It is a truly testing time for Tottenham Hotspur right now, with Ange Postecoglou’s future in real doubt and the Australian relying on a good run in the Europa League to restore faith in his position.

Tottenham face change of manager and losing key players this summer

Spurs take on Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs which will define Postecoglou’s position, according to credible media sources like Fabrizio Romano, and anything less than impressive is highly likely to result in the Australian’s eventual dismissal.

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Postecoglou’s tenure has been called “irreparable” by some, regardless of their campaign in Europe, and Postecoglou even admitted in a press conference this week that he’s aware of the rhetoric surrounding his position.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

The Lilywhites are on course for their worst Premier League season, currently sitting 14th in the table after 16 top-flight losses, which is a real crash back down to Earth for Postecoglou after he recorded the best ever start by a new manager in the competition’s history last season.

Their on-field troubles and lack of stability under Postecoglou are also resulting in star players being linked with moves away from N17, including defender Cristian Romero, who is attracting serious interest from Atletico Madrid ahead of the summer window (Sky Sports).

Tottenham are believed to be targeting Atalanta’s Isak Hien as a potential replacement for the Argentine already, but he isn’t the only one who could end up departing.

It has also been revealed that Man City are now displaying an interest in star left-back Destiny Udogie, which will surely be a worry for Spurs given the pull of Eastlands.

As the threat of players jumping ship looms large, Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr has revealed that he nearly made an exit of his own.

Pape Sarr makes Tottenham exit admission after nearly finalised deal

The Senegalese, in an interview with D Sports, claims that it very nearly happened during Antonio Conte’s tenure.

Sarr admitted he packed his bags and nearly left Tottenham, but an injury to Oliver Skipp prompted Conte to perform a full U-turn over letting him depart on loan.

“I was about to go on loan to Italy,” said Sarr.

“Everything was almost established, but the week before the finalisation, I remember that we were holding an opposition between us. I was a substitute with Ndombele.

“That moment, I was so excited, I wanted to show all my talents. Two days later, Skipp injured himself in training, and I replaced him. After the match, it was Conte himself who called me and said, ‘You’re not going to go on loan, I’m counting on you, you’re going to stay’.

“I had already packed my bags, and I called my dad and my agent, because they had already made the trip. At first, I was a little dubious, because I knew I was not going to play, but I thought that, once I had the opportunity, I would show up. At first, being one of the 20 players selected for the game was a real challenge for me.”

Since then, the 22-year-old has become a mainstay for Tottenham. He dazzled next to Yves Bissouma at points last term, and has been equally useful for Postecoglou this campaign – bagging six goals and three assists across 44 appearances in all competitions.

Chelsea chiefs are now prepared to make an offer to sign one Barcelona star this summer, who’d come in to provide direct competition or partner a key starter in Enzo Maresca’s starting eleven.

Chelsea preparing for London derby against Tottenham

On the field, Maresca’s side are preparing for a crunch London derby clash against Tottenham in the Premier League, with Chelsea firmly in the chase for Champions League qualification.

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The Blues are set to be involved in an extremely tight race from now until the end of this campaign, with just five points separating fourth and tenth place in the division.

Tottenham (home)

April 3rd

Brentford (away)

April 6th

Ipswich Town (home)

April 13th

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Every single point matters in the race for a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition, and Maresca is keen to see his side play a fast-paced brand of football against Tottenham, no matter who is fit and available.

“We want to be direct and quick when they press higher, but we cannot be direct and quick when they sit back,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s plan against Tottenham.

“Probably the last game at home, if you review Leicester, West Ham, Wolves, Southampton, if you have a reminder of that game, there are all games where 11 players were behind the ball, almost at the edge of the box.

“It’s impossible to attack quick. Now, against a team that press higher, you can attack more quick for sure. But it’s easier when you have players who are running behind, maybe the players you’ve had before in that period, they don’t really like running behind, they like balls to feet.

