Rangers have experienced the highs and the lows of the transfer market over the years and Ross Wilson is the latest chief at Ibrox to navigate his way through the windows.

He has pulled off some impressive deals, including the signings of Leon Balogun, Ianis Hagi and Joe Aribo, but he has also been culpable for signings such as Cedric Itten and Amad Diallo. This illustrates how difficult it can be to have a high success rate as you can never guarantee that a player will come good.

Whilst you can look at moves over the years and judge whether they were the right ones or not, you can also look back at players the Gers wanted and failed to get.

One famous player the club missed out on a deal for was Barcelona teenager Lionel Messi. The Gers reportedly enquired about a swoop when he was 17 in 2004 and did not take it any further after they were unable to secure a loan, with the Glasgow giants seemingly not exploring the chances of a permanent move.

Thankfully, the Argentine winger didn’t amount to much and hasn’t been heard of on the world stage since… right?

Well… not exactly. The forward was valued at just £2.7m by Transfermakt at the time of Rangers’ enquiry, which – for some context – is less than Fashion Sakala (£3.6m), Amad Diallo (£16.2m) and Kemar Roofe (£3.6m) are worth now.

Since then, he has won just the seven Ballon d’Or trophies and scored 680 goals for Barcelona and PSG combined, whilst also providing 314 assists. He scored 474 goals and manage 216 assists in 520 La Liga outings for the Catalan giants, winning four Champions League titles along the way for the Spanish side.

By the age of 30, Transfermarkt valued Messi at a whopping £162m. Rangers, meanwhile, have a total squad value of £118.85m, which illustrates how big of a talent the Argentine icon has been throughout his career.

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His former Barcelona teammate Carles Puyol previously dubbed him an “alien” and legendary manager Jose Mourinho called him the “god of football”, with his out-of-this-world career statistics backing up the praise. He has dominated football throughout his time on the pitch and Rangers missed out on the chance to watch him play for the Light Blues.

Imagine Lionel Messi in a Gers kit firing in goals with his left foot at Ibrox, even if it was just for one season… it is the stuff of dreams and it could have been a reality. One that got away…

AND in other news, Gvb now plotting Rangers swoop for “exceptional” monster, he’d be a bargain “diamond”…

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is very quickly learning about the intense pressure that comes with managing the Scottish Premiership giants after losing his first four matches.

The Hoops board, however, have put their support behind the new head coach, despite an unprecedentedly poor start to his reign, and are not looking to sack him already.

Nancy is the first manager in Celtic’s history to lose his first four games as a manager, just as he was the first manager to lose his first three games in charge, but he has the support of those above him.

Why Celtic should consider sacking Wilfried Nancy

If the Hoops do not produce a positive result against Aberdeen at Parkhead on Sunday, the Scottish giants should seriously consider ending his time at the club already.

His attempts to implement a 3-4-2-1 system have been dismal, as evidenced by the results, and the second half against Dundee United could be used as evidence for why it is not a formation that suits Celtic’s domestic standing.

The system worked early on when Dundee United pressed high, providing the wing-backs with space in behind to stretch the game, and they created chances, including the goal scored by Daizen Maeda, as a result of that.

However, when Jim Goodwin tightened his defence up and United dropped into a low-block, especially after they went 2-1 up, Celtic found it hard to break them down and create chances.

In a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, you can push both full-backs on and create overloads centrally and out wide to break down a low block, moving them side to side, but that is not as easy in a 3-4-2-1 because of the back three. Instead of having two centre-backs distributing the ball to break down that block, Celtic had Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, and Anthony Ralston passing to each other across the halfway line.

When one of those did move forward to help the attack, it meant that the Hoops were relying on central defender Liam Scales’ crossing ability to find an equaliser, which did not work out.

With Nancy’s system seemingly being unsuited to what Celtic need domestically, it may already be time to end his reign to appoint Kjetil Knutsen instead.

