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At long last, Rangers have got their next manager after officially announcing the appointment of Danny Rohl. The former Sheffield Wednesday manager was not their first choice, that’s no secret, but one former Ibrox star has already pointed out one similarity with club legend Walter Smith.

Danny Rohl: "No time to waste" at Rangers

It’s not Steven Gerrard, it’s not Kevin Muscat, but it is Rohl. Rangers have finally filled their managerial vacancy and must now put full faith in their 36-year-old coach to turn things around after a disastrous start.

For all his inexperience, it’s worth noting that the former Sheffield Wednesday boss has worked with the likes of Hansi Flick and was Ralph Hasenhuttl’s assistant when his Southampton side were at their very best. He is one of the best young managers around and has been handed the biggest job of his career to date.

In an ideal world, Rohl would have all the patience needed to make his mark in Scotland. However, the reality is that he must get off to a solid start following the disaster of Russell Martin’s tenure.

The German is well aware of how urgent things are at Ibrox, though, having told the club’s official website: “We have no time to waste, we start straight away.

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“I respect that trust is earned and understand we have to give the supporters confidence in what we are doing by showing it on the pitch from the start. The expectations are huge and I love this challenge because I set high standards for myself and the team too.”

Some have already hit out at his inexperience, but one former Rangers star has highlighted a key similarity with Walter Smith which may just buy Rohl some time.

Andy Halliday reveals similarity between Rohl and Walter Smith

Speaking on Clyde1 Superscoreboard, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday revealed a similarity between Rohl and the legendary Smith.

Indeed, Rohl has no experience as the main man in the pressure environment of a top level club with huge support, but cut his teeth behind the scenes at Bayern Munich as Hansi Flick’s assistant. Similarly, Smith arrived at Ibrox with no senior managerial experience, but had coached Scotland’s youth sides.

Of course, Smith is a once in a generation manager, but Halliday’s point stands. The jury should not deliver their verdict until Rohl has had a chance to impress at Rangers.

There will be many who have been left scared by Martin’s time in charge, but Rohl’s reputation suggests that he is a different calibre to the former Southampton boss.

Thursday’s game against Brann in the Europa League hands the young manager the perfect opportunity to prove Halliday right and get his era off to the best possible start.

Former Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant has defended Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid, stating fans "don't understand" why he left after he received a hostile reception at Anfield. The ex-Liverpool star backed the defender to overcome a difficult start, where he has been hampered by injury, and show his "best" form for the Spanish giants.

Pennant defends Trent

Pennant, who played for the Anfield club between 2006 and 2008, weighed in after the 27-year-old received a hostile reception upon his first time back to Merseyside with his new club.

Alexander-Arnold joined the 15-time Champions League winners in June  as Madrid paid a €10 million fee to secure his services early, allowing him to feature in the Club World Cup, shortly before his contract came to an end.

The decision by the Liverpool native to end his 20-year association with his boyhood club angered a significant portion of the fanbase, culminating in a difficult return in this week's Champions League group stage fixture.

Any hope of a warm welcome for the former Liverpool vice-captain was quickly extinguished on Tuesday night. As Alexander-Arnold's name was read out over the Anfield tannoy, a chorus of whistles and boos rang out from the home supporters. The England international, who was named on the bench by manager Xabi Alonso for the clash, was spotted laughing and smirking with teammates during the warm-up, seemingly unfazed by the disapproval.

The night ended in further disappointment for the right-back, as he came off the bench in the 82nd minute but could not save Madrid from a 1-0 defeat to Arne Slot's side.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPennant: 'Fans feel he has abandoned the club'

Pennant, speaking to , offered an explanation for the vitriolic response from the Liverpool supporters, putting it down to their intense connection with the club.

“It’s difficult because Liverpool fans are so passionate. Obviously, they didn’t like that he left," Pennant said. “The fans don't understand. They think he should stay at Liverpool because it's more than a club, it's a family. They feel he has abandoned the club, the city, and the fans. I understand why the fans are upset. Nobody wants to see a great player leave their club, especially when he's been there so long."

