Leeds United are no different to any other English club, in that their fans absolutely love to see an academy graduate thrive in the first team.

So, for Daniel Farke, he must surely stick by the notion that 'you do not fix what isn't broken' with regard to one of his current starters.

Deadline Day marked a busy one for the Whites, who scrambled to add some much-needed depth to their squad before the window slammed shut.

Succeeding in doing so, they welcomed three new faces to bring their summer acquisitions up to nine, as a fine number to offset the 15 departures they had overseen.

One of their starring acquisitions at the eleventh hour came for just £5.5m, as they tempted Glen Kamara to trade Ibrox for Elland Road in order to aid their promotion charge.

How good is Glen Kamara?

The Finland international had starred for Rangers ever since moving in 2019 but admitted that "I feel I just needed a change in my career and Leeds is the perfect place to kick-start my career again" in his first interview with his new club.

After all, he had accomplished most of what was possible in Scotland, having won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup, as well as featuring in the Champions League. The 27-year-old is now set to bring a wealth of experience to Yorkshire, with the hope that he can recapture the form that saw him lauded during the 2021/22 campaign.

Maintaining a 7.01 average rating in the league, his six goal contributions and 1.3 key passes per game outlined his creative credentials, but paired it with a 91% pass accuracy and one tackle per game too, adding some solidity as well, via Sofascore.

All signs point towards Kamara being instantly thrown into the starting lineup given what he has achieved in the Scottish top flight, but it should not be that easy for him to usurp the exceptional Archie Gray after his start to the season.

How is Archie Gray playing?

Having only made his competitive debut in Leeds' Championship curtain-raiser with Cardiff City, the 17-year-old impressed many with his mature and combative midfield display in a 2-2 draw.

He has since featured in every single game across all competitions thus far, and earned special praise from club legend Jermaine Beckford on Sky Sports (via Leeds Live): "He played with such maturity, he was so confident on the ball. He didn't rush, he didn't panic at all. Everything about his game today was absolutely spot on, and if today is anything to go by, this kid has such a bright future ahead of him.

"He's in the right place to learn, he's got a little bit of everything in him. Phenomenal player, he did really well today."

Tom Elliott

16 years 02 months 25 days

Simon Walton

16 years 10 months 25 days

Ryan Edmondson

16 years 11 months 16 days

Aaron Lennon

17 years, 4 months, 13 days

Archie Gray

17 years, 4 months, 25 days

Although his 6.6 average rating perhaps does not emphasise the scale of Gray's influence, who is the son, great nephew and grandson of three former Whites stars, his 84% pass accuracy and 1.4 tackles does showcase that quality in possession and toughness in the tackle that has earned praise, via Sofascore.

The partnership he has struck up with Ethan Ampadu marks one of the few shining lights to emerge from a term where they have just one league win thus far, as the Wales international acts as more of a dictator to allow his teenage teammate to spread the play.

As such, the 22-year-old maintains an 86% pass accuracy alongside 1.2 key passes, 2.4 tackles and 2.2 clearances per game in the league, via Sofascore.

Another pundit, Michael Dawson, outlined the kind of creativity that this foundation allows Gray to showcase: "The ball from Archie Gray is absolutely sensational. He picks the ball up just on the right-hand side in his own half and hits a long diagonal pass to Sinisterra, who runs at Harry Clarke and he lets him get in the box, chop inside and whip the ball into the far post."

Although Kamara may be the outstanding option on paper, Gray has certainly merited a sustained period of first-team football to continue solidifying a fine partnership with the former Chelsea general.

Leeds United could well have found an ideal alternative to reported target Joseph Paintsil, amid reports that Daniel Farke and co are plotting a deadline day deal for another exciting attacking asset, in the form of AZ Alkmaar ace, Jens Odgaard.

What's the latest on Jens Odgaard to Leeds?

According to Danish outlet BT, the Whites are said to be among the clubs who are interested in signing the 24-year-old forward before the close of the window, with the Championship side said to be 'lurking' in the hope of potentially making a move sooner rather than later.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

The report does indicate, however, that Serie A side Bologna are currently attempting to strike a deal for the 6 foot 2 ace – who is valued at £5m by Football Transfers – while German outfit Werder Bremen are also currently in the mix for the player's signature.

Who is Jens Odgaard?

