After picking up victories against Chelsea and Arsenal in the space of the same week, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their attention towards making a blockbuster move in 2025.
Newcastle transfer news
To say that the Magpies needed an upturn in form would be an understatement. Eddie Howe’s side were struggling for results and Alexander Isak was struggling for goals before the Swede helped to show Chelsea the door in the Carabao Cup and then dent Arsenal’s title hopes. Back in form at the perfect time, Newcastle must still eye reinforcements that they failed to welcome during a summer full of failure in the transfer market.
On that front, those at St James’ Park have already been linked to players such as Jonathan David, who has stolen plenty of headlines amid his clinical Champions League form as of late. If anyone could ease the responsibility on Isak, then it’s the in-form Canadian next summer. But he’s not the only one that the Magpies are reportedly eyeing.
According to TeamTalk, Newcastle are now plotting a blockbuster move for Jarrod Bowen in 2025. Club chiefs are reportedly huge admirers of the West Ham United captain, but it would take a huge offer to force the Hammers to consider the sale of their talisman.
The London club are currently struggling to find their form, of course, and look on course to miss out on European football. If Newcastle were to qualify for European football themselves, then it could be argued that Bowen’s own aspirations would leave the door ajar to a move away from West Ham.
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A front three of Bowen, Isak and Anthony Gordon is certainly a frightening prospect, but whether Newcastle’s dream becomes their reality remains to be seen.
"Quick" Bowen has already impressed at St James' Park
If ever a player didn’t need to do much to win over the trust of those at St James’ Park then it would be Bowen if he completed a 2025 switch. Newcastle fans already know all about his quality after he scored and assisted for West Ham in a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Magpies last season. Now, with a decision to make, Bowen could be about to showcase his quality on Tyneside every week.
West Ham won’t be too keen to let their star man leave, however. Former manager David Moyes was full of praise for Bowen throughout his tenure, saying via Claret and Hugh last year: “He’s as good as he’s ever been at the moment, he really is. He’s sharp, he’s quick, he’s a threat. It was a lovely finish today but more importantly, his all-round game has got much better.“
Wolverhampton Wanderers have had some major sales over the past few summers. It has certainly not made things easy for them this season; the Old Gold sit 19th in the Premier League on six points, having won their first top-flight game last weekend against Southampton.
Over the last two few summers, they have lost some prominent first-team players. In 2023, former club captain Ruben Neves was sold to Saudi side Al-Hilal and his fellow Portuguese midfielder Matheus Nunes joined Manchester City. More recently, Max Kilman signed for West Ham United last summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Matheus Nunes.
However, there is one sale which has arguably impacted the club – and current boss Gary O’Neil – more than any other. That player is Pedro Neto.
Neto’s Wolves career
It was a memorable weekend for Neto during the most recent round of fixtures, as he scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea to earn them a hard-fought point, as the Blues drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal.
It was a stunning long-range strike, and it perhaps demonstrates just how high of a level the winger can, and is, playing to at the moment.
He made the move to West London over the summer, with Wolves eventually settling for a fee of £54m including add-ons. The 24-year-old has made a good start to life in Blue, with three goals and three assists to his name in 13 games.
Even though his Molineux career was tarnished by injury, Neto was superb for the Old Gold during his time at the club. He featured 135 times in total, scoring 14 goals and grabbing 24 assists. The Portugal international starred during the 2023/24 Premier League season. He played just 20 games, but scored twice and grabbed nine assists, a very productive campaign.
Pedro Neto for Wolves
Injuries did ravage Neto’s career at Wolves, however. Since the start of the 2019/20 season, the 24-year-old missed a total of 584 days out with injury. The longest spell he was out for was 52 games between April 2021 and February 2022.
Although he struggled with fitness throughout his time at Molineux, there is no doubting Neto’s brilliance for the Old Gold. They miss him after his summer departure and have yet to find a replacement.
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However, there was a period of time when Wolves thought they had Neto’s dream replacement in the academy.
The ex-academy star who could have replaced Neto
The player in question here is young winger Theo Corbeanu. The 22-year-old Canadian attacker was once highly rated at Molineux, described by journalist Alex Dicken as someone who could ‘follow Pedro Neto’ and become a prominent first-team player.
He was also highly regarded by those within the club at the time, with U23 boss James Collins hailing him as “an outstanding prospect”, while stating that he’s “got a bit of everything”.
Wolves forward Theo Corbeanu.