Ex-Red defends 'irresistible' Real Madrid offer

Despite understanding the fans' frustration, Pennant strongly defended the player's right to seek a new challenge, highlighting his extensive service and achievements at Anfield, which include two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.

“The other side of the coin is that he was a great servant of Liverpool," Pennant argued. "He’d been at the club since he was very young and rose through the ranks to win everything with them. Would they have had the same success without him?

"He was a great player, but there comes a time in a player’s career when they want to try something different, and the opportunity to play for a club like Real Madrid isn’t something that’s available to most players and is very difficult to turn down.”

Pennant added that while he appreciates the fans' emotional reaction, he also acknowledges that some supporters will be grateful for Alexander-Arnold's contributions.

"On the other hand, I appreciate that some fans are thanking him for what he's done and wishing him all the best at Real Madrid.”

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Slow start and injury woes plague Madrid move

Alexander-Arnold's adaptation to life in the Spanish capital has been difficult. His tenure began with "less-than-stellar" performances during the Club World Cup, and his progress was significantly hampered by a hamstring injury sustained in September.

That injury has severely limited his involvement in the 2025-2026 season. The right-back, who wears the number 12 shirt for Los Blancos, has played just 151 minutes across four La Liga appearances and a mere 14 minutes over two Champions League matches.

Despite the slow start, Pennant is convinced that Alexander-Arnold will eventually prove his quality at the Santiago Bernabeu. He compared the defender's struggles to those of other major Premier League talents adapting to new environments.

“We've seen how difficult it is for great players to adapt to new clubs. It's happening right now with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz at Liverpool," Pennant added.

“Going to a new team can be difficult, and most players need time to adapt, especially when they've moved to a foreign country and are trying to learn a new language. It's out of his comfort zone, and everything he was used to in Liverpool, where he'd spent his whole life… is different.

"It will take time for him to adjust to his new surroundings and make Madrid his home. Once he's done that, we'll see the best of Trent."

South Africa enforced the follow-on on Zimbabwe who collapsed in 43 overs

Shashank Kishore07-Jul-2025

Wiaan Mulder brought up the second fastest triple century in Test cricket•Zimbabwe Cricket

July 7, 2025 may not invoke the same grand feeling of that unforgettable summer afternoon at Lord’s last month, but it’ll still have a reverence of its own for Wiaan Mulder, who, only weeks earlier, stood on the winner’s podium as a newly crowned World Test Champion.One of cricket’s most iconic and celebrated records – Brian Lara’s majestic 400 not out, which he held like a crown jewel after reclaiming it from Matthew Hayden – was in real danger of being knocked off its perch after 21 long years. When Mulder, South Africa’s stand-in captain, went into the lunch interval unbeaten on 367, it seemed a matter of time before history books would be rewritten. Then came a quiet message from the change room, like a bolt from the blue. South Africa had declared. Mulder had declared.”Why did he do that?” is a question that lingered on for much of the day as Zimbabwe collapsed in just 43 overs, and were asked to follow-on. With so much time left in the match, the decision will be rightly debated for a while. Sure, barring Blessing Muzarabani, the quality of Zimbabwe’s attack was hardly Test class, but the opportunity to etch yourself into Test history doesn’t come knocking everyday.Related

