Could Club World Cup become 'more important' than Champions League?
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Daily Record
19 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Danilo blowing out his backside for Rangers proves exactly who he is as he breathes new life into career
These are not the images of a player downing tools and now he is getting his rewards Should the Rangers support need any convincing of forgotten frontman Danilo's determination to breathe fresh life into his Ibrox career, they should check out the pre-season pics of him blowing out his backside. Day after day, the Brazilian striker has been snapped gasping for air after pushing himself to the limit during Gers' gruelling workouts ahead of the new campaign. These are not the images of a player downing tools. Far from it, it looks very much like Danilo is trying to hammer home a message to his new boss. His lung-bursting efforts certainly can't have been missed by Russell Martin. But what is likely to have really made the Ibrox gaffer sit up and take notice is the impact the former Feyenoord ace is having on his team this summer. He grabbed himself a goal in Saturday's closed-door friendly against Barnsley at St George's Park. And the training ground whispers yesterday was that Danilo helped himself to another goal as well as three assists in an impressive show during another private Auchenhowie bounce game against Neil Lennon's Dunfermline. The question now for a striker who has had more than enough chances to show he can be a proper Rangers No9, does he deserve another? With Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers both behind the Sao Paulo-born forward in their fitness chase due to a visa hold up and ankle knock, the door has been left open for Danilo to snatch a surprise slot ahead of next week's crucial Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. But Danilo will know he can't afford to let this opportunity slip by. Dessers remains the most enigmatic of all the flakey frontmen at Ibrox. A 29-goal hitman who's as likely to miss the target as he is to bury a bullet into the bullseye. But when it comes to erratic finishing, there's been spells when Danilo has been just as frustrating for the Gers support in front of goal. Most of those occasions, however, have come when the 26-year-old is trying to get himself into a rhythm. The trouble for Danilo is that every time he looks to be hitting a consistent flow of performances and goals, he gets knocked off beat by injury. He looked very much to have established himself as the main man up top at Ibrox a couple of months after completing his £3.5million move from Rotterdam in the summer of 2023. His ability to link up was in stark contrast to Dessers' stumbling, flat-footed efforts outside the box. A brave header against St Johnstone demonstrated a willingness to put his head where it hurt too. Unfortunately, a clash of skulls with Perth defender Liam Gordon left him smarting with a broken cheekbone and a five-week lay-off. By the time he returned, Michael Beale - the man who signed him - had been binned and replaced by Philippe Clement. Fired back to square one, the masked man had to impress the new boss all over again - but appeared to be doing just that as he established himself once more as the first-choice option up front. Three goals in four games was a promising sign - only for his resurgence to be halted yet again by a devastating knee injury at Tynecastle at a time when Gers were mounting a title comeback of their own. By the time he returned the following summer, Dessers - for all of his erraticisms - was firmly cemented as the club's leading striker. Danilo was hoping to get back into his stride, but a social media clip showing him walking with a noticeable limp suggested he was barely ready to walk, never mind run. In fact, he spent most of the year sitting down … on the bench. Of his 28 appearances last year, only 10 were starts as he completed 90 minutes just twice. Clement felt unable to rely on a striker that needed time and games to find a sharpness, while caretaker gaffer Barry Ferguson simply didn't fancy a player he claimed 'needs to do more' on the training pitch to earn a spot. It looks like Danilo is now giving every last drop of sweat he has to win over Danilo. But he'll have to continue marrying up perspiration with performances if he's to stay on his feet - and avoid another campaign plonked on his backside.
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Gossip: Edouard could be set for Celtic return
Celtic have been in contact with Odsonne Edouard's agents as they explore a return for the striker, who left for Crystal Palace in 2021 in a £15m deal and could be available for a similar fee as the Eagles look to offload the 25-year-old. (Teamtalk), externalWant more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Brentford submit £35m bid for Ipswich star Omari Hutchinson - with former Chelsea youngster keen on move amid interest from two other Premier League clubs
Brentford have bid £35million for Ipswich winger Omari Hutchinson, who is thought to be keen on the move. As first revealed by Mail Sport on Wednesday, the Bees have identified Hutchinson as the ideal man to supplement their attack, especially as at least one of star forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa could leave before the summer transfer window closes. Everton are also interested in Hutchinson and there is a chance Nottingham Forest may enter the race. Forest lost Anthony Elanga to Newcastle last week and remain in dispute with Tottenham, who thought they had triggered Morgan Gibbs-White 's £60m release clause but have yet to finalise the deal for the attacking midfielder, amid fury at the City Ground. Brentford's move for Hutchinson happens in the week they signed former Liverpool and sometime England captain Jordan Henderson. Henderson, described by Bees boss Keith Andrews as 'one of the most influential leaders in modern Premier League years' will fill the void left by the loss of their captain and first-choice defensive-midfielder Christian Norgaard to Arsenal last week. 'I've always had huge admiration for the club,' said the 35-year-old. 'And what they've achieved over the last few years, in particular, how they've grown as a club.' Henderson, who has agreed a two year contract, also spoke highly of new boss Andrews as he embarks on his first head coaching role. 'When I spoke to Keith a few times, he was very good and very honest, and he's excited to get started as well,' Henderson added.
