All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham Hotspur have been offered a chance to sign one club's "big name" player for manager Ange Postecoglou, with the Lilywhites giving a response.

Spurs moving to make early January signings

Postecoglou has long made public his desire for the north Londoners to make early January signings, with the Lilywhites already agreeing personal terms with defender Radu Dragusin of Genoa.

Tottenham are believed to be in talks to sign Dragusin and are attempting to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, a surprise development occurred today when Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg broke news of RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner being on the verge of joining Spurs.

The German is apparently ready to make the move as Postecoglou's side move quickly in attempts to bolster both their attacking and defensive options.

Sky says Tottenham are weighing up offer for "role model" Dragusin alternative

Negotiations appear to be dragging on.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 6, 2024

Other reports suggest that Spurs are keen to make three January signings in the form of a defender, midfielder and forward, so if moves for both Dragusin and Werner come to fruition, Tottenham will have ticked both off their to-do list just days after the window's opening.

According to journalist Dean Jones, writing for GiveMeSport this week, Spurs have also been handed an opportunity to sign a "big name" player in the form of Raphinha.

Tottenham offered Raphinha chance from Barcelona

Indeed, as per his information, Raphinha has been pushed towards Tottenham, but Jones says it is a player offer which Spurs haven't chosen to take.

This isn't surprising given the recent revelations surrounding Werner's imminent reported move to N17, but it's believed a "similar situation" could crop up in regard to Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen.

For the sake of argument, if Raphinha is edged towards Spurs again in the summer, we believe he could still be a fairly interesting option given Werner's move is a six-month loan.

In the event Tottenham choose not to sign the former Chelsea star, Barca's £100,000-per-week alternative could be an excellent choice to take Werner's place given his proven Premier League experience.

The Brazilian was once a star for Leeds, with ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood calling him "phenomenal".

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, speaking to Football Insider in 2021, also branded him a "relentless" player.

“He is a player now who continuously has an effect on a game, in a positive way. Even if he is not on the scoresheet, he will have played a hand in the goal. He is relentless," said Whelan.

“He gets on the ball, has great balance, is very dynamic and he takes the game to the opposition. What impresses me is that he is not afraid to do the horrible side. I get more and more impressed by his worth ethic.”

Gio Reyna reportedly went against Borussia Dortmund’s wishes when moving to England, and the Premier League flop now faces an uncertain future.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

American slipped down pecking order in GermanySaw move sanctioned in winter windowFailed to make any kind of impact in EnglandGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international is still only 21 years of age, with time on his side when it comes to unlocking and delivering on full potential. He has, however, found the going tough of late – with a tumble down the pecking order in Germany leading to loan switch being sought in the winter transfer window of 2024.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to , Dortmund were against sending Reyna to England – as were his former agency Wasserman Media Group – but the youngster’s father, ex-USMNT star Claudio, and new representative Jorge Mendes felt a move to Nottingham Forest made sense.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Reyna has struggled for game time at a club battling to avoid relegation, taking in just two Premier League starts, with Nuno Espirito Santo favouring alternative creative options. A source told of those issues: “He has been training well and is a lovely kid, but the team was in a tough cycle, fighting against relegation and the manager has prioritized playing players with Premier League experience already.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

WHAT NEXT FOR REYNA?

Dortmund extended Reyna’s contract until 2026 before seeing him head to Nottingham, but their long-term plans for the playmaker are unclear. The announcement that Marco Reus will be leaving BVB in the summer, along with the expiration of Jadon Sancho’s loan, may work in Reyna’s favour but struggles for form and fitness are leaving more questions than answers.

