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This summer is massive for Arsenal football club in their attempts to finally end the two-decade wait for a Premier League title, with the transfer window providing them with a huge opportunity.

Numerous players will need to be sold and brought in to hand manager Mikel Arteta the best possible chance of being a success and completing the overhaul of the first team squad.

The Spaniard has done an excellent job in taking the side from mid-table struggling to title challenges in the five years he’s been in charge at the Emirates.

However, his side have finished second place in each of the last two seasons in England’s top flight, looking set to finish in the same position once again this season.

There’s no denying that key areas are in need of investment to take the side up a notch in 2025/26, with the hierarchy already laying the foundations for various moves in the summer window.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new midfielders this summer

The one midfielder whose name is on the lips of many supporters is that of Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, who’s been a constant target for the Gunners in the last few months.

Arteta’s men tried to land him during the January transfer window, but ran out of time to complete a deal, subsequently needing to wait until the upcoming window to land their target.

It appears they’ve done just that, with new sporting director Andrea Berta confident that the 26-year-old will become his first addition after joining the club after Edu’s departure a couple of months ago.

However, despite the potential incomings, it was confirmed earlier this week that the club were planning on offering Thomas Partey a new deal with his current one set to expire at the end of the campaign.

Whilst the 31-year-old would be a solid squad option in 2025/26, he shouldn’t be a regular starter in Arteta’s side – needing to utilise one player ahead of him at the Emirates.

The Arsenal star who should be ahead of Partey in 2025/26

Declan Rice has been a key player for Arsenal over the last couple of months, single-handedly playing a vital role in their two-legged Champions League quarter-final triumph over defending champions Real Madrid.

His two free kicks in the first leg helped the Gunners boast a three-goal lead ahead of the second leg, whilst producing another Man of the Match showing to seal the deal for the club at the Bernabeu.

The 26-year-old now looks to be a bargain at £105m, but he needs to be partnered by other top-quality talents if they are to go one better and win the title for the first time in over 20 years.

The hierarchy may not need to spend any money on finding a perfect player to play alongside him in the form of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who’s mainly featured at left-back after breaking into the first team.

However, the 18-year-old is a central midfielder by trade, subsequently having the tools to star in such a position – with his stats from the current season backing up his versatility.

The teenager, who’s been labelled “sensational” by former Spurs star Jamie O’Hara, has completed 94% of the passes he’s attempted, at an average of 40 passes per 90 – handing added opportunities to those around him in the process.

He’s also completed 57% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst notching 1.3 touches per 90 in the opposition box, showcasing the impressive talents he has with the ball at his feet.

Myles Lewis-Skelly’s stats for Arsenal in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

19

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

94%

Passes completed per game

40

Dribbles completed

57%

Touches in opposition box

1.3

Tackles won

67%

Duels won

6.3

Stats via FotMob

Lewis-Skelly’s impressive ability doesn’t end there, winning 67% of the tackles he’s entered, and coming out on top of 6.3 duels per 90 – not afraid to put himself about despite his tender age.

The youngster’s performances in 2024/25 have been nothing short of remarkable, having the ability to star in Arteta’s side for many years to come.

He’s already earning rave comparisons, notably similar in style to fellow Hale Ender Jack Wilshere. Like Lewis-Skelly, his ability to evade the press, manipulate the ball in tight areas and dribble, are certainly reminiscent.

However, he should be doing so at the heart of the side alongside Rice, with the boss needing to drop Partey out of the side and utilise him as a bench option with Lewis-Skelly needing a chance to star in midfield.

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It is likely KL Rahul will move up to open, leaving a batting spot in the middle order up for grabs

Nagraj Gollapudi08-May-20252:03

Who replaces Rohit as Test captain?

Other than captaincy, the other immediate impact of Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement is it has created an opening in India’s batting order. It is likely that KL Rahul will take Rohit’s opening slot, and if that happens, it opens up a middle-order slot. ESPNcricinfo looks at the most significant contenders, names that are understood to be pencilled in by the national selectors, who will soon finalise the squad for the five-Test series against England starting June 20.

