Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement will be desperate for the January transfer window to open so he can work on securing a couple of new signings for the Ibrox side.

On the surface, it doesn’t appear as though much work needs to be done on the squad, especially with their form since the Belgian took over.

If you take a deeper look into the first team squad, however, some cracks begin to show and the former Club Brugge manager will be keen to improve as soon as possible.

By the time the winter window rolls around, the Gers could have secured progress in the Europa League, while hopefully claiming the League Cup trophy and this should give Clement more incentive to bolster his team.

With that in mind, the Glasgow side have been linked with a few names already. Here is a look at how the Ibrox side could line up following the winter transfer window if Clement manages to land a few players.

1

GK – Jack Butland

It would take a lot for Jack Butland to be replaced as the number one, especially with his form since joining during the summer.

Butland has featured in every single match for the club this term and has kept 11 clean sheets across 23 matches, conceding 20 goals in the process.

Although there was some interest recently from Birmingham City, the Gers have no intention to sell at the current time, unless there was an offer that was too good to turn down.

2

RB – James Tavernier

James Tavernier has once again been the club’s main source of goals this season, finding the back of the net on 11 occasions, while he has also grabbed three assists for good measure.

The 32-year-old will be under pressure to lift more silverware as captain, especially as the side have underperformed in recent seasons.

Under Clement, this could all change and Tavernier will remain a key part of the starting XI unless something drastic happens.

3

CB – Connor Goldson

Like Tavernier, Connor Goldson has been a mainstay in the heart of the defence for the previous five years and that doesn’t appear to be changing despite a new manager coming in.

Goldson has missed just one match all campaign and the Belgian clearly identifies him as a key member of the senior squad.

The question is, who could be his regular partner at the back once the transfer window closes?

4

CB – Ben Godfrey

The Light Blues were recently linked with interest in the current Everton defender, according to 90min, and could he potentially be Clement’s first signing for the club?

The Toffees are open to selling the 6 foot gem as he has made just two appearances all campaign while his career is currently stalling.

Previously dubbed as “immense” by former professional boxer Tony Bellew, Godfrey could replace Ben Davies at the heart of the defence from February onwards.

The former Liverpool defender hasn’t enjoyed the best of times at the club – having been criticised for getting "bullied" at centre-back, according to Krik Broadfoot – and following interest from Stoke City in the summer, January might see another club come in for him.

5

LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Borna Barisic is attracting interest from Serie A due to his contract expiring at the end of the season and this could allow Yilmaz the chance to cement his place in the starting XI.

The Turkish gem has started just four league matches so far this season, but three of those have come under Clement, and he could have a positive future if he continues to impress.

6

CM – Noah Mbamba

The Light Blues have been linked with Belgian youngster Mbamba ahead of the transfer window, and they will be keen to beat Manchester City to his signature.

Although aged just 18, he has featured three times for Bayer Leverkusen this term, registering a Bundesliga assist and his ceiling is limitless.

If he did move to Rangers, he may not be a regular starter, but he could have a positive impact on the side should he swap Germany for Scotland.

7

CM – Jose Cifuentes

Another Michael Beale signing who hasn’t hit the ground running, but that’s not to say that he won't develop into a top-class player.

The Ecuadorian has played 15 times for the club, yet with just one assist to his name, he perhaps isn’t quite hitting the heights which saw him shine for Los Angeles FC.

Gaining a steady run of games under Clement will bolster his confidence, hopefully, and this could see him control the midfield.

8

RW – Ross McCausland

The youngster has enjoyed a productive few months. Firstly, he has emerged as a regular under Clement in the league, making four appearances and he even made his debut for Northern Ireland recently.

Although raw, it’s evident that the 49-year-old sees his potential and, if given more opportunities, the 20-year-old will continue his upward trajectory.

9

AM – Todd Cantwell

The former Norwich City gem has often been stuck out on the right wing this term, but utilising him through the middle will be better for the club in the long term.

He registered eight goal contributions from an attacking midfield slot last term and it's clear this is his favoured position.

Going forward, Clement should ditch Sam Lammers and move Cantwell into a number ten role.

10

LW – Abdallah Sima

The on-loan winger has emerged as a solid goal threat on the left wing, netting nine times in 22 matches.

While inconsistent at times, his ability to pop up with moments of class suggest that he will continue to feature on a regular basis.