The former Australia batsman has been part of the IPL as player and coach for several franchises, and brings an insider’s view to how teams operate

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-2019As the IPL grows older and gets more competitive, its owners are becoming more demanding and “cut-throat”, in the words of tournament veteran and two-time coach Brad Hodge. “It’s pretty brutal (for coaches) in this part of the world (IPL). If you don’t make the finals here, you pretty much pack your bags and walk out the door.”Hodge, who coached Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab between 2016 and 2018, was talking to ESPNcricinfo’s Talking T20 podcast, in a wide-ranging chat on life inside an IPL team. An IPL regular since the first season, Hodge played for three different teams, including the Rajasthan Royals side that made the playoffs in 2013.As coach, he took Lions to the playoffs in their inaugural season in 2016. A miserable 2017 season later – the last for the franchise since it had only a two-year term – he moved to Kings XI Punjab for IPL 2018. However, they frittered away a promising start of five wins in their first six games to finish seventh on the points table.Hodge, who has since parted ways with the franchise as has team mentor Virender Sehwag, continues to coach in the Caribbean Premier League with St.Lucia Stars. However, he feels the culture in the IPL is different from most other T20 leagues, considering the scale of the tournament and the stakes involved.”Look, it’s pretty cut-throat here actually… I sort of said to the Kings XI Punjab (owners), ‘How do you define success? What do you actually want to do?’ You haven’t won in ten years, so if I’m not to win next year, how am I defined?” He cited Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, the two most successful sides in IPL history, as examples of a well-defined long-term vision working well.”I sort of said to them (Kings XI owners), ‘How many times do you want to win (the IPL) in a decade?’ And I thought three is realistic. It doesn’t matter whether you win this year, next year or the year after. You could win three in a row in the mid-pack. Just that if you’ve won three in a decade… If you look at CSK, they’ve won three. Mumbai Indians, they’ve won three. They’ve got a successful ten years.”Super Kings, along with Sunrisers Hyderabad, have two of IPL’s longest serving coaches in Stephen Fleming (2009-2015, 2018 onwards) and Tom Moody (2013 onwards), while Rajasthan Royals’ Paddy Upton and Kolkata Knight Riders’ Jacques Kallis are the only other current head coaches who have been around for more than three seasons with the same franchise.

Emma Hayes' side are on course for a fifth-successive league triumph and will likely retain their title with a win over Man Utd on the final day

Chelsea are on the brink of a fifth-successive Women's Super League title after edging Tottenham in a nervy 1-0 win on Wednesday night. The Blues will go into the final day of the season on Saturday level on points with Manchester City, but they are top of the table thanks to a superior goal difference and are in pole position to be crowned champions of England once more.

Emma Hayes' side didn't have it all their own way in this London derby, with two strong penalty shouts waved away by referee Emily Heaslip, and they struggled to create many clear-cut chances. The biggest one fell to Maika Hamano early on but she made amends for sending a free header over the bar when she scored Chelsea's long-awaited opener just before the break.

However, that didn't open any floodgates and Spurs asked questions of the Blues, especially early in the second half when Luana Buhler forced Aggie Beever-Jones to make a massive block before Ashleigh Neville fired over from close range. Fortunately for Chelsea and their title hopes, though, they held on for all three points despite Fran Kirby missing a great chance to put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages. Hayes' side need to beat Manchester United on Saturday, but do that, and they'll likely retain their title.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Brisbane Road…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Zecira Musovic (6/10):

Had a sloppy moment in possession early in the second half that was almost costly, but was otherwise able to deal with the little thrown at her.

Ashley Lawrence (6/10):

Got forward plenty and contributed to the build-up play well.

Millie Bright (7/10):

Her best performance since her return from injury.

Nathalie Bjorn (6/10):

Solid at the back without being troubled too much.

Niamh Charles (8/10):

Her and Reiten worked brilliantly down the left. Superb cross to Hamano for the opening goal.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Erin Cuthbert (7/10):

Tenacious as ever in the middle of the park, winning possession back more than any other player.

Melanie Leupolz (6/10):

Some nice passes in the final third to create chances.

Catarina Macario (8/10):

Thrived in this deeper role, picking up space where she could and using it to cause Spurs problems.

GettyAttack

Maika Hamano (8/10):

Made amends for an early miss with some good movement and a great finish for the opener. A lively performer all night.