Why Celtic should appoint Kjetil Knutsen

The Bodo/Glimt boss was reportedly one of the frontrunners to replace Brendan Rodgers before the job eventually went to Nancy, and they should revisit that interest if they decide to part ways with the Frenchman.

Knutsen, who favours a 4-3-3 formation (Transfermarkt), just finished second in the Eliteserien with Bodo/Glimt, missing out by just one point in the 2025 campaign.

Whilst missing out on a title may not scream ‘perfect Celtic manager’, the Norwegian head coach’s overall career with Bodo/Glimt shows that he has the coaching nous to be an excellent appointment.

Nancy had only won the MLS Cup once in his managerial career, which came in 2023 with Columbus Crew, who had previously won the title in 2020 and 2008 under different managers, per Transfermarkt.

Knutsen, however, took over a Bodo/Glimt side that had never been champions of Norway and has won four Eliteserien titles in his time in charge of the club.

Season

Knutsen (Eliteserien)

Nancy (MLS)

2025

2nd

7th

2024

1st

2nd

2023

1st

3rd (MLS Cup winners)

2022

2nd

2nd

2021

1st

10th

2020

1st

N/A

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian boss has been far more successful in domestic football as a manager, with a club, in Bodo/Glimt, that had less success than Columbus Crew had before their respective managers took over.

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Knutsen, whose former captain Bodo/Glimt Ulrik Saltnes described his playing style as “kamikaze”, also plays attacking football with a 4-3-3 system, as his team scored 85 goals in 30 league games in 2025, per Sofascore.

He could also be an upgrade on Nancy because of his experience in Europe. The Bodo/Glimt tactician reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season and qualified for the league phase of the Champions League this term, something Celtic failed to do under Rodgers.

Whereas Nancy’s only match in European football to date was the 3-0 loss to Roma in his second match in charge of the Scottish giants last week.

Related Celtic now making enquiries for new manager in the hours since Lawwell exit

Nancy’s disastrous start became even worse in midweek.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham

Therefore, Knutsen could come in as an immediate upgrade on the current Celtic boss because of his style, playing a four-defender system that is better suited to breaking down low blocks, his history of winning league titles, and his experience in Europe.

Despite being cruelly denied a first title in 24 years when for so long it seemed like the Premier League trophy was destined to be heading for Anfield, last season was still a roaring success for Liverpool.

The Reds’ only requirement was to qualify for the Champions League – which they managed with three games to spare – and while missing out on a majestic return to their perch was a crushing disappointment given how close they had come to being crowned champions, Liverpool could still look forward to a long-awaited return to Europe’s elite club competition after five years in the wilderness.

Of course, Reds fans had every reason to be excited. The club prides itself on its European pedigree, and for the vast majority of supporters, memories of Istanbul – where they won their fifth European title in 2005 – are still joyously fresh.

Since the golden years of the 1970s and 1980s, Liverpool have had an obsession with the competition. The domestic title has proved elusive for nearly a quarter of a century, which means that the definition of success for the Reds is dependent entirely on whether or not they are in Europe.

In the period between 2009 and 2014 – when Liverpool were absent from the Champions League – the club won the League Cup and reached both the FA Cup final and the semi-finals of the Europa League. Not bad for a team which was going through some of its most troubling times, but the fact that the dark cloud engulfing Anfield only really dissipated last season with qualification to the Champions League – which, it must be remembered, came during an ultimately trophyless campaign for the Reds – shows that dreams of Europe on Merseyside still rule.

And yet, much has changed in the Champions League since 2009.

The days when the old Big Four of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal would consistently reach the latter stages of the tournament are over. Since its zenith in the mid-2000s, the Premier League has been in rapid decline as the Spanish La Liga and the German Bundesliga have emerged as the strongest leagues in world football in terms of quality. Chelsea are now the only English team capable of progressing far into the competition, and even then, they are still considered underdogs compared to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

This sobering reality has hit Liverpool hard this season. Their back-to-back deafeats against Real Madrid in the group stage highlights the contrasting recent fortunes of both clubs.