“For skills, for character, for sure when you have players that love to run behind more, it’s more easy.”

Unfortunately for Maresca, midfielder Romeo Lavia is a doubt for their game against Spurs, which has been the story for much of his time at Chelsea.

Reports suggest that Chelsea are keen to sign a new senior midfielder this summer, with Lavia consistently on the treatment table and Enzo Fernández attracting interest from Real Madrid.

Chelsea prepared to make £33m bid for Marc Casado

According to reports from Spain, Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado is a target for BlueCo, with the Spaniard apparently falling down Hansi Flick’s pecking order at the Camp Nou.

It is believed Chelsea are “willing to submit” up to £33m for Casado, but they’re not alone, as Arsenal have also adopted the same transfer stance over a player who they view as a long-term replacement for Thomas Partey.

Chelsea, meanwhile, see the 21-year-old as an ideal competitor or partner for Moises Caicedo in midfield, which could signal their plans not to reply on the consistently-injured Lavia.

“He’s an animal,” said Spain international teammate Bryan Zaragoza, after Casado made his first senior start for the national team against Switzerland last November.

“I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”

It is a truly testing time for Tottenham Hotspur right now, with Ange Postecoglou’s future in real doubt and the Australian relying on a good run in the Europa League to restore faith in his position.

Tottenham face change of manager and losing key players this summer

Spurs take on Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs which will define Postecoglou’s position, according to credible media sources like Fabrizio Romano, and anything less than impressive is highly likely to result in the Australian’s eventual dismissal.

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ByEmilio Galantini Apr 8, 2025

Postecoglou’s tenure has been called “irreparable” by some, regardless of their campaign in Europe, and Postecoglou even admitted in a press conference this week that he’s aware of the rhetoric surrounding his position.

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

The Lilywhites are on course for their worst Premier League season, currently sitting 14th in the table after 16 top-flight losses, which is a real crash back down to Earth for Postecoglou after he recorded the best ever start by a new manager in the competition’s history last season.

Their on-field troubles and lack of stability under Postecoglou are also resulting in star players being linked with moves away from N17, including defender Cristian Romero, who is attracting serious interest from Atletico Madrid ahead of the summer window (Sky Sports).

Tottenham are believed to be targeting Atalanta’s Isak Hien as a potential replacement for the Argentine already, but he isn’t the only one who could end up departing.

It has also been revealed that Man City are now displaying an interest in star left-back Destiny Udogie, which will surely be a worry for Spurs given the pull of Eastlands.

As the threat of players jumping ship looms large, Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr has revealed that he nearly made an exit of his own.

Pape Sarr makes Tottenham exit admission after nearly finalised deal

The Senegalese, in an interview with D Sports, claims that it very nearly happened during Antonio Conte’s tenure.

Sarr admitted he packed his bags and nearly left Tottenham, but an injury to Oliver Skipp prompted Conte to perform a full U-turn over letting him depart on loan.

“I was about to go on loan to Italy,” said Sarr.

“Everything was almost established, but the week before the finalisation, I remember that we were holding an opposition between us. I was a substitute with Ndombele.

“That moment, I was so excited, I wanted to show all my talents. Two days later, Skipp injured himself in training, and I replaced him. After the match, it was Conte himself who called me and said, ‘You’re not going to go on loan, I’m counting on you, you’re going to stay’.

“I had already packed my bags, and I called my dad and my agent, because they had already made the trip. At first, I was a little dubious, because I knew I was not going to play, but I thought that, once I had the opportunity, I would show up. At first, being one of the 20 players selected for the game was a real challenge for me.”

Since then, the 22-year-old has become a mainstay for Tottenham. He dazzled next to Yves Bissouma at points last term, and has been equally useful for Postecoglou this campaign – bagging six goals and three assists across 44 appearances in all competitions.

Nottingham Forest have now held talks with the agents of a £25 million winger who has also been contacted by Serie A champions Inter Milan, according to a new report.

