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Chelsea's resurgence in recent weeks has provided supporters with a flavour of what to expect under Mauricio Pochettino and their 2-2 draw against Arsenal is a strong marker of their improvement.

With confidence in their squad growing rapidly and recent results doing wonders to help that, Pochettino will be content with his side's performances, but the Argentine knows that their current crop isn't the finished article.

The Blues have desperately lacked a cutting edge in the final third with only 13 goals scored in the Premier League end could look to fix that by flexing their financial muscles on more attacking talent in the transfer window.

Are Chelsea interested in signing Nicolas Gonzalez?

Chelsea bolstered their forward line with several additions across the summer, including Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, and Nicolas Jackson, but, as recently reported by CalcioMercato, the latest repair on their frontline could be in the works.

The West London outfit are interested in striking a deal for Fiorentina star Nicolas Gonzalez, and while the Italian giants are desperate to hold onto their most valuable asset, they could demand up to €60m (£52m) for the 25-year-old whiz.

Chelsea are not the only club wanting to lure him away from Viola Park. In the summer, Brentford had a €43m (£37m) bid swatted away and now Liverpool have joined the race to land the talented Argentine.

On the evidence of his rapid rise to Serie A stardom, Gonzalez could be a big upgrade on Raheem Sterling, offering more goals and electricity to Pochettino's frontline.

How does Nicolas Gonzalez compare to Raheem Sterling?

If Chelsea are looking for a demon in the final, who can gobble up opportunities at an impressive rate and improve their fortunes in front of goal, they should look no further than Nicolas Gonzalez.

The talented whiz has showcased a clinical edge that the Blues have been lacking. In 11 appearances across all competitions this season, he has scored seven goals and supplied two assists, having posted 14 goals and five assists throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Consistently wreaking havoc through his piercing runs and predatory instincts in and around the opposition box, Gonzalez possesses exceptional guile and unequivocal finishing that elevates him above the likes of Sterling.

While the Englishman is one of Pochettino's biggest threats, he has been unable to replicate the deadly and instinctive finishing that saw the 28-cap Argentine star get dubbed by OptaPaolo as "magic".

This is particularly demonstrated by Sterling's output in a Chelsea shirt having scored 12 and supplied five assists in 48 appearances, but also an array of other technical and physical attributes.

According to FBref, Gonzalez ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues in the past year for total shots, top 4% for goals, top 1% for aerials won, and top 19% for progressive passes.

This demonstrates that he offers the dynamism to impress in a Pochettino system while trumping the impact that Sterling has made for the club.

Since leaving Manchester City for pastures new, the 28-year-old dud has seen his powers in the final third decline across the last 12 months, producing less progressive passes per 90 than Gonzalez (4.96/3/30), shots (3.68/1.92), non-penalty goals (0.45/0.33) and fouls drawn (3.23/1.76), as per FBref.

While Sterling beats Gonzalez for his exceptional ball-carrying abilities, averaging more progressive carries, successful take-ons, and touches in the attacking penalty box, Chelsea's need for a precise finisher is pressing, and the Fiorentina star would provide that quality in abundance, which is why he could be a big upgrade for Pochettino.

Bayern Munich could reportedly rehire Julian Nagelsmann within 12 months of sacking him as they seek a replacement for Thomas Tuchel.

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• Bayern in touch with Nagelsmann
• Tactician will hit free agency after Euro 2024
• Max Eberl pulling the strings of the operation

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Bavarians axed Nagelsmann in March 2023, to replace him with Thomas Tuchel, after they were knocked off the top of the table by Borussia Dortmund. Although Tuchel rallied them to the 2023 Bundesliga title quite dramatically on the final matchday, the team currently finds itself 10 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen and it has already been confirmed that the current head coach will be departing this summer.