Could the former Sassuolo and Inter Milan asset be a surprise late capture for the Yorkshire giants?

It would appear that a new attacking recruit is on the agenda for those at Elland Road amid the recent links to Genk sensation, Joseph Paintsil, albeit with little movement having been made with regard to the potential signing of the 25-year-old, seeking out an alternative such as Odgaard could well be a wise approach.

Of course, it is hard to ignore the stellar numbers that Paintsil posted for his current side last term after racking up 32 goal involvements in just 39 games in all competitions, although his AZ counterpart did also enjoy a profitable season in the Netherlands, having scored 12 goals and laid on a further six assists across all fronts.

Like his fellow target, Odgaard also typically operates on the right flank although he can also operate through the middle, with that versatility having previously seen the one-time Denmark U21 international likened to a certain Robin van Persie in the past, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Lauded as a "lovely player" by Kulig, the towering Dane seemingly shares a likeness to the former Arsenal and Manchester United ace due to his devastating left foot, as well as having caught the eye due to his form in the Eredivisie of late – after previously bagging 11 goals for RKC Waalwijk during the 2021/22 campaign.

In the case of Van Persie, the now-retired ace also came to prominence after beginning his career with Dutch outfit Feyenoord, before going on to net 132 goals for the Gunners after being snapped up by Arsene Wenger and co in the summer of 2004.

A truly prolific presence in his pomp, the Rotterdam native notably racked up a stellar haul of 144 goals in just 280 Premier League games across his time in north London and Manchester, having memorably powered the Red Devils to the league title after netting 26 top-flight goals during the 2012/13 campaign.

To think then that Leeds could find their own version of the legendary marksman with the signing Odgaard could well be a dream scenario and make Farke potentially forget all about the aforementioned Paintsil, with the in-demand ace seemingly the type of figure who can help fire the club to promotion this season.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo vai para o clássico diante do Vasco, neste sábado, em São Januário, com o objetivo de chegar à terceira vitória consecutiva pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. E, além de encontrar um rival que recém-demitiu treinador (Ramon Menezes), o Rubro-Negro embarca na casa do Cruz-Maltino com a defesa em alta, já que o sistema de proteção não foi vazado depois de seis rodadas.

RelacionadasFutebol InternacionalA janela vai abrir! Veja brasileiros que estão sem espaço na Europa e que caberiam no seu timeFutebol Internacional08/10/2020FlamengoMais perto do líder, Flamengo iguala campanha de 2019 após 13 rodadasFlamengo08/10/2020FlamengoFlamengo se reapresenta de olho no Vasco; Isla testa negativo e vira baixaFlamengo08/10/2020

Pelo Brasileirão, o último jogo em que o Fla havia saído de campo sem sofrer gols se deu em outra vitória: diante do Santos, por 1 a 0, na Vila Belmiro, dia 30 de agosto. Na ocasião, a zaga era composta por Rodrigo Caio e Gustavo Henrique, com Renê (improvisado) e Filipe Luís nas laterais.

Por falar em Rodrigo Caio, o zagueiro seguirá como desfalque do time de Domènec Torrent, uma vez que está a serviço da Seleção Brasileira (só retorna daqui a dois jogos, ficando ausente também do duelo contra o Goiás, dia 13).

A tendência é que Gustavo Henrique e Natan, que tiveram ótimas atuações contra o Sport, sejam mantidos no time titular. O Garoto do Ninho, aliás, pode ir para o seu quinto jogo consecutivo entre os 11, em meio à recente renovação contratual – até dezembro de 2024.

Natan tem sido constantemente elogiado e, com apenas 19 anos, tem esbanjado personalidade em distintos testes de fogo pela equipe profissional.

MAIS NÚMEROS E DISPUTA NO SETOR

Ao todo, o Flamengo sofreu 15 gols em 13 partidas no Brasileiro. Contra o Sport, na noite da última quarta-feira, o time de Dome conseguiu o seu terceiro “clean sheet”, saindo ileso do jogo – ou seja, sem ter a sua rede balançada. As outras partidas em que isso ocorreu foram: diante do Coritiba (vitória por 1 a 0, pela 3ª rodada) e contra o Santos, já citada, pela 6ª rodada.