Marinakis chasing attacking reinforcements ahead of busy summer

The Reds’ Champions League hopes suffered a blow over the weekend, as not only were they beaten by Everton but the teams around them won to close the gap in the race to finish in the top five. Forest are still in a good position to finish in a European spot, but Nuno Espirito Santo and co. are desperate for a Champions League berth given how long they have been in the top three this season.

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Securing a place in the Champions League could see owner Evangelos Marinakis unleash the purse strings and spend big, as he wants his club to continue their rise in England and abroad. It’s been recently reported that Forest are keen on signing Clayton, a striker who is currently on loan at Rio Ave from Vasco da Gama.

That loan is expected to turn into a permanent switch, and given Marinakis owns Rio Ave, it makes the Reds’ pursuit easier, as it could cost them as little as £9 million to get it completed.

As well as looking at Clayton, Nuno’s side are also keeping their options open, and it’s been reported that the Reds are willing to fork out £75 million to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, the Brazilian is wanted by several teams from the Premier League and could cause quite a chase in the market this summer.

Nottingham Forest hold talks with agents of £25m winger Henrique

The options for improving their attacking threat for next season don’t stop there, as according to L’Equipe, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now in talks with Luis Henrique’s agents over a possible move to the City Ground this summer.

The report states that the Reds are very much interested in signing the 23-year-old, so much so that they have held talks with his entourage, and Marseille are potentially open to a sale as they look to balance their books.

His age, physicality and versatility make him a ‘rare profile’, but Forest are not the only Premier League team interested, as Newcastle United are also keen on the Brazilian, who has seven goals in Ligue 1 this season.

Both English teams face a further obstacle, as Inter Milan and AC Milan are also keen on signing the winger, with Inter president Giuseppe Marotta holding talks with Lyon director Medhi Benatia. The report does go on to state that Henrique’s agents could be using Forest and Newcastle’s interest to ramp up the pressure on Inter, who are very keen on a deal.

Apps

104

Goals

11

Assists

14

Henrique, who has been dubbed “explosive” by football scout Jacek Kulig, has been with Marseille since September 2020, and during that time, he’s played in multiple positions across the attack, much like Forest’s current group of wingers. It’s been previously reported that the French side may want as much as £25 million before they consider his departure.

Liverpool moved one step closer to winning the Premier League title, whilst relegating their opponents in the process, by beating Leicester City 1-0 at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

The Reds battled hard throughout the game to take the lead, but had to wait until deep into the second half to find the opening strike from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Arne Slot brought the defender off the bench in the second 45 and was rewarded with a match-winning cameo from the academy graduate, who is out of contract this summer.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's match-winning display

The England international came off the bench to secure all three points for the Reds with his goal in the second half, after Conor Bradley started the game.

Alexander-Arnold had only scored two goals in 28 matches in the Premier League before Sunday’s match, yet the full-back stepped up to seal the win with a superbly hit left-footed strike that was too hot for Mads Hermansen to handle.

His match-winning display was not perfect, though, as his use of the ball outside of that goal was not up to usual standards, completing 50% (4/8) of his attempted passes and losing possession eight times from 15 touches.

This could have provided Leicester with a route back into the match late on in the game, as he was consistently giving them the ball back, but the hosts did not have the quality to make anything out of their extra possessions.

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There was a Liverpool player who was even better than the match-winner on the day, as midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai made himself undroppable with a superb all-round display from the start.

Why Dominik Szoboszlai is undroppable

The Hungary international was left out of the XI in the narrow win over West Ham at Anfield last time out, as Curtis Jones started ahead of him, but he has just made himself undroppable with an excellent showing.

Szoboszlai should keep his place ahead of the England international after an incredibly efficient and creative display in the middle of the park against Leicester.

The midfield whiz, who was once described as “magic” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, created two ‘big chances’ for his teammates, which they failed to take, and only lost possession twice from 46 touches of the ball.