Just five years ago, a relatively weak Reds side thrashed the Spanish giants 5-0 on aggregate to progess to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. In the present day, Real are the most dominant side on the planet, having won their tenth European title in May, while Liverpool are battling it out with FC Basle and Ludogorets Razgrad to even make it out of the group.

Their difficulties in Europe are also having an adverse effect on their domestic campaign as the Reds have already lost five league games, one fewer than they managed during the whole of last season. This raises a difficult question that many Liverpool fans are likely to have asked themselves already: why even bother with the Champions League?

Many attributed the Reds’ unexpected title charge last year to their lack of European football, which gave Brendan Rodgers’ side more time to rest and prepare for league matches than their rivals competing on the continent. However, now that Liverpool have qualified for Europe, they seem to have no chance of winning neither the Premier League nor the Champions League.

Surely sacrificing one for the sake of having a shot at success in the other makes sense, and given that the Champions League contains a greater amount of superior sides than the Premier League, should the latter not be a priority for the Reds?

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Liverpool may yet qualify from their group and improve on their dismal start to the season, but already it is beginning to look like a case of the grass being greener for the Anfield club. For the executives, board members, chairmen and owners of European football’s top sides, qualification to the financially lucrative Champions League will always remain a top priority. But for the fans who demand actual, tangible, trophy-shaped success above all else, it is hard to see the appeal of the competition if a select number of teams are the only one realistically capable of winning it.

The Reds have a talented, ambitious manager who may one day build a squad which is strong enough to emerge as serious competitors for Europe’s ultimate prize. However, that day is a long way off.

What do you think? Follow me on Twitter @GruffuddOwen

Club record signing Erik Lamela has struggled to live up to the hefty price tag Tottenham shelled out to bring him to London.

In the infamous 2013 summer spending spree, the former Roma winger arrived at White Harte Lane for almost £30m, with Gareth Bale sized boots to fill.

The Argentine international found it very difficult to cope with the hustle and bustle of the Premier League during his maiden season, but some improvement was offered last time out.

While not fully justifying his fee, such an improvement has to lead to excitement emanating out of the North London side. Transfer activity has been limited at the club this summer, but a rejuvenated Lamela is like a new signing. A cliché perhaps, but should he earn his spurs – the top four better look out.

The 23-year old returned to his second season in England a lot tougher. His 2.4 tackles per game easily surpassed the likes of Nacer Chadli and Andros Townsend, those who battle him for a first team place on the wings. The flimsy, deer-in-headlights like individual we saw arrive under Andre Villas-Boas is starting to get to grips with the physicality on the Premier League.

Compatriot Maurico Pochettino is widely known to employ an all action, high pressing approach on his sides, and it appears Lamela is beginning to reap the rewards. This tenacity affords him confidence on the ball – even he loses it, he will track back to recover possession.

When the £30m man battles the ball back off his opponents, his surging runs can shift game momentum. Known for his impressive dribbling ability, the counter attack can begin. With a poacher such as Harry Kane leading the line, Tottenham have two hotshots.

The willingness to track back is all very well, and will surely endear him to his manager, but what ‘Spurs fans want is attacking flair. Eight assists and five goals last season is not the form of a club record signing, but a vast improvement on last time out. More importantly still, the quality of his goals were mouth-watering.

A wonder goal against Burnley, cutting inside from the right and unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner, the ball almost seemed to gather flames as it rocketed past a helpless Tom Heaton.

And of course, we all remember THAT goal. A stunning rabona from the edge of the box in a Europa League clash against Asteras Tripolis showcased the player’s penchant for dazzling unpredictability. The true grit he has brought into his game since arriving in England balances nicely against his unquestionable skill with a ball at his feet.

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Should he carry on with this upward trajectory of improvement, Lamela can offer Spurs genuine quality in the final third. Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane have their strengths, and could compliment the raging Argentine nicely.

