Juventus have confirmed the signing of Alisha Lehmann to complete a unique "couple" transfer after getting on board her boyfriend Douglas Luiz.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Lehmann completes move to JuventusHas signed three-year contract with Italian sideLuiz already completed transfer to TurinWHAT HAPPENED?
The 25-year-old is now officially a Juventus player after she signed a three-year deal with the Bianconeri. This transfer comes on the heels of Villa's confirmation of Luiz's departure to Juventus for a substantial fee of €50 million (£42m/$54m), with Samuel Iling Jr and Enzo Barrenechea moving to Aston Villa in separate deals worth €22m (£19m/$24m).
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Lehmann made only 15 Women's Super League appearances last campaign for Villa and scored two goals as she was battling an injury for the bulk of the season. However, that did not prevent Juventus from offering her a contract as coach Massimiliano Canzi has immense trust in her potential.
WHAT LEHMANN SAID
After completing her move to Juventus, Lehmann said: "I'm overjoyed, Juve has a great history. So much so that I have to be honest: I was a bit nervous when I got out of my car for my medical check-up at J|Medical and saw so many fans. But everything is great.
“For Douglas and me to be together in the same club is a dream. We have often played in different cities, so being able to have these great adventures in the same place is something wonderful.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
LEHMANN'S PARTING MESSAGE TO ASTON VILLA
In an emotional farewell message to Aston Villa, Lehmann expressed her gratitude and affection for the club. Reflecting on her memorable stint with the team, she wrote on Instagram: "An emotional goodbye, I wanna say thank you to my teammates, staff and of course the amazing fans. I spent the best 3 years so far of my career at this amazing club, every single minute I enjoyed. Thank you for everything [Aston Villa]. You will always have a special place in my heart, and of course, a part of me will be there forever. Thank you."
Thirty-four for three, 20 for 3, and then 53 for 5.This hasn’t been a uniformly terrible tour for South Africa’s batsmen. Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock have both scored hundreds, and Faf du Plessis has made a couple of fifties. The lower order has stuck around to the extent that South Africa, on this tour, have achieved two of the five longest ninth-wicket partnerships ever seen in India.But it has been a nightmare tour for South Africa against the new ball, and Temba Bavuma, their No. 4, isn’t shying away from that.”Look, from the guys at the top, the top-order batters, the guys who are entrusted with scoring the bulk of the runs, it does kind of hurt,” Bavuma said at the end of the third day’s play in Pune. “It does dent your ego when you’re seeing the lower order go out and fight it out to do what you’re really playing to do.
Watch cricket on ESPN+
India v South Africa is available in the US on Hotstar and ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the Tests.
“The boys are trying with the bat and I think, looking forward, looking at the second innings, there’s a lot of confidence we can take in the fact that it’s not all demons out there. We can actually bat. We’ve just got to find a way to dominate with the bat, as much as India have done so.”I don’t have the answers as to where it’s going wrong. The obvious one is that we’re not able to put up partnerships. We haven’t been able to absorb and sustain the pressure that the Indian bowlers have put on us for a consistent period of time. And that’s obviously something that we’ll be trying to rectify. We’re going to have an opportunity now in the second innings, whether India decide to bat again, whether they decide to [enforce the] follow-on, we’re going to have an opportunity as batters to really stake our claim.”In three innings on this tour, Bavuma has made 18, 0 and 8. He knows a lot more is expected of him.”I can understand all the criticism and all the flak that is coming my way,” Bavuma said. “Like I’ve always said, as a batter your currency is runs and that’s what you’re judged according to. And when your performances are not at the level that we’re so accustomed to as South African batters, people are going to come hard.”The South African public, the fans, are very proud and they’re used to a higher standard of cricket. Us as sportsmen represent the South African country – that’s the pressure we deal with. From my side as a player, it’s not as if I am going out there and trying to nick balls and trying to miss straight ones.Temba Bavuma is bowled•BCCI