Stats

Szoboszlai vs Leicester

Jones vs West Ham

Minutes

71

68

xG + xA

0.37

0.28

Big chances created

2

0

Duels won

2/4

2/5

Possession lost

2x

5x

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Szoboszlai outperformed Jones in that midfield role after the Englishman failed to create any chances, let alone ‘big chances’, in the West Ham clash.

The Hungarian dynamo, who lost possession fewer times than Alexander-Arnold despite playing 52 more minutes, should now be undroppable in that position ahead of Jones, after significantly outperforming him.

Szoboszlai was also more impressive than the match-winner for Liverpool because the rest of the defender’s performance outside of the strike left a bit to be desired, whilst the former RB Leipzig man was excellent on and off the ball throughout his time on the pitch in midfield.

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Slot must, now, keep the creative maestro in the starting line-up for the club’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in the Premier League next weekend.

With one eye on finishing the season strongly ahead of the play-offs and the other on building a squad for the future, Sunderland have now reportedly taken a talented 18-year-old on trial and are closing in on securing his signature.

Sunderland have play-off place secured

With just four games to go in the Championship campaign, Sunderland sit as many as 16 points clear of seventh place West Bromwich Albion and have, therefore, already secured their place in the play-offs. If things stay as they are, then the Black Cats will square off against Sheffield United, who will be the favourites, shock contenders Bristol City and Frank Lampard’s resurgent Coventry City.

As ever though, the drama is far from over in the Championship and anything could still change below Regis Le Bris’ side in the fight to secure a place in the top six come May.

With the pressure off, Le Bris’ side have begun to falter ever so slightly, however, with a 0-0 draw against Norwich City followed up by a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Swansea City to leave those at the Stadium of Light frustrated.

Following defeat against the Welsh side, Le Bris told reporters: “It’s a disappointing result. We had a lot of possession, but it was difficult to create chances – they were well-organised and stuck to their style.

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“They played with an aggressive shape. It wasn’t about keeping the ball – we did that – but we struggled to break them down and create real openings. We have to manage the squad. While the result wasn’t what we wanted, today was an opportunity for some players to get valuable minutes.”

Meanwhile, now that they’ve secured their play-off place no matter what, Sunderland have reportedly had the chance to turn their attention towards signing a future star.

Sunderland closing in on Isaac Allan

Having already offered Crystal Palace fullback Freddie Cowin an opportunity to impress, those at the Stadium of Light have now reportedly taken another young player on trial. According to the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland are now closing in on signing Isaac Allan from Lincoln City with the goalkeeper’s trial already underway and his chance to impress coming against Wolves’ youth side.

The 18-year-old is reportedly open to a summer move away from Lincoln even if the Imps offer him a senior contract at the club and that has seen Sunderland come swooping in.

Sunderland’s interest in a talented young player should come as no surprise. The Stadium of Light has become the land of opportunity for young players in recent years, whether that’s been thanks to the Black Cats’ academy or, indeed, their transfer business.

Both Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham are fine examples of that and now Allan could follow in their footsteps towards Le Bris’ side if he completes his move ahead of the summer. Another one for the future, Sunderland are attempting to build a side not only capable of gaining a Premier League place, but also maintaining it for years to come.

Birmingham City are thought to be in talks with an EFL star after clinching promotion back to the Championship.

Birmingham City going for silverware after League One promotion

The Blues have had a brilliant campaign under Chris Davies and sealed promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking in midweek.

A 2-1 victory at Peterborough United sealed a guaranteed top-two spot, and the League One title could also be won if Wrexham fail to beat Wigan Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.

Birmingham are on course to comfortably clear the 100-point mark in the third tier, however, they are actually preparing for Wembley this weekend.

The Blues will once again take on Peterborough in the final of the EFL Trophy, so it could be a double celebration if things go to plan this weekend.