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South Africa declared on 626 for 5. Mulder’s feat became all the more special as it came in front of his father, who had made the trip to soak in the occasion after he had been informed of Mulder’s promotion to captaincy in the lead-up to the game after Keshav Maharaj had been ruled out due to an injury. Along the way, Mulder may have cemented himself as South Africa’s new No. 3, a spot once occupied by legends he may have grown up watching, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla among them.In the morning session, every run or over carried the weight of a milestone either impending or ticked off. Records came; records went. Mulder went past some heavyweights in South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Daryl Cullinan, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. And soon after his triple-ton, he went past 311 to eclipse Amla, and achieve the highest Test score by a South African.Mulder could’ve chosen a calmer, more serene path if he had wished. South Africa’s run-scoring on the opening day, where they surged to 465 for 4, meant time was never going to be a consideration. Mulder, though, had other ideas. Except for his first boundary very early in the day off Muzarabani, off a streaky edge that flew through vacant third slip, there was control and authority in every stoke he played and every run he ran.Mulder’s authority stemmed from his own confidence, and Zimbabwe’s hit-me lengths. Without any swing on offer, even with the second new ball that they took late on the opening day, the pacers erred on the shorter side and kept getting punished square of the wicket on both sides. When spin came on, Mulder channeled the golfer in him to club them downtown. He hit 49 fours and four sixes in all – one of them landed out of the ground – forcing them to bring out a different ball.Wiaan Mulder and Dewald Brevis added 88 off just 94 balls for the fifth wicket•Zimbabwe CricketAmid Mulder’s run-fest, that South Africa lost Dewald Brewis was lost on everyone. He survived on 24 when Craig Ervine put down a regulation chance in the fifth over off Muzarabani at slip, but couldn’t capitalise. On 35, Brevis attempted to flay a cut, only to get a thick outside edge to the wicketkeeper. Kyle Verreynne then came and enjoyed a good hit out to remain unbeaten on 42.The day’s big moment – Mulder’s triple – arrived in the 101st over when he clipped a low full toss off Tanaka Chivanga to fine leg to wild applause and cheer from his team-mates on the balcony. It had come off 297 balls, the second-fastest in Test history, behind Virender Sehwag’s that had come off 278 balls against South Africa in Chennai 17 years ago.After Mulder got past the 300, there was carnage aplenty as Muzarabani was dispatched for three boundaries in an over, the third of those helping him surpass Amla. There was more punishment in the next as Mulder cleared his front leg to wallop him out of the ground to enter the 360s. This is when everyone seemed to be readying for the moment, when the declaration came.Mulder wasn’t done yet. With the ball, he took out Wesley Madhevere and Ervine in quick succession. Madhevere was out to a nip-backer that flattened the stumps; Ervine was felled by an effort ball that lifted off the deck to have him fend one into the hand of backward point. Mulder’s fiery spell wasn’t the highlight, though. Debutant Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy’s flight and loop were equally noteworthy. Subrayen ended with 4 for 42.Sean Williams, who spent much of the first evening and the opening session on the sidelines due to an illness, came out swinging and raised his half-century off just 32 balls, the fastest by a Zimbabwean. But he ran out of partners, and remained stuck on 83 as last man Chivanga’s wicket meant Zimbabwe were bundled out for 170.Made to follow-on, Zimbabwe lost Dion Myers early, but Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch batted a tricky last 30 minutes to take them to stumps on 51 for 1, with Zimbabwe still needing 146 to surpass Mulder.

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024 MLB season as the favorites to win the World Series but the NL West leaders are limping into the All-Star break after losing two straight games to the Tigers, which included an embarrassing ending to Sunday's game.

The Dodgers, who have lost six of their last seven games, had a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez then gave the game away when he fielded a grounder back to the mound and made a wild throw to third that allowed Justyn-Henry Malloy to score the winning run.

This was a rough scene for the Dodgers, who blew a five-run lead in the ninth in Saturday's loss:

Fans roasted the Dodgers:

A Kylian Mbappe-less France secured a comeback, 3-1 win over a plucky Azerbaijan to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high. Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that thumped Ukraine 4-0 in midweek, and early on they appeared to miss their biggest stars.

On a night that was supposed to be a procession for the Group D winners, Azerbaijan had other ideas and took the lead in the fourth minute when Renat Dadashov swept in Rahman Dasdamirov's pass across the six-yard box following some slack marking. For 16 minutes, it was bedlam in Baku, but Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta powered in a close-range header from Malo Gusto's cross to level proceedings.

It looked like the Chelsea full-back had then put France ahead when his deflected shot nestled in the corner, only for the goal to be chalked off as the ball struck Christopher Nkunku's arm on the way in. It was 2-1 on the half-hour mark, though, when Maghnes Akliouche scored his first goal for his country as he tucked in Gusto's neat cutback following a lovely floated pass from Khephren Thuram.

Juventus midfielder Thuram thought he had opened his own goal-scoring account for France, only for his effort to be ruled out after Hugo Ekitike handled in the box. But the visitors got the breathing room they were seeking just before half-time when goalkeeper Sahruddin Mahammadaliyev, who was later taken off after being dazed from a collision, pushed the ball into his own net from Thuram's strike on goal.