“I can honestly probably say, being critical of myself, that I’m giving my best but probably my best at this point in time is not good enough. In saying that, it is not something that I’ll shy away from. Criticism is a good thing. I’ve always felt that it’s just a matter of me, as a professional cricketer, stepping up to the pressure that is before me and trying to win back the support of the fans back home.”At the end of the second day’s play, when South Africa were 36 for 3 in response to India’s 601 for 5 declared, their team director Enoch Nkwe had stern words for the players.”We had an honest and truthful chat from the coach,” Bavuma said. “He gave us his true feelings, his true thoughts on how we had gone about our last two days. He was really critical of our effort. Basically he said with everything that’s happened, we’ve got to find a way.”We haven’t come to India to lose, we haven’t necessarily come to India to just learn; we’ve actually come to compete and to win. That’s what our goal is. Yes, we haven’t done it in the first Test. We haven’t been able to do that in the first two-and-a-half days [here], but there’s an opportunity going forward to do it. Like I said, there is a responsibility from us to stake our claim and do everyone justice.”The top-order batsmen, Bavuma said, could look to the lower-order pair of Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander, who put on 109 in 259 balls, if they need any inspiration for the second innings.Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander forged a century stand•BCCI
“It was a spectacular effort from Vernon and Keshav to fight it out there out in the middle, and face as many balls as they did, and in saying that still accumulate runs. I mean, us in the change room and even on the sides, we were enjoying every moment of it.”But as I said, we were feeding from the confidence they were giving us. You saw the balance between their defence as well as their attacking shots. That’s something we’ve been speaking about as batters. That’s been our aim in what we’re trying to do. The mood is definitely positive, the mood has been positive, to be honest. It was enjoyable, the 260-ball partnership between those two.”There was more inspiration to take from the fact that Maharaj, who scored his first Test fifty, was batting with an injured right shoulder.”There’s definitely a lot of positives to take,” Bavuma said. “This is a confidence-booster. Keshav is a big player in the team, obviously Vernon as well. For big players, for senior players in the team to step up when the occasion arises is definitely is something that you can stick out your chest on.”Like I said, over the next two days we’re going to need a lot more of that, with the ball, with the bat, in every department, we are going to need guys to put up their hand and no matter which way the result goes, let’s just make sure that our pride is intact.”
Glasgow Rangers head coach Philippe Clement has enjoyed a terrific start to life with the Scottish giants since he replaced Michael Beale in the dugout in October.
The English tactician, who has since joined and then departed English side Sunderland, was relieved of his duties whilst the Gers were seven points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table.
Clement has overseen a phenomenal turnaround at Ibrox that has left his team top of the table and two points ahead of their closest rivals after 26 league matches.
Glasgow Rangers managerPhilippe Clement.
The Belgian boss has only had one transfer window to shape his squad – in January – and brought in Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, and Fabio Silva to bolster his options.
It will be interesting to see what Clement is able to do in the summer with regards to the playing group, as it has been reported that he wants to lower the age of the squad.
Rangers star who could be allowed to depart
A recent report from Football Insider claimed that Gers star Tom Lawrence could be ditched at the end of the season, due to the manager's desire to piece together a younger side.
The outlet stated that Clement wants to bring in high-potential youngsters with the potential to develop as part of an exciting team at Rangers moving forward, which appears to spell bad news for the older contingent of Light Blues players.
Football Insider name Lawrence as one player who could be sold during the summer transfer window as any sale would be pure profit for the club, who signed him on a free transfer from Derby County in the summer of 2022.
Borna Barisic is also said to be on his way out of Ibrox on a free transfer at the end of the current season, as his contract with the Scottish giants is due to expire.
Borna Barisic
Whilst Rangers and the Belgian tactician could look to dip into the market to find high-potential players to replace the likes of Lawrence, Barisic, and others, they could also look to the academy to bring through and develop their own homegrown stars.
Ross McCausland has made 25 first-team appearances in all competitions so far this season, and contributed with three goals and four assists from the right flank.
18-year-old whiz Zak Lovelace also played twice in the Premiership earlier this term before suffering an injury, which shows that there are talented prospects coming through the B team.
With this in mind, Clement could unearth a dream homegrown replacement for Lawrence, should the midfielder depart on a permanent basis in the summer transfer window, by bringing Alex Lowry into the first-team set-up.
Alex Lowry's time with Hearts
The 20-year-old maestro spent the first half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Hearts in the Premiership and gained valuable minutes in the top-flight.
He started ten of his 12 appearances in the division as Steven Naismith provided him with plenty of opportunities to catch the eye in the middle of the park or out wide.
Lowry failed to score in those 12 matches but did contribute with two assists for the team, to go along with his one goal and two assists in two League Cup outings for the Jam Tarts.