The youngster never really managed to establish himself at Molineux, however. He went on five separate loan spells, some in England and some across Europe, looking to gain experience in an attempt to break into the Old Gold’s first team.
The winger, born in Ontario, did not manage more than six goal involvements in a single loan move. He managed one goal and five assists in 18 games for Swiss side Grasshoppers of Zurich.
Club
Games
Goals
Assists
Grasshoppers of Zurich
18
1
5
Blackpool
18
3
1
Sheffield Wednesday
18
2
3
MK Dons
17
1
1
Arminia Bielefeld
15
0
0
Corbeanu played once for the Midlands club, making an eight-minute cameo in a Premier League game in 2020/21 against Tottenham Hotspur away from home. He featured on the bench a further 12 times but was an unused substitute.
In February 2024, the winger made the move from Molineux to Spain amid his limited role under O’Neil, joining Granada on a permanent deal. He has played 19 times for the club so far, across both the first and second tier of Spain, and has just one goal to his name.
Looking back on the deal, Wolves fans will surely be disappointed that their Neto replacement was not someone waiting for his opportunity in the academy, with it certainly frustrating that Corbeanu could not kick on and become a first-team regular.
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A “clinical” Chelsea player, who’s already reached double figures for goals this season, could request a January exit as elite clubs come knocking for his signature.
Chelsea back to winning ways with 2-1 victory at Leicester City
Following the conclusion of the last international break, Enzo Maresca’s side made the perfect start to their resumption of Premier League football – beating newly-promoted Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium.
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Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez secured a solid three points for Maresca’s side, who have started this season in excellent form under their new manager, and the result cost his Leicester replacement, Steve Cooper, his job over the weekend.
Aston Villa (home)
December 1
Southampton (away)
December 4
Tottenham (home)
December 8
Brentford (home)
December 15
Everton (away)
December 22
Chelsea sit third in the table, nine points behind league leaders Liverpool and above Arsenal on goal difference, with the Blues firm favourites to seal a place in the Champions League next season.
A reoccurring theme this season is the stellar form of Jackson, who is leading the line in convincing fashion, as he looks to maintain his place under Maresca amid the Chelsea’s links with a new striker.
“For me, he is doing very well,” said Maresca on Jackson’s performances.
“I have said many times, since we started, he is working hard on the ball and off the ball. He is making an effort to understand the way we want to play. Sometimes we use him almost as a midfielder, dropping. Sometimes we use him attacking in behind. If you remember Brighton, or even today. It depends on the game-plan.
“We are very happy with the way Nico is playing on the ball but especially in the way he is playing off the ball – the way he is pressing. In this moment, we are very happy, and we are sure he is going to get better game after game.”
Jackson is keeping fellow forward Christopher Nkunku out of the starting eleven on a regular basis, despite the France international’s own form when selected.
The £195,000-per-week star has bagged 10 goals in all competitions this season, but Maresca prefers Jackson to spearhead his attack in the top flight, which has apparently left Nkunku unhappy at Chelsea as he becomes linked with a January exit.
Nkunku could ask to leave Chelsea on loan in January
According to TEAMtalk, Nkunku could ask Chelsea to let him leave on loan in January, with both Man United and Borussia Dortmund named as very realistic suitors.
Sources close to the former RB Leipzig star view Old Trafford as an ideal landing spot, but a move to the Bundesliga is seen as more realistic, considering BlueCo are unlikely to entertain the idea of strengthening a direct rival.
Those within the game are apparently bemused over Nkunku’s lack of minutes at Chelsea, and his permanent exit in the summer is very possible as well, with a host of top sides purposely saving their funds for heavy investments later in 2025.
Called a “clinical” forward by the Bundesliga’s official website, Nkunku’s exit appears to be one to watch.
The last 20 years have not been particularly prosperous for Tottenham Hotspur in a trophy sense, but their fans have been blessed with some of the best footballers in the Premier League.
The likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min became one of the most dangerous attacking duos in the league’s history, while the eternally underrated Mousa Dembélé bossed midfield up and down the country, and the defensive partnership of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld looked unbeatable at times.
However, when it comes to out-and-out star power and the ability to get fans off their feet at any moment, one Spurs star stands above all others in the last 15 years: Gareth Bale.
So, when another up-and-coming attacker was compared to him in late 2013, there was understandable excitement, although to say that comparison has since been proven wrong would be a colossal understatement.
Gareth Bale's Spurs career
In May 2007, Spurs paid around £10m for an incredibly exciting 17-year-old by the name of Bale, who was still primarily seen as a full-back at the time.
