Fiorentina star Eduardo Bove has regained consciousness and has urged his La Viola team-mates to return to action in their Coppa Italia clash.
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Bove regains consciousness after cardiac arrest
Urges team-mates to return to action
Midfielder 'laughing and joking' from hospital
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Bove is no longer in danger after the 22-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during Sunday's game against Inter Milan. The Roma loanee is still under observation at Careggi Hospital as tests continue, but Fiorentina general manager Alessandro Ferrari gave a positive update on Bove after the Fiorentina squad and top brass visited him in the hospital on Monday. The Italian midfielder also urged his team-mates to return to the field for the Coppa Italia clash against Empoli on Wednesday.
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WHAT FERRARI SAID
Speaking to Sky Italia, Ferrari said: "[Bove] managed to talk to the team, he convinced them to play on Wednesday [against Empoli in the Coppa Italia]. "We will take to the field immediately on Wednesday because there is a desire to get back to life quickly, thanks also to the enthusiasm that Edoardo has transmitted to us.
"We are much happier and more relaxed than yesterday. We saw the boy this morning, we spoke to him together, he is lucid, alert, with his desire to laugh and joke. The situation obviously must remain under control, it is something that will have to continue in the coming days, but the boy is fine."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Reports have suggested that the 22-year-old did not suffer any sort of acute cardiac, neurological, or respiratory damage after the incident, which saw him collapse on the pitch in the first half. Additionally, the Italian publication, Ansa, also revealed that Bove had to be resuscitated on the way to the hospital in the ambulance.
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WHAT NEXT FOR BOVE AND FIORENTINA?
The 22-year-old will remain under hospital care until he's cleared to leave by doctors. Bove's team-mates will be in action against Empoli in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, December 4.
It's been a relatively quiet summer for Arsenal thus far, with a mostly successful pre-season tour of the US and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori the only notable events.
However, with less than a month until the transfer window closes, the Gunners appear to be making progress in the market.
By all accounts, Mikel Merino will be part of Mikel Arteta's squad by the end of the month.
That said, while the Spaniard looks to be an exciting addition to the Gunners' midfield, recent reports have now linked the North Londoners to another star who could provide the Sociedad ace with some competition and look incredible alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from Italian publication TuttoJuve, Arsenal are one of several sides keen on signing Adrien Rabiot this summer.
The report claims that the Gunners see the Frenchman as an ideal player to bring 'experience and stability' to their young side.
Alongside the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Real Madrid have also shown great interest in signing the former Juventus star this summer.
Juventus' AdrienRabiotduring the warm up before the match
It could prove challenging to get ahead of the chasing pack, but considering Rabiot's quality and the fact he's available for free, this seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up, and he could be the perfect person to play alongside Rice and Odegaard.
Why Rabiot would be great for Rice and Odegaard
So, if Arsenal were to acquire both Merino and Rabiot this summer, they would almost certainly be in direct competition for a place in the starting lineup, as the Frenchman primarily occupies the central midfield area, just like the Spaniard.
The biggest pros for Sociedad ace are that last season, he won the most duels across Europe's top seven leagues and produced 13 goals and assists in 45 appearances. However, while those are impressive statistics, the former Juventus man comes out on top when we take a look at their underlying numbers.
For example, while the former Newcastle United ace does better in a few metrics, such as progressive passes, shot-creating actions, tackles, blocks, aerial duels won and ball recoveries per 90, that's about it.
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.25
0.19
Progressive Carries
2.44
0.94
Progressive Passes
4.07
5.91
Shots
1.29
1.09
Shots on Target
0.54
0.40
Passing Accuracy
82.2%
76.2%
Key Passes
0.88
0.72
Carries into the Penalty Area
0.34
0.11
Shot-Creating Actions
2.17
2.36
Tackles
1.97
2.79
Blocks
0.88
1.30
Interceptions
0.85
0.58
Errors Leading to a Shot
0.00
0.11
Successful Take-Ons
0.95
0.87
Miscontrols
1.76
2.21
Dispossessed
0.64
1.52
Aerial Duels Won
1.83
5.94
Ball Recoveries
5.08
7.14
In contrast, the "world-class" Frenchman, as dubbed by French legend David Trezeguet, comes out on top in several metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, key passes, and interceptions per 90 minutes.