23/24 Premiership
Alex Lowry
Appearances
12
Chances created
22
Dribbles completed
17
Dribble success rate
52%
Sofascore rating
6.92
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Gers academy graduate showed glimpses of the quality he can provide in midfield with his ability to create chances and glide past opposition players with the ball.
However, the young gem was not a regular starter, possibly due to his lack of regular goals and assists, heading into the January transfer window and Naismith decided to send him back to the Light Blues.
Goals and assists may come for Lowry as he continues his development, though, as his record for Rangers at youth level has been particularly eye-catching.
Rangers midfielder Alex Lowry.
The talented wizard, who was once described as "dangerous" by ex-boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, racked up 12 goals and three assists in 16 appearances for Rangers B.
Lowry, who has produced two goals and two assists in 14 first-team matches for the club, has the potential to be a big goalscoring threat from midfield and could go on to emerge as a key player for Clement if he can translate that to senior level.
Tom Lawrence's form this season
The Wales international has made 13 appearances in the Premiership so far this season and, like Lowry, has caught the eye with his creative quality.
Lawrence, however, has not scored a single goal for the Light Blues in the top-flight this term, which means that they will not be losing a big goal threat if they decide to cash in on him.
The former Leicester City gem has, though, created four 'big chances' and assisted two goals for his teammates in those 13 league outings.
23/24 Premiership
Tom Lawrence
Alex Lowry
Appearances
13
12
Chances created
21
22
Dribbles completed
Nine
17
Touches per game
40.5
43.6
Goals
Zero
Zero
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, both players have performed to a similar level in the Premiership this season, as they are both creative midfielders who have failed to find the back of the net.
At the age of 30, Lawrence is not a long-term option for Rangers and may have already reached the peak of his development, which is why Clement could cash in on him in the summer.
Tom Lawrence
The Gers should not plan to have the experienced whiz as a regular starter moving forward, due to his age, whereas Lowry is at the opposite end of his career at the age of 20.
He has the majority of his career, injury permitting, to look forward to and is a player the head coach can work with and develop over the years to come.
Even if Lowry does not establish himself as a regular starter next season, the academy prospect could learn from a player like Todd Cantwell and then look to break into the side consistently in the future.
Therefore, Clement could unearth a dream Lawrence replacement, and save the club millions, by bringing the youngster up into the first-team instead of swooping for a multi-million pound new signing.
The ultra-short boundaries at Eden Park, known as the postage stamp, are mean to the bowlers. They can be even meaner when rain cuts a 20-over series decider into 11 overs. After England’s bowlers suffer at the hands of Martin Guptill and Colin Munro, Eoin Morgan launches the visitors’ chase with a hat-trick of boundaries. Sam Curran then goes one better, clubbing Scott Kuggeleijn for four boundaries in a row. Jonny Bairstow, too, joins the carnage as England rack up 52 in just three overs. Bairstow has now nicked off for 47, but England are fairly well-placed at 100 for 4 in seven overs.Captain Tim Southee turns to Mitchell Santner in search of a wicket. The left-arm spinner delivers a double blow, but then the match goes into another Super Over and we all know how that unfolds. However, Santner’s strikes and composure under pressure showed why he’s New Zealand’s MVP heading into the T20 World Cup across the Tasman Sea next year. Once he saw Sam Curran advance down the track, he speared a back-of-a-length slider well past the tramline and had the batsman stumped off an off-side wide for 24 off 11 balls. Wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, who was mic’d up, suggested that Santner probably knew that the batsman was coming at him.Mitchell Santner celebrates a wicket•AFP
Santner then made a rare error, looping a non-turning half-volley, which Lewis Gregory muscled over long-on for six. But he wasn’t flustered and bravely floated the next one up at 85kph, and got it to turn away, daring Gregory to manufacture pace for himself. Gregory swung hard, but Santner’s clever change-up defeated him as he could only scoop it as far as extra-cover. He conceded only singles off the next four balls to finish an excellent 11-run over. Earlier, in his first over, the fourth of the chase, Santner had given away only nine runs. In daunting defence against a power-packed line-up on flat track, Santner came away with the two most economical overs. What might have been had Santner been handed another over?While Santner doesn’t quite demand the attention that Sunil Narine or wristspinners do these days, there’s no denying his class and control. It was on bright display during the 50-over World Cup in the UK earlier this year and also during this T20I