Com disputa aberta no setor, tendo peças ainda não consolidadas (como Gustavo Henrique e Léo Pereira, reforços para 2020 mas que ainda não conquistaram a torcida) ou jovens da base em alta (Natan e Gabriel Noga, sobretudo), é de se esperar uma concorrência acirrada para a vaga de parceiro de Rodrigo Caio na zaga. Por ora, Natan indica estar um passo à frente.

Em tempo: o jogo diante do Vasco será realizado às 17h deste sábado e abrirá a 15ª rodada do Brasileiro.

Veja todos os zagueiros utilizados pelo Flamengo neste Brasileirão:

Rodrigo Caio – 9 jogos (9 como titular)
Léo Pereira – 7 jogos (todos como titular)
Gustavo Henrique – 6 jogos (todos como titular)
Natan – 3 jogos (todos como titular)
Thuler – 2 jogos (ainda não foi titular)
Gabriel Noga – 1jogo(como titular)
Otávio – 1jogo(como titular)

Chelsea could offer one of their men an opportunity to stake his claim long-term at Stamford Bridge following recent developments regarding his contract situation, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Chelsea?

According to The Guardian, Chelsea will look to prioritise bringing in an experienced striker to help with their goal flow in the final third of the pitch and to alleviate pressure bestowed upon the shoulders of Nicolas Jackson. Brentford's Ivan Toney and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen are both being targeted by the Blues as they look to try and return to a position where they are capable of challenging for the top honours in English football.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano meanwhile has shared quotes from Mauricio Pochettino on X detailing his satisfaction with the improvement Mykhailo Mudryk has been showing in recent weeks, which read: Pochettino: "Trust me, Mudryk is really making a massive effort to try to integrate himself. He's trying to understand better what it means to play like a team but he is young and for sure he is going to improve. We are so happy in how he is improving."

Journalist Ben Jacobs has informed GIVEMESPORT that Mudryk has also formed close relationships with England international Ben Chilwell and Senegalese striker Jackson as he continues to try and live up to his £88.5 million price tag.

Chelsea travel to face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday as the Blues aim to secure just their second victory of the Premier League campaign and begin to move up the divisional standings. Midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka has returned to full training and may be available for the west London derby after being absent since his side's 3-1 defeat to West Ham United back in August.

Who could sign a new contract at Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen has opened talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge after Pochettino changed his mind on the 21-year-old in a fresh twist, given that the Argentinian coach was open to letting him leave in the summer transfer window for the right fee.

Pochettino apparently changed tact and prevented Maatsen from leaving Chelsea late in the window despite the club initially accepting an offer for his services from Burnley, and it's believed his strong showing in pre-season in several different roles may have earned him a second chance in west London.

Maatsen has managed to make just seven appearances in his time at Stamford Bridge and will undoubtedly be keen to unseat both Levi Colwill and Chilwell as he aims to feature more often on the left-hand side of defence, as per Transfermarkt.

The Netherlands international, who was labelled "exceptional" by former teammate Simon Moore, also leads the way in comparison to his positional peers across the next 14 competitions around Europe in the field of attempted passes, averaging around 74.65 per 90 minutes in the last 365 days, putting him in the 98th percentile for this metric, as per FBRef.

Looking ahead, Chelsea will be keen to continue the momentum from their victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup last week and will also hope to tie Maatsen down to a new deal before his contract expires next summer.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em meio à crise e a proximidade da zona de rebaixamento, Vasco e Corinthians se enfrentam nesta quarta, às 21h30, em São Januário, na abertura da 18ª rodada do Brasileirão 2020. Ambas as equipes foram derrotadas no final de semana e buscam reencontrar o caminho das vitórias para ter mais tranquilidade no returno.

O duelo reserva as estreias do treinador português Ricardo Sá Pinto e do argentino Leonardo Gil pelo Vasco. Sem vencer há 8 jogos na temporada, a equipe teve apenas dois treinamentos com seu novo comandante e necessita dos três pontos para retomar a confiança e o equilíbrio do início do campeonato.

No entanto, o time terá que quebrar um longo tabu: 10 anos sem vencer o Corinthians (7 empates e 11 derrotas). A última vitória aconteceu no dia: 13 de outubro de 2010,quando o Vasco fez 2 a 0, com gols de Zé Roberto e Éder Luís, também em São Januário.