He also makes fewer mistakes leading to a shot, is dispossessed less often and miscontrols the ball fewer times per 90 than the Sociedad man.
This combination of attacking ability, knowledge of when to intercept passes, and stability on the ball would make the Saint-Maurice-born talent the perfect midfielder to accompany Rice and Odegaard.
His reassuring presence and vast experience in the left-eight would allow the Norwegian maestro to focus his attention on what happens at the sharp end of the pitch, potentially increasing his already impressive tally of 22 goals and assists from last season.
Likewise, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace would allow the Gunners' £105m man to permanently move into the six role, which he himself described as his "best position" last season.
Ultimately, while Merino will be a level-raiser for Arsenal next season, adding Rabiot to the starting lineup will have an even more significant impact and allow the club's other midfield stars to flourish in their best positions without worrying about the left-eight area.
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Joe Root has urged England to learn their lessons quickly following a chastening defeat in the second Test against India in Chennai. England collapsed to 164 all out in their second innings shortly after lunch on day four, as India wrapped up a crushing 317-run victory, their largest win by runs in Tests between the two sides.The deficit would have been greater still but for a brief flurry of 43 from 18 balls from Moeen Ali at No. 9, whom Root confirmed will play no further part in the series after choosing to fly home for the final two Tests. But having made only 134 in their first innings, England amassed fewer runs in the match (298) than India’s two highest scorers, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin, who made 306 runs between them, including a century apiece.”We were outplayed in all three departments this week,” Root told the official broadcaster after the game. “It’s a bit of an education. We’ve got to learn from this because sometimes these are the conditions that you come up against.”We’ve got to find a way of scoring runs in these conditions, finding ways of building pressure for long periods of time with the ball, and in bowling six balls at one batter. Credit to India, they made that very difficult for us.”After losing an important toss, England were pushed on to the defensive from the outset thanks to a masterful initiative-seizing innings from Sharma, whose first-day 161 included 80 runs in the first session alone. By the time England’s turn came to bat on the second day, India’s total of 329 already looked daunting.”On day one, we could have probably been a little bit tighter and squeezed the game a little bit more, restricted them and made it a little bit harder for them to score as freely as they did,” Root admitted. “And then, with the bat, it was obviously quite a challenging wicket from day two onwards, but we’re going to have to be quite smart about how we’re going to score runs out here, how we’re going to build an innings, and we’ve got to learn from the opposition who played very well in these conditions.”The result was quite the comedown after England’s 227-run victory – their match aggregate of 298 was their lowest since the Edgbaston Test against West Indies in 1995, and their second-lowest in Asia behind the Mumbai Test in 1981-82.Asked his opinion of a Chennai surface that has been the focus of intense scrutiny throughout the match, Root acknowledged that the pitch had been “challenging”, but stopped short of outright criticism.”It’s very alien to what a lot of English guys will have experienced before, as are green seamers that you might across in the UK. Do I think it was a good pitch? I wouldn’t say it was a good pitch, but it made for very exciting cricket.”I do think that the toss was an important one to win but it wouldn’t have guaranteed us to win the game either,” he added. “India showed that you can score runs on it and found a way of managing a very tricky surface so we’ve got to learn from that.”There are not many times that guys will have batted on a wicket that has bounced and spun and misbehaved as much as that. One thing I take from how [India] played is how calm they stayed, how unflustered they were when deliveries did really misbehave.”How they didn’t get away from their game plan, how they knew exactly the way they were going to score their runs. How they managed to bat at the other end for long periods of time.”And as a batting group, how does that look for us individually? How I am going to manage these big turning deliveries and how am I going to stay really calm and clear under pressure? We’ve got to take bits from it and