Notts and Sussex confirm contracted players will not miss county fixtures to play in new European tournament

Matt Roller20-Jul-2019English counties are holding firm over releasing their players for the inaugural Euro T20 Slam amid concerns over a potential clash of dates with their own fixtures, in the latest in a series of conflicts between county cricket and franchise leagues regarding player availability.Several players holding county contracts were picked up in Friday’s draft for the Euro Slam, which will take place between August 30 and September 22, but will likely be unavailable for the majority of the new competition if their counties reach the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast.The Blast’s quarter-finals run from September 4 to September 7, with Finals Day on September 21. Further, there are two rounds of Championship cricket – starting on September 10 and September 16 – that clash with Euro Slam fixtures.Nottinghamshire, for example, saw three important members of their Blast side picked up in Friday’s draft, in Samit Patel – who is contracted for all formats – and T20 specialists Harry Gurney and Dan Christian. “In all three cases, Notts cricket will take precedence,” confirmed the club.Sussex, meanwhile, will be without Rashid Khan for the final four group games of the Blast after he signed as an ‘icon’ player for Rotterdam Rhinos, while Tymal Mills and Luke Wright were also picked up in the draft.A club statement said that Mills and Wright would only be available for the start of the Euro Slam if Sussex failed to reach the knockout stages of the Blast.Both counties were among a handful of clubs that issued similar statements ahead of the draft for the Caribbean Premier League, which runs from September 4 until October 12.The only two English players picked for the CPL were Alex Hales and Laurie Evans, and neither will be permitted to miss games for their county to play.While counties have generally accepted the reality of losing players to franchise T20 leagues in recent years, there have been intermittent flashpoints of tension.Yorkshire were left spitting after both Liam Plunkett and David Willey were selected as late replacements in the 2018 IPL, which left them facing an “impossible situation” according to director of cricket Martyn Moxon.Moxon chaired a meeting between county bosses last year which resolved to lobby the ECB for a greater share of compensation payments for the loss of players.David Willey loads up•BCCIIn 2015, Hales missed a handful of Notts’ Blast fixtures to fill in as a late replacement for Mumbai Indians, thanks in part to a clause in his contract that permitted him to miss games if he was picked. Previously, Hales had been instructed by the club to enter the 2014 auction with a $400,000 base price, to ensure they would be well-compensated if he missed games.A handful of other counties had contracted players selected in the Euro Slam draft. For example, Essex saw Ravi Bopara, Varun Chopra, and Shane Snater picked up; Freddie Klaassen and Hardus Viljoen, the Kent pair, were both chosen; and Somerset’s Roelof van der Merwe and Peter Trego were selected. None of the three clubs have commented.Babar Azam, who is with Somerset for the Vitality Blast was also selected, but as a marquee player his involvement was known at the time of his arrival. He is expected to miss the Blast’s Finals Day, but might yet be made available for a potential quarter-final.The availability of other overseas players, including Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, and Martin Guptill, has yet to be confirmed by their respective clubs.The Blast has regularly had to contend with fixture clashes in previous years, frequently losing out on international stars to the CPL, and this year has seen various high-profile players including Andre Russell, Faf du Plessis, and Shakib al Hasan choose to play in the Global T20 in Canada rather than staying in England after the World Cup.

Hollywood superstar Will Smith has explained why acting gives Lionel Messi a “little kid smile”, with the Inter Miami ace becoming a Bad Boy for life!

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Argentine keeping busy on & off the pitchFormed part of promotional campaign alongside SmithNow readying himself for Copa America actionWHAT HAPPENED?

While eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has plenty of his plate professionally at the moment, as he swaps an MLS Cup quest in Florida for a Copa America title defence with Argentina, he has found the time to rub shoulders with iconic performers from the big screen.

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Messi formed part of the promotional campaign for Bad Boys: Ride or Die as he linked up with Oscar winner Smith and Martin Lawrence. Said video went viral, as Messi briefly speaks English during his cameo appearance in a star-studded scene.