The former India opener doesn’t think Rishabh Pant has much chance of making India’s World Cup squad, but believes R Ashwin could have a role to play

Saurabh Somani22-Jan-2019

Gautam Gambhir directs an adjustment on the field•BCCI

On playing domestic cricket before the Australia ODIs:I was a little disappointed because some of the guys should have played first-class cricket. The selectors should have pushed them to play first-class cricket. Because it’s a World Cup year, you’ve got to be in prime form. Whether it was MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu (Rayudu retired from first-class cricket earlier this season)… all those guys who went to Australia.Why do you skip it? Because ultimately you will get confidence by scoring runs, not by hitting the nets. You can’t be thinking, ‘I’m going to come back into form just by playing international cricket.’ The only way everyone has done it is by playing domestic cricket and scoring runs. It’s a World Cup year, so I think the selectors should have made everyone play domestic cricket.Does Rishabh Pant have a place in the ODI squad?I don’t think so. They’ve got MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik. He can wait for his opportunity. Obviously he has done well in Test cricket. He’s doing all the right things. But if you’ve got Dhoni, who got [the] Man-of-the-Series award, he deserves to be there now. And it’s so close to the World Cup, you need someone like Dhoni. Karthik has been in decent form as well over the last four-five months. The good thing is, Rishabh is keeping them on their toes as well, which is always a good sign for Indian cricket, that youngsters are pushing the seniors.On players potentially skipping the IPL to rest before the World Cup:I think playing the IPL is a fabulous opportunity for most of those guys to be in peak form. Because you’re only bowling four overs. It’s not like there is a lot of physical burden on you. Plus you’re going to be bowling in difficult conditions as well, whether in the first six overs or the last four. So that will keep you in good shape. You don’t suddenly miss the IPL and say ‘I’ll go to the World Cup fresh and raring to go.’ That is only from the physical point of view, but from the skill point of view, to be at the top of your game, you’ve got to be playing a tournament like the IPL. And if you do well at the IPL, it’s going to keep you in very good stead in the World Cup. Imagine Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling well in the death overs, how confident they would be going into the World Cup. Or some of the middle-order batters finishing the game for their franchise, they’ll go to the World Cup thinking, ‘We can finish from any situation’. So I think the IPL can be a blessing in disguise. I think MS Dhoni made a very good point when he said that it’s going to be a great opportunity for most of the players to be in prime form from the skill point of view.Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni at a practice session in Colombo•AFP

On how Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul’s potential absence could affect the team:One person does not change anything. The core still remains the same. KL Rahul wasn’t even there in the playing XI because we had Rayudu who did fabulously well against West Indies, so he deserved a chance before Rahul in the one-day format. Yes Hardik Pandya [might have made a difference], but you’ve replaced him with Ravindra Jadeja, who again is an allrounder. We only have, what, ten ODIs left before the World Cup? So we should maintain consistency and give people who are going to play the first game of the World Cup these ten games and see how they deliver.On the journey from sharing his Player-of-the-Match Award with Virat Kohli when the latter made his first ODI hundred, to Kohli sweeping all the ICC awards:It’s his hard work. I shared it because it was his first international hundred. I wanted to make him feel special because it was his first international hundred. Irrespective of how many you get, I remember my first international hundred till now, even when I’m retired. That always stays close to your heart, it’s a feeling that can never be replaced, even if you get 100 international hundreds, or how many ever. The first is always special, your debut is always special. Whenever he sees that trophy he should remember that. And whatever he’s achieved is all because of his hard work. I hope he continues this form because it’s going to be an important year for Indian cricket.On what makes Jasprit Bumrah difficult to pick:People ask me this about Sunil Narine as well, what made him so difficult to pick – and I just said, ‘quality’. Mystery can be solved over a period of time, but he had the quality. People can keep talking about Bumrah’s action, but he’s just a quality bowler. The action can only help you in one format, probably T20 where you have to go after the bowling. But he’s been so successful in Test cricket. He’s probably the best bowler in the world right now in all three formats.On which spinners India should look at for the World Cup:I think both wristspinners have done a fabulous job for Indian cricket over the last one year. But I still feel that R Ashwin is someone we should look at. A quality spinner is a quality spinner, irrespective of whether you’re a wristspinner or a fingerspinner. Look at what Nathan Lyon has done in the Test series. He’s probably the best offspinner in the world and he’s a fingerspinner. So I feel we should not differentiate that there’s a wristspinner so there’s no space for a finger spinner. Someone like Ashwin, we should always consider. Looking at the conditions in England during that time of the year, the wickets could be dry and a fingerspinner could have an important role.

British clubs have had immense success in Europe, especially since the Premier League cash cow came into existence, but that doesn’t mean they’re free from embarrassment.

Indeed, most, if not all clubs have had some absolute shockers in the Champions League, Europa League and its various predecessors.

Football FanCast takes a look at 10 British clubs' most embarrassing defeats on the European stage.