add it to our own games, and come back better for it as well.”However, Root insisted that England were still very much in contention with two Tests to play, including the unknown quantity of the day-night Test at Ahmedabad next week, which will be played with a pink SG ball – a match for which James Anderson and Jofra Archer are expected to return to lead the seam attack, after Anderson was rested and Archer missed out with an elbow complaint.”He has been back into training the last couple of days,” Root said of Archer. “His workload will build up ahead of the game. Hopefully he will be available for selection all being well for this pink-ball Test.”We are one-all in the series, with two very important games to come and we’re very excited about that because of how well we played in the first game,” Root added. “We’re very much in the series. [The day-night Test] will be very different. We’ve only played two pink-ball games, one in Australia with a Kookaburra, one in England with the Dukes, so it’ll be different again, I’m sure, but it’s an exciting opportunity to play at what looks like a fantastic venue.”Day-night cricket offers something different again, so we are very much looking forward to that. We’ll have a little bit of a break now to refresh and have a look at a few things, but it’s exciting times.”It’s just very important that we stay level as a team,” he added. “We’ve got to stay very level, and understand that we’ve played a lot of very good cricket in the recent past. We don’t get too far above our station when we win and we don’t see it as doom and gloom when we have tough weeks like we have this time round.”We performed well last week, but we got to learn the lessons. There’s a few guys that haven’t played a lot in this part of the world. So we got to learn quickly and I think that’s one thing that we’ve done quite well in the recent time, so hopefully we can take that into the rest of this series.”
Seamus Coleman, Ben Godfrey, Nathan Patterson and Ashley Young have all featured at right-back for Everton in recent months, with none fully able to cement the role on a permanent basis.
Irish defender Coleman has been at the club since 2009, but the now 35-year-old looks as though injuries have caught up with him in recent years.
Godfrey has already departed Goodison Park this summer, with Patterson massively struggling with injuries throughout the second half of last season.
Everton's Ben Godfrey
Experienced full-back Young has demonstrated he’s prone to a mistake or two during the recent campaign – notably picking up a red card away at Anfield – with the club still needing to strengthen the right-back area despite the array of different options.
The club have been targeting reinforcements in the defensive department, including one talent, with Sean Dyche’s side even placing a bid for his services ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Everton make bid to sign £10m defensive talent
According to TuttomercadoWEB, Everton have submitted a bid to sign Hellas Verona talent Jackson Tchatchoua this summer.
Jackson Tchatchoua for Hellas Verona.
The 22-year-old, who only joined the Italian side on a permanent basis this summer, has been subject to huge interest this summer, with French side Rennes also wanting to complete a deal for his services.
The report states that the Toffees placed a bid totalling £8.4m, but Verona are demanding a £10m package to part ways with the full-back who would be a phenomenal addition to Dyche’s side.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
With Everton unable to find a settled right-back in recent times, Tchatchoua could easily fill the void, with the Cameroonian registering a tally of 26 league appearances last campaign – with only Young featuring in more during the 2023/24 season.
His potential arrival on Merseyside this summer could also allow one other player to thrive at Goodison, should he follow the full-back in a move to the club this summer.
Why Tchatchoua would allow Gnonto to thrive at Everton
Wilfried Gnonto is a talent who has constantly been linked with Everton ever since Leeds United suffered relegation back to the Championship back in 2022/23.
The Italian undeniably has a lot of talents that could improve Dyche’s forward line, but it’s unknown which flank he would be utilised on at Goodison.
Wilfried Gnonto
Should he feature on the right, he could form a brilliant partnership with Tchatchoua, with the full-back producing figures that would bolster Everton’s defence, but also aid Gnonto should he move to Merseyside.
The Cameroonian has been brilliant defensively, winning an average of two tackles per 90, whilst also completing 1.2 interceptions – showcasing that he’s more than capable of slotting into Dyche’s defensive system.