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  A return for Nagelsmann, though, is now being considered. According to Max Eberl, Head of Sport at Bayern, has already got in touch with Nagelsmann to gauge his interest in a potential return ahead of what could be a shocking U-turn.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bayern had initially wanted Xabi Alonso to take over but the Spaniard announced that he would be continuing in the Bay Arena. Then former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane was sensationally linked with them but those rumours have also been struck down.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Apart from Nagelsmann, Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly also in the running. Whereas, former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick's name has also cropped up in some sections of the press. It remains to be seen who gets the final nod to train Harry Kane & Co. in the next season.

Tony Mowbray has assembled a team capable of challenging for the playoffs, however, there is one missing piece in Sunderland's promotion puzzle and that is a prolific goal scorer.

Since second-tier sensation Ross Stewart – who bagged 40 goals in 80 games for the club – joined Southampton in the summer, the Black Cats haven't filled the void of his prolificacy in front of goal.

Prior to him leaving on deadline day, the North East giants prepared for the eventuality of his departure by dipping into the market for several strikers, including Mason Burstow, Nazariy Rusyn and Luis Semedo.

Although that trio were promising in profile, neither have emerged as the prolific heir to the Scotsman having failed to score a single goal between them so far.

Whilst Mowbray has been made to pay for his transfer blunders in the forward line, their fortunes at the other end of the pitch are a glowing indication of their astute recruitment defensively.

Dan Ballard's statistics this season

Sunderland captured highly-rated centre-back Daniel Ballard from Arsenal last year and following an injury-hit spell last term, the 24-year-old has since become a pivotal figure in the heart of Mowbray's defence.

The 6 foot 2 goliath has played a starring role in each of their 15 Championship matches this season and has earned praise from his manager, who labelled him as a "diamond" after their victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Ballard's towering presence is not just illuminated by his side having the joint-third best defence in the division, but purely for the fact that his defensive metrics demonstrate his importance to Sunderland.

The below table compares the Northern Irishman's statistics for the past year against his positional peers across the Men's Next 14 competitions (or leagues comparable to the Championship), as per FBref.

As delineated by the table above, Ballard's percentile rank for those various metrics showcases his ability to win possession back for his team, throwing himself into challenges while dominating his opponents aerially, posing a threat in both boxes.

If recent reports are true, the Black Cats are looking to add an equally imposing figure to partner Ballard at the back.

Sunderland transfer news – Nathaniel Adjei

According to Swedish outlet Fotboll Direkt, Sunderland and several other Championship clubs are reportedly interested in capturing highly-rated centre-back Nathaniel Adjei.

The 21-year-old, who is currently plying his trade for Swedish top-division side Hammarby IF, would slot seamlessly into Mowbray's back line.

At a potential cost of €4m (£3.5m), as the report states, the Ghanaian talent would bolster Sunderland's promotion push and offer a replacement for makeshift centre-back Luke O'Nien.

Nathaniel Adjei's style of play

In the Allsvenskan, Adjei has risen to prominence as a defensively dominant and promising talent in Sweden.

The youngster has made just 30 appearances for his current side since making his debut in 2022, but his performances for Ghana's U23 side certainly caught the eye, securing two caps for his country at youth level and will now be looking to break onto the senior stage.

Dubbed a "physical monster" by Rangers journal, Adjei boasts the explosive pace and the physical stature to bully his opponents, averaging 2.8 clearances per game, 4.3 balls recovered and duel success rate of 64% in the 2023 Allsvenskan, as per Sofascore.

What's more impressive about the starlet, who was lauded as "one to watch" by Sky Sports journalist David Reed, is that he's adept at bringing the ball out from defence and has demonstrated his exceptional passing ability.

He currently ranks fifth for accurate passes per game (40.7) across the Hammarby squad while ranking third for accurate long balls per game (3.6), indicating that his ability to progress play from defence would fit perfectly into Mowbray's possession-based system.

With a whole host of clubs vying for his signature, it could be a difficult deal for Sunderland to get done, however, there is no doubt he would form a partnership alongside Ballard that is capable of inspiring the Black Cats to promotion.