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Ahead of the summer transfer window, Tom Wagner and Tom Brady already appear to be working on St Andrew’s signings ahead of the 2025/26 Championship campaign, and one player who the Blues will face this weekend is a target.

Birmingham City in talks to sign Kwame Poku for free

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, talking to EFL Analysis, Birmingham City are in talks to sign Peterborough United star Kwame Poku.

The 23-year-old actually scored the Posh’s goal against the Blues in midweek and has enjoyed a fine season in the third tier.

However, according to Bailey, Birmingham aren’t the only side in discussions, including Premier League side Crystal Palace and Scottish giants Rangers.

“His people are in talks with a number of clubs – and yes, one of them is Birmingham. There are others, though – Crystal Palace, Millwall, Luton and Norwich among them.

“However, the big danger is Rangers – they want him and have watched him numerous times. Talks have continued but complicated by their takeover and then new manager.”

Games

27

Goals

12

Assists

11

Minutes played

2,081

The winger has impressed Sky Sports co-commentator and pundit Don Goodman this season, who said last month that Poku appears to be ready for the step up to the Championship.

“Kwame Poku, 10 goals and six assists this season from just 20 games, 19 starts, is very impressive. It’s on the back of 11 goals and seven assists last season.

“He’s been on my radar for a couple of seasons now, along with Ephron Mason-Clarke, who is now doing really, really well at Coventry.

“So whether he’s ready for the Premier League just yet is a debate to be had, but certainly if I was a Championship club and I needed an exciting, ball-carrying winger that both scores and creates goals, he would be on my radar.”

It looks as if a move to the Midlands will be one to watch over the coming months, with Poku actually out of contract at the end of the season, meaning a transfer may not cost a penny.

Celtic are on the march to another potential domestic clean sweep, but could now face a battle on their hands to retain a talented young star, per reports.

Celtic take one step closer to a domestic treble

Hampden was literally a sea of green last weekend as Celtic fans packed out the national stadium on Sunday to witness their side batter St Johnstone 5-0 to reach the Scottish Cup final.

Brendan Rodgers now stands effectively one game off becoming the first ever Hoops manager to win three trebles in charge at Parkhead. They only need one point this weekend away to Dundee United to seal a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title.

In essence, Celtic have one match left this campaign that carries direct jeopardy. However, the thought of post-split clashes such as their trip to Tannadice followed by a meeting with Rangers the week after leave enough motivation for the champions to retain a healthy fire in their belly.

Come the summer, Rodgers’ priority will centre around securing Champions League-calibre additions to bolster his side ahead of the final qualifying round.

Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry is a target for Celtic following his refusal to sign a new contract at Selhurst Park. On the same token, Stoke City winger Million Manhoef is on the Bhoys’ radar, though may cost £10 million to bring to Glasgow’s east end.

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While incomings are always on the agenda, it would be negligent to rule out the fact that several departures could occur at Parkhead this summer to make room for fresh blood.

Further down the food chain, Celtic could now be set to lose a talented young star in a scenario that fans have seen unfold all too often in recent years.

Celtic could lose Dara Jikiemi to Nottingam Forest

According to Football Insider, Celtic could lose young defender Dara Jikiemi to Nottingham Forest after the Premier League outfit set their sights on bringing the 15-year-old to the City Ground.

Following some excellent performances at club level that led him to captaining Scotland’s Under-15 side earlier this year, he could become the latest in a long line of youngsters who have departed Lennoxtown to move on before making a sustained first-team breakthrough.

Ben Doak, Rocco Vata, Daniel Kelly, Liam Morrison and Cameron Harper are just a handful of prodigious stars who have left the Scottish champions in recent years while at a young age, enjoying a mixed degree of success south of the border and further afield.

Brexit has made Scottish soil a hotbed for scouts from English clubs due to tightened rules over signing EU-based players while they are under the age of 18. Celtic aren’t immune to this and will routinely face challenges in keeping hold of young talent for years to come.