O Corinthians, por sua vez, novamente não irá repetir uma escalação na temporada. O técnico Vagner Mancini terá os retornos de Bruno Méndeze Ramiro, que não estiveram em campo na goleada sofrida para o Flamengo, no último domingo. Além deles, o time poderá ter a estreia de um velho conhecido da torcida, o lateral esquerdo Fábio Santos, que foi regularizado.

Ambas as equipes estão com 18 pontos, apenas dois a mais queAthletico-PR, Coritiba e Bragantino, que estão na zona de rebaixamento no momento. Contudo, o Cruz-Maltino têm dois jogos a menos na classificação e uma vitória a mais (5 a 4).

RelacionadasVídeoFábio Santos fala dos bastidores do acordo para voltar ao CorinthiansVídeo20/10/2020CorinthiansFábio Santos aparece no BID e pode reestrear pelo Corinthians na quartaCorinthians20/10/2020VascoLeonardo Gil é regularizado e poderá estrear pelo Vasco contra o Corinthians em São JanuárioVasco20/10/2020

FICHA TÉCNICA

VASCO x CORINTHIANS

Data-Hora: 21-10-20 – 21h30
Local: São Januário, Rio de janeiro (RJ)
Árbitro: Caio Max Augusto Vieira (RN)
Assistentes: Jean Marcio dos Santos (RN) e Vinicius Melo de Lima (RN)
Árbitro de vídeo: Pablo Ramon Goncalves Pinheiro (RN)
Onde acompanhar: Tempo real do LANCE! / TV Globo e Canais Premiere

VASCO: Fernando Miguel, Cayo Tenório, Miranda, Leandro Castan e Henrique; Andrey, Marcos Junior (Leonardo Gil), Carlinhos e Benítez; Cano e Talles Magno. Técnico: Ricardo Sá Pinto.

Lesionados: Breno, Ricardo Graça, Ramon e Juninho
Pendurados: Talles Magno, Gabriel Pec, Guilherme Parede e Fellipe Bastos
Suspensos:

CORINTHIANS:Cássio, Fagner, Marllon (Bruno Méndez), Gil e Fábio Santos (Lucas Piton); Xavier; Ramiro, Camacho, Mateus Vital e Cazares; Boselli (Luan).Técnico: Vagner Mancini.

Desfalques: Léo Santos e Jô
Suspensos: Otero
Pendurados: Mateus Vital, Walter, Cássio e Roni

PALPITES

Na redação do LANCE!, 50% apostam no empate, 30% na vitória do Vasco, 20% no Corinthians.

The ECB’s new city-based T20 competition could be set to be a 100-balls-a-side affair, according to a radical proposal released today

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-20182:58

Faulkner: There’s a danger in getting too funky

The ECB’s new city-based competition is set to be a 100-balls-a-side affair, according to a radical proposal released today.The concept proposes two eight-team competitions – for men’s and women’s teams – consisting of 15 traditional six-ball overs, and a final 10-ball over, a 20-delivery shortfall on traditional T20 matches.The proposed approach was presented by the ECB to the chairmen and chief executives of the first-class counties and MCC on Thursday, and has been unanimously supported by the board of the new competition.The ECB have also confirmed that Southampton, Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester, Cardiff and Nottingham will be the host cities for the five-week competition, with Lord’s and The Oval each playing host to a London-based team.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”This is a fresh and exciting idea which will appeal to a younger audience and attract new fans to the game,” said Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive. “Throughout its development, we have shown leadership, provided challenge and followed a process. We will continue to do that as the concept evolves.”Our game has a history of innovation and we have a duty to look for future growth for the health and sustainability of the whole game.”There are 18 first-class counties, playing red and white ball cricket, at our core and these counties and competitions will be supported, promoted and benefit from the game’s growth.”The radical proposals are an attempt to differentiate the ECB’s tournament from the T20 franchise competitions that have already taken root globally – including the IPL in India, Australia’s Big Bash, and the Caribbean Premier League – as well as the existing Vitality Blast competition, featuring all 18 counties, which will continue concurrently.The loss of 20 balls per innings will help to ensure that the competition fits comfortably into a three-hour window, with all matches expected to finish by 9pm.However, the proposed 10-ball final over may require buy-in from MCC’s law-makers, seeing as Law 17.1 currently states: “The ball shall be bowled from each end alternately in overs of 6 balls.”Sanjay Patel, the ECB’s chief commercial officer, and MD for the new competition, said: “The development team has had strong support and encouragement in its conversations to date and it’s time to take the concept wider as we build the detail.”This is 100-ball cricket, a simple approach to reach a new generation. Based on 15 traditional six-ball overs, the other ten balls will add a fresh tactical dimension.”Crucially, this will also help differentiate this competition from Vitality Blast and other T20 competitions worldwide, maintaining our game’s history of successful innovation.”The players and our valuable broadcast partners under the new TV partnerships from 2020-24 are vital to the success of this competition and they will see the energy, excitement and simplicity of this approach.”The five-week competition will feature both men’s and women’s team in concurrent competitions, as the ECB seek to build on the explosion of interest in women’s cricket since the World Cup win in 2017.”Our World Cup win at Lord’s last July showed what’s possible in terms of our sport reaching a new, younger and more diverse audience,” said Clare Connor, the ECB’s Director of Women’s Cricket.”Kia Super League has had a huge impact on participation, player development and the profile of our game. It was a big investment and a bold decision by the Board and paved the way for this next stage of growth.”To build the women’s and men’s competitions and identities together, side by side, is a prospect that few sports ever have and will give us greater reach, scale and prominence.”It will attract more women and girls to the game, ensure that cricket reaches and entertains more families and give our players an exciting stage upon which to display their talent.”The proposals represent the biggest shake-up to English cricket since the launch of the original Twenty20 Cup in 2003.