Dinamo Zagreb are going to extreme lengths to try and re-sign former player Luka Modric from Real Madrid.

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• Dinamo try to lure Modric back to club
• Use Spanish paper to call for his return
• Croat struggling for game time at Madrid

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dinamo took out a page in the Saturday edition of Spanish publication Marca to call for Modric to rejoin the club this summer. They also made reference to this on a post on X, formerly Twitter, as they stepped up their efforts to sign the 38-year-old.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Modric is out of contract at Madrid this summer and his minutes have been limited this season, starting just 12 times in La Liga so far. Modric began his career at Zagreb before signing for Tottenham in 2008 so a move does make sense as a potential swansong. Whether it happens remains to be seen.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Modric, who joined Madrid in 2012 and has since made 522 appearances for the Spanish giants, will hope to feature in Los Blancos' heavyweight Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City on Tuesday in the first of two legs.

The 19-year-old came extremely close to securing his dream Premier League move in January, and should be on the move this summer

For various reasons, the 2024 January transfer window was the quietest in recent memory. Even the Premier League – traditionally seen as the land of endless riches – was not insulated from this reality, with most of its clubs watching the recruitment period pass by without major incident.

There were a few exceptions to this rule, however. One such case was three London clubs' committed attempts to bring Antonio Nusa to England. Tottenham and Chelsea are both understood to have contacted Club Brugge over the forward's availability, though it was Brentford that eventually emerged as his most likely destination.

The Bees even managed to hammer out a £25 million ($31.1m) deal to sign the Norway international, before his medical flagged an issue with his knee cartilage and potential long-standing back problems. Thus, at the eleventh hour, Brentford pulled out of the running, leaving the highly-rated teenager to see out the season in Belgian's top-flight.

No doubt Nusa would have been left a little frustrated by how events played out, but there's still plenty of time for him to earn his big move. In fact, it's likely that this summer will see a host of Europe's top clubs take a fresh look at the precocious talent. But is the hype justified? GOAL has taken an in-depth look at the record-setting wideman…

• Where it all began

  Born in Eastern Norway in April 2005, Nusa began his footballing journey at local team Langhus IL. Then, aged 13, he attracted the attention of one the area's bigger clubs: Stabaek Fotball.

  After impressing in the youth teams, he was handed a three-year professional contract in 2021, with the then-16-year-old Nusa saying: "It's very fun. It shows that the club has great faith in me. Today is a big day."

  Not long after signing that deal, he found himself among the first-team ranks. After a handful of substitute appearances, the catalyst for him breaking into the senior side permanently was Stabaek shipping four goals before half-time against Bodo/Glimt in June.

  With the game beyond them, Nusa was thrown on at the break and showed his talent, netting a remarkable consolation goal nine minutes from time. Driving down the left wing, he swiftly darted inside with a lightning-quick chop before finding the top corner with a pinpoint, bending effort.

  Nusa would follow this up with a well-taken brace in the following match against Viking FK, cementing his spot in the starting XI. These performances made bigger clubs take note, though, and in August 2021 he completed a deadline-day move to Club Brugge.

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  The big break

  Nusa initially had to be patient when he arrived in Belgium. After growing used to first-team minutes back home, the teenager almost exclusively featured for the club's Under-19s during his first campaign, making just one league appearance as Club Brugge lifted the title.

  Nusa did at least feature prominently in the UEFA Youth League. Placed in a tough group alongside Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig and Manchester City, he scarcely missed a minute as Brugge progressed to the knockouts, where they were dumped out by young-talent specialists FC Midtjylland.

  Nusa would more than make amends for that disappointment in the Champions League proper the following year. After impressing in pre-season, Musa earned an appearance off the bench during Brugge's group-stage clash with Porto. The hosts were heavy favourites for the tie, but by the time Nusa entered the fray, the Belgian side were 3-0 up. The youngster then poured salt on Porto's wounds, slipping past a knackered Pepe and striking powerfully into the bottom corner. It capped off a historic night for Club Brugge, and an equally significant evening for Nusa personally.