Whisper it quietly near Elland Road, but Leeds United’s narrow 2-1 victory over Preston North End on Saturday could be the pivotal result that spurs the Whites to finally break out of the Championship.

After all, with Sheffield United losing in dramatic fashion to Plymouth Argyle at the same time Leeds secured this golden win, Daniel Farke’s men are now five points clear of the Blades who occupy third spot, with Leeds and Burnley potentially pushing away in high-stakes contests to come.

Of course, nothing is set in stone in such an unpredictable and fast-paced division, but Jayden Bogle’s winner against Paul Heckingbottom’s visitors might well become a memorable moment to savour down the line, as the ex-Blades defender continues to rub salt into the Bramall Lane wound.

Bogle's performance in numbers vs Preston

Bogle really has been a standout performer in West Yorkshire ever since he darted across from Sheffield to join Farke’s ranks, with the attack-minded full-back in amongst the goals once more versus Preston.

Manor Solomon had initially gifted the hosts a breakneck lead after just four minutes with a sumptuous curled effort, but the bold away side would unfortunately fight back to instantly level the hectic affair.

Amazingly, this wouldn’t prove to be a long-lasting setback for Farke and Co, however, with the aforementioned Bogle powerfully heading home this effort after Solomon’s cross.

It was certainly a full-throttle showing from Bogle during the lunchtime kick-off, with the 24-year-old finishing the 2-1 win by amassing two key passes and winning five duels, away from being the crucial difference-maker for the table-toppers.

Farke would have been thanking his lucky stars at the end that his £5m man had his shooting boots on, largely due to one below-par attacker in particular.

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5/10 Leeds star must now be dropped

On another afternoon, Leeds would have cruised to a far more comprehensive win, considering the automatic promotion hopefuls tallied up a hefty 20 shots in total.

But, the three points were clinched in a far more cautious fashion instead, with Joel Piroe constantly fluffing his lines as the home side’s main marksman.

Piroe’s performance in numbers
Minutes played	90
Goals scored	0
Assists	0
Expected goals (xG)	1.50 xG
Shots	7
Big chances missed	2
Touches	50
Accurate passes	27/34 (79%)
Possession lost	11x
Successful dribbles	0/2
Total duels won	4/12
Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Piroe had a notable off-day in front of the goal to the detriment of his usually free-flowing side, with the Dutchman disappointingly missing two big chances from his seven shots on the busy Preston net.

Moreover, there is a further argument to drop Piroe for crunch games moving forward based on his lackadaiscal approach on the ball, seen in the dire fact the Whites number ten lost the ball a worrying every 4 and a half touches during the 2-1 victory.

Piroe has shown off his deadly edge this season away from this shoddy display – with the 6 foot 1 attacker actually Leeds’ top scorer in the Championship with a bumper 15 goals – but he is now without a strike in league action since the tail-end of February, meaning a change in personnel up top might now be necessary.

Given a low 5/10 rating post-match by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth, who stated that his ineffective performance in the attacking areas could have ‘easily’ cost his side a win on another day, Farke might now be willing to chuck Mateo Joseph into his XI in games to come ahead of the ex-Swansea City underperformer.

After all, the German has already seen last-minute calls such as these can work with Karl Darlow now in between the sticks ahead of an error-prone Illan Meslier, meaning Piroe might be the next dismal figure on the chopping block.

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Tom Cunningham

Apr 11, 2025

Glasgow Rangers will be on the lookout for a new manager this summer after Barry Ferguson’s time as the interim head coach comes to an end.

The Scottish boss came in to replace Philippe Clement on a short-term basis and has the job until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, when a decision will be made on the holder of the position on a long-term basis.

Ferguson has not done too much to further his claim to take the job on permanently after a fairly unimpressive collection of results in the Europa League and the Scottish Premiership so far.

His side failed to score in three of their four Europa League outings, eventually getting knocked out by Athletic Bilbao, and the Scottish manager has only won three of his seven top-flight games in charge, most recently drawing 2-2 with St Mirren.