Dhruv Jurel, 24 years

It was Jurel whom Rohit had replaced in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, having missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child. The solitary batter to impress, both in defence and attack, during the second unofficial Test for India A against Australia A in Melbourne, where he made 80 and 68, Jurel played as a specialist batter at No. 6 in Perth. It would end up being the only Test Jurel played on the tour, making 11 and 1.Related

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While he is set to be picked again as back-up to Rishabh Pant, the Indian selectors have remained confident about Jurel, who has played four Tests, growing into a pure batter ever since he won the Player-of-the-Match award in his second Test, against England on a challenging Ranchi pitch last February.

Karun Nair, 33

How can Nair, who played last of his six Tests in 2017, even be part of this list? While it’s a valid question, you wouldn’t have asked that in case you were following the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, where Nair was among the chief architects in Vidarbha winning their third title. Nair, who was dropped by his home state Karnataka two years ago, moved to Vidarbha ahead of the domestic season in 2023-24 as a professional, and ended last season as the fourth-highest run-getter in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 863 runs in 16 innings at an average of nearly 50, including four centuries.A right-hand middle-order batter, Nair, who scored a triple ton against England in the Chennai Test in 2016-17, has a compact technique, and has vast first-class experience. Nair also featured for Northamptonshire in the Division 1 County Championships over the last two seasons: overall, in 14 innings, he scored 736 runs at an average of 56.61, with two centuries – including an undefeated 202.

B Sai Sudharsan, 23

Regarded as among the most talented batters in the domestic circuit, Sai Sudarsan has been on the fringes of India’s Test set-up for the last two years. Recognised for his temperament and sound technique, the Tamil Nadu left-hand batter bats predominantly in the middle order, although he has played in the top order too. Currently among the leading run-getters in the ongoing IPL 2025, where he’s playing for Gujarat Titans, Sai Sudarsan has also got decent county experience, with two stints with Surrey: first in 2023, and then last year, during which he scored 281 runs in eight innings at an average of 35.13, including 105 in his last match.

Sarfaraz Khan, 27

Last October, Sarfaraz was “fighting” for one middle-sorder slot with Rahul during the home series against England. With an entertaining 150 in the second innings in the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, which featured some unorthodox but bold strokeplay, Sarfaraz retained his spot for the remaining two Tests in that series, while the more experienced Rahul sat out.However, Sarfaraz, who had made his debut against England earlier in 2024 after several successful seasons in domestic cricket, was part of the collective batting failure in the final two Tests of the New Zealand series, failing to go past 11 in four innings. Though he was part of India’s squad for the Australia tour that followed, Sarfaraz, who has played six Tests, failed to get an opportunity and returned home with a single run, which he scored in the tour match against PM’s XI. Since then, though, Sarfaraz has not played any competitive cricket due to a rib injury.

Australia maintain grip on final despite missed chances and careless oversteps

Andrew McGlashan09-Jun-2023Shortly before leaving for this tour of England, Pat Cummins posted a short promotional clip on social media of him bowling in the nets in Sydney. Alongside how the boys were all “buzzing” for the tour, he also wrote: “P.s. Yes I know this is a no ball” as the side-on shot showed him overstepping.There were no consequences on that day, but that was not the case at The Oval a few weeks later. Cummins cost himself two lbw decisions that were given on the field – against Ajinkya Rahane on the second day and Shardul Thakur on the third – with replays also showing an appeal that was aborted against Ravindra Jadeja due to a no-ball call would also have been out if given or reviewed.There was plenty of threat in the 20 overs from Cummins but it was an unusually messy performance from him. Moments after the Thakur decision had been scrubbed off, followed by a wasted review when the ball hadn’t been nicked, he kicked the ball past the stumps at the end of the opening session, even though Mitchell Starc later claimed there had been no frustration, he just spotted the batter out of his crease.Either way, the errors were not just Cummins’. Early in the day as he was working Thakur over with some brutal short deliveries, Cameron Green spilled a regulation chance at gully. David Warner was later unable to hold an edge high to his left at first slip off Rahane, perhaps distracted by Alex Carey’s initial movement.For Green, though, redemption came in stunning fashion when he pulled off an unbelievable grab to end Rahane’s hopes of a comeback century, using all his reach and reflexes to pluck the chance high to his right. There might have been a few apologies in the subsequent celebratory huddle; Green for his previous lapse and Cummins for his misplaced boot.”We made a bit of a meal of it in the morning but I thought our bowlers were exceptional after lunch, after we addressed that we were quite poor,” Marnus Labuschagne told . “Not much needed to be said. Pat just addressed it, said we weren’t good enough and we’ve all played enough cricket to know that was fair.”Cummins told his side that hadn’t been good enough in a lacklustre morning session•ICC/Getty ImagesCummins has never had the reputation of someone with a significant no-ball problem, although like a number of bowlers, he has been called much more frequently since the advent of the automated front-foot technology which has taken the job away from the on-field umpires.The six no-balls he was called for here was the most he has served up in any international innings. Ricky Ponting largely put it down to having not played since the end of February when he left the tour of India early. It would be interesting to know how many uncalled no-balls Cummins (and the other Australian quicks) sent down during their training days in Liverpool and Beckenham.Still, Cummins being the champion cricketer that he is, still ended up having a significant impact on India’s innings, having pinned Rohit Sharma lbw the previous day then cleaning up Umesh Yadav after Green’s wonder catch. However, his economy rate of 4.15 made this his most expensive outing in Test cricket where he had sent down more than eight overs.”We all came into the game feeling pretty good,” Starc said. “Obviously the game-time rhythm is a little bit different so we all struggled slightly yesterday, think we felt a bit better today. The fact we’ve still taken 10 wickets and created more than 10 chances throughout the first innings is a good sign but we’ve got plenty of room to improve. We’ll be better for the run.”Related