  With that strike, he became the second-youngest Champions League goal-scorer of all time at 17 years 149 days, with only Barcelona's Ansu Fati netting at a more tender age in the competition. The moment made the world stand up and take real notice of Nusa, and he's only pushed on in recent times.

• How it's going

  A string of spritely cameos for the first team throughout the 2022-23 season resulted in Nusa growing in importance for Norway's age-group teams, and he netted a world-class strike in an impressive win over France at U19 level, which helped him earn a spot in the U21s side.

  With Nusa's profile increasing and Nigeria sniffing around – he is eligible to represent the Super Eagles through his father – Norway acted quickly to tie down the wideman in September 2023. He made a splash on his senior debut too, registering a goal and assist in a 6-0 victory over Jordan. There's hope that he can provide the 'X factor' in the final third to propel Norway to the next level, with Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland yet to grace a major tournament with their country.

  For his club, injuries have occasionally stifled Nusa's development this season, though he's still managed to make 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring four times and providing four assists. And with the protracted January transfer saga firmly in the rear-view mirror, he's refocused his effort since the turn of the year, starting each of Brugge's first three matches of the Pro League's Champions' Play-Off stage.

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  Biggest strengths

  Nusa's biggest weapon is his dribbling. The teenager possesses pace and agility in abundance, as well as a box full of tricks that makes him a nightmare to defend against.

  He is brave too, constantly looking to beat his man when the opportunity presents itself. No player who's made more than 20 appearances is averaging more successful take-ons (4.38) per 90 minutes in the Pro League this season. He's also adept at carrying the ball forward into space. Aside from Gent's Malick Fofana, no Pro League player is racking up more progressive carries (6.7) per 90 than Nusa this campaign.

  Nusa's dribbling capabilities are aided by his ambipedal nature. Equally comfortable with either foot, it is difficult to predict what his next move will be. Regardless of which wing he is deployed on, he is capable of going inside or outside to beat his opposite number – a trait that even some of the most-expensive wide men on the planet do not possess.

  Nusa's confidence extends to his shooting too, as just 10 players are averaging more efforts per 90 minutes in the Pro League this campaign. This is indicative of his desire to provide match-winning moments, which is impressive considering his limited experience.

  Off the ball, he works exceptionally hard. This industriousness and his developing intelligence makes him a good fit for a high-pressing system at an elite club.

Manchester United returned to winning ways as they secured a 1-0 victory over Luton Town in the Premier League this afternoon.

Erik ten Hag will be relieved to see his side head into the international break having secured all three points, but there are still plenty of problems at Old Trafford and an expected win against the Hatters won’t change that. While the Red Devils dominated possession throughout the tie, they couldn’t finish Luton off and missed several big chances during the match.

Defender Victor Lindelof was the unexpected match winner, scoring the only goal in the first half, but there were several poor performances, most notably Rasmus Hojlund.

Rasmus Hojlund’s game in numbers vs Luton Town

The Danish striker entered the game having scored another Champions League double, taking his total in Europe to five goals this term, yet oddly, he had yet to score in the Premier League. His drought didn’t end today either, as the youngster wasted two big chances during the match, including what looked like a simple tap in.

Hojlund took just 18 touches before he was substituted in the 79th minute, fewer than Andre Onana in goal, while he completed just five of his eight passes, indicating how isolated he was up front.

The former Atalanta frontman also struggled in one on one battles this afternoon as he failed to win a single duel, losing all three along with losing possession eight times in total, and despite shining on the continent, it appears as though he still has a lot to learn in the top flight.

Rasmus Hojlund’s season in numbers

There is no doubt the 20-year-old will eventually find his feet at United, and he would get on better if he was given better service during matches. His form in the Champions League is promising and among the United squad in the competition, Hojlund not only ranks first for overall Sofascore rating (7.55), but also first for goals and assists (five), shots on target per game (1.5) and fifth for key passes per game (0.8), demonstrating he has what it takes to shine in Europe’s premier club competition.