The Light Blues may, therefore, have to look further afield to find their manager for next season and beyond, because Ferguson does not look up to the task of returning Rangers to their former glory on the evidence of his interim period in charge.

In fact, a fresh report on the club’s search for a new head coach suggests that the club are looking at other options to come in and replace the former Scotland international in the Ibrox dugout.

Rangers considering moves for two managerial candidates

According to TEAMtalk, the Scottish giants have whittled their shortlist of managerial candidates down to two in their search for a new tactician.

The report claims that former RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose has emerged as a contender for the job, as the Gers hierarchy are said to be thinking about him for the job.

It states that the pending takeover will put the club in a better financial situation, and that they are looking for an exciting managerial appointment to take the team in the right direction.

Rose is said to have been sounded out about the job and that he is open to taking on a new role next season, having left his position at RB Leipzig in March.

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The German head coach, however, is not the only manager on the shortlist. TEAMtalk adds that the Light Blues are seriously considering a swoop for former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.

It states that the English manager, who left Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq in January, would be interested in a return to Glasgow to manage the team for a second time.

In fact, TEAMtalk reports that many managers see the job as an attractive prospect because of the potential to win domestic trophies, as well as the prospect of Champions League or Europa League football, which Gerrard has not had since his first spell in Scotland.

With all of this in mind, the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell, who is set to take up the position of sporting director this summer, must move to bring the Liverpool legend back to Ibrox ahead of a swoop for Rose.

Why Steven Gerrard would be better for Rangers than Marco Rose

The German boss is, certainly, a strong candidate for the job because he has achieved relative success in both Austria with RB Salzburg and Germany with RB Leipzig.

Rose won two titles in two seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga before making his way to his home country with Borussia Monchengladbach, with whom he finished fourth and eighth before joining Borussia Dortmund and finishing second in the 2021/22 campaign.

The 48-year-old boss then joined Leipzig and finished third and fourth in his first two seasons, before leaving the club in sixth place in the division this season.

This suggests that Rose, despite winning the German Cup in the 2022/23 campaign, regressed during his time at Monchengladbach and Leipzig, as their respective league positions dropped the longer he stayed.

Rangers must, now, swoop for Gerrard instead because he would be an even better appointment than the German head coach, as he is a proven quantity at Ibrox and in Scottish football.

The 4-3-3 boss joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2018 and led the club to second-placed finishes in the Premiership in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, before winning the league title in his third year in Glasgow.

Gerrard’s team, incredibly, went unbeaten in the 2020/21 campaign in the top-flight, winning 32 matches and drawing six, to beat Celtic to the title.

It was a remarkable accomplishment by the manager, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, who won the league title for Rangers for the first time in ten years.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, and Philippe Clement have all attempted to replicate the success that Gerrard had at Ibrox, but failed and were all relieved of their duties without winning the league title.

The former Liverpool midfielder’s experience and success at Ibrox are exactly why he would be an even better appointment than Rose, because he knows what it takes to win the Premiership and has proven that he can put together a team to do exactly that.

Steven Gerrard (Premiership)

20/21

21/22

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st

1st

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard only lost one of his last 50 Premiership matches in charge of Rangers, leaving the club at the top of the table after 12 matches in the 2021/22 campaign when he left to join Aston Villa.

The Gers have lost seven of their 34 games in the league in the current season, which illustrates just how impressive that record across 50 outings was, and they clearly need a manager who can bring a winning mentality back to Glasgow.

Therefore, bringing Gerrard back to Ibrox in the hope that he can recapture the spark that he had in his first spell at the club could be a brilliant move for the 49ers and Thelwell to make.

The out-of-work tactician could bring the feel-good factor back to Ibrox, more so than Rose, who has no experience in Scotland or prior connection with the fanbase, and it is a move that seems to make a lot of sense on paper.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Apr 27, 2025