series against England. Santner ended the series as the top wicket-taker with 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.83 and strike rate of 9.8. Ish Sodhi and Adil Rashid, the purveyors of the more glamorous variety of spin – wristspin – managed only three wickets each while proving more expensive. Sodhi went at 11.73 an over while Rashid fared somewhat better, conceding at 9.54.Meanwhile, left-arm seamer Sam Curran, who had the benefit of bowling as many overs as Santner did (18), picked up six wickets at an economy rate of 8.50. It’s no secret these days that Santner bowls one over in the powerplay and then works his way through the middle overs. Yet, batsmen haven’t been able to line him up as he hits the hard length in the early exchanges and then, when the batsman is desperately searching for the big hits, Santner slows up his pace. He also thrives by shifting his lines wide of off, challenging the batsmen to fetch the ball and then slog it. More than 80% of Santner’s success this series is down to hanging the ball up outside off or even wider. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, he has bowled 62 balls around that line, grabbing nine wickets and conceding 81 runs.Santner’s wiles, in particular, were key to New Zealand pinning England down at the Westpac Stadium in the second T20I. Chris Jordan had shellacked Sodhi for four successive sixes and then cracked Lockie Ferguson over mid-off for four, threatening a late jailbreak. England were needing 49 off 30 balls when Southee tossed the ball over to his main man Santner. After his first ball was sent over extra-cover for four, Santner responded strongly by having Jordan holing out with a nifty drop in pace. Game over for England.”Chris Jordan was hitting it pretty well there at the end,” Santner said at the post-match press conference. “When you bowl slow as a spinner, I guess you’ve quite a fine margin – you can be swept square or pulled square. You try to hit a couple in the [block]hole and mix it up. You try not to be too predictable and it was nice to get that wicket and go from there.”Speaking to Radio Sport, Santner said that the wickets of big-hitters like Morgan and Jordan gave him extra pleasure. “They’re one of the best T20 sides at the moment and the way they like to play T20 cricket is to come pretty hard and that’s what they do whether you’re taking wickets or not. It’s one of things that even if you get a wicket, you’ve got to be on top of your game because the English can come hard and put you under pressure. And the best way to stall momentum is to take wickets throughout.”All told, Santner has bagged 20 T20I wickets in 2019 – the most among bowlers from Full Member nations in the shortest format. This time last year, Santner was recovering from a knee surgery, wondering if he could prove his fitness in time for the World Cup. He, ultimately, made it to the UK and almost helped New Zealand win the tournament. Then, he almost helped New Zealand win the T20I series against England. If he keeps up his form, Santner could prove more effective on the larger grounds in Australia by this time next year and could (actually) help New Zealand win a World Cup.
Cole Palmer sent England fans into a frenzy when he lashed home a stunning goal to equalise against Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Palmer came off the bench in second halfSmashed in the equaliser shortly afterwardsFans went crazy for his excellent goalWHAT HAPPENED?
Just three minutes after coming off the bench, Palmer blasted low into the bottom corner as he met a pass from Jude Bellingham, cancelling out Nico Williams' earlier opener to tie the final at 1-1.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
"Cole Palmer. Cole F*CKING Palmer. England's best talent," wrote one supporter. "None of Bellingham, none of Foden. Cole PALMER. THE BEST PLAYER TO GRACE THE COUNTRY. STARBOY."
"Cole Palmer enters the pitch, Cole Palmer scores after two minutes. Cold," wrote Fabrizio Romano. "And Jude Bellingham’s assist."
"Cole Palmer is the best player in the world. This is Ballon d’or worthy," said Dubois, while a Chelsea fan sang the stars praises, saying: "Cole Palmer has come on 3 times this tournament and England has scored immediately after each and every time. It’s not a coincidence, he’s England’s best player."
"I love how we always prove ourselves right when we say Southgate needs to bring Cole Palmer on. Instant impact TWICE now coming off the bench," said Annie.
"Cole Palmer is undoubtedly the best English PL player of 2024 and it’s not even close," said another fan.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Palmer is the first player in 24 years to to come off the bench in a European Championship final and score an equaliser, according to . The last player to do so was Sylvain Wiltord for France. Unlike in that final, however, it was Spain who went on to take a 2-1 lead late in the game, much to Palmer and England's disappointment.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Despite Palmer's effort, England suffered a second consecutive European Championship final defeat. The Three Lions will hope to regroup and put together another strong campaign when the 2026 World Cup rolls around.