Mick Newell has urged the English game to resist the temptation to restructure the County Championship into conferences.

George Dobell26-Apr-2018Mick Newell has urged the English game to resist the temptation to restructure the County Championship into conferences.Newell, director of cricket at Nottinghamshire (and, for now at least, an England selector), has instead pleaded for the ECB to persist with promotion and relegation and suggested the reorganisation into conferences would only allow mediocre sides to “hide” in mid-table without the scrutiny that relegation can bring.His comments come just as the ECB announced a working party, chaired by Wasim Khan, charged with looking into the future structure of the domestic game. And while no conclusions have yet been reached, it is clear the popularity of the conference idea is growing among coaches at the first-class counties.They argue that it would lessen the urge to make short-term decisions – such as preferring Kolpak registrations over opportunities for young players – and reinvigorate the competition by providing all teams involved an opportunity to win the trophy at the start of the season.But Newell, at least, is not convinced. As a coach that twice led Nottinghamshire to the County Championship trophy (in 2005 and 2010) and also oversaw relegation (in 2006, 2016), he feels the meritocratic element of two divisions – and the drama the battle that promotion and relegation brings – is an integral part of the domestic structure.”I love two-divisional cricket,” Newell said. “We’ve been relegated and it hurts. I don’t know why it hurts so much as there’s no financial penalty, but it makes you look at what you do. People either lose their jobs, or they change jobs – as I did – and players have to look at themselves, too.”The popularity of the conference idea is definitely growing. But I’m not a fan. In a conference system, we can all just hide in the middle and be like, ‘oh, we were twelfth’. To me that’s not good enough.”Mick Newell takes fielding drills•Getty Images

Newell also revived the idea of playing a couple of rounds of Championship games overseas. With many counties spending their pre-season in the UAE, South Africa or the Caribbean, he believes there is an opportunity to play some games in March in conditions that might encourage spin or fast bowling. He accepted, however, that the idea had all but gone in terms of being implemented.”A few years ago there was talk of taking a couple of rounds overseas,” he said. “I think, for lots of reasons, that’s a bloomin’ good idea. If we’ve only got time and space for 14 rounds of Championship matches here, why don’t we play two abroad and go back to 16? That’s a method of getting more games in the space available. But that idea seems to have gone.”I’m all for playing abroad. I don’t know about this year, but generally 12 to 13 counties are going abroad in March anyway. Why don’t we play proper cricket instead of knockabouts against each-other?”We went to Barbados for six years in a row and one year there were six teams there. We’re all spending the money in one way or another already and there’s more money coming into the game. Let’s make sure we target some of that money in making sure four-day cricket so important.”But the idea has gone. We’re moving towards a conference system. I’ve made my thoughts known but I’m in a minority.”Newell also welcomed the ECB’s proposals for a new 100-ball competition in 2020. “It’s certainly grabbed people’s attention,” he said. “It’s an idea that will spark a lot of debate and I want people to talk about cricket.”My worry is that cricket isn’t relevant to people, isn’t interesting to people. We need to get more people interested in more types of cricket. So, from that perspective, I think it’s a good idea.”