If the first half was a rollercoaster ride, the second was anything but. Azerbaijan, ranked 123rd in the world, began to tire around the hour mark, and had it not been for substitute keeper Aydin Bayramov, it could have been more one-sided.

GOAL rates France's players from Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Lucas Chevalier (6/10):

On his long-awaited debut, after 16 call-ups, his first action was to pick the ball out of the net following a well-worked goal from the hosts. Didn't have much to do otherwise, in truth.

Malo Gusto (8/10):

The Chelsea man was caught out by a lovely through ball and moments later France were 1-0 down. However, he made up for it with two assists and was a huge attacking threat. Was unlucky to have a goal of his own wiped out.

Ibrahima Konate (7/10):

Despite not having a particularly good season for Liverpool, the big defender looked calm and assured at the back.

Lucas Hernandez (7/10):

Very little seemed to fluster the defender, who linked up well with his younger brother. 

Theo Hernandez (7/10):

While he wasn't as adventurous or as effective in attack as fellow full-back Gusto, he still fired in some good crosses and was more defensively sound.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Khéphren Thuram (8/10):

Was unlucky not to score any goals but got into some good positions to give himself a chance to do so. His pace and power were self-evident, and some of his passing was delightful, too.

Warren Zaire-Emery (7/10):

His quick feet and athleticism got his team out of a hole on a couple of occasions, but he didn't have the licence to roam.

Christopher Nkunku (6/10):

The former Chelsea man had a stop-start performance, sometimes showing off some real quality but he also made some bad decisions and got tackled frequently.

AFPAttack

Maghnes Akliouche (7/10):

The youngster had an encouraging outing, he beat defenders with regularity, and he got his goal as well. A good night for him.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (8/10):

Took his goal with aplomb, held the ball up well, brought others into play and had a very good all-round display. He could be heading to the World Cup at this rate.

Hugo Ekitike (5/10):

The Liverpool forward has been excellent so far for his new team but he seemed all at sea at times. Seems to be better when leading the line.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Rayan Cherki (5/10):

The Manchester City summer signing struggled to make an impact.

Florian Thauvin (6/10):

Tracked back well but didn't do a huge amount.

Bradley Barcola (6/10):

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker was repelled well by the Azerbaijan defence.

Didier Deschamps (7/10):

Fielded an experimental side without some of his heavy hitters, and while he would have been concerned with how they started the game, they slowly turned the screw before asserting their dominance. Some players shined, others did not. 

Warwickshire bowlers made to toil as home batters cash in on good mood following Hove win