Gunners battered by Bayern – twice Arsenal 1-5 Bayern Munich, 2017

We could have a top 10 just for Arsenal, but we thought this one was particularly embarrassing. The Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal Champions League tie in 2017 was pretty bad for the Gunners. The first match, held at the Allianz Arena, ended with a resounding 5-1 victory for Bayern Munich.

Arsenal went into the break level thanks to an Alexis Sanchez penalty, but the Gunners fell apart after Laurent Koscielny went off injured early in the second half. Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Thiago (2) and Thomas Muller completed an embarrassing rout.

The second leg was almost a carbon copy, as after Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead on the night, their hopes were soon dashed as Bayern responded with a ruthlessly dominant performance. The turning point occurred in the 53rd minute when Koscielny received a red card, reducing the Gunners to 10 men. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you go down to ten men against Bayern, it isn’t going to be pretty.

Bayern Munich's relentless attacking prowess saw goals from Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa and an Arturo Vidal double. The final aggregate score of 10-2 reflected the vast difference between the two clubs, and it could have been greater.

Celtic humiliated in Slovakian thumping Artmedia Bratislava 5-0 Celtic, 2005

Celtic are the only Scottish club to have won a European Cup, but this was a stark fall from grace. In Gordon Strachan's managerial debut for Celtic, the team suffered a humiliating defeat against Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League second qualifying round. Juraj Halenar opened the scoring with a tap-in, giving Artmedia a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Blazej Vascak doubled the lead after the break, and Halenar added a thunderous volley, securing a 3-0 advantage. Martin Mikulic scored a fourth, and Halenar completed his hat-trick with a low drive in injury time, resulting in a shocking 5-0 loss for Celtic.

The defeat all but confirmed Celtic’s elimination from European competition, as losers in the second qualifying round did not drop into the UEFA Cup.

Agonisingly, the Hoops would fall just short of a miraculous comeback after winning 4-0 at Celtic Park. The damage was already done.

Chelsea blow first-leg lead against minnows Viking Viking 4-2 Chelsea, 2002

Who says Chelsea don’t have any European history before Roman Abramovich? The season before the Russian oligarch took over, Chelsea were playing in the UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, and getting humbled by Norwegian side Viking.

We could have included games from either of the two previous years as Chelsea’s most embarrassing results – a 2-1 aggregate loss against Swiss side St Gallen in 2000 and a 3-1 aggregate loss against Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2001 – but we went with this one because before this game, Chelsea were in the driving seat.

The Blues won the first game 2-1, but they started this one poorly, conceding in the first in the 9th minute before going 2-0 down. Frank Lampard got one back in the 45th minute, only for Viking to score their third in the 60th.

John Terry headed home just two minutes later and the nerves seemed to settle amongst the fans, all they needed to do was see it out. Unfortunately for the Chelsea faithful, the lads on the pitch couldn’t do it, and in the 87th minute, their fate was sealed by Erik Nevland.

The top 10 Champions League games of all time – ranked

That night in ’99 and the Miracle in Istanbul are both featured in the list of the Champions League’s greatest-ever games.

ByFreddie Taylor Sep 25, 2023 Atalanta give Everton the blues amid sorry display Everton 1-5 Atalanta, 2017

Atalanta are one of the best-run clubs in Europe, with an owner who understands that you don’t need to spend big money to be successful and a manager who has a great tactical understanding, able to get the best out of the players at his disposal. Everton, on the other hand, are not.

From the outset of their 2017 Europa League game, Atalanta were far too much for Everton to handle, overwhelming the English club’s defence. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, and it stayed that way up until the 63rd minute when he scored his second.

Forgotten Everton forward Sandro Ramirez then scored to make it 2-1, but what followed was a complete and utter collapse. Three goals from the Italian side in just eight minutes highlighted how far off the pace Everton were that season. Robin Gosens bagged one, and Andreas Cornelius got two.

It may have been very embarrassing for Everton, but the match became a memorable chapter in Atalanta’s recent European campaigns, underlining their potential as a formidable force in continental competition.

In contrast, Everton have faced challenges that even the most pessimistic fan couldn’t have predicted.

Leicester take foot off the gas and pay the price FC Porto 5-0 Leicester City, 2016

Talk about getting knocked down a peg. Leicester had just completed their miraculous Premier League triumph and were playing in the Champions League for the first time in their history.

To be fair to Leicester City, by the time this game came about, they had already progressed to the round of 16 as group winners; Porto just had to show them what real European heritage is. Andre Silva opened the scoring after six minutes before Jesus Manuel Corona got their second in the 26th. Yacine Brahimi scored their third just before half-time.