There has been much to admire about the Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar reign at Arsenal.
The performances on the field of play, of course, have been truly fantastic. The Gunners are top of the league heading into the international break and await a first Champions League quarter-final in 14 years.
It's safe to say this project is going rather well for the Spaniard and his coaching staff.
That said, the way they have carried out their work behind the scenes has also been first-class. There have been very few misses in the transfer market with even those questioned initially now proving doubters wrong. Ahem, Kai Havertz, we're talking about you.
There has been some phenomenal work carried out regarding contract renewals too. Gone are the days of the club's best players running their deals down – ala Robin van Persie. The Emirates Stadium is now where these players see their futures. Thank you, Arteta, truly.
Martin Odegaard has already signed new terms this campaign and the latest start to put pen to paper is Ben White.
Why Ben White signed a new contract
This has been quite the week for Arsenal's right-back. On Wednesday morning it was announced by the club that White had signed a new deal to remain at the Emirates. It was superb news, particularly considering his recent form.
Handed new terms on £150k-per-week until 2028, it was a fine reward for a player with two assists and a goal in his last couple of Premier League outings.
A new contract was for more than just a couple of games, however. White has been one of the most consistent figures in the team since signing for £50m from Brighton with Arteta transforming the 26-year-old from a central defender into a flying full-back.
An understated character and a man of few words, his teammates were truly delighted to see him awarded with a new deal. Just check out the video below.
That said, it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows for him this week after refusing to make himself available for England selection.
Why Ben White doesn't want to play for England
Speaking after receiving a first call-up as a Brighton player for the European Championships back in 2021, the defender could hardly contain his excitement. This was a player living out his childhood dreams. To say he isn't proud to have an England cap would be absurd.
However, since that moment his time with the Three Lions has been a struggle. White didn't make a single appearance at the Euros, nor did he get any minutes during the World Cup in Qatar.
After finding it difficult to settle into life away from home at tournament football, White flew home from the tournament before England's campaign was finished, with 'personal reasons' cited.
The real reason we will perhaps never know, although The Athletic believe that differences between one of Gareth Southgate's key coaching staff, Steve Holland, could be to blame.
It's thought Holland wasn't a great fan of White's attitude, with the coach reportedly calling the defender out for not taking things seriously enough. Southgate denies that staunchly and is still open to a return to the England setup for the Arsenal star. Speaking in his press conference after announcing the latest squad, the national manager said:
"On form, I can't sit here and say [White] doesn't deserve to be in. John McDermott [technical director] had a call from Edu last week to say Ben didn't want to be considered for England squads at this time.
"That's a great shame, he's a player I really like, he's a player we took to the Euros when he was at Brighton, to the World Cup. I spoke to him post-Qatar, because I wanted to pick him. There was clearly reticence from his side, I don't know fully why that is."
Whether White adds to his four caps remains to be seen. We may just have to wait until Southgate departs the role to find out.
Meet Arsenal's Hale End "monster" who's ready to become the new Ben White
The Hale End gem is just as versatile as the Arsenal starter.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 6, 2024 Which Arsenal players will sign a new deal next?
It's reported that Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is close to agreeing a new deal with the club as Arsenal aim to tie down some of their most consistent assets.
Next on the list should be another rather underrated character in Jorginho. Signed from Chelsea for just £12m, the Italian has been nothing short of exceptional since arriving.
Arsenal's Jorginho
There were complaints when he first moved to north London. Arsenal had been after Moises Caicedo, a player who was eventually sold for even more than Declan Rice (£115m), so to end up with an ageing Chelsea 'reject' as everyone thought was not ideal.
However, like the aforementioned Havertz, he has fought away the doubters in exquisite fashion.
Described as a "monster" by Dr Rajpal Brar, a notable figure in the Arsenal community on social media, Jorginho has been the big game player that Arteta had been missing. He is the definition of plug-and-play. Simply select the former Champions League winner and you'll get a 7 or 8/10 every time.