Where Kane plunders and poaches, Eriksen calculates and creates. The unpredictability and tenacity of a Lamela on song gives the side a varied front line in their quest to reach the Champions League.

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Australia won their second warmup game against Queensland at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, today, completing their program of match practice before this week’s Super Challenge 2000. The Australians will be facing their 1999 World Cup adversaries South Africa in three one-day games under a closed roof at Colonial Stadium, Melbourne, starting Wednesday.They didn’t have it all their way, however. Chasing a small target of 174, they won the game with thirteen overs in hand, but only one wicket to spare.Played under the Mercantile Mutual Cup twelve-a-side rules, Australia played Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, who were rested from Friday’s game against the Queenslanders, with Michael Bevan taking the day off.Queensland captain Jimmy Maher won the toss and batted first, but tight bowling by the Australians saw the home state bundled out for 173 at the end of their fiftieth over. Lee Carseldine (40), opening the batting, was top score for the Queenslanders. Shane Warne (3/24 from eight overs) removed the Queensland middle-order cheaply, with Shane Lee taking 2/36. Brett Lee and Ian Harvey claimed one wicket apiece, while Jason Gillespie (1/28) removed Jamie Hopes to take his first wicket in his comeback to the Australian team.It was a casual batting display by the Australians, as if this were not the area where they needed practice. No batsman scored more than the 29 achieved by both Adam Gilchrist and Steve Waugh. Ricky Ponting (21 from 13 balls, two fours, two threes) provided a brief cameo early in the innings.Australia were always well ahead of the required run-rate, but with nine runs to go in the 34th over they lost three wickets in the space of seven deliveries – including Warne for a duck – and found themselves at 169 for 9. Gillespie and Brett Lee levelled the scores with four runs off Bichel’s next over before Lee took a single off Prestwidge to win the game.Former Australian international Andy Bichel was the most successful of the Queensland bowlers, though expensive, taking 3/54 from his ten overs. Another former Australian Test paceman, Scott Muller, was less successful, being removed from the attack after two overs cost him 21 runs.A good crowd well in excess of a thousand took advantage of free admission to see the two teams in action. The Australian team travel to Melbourne tomorrow morning for more practice and a string of promotional activities.Queensland continue to perform duty as practice partners for international teams, with two matches against New Zealand at Border Field on Monday and Tuesday. The Black Caps are en route to Singapore for a one-day triseries against Pakistan and South Africa commencing next Sunday.

ScorecardBen Foakes ensured Surrey made reasonably smooth progress to their target•Getty Images

Ben Foakes finished unbeaten on 57 as Surrey completed a convincing six-wicket LV= County Championship win against Kent to close to within eight points of Division Two leaders Lancashire.Surrey, who had bowled Kent out for a second innings 99 to take control of the match, reached their fourth innings target of 125 with few alarms, the 22-point victory being confirmed in 36.1 fourth day overs.Rory Burns led the way with 46, with Foakes helping the opener to add a valuable 55 for the third wicket. And, as Surrey closed in on the win, Foakes had some fun by pulling Joe Denly’s leg spin for six and also twice lifting James Tredwell over the legside boundary for maximums.In all, Foakes faced 91 balls, hitting three fours besides those three sixes, while Jason Roy hit the winning runs by cover-driving Tredwell, who finished with 3 for 61, for four.Resuming on 4 for 1, having seen Zafar Ansari bowled by the last ball of day three by Tredwell, Surrey were a nervous 26 for two when Kumar Sangakkara fell for just a single in the sixth over of the morning.Jumping down the pitch to drive, Sangakkara was beaten by off spinner Tredwell’s sharp turn and stumped by wicketkeeper Sam Billings.Burns, however, looked in good touch from the start, punching Tredwell through mid wicket for the day’s first boundary and later lofting him over mid on for another four.Tredwell was Kent’s chief threat in spin-friendly conditions, but both Burns and Foakes, promoted to no 4, played him well as he toiled away from the Pavilion End.Both needed some good fortune against the turning ball, with two Tredwell deliveries beating them and keeper Billings to fly away for byes.Foakes, on 21, also edged Tredwell just short of Matt Coles at slip but soon he was hitting him high over mid on for four to keep Surrey moving swiftly towards their target.It was something of a surprise when Burns was bowled around his legs aiming a sweep at Tredwell, but by then he had hit eight fours in an important 85-ball knock for his team.Arun Harinath replaced Burns at the crease and joined Foakes in a partnership of 34 before on 14 edging Denly to Tredwell at second slip to leave Surrey 115 for four. But withonly ten more runs required, it did not take Foakes and Roy long to see Surrey over the line.