Silva then scored his second from the spot before Diogo Jota rounded off the scoring. There was some good news for Leicester, though, as Danny Drinkwater drew level with Diego Maradona for European Cup/Champions League appearances. You’ve got to take the rough with the smooth sometimes.

Napoli destroy Liverpool in statement victory Napoli 4-1 Liverpool, 2022

Liverpool have had immense success in Europe. They’ve won the Champions League a whopping six times – three more than rivals Manchester United. Pedigree doesn’t win you games, though, and in 2022, Napoli battered Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were playing such a high line, it looked like Napoli were going to score every time they had the ball. In the end, they opened the scoring from the spot, as James Milner’s outstretched arm caught the ball. Piotr Zielinski converted, and the floodgates opened.

Just seven minutes later, Napoli were awarded another penalty, but this time Alisson saved Victor Osimhen’s tame effort. Even after that, the Italian side kept coming at Liverpool and eventually doubled their lead thanks to Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa getting on the end of a textbook one-two. Giovanni Simeone then made it 3-0 just before half-time with a tap-in.

Zielinski got his second after latching on to a loose ball following Alisson’s save to make it a rout. Luis Diaz got one back, but it was nothing more than a consolation. Liverpool were incredibly lucky that it was only 4-1. There haven’t been many games where they’ve been so thoroughly beaten.

Man City crumble on European trip Lech Poznan 3-1 Man City, 2010

It’s almost impossible to imagine Manchester City losing to a club like Lech Poznan now; a billion pounds and Pep Guardiola would inevitably give them an upper hand. In 2010/11, they were still finding their feet as an elite European side, and Lech Poznan made them look a little foolish.

City started on the front foot but were pegged back by Lech Poznan on the half-hour mark thanks to Dimitrije Injac's strike from distance. Emmanuel Adebayor then equalised, and a draw seemed all but inevitable until the 86th minute.

Manuel Arboleda nodded home and Mateusz scored a fine goal to make it 3-1. The final whistle blew, and Roberto Mancini looked furious. The home fans then did their famous celebration, turning away from the pitch and jumping in unison – a move that City would later steal.

Manchester City have had a few dodgy results since then, mainly thanks to Guardiola’s overthinking. But having finally got their hands on a Champions League trophy last season, it’s not all bad in the blue half of Manchester.

Busby's boys battered in Lisbon Sporting CP 5-0 Man United, 1964

It’s fair to say Manchester United haven’t been good in Europe since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, but this one precedes even the great Scotsman. Back in March of 1964, Sporting CP proved to be too much for the Red Devils and their ‘holy trinity’ in this Cup Winners' Cup tie.

Manager Sir Matt Busby was no slouch, he demanded each and every one of his players give everything they had on the pitch, especially George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, the three players that would go on to have their statues built outside Old Trafford. On this day though, they were powerless.

Sporting opened the scoring early thanks to a 2nd minute penalty, scored by Brazilian midfielder Osvaldo da Silva. Da Silva would go on to score a hat-trick, while Geo Carvalho and Joao Morais got the other two. The game was done by the 51st minute.

Rangers slump to shock qualifying exit Kaunas 2-1 Rangers, 2008

Domestically, there is no bigger club in Scotland than Rangers. They’ve won an incredible 55 Scottish Premiership titles, but they’ve never truly delivered in Europe. This was meant to be a routine game, but following a goalless draw in Glasgow, Lithuanian outfit Kaunas secured a late Champions League qualifying victory over Rangers, eliminating the Ibrox side from European competition.

Kevin Thomson initially put Rangers ahead in the 33rd minute, but Nerijus Radzius equalised just before half-time. In the 86th minute, Linas Pilibaitis's header sealed a shock victory for Kaunas to eliminate the Gers, who had only just been UEFA Cup finalists.

Shambolic Spurs suffer second-leg collapse Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 Spurs, 2021

Jose Mourinho’s time as Tottenham Hotspur manager was bad for everyone involved. The players seemed to lack any kind of direction, the fans hated the style of football, and Mourinho was almost embarrassed to be there. Daniel Levy appeared to be the only person who thought bringing the ex-Chelsea coach in was a good idea.

Spurs were 2-0 up after the first leg and came into this one with a point to prove, following a disappointing north London derby defeat in the match before. They just never got going, and even for a Mourinho side, there was an incredible lack of attacking creativity.

Mislav Oršić emerged as the hero for Dinamo Zagreb, scoring a sensational hat-trick. His goals in the 62nd and 82nd-minute goals took the game to extra-time, where his 106th-minute strike knocked the stuffing out of Spurs, and Dinamo Zagreb secured a famous victory.