Aggie Beever-Jones (7/10):

A handful for Spurs' centre-backs, if not as involved as she usually is when she plays out wide. Made a huge block in her own box to deny Buhler when Chelsea were under pressure.

Guro Reiten (6/10):

Linked up well with Charles to cause Tottenham issues down the left.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettySubs & Manager

Jess Carter (5/10):

The first of a triple sub just after the 70-minute mark. Settled into the defence just fine, without doing anything spectacular. Took a necessary booking late on to help Chelsea secure the win.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (6/10):

Electric pace gave Spurs something to think about in the last 20 minutes.

Sjoeke Nusken (5/10):

Couldn't have much influence in her short cameo.

Lauren James (N/A):

On for the final 10 minutes and added something to the attack.

Fran Kirby (N/A):

Came on with James and had a golden chance to make it 2-0, but didn't get the finish right.

Emma Hayes (6/10):

Had her hands tied a little with some injuries but put out a team that allowed some names to be rested ahead of the final day, though that almost proved costly with the tight nature of the result. Subs came a little later than anticipated.

Both teams are coming off losses in their most recent match, and both have six points from five games so far

The Preview by Varun Shetty07-Apr-20196:47

Can hosts Kings XI tame Sunrisers?

Big pictureSunrisers Hyderabad have the reputation of being a model franchise. They also possess a middle order that has long had the reputation of being their weakest link. Heading into their next fixture against Kings XI Punjab at Mohali, these two dimensions will be in focus: will the franchise’s ethos, built on balance and positivity, help them come back from a humiliating 40-run defeat chasing 137, like it has in the past? Or will we see a more deadpan reaction, a reshuffle and fortification of the batting beyond their blockbuster opening pair? They’re close to the halfway point of seven matches in the season, the fixtures around which the tone for the final stages is set – that frenzied, volatile period during which certain teams specialise in sneaking in and rattling the favourites.Kings XI have often been that team in the IPL, but have begun this season looking much better than a late-doors spoilsport. They have six points from five games, but have only really been below-par on one occasion, when they doled out schoolboy errors to lose by 28 runs to Kolkata Knight Riders.Form guide

Kings XI: Lost to Super Kings by 22 runs, beat Capitals by 14 runs, beat Mumbai by eight wickets
Sunrisers: Lost to Mumbai by 40 runs, beat Capitals by five wickets, beat Royal Challengers by 118 runs

Both teams have the same number of points in the same number of games, and are both coming in after losses. Are Kings XI overachieving? Are Sunrisers underachieving? That assessment will have to wait till after this game, which will divide the table into an eight-point chunk and a six-point chunk.Siddarth Kaul looks on in awe as Rashid Khan spins a different kind of ball•BCCIPrevious meetingWhen they last met, Sunrisers’ top order failed and a Manish Pandey fifty took them to 132 for 6. Ankit Rajpoot took 5 for 14, and was Man of the Match, but his individual effort was overshadowed by Sunrisers collective bowling effort as Kings XI lost by 13 runs.Likely XIsKings XI Punjab 1 KL Rahul (wk), 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Mayank Agarwal, 4 Sarfaraz Khan, 5 David Miller, 6 Mandeep Singh, 7 Sam Curran, 8 R Ashwin (capt), 9 M Ashwin, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Mujeeb Ur Rahman/Hardus Viljoen/Andrew TyeSunrisers Hyderabad 1 David Warner, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Vijay Shankar, 4 Manish Pandey/Ricky Bhui, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (capt), 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Siddarth KaulSarfaraz Khan plays through the off-side•BCCIStrategy punt R Ashwin likes bowling in the Powerplay, especially to left-handers. This is unlikely to change despite David Warner’s excellent record in Powerplays against spin – only one dismissal since 2016. However, if he’s paired with Sam Curran with the new ball, they could cause trouble to both openers. Warner averages 30 – his lowest – and has been out five times to left-arm seamers in the phase, while Bairstow has only 39 runs off 36 balls against spin. Manish Pandey is among the highest-paid players at Sunrisers and has been given a long rope by the management, as one of their elite domestic players. But his form has been on the decline since the start of 2018 and they could be well-served by giving him some time off. Rashid Khan has taken four wickets in five games, a below-par strike-rate for him. Sunrisers could get more wickets from him by leaving some of his overs for the slog overs where batsmen don’t have the luxury of playing him out. All his wickets this season have come in the 16-20 overs phase.Stats that matter Chris Gayle has fallen four times in eight innings to Sandeep Sharma and has only managed a strike rate of 107.4 against the swing bowler. Sunrisers’ middle order (4-6) has contributed less than half the runs as the top order (1-3) since the start of IPL 2018; that’s 26.4% in comparison to 60.52%. Kings XI have been the quickest-scoring team in the middle overs this season – they strike at 9.1 per over between overs 7 and 15, whereas Sunrisers score at 8.2. Both of them have scored at 9.4 in the slog overs, but Sunrisers have been far ahead of Kings XI’s 7.4 in the Powerplay with 9.4. For batsmen facing at least 250 balls, Manish Pandey has the worst average – 22.78 – and boundary rate – 10.3 balls per boundary – since IPL 2018.