The Cardiff-born teenager made a decent start to life with the Lilywhites, scoring three goals and providing one assist in 12 winless appearances, but a torn ankle ligament put an end to his season in December, and when he returned, things weren’t so easy.
The goal involvements dried up, and it took until his 25th appearance for him to be on the winning side, which had led to some in the game, including Alex Ferguson, labelling him a bad luck charm.
Gareth Bale for Tottenham.
Fortunately, things did start to improve for the 6 foot 1 magician, and following a decision from Harry Redknapp to move him to the wing, he took off.
Overall, the Welsh icon scored 71 goals and provided 53 assists in 237 appearances for Spurs, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games.
Appearances
237
Goals
71
Assists
53
Goal Involvements per Match
0.52
However, it was in his final campaign, in 12/13, that he cemented himself as a world-class talent.
In just 44 appearances that season, the Lilywhites’ talisman scored 26 goals and provided ten assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.22 games, which helps to explain why Real Madrid paid a world record £85m for his services that August.
Bale was undoubtedly one of the best Tottenham players of the 21st century, so when an exciting youngster was compared to him just a couple of months after he left, there was more than a little bit of excitement.
The Spurs ace who was the next Bale
So, to get straight to the point, the player in question is former England international Andros Townsend.
Andros Townsend
The 33-year-old was a part of Tottenham’s academy system, and after four years of sporadic appearances and loan moves between 2009 and 2013, he was finally given a proper chance to impress in the first team and, to begin with, things looked incredibly promising.
For example, it was around this time that Roy Hodgson handed the then-22-year-old his first two senior England caps, and then, after a particularly impressive showing away to Aston Villa that included a goal from the winger, Spurs star Vertonghen made the comparison to the Welsh superstar, simply saying “Andros can be our new Gareth Bale.”
Now, while the centre-back might have been trying to encourage his teammate, all he did was hand him an impossible task, as over the following seasons, it became increasingly clear that the “fearless” Leytonstone-born star, as dubbed by former manager Andre Villas-Boas, would never reach that level.
In fact, it didn’t take long before he fell out of the starting lineup, and by the time he was sold to Newcastle United for £12m in January 2016, he had produced just 24 goal involvements for the club in 93 appearances.
The next nine years saw the 13-capped international become a regular starter for Crystal Palace and Everton before making a move to Luton Town as a free agent last season, where his four goal involvements in 27 league games were not enough to prevent the team from being relegated.
However, instead of going down with the Hatters and fighting to get back to the Premier League, Townsend made the surprise decision to join Turkish side Antalyaspor.
Crystal Palace
185
16
24
Tottenham Hotspur
93
11
13
Luton Town
32
1
3
Everton
27
7
4
Leyton Orient
26
2
1
Birmingham City
16
0
4
Ipswich Town
16
1
2
Newcastle United
13
4
2
Queens Park Rangers
12
2
2
Millwall
11
2
2
Yeovil Town
10
1
0
MK Dons
9
2
2
Antalyaspor
11
1
0
Leeds United
7
1
1
Watford
3
0
1
Unfortunately, despite having plenty of top-level experience, the 5-foot-11 attacker is struggling to make an impact with his new side and currently has a single goal to his name in 11 appearances, five of which have come off the bench.
Ultimately, while Townsend was able to make it in the Premier League and can boast a senior career most players would love to have, it would be fair to say that the comparisons to Bale in 2013 were miles off the mark.
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Liverpool had only dropped points in two Premier League fixtures in an incredible start to life under Arne Slot, but St. James’ Park is a temperamental beast and propelled Newcastle United back into the ascendency.
Perhaps not. Newcastle haven’t been good enough recently, with chequered results inhibiting Eddie Howe’s side. But this was a performance befitting such a talented squad, blessed with high-class parts that have showcased their talents on the biggest stage.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
Though Mohamed Salah continued his indomitable start to the campaign, United overwhelmed the visitors for large portions of the fiercely contested clash. The Toon were immense; Tyneside responded, thunderous and crackling with life and noise and energy.
Newcastle are tenth in the Premier League standings and could fall lower still before the weekend – with teams still to play on Thursday evening. But Howe’s side proved that they can throw down the with the best of them.
Newcastle players celebrate
Alexander Isak certainly proved himself the best centre-forward on the field, outclassing and outpunching Darwin Nunez and the some.