Dinamo Zagreb's triumph marked a historic moment for the club, advancing to the quarter-finals at the expense of a Premier League side. Conversely, it was a disappointing turn of events for Tottenham, but as Giorgio Chiellini so succinctly put it, “it’s the history of the Tottenham.”

As European football becomes more and more closed-off to lesser teams, these games may become less likely. For now, just revel in the fact that sometimes the big boys just can't hack it.

After a summer of reconstruction, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted that 'Liverpool 2.0' is being built, with the malfunctioning engine room written and replaced with a wealth of exciting new stars.

And who can argue that the arrivals have not been a success thus far? Dominik Szoboszlai is elegant and energetic; Alexis Mac Allister is dynamic and crisp in an unorthodox No. 6 role; putting an ill-fortuned spell with Bayern Munich behind him, the 21-year-old Ryan Gravenberch looks a bona fide prodigy and is touted for the very top in the years to come.

Gakpo distracted from just how good 8/10 Liverpool star was vs LASK

Despite losing possession 22 times, Jurgen Klopp’s exciting star proved his worth once again.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2023

Wataru Endo, too, has been a solid acquisition, signing from Stuttgart for £16m after Liverpool failed to capture both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who both penned long-term deals with Chelsea.

With attacking additions welcomed in the windows preceding the summer, it's understandable that bolstering the backline will take priority over any other business. However, that could change if Mohamed Salah leaves Merseyside next year.

Mohamed Salah's future

In the summer, the Saudi Pro League's ambitious endeavour to rise as a footballing superpower saw a torrent of transfer activity pour into the nation, with many stars across Europe penning lucrative deals with opulent Saudi Arabian outfits.

Salah was – and still is – among the very top targets to bring to the league, and Liverpool's early-season progress threatened to destabilise the bid to return to prominence, with Al-Ittihad believed to have lodged a staggering £150m offer for the Egyptian forward in the late days of August.

The 31-year-old has undoubtedly been one of the best forwards in the Premier League since signing for Liverpool from Roma in 2017, for £34m, and has now posted 149 goals and 69 assists from 244 matches in the division.

For Liverpool, the money offered was nice, sure, but selling Salah was simply inconceivable at the maiden phase of a crucial campaign that demanded a resurgence.

He's been emphatic this year, proving that selling him was a foolish option, having scored 13 goals and supplied five assists across all competitions already.

But with his contract set for expiry in June 2025, the Liverpool bosses are faced with quite a quandary; should a new deal fail to materialise over the next six months or so, then it's very much feasible that Salah will be sold in the summer.

Liverpool transfer targets – Donyell Malen

According to a report from respected German outlet BILD earlier this week, Liverpool are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund winger Donyell Malen in the event of Salah's departure next summer.

The Dutchman has ebbed and flowed from form in Germany but came alive at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and is one of Edin Terzic's most dynamic and trustworthy assets.

Priced at €35m (£30m) by Football Transfers' valuation model, Malen is proving to be a prolific figure and still has much scope for improvement, and Klopp could bring his game to the next level by luring him to Anfield.

Donyell Malen's style of play

Noted for his “sizzling” form by journalist Antonio Mango, Malen is a natural dribbling whiz and has a knack for finding the back of the net with his weaving patterns into space, unleashing fusillades of fire on opposition defences.

Considered a player of "extraordinary ability" by former Dortmund boss Marco Rose, Malen completed a move to Dortmund from his native PSV Eindhoven in 2021, arriving as the replacement for Jadon Sancho, who joined Manchester United.

After the transfer, the Yellow Wall's director Michael Zorc stated, "Donyell is a player with great offensive potential, who exudes goal danger, brings his creativity to the table and has a high speed."

Strengths

Weaknesses

Finishing

Defensive contribution

Dribbling

*Sourced via WhoScored

The 24-year-old has since chalked up 24 goals and 16 assists from 91 displays, really coming into his own at the end of last season, plundering nine goals and five assists from the final 13 games of the term.

This time around, he has scored four times from nine starts in the Bundesliga, but his expansive style and thorny threat highlight the quality that overpowers mere success from goals and assists.

As per FBref, the versatile forward ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 2% for shots taken, the top 14% for successful take-ons and the top 17% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

He is even listed as a comparable player to Salah, and while he does not boast the ridiculous number of goals and assists that the Egyptian offers with such odd-defying regularity, he could slot right into the system at Anfield.

How Donyell Malen compares to Mohamed Salah

There are certainly similarities that can be pulled from Malen's style in comparison to Salah's, with both forwards adept at cutting inside and striking on goal with clinical efforts.

Salah, much like Malen, ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for goals per 90, though he also ranks among the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 7% for assists per 90.