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Without wanting to move on too quickly from what is a World Championship final, the other interesting aspect to what was a rather lacklustre period of cricket from Australia before lunch is how they responded to the counterattack of Rahane and Thakur. In case you had not clocked it yet, they are about to come up against Bazball. “I’m intrigued to see how it goes against our bowlers, I’ve said that all along,” Steven Smith said the previous evening.As India’s seventh-wicket stand rollicked along at more than five an over, it was likely a little preview of what the next seven weeks will have in store for Australia’s attack. They may very well be good enough to counter the aggression – this is a bowling group that ticks almost every box and will likely leave out either Josh Hazlewood or Scott Boland at Edgbaston – but there was still a sense that they had been knocked a little off course.Early in the tour, assistant coach Daniel Vettori had been asked about the challenge posed by England’s batters. He cited an example of an innings from Niroshan Dickwella last year in Galle which put the pressure back on Australia’s bowlers who had been in control.”For us as a bowling group … that is one of the key points, we can’t allow that to happen,” Vettori said. “The game gets away from you quickly, even though you think you are on top and I think that is why England are so good.”In Galle, Australia regained control and later won the match, and at The Oval it never felt their grip on the contest was completely loosened. An Australia win seems very likely. But that pre-lunch period was a reminder that keeping calm will be key in the weeks to come.