Games
26
Assists
2
Passes completed
42
Progressive passes
2.8
Progressive carries
1.8
Tackles won
2
Interceptions
1.2
However, it’s his attacking capabilities that could allow the 22-year-old to form a great partnership with Gnonto, completing an average of 42 passes per 90, with 2.8 of those being progressive, demonstrating his intent to play the ball forward where possible.
He’s also averaged 1.8 progressive carries, enjoying running with the ball at his feet, undoubtedly a feature of his play that was key during his previous stint as a winger, which shows that he can carry and progress the ball into dangerous positions for the Italian forward.
All things considered, Tchatchoua would be a great addition to Dyche’s side, with the club potentially signing an excellent talent for a bargain price.
He has the potential to improve further whilst also cementing his place at right-back and, if he reaches the levels expected of him, making the club a tidy profit down the line to boost their PSR battle.
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Opening batsman fell off England radar after three lean seasons for Lancashire
George Dobell04-Dec-2020When England returned from India at the end of 2016, it looked for all the world as if they had discovered a new opening batsman to serve them for a decade and more.Haseeb Hameed had only played three Tests in that Test series before a broken finger ended his involvement. But so assured had the 19-year-old seemed, so accomplished had he appeared, it looked as if they had discovered Alastair Cook’s successor.It was not to be. Returning to county cricket at the start of 2017, Hameed endured a horrid run of form. He had to wait until August to register a County Championship half-century and at one stage suffered four ducks in nine Championship innings. England couldn’t pick him.The hope was the year would prove to be a blip. But it wasn’t. He averaged 9.70 in the 2018 Championship season and 28.41 in 2019. As much for his good as theirs, Lancashire released him ahead of 2020.Nobody has yet been able to put their finger on what went wrong. There aren’t glaring technical flaws; there’s no lack of effort or obvious weakness. Some claim he wanted it too much. But they all do, really. Unless you’re committed, you won’t rise to the top. Those with simple answers tend to be those with simple minds.Haseeb Hameed had a lean three years in county cricket for Lancashire•Getty ImagesBut the story isn’t over. Signing for Nottinghamshire ahead of the 2020 season – he wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last to be charmed by their head coach Peter Moores – Hameed enjoyed a steady if unspectacular return to form. Thursday gave us, perhaps, the next step in his rehabilitation, with the announcement that he had signed a contract extension securing his future at Nottinghamshire until at least the end of 2022.Some caution is required here: Hameed averaged 38.85 in 2020. There were three half-centuries in seven innings. That’s pretty good, but there were no centuries and he averaged about half what his opening partner, Ben Slater, did and about 20 fewer than another top-order player on that India tour, Ben Duckett. Talk of an England recall is premature.ALSO READ: Notts move lays foundation for Hameed to reinvigorate his faltering careerStill, it is heartening to see him heading in the right direction, and to see him smiling as he talks about his cricket. He’s still only 23. It’s not unreasonable to think there could be brighter days ahead.As he spoke on Thursday, it became clear how tough some aspects of the last few years have been and, as a consequence, what an achievement it is to return to a position where he is consistently scoring runs.”I didn’t give it too much thought,” he replied when asked whether he considered leaving the game entirely. “Of course when you’re going through a tough phase there are a lot of different voices in your head. You go through that bit of difficult period. You get a number of different thoughts of walking away from the game. I’d say it was very tough. To have had the success I’ve had, to then have what followed… it hit quite hard.”