For whatever reason, he hasn’t been able to translate this form onto the domestic scene, and he drops down to seventh across the squad for shots on target per game (0.5) and ninth for key passes per game (0.9) and this is something Ten Hag will be working on to improve.

His first league goal surely will be just around the corner, yet missing two glaring opportunities against Luton wont exactly help his confidence. Perhaps the international break comes at the right time and with Denmark playing Slovenia and Northern Ireland over the next nine days, it gives Hojlund a chance to add to his seven goals across just ten matches for his country.

It wouldn’t do his confidence any harm and the young talent may just arrive back in Manchester ready to break his Premier League drought and push United up the league table in the process.

Emma Hayes has warned her Chelsea team not to get carried away after they won 1-0 at Barcelona in the first leg of their Women's Champions League tie.

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• Chelsea beat Barcelona 1-0
• Have slender lead in semi-final
• Hayes warned it's "just half-time"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Erin Cuthbert's first-half strike secured a narrow win at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys for the Blues in the semi-final tie. It is the first time Barcelona have lost a match at home in over five years and the first in two years in which they have failed to find the net.

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  Hayes stressed that her team's job is not complete yet as they will have to protect their 1-0 aggregate lead when they welcome the Spanish giants to Stamford Bridge for the return fixture. The Blues boss warned that their opponents can play much better than they did in Saturday's match.

• WHAT HAYES SAID

  Hayes said on : "It's just half time. Nobody should get carried away with that. To be honest with you, I'm disappointed we didn't get the second goal, so I'm a little frustrated. It's a difficult place to come, they carried out the game plan, the thing I'd asked them to do. So, from that perspective, I'm happy."

  She added: "It's a tough place here. A lot of teams come here and go one or two down very early on so you have to ride that. They have unbelievable players, they're world class in everything they do, you have to expect they're going to create chances, but I think for the most part we limited them.

  "I think I know how to come away from home and get a result. We have not performed against Barcelona at home. We have underperformed when we have played at home. I think Barcelona have another level in them and I think that's clear. Maybe they don't feel like they were at their best today."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Chelsea will welcome Barcelona to London for the second leg of the semi-final on April 27. The Blues will hope to reach the Women's Champions League final for the second time in their history and win it for the first before Hayes departs to take over as USWNT boss.

Coming into Sean Dyche's first team after starting the season on the sidelines with a hip injury, Jack Harrison has blown hot and cold in an Everton strip to date.

The Leeds United loanee – who could well stay on permanently at Goodison Park if he impresses with the Toffees on a consistent basis – has one goal and two assists from five Blues appearances so far.

The 26-year-old was arguably a candidate for Man of the Match in a recent meeting with AFC Bournemouth, the Toffees' new number 11 delightfully catching Cherries goalkeeper Neto off-guard with an ambitious shot that hit the bar before trailing over the line to make it 2-0 on the day.

Harrison would also be credited with an assist for the game-deciding third strike, the Toffees showing a new-found confidence to easily beat Andoni Iraola's strugglers 3-0.

However, since that standout individual display, the right winger's performances have taken somewhat of a nose-dive with his showing last time out against Brighton and Hove Albion worthy of being left out of the side altogether for the trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace this afternoon.

Jack Harrison's game in numbers vs Brighton

Harrison's 90 minutes up against Roberto De Zerbi's Seagulls saw him snuffed out of the game for the most part by the Brighton backline, the Leeds loanee unable to add to his tally against the visitors at Goodison Park.

Everton were unlucky on their home turf not to pick up all three points regardless of Harrison's below-par afternoon, Ashley Young's late own-goal a kick in the teeth which surrendered a one goal lead for the Toffees and helped Brighton secure a late 1-1 draw.

Harrison was inaccurate with all of his attempted long-balls in this contest, as per Sofascore, killing any Everton momentum in the process by giving Brighton an upper hand with his wayward passing game.