Player

Goals

Harry Kane

213

Mohamed Salah

149

Jamie Vardy

136

Romelu Lukaku

121

Raheem Sterling

120

*Sourced via premierleague.com

Lauded for his "frightening" offensive prowess by teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah is, without a doubt, one of the finest players in Liverpool's history, and to expect a player such as Malen to waltz in and emulate his cutting edge to a tee would be foolish.

However, if Salah does leave next year, then Malen would be able to slot right in and serve as a similar cog in the system; Liverpool's style tilts toward Salah and allows him to flourish, meaning that should Malen arrive then he too could find opportunities aplenty come his way.

Klopp will fiercely fight to keep a hold of his star man's services, but should he leave, efforts must be made to land Malen, nurturing him as the new phenom on the right.

Arsenal are enjoying another impressive season so far this year.

The club are still fighting for Premier League supremacy and have taken to the Champions League like a duck to water, already qualifying and topping their group before the final match.

Their guaranteed progression into the next round of the competition gives Mikel Arteta the luxury of rotating his squad for their final group game against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday evening.

One player who must finally be given his first senior start for the club is the highly-rated Ethan Nwaneri.

#1 Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 5 months, 28 days

2022: Brentford

#2 Cesc Fabregas

16 years, 5 months, 24 days

2003: Rotherham

#3 Jack Wilshere

16 years, 8 months, 12 days

2008: Blackburn

#4 Jermaine Pennant

16 years, 10 months, 15 days

1999: Middlesbrough

#5 Paul Vaessen

16 years, 11 months, 11 days

1978: Lokomotive Leipzig

#6 Ryan Smith

16 years, 11 months, 18 days

2003: Rotherham

#7 Gedion Zelalem

16 years, 11 months, 29 days

2014: Coventry

#8 Armand Traore

17 years, 16 days

2006: West Brom

Ethan Nwaneri's youth stats for Arsenal

Nwaneri made his senior debut for the club away to Brentford and became the youngest Premier League player in history in the process – 15 years, five months and 28 days – but the overwhelming majority of his performances have come at youth level, for Arsenal.

Described as "unplayable" by Arsenal's U18 coach Jack Wilshere for his impact in a 3-3 draw with Manchester United's U18 side last season, the Hale End prodigy has been wowing his coaches for years, and it is easy to see why.

In his 13 Premier League 2 appearances for the youth side, he has scored four goals and provided two assists, while in the U18 Premier League, he has scored seven goals and provided five assists in 16 appearances.

Matches

13

16

Goals

4

7

Assists

2

5

Goal Involvements per game

0.46

0.75

His most recent impressive feat came in the U18 FA Youth Cup on December 9th, when, in a game against Crewe Alexandria's U18s, he scored five goals – yes, five – as the young Guns ran out 7-1 victors.

If Arteta is looking for a reason to play the youngster, he can't really ask for more than that.

Ethan Nwaneri's youth stats for England

The Gunners' young "wonderkid", as dubbed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, hasn't just been impressing in the red and white of Arsenal, but he has also been making a name for himself with the England junior sides.

The 16-year-old made his debut for the U16s side on February 12th 2022, in an international friendly against Germany, before going on to make another five appearances for the side before being promoted to the U17s side under Tom Curtis.

Since making the move up, he has made 21 appearances, scored nine goals and provided two assists.

Matches

27

Goals

10

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Game

0.48

Why Ethan Nwaneri must start vs PSV

Ultimately, Nwaneri's numbers at the youth level should be reason enough for Arteta to play the immensely talented youngster on Tuesday evening, but his ability to play as either a midfielder or on the right-wing means that the Spaniard could rest either Bukayo Saka or Martin Odegaard – two stars essential to his team's success this season.

The "golden" prospect, as described by Jacek Kulig, has played as an attacking midfielder 22 times, a centre forward eight times, and on the wings three times in the last three seasons, giving his manager the ability to add him into the side where he sees fit.

If this game was to decide where the club finished in the group or even to determine if they qualified, not playing Nwaneri would be totally understandable, but with essentially nothing but pride on the line, Arteta has to grab this opportunity to start one of the most exciting youngsters around. If not now, when?

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo é campeão da Copa do Brasil Sub-17. Em partida dramática realizada nesta sexta-feira, o Fluminense chegou a sair na frente com João Neto mas, após um grande desempenho no segundo tempo, a geração de Cotia igualou com Caio e assegurou o triunfo por 2 a 1 com um pênalti convertido por Pet aos 50 minutos, no duelo decisivo no Estádio Luso-Brasileiro. No primeiro jogo, houve empate em 0 a 0.