Alexander Isak's performance vs Liverpool
Some strike. There’s no denying that some segments of the Newcastle fanbase were growing concerned after Isak’s slow start to the season, for he had been on Arsenal’s radar in the summer and might have harboured distractions.
How the doubts have been released through this brilliant purple patch, with Liverpool now added to the collection of high-stakes matches that the Swede has succeeded in etching his name onto the board.
His name lit up as it does so often at this stadium, but he’s bagged few more striking, more emphatic, than the rifled shot that beat Caoimhin Kelleher with ease, pressing into the net from afar.
Minutes played
90′
90′
Goals
0
1
Assists
0
1
Touches
25
48
Shots (on target)
3 (0)
2 (1)
Big chances missed
2
0
Accurate passes
8/12 (67%)
19/25 (76%)
Key passes
0
5
Dribbles (completed)
2 (0)
9 (5)
Total duels (won)
13 (5)
16 (6)
It’s, erm, difficult to see how anyone could stake a claim for Nunez, the more expensive man, being the triumphant performer on Wednesday evening. Isak is leaps and bounds above his divisional rival, whose energy and tenacity make for box-office viewing, but bring infrequent results.
Isak, conversely, is an elite marksman, sniping at the opponent’s net and breaching it. That’s five goals in six matches for the 25-year-old, who proved to everyone that he was the star striker on the St. James’ Park pitch.
He wasn’t the only one to have shown Liverpool what’s up. Anthony Gordon was visibly elated when he made it 2-1 after the break, and for good reason too.
Anthony Gordon reminds Liverpool of his quality
It could have been very different. This summer, Newcastle were throttled by Premier League profit and sustainability rules and the ramifications of a non ‘big six’ side showing ambition. It wasn’t the dream window, but the Magpies chiefs deserve some credit for keeping hold of their prized assets, Gordon among them.
Newcastle’s 2023/24 Player of the Season hasn’t been at his best across the past several months, but he rose to the occasion against Liverpool, scoring against the Reds at St. James’ Park for the second season running and doing so with a performance to match that of Isak.
His dribbling is something to be admired, but so too is the combativeness that makes Gordon much more than simply a ball-carrying winger.
As per Sofascore, he completed three key passes and three dribbles apiece, but the 23-year-old also won nine duels in an excellent showing that advertised his multi-faceted style.
The Chronicle Live awarded him with an 8/10 match rating, even acknowledging that his lively showing could have bred more goals. But alas.
Anthony Gordon vs Mohamed Salah
The England international’s initiative and roundedness make for a distinctive weapon, and he’s now being statistically likened to one of Europe’s superlative wingers.
Newcastle's £100m star in the making
That’s three goals and an assist across 13 Premier League matches for Gordon this season. Not the heftiest return, to be sure, but the dynamo is also averaging 2.2 key passes, 1.2 dribbles and 5.4 successful duels per game, the latter of which he is winning a respectable 54% of total battles.
Potency might have taken a step down, but Gordon is still leaving a trail of underlying data in his wake that bespeaks his elite-level faculties, and when looking at his FBref statistical breakdown, this becomes even clearer.
According to the stats-led site, he and Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia share some striking similarities, with both creative, crisp and technically proficient.
Hailed as a “phenomenon” by Italian football pundit Mina Rzouki, Kvaratskhelia, one of Europe’s most exciting wingers, is also 23 years old, and though he’s posted five goals and three assists across 13 Serie A matches for his Scudetto-chasing side this year, he’s also averaged only 1.1 dribbles, 1.7 key passes and 3.8 duels per game.
A wanted man, the Georgian has been on Arsenal and Liverpool’s radar this year and is valued at a whopping £100m. Given that Gordon is technically outperforming the Napoli man this season, it’s feasible that he might too reach such a high-priced figure, having already garnered plenty of intrigue this summer.
To be honest, though, most Magpies fans likely wouldn’t make a switch between the two. Gordon’s blood flows black and white, and he proved once more against Liverpool that he’s one of the finest up-and-coming wingers out there.
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It would be a massive signing that could help Howe’s side get back on track.
The Southampton hierarchy admires an “unbelievable” young coach as their search to replace Russell Martin begins, according to a new report.
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It has been a struggle for the Saints since returning to the Premier League, as it is just one win from 16 league games and five points in total, which means they are already nine points adrift of safety with nearly half of the campaign played.
A 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, in which it was that score at halftime, was enough for the Southampton hierarchy, as they called time on Martin’s reign. The announcement didn’t come long after the game against Spurs, and the statement read: “Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world.