WHAT WILL SMITH SAID

The South American legend has previously worked with Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis in a series of commercials shot for the 2024 Super Bowl. He clearly enjoys stepping outside of his comfort zone, with Smith telling the podcast: “Messi is fantastic, he doesn’t do stuff like [acting], so it’s really interesting when you see somebody who is world-class in the thing that they do, and then they get that little kid smile doing something [new]. He loved being on the set working, it was like a relief for him, he just loved playing in that world, he’s fun to watch.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Messi has moved back from the film set to the football pitch, as his workload is carefully managed ahead of Copa America. That tournament is due to get underway on June 20, with Inter Miami aware that they may be without their talismanic captain for up to five games.

وجه محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، قائد نادي الزمالك، رسالة إلى جماهير القلعة البيضاء، عقب التتويج ببطولة كأس السوبر الإفريقي لعام 2024.

وتوج نادي الزمالك ببطولة كأس السوبر الإفريقي، للمرة الخامسة في تاريخه، بعد الفوز على الأهلي أمس الجمعة، بركلات الترجيح بنتيجة 4-3، بعد انتهاء الوقت الأصلي للمباراة بالتعادل الإيجابي 1-1.

وقال شيكابالا على صفحته الخاصة عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “إلى جمهور الزمالك، أنتم القصة التي لا تنتهي، أنتم الحكاية التي تُروى للأجيال، أنتم الوفاء الذي يُدرّس، بين جدران هذا النادي، سُطرت أسماؤكم بحروف من نور، ليس فقط لأنكم تقفون خلف الفريق، بل لأنكم النبض الذي يحركه، والروح التي تبث الحياة في أوصاله، أنتم الملحمة التي تعيش في كل مباراة، في كل هتاف، في كل دمعة فرح أو حزن”.

طالع | الزمالك يوجه رسالة إلى تركي آل الشيخ بعد جائزة موسم الرياض

وأضاف: “يا جمهور الزمالك، عبر السنوات والعقود، كنتم الصخرة التي تتحطم عليها كل الصعاب والتحديات أنتم الفارس وأنتم القوس والسهم، ومن حولتم كل عثرة إلى قفزة نحو المجد، لا يمكن أن نصفكم بمشجعين فقط، أنتم اللاعب رقم واحد، أنتم المحاربون في المدرجات، والجنود في الميادين”.

وأستمر: “عندما نتحدث عن الزمالك، نتحدث عنكم، أنتم الرمز الأبدي للنادي، أنتم من حول الحب لنادي الزمالك إلى عقيدة، إلى قصة خالدة تُروى في كل زاوية من هذا الكوكب، ليس فقط بسبب انتصاراتكم، لكن بسبب ولائكم الذي لم يتزعزع، إخلاصكم الذي لا يعرف الحدود، وحبكم الذي يبقى دائمًا، في كل الظروف”.

وأكمل: “أنتم الذين علمتمونا أن الفخر بالزمالك ليس في البطولات فقط، بل في العطاء الذي لا ينضب، وفي الوفاء الذي لا يُقدّر بثمن، في أوقات الفرح، كنتم الفرحة المضاعفة، وفي أوقات الشدة، كنتم الدعم والسند، إذا كانت البطولات تُكتب على الورق، فإنكم البطولة التي تُحفر في القلوب”.

وتابع: “لذلك، لا يوجد لقب يليق بكم أكثر من “الرمز الأبدي”، أنتم الحلم الذي يعيش في أعين كل عاشق لهذا النادي، وأنتم الحقيقة التي تُشعل نار الحب في قلوب كل من يخطو نحو بوابة الزمالك، أنتم الفخر والاعتزاز، من دونكم، لا نكون نحن”.

وأتم: “من قلوبنا إلى قلوبكم، شكرًا لكم على كل شيء، أنتم الأسطورة، وأنتم التاريخ، وأنتم المستقبل وأنتم الرمز الابدي للزمالك، عاش الزمالك عاش جمهوره، أعظم جمهور في العالم وفخور أني أحد ابنائه كلاعب واحد مشجعينه في المدرجات”.

Despite sitting firmly within the playoff places, West Bromwich Albion's on-pitch success this season has been marred by uncertainty in the boardroom with a dragged-out search for a new owner taking a new twist this week.

The ownership problems at West Brom

Since purchasing a stake in the club from Jeremy Peace in 2016, Guochuan Lai has overseen a managed decline of the West Midlands outfit, going from a comfortable Premier League side to the brink of financial failure.