The 26-year-old's game is at its most effective when he's unleashed as a pacey livewire, intercepting a loose pass before launching into an immediate counter-attack – managing an impressive 0.81 interceptions in the last year for his parent club and his current employers per 90, according to FBRef.

Yet, Harrison was ultimately passive against Brighton. The £90k-per-week asset attempted one dribble all afternoon to unlock a stern Seagulls defence, unsuccessful in his efforts however on a day where everything he tried went wrong.

Dyche could well look towards the element of surprise to catch out Palace with his lineup selection as a result, replacing Harrison with exciting youngster Lewis Dobbin and handing the ex-Derby County loanee only his second-ever Premier League start in the process.

Dobbin as Harrison's replacement

Derby County manager Paul Warne described Dobbin as an "outstanding talent" when the now 20-year-old was with the Rams last term, the teen talent at the time scoring five times and assisting a further six goals during a formative year at Pride Park.

Dobbin does, however, predominantly play down the left-hand side when utilised as a winger but he has been known to switch over to the right flank on occasion where Harrison is more comfortable.

At youth level, Everton's number 61 managed to net four of his 14 strikes for the U18s from this unorthodox right-wing spot.

Dyche will hope by starting Dobbin in place of the underperforming Harrison that he can get the best out of his outstanding youngster, heating up competition for starting spots which could see the Leeds loanee up his game on the training pitch to be considered again.

Glasgow Rangers will be expecting another three points in the Premiership when they return to action on Sunday.

Aberdeen are the opponents and a win could set them up nicely for the League Cup final against the same opposition in just a few weeks.

Philippe Clement has yet to lose since joining the Gers in mid-October, and he will be keen on keeping that run going for as long as possible as the club chase glory on all fronts.

Indeed, the Gers face a critical run of 12 fixtures over the next 38 days and if they can pile pressure on Celtic in the league, claim the League Cup trophy and secure progression to the knockout stages of the Europa League, the Ibrox faithful will enter the new year with hope more glory can follow.

A positive run will allow Clement to delve into the transfer market with confidence he can land another player or two as his first team squad needs some depth added to it in key positions.

It isn’t just established regulars he is on the lookout for either, as the Belgian has earmarked a couple of teenage talents to sign in the upcoming transfer window, which could benefit the first team in a few years.

Rangers transfer news – Mason Cotcher

A few weeks ago, the Sunderland Echo reported that Rangers were showing interest in Sunderland youngster Mason Cotcher ahead of launching a potential move for the 17-year-old.

They weren’t the only club keen, however, as the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal were also keeping tabs on him, and he had even featured in an U18 match for the Gunners as a trialist, and it looked as though they had the upper hand.

A recent update on Cotcher has been provided by Daily Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath, who said:

“England U17 forward Mason Cotcher has been training with the 1st team squad at #Arsenal after leaving Sunderland. Rangers are also interested in signing the 17yr old and moving cross-border to Scotland would be for much lower compensation.”

The Light Blues have enjoyed success with this pathway before, luring the likes of Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo to Scotland for minimal fees due to the cross-border rules, and a move for Cotcher would likely repeat this scenario.

It wouldn’t be the first time the club have signed a promising young talent who had been on the books at Sunderland either, as a certain Ally McCoist was signed by the club from the Black Cats.

While it may be too early to say just how good Cotcher will turn out, his eye for goal and clinical nature could be a big asset to the Gers, and could he become their next McCoist?

Ally McCoist’s statistics at Rangers

McCoist is arguably the finest postwar striker the Gers have had. Over the course of 15 years, ‘Super Ally’ managed to find the back of the net on 355 occasions while winning a sack full of trophies as the club became the undisputed kings of Scotland – powering their way to nine titles in a row between 1988 and 1997.

'Coisty' was a regular scourge for Celtic and his tally of 26 goals in Old Firm derby tussles is a record, proving how effective he was against their arch-rivals.