“However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations. We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months. Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories of last season, especially the play-off final win in May.”
The 38-year-old leaves St. Mary’s Stadium, having won 34 of his 73 matches in charge, but that wasn’t enough for him to keep his job, as the Saints now begin their search for his replacement, with under-21 manager Simon Rusk taking interim charge against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Southampton chiefs admire "unbelievable" coach to replace Martin
Martin took over at St. Mary’s Stadium in the summer of 2023, after the Saints had been relegated to the Championship, and while he secured promotion in style, that same style was disastrous in the top flight. Now, according to The Sun’s Jack Rosser, people behind the scenes at Southampton admire Danny Rohl of Sheffield Wednesday
The Premier League side are now looking for a new manager, and Rosser states that Rohl has admirers at Southampton, as the Premier League side look keen to appoint a foreign manager. The German, who has been described as “unbelievable” by Josh Windass, has been at Hillsborough since October 2023, and he’s galvanised the Owls into a team that is potentially battling for a top six spot after being in a relegation battle for most of last season.
Games
63
Won
27
Drawn
11
Lost
25
This is Rohl’s first managerial job, as before this he was an assistant manager at Bayern Munich, the German national team and Southampton. The 35-year-old worked at the club under former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, so he is someone the Saints are already familiar with.
Manchester United have been really disappointing so far this season, and lost once again on Sunday afternoon, their final game before Christmas.
It was a disappointing 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth at Old Trafford, the second time they have lost to the Cherries at home in two successive years.
Frustratingly for the Red Devils, not many of their big-name stars have performed to their best levels this term. The standout contributors have been Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes. The young Ivorian has five goals and eight assists while the United skipper has six goals and ten assists across competitions.
Alejandro Garnacho also had a fast start to the season, which has got the attention of some of United’s Premier League rivals.
The latest news on Alejandro Garnacho's future
It was a lightning-quick start to the 2024/25 campaign for United’s number 17. The Argentine winger had already scored and assisted ten goals by the end of October, making a flying start under former boss Erik ten Hag.
One of his best performances of the season came against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup third round. The 20-year-old scored two and assisted two in a 7-0 thrashing of the League One side, helping his side safely through to the next round.
However, he has slowed down recently and is now sitting on just eight goals and four assists for the season.
Life under Ruben Amorim has not been as smooth as the winger might have expected, with one goal in eight games so far. He was even dropped from the squad for the Manchester Derby.
It might be with that in mind that Garnacho has emerged as a transfer target for some of the world’s biggest clubs. According to CaughtOffside, one club in Europe is aiming to bring him in on loan with a £60m buy clause in the deal.
The interested parties include United’s Premier League rivals and Manchester City and Chelsea, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich also interested.
What Garnacho leaving would mean for Man United
It might well be a mistake for United to sell one of their premium talents and it could be their own version of when City sold Cole Palmer last summer, particularly if he moved to Stamford Bridge.
England international Palmer has been simply sensational at Chelsea this season. In Jamie Carragher’s opinion, he is “the best player in the Premier League”, especially if he continues this impressive form.
The 22-year-old star has scored 36 goals and registered 21 assists in 64 games across all competitions for the Blues. That includes 33 goals and assists in as many Premier League appearances in his first season at the club.
However, it was not always so simple for the Wythenshawe-born star, who was once not even a regular in the City team. Despite making his debut in the 2019/20 campaign, Palmer played just 41 games for the Citizens managing six goals and two assists in that time.
Whilst Pep Guardiola didn’t perhaps see the potential in Palmer, or at least did not have the chance to give him an opportunity, the West Londoners did. They paid £42.5m for the attacker, and the rest is history.
City made a huge faux pas in selling Palmer, who, as Carragher said, is now one of the best in the league. Indeed, this is not a mistake that United want to make, and they could well end up doing so if they sell Garnacho.
His record at United is even better than Palmer’s was at City. He has played 112 games for the Red Devils so far, an extraordinary feat for someone just 20 years of age. In that time, Garnacho has 36 goals and assists.
Games
112
41
Minutes
6298
1483
Goals
23
6
Assists
13
2
G/A per game
0.32
0.19
Selling one of their most exciting academy products to Chelsea or City could be a big error for United. Although it has been a slow start to life under Amorim, he is obviously very talented, as his goals record from this term shows.
It would be a big risk selling the winger to a Premier League rival. United could regret it, just as their biggest rivals from East Manchester did.