Problems first emerged when it became apparent that Lai could not afford the £190million price agreed with Peace, sounding alarm bells just six months into the ownership. It later transpired that Lai wanted to take out loans to fund his other business interests, secured against the club's assets. These loans left West Brom in a dangerous financial position and Baggies' fans rightfully angry.

Some six years after, West Brom were relegated to the Championship, they sit in fifth place and are looking in good shape to make a return to the top flight. Despite their league position, many West Brom fans are struggling to celebrate whilst their club still sits in ownership limbo.

With takeover rumors circling for the last few years, it is expected that new owners could be in by the end of the season. Whilst Albion fans wait patiently for news, the saga has taken a surprising turn with a new figure entering the fold.

A "crazy" twist as Aston Villa fan enters fray

Speaking on The Liquidator Podcast (via West Brom News) last week, West Brom fan and former BBC broadcaster Adrian Goldberg revealed a surprising turn that could see Aston Villa fan Alex Hearn potentially becoming a part-owner of the club.

Goldberg reveals an unpaid loan of £2 million from Hearn's company, Warmfront, to Lai's West Bromwich Albion Holdings, with an interest rate of five percent a month. With the deadline for the repayment of the loan set for the 8th February, Hearn can convert the loan into shares if Lai cannot make the payment.

"The rate of interest on that loan is five-per-cent a month – an incredible rate. West Brom Holdings own 88 per cent of West Bromwich Albion, and the suggestion was made that if the loan isn’t repaid, Hearn could convert that loan into shares in West Brom Holdings.

“It opens the possibility that West Brom Holdings is part-owned by a Villa fan. It’s just crazy. Keep an eye on that February 8 deadline – things may start moving, because that’s a publicly notified deadline.”

With a full takeover of the club still ongoing, West Brom News reports that US businessman Shilen Patel is leading the race to purchase the club from Lai and take control at The Hawthorns. Whether the involvement of Hearn has ramifications for the Patel deal is yet to be seen, with any prospective owner potentially having to also negotiate with Hearn if he becomes a shareholder at the club.

If a takeover cannot be agreed, it could throw what has been a successful season for The Baggies so far into crisis, continuing the spiral of the decline that started the minute Lai took over at The Hawthorns.

Related West Brom could have signed £50k-p/w Kipre replacement in January

West Bromwich Albion could have upgraded on Cedric Kipre with this late buy.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Feb 6, 2024

Derby County will hope results in League One swing in their favour today, with a win away at Sincil Bank versus Lincoln City potentially enough for the Rams to launch into the automatic promotion places.

Although, with the various twists and turns Derby have experienced this season in the third tier, it might well not be that straightforward in reality for Paul Warne's men to enter the top two.

Needing a last-minute winner to overcome Burton Albion on Monday night, Warne will want to add new faces to his Derby group to add strength here and there and give the Rams an edge over their fellow promotion rivals.

Bringing this rumoured target in would be a signing of intent from Warne, the Rams manager reuniting with the player in question who enjoyed a successful patch of his career under the 50-year-old's guidance previously.

Transfer reunion at Derby

Football journalist Darren Witcoop stated on social media late last week that a deal for the Rams to sign current Sheffield Wednesday attacker Michael Smith will 'get done' at some stage this month, with the Owls recruiting Ike Ugbo to bolster their striker numbers with a view to allowing Smith to leave.

This has been further backed up by football journalist Alan Nixon, via Patreon, who revealed that Smith is a priority on Warne's shopping list at Pride Park but high wages could well be a stumbling block.

Playing out of his skin at League One level in the past under Warne at Rotherham United, this could be a match made in heaven if Smith reunites with his former boss and fires in even more goals to help Derby win promotion.

With assist king Conor Hourihane also excelling in the starting lineup recently for the promotion hopefuls – the 32-year-old onto seven assists for the season now – Smith could score goals by the bucket load and become a hero again for a new third-tier side.

Why Hourihane would benefit Smith

Derby arguably won themselves a coup by landing Hourihane before a ball was kicked at the start of last season, signing the Irishman on a free transfer deal who would go on to win a place in the League One Team of the Season for the Rams.

That was achieved as a result of the former Aston Villa midfielder helping himself to ten assists in total over his debut campaign, alongside scoring seven goals of his own.

