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The Golden Boy Award was established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 and is considered one of the most prestigious accolades a young footballer can win.

The prize is awarded to the best under-21 player based on the continent. Most players have gone on to have illustrious careers, while others have underwhelmed.

Football FanCast has taken a trip down memory lane to revisit the previous 20 winners of the illustrious accolade, which crowns Europe’s most promising talent, in the hope of foreshadowing the next Ballon d’Or winner.

There are a few surprises…

Rafael van der Vaart – 2003

Admittedly, we raised our eyebrows at this one…

The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Rafael van der Vaart, was a fantastic player but who knew he was held in such high regard as a youngster?

The then-20-year-old became the inaugural award winner in 2003 following a stellar campaign with Ajax, which saw him net 22 goals across 30 appearances – a truly astounding goal return from a midfielder.

Whilst the Dutchman didn’t quite reach the level many expected of him, he still racked up a remarkable 109 caps for his nation and enjoyed a fruitful two-year spell in the Premier League.

It’s also important to note, that Van der Vaart made 73 appearances for Real Madrid, which is arguably the pinnacle of a footballer’s career.

So he didn’t do too badly…

Wayne Rooney – 2004

No surprises with this one…

We all knew Wayne Rooney was once tipped to become a legend of the game, and he achieved virtually everything asked of him, becoming the Three Lions and Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer.

But, there will always be some who question; did he underachieve in his career? Many expected the former Everton and United forward to become the best player in the world, winning accolades such as the Ballon d’Or, but he never quite reached those heights, at least not for a sustained period.

Notwithstanding that, for what it’s worth, we think he’s England’s greatest-ever player.

Lionel Messi – 2005

Needless to say, Lionel Messi achieved everything expected of him and beyond.

The Argentinian is widely considered as the greatest footballer of all time and that mantle only solidified after guiding his nation to a World Cup triumph last year, winning the Golden Ball award in the process.

The 36-year-old now plies his trade in MLS with David Beckham’s newly formed Inter Miami.

Cesc Fàbregas – 2006

Cesc Fabregas wouldn’t be too far off an all-time Premier League XI…

The Spaniard was just 19 years old when he collected the Golden Boy award, but quite remarkably, was already approaching 100 appearances in England’s top flight.

Read more: Cesc Fabregas’ greatest moments – ranked

The classy midfielder proceeded to enjoy a marvellous, trophy-laden career at the highest level, reaching the pinnacle of football by winning the World Cup in 2010.

Having surpassed over 100 caps for his nation, and won nearly every trophy imaginable – other than the elusive Champions League – it’s fair to say, that Fábregas lived up to his early promise.

Sergio Agüero – 2007

Argentine forward Sergio Aguero won the prestigious accolade after winning the Under-20 World Cup, where he was crowned as top scorer with six goals.

His prolific goal record continued at club level with Atletico Madrid, scoring a whopping 27 goals across the 2007/08 season.

July 2011 saw him depart the Spanish giants in favour of a move to Manchester City, where he established himself as one the greatest players of his generation.

Agüero certainly fulfilled the Golden Boy mantle.

Anderson – 2008

Anderson joined Manchester United in a mega-money move from Porto in 2007 and enjoyed a fruitful debut season, winning the Premier League.

However, having won the Golden Boy Award in 2008, it never really propelled his career and he began to slip down a steady decline, despite being so young.

2019 saw the Brazillian retire and hang his boots up for good, aged just 31, after spells back in his home nation and Turkey following his 2015 United exit.

Despite failing to live up to initial expectations, Anderson enjoyed a trophy-laden career, which many would be envious of.

Alexandre Pato – 2009

Alexandre Pato was tipped to become the world’s best player when he emerged as a promising centre-forward at Milan. And winning the Golden Boy award only solidified those hopes, but after four successive seasons as one of Milan’s leading goalscorers, his form plummeted.

Pato, speaking to the Players’ Tribune earlier this year, spoke candidly about why he underachieved: “Man … those were the days I thought I’d make it to the very top. The expectations were so great, you know? I was the super talent, the sure thing.

“I was already playing for Brazil. The press writes about you, the fans talk about you, even other players hype you up. PATO WILL BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. PATO WILL WIN THE BALLON D’OR. I loved the attention. I wanted to be talked about.