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Essex 350 for 4 (Westley 124*, Walter 86) vs Warwickshire Tom Westley’s rich vein of form in the Rothesay County Championship continued as he notched his third century in five innings to frustrate Warwickshire at Chelmsford.In addition to hitting his 32nd first-class hundred in an innings of sublime stroke-play, the Essex captain also passed 14,000 career runs in red-ball cricket. With Paul Walter, who hit 86 from 160 balls, Westley put on 132 for the second wicket and 81 for the third with Jordan Cox. At stumps, Westley was unbeaten on 124 from 234 balls with Essex 350 for 4.Walter, posting his fifth score above fifty this season, two of them centuries, launched two sixes and nine fours. It enabled Essex to build on the euphoria of only their second Championship win of the season last week at Hove, a win that lifted them out of the relegation places.The only redeeming feature for Warwickshire on a gloomy day that matched their deteriorating mood, was arguably the first career wicket for part-time legspinner Zen Malik. Brought on to eat up an over before the arrival of the second new-ball, Malik had Cox attempting to hit his fifth delivery out of the park, but instead the batter ended up on his backside with his stumps akimbo.Before the start of the play, Essex’s own bowling plans had twice been thrown into disarray in the space of 24 hours. They had already lost one member of their attack when Indian international pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed pulled out of a contract due to run to the end of the season, citing “personal reasons”. Then, less than quarter-of-an-hour before the start of the match, offspinner Simon Harmer, who had taken part in all the warm-up routines, withdrew also offering “personal reasons” for his absence.Those problems were shelved for the time being as Essex were put into bat on a hybrid pitch with plenty of grass left on to help encourage greater carry for the bowlers. In fact, it encouraged the batters and a flurry of straight-driven fours enabled the Essex openers to compile 68 runs without undue alarm in 19 overs.Dean Elgar, overcoming a torrid first over from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, brought up the fifty partnership with an uncharacteristic slash at Beau Webster that cleared the slip cordon. However, he departed soon after to his second rash shot of the innings, pulling the Australian low to midwicket.On one occasion Walter, so strong off the back foot, came down the wicket to waft Corey Rocchiccioli for six over extra cover and post Essex’s first hundred. He reached his half-century from 79 balls with a well-placed push into the off-side for two. Walter took a liking to the Australian offspinner with another six, this time over long-on.At the other end, some of Westley’s strokes were exquisite. He produced a classically-executed cover drive for four off Ethan Bamber and later essayed a textbook straight-drive off Webster. Another off-drive for four by Westley off Webster took the stand with Walter to three-figures, of which both batsmen contributed 49. Three balls later Westley reached a 107-ball fifty.Westley had just taken Essex past 200 with only one wicket down when, next ball, Walter’s four-hour innings came to an end. He got an outside edge to a delivery from Rocchiccioli, the ball ricocheting off wicketkeeper Kai Smith’s thigh and ballooning up for a diving Alex Davies to claim at slip.Bamber switched ends straight after tea and immediately extracted some rare bounce and lift that had Westley groping at thin air. Normal service was quickly resumed, though, and soon Westley was angling Ed Barnard to third man for the boundary that took him to his century from 185 balls.Bamber finally gained some reward late on when he had Matt Critchley swinging and bottom-edging through to the wicketkeeper.

Leeds United decided to revamp their options in the centre-forward position in the summer transfer window after they won promotion from the Championship.

The Whites swooped to sign experienced striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton to be Daniel Farke’s first-choice number nine for the Premier League season.

So far, though, the former England international has scored one goal and missed nine ‘big chances’ in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, for Leeds, with five ‘big chances’ missed in the top-flight.

Because of his struggles in front of goal for his new club, Calvert-Lewin may be worried and looking over his shoulder at emerging academy talent Harry Gray.

Why Harry Gray will have Leeds strikers worried

The 17-year-old centre-forward, who made his first-team debut against Stoke in the Championship last season, has been on fire for the club’s academy, and could be a future star for Farke.

Gray has scored four goals in four Premier League 2 matches for the U21s side this season, per Transfermarkt, whilst he also scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.

This means that the teenage forward has plundered seven goals in all competitions for the young Whites, whilst Calvert-Lewin has scored one goal for the first-team.

Gray also scored eight goals in 11 matches for the U18s before making the step up to the U21s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been a regular goalscorer for several seasons.

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His impressive goalscoring form will have the current Leeds strikers worried because he appears to be on course to crash into the senior side to take one of their spots in the squad, if he can translate his academy form over to the first-team.

The Leeds striker on borrowed time because of Harry Gray

Despite his struggles in front of goal in the Premier League this season, it is not Calvert-Lewin who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s potential. It is Lukas Nmecha.

The former Germany international joined on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, as the first signing of the summer, and scored on his debut from the penalty spot against Everton.

Since that debut goal, Nmecha has rarely been seen by supporters, despite featuring in every match, as he has been used as a late substitute in almost every game.

Everton

12

Arsenal

32

Fulham

70

Newcastle United

21

Wolverhampton Wanderers

1

Bournemouth

1

Tottenham Hotspur

11

Burnley

24

West Ham United

3

No Leeds player who has featured in all eight games has played fewer minutes than Nmecha, per WhoScored, as he is the only player to have played in every match without hitting at least 242 minutes.

Calvert-Lewin, on the other hand, has started six of his seven appearances in the Premier League, playing 534 minutes in total, which suggests that his place in the squad is not under as much threat as Nmecha’s is.

Unlike the former Toffees man, Farke does not seem to trust the German centre-forward to play significant minutes in games, which does not bode well for his future at Elland Road.