All the statistical highlights from the five-match Women’s ODI series

Sampath Bandarupalli18-Mar-20216 Consecutive ODI series won by India Women before the 1-4 loss against South Africa Women. The streak of six consecutive series wins was the longest for India Women in the format, where they won 13 of the 18 matches played. The series defeat against South Africa was just the sixth instance of India Women losing a bilateral ODI series at home.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 ODI series in women’s cricket with five or more matches before this one between India and South Africa where the chasing team won all the games. The series between New Zealand and England in 2000 witnessed all five ODIs won by the chasing team; another series between the same teams in 2010 ended in the same manner.ESPNcricinfo Ltd53.15 Bowling average of Indian spinners in the series against South Africa, their worst in a Women’s ODI series/tournament where they bowled 100 or more overs. The bowling strike rate of 70.7 by the Indian spinners in the five-match ODI series is also their worst in a series/tournament of this format.1 Mithali Raj became the first player to complete 7000 runs in women’s ODIs. No other player has breached the 6000-run milestone even. During this series, Raj also became just the second player after Charlotte Edwards (10273) to complete 10000 runs in women’s international cricket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 Centuries by Lizelle Lee in ODI cricket, the most by any player for South Africa Women in this format. Lee’s unbeaten 132 in the third match of the series was the third-highest ODI score for her team, and the fourth-highest individual score in a Women’s ODI chase.10 successive fifty-plus scores for Smriti Mandhana in an ODI chase since the start of 2018. She is the first player to accomplish this feat. In all, she scored 743 runs at an average of 123.83 in those ten ODI chases.ESPNcricinfo Ltd150 Wickets taken by Shabnim Ismail in her ODI career, the first South African and the seventh player with 150-plus wickets in women’s ODIs. Ismail completed the milestone in the fourth ODI, which was her 105th match of the format. Only Cathryn Fitzpatrick (91) reached 150 women’s ODI wickets quicker than Ismail.4 Fifty-plus scores by South Africa’s top four batters in the fourth ODI. It was only the second instance in Women’s ODI cricket where players batting in the top four positions scored 50-plus runs in the same innings. The South African team also created the first instance of four players scoring 50-plus runs in a women’s ODI chase.ESPNcricinfo Ltd62.6 Bowling strike rate of spin bowlers during this five-match ODI series, the worst in any women’s ODI series/tournament wherever they bowled at least 150 overs. The Indian spinners picked up 13 wickets at a strike rate of 70.7, while the visitors claimed six wickets, with each one coming every 45 balls.0 Players older than Raj and Jhulan Goswami (38) to represent India in a women’s ODI game. They take over from Diana Edulji who was 37 years and 184 days old when she played her last game in 1993.68 Runs conceded by Radha Yadav, the second-most by any player on Women’s ODI debut. Cara Murray of Ireland gave away 119 runs on her ODI debut against New Zealand in 2018.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl got off to the worst possible start in charge of the Ibrox giants with a 3-0 defeat to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The Light Blues boss arrived at the club earlier this week to replace Russell Martin in the dugout and got a firsthand look at the issues that have plagued the season so far.

Three avoidable goals were conceded, only one ‘big chance’ was created, no goals were scored. Rohl will be struggling to come up with positives to take away from the game, beyond the performance of Jack Butland.

Why Jack Butland is already undroppable for Danny Rohl

The former England international showed his class against Brann, in spite of the result, with some excellent work between the sticks to help his side out.

Butland made an excellent early save down to his right after Nasser Djiga was caught out, but had no chance for the opening goal that was converted from close range.

Per Sofascore, the experienced shot-stopper completed all three of his run-outs, which shows that he was proactive in sweeping up behind his defenders to prevent the hosts from creating even more chances.

Despite conceding three goals, Butland only conceded 0.45 more than expected, per Sofascore. This means that there was little more that he could have done to affect the result.

Whilst Butland may already be undroppable for Rohl, because of his strong display in the loss, Joe Rothwell is one of the players who should be immediately dropped.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Joe Rothwell

The German tactician should immediately drop the central midfielder from the starting line-up because the Russell Martin signing failed to impose himself on the game in midfield.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

As aforementioned, Rangers were too easy to create chances against and they did not create enough quality chances of their own to get back into the game.

Rothwell’s performance played a part in their struggles in and out of possession, as the experienced Englishman offered little to the team aside from composure in his passing game.

Minutes

64

Pass accuracy

93%

Accurate long passes

1

Dribbles completed

0

Key passes

0

Big chances created

0

Tackles attempted

0

Duels won

0/2

As you can see in the table above, the central midfielder did not create any chances for his teammates in 64 minutes on the pitch, and he failed to win a single duel in the middle of the park.

These statistics show that the summer signing from Bournemouth did not get about the field to disrupt the opposition, who strolled to a 3-0 win, and he did not show enough creativity in his use of the ball to drag Rangers back into the match.

Rothwell had fewer touches (31) than Butland (48) did between the sticks, per Sofascore, which further speaks to the lack of influence that the 30-year-old midfielder had for the Light Blues.

Rohl, therefore, should brutally ditch the central midfielder from the starting XI ahead of the club’s trip to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, because he did not show enough on or off the ball.

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It is a concerning trend for Rothwell, signed by Martin, because he has also lost 54% of his ground duels and assisted one goal in eight appearances in the Premiership, which shows that he has not been outstanding domestically or in Europe.

The 30-year-old midfielder may need to show Rohl more, on and off the ball, to prove to the manager that he deserves a regular place in the starting line-up.

Chelsea have made an approach to sign a Premier League star, and it happened right after they lost against his side in the top flight.

Chelsea look to arrest recent slide with Everton win

The west Londoners desperately need to rediscover their winning formula when they welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, with their title charge now unraveling.