O JOGO

O Fluminense teve um início promissor de partida. Matheus Martins cruzou e Kayky chegou a concluir, mas a bola passou à direita. O bom embalo logo se transformou na superioridade no placar. Jefté avançou como quis e serviu João Neto. O camisa 9, com calma, concluiu para o fundo da rede.

A equipe ainda teve chances com Metinho e Matheus Martins. Porém, aos poucos a Molecada de Xerém foi diminuindo seu ritmo e viu o São Paulo aumentar seu ritmo. João Adriano e Léo tentaram, mas foram pouco efetivos.

Na volta do intervalo, o Tricolor das Laranjeiras indicou que iria manter seu ritmo quando Aleksander quase marcou. Contudo, o São Paulo já vinha em outra voltagem. Marquinhos aproveitou uma brecha e Caio tentou, livre, mas a zaga hesitou.

O atacante ainda exigiu Cayo Felipe em outros dois momentos até, enfim, balançar a rede. Patrick desceu pela esquerda e alçou pela área. Caio surgiu entre os zagueiros e estufou a rede: 1 a 1, aos 20 minutos.

A sucessão de mudanças tornou o jogo ainda mais acirrado. Lucas Felipe e Matheus Martins desperdiçaram oportunidades. O São Paulo também seguiu rondando a área.

O jogo caminhava para os últimos minutos quando o Caio avançava pela esquerda e foi derrubado por Caio Amaral aos 48 minutos, em pênalti assinalado sob forte protesto do banco do Fluminense e muita polêmica. Pet, que entrou em campo aos 44, partiu para a cobrança e deslocou Cayo Felipe, decretando a vitória por 2 a 1 e o título do São Paulo aos 50 minutos.

As duas equipes se enfrentam na Supercopa do Brasil Sub-17.

RelacionadasFluminenseEmpresa de engenharia faz estudo de viabilidade para Fluminense revitalizar as LaranjeirasFluminense29/01/2021Fora de CampoGlobo comunica clubes sobre desejo de renegociar contratos do BrasileiroFora de Campo29/01/2021

Hashim Amla was forced to retire hurt with a bruised bicep as South Africa battled through the vagaries of an increasingly uneven surface on the fourth morning at Newlands, and ticked off the 41 runs required for a victory that sealed the series against Pakistan.Their mainstay in 9.5 overs of action was Dean Elgar – no stranger to putting his body on the line in awkward conditions. He did take the precaution of pinching Amla’s armguard as his team-mate left the field, but stood firm thereafter, sealing the win with back-to-back boundaries off the part-time seam of Azhar Ali.Azhar’s introduction to the attack with six runs to win was an admission from Pakistan that the game was up, as they instead turned their sights to next week’s Johannesburg Test. But up until that point, Mohammads Abbas and Amir had launched a full-blooded defence of their meagre total.The man who had most to gain – and to lose – in this mini-passage of play was Theunis de Bruyn, who was promoted to open in the place of Aiden Markram, who bruised his thigh in the field, and had an opportunity for a morale-boosting red-inker after an under-productive series.Instead he was caught behind off an Abbas bouncer for 4, having clipped one sweet boundary off his toes. His place for the Johannesburg Test may depend on Markram’s fitness, and indeed that of Amla, who appeared to be left with a dead arm after Amir thudded a vicious lifter into the underside of his bicep as he looked to shoulder arms. Ottis Gibson, South Africa’s coach, confirmed after the match that he had suffered bruising but played down any long-term concerns.Amir’s pace and intensity wasn’t entirely beneficial to Pakistan’s cause, as he served up a quarter of the target in the space of three erratic deliveries, a wild leg-side wide that eluded Sarfraz to fizz to the boundary, and a sizzling bouncer that also flew from a good length, and was called no-ball due to the number of short balls he’d already bowled in the over.”Definitely, not enough runs in the first innings,” said Pakistan’s captain, Sarfraz Ahmed, during the post-match presentations. “Maybe closer to 250-300 would have been good. The way our batsmen batted in the second innings showed our courage.””Our bowlers always enjoy coming here,” said Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s captain. “And there are runs to be had if you bat properly.”Du Plessis admitted South Africa would have preferred to wrap the match up on the third evening, when Vernon Philander’s no-ball prevented them from ending Pakistan’s innings with enough time to hunt down the runs.”We wanted to finish last night, but unfortunately that no-ball happened,” he said. Instead it took less than an hour on the fourth day, as South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match series, extending their unbeaten run at home.

Arsenal are set to tie youngster Chido Obi down to a long-term deal as Mikel Arteta looks to fast track his route to the first team.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Obi impresses Arsenal
• Switches agency
• Set for new deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Obi is set to enter a 'new agreement' with Arsenal in the coming months and could even be rewarded with a spot on the first team bench by Arteta before the end of the 2023/24 season.