In truth, the club haven’t had a striker like him since he left following the 1997/98 season and while many have come close to replicating his goalscoring antics, McCoist was one of a kind.

Cotcher looks like he has serious potential to feature regularly on the big stage and with Clement already giving a chance to youngster Ross McCausland in recent weeks, the Englishman could be an ideal future partner for the winger.

Mason Cotcher’s youth statistics

The teenage gem first broke through into the U18 side during the 2021/22 season where he made six appearances in the U18 Premier League, but he failed to find the back of the net.

It proved to be a good platform to build on, however, as last term, he netted nine goals and grabbed an assist in just 19 matches in the same competition, showcasing his massive talent alongside some of the finest youth players in the country.

He has made a step-up in class during the current campaign as in two matches for the Arsenal U18 side, he has already scored and registered an assist and playing with better players looks to be paying dividends in such a short space of time.

Despite not making a senior appearance as yet, the youngster actually made the bench for Sunderland’s FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town at the start of the year, and it won't be long before he makes his professional bow.

Rangers could be the ideal place for him, especially with the progress shown by talents such as Zak Lovelace (who also arrived from England), Bailey Rice and the aforementioned McCausland.

Ross McCausland's season by numbers

The Northern Irishman made his first start for the Gers against Livingston prior to the International break and was impressive throughout.

He won a penalty in the first half and was a constant menace to the opposition defence during the match.

Despite averaging just 32 minutes of game time in the Premiership this season, the 20-year-old has created one big chance and averages one key pass per game, along with taking 0.4 shots per game, indicating how keen he is to make an impact.

The future looks bright for the Gers with regard to how many youngsters are emerging from the academy into genuine first-team prospects and if Cotcher does make the move north of the border, he could be added to this list.

Of course, no one knows how players will turn out, but under Clement, there appears to be a philosophy where everyone gets a chance, regardless of age.

Rangers: Ibrox outfit could repeat Lovelace masterclass in deal for teen gem

Clement could be set to embrace the young talent at the Ibrox side and is in the market for more

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 25, 2023

This makes for a more confident squad of teenage gems who know if they work hard and improve, they will be given an opportunity in the starting XI at one stage or another.

Cotcher has a sublime eye for goal, and he could have a solid impact in the coming years if he joins the Gers, linking up well with McCausland in the process.

The ex-soccer player has emerged as a star in the NFL and could be a difference-maker for the league's most discussed team

For several years now, Harry Kane has flirted with the idea of swapping football for football. The Bayern Munich star has said many times that, someday, just maybe, he could see himself kicking in the National Football League. What a wild turn of events that would be: seeing one of the best strikers of a generation lining up on Sundays to ply his craft in a whole new world.

Kane, though, wouldn't be the first to make that transition and, if he were to make the move, he almost certainly wouldn't be the best. Brandon Aubrey is already living that dream, having gone from MLS Draft pick to arguably the best kicker in the NFL.

Seven years to the day after being taken by Toronto FC in the MLS Draft, Aubrey finds himself starring in a different sport. His skill with his feet never led him to superstardom in soccer, but that trusty right foot ultimately led him further than he could have believed.

The Dallas Cowboys, the NFL's most famous team, will begin their push toward the Super Bowl on Sunday, and the former soccer player may be their best weapon in their pursuit of long-awaited glory.

• The road to Draft day

  Every young player dreams of hearing their name called on draft day, and Aubrey is one of the lucky few who had that opportunity. Every young player also dreams of playing for their hometown team. Aubrey is lucky in that regard, too, as he suits up for America's team, the Cowboys. The road there didn't come via the gridiron, but rather the pitch.

  Aubrey was one of many players to emerge out of the Dallas area and onto the pro scene. He was no exception, having shone locally as a youth player for Dallas Texans SC, the club that produced the likes of future U.S. men's national team stars Clint Dempsey and Omar Gonzalez. As a high-schooler, he was an award-winner at Plano Senior High before growing into a role at Notre Dame, where he was one of the best defenders in the country entering the MLS Draft.