Smith will be itching for a return to South Yorkshire to play alongside the creative powers of Hourihane as a result, almost certain that the goals will begin to flow again at third-tier level if the EFL veteran is teeing him up for countless opportunities.

Under Warne's watchful eye no less during the 2021/22 campaign in League One, the 6 foot 3 centre forward fired in 18 goals along the way to Rotherham achieving promotion.

Smith's goal record in League One (Wednesday + Rotherham)
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
22/23	39	16	6
21/22	45	18	6
19/20	34	9	3
17/18	20	6	3
Stats by Transfermarkt

Described as being a "colossal" presence for the Millers by Warne back in 2019 – with Warne further stating that Smith "won everything" in a League One encounter versus Ipswich Town – bringing in the seasoned 32-year-old could be a masterstroke by the Rams boss.

Winning three promotions up to the Championship across his esteemed career to date, with his last two full campaigns in the third tier boasting a promotion at the end, Smith could well be the final coveted piece of the jigsaw for Derby to push on and finish in the top two.

With Hourihane in the team alongside him on his arrival, Smith could blow his previous numbers out of the water in a terrifying strike partnership with an equally potent and experienced attacker by his side too in James Collins.

Xavi Simons has reportedly told Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave the club amid interest from Harry Kane's Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.

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Simons has decided to leave PSGGerman clubs ready to snap himCould possibly be a loan deal until 2025WHAT HAPPENED?

During the 2023-24 season, Xavi Simons made a significant impact while on loan at RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder showcased his talent by scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists in the Bundesliga. Additionally, he contributed two goals and two assists in the Champions League, further elevating his profile. His performances have drawn the attention of major clubs, positioning him as a sought-after prospect in the transfer market.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Simons plans to leave PSG on a loan deal until June 2025, with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig keen on securing his services. While Bayern view him as a valuable addition to their squad, Leipzig are eager to retain the midfielder following his impressive loan spell. Moreover, Arsenal and Manchester United were also linked with a move for the midfielder. And the competition between these two Bundesliga giants underscores Simons' rising stock in European football.

WHAT SIMONS SAID

After a 0-0 draw against France in the European Championships, Simons addressed his future. He expressed satisfaction with his time at PSG and Leipzig but remained non-committal about his next move. "I was happy in Paris," Simons said, as reported by French journalist JS Grond-Tran. "I was in Leipzig this year, we’ll see after the Euro. I also see that the supporters always wish me the best, and that’s good".

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DID YOU KNOW?

Simons' future at PSG has been a topic of speculation. While the club recognises his potential, they face a challenging decision. PSG's new manager, Luis Enrique, is an admirer of Simons but cannot guarantee him regular playing time in the upcoming season. Given this uncertainty, PSG also allegedly consider that a loan move would be a viable option for both parties.

The Pakistan allrounder is set for second stint with the CPL franchise, for whom he previously played in 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2019Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has signed with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League. Hafeez will replace South Africa batsman Rassie van der Dussen, who will be unavailable due to international commitments, with South Africa set to tour India in September-October.This will be Hafeez’s second stint with the CPL franchise. He had been part of the squad in 2017, when the team finished runners-up, losing the final to Trinbago Knight Riders. In that season, Hafeez struck 120 runs at an average of 17.14 in nine matches and took seven wickets. He had also played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2013 and 2014. Overall, Hafeez has scored 412 runs in 27 CPL matches at an average of 19.61 and a strike rate of 105.37, and has taken 17 wickets at 28.41 while conceding 5.78 runs per over.Hafeez was one of the Pakistan’s better performers in an otherwise disappointing World Cup campaign, where the side finished fifth out of ten teams. He scored 253 runs in eight matches, ending up as the third-highest run-getter for the side in the tournament, at an average of 31.62, and took two wickets.The CPL will be played between September 4 and October 12, with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots featuring in the opening match against defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders.

Leeds United are currently on course to secure automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the top-flight at the end of last season.

The Whites brought in German head coach Daniel Farke last summer in an attempt to lead them to glory and they are second in the table with 13 games left to play.

They are above Ipswich Town on goal difference and two points ahead of Southampton, with all three sides on the same number of matches played, whilst Leicester City are nine points clear at the top.