Advertisement

• G
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 16-year-old has already been training with the first team on various occasions and has recently switched agents to join Elite Projects Group. This is seen as a major step in extending his time with Arsenal, as they are classed as a 'heavyweight' in the industry.

• WHAT OBI SAID

  “I would like to stay at Arsenal for a long time," he told Danish site bold.DK earlier in April. "It's a good club, I can feel that I'm getting much better in training. There are a lot of good people and good coaches, so I'm really happy to be there.

  “Maybe I will have to play permanently at Under-21 from next season. There aren't that many strikers in the squad so it will be a good opportunity for me. Arsenal is a club that gives young talents the opportunity to play.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Obi netted an impressive haul of ten goals during Arsenal under-16's rampant 14-3 win over Liverpool under-16's earlier in the season. He had previously been playing in the under-18's, 19 and 21 teams but dropped down to the previously noted level for that weekend as the other sides weren't in action.

There were strong contributions from Alex Hales and AB de Villiers too, before a final push from Farhad Reza gave Riders the second-highest successful chase in BPL history

The Report by Mohammad Isam19-Jan-2019How the game played outRilee Rossouw’s fourth fifty of the BPL season powered Rangpur Riders through the second-highest successful chase in the competition’s history. Farhad Reza’s unbeaten 18 off six balls completed the final-over win for the defending champions’ star-studded team.Rossouw, whose 35-ball 61 contained nine fours and two sixes, added 63 for the second wicket Alex Hales and 67 for the third with AB de Villiers, who contributed a 21-ball 34 on his BPL debut.Taskin Ahmed took 4 for 42, with two two-wicket overs that kept Sixers in the game after they had posted 194 for 4 after being sent in. Sabbir Rahman’s 51-ball 85 set up the big total.Turning points Sabbir and Nicholas Pooran blast 61 runs in the last four overs of Sixers’ innings despite Shafiul Islam conceding only nine in the last over. Taskin removes Rossouw and de Villiers in the 14th over, after their third-wicket stand had put Riders in control of the chase. Sandeep Lamicchane concedes only three runs in the 16th over, leaving Riders needing 42 off 24. Taskin takes two more in the 18th, leaving Riders needing 24 off 12, but Farhad and Mashrafe Mortaza finish the job with three fours and a six between them. Riders win with three balls to spare.Star of the daySabbir scored his first fifty in ten BPL innings, his last half-century coming during the 2017-18 edition. He paced his innings well, picking the right moments to attack and pushing the ball around for ones and twos in between.The big missRossouw survived three dropped chances and a sure-shot run-out within the first 5.5 overs of the Riders’ chase. Wicketkeeper Jakir Ali dropped him twice on 1 and 12 before a direct hit would have had Rossouw short by a big margin, when he was on 16. Two balls later, Pooran dropped Rossouw’s bunt towards mid-on, and the ball went all the way to the boundary.Where the teams standBoth teams started the match with four points from six games. Riders have now climbed into the top three with six points.

عقد مسؤولو نادي الزمالك، جلسة مساء اليوم الأحد، مع لاعب الفريق أحمد سيد زيزو ووالده، لحسم موقفه من العروض التي وصلت له خلال الفترة الماضية.

وكان مصدر داخل الزمالك كشف لـ”بطولات”، أن نادي نيوم السعودي وفريق العربي القطري يرغبان في ضم أحمد سيد زيزو.

طالع.. خاص | مبلغ خيالي للاعب.. الزمالك يوضح تفاصيل عرض نيوم السعودي لضم زيزو

وأفاد مصدر لـ”بطولات”، أن مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك أكد خلال الجلسة على تمسكه بـ أحمد سيد زيزو ورغبته في تجديد عقده، واللاعب أيضًا أكد على ترحيبه بالأمر.

وأضاف: “تم الحديث خلال الجلسة عن بعض الأمور الخاصة بموقف زيزو من جانب والده بشأن تقديره المادي المناسب وإدارة النادي لم تعارض حيث تم التأكيد على أنه سيتم الوضع في الحسبان العروض التي وصلت للاعب”.

وواصل: “الجلسة كانت أولية في ظل غياب حسين لبيب رئيس نادي الزمالك عن الجلسة بسبب بعض الظروف الخاصة به على أن تكون هناك جلسة أخرى لاستكمال التفاوض حول تجديد عقده”.

وأتم: “المجلس سيقدم تقريراً لحسين لبيب عن تفاصيل الجلسة ودراسة الأمر من كل الجوانب”.