  On a day that saw future USMNT star Miles Robinson go second overall to Atlanta United, Aubrey was selected at No.21 by Toronto FC. And thus started a professional career that no one could have ever predicted.

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  A 'lonely' career

  Those who follow MLS know how the importance of the Draft has dwindled in recent years. With clubs largely focusing on their own academies, few MLS Draft picks ever really make an impact at the senior level and, unfortunately for Aubrey, that was the case with his career at Toronto FC.

  “[Toronto] tried to make it easy on me and mentioned that they were going to loan me full-time to the USL [lower-division] side so I could go out and get some experience leading a young core of players coming up through the academy,” Aubrey told MLSSoccer.com. “And I kind of got lost in that transition, where I'm with the first team, I'm in that first team locker room, but I'm out to training with the second team before the first team gets there.

  “And then while the first team is training, I'm going through my meetings and getting my food, and then I'm out of there. So it was kind of a weird one, a lonely one, one that I might not have been ready for the challenge of.”

  He spent that one season with Toronto FC II before being released from his contract. Ahead of the 2018 season, he was picked up by the Philadelphia Union's second team, Bethlehem Steel, but, after just one season there, he was released yet again.

  “I would say I wasn't fully prepared for that first opportunity in MLS, where you get on a superstar team, where you have theMichael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovincos that you've been watching your whole life, where you followed it really closely and maybe have that feeling where you might not actually belong,” Aubrey told MLS.

  “So that was the biggest test for me, probably a thing I didn't get over quick enough in MLS, and by the time I had gotten over it and started to perform well in practices, the decision had already been made.”

  And so, at just 23, Aubrey was at a crossroads, staring down the end of an all-too-brief career as a professional athlete. As it turned out, though, his dreams of being a pro athlete weren't over; he was just playing the wrong sport.

• Transitioning to football

  In the end, credit goes to Aubrey's wife, Jenn. If not for her, there's no way he'd have gotten this far.

  Out of work and doing some real soul searching, Aubrey found himself doing what most Americans do on an average winter Sunday: watching the NFL. That day proved anything but average, though, as, after watching a kicker miss a long field goal, Jenn said words that changed the trajectory of Aubrey's career, and life.

  "You could do that".

  And so he tried. After getting out onto a field to prove that he could, in fact, place kick, Aubrey began training with kicking coach Brian Egan as he started his transition to football. Off the field, he worked full-time as a software engineer and trained in the mornings and evenings. It began to pay off in 2022 when Aubrey was chosen to be the kicker for the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL, a newly-formed spring football league created to fill the needs of a hungry fanbase desperate for more football once the NFL season ends.

  That league largely featured up-and-comers desperate for an NFL chance. Aubrey was one, having taken a 50 percent pay cut from his day job to join the Stallions with the hopes of someday making it to the world's biggest league.

  And, after two seasons in the USFL, the call came. Aubrey was going home.

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  A brief history of the Cowboys

  For the uninitiated, the Cowboys occupy a unique space in the NFL. They're the Manchester United of the league: the team that many love, but many, many more hate with every fiber of their being. They're the most valuable NFL team and are known as "America's team".

  Like Manchester United, though, the Cowboys are a team desperate for a return to the glory days. They dominated the 90s, led by stars Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith but, in the years since, the team has struggled to recapture the magic. They've made it to eight Super Bowls, but have not reached the big game since 1996.

  This season, like many before it, there's hope down in Dallas. After a 12-5 season that saw them finish atop the NFC East, the Cowboys head into the NFL Playoffs among the favorites. In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers seem the clear frontrunner, but the Cowboys are just behind them among the teams hoping to make a run to this year's Super Bowl.

  Led by quarterback Dak Prescot, superstar linebacker Michah Parsons and receiving sensation CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys have the pieces to make it. However, playoff games are often defined by small margins, which is where their big weapon, Aubrey, fits into the picture.