Enzo Maresca’s side have endured a torrid spell recently, failing to taste victory in their last four games across all competitions.

This dismal run has seen them tumble to fifth in the Premier League, now eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal in what appears an increasingly forlorn title pursuit.

Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat against Atalanta was particularly damaging, leaving Chelsea 11th in the European competition’s league phase and facing an uphill battle to secure automatic qualification to the last 16.

They also lost 3-1 to Leeds at the start of December and followed that up with a frustrating goalless stalemate at Bournemouth.

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Maresca has attracted criticism for excessive squad rotation, making more changes than any other manager in the Premier League throughout 2025/2026.

More worryingly, no top flight side has squandered more points from winning positions at home this season than Chelsea’s eight, and Everton travel to London in a very good mood.

The Toffees have won four out of their last five matches, keeping clean sheets in all of those games, and a first win at Stamford Bridge since the 1990s would allow them to leapfrog Chelsea in the table.

Nothing but all three points will do for Maresca and co as they look to end what has been a memorable 2025 on a high.

Away from the pitch, Chelsea are being linked with a host of players ahead of 2026 and the January transfer window, with Sunderland star Noah Sadiki now attracting their interest.

Chelsea make 'direct contact' for Sunderland star Noah Sadiki

The versatile 20-year-old has been a key player for Regis Le Bris’ side as they make a fairytale start to their first season back in the Premier League for eight years.

Sadiki is a mainstay for this year’s surprise package, starting all 15 of their games so far, and he put in an excellent performance at Stamford Bridge back in October.

The Black Cats ran out 2-1 winners over Chelsea in west London, and Sadiki’s performance motivated BlueCo to ‘immediately’ inquire Sunderland over his availability.

That is according to Sky Sports Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, who also explained via X that Chelsea are now in ‘direct contact’ to sign Sadiki ahead of January.

The Belgian made over 40 appearances for Union Saint-Gilloise last season and helped them win their first Jupiler Pro League title in 90 years, with Sadiki now taking to England like a duck to water.

Le Bris lavished praise on the young midfielder right after snapping him up from USG, calling him a ‘rare’ talent, and this is clearly showing now.

Young, versatile and in fantastic form, Sadiki ticks a lot of boxes for Chelsea, and he could be an excellent alternative to the constantly-injured Roméo Lavia in the middle of the park.

Tottenham Hotspur have now submitted a £62m opening offer for Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, and they are confident a deal will be finalized soon.

Spurs are now stepping up their pursuit of a new forward, amid doubts over the capabilities of some of Thomas Frank’s current attacking options, with Jamie O’Hara particularly scathing of the frontline after the 1-0 defeat at home against Chelsea earlier this season.

The former midfielder said: “We’ve got a garbage team – going forward at home at the minute is absolutely terrible. “We’ve spent £60m on Xavi Simons, £60m on Richarlison, £60m on Ndombele. The money we spend on some players… our recruitment is an absolute disgrace.”

Not only that, but Dominic Solanke has been unable to overcome his persistent injury problems, with the striker missing 15 Spurs games already this season due to an ankle issue, and Mathys Tel has scored just two Premier League goals so far this season in the Englishman’s absence.

The Lilywhites need goals from somewhere if they are going to push for the Champions League places this season, and they have now made their first move to sign a new forward…

Tottenham submit opening offer for Athletic Club star Nico Williams

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham have now submitted a €70m (£62m) opening offer for Athletic Club forward Williams, matching the bid made by London rivals Chelsea, with both clubs confident they will be able to finalize a deal soon.

The 23-year-old’s future at the Spanish club is now up in the air, with Spurs looking to triple his salary, having emerged as serious contenders for the winger’s signature, given that he is viewed as a perfect fit for their forward line.

The north Londoners are trying to get a deal done in the January transfer window, and there is every indication the Athletic Club star could be a real difference-maker in their bid to secure Champions League football for the second season running.

Perhaps the Spaniard’s most impressive attribute is his dribbling, averaging 3.33 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 99th percentile, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers, while also ranking in the 90th percentile for progressive carries.

Lauded as “world-class” by journalist Zach Lowy, the 30-time Spain international has also made a promising start to the season in La Liga, chipping in with two goals and two assists in nine matches for Athletic Club.