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino could be dealt another injury blow at Stamford Bridge following news that one of his players limped off with a knock during the international break, as per reports.

What's the latest news involving Chelsea?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are believed to be keeping tabs on Strasbourg midfielder Habib Diarra and could look to take advantage of their relationship with the French satellite club to bring the 19-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

Diarra was the subject of interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer; however, Chelsea intervened to block any potential move as they see him as someone who could develop into a top star in west London. Last term, the French youth international made 30 appearances in all competitions, registering three goals and three assists in the process.

Cited by Football London, Chelsea legend John Terry has backed Blues' boss Pochettino to bring success to his former club, as he stated:

“I love Poch. I’ve been around him and I promise you now he is a top, top manager and he will get us to the levels we need to be at.”

Chelsea sit 12th in the Premier League after four games, having taken four points from an available 12, signifying that there is plenty of room for improvement for Pochettino's new-look squad.

One man who hasn't been able to contribute on the field for Chelsea this term is Romeo Lavia, who sustained an ankle injury in training and could be out of action for some time, according to The Evening Standard.

Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka and Christopher Nkunku also remain on the sidelines for the Blues among others, which has hampered their ability to field a full-strength side under Pochettino so far.

Who else is injured at Chelsea?

As relayed by The Metro, Chelsea's injury list could be about to grow bigger due to Mykhailo Mudryk being withdrawn by Ukraine in their 1-1 draw against England on Saturday night in the 90th minute. The 22-year-old also required medical attention in the first half of proceedings following a clash with Marcus Rashford.

Nevertheless, he was later taken off in the aftermath of a collision with Kyle Walker and now may be unavailable for a period of time due to a suspected calf problem.

Mudryk, who was labelled the "real deal" by Steven Gerrard earlier this year, has struggled to find any sort of rhythm at Chelsea since joining the club for £88.5 million from Shakhtar Donetsk back in January. Overall, the Ukraine international has made 20 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, notching two assists; however, is yet to find the net for his current employers, as per Transfermarkt.

The Athletic have claimed that Chelsea have asked Mudryk to 'tone down' his work in the gym as he continues to search for a run of consistency. Mudryk is believed to do additional work away from the club in separate gyms and meets all fitness requirements by the club.

Of course, his move has yet to fully catch fire at Stamford Bridge; nevertheless, his dedication cannot be faulted as he tries to prove his worth in English football, but he could now be ruled out through injury.

Glasgow Rangers may have won three games in a row for the first time this season, but the performances on the park haven’t been pretty to say the least.

A turgid 1-0 win against Motherwell in the Premiership more than likely buys Michael Beale more time at the helm, but having had to endure a chorus of boos ringing out at Ibrox when the final whistle went on Sunday, he may not have much of it left.

This summer saw the Gers embark on a much-needed overhaul of the playing squad, but it has yet to reap the rewards, with the vast majority of the new arrivals struggling to really hit the ground running.

With Danilo arriving for £6m and Sam Lammers joining the club for a fee of £3m, Beale will need to be careful that these players are managed well and don’t end up turning into another couple of expensive flops.

The Light Blues have endured their fair share of big-money duds since returning to the Premiership in 2016, with former manager Pedro Caixinha being responsible for a couple.

Carlos Pena was arguably the biggest mistake, having cost the Ibrox side £2.2m during the summer of 2017 as Caixinha sought to bolster his side as he looked to end Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football.

Another signing from that same year that turned out to be an expensive flop was that of striker Eduardo Herrera.

How much did Rangers sign Eduardo Herrera for?

Pena arrived in Glasgow the very same day as his compatriot as the Gers announced a double signing and Herrera ended up signing for a fee in the region of £1.5m from Mexican side Pumas, and it was clear that the Portuguese manager wasn’t standing still in the transfer market.

He was clearly happy at joining the club, saying: "I am very happy to become part of this great club that has such great supporters.

"I have been waiting for this move for many years now. I wanted to become part of European football and I hope I will be able to make my own contribution to the team."

He also added: “I am a centre-forward and I like to be in the opposition box looking for a chance to score.

"I am used to playing as a target man, to have the ball and support my team and other players in those types of situations.