Farke won the Championship title with Norwich City on two occasions and is now looking for a third promotion to the Premier League, with the help of the exciting squad he has available to him.

One player who has been particularly important to the club's success on the pitch this season has been terrific forward Crysencio Summerville.

The Dutch wizard has been a constant threat on the left wing and one of the top performers in his position in the division this term, alongside former Leeds starlet Jack Clarke.

When Leeds sold Jack Clarke

In the summer of 2019, then-sporting director Victor Orta decided to cash in on the talented young forward as Tottenham Hotspur swooped in to secure his services.

The Premier League side reportedly splashed out an initial fee of £8.5m to sign the teenage winger and sent him back on loan at Elland Road for the 2019/20 campaign.

Clarke had broken through into the first-team under Marcelo Bielsa during the previous season and made 24 appearances in the Championship, including the play-offs, before Spurs decided to move for him.

He produced two goals and two assists from the left flank in those 24 outings, although only four of those matches were as a starter, but his return on loan did not go as well.

The young gem made one Championship appearance for Leeds before Tottenham opted to send him out on loan to Queens Park Rangers for the second half of the campaign, in which time he played six times for the London-based side in the second tier.

Clarke failed to make the grade in the Premier League with Spurs during his time there and was eventually sold to Sunderland, after a six-month loan spell, in the summer of 2022.

Over the last two seasons, the 23-year-old wizard has been a constant threat to opposition defences in the Championship and has been an outstanding performer, which suggests that Orta fumbled Leeds' own homegrown version of Summerville back in 2019.

Crysencio Summerville's season in numbers

The former Feyenoord youngster, who arrived at Elland Road in the summer of 2021, has emerged as the star of Farke's team in the second tier this season for Leeds.

He has been in phenomenal form as both a scorer and a creator of goals as a right-footed winger who predominantly plays on the left side of the attack.

Summerville has racked up 15 goals in 30 appearances in the division – four more than any of his teammates have managed – and only missed nine 'big chances', with an xG of 11.62.

This shows that the 22-year-old whiz has been ruthless in front of goal as he has rarely passed up a good opportunity to find the back of the net for the Whites.

The electric gem has also provided his fellow attackers with eight assists in those 30 Championship games, and only Georginio Rutter (11) has produced more assists within the Leeds squad.

Summerville may, however, argue that he should have more assists to his name. The exceptional dynamo has an xA of 9.33 and has created 16 'big chances', yet has only been rewarded with eight assists for his efforts.

Along with his quality as a scorer and a creator, the Dutch gem also has the ability in possession to get supporters off their seats with his dribbling, as he has completed 2.3 dribbles per game. He can get Elland Road rocking by committing defenders and driving the ball past players to push his team up the pitch.

Clarke is a player who offers similar qualities as another right-footed winger who plays on the left flank in the Championship, which is backed up by his impressive statistics for Sunderland this season.

Jack Clarke's season in numbers

The 23-year-old has been in exceptional form for the Black Cats throughout the 2023/24 campaign, despite their turbulence in the dugout so far.

They are on their third manager of the season in Mike Dodds, who is in interim charge for the second time after Michael Beale – who replaced Tony Mowbray – was sacked earlier this week.

Despite the seemingly constant change in the coaching staff, Clarke, who was once hailed as "unplayable" by journalist Josh Bunting, has fired in an outstanding 15 goals in 33 Championship matches for Sunderland.

He has only missed four 'big chances' and plundered those 15 goals from 10.25 xG, which suggests that the talented whiz has been more clinical than Summerville as they have the same number of goals but the Black Cats gem has managed it with fewer big chances missed and less xG.

Appearances

33

30

Goals

15

15

Big chances missed

Four

Nine

Assists

Four

Eight

Big chances created

11

16

xA

7.93

9.33

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, they have both been superb options for their respective sides as scorers and creators on a regular basis from the left wing.

Like the Leeds star, Clarke has been let down by his teammates in the final third as they have only rewarded him with four assists from an xA of 7.93, with 11 'big chances' created in total. This shows that they have not made the most of his creative quality this season.

However, the former Whites academy graduate did register 11 assists from seven 'big chances' created during the 2022/23 campaign, which could even it out somewhat.