With a number of Tottenham’s current attackers struggling, including Simons, who is yet to score since making the move to north London, bringing in a new winger in January might be necessary, and Williams has proven he could be an excellent addition to Frank’s squad.

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The Atlanta Braves are off to a slow start to the 2025 MLB season, having won just two of their first 11 games, but reinforcements could be arriving soon.

Former All-Star starting pitcher Spencer Strider was making a rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday and he was absolutely dialed in on the mound. Strider threw 90 pitches across 5 1/3 innings and struck out 13 of the 21 batters he faced in the game. He ended up surrendering one run on three hits and walking two batters while fanning 13 in a dominant outing in the minors.

It's possible that will be Strider's final ramp-up game ahead of his season debut for the Braves, who are in dire need of a boost on the mound.

In 2024, Strider threw just nine innings before being shut down and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was one of MLB's best pitchers in 2023, racking up 20 wins and striking out a league-high 281 batters across 186 2/3 innings. He maintained a solid 3.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 32 starts.

A few weeks into the 2025 season, Braves starters not named Spencer Schwellenbach have struggled, including reigning Cy Young Chris Sale. Apart from Schwellenbach, no one in the starting rotation has an ERA below 4.00.

Getting Strider back will be crucial for Atlanta as they look to curb their poor start and get back on track to push for the postseason. Based on his latest outing at Triple-A Gwinnett, he looks more than ready to get back to facing big-league hitters.

Ryan Reynolds has praised Wrexham’s “heart” after the club’s impressive rise continued with a determined 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic. Josh Windass’ penalty extended the Red Dragons’ unbeaten run to five matches and lifted them to 13th in the Championship, just four points off the play-off spots, capping off a strong turnaround that has left the Hollywood co-owner beaming with pride.

• Reynolds praises Wrexham as they extend unbeaten run

  Wrexham continued their impressive surge up the Championship table with a 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic, further cementing their place as one of the division’s most inspiring stories. The decisive moment came in the 77th minute when substitute Onel Hernandez was penalised for handball, allowing Josh Windass to calmly convert from the penalty spot for his fifth goal of the season. The goal was enough to secure Wrexham’s third consecutive home win and fifth match unbeaten in the league.

  The result carried even more significance given the quick turnaround from a midweek fixture against Portsmouth, where Wrexham had ground out a gritty draw. Despite the fatigue, Phil Parkinson’s side maintained their energy and resilience, keeping Charlton’s attacking threats largely quiet. It was another display of maturity from a squad that had once looked out of its depth early in the campaign but now appears to be growing stronger with each passing week.

  The atmosphere inside the Racecourse Ground was electric once again, with fans fully embracing their side’s newfound confidence. The energy in the stands, mirrored by the team’s intensity on the pitch, reflected a club that has rediscovered its belief at home. The full-time whistle was met with jubilant scenes, while Ryan Reynolds’ short Instagram post — “This Town. This heart. Forever.” — summed up the pride that has defined Wrexham’s remarkable rise.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Intensity' key to Wrexham's return to form in the Championship

  Wrexham’s resurgence has come at a good time. From a nervy start to life back in the Championship — their first appearance in the second tier since 1982 — to now sitting four points off the play-offs, the Red Dragons’ transformation has been a testament to patience, structure, and spirit. The early-season growing pains, marked by defensive errors and narrow defeats, have given way to a side that plays with organisation, confidence, and self-belief.

  As Parkinson put it, the “intensity” has returned — a feeling long associated with Wrexham’s ascent through the divisions. The Wrexham boss said:  "I think the atmosphere now and the feeling in the stadium is what we've been used to. Those early games, we didn't quite create that intensity in our play. We had some really good periods in all those games but we got punished in key moments.

  "The Oxford game, I thought the support was great. Coventry was special and today, what an atmosphere. We've always spoke about making this place difficult for the opposition to play and I think we've got it where we need it to be, and we've got to keep it there. That comes with the supporters obviously playing their part like they've done so well today, but also the manner of the performance, the physicality.

  "I think Issa Kabore kind of typifies that really in his fighting spirit and the defenders winning headers when they needed to and playing with that physicality, and teams know if they come to Wrexham, they're in for a tough afternoon." 