Sunderland are reportedly eyeing up a move to sign an in-demand forward this month, with a number of Championship sides keen.

Sunderland form under Beale

The Black Cats, now under the leadership of Michael Beale, enter the January transfer window in a relatively strong position in the second tier, occupying the final playoff position.

The 43-year-old got off to a rocky start with a heavy home defeat to Coventry City, but since then, has overseen wins against Hull City and Preston North End and a draw with Rotherham United.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Attention could now be on new arrivals ahead of the second half of the season, and when asked about the club’s transfer plans recently, Beale hinted that although talks are going on in the background, the club aren’t close to sealing any signings.

"I think everyone is to-ing and fro-ing a little bit. There have been a lot of discussions going on but nothing concrete as yet so I wouldn't want to put a timeline on it and disappoint, or be accused of pulling the wool over people's eyes if it comes in a bit quicker. At the moment, though, there is nothing imminent."

It appears as if targets are being drawn up, though, with one in-demand striker on Sunderland’s radar.

Sunderland eyeing Kieffer Moore move

According to The Sun in the last 48 hours, Bournemouth are open to letting Kieffer Moore go this month, with a number of sides mentioned as possible destinations.

Sunderland are named as one of those clubs, alongside Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and West Brom. Any exit from the south coast for the Wales international could be on loan due to his £40,000-a-week wage, though.

Moore, who scored twice at the Stadium of Light in his only visit with Barnsley back in 2018/19, has plenty of experience in the Championship for a number of clubs, so a move could be a shrewd one by Sunderland, who have relied on winger Jack Clarke for plenty of their goals this season.

Kieffer Moore's Championship stats

Appearances

155

Goals

47

Assists

14

The 31-year-old has represented the likes of Ipswich, Barnsley, Wigan, Cardiff and Bournemouth in the second tier, and he has netted five Premier League goals in recent years too.

The striker has come in for praise over the years as well, with former Cherries boss Scott Parker previously calling the forward “unplayable”. He also said Moore is a unique style of forward.

“He's his own player in that sense. But I think you see today a snapshot in 90 minutes, I suppose, exactly what Kieffer’s like. He makes it uncomfortable for you. He can threaten you in behind, in terms of because of his mobileness and he can then come into feet and hold the ball up, make it stick and bring in other players into play as well. So he’s an all round nine.”

It looks as if a deal could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, but Sunderland may need to act fast if they want to secure the striker’s services before the month is out.