#1 Kai Havertz
£280k
2028
#2 Gabriel Jesus
£265k
2027
#3 Declan Rice
£240k
2028
#4 Martin Odegaard
£240k
2028
#5 Thomas Partey
£200k
2025
#6 Bukayo Saka
£195k
2027
Handed the Player of the Match award against Newcastle last month, the 32-year-old has been rolling back the years. Truth be told, it takes quite something to stand out above all else when your team are scoring so many goals, but Jorginho has.
He was notably outstanding in that vital 2-1 win over Liverpool, again winning the Man of the Match. On that occasion, no player retained possession better, had more touches or made more passes.
Crucially, it has also given Rice a license to get forward, something he is excelling in. With Jorginho at the base, the club's record buy has scored three goals in his last five league outings.
With Thomas Partey injured for much of the campaign, Arteta has needed someone to step up beside Rice and in the European Championship winner, he has found the ideal man. The trouble is that Jorginho's deal expires in the summer.
Arsenal can trigger a one-year extension and they should do just that, potentially even handing their 2023 signing a bumper pay rise in the process. He certainly deserves it.
Glasgow Rangers faced a major rebuilding job during last summer as Michael Beale allowed several first-team players to depart following the expiration of their contracts.
Allan McGregor, Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield, Ryan Kent, and Filip Helander were notified that they would not be receiving extensions and that they were free to leave once the 2022/23 campaign ended.
Allan McGregor
McGregor, Arfield and Helander were all on the wrong side of 30 and, for obvious reasons, Beale clearly felt he had to go in a new direction heading into the new season.
With regard to Kent and Morelos, losing them for nothing represented poor business. The duo had emerged as crowd favourites over the years, dazzling in spells and helping the Ibrox side win their first Premiership crown in ten years during the 2020/21 campaign.
Morelos cost just £1m in 2017 and he more than repaid this fee over the years, scoring 124 goals in 269 appearances for the Gers while becoming their record scorer in European competition and, at his best, he was unstoppable.
While Kent was also unplayable at times due to his wizardry on the left wing, there was perhaps a feeling that he underachieved at Rangers, especially considering how much they paid to sign him.
How much Rangers paid to sign Ryan Kent
Following a productive loan spell at Ibrox during Steven Gerrard’s first season in charge, where he scored six goals and grabbed nine assists, the former Anfield captain used his connections at the club and relationship with Jürgen Klopp to seal a permanent deal for the winger.
Ryan Kent's Rangers statistics
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2022/23
44
3
10
2021/22
49
3
19
2020/21
52
13
14
2019/20
34
6
4
2018/19
43
6
9
Via Transfermarkt
Indeed, the Englishman was announced on September 3rd 2019 as the Light Blues' latest signing, costing the club around £7.5m, their highest fee since promotion back to the Premiership in 2016.
Ryan Kent’s statistics at Rangers
The winger registered 12 goal contributions – eight goals and four assists – which, given the financial output in order to secure his services, these stats were hardly earth-shattering.
He more than made up for this during the following campaign, as the Gers improved month after month and powered away from Celtic to seal a record 55th league title and, at times, Kent was sensational.
rangers-ryan-kent-everton-premier-league-transfer
Not only did he score 13 goals in all competitions, but the former Liverpool starlet grabbed a further 14 assists as he became a key member of Gerrard’s starting XI.
Kent ranked second among the squad for goals and assists in the top flight that season (19), along with ranking second for shots on target per game (0.9), third for big chances created (nine) and key passes per game (1.8), clearly proving how effective he was in the final third.
This should have been the platform for which Kent to further improve and lead the club to more glory during 2021/22, but it didn’t go as well as anticipated.
The Ibrox side did win the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League final, with Kent providing two assists against Borussia Dortmund in the playoff round, but he failed to replicate his displays from the season before.
He only scored three times that season and the 2022/23 campaign (his last at Rangers) proved to be even leaner, with the 27-year-old scoring three goals and grabbing just ten assists.
Previously hailed as a “wizard” by former teammate Leon Balogun, Kent was anything but last year and he left with his tail between his legs at the end of the season for pastures new.
Ryan Kent's record since leaving Rangers
It did not take long for the player to find a new club, signing a deal at Turkish side Fenerbahçe last summer ahead of the 2023/24 season.
It was perhaps a surprising move for the winger, yet it gave him a chance to forget about the disappointing campaign he had to endure, and it was a fresh start on the continent.
He scored on his debut for the club in the qualifiers for the Europa Conference League, and it looked as though things could work out well in Turkey, but it proved to be a false dawn for Kent.
