Park deal, but if they don’t, Fulham could be in a position to pounce in a cheap transfer.

The January transfer window has officially been open for business for almost two weeks and Glasgow Rangers are yet to make a move to bolster their playing squad.

It has hard to hide away from the need for the Gers to improve Philippe Clement’s options on the pitch, given how far behind their rivals they are in the Scottish Premiership table.

The Light Blues are already 15 points behind Celtic in the division and lost to their Glasgow rivals on penalties at Hampden Park in the final of the League Cup last month.

Clement and technical director Nils Koppen are reportedly looking to add a new centre-back to the club, amid injuries to Leon Balogun, John Souttar, and Dujon Sterling, among others.

Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal is one of the reported targets on the radar for Rangers, but the Scottish giants could also benefit from adding more attacking options to the group before the end of the January transfer window.

The Gers currently have Vaclav Cerny on loan from Wolfsburg and they have to start thinking about what life may look like after his return to Germany at the end of the season.

Vaclav Cerny's form for Rangers this season

Rangers only signed the Czechia international on loan from the Bundesliga side and there is no option to make the deal permanent at this moment in time, which means that the forward is only due to be at Ibrox until the summer.

His return to Wolfsburg will be a big blow for the Gers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, provided they do not manage to bring him back for a second spell, because he has been a huge player for Clement this term.

The left-footed whiz has racked up 12 goals and seven assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, including three goals and two assists in six outings in the Europa League.

These statistics show that the Czechia forward has the quality to provide a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right flank, cutting in on his left foot to devastating effect.

As you can see in the table above, Cerny has produced plenty of quality at the top end of the pitch in the Premiership for the Light Blues, with 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 20 appearances in the division.

These statistics illustrate how big of a blow it is going to be when the 27-year-old star moves on from Ibrox at the end of the season, which is why the Gers must be attentive to the market to see if there is an opportunity to find his long-term replacement.

With this in mind, Clement and Koppen must reignite the club’s interest in Plymouth Argyle winger Morgan Whittaker, who has the potential to be Cerny 2.0 for the Light Blues.

Rangers' long-standing interest in Morgan Whittaker

The Gers have not been linked with an interest in the English attacker but they have been credited with wanting the forward in numerous windows in the past.

Transfer Focus

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

They reportedly had an offer of £2m turned down by Swansea in the January transfer window at the start of 2023, two years ago this month, before Michael Beale reignited that interest in the summer, only for Plymouth Argyle to sign him on a permanent deal ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

It was then reported last summer, in 2024, that Rangers wanted to sign the forward from the Pilgrims and that they were preparing a swoop for the left-footed dynamo to bolster Clement’s squad.

Journalist Alex Crook recently revealed that Championship sides Hull City and Burnley have both had bids turned down by Plymouth for the winger, although it remains to be seen how much they want for his services.

With interest in Whittaker seemingly hotting up, Clement must reignite the club’s long-standing desire to sign the English star this month, instead of missing out on him yet again.

Why Rangers should sign Morgan Whittaker

Some may look at his form in the current season and question why the Gers should splash the cash to bring him to Ibrox, as he has struggled at times in front of goal.

Whittaker has scored three goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances in the Championship this term, which is far from an impressive return at the top end of the pitch, albeit he did also score in a 1-0 win over Premier League side Brentford in the FA Cup at the weekend.

However, he is playing in a struggling Plymouth side that are currently bottom of the Championship, with just four wins, and that is why it has been difficult for him to thrive.

Rangers should, instead, look to his form from the 2023/24 campaign, as part of a Plymouth team that avoided relegation to League One, to see the kind of quality that he could produce on the right flank for the Gers as their eventual replacement for Cerny.

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old sensation provided consistent quality in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals, just as Cerny has for the Gers so far this season.

Whittaker, who was hailed as “exciting” by his former boss Steven Schumacher, has the ability to cut in on his left foot from the right to score goals consistently, as shown by his form last term, and can create ‘big chances’ for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Rangers could, therefore, sign him to be the long-term replacement for the Czechia international by signing him this month and giving him five months to settle in and learn from Cerny, before aiming to become a star for Clement in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Rangers make contact to sign "highly-rated" star who could be Bassey 2.0

Rangers will be active in the January transfer window

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 13, 2025

It is now down to Koppen to make a move for Whittaker and to agree a fee with Plymouth to bring the winger to Ibrox before the end of the January transfer window.

Antonio Conte has cast doubt over his Napoli future after calling out the club's transfer strategy.

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• Conte casts doubt over Napoli future
• Hanging on in Serie A title race
• Not happy with transfer strategy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Napoli are pushing Inter in the Serie A title race, sitting three points behind their rivals with six matches to play. But Conte has made it clear he is unhappy with with the lack of support he feels he will receive heading into the summer transfer market.

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  WHAT CONTE SAID

  Conte said: "I said a lot early on. Some still stands, some doesn't. I don't take anything back, but you learn. Like with Kvara [Kvicha Kvaratskhelia], I said Napoli shouldn't be a stepping stone. I’ve realised in eight months that many things here just aren’t possible."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It appears Conte is still sore after Napoli failed to properly replace Kvaratskhelia, who was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in January. It is not the first time the Italian has been angered by a club's recruitment policy, with a similar fall-out ending his time at Tottenham.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CONTE?

  It is unlikely Conte will leave before the end of the season and victory at Monza on Saturday would see his Napoli side go level with Inter, who play Bologna on Sunday.

Glasgow Rangers transfer business has been hit or miss over the previous few years under Philippe Clement, Michael Beale and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.

These three managers have signed their fair share of dross. Notable names include Ben Davies, Sam Lammers, James Sands and Kieran Dowell, splurging big money on either transfer fees or wages to entice them to Ibrox.