“Look at those who have achieved great things in life and in sports: these things don’t happen without setbacks and real slumps”Haseeb Hameed is confident that he can revive his England career
There were hints, too, of what may have helped turn things around. Instead of concentrating on run-scoring, for example, Moores has him focused upon enjoyment. And instead of conversations about what he needed to do, teammates discussed his successes of the past.”The Notts players appreciated this was a new chapter for me,” he said. “And they appreciated you don’t want to dwell on what happened. It was starting afresh. So we’ve just talked about good memories: I was able to score a few runs against Notts in red and white-ball cricket at Trent Bridge. Having those sort of conversations does help. And they signed me as a player. You can take confidence from that.”Cricket is fun again. That became quite a focus: enjoying batting again, enjoying being with my team mates and all those different things. This environment is brilliant for that. It’s a lovely mix of younger lads who are extremely ambitious – Joe Clarke, Ben Duckett, Tom Moores and Zak Chappell – and extremely talented. To have that mix with the older guys who have been around the club for a long time is brilliant.”It’s interesting to note, too, that Moores, once derided for his obsession with data, is now credited with uncluttering Hameed’s mind.”Peter is a big believer in there being an information overload now,” Hameed said. “It’s easy to look at other players and think you’ve got to do this or that. But the key message from Mooresy is: trust your game. Make refinements, yes, but not wholesale changes.”For me right now, it’s less about being so methodical and so watchful. It’s more about letting my game flow and enjoying the art of batting. It’s a case of not getting too caught up in almost survival. Yes, at the top of the order you do need a strong defence. But at the end of the day the game is about scoring runs and there is no point spending 100 balls at the crease to score 10 runs and then getting a good ball or a bad decision, and you’re out.”Haseeb Hameed celebrates with his team-mates after another Nottinghamshire wicket•Getty ImagesMost of all, though, the whole episode speaks of a resilience within Hameed. There are no guarantees that he’ll ever recapture the spirit of that 19-year-old with the broken finger in Mohali. But there’s something admirable in the way he’s fought through the bad times. You’d need a heart of stone not to wish him well.”I still look at myself as quite a young man within the game,” he said. “I look at it as something that can propel me to achieve greater things.”One thing I’ve prided myself on from a young age is my best years were after my worst years. As a 15-year-old I won the player of year trophy at Lancashire and three awards at the Bunbury festival and then selection in the England development programme came after a year, when 14, I had the worst year of junior career.”Then I look at not being selected for the U-19 World Cup and, a year later, going to Bangladesh in the senior team. That stuck with me. That tells me I’ve something deep down that won’t let me stop. Of course you have doubts. But that’s when you need something within you, deep down, to stop you giving in and try one more time. That mental resilience has been quite good for me.”Look at those who have achieved great things in life and in sports: these things don’t happen without setbacks and real slumps. The ones that achieve more are the ones who have had the biggest slumps and bigger downfalls. To say those four years have been easy wouldn’t be true. It was very difficult.”But I still want to push. I’m still clear what I want to achieve and I still have the confidence I will get there.”
Manchester United have had an incredible plethora of unbelievable strikers play for the club over the years, but one that will always remain a fan favourite is Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
The Netherlands centre-forward was known for being a monster in front of goal, someone who could be relied upon to put the ball in the back of the net.
Now, 18 years after his departure from Old Trafford, he could return in a coaching capacity, having been approached by United, as per Fabrizio Romano.
If the former United goalscorer were to return, it’s fair to say that he’d have a huge impact on the entire squad, but one potential new signing would benefit hugely from his coaching.
Man Utd want to sign a new striker
According to a report from the i Paper, Man United are inching closer to sealing a deal for Joshua Zirkzee.
It’s mentioned that a move for the centre forward is ‘progressing,’ with a new centre forward a priority this summer.
Manchester United transfer target Joshua Zirkzee in action in Serie A.
Other reports have mentioned that the 23-year-old had a £34m release clause in his current deal at Bologna, which United will have to activate.
However, they won’t be alone in their pursuit of the Dutch ace, with numerous top clubs, including AC Milan, keen on acquiring his signature.
Why Zirkzee would be special under Van Nistelrooy
Despite being a highly-rated striker at Bayern Munich during his teenage years, it was only last season that Zirkzee truly showed his potential.
Starting up front in a 4-2-3-1 system, the Dutch attacker tore the Serie A apart, making 34 appearances, with 32 of those being from the off.
Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee
Across the league season, the number nine scored 11 goals and provided four assists, but his overall profile is rather unique.
If the two Dutch internationals did join the Red Devils this summer, then it’s fair to say that Zirkzee would be heavily influenced by Van Nistelrooy, not just because he knows what it takes to lead the line for Man United but also because of his excellent coaching ability.
PSV Players 22/23 Eredivisie Output Under Van Nistelrooy
Player
Goals
Assists
Xavi Simons
19
8
Luuk de Jong
14
4
Cody Gakpo
9
12
Joey Veerman
4
10
Gus Til
9
3
Via Sofascore
During his spell as head coach of PSV, the former United forward had a huge impact on the attackers in his side, notably the likes of Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simons, as you can see in the table above.
Why is this important? Well, Zirkzee is already known for being a clinical finisher, notably due to the fact he overperformed his xG of 9.01 last season, as per Sofascore, with composure being a huge attribute of his.
Joshua Zirkzee
Yet, the reason why football analyst Ben Mattinson said he has “elite potential” is due to his complete profile, which enables him to combine well with his teammates and create something out of nothing.
According to Sofascore, the Bologna ace created 11 big chances last season, as well as producing 1.3 key passes and 1.5 successful dribbles, which proves that he has the ability to be more than just a direct threat.
As proven by Van Nistelrooy’s attackers performing at an extremely high level, the coach knows exactly how to develop talent, and given that Zirkzee still has plenty of unfulfilled potential, he could really take him to the next level.
Overall, signing the Dutch duo could just completely transform the United attack, and if Zirkzee can get anywhere close to the output that Van Nistelrooy had at Old Trafford as a player, he’ll prove to be a fantastic signing.
What Man Utd's dream XI could look like after £230m spending spree
So far so good for Glasgow Rangers this summer. Not only has Philippe Clement recruited a few players prior to pre-season, but he has recruited well at Ibrox.
Jefte, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes are all aged 22 or under, and it looks like there will be more to come for Rangers in the next few weeks.
Striker Hamza Igamane appears to be close to a move, while players such as Callum O’Hare and Reuell Walters are other talented individuals who have been linked with a move north of the border to join Clement’s revolution.
This transfer strategy – one which sees the Gers manager forming the bulk of his squad with promising youngsters – may be a gamble, but it is one the 50-year-old has to take, otherwise he could end up like his predecessors.
Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst both spent lavish sums of money on a host of players who failed to light up Ibrox. Both were sacked as a result after just ten and 12 months respectively.
Former Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Thankfully, the Belgian has taken a different route and there is a new name being linked with a move to the Scottish side…
Rangers make enquiry about former Premier League defender
The Light Blues are hardly blessed with a transfer war chest, which suggests Clement has to be smart about the signings he wishes to make ahead of the new season.
While some funds will be spent – depending on how much is raised via sales – plenty of his business will be loans or free transfers.
One name to have cropped up recently is Ryan Sessegnon, with Rangers reportedly looking at bringing the former Tottenham Hotspur gem to Scotland this summer.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, West Ham United have made contact with the player in a bid to keep him in England next season.
They aren’t the only ones who wish to sign Sessegnon, however, as Rangers are also mentioned as a club who have made an enquiry about whether he'd like to join.
Indeed, other sides such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Real Betis, Monza and Atalanta are showing plenty of interest, which suggests Clement will have plenty of competition to fend off.
Dujon Sterling
Chelsea
2023
Leon Balogun
QPR
2023
Kieran Dowell
Norwich City
2023
Jack Butland
Crystal Palace
2023
John Souttar
Hearts
2022
Tom Lawrence
Derby County
2022
Fashion Sakala
KV Oostende
2021
John Lundstram
Sheffield United
2021
Nnamdi Ofoborh
Bournemouth
2021
Via Transfermarkt
There is no doubting his talent, but the Englishman hasn’t exactly enjoyed the best of times recently due to suffering from a succession of injuries.