“I like to compare myself with other players, I have my own style. I like to watch a lot of European football and I try to learn from other players."

Overall, Caixinha signed 11 players that summer in order to build a side which could compete on all fronts, but having suffered an embarrassing aggregate loss to Progres Niederkorn in Europa League qualifying, there was no way back from that as he was eventually sacked in October 2017.

It was hardly surprising news, especially considering the vast majority of his summer arrivals had underperformed massively as they lost in the League Cup semi-finals while slipping behind Celtic in the race for the Premiership title.

Having scored 57 goals in Mexico before joining the Light Blues, Herrera was looked upon as a main source of goals during the 2017/18 season, yet he became a giant drain on precious funds at Ibrox.

How much did Eduardo Herrera earn at Rangers?

The Mexican striker was reported to be earning a staggering wage of £20k-per-week when he signed six years ago.

This is a decent amount now, never mind when the Gers were still struggling financially following a stint in the lower divisions, and they couldn’t even count on European money either due to their woeful defeat before the league season had even got underway.

It was a ridiculous amount to pay the player, despite his goalscoring record and the fact he had won nine caps for Mexico, and he went on to perform poorly for the club.

How many goals did Eduardo Herrera score for Rangers?

For a transfer fee of £1.5m, Caixinha was expecting goals from his centre-forward, yet he failed to deliver. Across just 24 matches for the Ibrox side, he netted only twice and once new manager Steven Gerrard arrived to rejuvenate the club in the summer of 2018, it was clear he didn’t have a future in Glasgow.

Firstly, he was shifted out on loan to Santos Laguna before joining Club Necaxa in January 2019 for yet another temporary spell away from Rangers, and this lasted for a full year before Gerrard had enough and sought to remove the striker from his squad.

Herrera had clearly been frozen out by the former Liverpool captain and eventually left the club in January 2020, joining Puebla in his homeland and ending a two-and-a-half-year spell of utter misery in Scotland.

Indeed, while pulling on a Rangers jersey between 2017 and 2018, Herrera not only cost the club a staggering £750k per goal, but he rinsed the club of £2.6m over 55 weeks.

This was his transfer fee combined with the £1.1m in wages he earned whilst playing for the club, and it was evidently money the club couldn’t throw down the drain due to their financial situation.

No manager is immune from making the odd mistake. Even the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson has had a transfer howler or two during his successful career, yet Rangers have seen their fair share of expensive flops over the previous seven years.

Herrera certainly falls into that category and that time period wasn’t the best time to be a supporter, with defeats to Celtic commonplace and a number of uninspiring signings joining the club.

Beale has spent a vast amount of money this summer, and he will be hoping that this investment will ensure he has a productive stint in charge of the Gers.

Early signs aren’t promising, and he may not have enough time to see just how the team could perform with every new signing fit and firing.

أكدت تقارير سعودية، أن إدارة نادي كروزيرو البرازيلي، توصلت مع نظيرتها في الهلال السعودي لاتفاق بشأن صفقة ماتيوس بيريرا.

وكان ماتيوس بيريرا قد انضم إلى الهلال موسم 2021 قادمًا من وست بروميتش ألبيون الإنجليزي، ووقع على عقد يمتد لـ 2026.

وتم إعارة بيريرا إلى فريق كروزيرو الموسم الماضي، وبعد انتهاء فترة الإعارة قرر النادي البرازيلي بدء المفاوضات مع الهلال لشراء اللاعب بشكل نهائي.

طالع أيضًا| تقارير سعودية: أستون فيلا يرغب في ضم لاعب الهلال المتألق

ووفقًا لـ “الرياضية السعودية”، فقد حدث اتفاق بين الناديين على شراء بيريرا بمقابل مادي يصل لـ 12 مليون يورو، ويُنتظر توقيع اللاعب على عقده الجديد مع مع كروزيرو لمدة عامين تنتهي 2026.

يذكر، أن بيريرا لعب مع الهلال 42 مباراة في مختلف البطولات، وحقق مع الفريق بطولة الدوري السعودي، وكأس السوبر، ودوري أبطال آسيا.

وخرج بيريرا مُعارًا في موسمين، أولهما إلى الوحدة الإماراتي في يناير 2023، ثم كروزيرو البرازيلي نهاية يوليو 2023.