Nmecha’s return of five goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Sofascore, does not suggest that he is likely to catch fire in front of goal and establish himself as a regular starter.

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Therefore, it may be the former Wolfsburg number nine who is on borrowed time because of Gray’s emergence as an incredibly exciting striker prospect at U21 level, as the 17-year-old could break through and take his place to compete with Calvert-Lewin for a starting berth in the not-too-distant future.

Pete Alonso is continuing his ride with the New York Mets after signing a two-year, $54 million extension that will keep him anchoring first base and the heart of the order. He'll be paramount to the Mets' success as they hope to build on a run that took them to the National League Championship Series last season. So it was a major reason for concern when Alonso suffered an injury during practice on Thursday.

SNY cameras caught the aftermath of Alonso taking a ball to the face during drills.

Thankfully for player and organization, Alonso was able to get back on his feet relatively quickly and leave the field on his own power. He returned to the field later to continue the club's preseason work.

Alonso has been an iron man since breaking through with New York in 2019, missing only 24 regular season games. In 2024 he suited up for all 162 regular season and 13 playoff contests.

The first baseman has made four All-Star trips during his six Major League Baseball seasons and coming off a year in which he blasted 34 home runs.

Glasgow Rangers underwent a squad overhaul during the summer transfer window after a change in ownership and a change in the coaching department with Russell Martin’s arrival.

Kevin Thelwell also joined as the team’s new sporting director and the former Everton chief was given plenty of money to play with to bolster the squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Unfortunately, as shown in the graphic above, that ended with Martin winning five of his 17 matches in charge of the Ibrox giants before being relieved of his duties last month.

Thelwell’s attacking signings, in particular, have to be placed under the microscope as he signed Youssef Chermiti from his former club for a fee of £8m, the most money spent on a Rangers signing since Tore Andre Flo for £12m in 2000.

So far, the Portugal U21 international has only scored one goal in all competitions for the Light Blues, which shows that they have not received value for money on that £8m yet.

Chermiti was brought in after the club sold centre-forward Hamza Igamane to Lille for a fee of £10.4m, and it is fair to say that they have not replaced him very well on current evidence.

Where Hamza Igamane ranks in the most expensive Rangers sales

The Morocco international only went for a fee of £10.4m because of a reported release clause in his contract, which would have been in place before Thelwell took over as sporting director, which means that he cannot be blamed for that situation.

Igamane ended his only season with the Ibrox giants with a return of 16 goals and three assists in 49 appearances in all competitions, which included 12 goals in 33 outings in the Scottish Premiership, per Transfermarkt.

The 23-year-old attacker also showcased his quality in the biggest matches, scoring the winner against Celtic in the clip above and scoring four goals in the Europa League.

As you can see in the table above, the Morocco international does still rank as the third-most expensive sale in the club’s history, behind Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey, but the release clause possibly stopped him from climbing higher up that list.

His departure has been a big loss for the Gers, on top of that, as Chermiti and fellow summer signing Bojan Miovski have combined for two Premiership goals after coming in to replace him and Cyriel Dessers.

Whilst Igamane was a big loss in the summer, there is a Rangers star attracting interest whose departure from Ibrox would be an even bigger loss for Danny Rohl.

Rangers star attracting interest ahead of January

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed that there are clubs circling around Light Blues central midfielder Nicolas Raskin ahead of the January transfer window.

O’Rourke told Football Insider: “There was interest in Raskin in the summer window from a number of clubs in the Premier League and across Europe as well. There is still interest in the Belgium international and that’s not going to go away.

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“I’m sure clubs are keeping tabs on the situation at Rangers. I don’t think Rangers ideally would want to lose him midway through the season. It would have to be a big, big fee for Rangers to even consider selling him, that’s what I think it would take for them to let him go in January.”

Football Insider adds that the Belgium international is ‘tempted’ by the prospect of a move to the Premier League in January, amid interest from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, as O’Rourke outlined in those comments, it would take a significant fee for the Scottish giants to consider parting ways with the midfield star, whose contract expires at the end of next season.