ScorecardFidel Edwards•Getty Images

Fidel Edwards bagged a nine-wicket haul for the match as Hampshire won their first County Championship match at the Ageas Bowl in 2015.West Indian fast bowler Edwards took two of the four morning scalps – ending with figures of nine for 87 – as Hampshire, forced to bowl spin because of woirsening weather, beat the rain by moments.The victory boosts Hampshire’s unlikely survival bid with 21 points and all but ends Warwickshire’s hopes of stealing the Championship crown from an increasingly dominant Yorkshire.Edwards has now taken 22 wickets in four Championship matches at 21.45 and has bowled some of the fastest spells of the season, making him a key figure in Hampshire’s attempt to escape demotion.Jackson Bird has announced he is returning to his Australian state side Tasmania at the end of the month to be replaced by South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren.Rikki Clarke provided solid resistance on the third day with a stoic 53, but he appeared in a rush in the morning flicking the first ball through the leg side for two. Atempting to repeat the shot to the fourth ball of the day he loosely chipped to Joe Gatting at mid-wicket off Bird.Edwards added his eighth wicket of the match by having Keith Barker lbw in the second over of the morning – as Warwickshire capitulated before the forecast rain.Chris Woakes provided a luscious cover drive and a clip off the hips for boundaries as he offered a selection of good looking shots for the sparse crowd.Jeetan Patel got away with an edge to slip which did not quite carry to Liam Dawson at second slip. Then in the next over a vicious bouncer from Edwards saw off the New Zealander, as the ball looped off his glove to Will Smith at short leg.Woakes and Boyd Rankin frustrated the home side with a 41-run partnership in 86 balls as Hampshire were only allowed to utilise spin in dreary conditions.Smith finally broke the partnership nearly 90 minutes into the morning as Woakes clipped to Mason Crane at mid-on – to give Hampshire a 216 run win.

Shane Watson could be heading back to Hampshire now that his Test career is over.Watson, who announced his retirement from Test cricket on Sunday, admitted to ESPNcricinfo he had held “general discussions with the club’s chairman, Rod Bransgrove” but has yet to agree a deal.Watson enjoyed a successful stint at the club in 2004 and 2005 – he was in the side that won the C&G Trophy at Lord’s in 2005 – and has maintained a close relationship with Bransgrove. He has been linked with a return on several occasions – he actually signed for them in 2008, but did not play – but has been busy with international commitments. The news that his Test career is over would appear to have removed that obstacle.”I absolutely loved my time playing at Hampshire and I’d love to play here again,” Watson said during the ODI in Southampton last week.It is understood that Watson is being lined up to play only white ball cricket for Hampshire, with another overseas player signed for Championship cricket.Hampshire are looking to strengthen after a disappointing year in the County Championship which has left them fighting to avoid relegation from Division One. They have already announced the signing of left-arm swing bowler, Reece Topley, and are understood to be talking to South African seamers Ryan McLaren and Kyle Abbott about joining the club.McLaren, 32, who is currently at the club as an overseas player, would be a Kolpak registration, while Abbott, who played T20 cricket for Hampshire in 2014 and was a frequent visitor to the club this year during a spell at Middlesex, has made it clear he would only sign as an overseas player.”Those players are in our thoughts,” Giles White, the Hampshire coach, told ESPNcricinfo. “But nothing firm has been agreed.”