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Rangers have had 19 permanent managers during their history, with Philippe Clement the current boss in the Ibrox dugout.
The Belgian arrived in October 2023 and got the Gers’ Scottish Premiership campaign back on track, making a positive impression upon his Ibrox arrival. However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Clement and Rangers in the 2024/25 season, which has had an impact on his Rangers win percentage record.
Football FanCast has taken a look at the club’s top 10 permanent managers based on their win percentages, with a minimum of ten games in charge.
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Data correct as of 1st January 2024.
Manager
Games
Win%
Ally McCoist
167
72.5%
Michael Beale
43
72.1%
Bill Struth
1,576
68.4%
Dick Advocaat
195
67.2%
Mark Warburton
82
67.1%
Alex McLeish
235
66%
Philippe Clement
74
64.9%
Steven Gerrard
193
64.8%
Davie White
119
64.71%
Scot Symon
711
64.7%
Stats correct as of 2nd January 2025
10 Scot Symon – 64.7% July 1954 – October 1967
Scot Symon actually finished his playing career at Rangers in 1947, and after spells in charge of East Fife and Preston North End, returned to Ibrox in 1954.
He ended up staying for 13 years and enjoyed plenty of success, winning six league titles, five Scottish Cups and four Scottish League Cups. Symon was also the man to take the club into Europe for the first time, reaching two Cup Winners’ Cup finals. In total, Symon won 460 games out of 711.
9 Davie White – 64.71% November 1967 – November 1969
Next on the list is Davie White, who actually arrived at Ibrox as Symon’s assistant before he was sacked. White then took over from Symon but was only in charge of the Scottish giants for two years.
He didn’t win any major honours during his time in charge, however, he ended up with a slightly better record than his predecessor, finishing with a record of 77 victories in 119 fixtures.
8 Steven Gerrard – 64.8% July 2018 – November 2021
Rangers took a gamble in 2018 by appointing former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard as their new boss. It was Gerrard’s first senior role in the dugout, and he ended Rangers’ 10-year wait for a Scottish title in 2020/21, going the whole league campaign without suffering defeat and finishing on more than 100 points.
However, that proved to be the peak for Gerrard, who decided after more than three years in charge that it was time to leave Ibrox, joining Aston Villa and departing with 125 wins from 193 games.
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ByRoss Kilvington Dec 27, 2024 7 Philippe Clement – 64.9% October 2023 – present
Philippe Clement
Philippe Clement had a great start to his tenure as Rangers boss, and had ranked at number one on this list for much of the last campaign.
However, as the Gers’ treble bid faltered, so did the Belgian’s win percentage. Indeed, after winning 18 of his first 20 league games, Rangers won just one of the following five. They then dropped points twice after the split before losing in the FA Cup final.
All this, plus an indifferent opening half to the 2024/25 campaign, means he has slipped behind several of his predecessors, with uncertainty now hanging over his future.
However, a much-needed Old Firm success at Ibrox to begin 2025 has at least seen Clement surge into 7th place.
6 Alex McLeish – 66% December 2001 – June 2006
Alex McLeish enjoyed plenty of immediate success after he joined from Hibernian in 2001, winning both domestic cups in his first season. The next campaign saw him complete a historic treble, and the Scot would go on to win another Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup before his exit.
He was also the Rangers manager who took the club through the Champions League group stages for the first time, and at the end of the 2005/06 season, McLeish stood down after 155 victories from 235 games.
5 Mark Warburton – 67.1% July 2015 – February 2017
Mark Warburton made the move to Rangers in 2015 from Brentford and was tasked with taking the club back into the Scottish Premiership. He managed to do just that by winning the Championship title, while also guiding the club to a Scottish Challenge Cup triumph and the final of the Scottish Cup.
However, Rangers’ long-awaited return to the top flight didn’t exactly go to plan under Warburton, who left in 2017 after 55 wins from 82 games before returning to England shortly after with Nottingham Forest.
4 Dick Advocaat – 67.2% July 1998 – December 2001
Next on the list with a slightly better record than Warburton is Dick Advocaat. After gaining plenty of experience in the Netherlands, including time as national manager, Advocaat replaced Walter Smith at Ibrox and was actually the first foreigner to take charge of the club.
Things couldn’t have started better for Advocaat, who won a domestic treble and took Rangers into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup in his debut year. His second season also resulted in more silverware, but things started to unravel after the millennium, with Advocaat eventually resigning in late 2001 with 131 victories from 195 fixtures.