Why Rangers must keep hold of Nicolas Raskin

The Light Blues must resist any attempts to prise the Belgian star away from Ibrox in January because losing him would be an even bigger blow than it was to sell Igamane in the summer.

Of course, the Morocco international’s goals were important and his absence has been felt, mainly because of Chermiti and Miovski’s struggles, but he mainly impacted games in possession with his attacking play.

Raskin, however, is an exceptional box-to-box midfielder who can influence matches with his play in and out of possession, which means that he is even more important than Igamane to the overall structure of the side.

The 24-year-old star, who scored against Dundee in the Premiership before the international break, produced four goals and ten assists in the Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign, whilst also winning 57% of his duels, per Sofascore.

In the current campaign, the midfielder has delivered one goal and two assists along with 6.7 duels won per game at a success rate of 54%, per Sofascore, which shows that he is impacting matches at both ends.

FotMob rating

7.50

3rd

Chances created

17

2nd

Assists

2

Joint-1st

Goals involvements

3

2nd

Passes completed per 90

52.3

6th

Tackles won

20

2nd

Interceptions

7

Joint-3rd

As you can see in the table above, the Belgium international ranks highly among his teammates in a host of key metrics both in and out of possession in the league this season.

In fact, Raskin ranks within the top 11% of midfielders in the division for duels won (60) and the top 18% for tackles won (20) in the Premiership this season, which shows that he has been a standout defensively both by Rangers and Premiership standards.

The former Standard Liege ace, who was once dubbed “sensational” by former teammate Scott Arfield, is clearly crucial to what the Gers do at both ends of the pitch, with his contributions offensively and defensively.

That is why losing him would be an even bigger blow than when they lost Igamane in the summer, as the Moroccan forward only won 39% of his defensive duels and made 23 tackles over the entire season in the Premiership last term, per FotMob.

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ByDan Emery Nov 15, 2025

Therefore, even if a ‘big’ offer comes over the desk in the January window, the club should look to keep hold of him until they have the summer window to take their time to replace the midfield star.

FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders traveling to matches in the United States will be able to receive prioritized U.S. visa interview appointments under a new initiative announced at the White House on Monday. The program – the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) – was introduced by the U.S. Department of State in coordination with the White House Task Force and FIFA.

Getty Images NewsWhite House event announces new FIFA PASS program

FIFA PASS will allow fans who have purchased World Cup tickets through FIFA to request priority visa interview slots at U.S. embassies and consulates. The State Department said the system will launch in early 2026 and emphasized that all applicants must still complete the standard vetting and eligibility process required for a U.S. visa.

“If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have prioritized appointments to get your visa,” Infantino said at the event. Rubio added that the government has deployed more than 400 additional consular officers worldwide to help meet expected demand ahead of the tournament.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportProgram gives ticket holders access to priority visa interviews

More than six million tickets are expected to be made available for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Eleven U.S. cities will host a combined 78 matches, including group-stage games, knockout rounds and the final.

Fans who need a visa and live in countries with available appointments are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, the State Department said. Travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries may instead seek authorization through ESTA. 

Infantino has repeatedly emphasized that “the world is welcome in America,” offering public reassurances that international fans will be safe and supported when traveling to the United States for both the 2025 Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup. His comments follow meetings with the White House Task Force and come amid ongoing scrutiny over the U.S. government’s immigration policies, security concerns, and visa challenges. Human Rights Watch has urged FIFA to be prepared to reconsider hosting if traveler safety cannot be guaranteed, even as Infantino maintains that U.S. officials have assured him that all fans who come to “celebrate football” will be welcomed.

Getty Images SportFIFA World Cup 2026's economic impact

Earlier this year, a joint study from FIFA and the World Trade Organization projected that hosting the 2026 tournament could generate 185,000 full-time jobs in the United States and contribute USD 17.2 billion to the economy.

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Getty Images SportLooking ahead

Additional guidance for ticket holders on how to access FIFA PASS will be provided in early 2026, and updated entry information for all three host nations is available on FIFA’s official website.

"The kick-off is coming up, so now is the time to apply. We’re honored to host the greatest and safest World Cup in history," Rubio said.