Phil Simmons has been suspended with immediate effect as West Indies coach, two days after he expressed his unhappiness with the ODI squad selected for the Sri Lanka tour. Simmons was caught unawares by the decision, which was communicated to him in an email from WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead, as he was in the UK preparing to join the squad in London on their way to Sri Lanka.Simmons will now not travel with the team, and former West Indies fast bowler Eldine Baptiste, who is also a national selector, will take up the position of interim coach for the tour of Sri Lanka. The series, which begins on October 14, is the new Test captain Jason Holder’s first assignment.”The West Indies Cricket Board has learnt of the comments from head coach of the West Indies team Phil Simmons in the print and electronic media which appear to question the legitimacy of the selection process of the one-day international squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. As a result, the management of the WICB has taken action to suspend the head coach, pending an investigation into the issue,” the board said in a statement. “The head coach will not now travel with the team on the tour of Sri Lanka.”Though West Indies’ limited-overs squads for the tour had not been announced, Simmons revealed that “interference from outside” at a selection meeting on September 23 had kept allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard out of the ODI side. Simmons said that he, as coach, and chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd had voted for their inclusion, but were outnumbered 3-2 despite Holder also wanting Bravo and Pollard in the team.”I think it’s disappointing from the fact that I haven’t got the best 50-over ODI squad that we can select in the Caribbean,” Simmons had said at a media conference, at the conclusion of the West Indies training camp at the 3Ws Oval in Bridgetown. “The chairman, Mr Lloyd, he came and he gave an exceptional speech saying that he thinks it is time they are back in the squad and he gave exceptional reasons for them being back in the squad. Unfortunately, when we went into the selection [meeting] we lost it 3-2. Him and myself – the captain [Holder] doesn’t have a vote in this – but the captain also gave his views as to why they need to be back.”Bravo and Pollard have not been considered for ODI selection since they were dropped for the series in South Africa in January this year, and their omission from the World Cup squad generated plenty of debate. At the time Lloyd had said he had spoken to the two players and explained to them that the selection panel wanted to move on and give youngsters more chances.

Virender Sehwag has become the latest high-profile former cricketer to confirm his participation at the inaugural Cricket All-Stars series, co-promoted by Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne, in the USA next month. However, his decision means he will miss part of Haryana’s Ranji Trophy campaign. Sehwag scored a century in his most recent match for them, against Karnataka in Mysore.Anirudh Chaudhary, Secretary of the Haryana Cricket Association, told ESPNcricinfo that Sehwag had said he would miss one game for the state side, which they were “absolutely okay” with. Chaudhary confirmed that Sehwag would be playing Haryana’s next match against Bengal starting on Friday, October 30, in Rohtak before leaving for the US.While Sehwag will surely miss Haryana’s next match against Assam, starting November 7, it appears unlikely that he will be back in India in time for the one after that, against Odisha on November 15. The All-Stars matches are scheduled for November 7 in New York, November 11 in Houston and November 14 in Los Angeles. Chaudhary conceded that Sehwag would struggle to return in time for the match against Odisha “if he plays all the matches”, but insisted the association wasn’t perturbed about his absence.”Every match he is part of this team is huge for this team,” he said. “Every interaction with him benefits the players. We are looking at him mentoring the players and our objective is achieved by his presence around the squad. Once a player has announced his international retirement, anything he contributes at Ranji level we should gleefully accept.”Sehwag had announced his retirement from international cricket last week and joins VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Ajit Agarkar as the former India internationals who will play in the USA. However, Sehwag is the only player still playing domestic cricket. He has also signed up for the Masters Champions League, another tournament featuring retired players, expected to be held in January in the UAE.