Batsman who hit winning run has mixed emotions over end of an era in domestic one-day cup

Alan Gardner26-May-2019Having scored the run that ended Somerset’s 14-year wait for a major trophy, James Hildreth admitted to feeling an unusual mixture of emotions. Delight at his side having secured the Royal London Cup, overcoming 2018 winners Hampshire by six wickets, mixed with relief and surprise at not coming second-best once again; as well as a “bittersweet” sense that he and his Somerset team-mates may be the last to experience the feeling of winning a domestic limited-overs final at Lord’s.From next season, the 50-over tournament is set to run alongside The Hundred, and the addition of the ECB’s new format to an already crowded schedule means List A cricket is likely to be downgraded to “development” status. With the final also moving to Trent Bridge, Somerset’s victory on a sun-kissed afternoon at Lord’s looks set to mark the end of an era in English one-day cricket.”We thought about it to be honest, it’s kind of bittersweet,” Hildreth said. “Because it’s great we got the opportunity to play in it, but it’s sad in a way because you want other guys to experience it in the future. It’s such a big history, especially with our club, legends winning one-day trophies and images of them playing here. So it’s special for us but frustrating that more guys potentially can’t experience it in the future.”It seems like it will be a very different tournament with The Hundred coming in. We don’t know how everything’s going to look at the moment but you’re getting your best players go off and play in The Hundred, and what the one-day tournament will look like … it’s bound to be weakened because the best players won’t be playing it. So that’ll be frustrating but time will tell because nobody really knows what’s going on next year.”While Somerset enjoyed several successful trips to Lord’s in the 1970s and ’80s, winning the Gillette Cup and its successor the NatWest Trophy, as well as twice lifting the Benson & Hedges Cup, they have more recently been associated with near misses, finishing as runners-up in all three major competitions over the last decade. Hildreth is old enough that he played in the 2005 Twenty20 Cup final victory – hitting the winning runs on that occasion, too – and he was grateful for finally being able to add to that title.”It was a frustratingly long time ago, to be honest, it feels like we should have had a few more in between,” he said. “I’m so glad we got over the line today, I’m really pleased for the boys especially the young lads, some of their first experiences of a being in a final and to come away with the right result is great for them and hopefully a platform for us to kick on.”Hildreth, who recently set an appearances record for Somerset across the formats, showed his experience to finish off the job but it was two of the club’s young talents in Jamie Overton and Tom Banton who provided the platform. Overton was named Man of the Match for his three-wicket burst that knocked the stuffing out of the Hampshire innings, while Banton then proceeded to demonstrate why he is so highly rated with a run-a-ball 69 to calm any nerves around chasing.James Hildreth celebrates after hitting the winning runs•Getty Images”I absolutely loved it [being out there at the end], it’s why you play, for those kind of moments,” Hildreth said. “You want to win trophies with your mates and that’s exactly what happened today. The first half we did well, the bowlers restricted them – we always felt they were under par at the halfway stage. We were pretty confident with chasing it but you always want to get off to a good start. Tom Banton has impressed the whole tournament and it was great he could showcase his talents today in the final.”Relief [was the feeling at the end]. Strange, because it was like ‘Wow, we won!’ It was quite bizarre but it was great, we’ve been bridesmaids for so many years. We’ve all seen the support in the stands, they come around everywhere with us, we’ve got the best support in the country, so it’s great to do it for them.”As for ending an even longer wait, Hildreth was cautiously optimistic that the club would be able to sustain their challenge in the Championship. Somerset, who have never won the pennant, currently sit top of Division One with three wins from four, although they saw Lewis Gregory (side) and Josh Davey (quad) pick up injuries at Lord’s. While the club may not have the same depth as other squads, they have the following week off and there is likely to be renewed vigour when they resume four-day competition against Surrey at Guildford on June 3.”We’re playing well, coming off the back of a few wins – a few different players coming into the Championship team but we’re playing good cricket. There’s no reason why we can’t keep winning games and push on in all three competitions.”