Ordinarily, Clement should avoid moves like this, especially as it seems to sum up the club’s transfer market over the previous few years.
In Sessegnon, however, Clement could potentially get the best out of him should he decide to move to the Gers.
What Ryan Sessegnon could offer Rangers
The 24-year-old burst onto the scene with Fulham during the 2016/17 campaign when he was just 16, making a total of 30 appearances, scoring seven times and grabbing four assists in the process.
After a couple of years in the Fulham first team, Sessegnon’s displays were certainly going a long way to helping him reach the very top of the game.
In 2018, he was even compared to Gareth Bale after his ability to burst down the left flank in order to cause havoc in the final third.
After 120 games for the Cottagers across just three seasons, which featured 25 goals and 18 assists, Spurs signed him for £25m, which was looked upon as somewhat of a bargain considering how much they could potentially sell him for down the line.
Slavisa Jokanovic, his former manager at Fulham, once dubbed Sessegnon as “special” but his spell in North London was anything but.
Indeed, over five years, he made only 57 appearances, scoring just three goals as injuries hit him hard.
If Clement can get him back to the sort of form he displayed for Fulham between 2016 and 2019, then he could be a wonderful signing, but it is a big if.
Not only that, but he could form a stunning partnership with Oscar Cortes down the left wing.
Oscar Cortes’ statistics for Rangers last season
The young Colombian signed on a six-month loan back in January from RC Lens in a bid to gain some regular game time after a tough start to life in France.
Oscar Cortes for Colombia.
He made just four appearances for the Ligue 1 side, yet managed to score and grab an assist, showing massive potential.
During the early stages of his Ibrox spell, Cortes shone when called upon on the left flank, scoring once and chipping in with two assists before an injury against Kilmarnock in February ruled him out for the season.
In just six games, the 20-year-old created a big chance, averaged 1.2 key passes and 1.7 shots on goal per game, showing his attacking intent.
Now, imagine if a player like Sessegnon was playing just behind him, linking up with the Colombian winger down the left side of the pitch. The duo could cause havoc.
During his final season in the Championship for Fulham, Sessegnon registered six assists, created 11 big chances and averaged 1.2 key passes per game.
Adding in the fact he succeeded with 1.2 dribbles, it becomes clear that if Clement can bring him back to his best, the Englishman could be a superb signing.
It won't be easy, especially considering the problems the former Fulham gem has endured recently, but managing to secure his signature on a free transfer would allow the manager to keep his precious transfer funds for other targets.
Ryan Sessegnon for Tottenham
There is no doubt he will demand a decent wage to swap England for Scotland, yet for the chance to win trophies and play in Europe, it could be a move that breathes new life into a career which has gone from promising to stagnant in a blink of an eye.
Much will depend on how much of a gamble Clement is preparing to take on Sessegnon. Plenty of players from down south have arrived at the club and struggled, failing to make much of an impact.
The 24-year-old could be different. That is if he can stay fit and healthy.
Imagine him & Barron: Rangers ready to move for "irreplaceble" star
The Light Blues are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the Scotland international.
Chris Smalling had a debut straight from hell in Al-Fayha's 5-0 defeat to Al-Raed.
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Smalling makes move to Al-Fayha
Scores own goal and sent off on debut
Compared to Woodgate's Real Madrid debut
Getty Images Sport
WHAT HAPPENED?
Smalling called it time on his five-year stint at Roma, where he became a fan favourite over the years and one of their more consistent performers. The centre-back decided to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha this summer and signed a two-year deal with the team.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Smalling made his official debut for the Saudi Pro League side on Saturday (September 14) and the clash couldn't have gone any worse for the former England international. Just six minutes into his debut, Smalling scored an own goal after misconnecting with a clearance and slicing the ball past his goalkeeper. The former Manchester United defender's side then conceded two more before he was sent off in the 55th minute for a reckless challenge.
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Smalling's debut with Al-Fayha is now being compared with former Leeds and Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate's debut with Real Madrid back in 2005, where he scored an own goal and was sent off against Atheltic Club.