3 Bill Struth – 68.4% May 1920 – June 1954
Ibrox legend Bill Struth had 30 years with Rangers in a number of roles, which began as assistant manager way back in 1914. Six years later, Struth then took over as manager and won 14 titles in 19 years before the Second World War. He ended his time with a whopping 1,078 wins from 1,576 games.
The Scot won 73 trophies in total during his career, making him the most decorated British manager of all time, and Struth was also a Rangers director and vice-chairman before his passing in 1956.
2 Michael Beale – 72.1% November 2022 – October 2023
Plenty of Rangers fans were never convinced by Michael Beale, but statistically, he is one of the best Ibrox bosses of all time, albeit over a short period. The Englishman arrived from QPR to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst and made an immediate impact, winning his first four games in charge.
Unfortunately, the 2022/23 season ended with no trophies, and the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign drew criticism from supporters. After less than a year in charge and a slow start to the Scottish Premiership season, Beale was sacked despite winning 31 of his 43 games in charge.
1 Ally McCoist – 72.5% July 2011 – December 2014
Now known for his brilliant punditry and co-commentary, former Rangers striker Ally McCoist was also a great manager at Ibrox, after initially learning his trade as assistant to Walter Smith.
McCoist was appointed as boss in the summer of 2011 and spent more than three years in charge, overseeing things during the club’s administration which resulted in relegation to the Third Division.
The Scot remained with Rangers during a tricky period and led the club to back-to-back promotions to the Championship before leaving in 2014 after 121 wins from 167 games.
So there is the caveat of managing the club at a lower level, but you can only beat what’s in front of you – and McCoist has done so better than anyone else at the helm.
The 10 greatest Rangers players of all time – ranked
Rangers have had plenty of legendary players turn out for them over the years.
Newcastle United have returned to the top of their game over the past month or so, winning seven matches in a row across all competitions.
Revived mid-season form is great and all but Eddie Howe will be focused on maintaining such fluency over the business months of the campaign, with the Carabao Cup title up for grabs and Champions League qualification through the Premier League the biggest priority.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
Transfer activity isn’t the be-all and end-all in January, but it wouldn’t hurt if a player capable of lifting the Magpies squad was welcomed.
Newcastle's transfer priorities this year
The interminable struggle for a right-sided forward continues, though the need for a fresh face has been tempetred by Jacob Murphy’s fine form this season.
Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy
Miguel Almiron is expected to be sold, freeing up space for such a venture, while the 35-year-old Martin Dubravka is expected to lay down the gloves in the Premier League and move to the Saudi Pro League for one last bumper paycheck.
The most pressing concern, however, remains the lack of depth at centre-back. Four bids – the last totalling £65m – were chucked at Crystal Palace last summer for Marc Guehi but Steve Parish’s resolve remained annoyingly fixed.
Fabian Schar is in talks to extend his deal at St. James’ Park but Jamal Lascelles, injured this season, will leave at the end of his contract in June. Sven Botman has recently returned from a knee injury he picked up in March.
Newcastle could do with a bit more at the back, especially when planning for a European future.
Howe interested in La Liga star
Spanish sources have revealed that Newcastle are interested in signing Sevilla centre-back Loic Bade this winter, though they will face stern competition from Liverpool.
The report suggests that both sides have ‘closely followed’ the defender in recent times, with the Premier League pair said to view his signing as a ‘priority’.
United need to bolster their backline, and, while Bade wouldn’t come cheap, he is understood to have a price tag in the region of €30m (£25m), ostensibly within Newcastle’s parameters.
What Loic Bade would bring to Newcastle
Bade is a defender in the modern vein, ranking among the top 12% of La Liga centre-backs this season for assists (0.08), the top 1% for successful take-ons (0.68) and the top 4% for tackles (2.12) per 90, as per FBref.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig has said that he “will be a world-class defender in the future,” only 24 years old but already showing high quality and an ability to overcome adversity.
Of course, he has already tasted Premier League football, in a sense, in the past, signing for Nottingham Forest from French club Rennes on loan in 2022 but failing to make a single top-flight appearance, suffering from the overload of signings as the City Ground side sought to ensconce themselves safely in the division after promotion.
He would leave on a loan deal to Sevilla in January 2023, with the rest history – as they do say. Now having chalked up 75 appearances with the Spanish side, Bade has lifted the Europa League and established himself as one of the country’s finest defneders.