Juventus will reportedly challenge a legal decision that orders the club to pay Cristiano Ronaldo €10m in unpaid wages.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ronaldo filed a suit against JuveArbitration board partially upheld his demandsJuve to further challenge the decisionWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Bianconeri are gearing up to challenge an arbitration board's decision as they are not content with the ruling. Following a hearing focused on a compensation reduction agreement made between Ronaldo and the club during the COVID-19 pandemic-affected 2020-21 season the judge asked the Serie A outfit to pay out approximately €9.8 million ($10.4m/£8.3m) to the Al-Nassr superstar.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

During the hearing, it was revealed that Ronaldo had agreed to defer a portion of his salary to help Juventus manage financial difficulties brought on by the pandemic. However, the Portuguese claims he was not fully reimbursed for the deferred wages and sued the club demanding €19.6m (£16.4m/$21m). However, after the hearing, the court ruled that the agreement was non-binding and absolved Juventus of any fraudulent behaviour. Nonetheless, the court still deemed fit that the club pay Ronaldo €9.8 million, plus interest on the late payment and legal fees.

DID YOU KNOW?

Juventus' legal team has reviewed last month's decision and is now preparing to contest it. The club's legal counsel believes there are grounds to challenge the ruling and aims to overturn the decision in the next legal steps.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

GettyWHAT NEXT?

With revenue streams severely impacted by the absence of matchday income and other disruptions during the pandemic, several clubs had to negotiate temporary wage adjustments with their players. It now remains to be seen if Juventus get their way in a higher court and is relieved of paying the hefty amount to Ronaldo.

Liverpool owners FSG have made an approach to sign a "simply brilliant" player, according to a new transfer update, and they have received a reply from his current club.

Liverpool transfer & injury news

The Reds, and by extension owners FSG, have been linked with so many players in the January transfer window, but it is difficult to predict whether Jurgen Klopp will be happy not to add to his squad this month.

The Liverpool manager may feel content with the players that he has available, rather than simply spending for the sake of it, but at the same time, injuries are threatening to become an issue, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Andy Robertson, Thiago and Dominik Szoboszlai all absent currently.

In defence, rumours of a move for Sporting CP ace Goncalo Inacio are not going away, with the 22-year-old a huge prospect who can play as both a centre-back and a left-back, while Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has been touted as a big-money signing in the middle of the park.

Attacking reinforcements also haven't been ruled out, even though Klopp has five exceptional options to choose from already, with Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville backed to seal a move to Anfield.

Kenan Yildiz to Liverpool latest

According to a new update from Gazzetta dello Sport on Saturday [via Anfield Central], Liverpool have made an approach for Juventus ace Kenan Yildiz, but have been rejected in their efforts to acquire his signature.

The same applies to both Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, with the Bundesliga pair rebuffed in their attempts, and Juve remain desperate to retain the services of arguably one of their best young players. It is stated that they would prefer to sell Moise Kean instead, seeing him as a more expendable figure.

It looks as though Liverpool will have to wait until at least the summer if they want to sign Yildiz, but it is still encouraging to see them eyeing a move for such a highly-rated young player.

Still only 18 years of age, the forward has already won three caps for Turkey at senior level, scoring once in that time – he has netted five in 18 appearances for his country's Under-17s and Under-21s combined – and he has also made an impact for Juventus, despite his tender years.

Three goals in 11 games have come his way for the Serie A giants, while football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as "simply brilliant" for his current club, having moved there from Bayern Munich back in 2022.

Liverpool could land "elite" Inacio alternative in £69m prodigy

Jurgen Klopp would complete his defence for years to come by sealing this transfer in 2024.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 14, 2024

Eventually, Liverpool's attack may have to be rebuilt in the same way the midfield was last summer, especially with Mohamed Salah turning 32 later this year, and Yildiz could be viewed as someone who comes in as a squad player initially – he could even go out on loan – before maturing into a key man over time.

Glasgow Rangers ended their winter break by drawing 2-2 against FC Copenhagen at Ibrox as they return to domestic action tomorrow evening.

The Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton represents an ideal chance for Philippe Clement to experiment with his starting XI and this could lead to some fringe players making a start and gaining vital minutes.

Between now and May, the Light Blues could face a hectic schedule, especially if they go far in both the cup and the Europa League and this suggests the Belgian coach will need to rotate his squad effectively.

The Gers won their last competitive match before the winter break – a 3-1 Premiership victory over Kilmarnock – and could start off the second half of the 2023/24 season with a resounding win against the Sons tomorrow.