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WHAT NEXT FOR SMALLING?
The 34-year-old will now miss Al-Fayha's Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Khaleej but will return to action three days later when they take on Al-Batin in the King Cup of Champions on Monday.
يواجه مارك جيهي، لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي كريستال بالاس، اتهامات بسبب عبارة كتبها على شارة القيادة خلال مباراة نيوكاسل الأخيرة.
وتخصص رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي الجولة الثالثة عشر من البطولة لدعم “المثليين” من خلال ارتداء قادة الأندية شارة بها الألوان المعبرة عن تلك الفئة.
وكان سام مرسي قد رفض ارتداء تلك الشارة، بل ظهر بالشارة العادية لقيادة فريق إيبسويتش في مباراة نوتينجهام فورست السابقة في الدوري الإنجليزي.
صحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية، أكدت بأن اللاعب مارك جيهي، كتب على الشارة “أنا أحب يسوع” وهي شارة دينية للاعب الذي يعمل والده قسًا في إحدى الكنائس هناك.
طالع أيضًا.. إيبسويتش يصدر بيانًا رسميًا بشأن رفض سام مرسي ارتداء شارة المثليين
تلك الرسالة الدينية على الجزء العلوي من شارة القيادة، قد تؤدي إلى إيقاف المدافع الإنجليزي، حيث تحظر قوانين رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي “الشعارات أو الصور السياسية أو الدينية أو الشخصية” فيما يتعلق بشارة القيادة.
وتنص القوانين على ما يلي “في حالة ارتكاب أي مخالفة، سيتم معاقبة اللاعب أو الفريق من قبل منظم المنافسة أو الاتحاد المختص”.
وفي حديث سابق للاعب الإنجليزي، قال: “لقد نشأت وأنا أحب الله، وعندما أتيحت لي الفرصة كنت أذهب إلى الكنيسة مع عائلتي، وإيماني جزء كبير من حياتي. وأحاول دائمًا أن أكون قدوة وأظهر نعمة الله ومجده في حياتي”.
هذا الموسم هو الحادي عشر لمبادرة دعم هذه الفئة، والتي يتبناها الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ولكن ما فعله مارك جيهي اختراق للقانون.
الصحيفة البريطانية، أشارت إلى ما قام به سام مرسي، وأشارت إلى أن نادي إيبسويتش تاون ملتزم باحترام جميع المعتقدات الدينية والشخصية لكل لاعب.
وما فعله مارك جيهي، كان اختراقًا للقانون، حيث لم يرفض ارتداء الشارة، بل تجاوز من خلال كتابة عبارة دينية عليها.
O São Paulo venceu o Internacional por 2 a 0, no Beira-Rio e garantiu a primeira vitória no Campeonato Brasileiro depois de dez rodadas. Um dos destaques da partida foi o atacante Rigoni, que marcou o primeiro gol do Tricolor na partida.
ATUAÇÕES: Rigoni dá show, Igor Gomes faz golaço e São Paulo vence sua primeira partida no Brasileirão
Depois do jogo, ele comemorou a atuação da equipe e projetou também os próximos duelos do São Paulo no Brasileirão.
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– Muito contente pelo prêmio, mas é por toda a equipe. Simplesmente fiz o gol.Precisávamos melhorar. Acredito que fomos muito bem. Muito contente. Esperamos que possamos levantar – disse Rigoni, em entrevista à ‘TV Globo’.
No entanto, o atacante deixou a torcida são-paulina preocupada ao sair de campo ainda no intervalo com dores na coxa. Porém, ele garante que não deve ser nada grave.
-É muscular, mas nada grave. Só para prevenir. Amanhã farei um exame. Era um jogo importante a nós – finalizou.
Com oito pontos, o São Paulo é 0 16º colocado do Brasileiro. Agora, o time enfrenta o Bahia, no próximo sábado (10), às 19h, no Morumbi.