Should Newcastle forge ahead and complete a deal, Howe could find himself repeating the neat trick that saw Alexander Isak brought to the club. In 2022, Newcastle signed the Sweden striker from Real Sociedad for £63m, a fee that still stands as the club record.
Bade would be leaving the Spanish scene having begun to unlock his qualities, much like Isak after the 25-year-old forward posted 23 goals across his final two full La Liga campaigns.
1.
Mohamed Salah
18 (0.97)
2.
Erling Haaland
16 (0.80)
3.
Alexander Isak
13 (0.80)
3=
Cole Palmer
13 (0.67)
3=
Bryan Mbeumo
13 (0.65)
Now an absolute menace in the English top flight, Howe has shown that his talent radar is unerring when he settles on the right player, with Liverpool’s intrigue in Bade’s signature corroborating the Magpies’ hopes in the France international’s skill set.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher has even gone as far as to hail Isak as the “best striker in the Premier League right now” after his scoring 14 goals across 15 appearances, though in truth, the eye test makes a more convincing comment on his quality than numbers ever will.
Newcastle forward Alexander Isak
Further similarities can be identified through Isak’s failed stint with Borussia Dortmund, preceding his transfer to Sociedad, for he scored one goal and supplied one assist across 13 appearances in Germany.
Isak’s talent was recognised but the move came at the wrong time, and you could say the same thing for Bade at Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle are a team of quality, for sure, but there is also a hive-minded drive and determination that serves as the solvent for any impressive skills and so on and so forth. Bade that the tenacious focus to succeed, and Newcastle need to get the deal done this month, ending the ruefulness that lingers after the botched Guehi bid and completing a defensive line that already stand strong despite lacking some cogs.
Whether Newcastle succeed in their efforts to shore up their backline with this talent remains to be seen, but there’s no question that he has tailor-made skills for the Premier League and could be a force to be reckoned with at the base of Howe’s system.
Partnered with Botman, United could enjoy quite the dynamic partnership at the back. Bade is hardly similar to Isak but his acquisition could be something of a repeat for Howe’s side, taking Newcastle one step closer to the summit of European football.
Newcastle chasing £50m Isak partner who's the "perfect January signing"
Newcastle need to strengthen this winter and continue their incredible run of form.
Newcastle United are “keen” on completing the signing of “one of the brightest forward talents” in his country, according to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
Latest Newcastle news
It has been another good week for Eddie Howe’s side, whose superb run of form continued with a precious 2-0 win away to Arsenal on Tuesday night. It means the Magpies have one foot in the final of the EFL Cup, as they look to end their long and painful trophy drought.
Up next for Newcastle is FA Cup third round duty, with Howe’s men hosting Bromley on Sunday afternoon. Their opponents are currently playing in League Two, so it goes without saying that elimination for the Premier League side would be one of the biggest shocks in the competition in many years.
Newcastle players celebrate
With the January transfer window now in full swing, it’s no surprise to see the Magpies being linked with plenty of players, including Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. With Martin Dubravka leaving St James’ Park this month, a backup option to Nick Pope is needed, as well as a potential long-term successor to the England international.
Former Reds stopper Kamil Grabara has also been mentioned as an option in goal for Newcastle, with the 26-year-old Pole currently playing for VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
Newcastle "keen" on signing talented youngster
According to Plettenberg on X, Newcastle are among the Premier League clubs “keen” on signing PAOK forward Stefanos Tzimas, who is considered a huge attacking prospect currently starring on loan in the 2. Bundesliga for FC Nurnberg.
Not much may be known about the 19-year-old ace, but the fact that Plettenberg speaks about him in such a positive light already suggests that the Magpies would be signing a player with an immense amount of potential.
Tzimas has scored eight goals in just 15 appearances on loan at Nurnberg this season, outlining his quality, and he has been capped for Greece across four different youth age groups, scoring a combined 16 goals in 32 caps.
Greece Under-21s
5
0
Greece Under-19s
11
7
Greece Under-17s
13
6
Greece Under-16s
3
3
The POAK teenager is the type of player that Newcastle should always be looking to snap up, in terms of young footballers with high ceilings, and the hope is that they acquire his signature, allowing him to come in and learn alongside the world-class Alexander Isak.
Their own Vini Jr: Newcastle chasing £34m ace who'd be unplayable with Isak
Newcastle could look to enhance their exciting frontline this year.
ByAngus Sinclair Jan 9, 2025
There is clearly strong interest in Tzimas, which is only natural, but the Magpies could be seen as the most exciting option currently, given their imperious form under Howe.