With that in mind, the 49-year-old coach could make six changes to the side that defeated Killie at Ibrox just three weeks ago.

1 GK – Jack Butland

While the tie is a perfect opportunity to rest Jack Butland, the goalkeeper has not missed a single match since joining last summer, and it would be no surprise if Clement sticks with him against Dumbarton.

Across 34 matches during the first half of the season, the Englishman conceded 28 goals and kept 16 clean sheets, but his performances arguably won the club a host of points in the league.

2 RB – James Tavernier

Similar to Butland, James Tavernier could be given a rest, but he will likely feature from the first whistle before potentially being withdrawn when the tie is secured.

Tavernier has missed just one game this term – the League Cup win against Morton in August – but Clement may want his captain on the field of play tomorrow.

The long-serving captain has scored three goals in the Scottish Cup during his spell at the club, and he will be eyeing a goal or two against the League Two outfit.

3 CB – John Souttar

The Scot will keep his place from the win against Killie as Connor Goldson will get a rest for the cup clash.

Against the Ayrshire side, Souttar made six clearances, one tackle and won eight out of his 12 total duels during the clash, and he will be looking to keep a clean sheet against the Sons.

4 CB – Leon King

The youngster came to prominence last season as he made 23 appearances for the senior side due to an injury crisis at the heart of the defence.

He gained crucial experience in the Champions League, playing in all six matches, but he has featured just three times this season under Clement.

King should be unleashed against lower league opposition and the cup tie is a chance for him to gain some much-needed game time.

5 LB – Borna Barisic

The Croatian could return to action tomorrow in place of Ridvan Yilmaz, with the Turkish defender’s future looking increasingly uncertain as he has reportedly told the club he wishes to leave.

Barisic has missed the previous four league games, but a clash against Dumbarton could be the perfect chance for him to return.

6 CM – Jose Cifuentes

The “very dynamic” midfielder – as so hailed by LAFC assistant manager Marc Dos Santos – is also returning from his own injury problems, and he could return to the starting XI for the tie tomorrow evening.

The summer signing has made 20 appearances since arriving from the MLS for a £1.2m transfer fee, but he has yet to replicate the form he displayed across the pond.

A solid showing against the League Two side could give him a confidence boost as he looks to fight for a place in the starting XI.

7 CM – Ryan Jack

Another injury returnee (a recurring theme at Ibrox), Jack could be ready to be unleashed from the first whistle in the Scottish Cup, having played just shy of 30 minutes against the Danish side in midweek.

His contract expires at the end of the season and the former Aberdeen midfielder will need to return to full fitness and prove to Clement that he deserves another year at Ibrox.

Another injury, however, could wreck his chances and lead to his departure after seven years in Glasgow come the end of the campaign.

8 RW – Scott Wright

The Scottish winger certainly enjoys the Scottish Cup. The former Aberdeen gem scored in the final against Hearts in 2022, and he could be given a run-out on Saturday.

This means Ross McCausland will drop to the bench and the rest could do him the world of good. Since making his first appearance of the season in October, he has missed just two games for the Ibrox side.

Wright has scored once in 15 games this term, but that goal came in a cup tie against Hearts, and it may be wise to give him some minutes tomorrow.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

Sam Lammers has moved on loan to FC Utrecht and Tom Lawrence is not quite ready to start yet, which suggests Todd Cantwell will be starting in the number ten slot against the Sons.

This term, the former Norwich City starlet has scored three goals and grabbed four assists, but he has failed to replicate the form which saw him shine during his opening few months at the club.

He did score in his last competitive outing against Killie and this will give him plenty of confidence heading into the cup tie.

10 LW – Rabbi Matondo

The Welsh winger has a perfect opportunity to grab a slot in the first team following Abdallah Sima’s absence over the coming weeks, and he managed to find the back of the net against Copenhagen at the start of the week.

Injury has disrupted his season, but the winger does have a decent tally of four goal contributions in 16 matches during 2023/24.