At the time of writing, the 27-year-old has failed to add another goal to his name, while chipping in with just two assists, and he has found himself frozen out of the team.
The move has clearly turned sour, with thoughts now turning to his future as he faces an important summer ahead.
Not only that, but the winger is also earning more than James Tavernier for a fraction of the attacking output the Rangers captain is displaying every week.
Ryan Kent's salary compared to Rangers squad
The former Rangers dynamo is currently earning £54.7k-per-week at the Turkish club. Considering how little impact he has had at Fenerbahçe, these wages are extravagant, to say the least.
To put that into perspective, Tavernier currently earns £30k-per-week. This is not to be sniffed at, and it makes him the second-highest earner at the club, yet it is nearly half of the wage Kent is taking home every week.
This season alone, the right-back has scored 21 goals and registered ten assists across all competitions for the Light Blues, meaning he has contributed over ten times the number of goals and assists as Kent has this term.
While the club perhaps should have secured Kent on a new contract in order to gain a fee for him considering he was keen on leaving, there is no doubt his departure came at precisely the right time.
As mentioned, on his day, the former Anfield gem was a wizard on the left wing, beating opponents with ease and having a keen eye for goal.
During his final few months at Rangers, however, his performance levels dipped rapidly and the supporters no longer saw the winger who had sparkled during his initial few years in Glasgow.
Whatever happens next, Kent must sign for a team in the summer where he can get regular game time, otherwise, his once prodigious talent will disappear, and he may have to move down a few levels in order to build his reputation back up.
It is believed a heavily praised manager could "emerge" as a late contender to replace David Moyes at West Ham, with the tactician's future still uncertain.
Moyes deal expiring as West Ham fans call for change
Moyes' tenure has been the best of any West Ham manager in recent memory, with the Scotsman securing European qualification in each of his full campaigns whilst also helping them to their first major trophy since the 1980s last year.
West Ham want proven Moyes replacement as Steidten takes to South America
The Scotsman is out of contract at the end of the season.
By
Emilio Galantini
Feb 27, 2024
West Ham's Conference League triumph in Prague will live long in the memories of many supporters, but a large section of the Hammers fan base now also believe the time is right for change.
There have been some complaints over West Ham's dogged style of play, with their league form since 2022 not exactly proving imperious. West Ham found themselves in a relegation battle last season and it took them nearly two months to win their first game of 2024.
West Ham chiefs have reportedly been assessing alternatives to Moyes, although the Scotsman stated last week that a new contract is already on the table for him.
David Moyes' stats at West Ham this season
Number (via FootyStats)
Points per game
1.65
Win percentage
48.65%
Goals per match (average)
1.51
Goals conceded per 90 (average)
1.57
"I've had really good conversations with the owners, with David Sullivan and Karren Brady," said Moyes on signing a potential new contract.
"There's a contract there for me and I'm the one deciding I want to wait until the end of the season. There are plenty of reasons [to wait]. I've got to make sure it's the right thing for the club, for me and my family. I've spoken to the board. I've had a fabulous four years. We'll sort it out but I'm happy to wait."
According to various reports, West Ham are after a proven manager if they're to part company with Moyes, but one man who could come into the fold is ex-Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper.
Cooper could "emerge" as West Ham candidate
Despite eventually being handed his P45, Cooper was praised for his "10/10" job at the City Ground last year as the Welshman steered Forest away from relegation. Cooper had to deal with a bloated squad among other issues but managed to keep them in Europe's most sought-after division, and he's now a free agent who's ready-available for hire.
Journalist Dean Jones has now told GiveMeSport that he's not in the equation right now, but if other options fail, Cooper could emerge as a candidate to succeed Moyes at West Ham.
“At the moment, I don't think Steve Cooper is going to be in that conversation, but I can see why people would expect him to be," said Jones.
“Perhaps further down the line, if they were to be looking at options and they weren't falling into place, I think he could emerge as an option."
The 2021/22 season will live long in the memory of Nottingham Forest fans as the club ended their 23-year exile from the Premier League, defeating Huddersfield Town at Wembley thanks to a Levi Colwill own goal.
Steve Cooper took over from Chris Hughton after the former Brighton boss was sacked following six defeats and one draw in the opening seven Championship encounters.