• Wrexham's remarkable story from non-league to Championship

  Wrexham’s return to the Championship marks one of football’s most remarkable modern success stories — a story written not only through investment but through culture. Since Reynolds and Rob Mac took ownership in 2021, the club has undergone a complete transformation, combining Hollywood ambition with genuine community spirit. What began as a bold experiment has evolved into a model of sustainable growth, media influence, and sporting ambition.

  The documentary Welcome to Wrexham introduced the club to global audiences, but it’s their on-field progress that continues to astound. Three consecutive promotions — from the National League to the Championship — were achieved through smart recruitment, shrewd management, and the unwavering backing of the fanbase.

  Financial investment from the owners has undoubtedly been key, with improved training facilities, global sponsorships, and Racecourse Ground redevelopment projects all elevating the club’s infrastructure. Yet, beyond the money, Reynolds and Mac’s genuine emotional connection to Wrexham remains the defining factor.

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  Wrexham will look to maintain form after the break

  Wrexham enter the international break sitting comfortably in 13th place. Phil Parkinson will use the next fortnight to rest key players and prepare for a challenging run of fixtures, beginning with a trip to Ipswich Town on November 22. Maintaining this momentum could turn a season of survival into one of genuine promotion contention.

  For Reynolds and Mac, the latest chapter in Wrexham’s journey is further vindication of their long-term vision. The club’s trajectory continues to defy expectation, with performances on the pitch matching the ambition off it.

Glasgow Rangers are currently on the lookout for a new head coach at Ibrox after they decided to part ways with Russell Martin on Sunday night.

The Rangers board finally made the decision to sack the former Scotland international after a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premiership, which left the Gers in eighth place in the division.

Martin only won five of his 17 competitive games in charge of Rangers, including one win in the Premiership, and he cannot have many, if any, complaints with this decision.

Now that Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell have made this call, the Ibrox chiefs must come together to make a successful appointment that will get the supporters back onside.

Title-winning boss is interested in Rangers job

Rangers are a massive club that represents a significant opportunity for numerous managers, due to their history and fan base, which means that there will be plenty of candidates vying for the job.

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This is evidenced by journalist Ben Jacobs reporting that Dutch head coach Mark van Bommel is “interested” in replacing Martin in the dugout at Ibrox.

The Dutchman, who favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, has been out of work since he moved on from Belgian side Royal Antwerp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that the club would not have to pay out any compensation to bring him in.

Jacobs adds that van Bommel was one of the managers who was approached by the club before Martin got the job this summer. This means that he is on their radar and could be an option once again.

If the Light Blues do opt to go back in for the former Royal Antwerp head coach, he could be a repeat of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, which may not be a bad thing.

Why Mark van Bommel could be Giovanni van Bronckhorst 2.0 for Rangers

Since Steven Gerrard left Ibrox to join Aston Villa in 2021, van Bronckhorst has been the most successful Rangers manager. He won the SFA Cup and reached the final of the Europa League.

Barry Ferguson, Michael Beale, and Russell Martin failed to win any trophies. Philippe Clement won the League Cup but did not have the success in Europe that the Dutchman did.

Prior to replacing Gerrard at Ibrox, van Bronckhorst had won the Eredivisie title and two League Cups during his time with Feyenoord in the Netherlands, and he used that winning mentality to win a trophy and come within a couple of penalties away from winning a European trophy.

Eredivisie title (16/17)

Belgian Pro League title (22/23)

Dutch League Cup (17/18)

Belgian Super Cup (23/24)

Dutch League Cup (15/16)

Belgian League Cup (22/23)

Dutch Super Cup (18/19)

Dutch Super Cup (17/18)

As you can see in the table above, van Bommel’s managerial success is not drastically different to van Bronckhorst’s before his move to Rangers in 2021.

The former Royal Antwerp head coach has won a league title in his career, in the 2022/23 campaign, and won two other trophies with the club before his exit in the summer of 2024.

This means that the Light Blues would be bringing in a manager who knows how to win trophies, a league title specifically, and could instill a winning mentality into the current team, that had been managed by a head coach in Martin who has never won a league title in his managerial career.

Rangers should be winning trophies, including titles, and they may need to appoint a proven winner to do that, which is why van Bommel could be an interesting option to turn to.

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