Of course, there has been the odd success story since the Light Blues’ last Premiership title win in 2021, with young players such as Mohamed Diomande, Hamza Igamane and Clinton Nsiala, who could all develop into stars that will generate major profits for the Ibrox side.

Despite the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the club in the transfer market since 2021, it hasn’t been nearly as bad compared to Pedro Caixinha’s spell in charge of the club…

Pedro Caixinha’s signings at Rangers

The Portuguese manager will go down as one of the worst in the club’s history, with his record in the transfer market particularly bad.

Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack would go on to be vital players for the club under Steven Gerrard, but aside from those two, Caixinha wasted plenty of cash.

Indeed, Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera cost £2.2m and £1.5m respectively, a staggering sum at the time, especially considering progress in Europe was non-existent, and the club had spent just a year back in the top flight.

More money was splashed on Norwich City midfielder Graham Dorrans, who also cost the Light Blues around £1.5m, but this transfer was looked upon as a smart piece of business by Caixinha.

The move soon turned into a disaster.

Graham Dorrans’ Rangers stats

Former Gers boss Alex McLeish showered him with praise upon arriving in Glasgow, saying:

Having made 142 appearances in the Premier League for Norwich and West Bromwich Albion, it was evident that Dorrans could add some steel to the Gers midfield.

Despite the hype generated on his arrival, enhanced even further when he scored twice against Motherwell in the opening game of the league season, it wasn’t long before the Scot suffered an injury.

Following five goals and two assists across his first ten domestic matches, the midfielder suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for the next six months, hampering the wonderful start he had at Rangers.

The 2018/19 season saw him make only three appearances, as a knee injury ensured he spent the majority of the campaign on the treatment table. Despite the lavish fee spent on Dorrans, it was clear the move didn’t work out, departing by mutual consent in 2019.

This month, Clement is keen on bringing a few players to Ibrox to bolster his squad. Much will depend on the budget he has available, suggesting moves will have to be made for those who could be available for nothing.

One player who has been linked with a move to Rangers is Allan Campbell, who is on loan at Charlton Athletic in League One.

Transfer Focus

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

While the club need some reinforcements, a move for Campbell could see the Gers repeat their Dorrans mistake, especially as he doesn’t appear to have the attributes which would make a huge difference to the starting XI.

Rangers linked with move for EFL midfielder

As reported by Football Insider earlier this week, the Light Blues are one of the teams eyeing a swoop for Campbell, who is contracted to Luton Town.

Fellow Premiership clubs Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen are also showing interest in the midfielder, perhaps proving that he shouldn’t be on the radar of the Gers.

His contract expires this summer, which means Clement would be able to agree a pre-contract move for the Scot – or sign him immediately this month for a fee – but his performances recently suggest making a move shouldn’t be at the top of his list.

Allan Campbell’s statistics during his time in England

The 26-year-old made his mark at Motherwell, playing 160 times for the Steelmen before making the move to Luton Town in 2021.

He was heavily praised during his spell in Scotland by manager Graham Alexander, who said: “Without trying to sound like his dad, I love him to bits, he’s everything that a professional footballer should be.

“His dedication to the game, to his team, what he puts in, he gets out, and he should be a shining example for every pro that sees him work, really.”

During Luton’s promotion campaign in 2022/23, Campbell ranked in the bottom 85% for progressive passes (2.57), the bottom 62% for shots on target (0.86) and the bottom 71% for pass completion percentage (72.7%) when compared to his peers in the Championship. These statistics are worrying, especially if Clement is showing interest in the midfielder.

It is evident that he doesn’t offer much going forward, while his pass success rate is low, which means he wouldn’t get in the team ahead of the likes of Connor Barron, Nico Raskin or Mohamed Diomande, who all average 87% or more in terms of passing domestically this term.

Since August 2023, Campbell has only played 28 times while out on loan, missing 15 matches due to injury in the process.

Overall, making a move for the Scot shouldn’t be high on the priority list for Clement, especially if he is looking to spend his modest budget on quality that will either improve the starting XI or on youngsters who can develop into excellent players.

Campbell is neither, and if the Gers do pursue a swoop, it could be a repeat of the deal that brought Dorrans north of the border all those years ago.

West Ham now in pole position to sign "experienced" Rangers attacker

He’s enjoying an impressive season…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jan 15, 2025

Raphinha, one of the best players in the world on current form, will sign a new contract which could potentially include a modest release clause.

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• Barca to offer new deal to Raphinha
• Brazilian has been in sparkling form this season
• A shockingly low release clause could be included

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona are set to offer a new contract to Raphinha, but with a considerably lower than expected release clause. The Brazil international has been among the best players in the world this season, becoming a crucial part of head coach Hansi Flick's plans. However, his new release clause could spark rumours of a premature departure in the future.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Contract negotiations between Barcelona and Raphinha remain in the early stages, but key differences are already emerging. The club is offering a one-plus-one extension, wary of past long-term deals that strained finances. The ex-Leeds winger is, however, pushing for two guaranteed years. Salary is another sticking point, with the Brazilian's camp pressing for improved terms. Despite the gap, talks have begun with hopes of avoiding future complications. One area of consensus appears to be the release clause, which would be set at around €80 million (£68m/$90m) – a figure both parties consider fair, should a mutual split be desired down the line.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Earlier this week, another report from the same publication broke the news that Saudi heavyweights Al-Hilal were preparing a blockbuster €100m (£85m/$113m) summer move for Raphinha. The SPL side are ready to offer a four-year deal worth €200m for the player whose contract expires in June 2027.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RAPHINHA?

  Having scored 30 goals and recorded 23 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions this term, Raphinha will be looking to add to his impressive numbers in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on Saturday, April 26.