The former Swansea boss completed a remarkable turnaround in leading the Reds to the Premier League, after taking over the side who were bottom of England's second tier.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper.
The promotion campaign saw the emergence of multiple favourites among the Forest faithful, including the likes of loanees Djed Spence, Keinan Davis and James Garner.
Nottingham Forest's starting XI if they never achieved promotion in 2022
The club gained promotion to the Premier League in the 2021/22 season.
ByEthan Lamb Feb 16, 2024
However, one player cemented his status as a legend at the club after his performance in the play-off semi-final, which allowed the Reds to subsequently get to Wembley and gain promotion.
How much Nottingham Forest paid for Brice Samba
The Reds agreed a deal to sign French shot-stopper Brice Samba from Ligue 1 side Caen back in the summer of 2019 for an undisclosed fee in the region of just £1.8m.
Samba became the Reds' third first-team 'keeper after Aro Muric and Luke Steele, with the Frenchman initially being second choice behind the Manchester City loanee.
However, the Marseille goalkeeper quickly impressed at the City Ground, becoming the Reds' number one under Sabri Lamouchi, in a season where the club infamously missed out on the play-offs on the final day.
He retained his number-one position throughout the next couple of years at the club, going on to make 125 appearances during his time on Trentside.
GK – Brice Samba
RB – Carl Jenkinson
CB – Joe Worrall
CB – Tobias Figuiredo
LB – Yuri Ribeiro
CM – Samba Sow
CM – John Bostock
CM – Tiago Silva
RW – Arvin Appiah
LW – Sammy Ameobi
ST – Rafa Mir
Arguably, his most impressive display at the club came in his penultimate game during the play-off semi-final victory over Sheffield United. Samba made three crucial saves during normal and extra time, before making himself a hero during the penalty shootout.
He saved spot kicks from Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and now Forest player Morgan Gibbs-White, sending the club to the new Wembley for the first time since it was built in 2007.
Brice Samba's transfer value in 2024
After the play-off triumph, Samba departed the City Ground, with the Frenchman wanting to return to his homeland, subsequently joining Lens for a deal in the region of £4m. His form for the French side saw them clinch a Champions League spot ahead of this season, a real highlight of his impact in Ligue 1.
Nearly two years on from his departure, Samba's market value has soared to £24m – as per Football Transfers – with the Reds wishing they held onto the elite-level shot-stopper.
The Reds have struggled to replace Samba, with players such as Dean Henderson and Keylor Navas temporarily filling the void – with the pair both returning to their parent clubs last summer. The club invested £20m in the goalkeeping department during the summer, with Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos joining from Arsenal and Benfica respectively.
Nottingham Forest will rue losing one GK who's a bigger talent than Samba
Nottingham Forest will regret not signing this goalkeeper.
ByTom Lever Feb 15, 2024
Neither have managed to nail down the number one position at the City Ground, with the club desperately missing Samba's shot-stopping and distribution ability. Now, they rely on Matz Sels who joined in the recent January transfer window.
Inter Miami have reportedly agreed to a loan deal for River Plate defender Hector David Martinez with an option to buy after one year.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Martinez set to join the Herons
Miami beat Pumas to his services
Has a $3 million purchase option
WHAT HAPPENED?
Throughout the summer, Inter Miami have been actively searching for a central defender, as Nicolas Freire has been sidelined for the year with an ACL injury. They have been linked with high-profile free agents like Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos but with little progress. In their search, the Herons have now turned their attention to River Plate and believe they have found a suitable candidate in Martínez – the Paraguayan international, according to
Advertisement
@RiverPlate
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The report mentions that the deal with River Plate involves a one-year loan for Martínez, with an option for Inter Miami to make the transfer permanent in 2025 for $3 million (£2.30m). He is a seasoned player with 11 caps for the Paraguay national team but has had a limited role at River Plate this season, making just five appearances in all competitions, totalling only 182 minutes of play.
DID YOU KNOW?
Martinez was linked with a move to Mexican side Pumas but the deal fell through. This allowed Inter Miami to swoop in and put in a bid for the 26-year-old defender.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images
WHAT NEXT?
Inter Miami's acquisition of Martínez adds to their growing contingent of Paraguayan players, including Diego Gomez and Matias Rojas. They will hope that Martinez can adapt to the team as quickly as possible to plug their leaky defence which has conceded 37 times in 23 league outings.