“But you know what happened? I began dreaming too much. Even though I was still working hard, my imagination was taking me all kinds of places. In my head, I was already holding the Ballon d’Or. You can’t help it, man. It’s very hard not to get affected.

“Also, I had suffered like hell to get there. Why should I not enjoy it? When I became the Golden Boy as the best young player in Europe, in 2009, I didn’t think about the Ballon d’Or. I was just having fun and OPA! — a prize. I was unstoppable when I was living in the present. But my head got stuck in the future.”

Mario Balotelli – 2010

Italian forward Mario Balotelli was a chaotic character to say the least, notwithstanding that, he was also a highly regarded youngster who was tipped to claim the Ballon d’Or.

2010 saw the then-Manchester City striker collect the Golden Boy award but his early promise was never really fulfilled and he now plies his trade in Turkey with Adana Demirspor, aged 33.

Speaking on the Muschio Selvaggio Podcast, Balotelli claimed that ‘too often’ he played at 20% of his capabilities.

Mario Götze – 2011

Mario Götze is another who struggled to reach the lofty heights expected of him, though, injuries amongst other factors certainly played a part in his unfulfilled potential.

Now aged 31, the German is back in his home nation with Eintracht Frankfurt after a two-year spell at PSV, where he netted 18 times in 77 appearances.

Götze’s career highlight will certainly live long in the memories of German fans, as he netted the winner in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.

Isco – 2012

Isco played a pivotal role in Malaga’s 2011/12 Champions League quarter-final campaign and was the jewel of Spain’s Under-21 side leading up to the prestigious award ceremony.

The Spaniard would earn a £23m switch to LaLiga giants Real Madrid a year later, where he continued to establish himself as one of Europe’s brightest prospects.

Whilst he did enjoy a glittering nine-year stay in Madrid, many would argue he didn’t maximise his full potential.

Newcastle United have taken great strides toward true prominence at the front of the European game since the PIF club takeover two years ago, and have in fact gone from relegation battlers to Champions League contenders in that timeframe.

Pretty impressive, and while the surface view highlights the newfound monetary power as the foundation of the success, and while this may be the case, the diligence and precision demonstrated has been the true framework allowing St. James' Park to rise again.

Acquisitions such as Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Pope have been nothing short of emphatic, evidence of technical director Dan Ashworth's intelligence and Eddie Howe's aptitude in imparting his excellent tactical knowledge on the ambitious squad.

Having indeed qualified for the Champions League with a top four Premier League finish last season, the Magpies are in good stead to secure a European spot once again, having cast aside the slow start to the season and enjoying some statement victories over Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain over the past few weeks.

At the centre of the exploits is a healthy homegrown facet to the fold, with energetic Sean Longstaff, wily Dan Burn and burgeoning Elliot Anderson all playing an important role – the latter growing into his skin in what tantalises to be an impressive breakout year.

Candidly, Newcastle's academy has not been up to scratch over the past few years, minnowed by the profusion of talent blooming from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur; franker still, it is important that emphasis is placed on improving the youth ranks to provide Newcastle with the bedrock that rivals perch upon.

The table illustrates how far the Toon formative fold has been from the desired standard over contemporary times; having utterly failed to produce a flow of potential, this has been emblematic of the club's struggles under erstwhile owner Mike Ashley.

But, promisingly, the three players with the highest valuations all serve under Howe's stewardship, while Lewis Miley, aged just 17, will continue to make improvements to his craft and is considered a "brilliant" talent by the Chronicle's Lee Ryder.

The new wave doesn't stop there though, moves have been made to raise the bar in the Tyneside formative fold, with sights set on building a project capable of rivalling the goliaths of English youth football.

One player who could play a role as big as Miley's over the coming years is Alex Murphy, who was signed after the lucrative takeover and is held in high regard.

Who is Alex Murphy?

Irishman Murphy joined Newcastle from his homeland side Galway United in June 2022 before his 18th birthday, and he has since been making commendable progress in his development.

Upon the acquisition, Steve Harper, Newcastle United's Academy manager, said: "We are very pleased to have secured a deal to bring Alex to Newcastle United.

"He is a very promising young player who has attracted a lot of attention from clubs. It is a real coup for our Academy and is testament to the direction the club is going in under our owners."