What is clear, though, is that Summerville and Clarke are both mercurial stars who have taken the EFL by storm on the left wing with their immense attacking quality.

That is why Leeds, and Orta in particular, may look back on the decision to cash in on him when they did as a mistake as they could have developed their own homegrown version of the current first-team star by working with the former England U21 international to fulfill his potential in Yorkshire.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo tem no ataque o seu ponto forte neste começo de temporada sob o comando de Hernán Crespo, curiosamente ex-atacante durante sua carreira como jogador de futebol. Os números vão além do melhor ataque do estadual, com 20 gols feitos.

ATUAÇÕES: Pablo marca e São Paulo bate o Palmeiras em bela atuação coletiva

O aproveitamento dos atacante do Tricolor está muito bom nesta temporada e todos vêm aproveitando as chances nessa maratona de partidas do clube em meio a disputa do Paulistão e o início da Libertadores da América.

CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA DO CAMPEONATO PAULISTA DE 2021

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Dos sete atacantes inscritos no Paulistão, apenas Galeano e Bruno Rodrigues ainda não balançaram as redes adversárias.Pablo (3), Rojas (2), Vitor Bueno (1), Luciano (1) e Eder (1) já deixaram suas marcas no estadual. Crespo falou sobre o aproveitamento dos atacantes após a vitória no Choque-Rei.

– Seguramente, o sistema de jogo que temos aproveita muito a capacidade dos jogadores de frente. Então, é logico que Luciano fez gol, Pablo marcou, Vitor Bueno marcou. Somos uma equipe ofensiva, é fundamental um centroavante com vontade de fazer gols e eles têm – disse o argentino.

Com essa ‘fome de gols’, o São Paulo se prepara para estrear na Libertadores diante do Sporting Cristal (PER), às 21h30, na próxima terça-feira. O Tricolor embarca para o Peru neste domingo.

With just one week to go until the January transfer window slams shut, Rangers are yet to solve some key issues within Philippe Clement's squad. The Gers signed Fabio Silva on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of the month, but have been unmoved when it comes to further additions.

Given their particular need to sign a new left-back, however, they could be in for a busy seven days, with a new target reportedly emerging.

Rangers' left-back problem

Whilst it's easy to focus on Rangers' attacking issues, especially following the news of Abdallah Sima's long-term injury blow, Clement and co should have their attention on welcoming a new left-back this month. As things stand, the Gers have just Ridvan Yilmaz and Borna Barisic to call on, with the former's future in doubt and the latter set to leave upon the expiry of his contract this summer. In the worst-case scenario, Rangers will be left without a single left-back to call upon by the end of the season, meaning that now would be an ideal time to act.

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Throughout the winter window, the Scottish giants have been linked with the likes of Cameron Pring and David Jurasek, but they have now reportedly shifted their focus elsewhere in search of a new left-back. According to The Daily Mail, via Rangers News, Rangers are eyeing a "deadline beating" move to sign Luke Thomas. The Leicester City full-back was on loan at Premier League side Sheffield United, before seeing his loan terminated. Now back at the Foxes, he could yet seek another departure.

With Premier League experience to his name, Thomas could certainly put an end to Clement's left-back woes, but it remains to be seen whether Rangers will turn their interest into a serious move to sign the defender before the end of the month.

"Brilliant" Thomas can solve Clement's problem

Still only 22-years-old, Thomas can provide Clement with a long-term solution to his left-back problem if Rangers made their move for the Leicester man this month. Thomas, himself, could do with the move too. He struggled to make an impact at Sheffield United, starting just 11 games, and is now in need of the fresh start that the Scottish Premiership could offer.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers certainly knows all about the player that his rivals could be getting, having worked with Thomas at Leicester previously. Rodgers is among those to have praised the 22-year-old, even as he missed a penalty in a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool back in 2021. He told The Leicester Mercury: “I said to him afterwards that he was brilliant during the game.

"He’s developing so well. It’s another great experience for him. The atmosphere was great as it always is at Anfield. It was a really good game. It was unfortunate for him to miss the penalty, but in the game he was exceptional. He’s a tough boy and he will move on.”

Now, it could be Clement and Rangers who benefit from the Celtic manager's early work with their latest left-back target in what would be a welcome twist in the Scottish Premiership.