He has now made 21 appearances for the U21s after forging 32 matches for Galway, scoring two goals and supplying four assists.

And while he only completed 15 starts in the Premier League 2 across the 2022/23 campaign, almost exclusively featured as a centre-half, he has started the current term on the left side of the backline.

Such versatility sets Murphy up to succeed Dan Burn, who is traditionally a centre-back but had been utilised, to great effect, on the left, surpassing Matt Targett in the role.

Burn, aged 31, is one of the rare instances of the old youth fold succeeding at St. James' Park, and while he only joined Newcastle in January 2021, moving from Brighton & Hove Albion for £13m, he is now comfortably ensconced at the centre of Howe's plans.

Now 19 years old, Murphy is still awaiting his first-team debut but has been praised for his “impressive” start by journalist Mark Carruthers, and he could now make the strides to wedging his way into shining senior action.

How good could Alex Murphy become?

It is crucial to remember that progress, development and improvements are not linear in football, such things are distinctive to a particular player.

Miley, for instance, made his debut against Chelsea last season and started in the Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City last month; he is yet to turn 18.

Anderson, however, only broke into the Newcastle first-team last term, having turned 20 last November, and even then he only made three Premier League starts all season. This year, he already has four to his name.

Described as a "big-game player" by Howe, Anderson is crisp and calculated in possession, creative with his distribution, and inventive in his forward movements.

The £30k-per-week gem is evidence of the new surge of quality emanating from Tyneside, and while he is still growing into his skin, he has left teammates such as Trippier calling him "unbelievable" after a focal role throughout pre-season.

Murphy must be handed similar time to forge his path, and given that Jamal Lascelles, Paul Dummett and Fabian Schar are all within the final year of their contracts with Newcastle, talented youngsters such as Murphy could be pivotal in bolstering the squad with a blend of experience and youthful exuberance.

Murphy is on a lower rung of the ladder, but he boasts the quality and skills to thrive in the future, and given the opportunity, there is no reason why he won't work his way into the very core of Howe's first-team plans.

Ashley Cole picked Cristiano Ronaldo as the toughest opponent he ever face after being inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame.

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• Cole becomes the first inductee to 2024 PL Hall of Fame
• Named Ronaldo as the toughest opponent of his career
• Gave him nightmares on the pitch

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Monday, the Premier League announced that the former Arsenal and Chelsea star is the first inductee into the 2024 Premier League Hall of Fame. After receiving the honour, Cole revealed that Portuguese great Ronaldo is the toughest opponent he has ever faced in his career.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cole described the Al-Nassr star as a complete footballer and revealed how the ex-United winger quickly adjusted to the English top-tier football after coming as a youngster from Sporting CP. The English full-back also claimed that the Portuguese gave him nightmares on the pitch.

• WHAT ASHLEY COLE SAID

  Speaking about Ronaldo, Cole said, "Over the years, Cristiano Ronaldo and I had some mighty battles and we have a mutual respect for each other. He came to the Premier League as a little bit of an unknown, but he soon understood what it took to be a top player. He was willing to learn and adapt. He wanted to be the best player in the world and became a machine.

  "He had everything. He could dribble, he could sprint behind, he could leap and jump and head a ball, he could go inside, he could go outside. So I say he always gave me nightmares, but you try to work each other out and we got the best of each other at times. Whenever I hear his name or see his face, I always think of when he made me do the splits! [in 2003/04, Ronaldo’s first Premier League season]"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

  The 39-year-old has joined the Portugal squad after sitting out for the Sweden clash last week. He will next play against Slovenia in an international friendly on Tuesday.

Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard has come in for more criticism from FC Seoul boss Kim Gi-dong.

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• Lingard struggling to make impact at FC Seoul
• Comes in for brutal criticism from manager
• Currently struggling with knee injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lingard sealed a shock move to FC Seoul in February but has been struggling to impress his manager who has already criticised his work rate in his brief time at the club. The former Red Devils has now come in for a fresh blast from the Seoul boss who has cast doubt on his future at the club.

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• WHAT KIM SAID

  Kim said: "I've been thinking a lot about removing Jesse. I don't think a player who doesn't run for a few minutes is a football player. If he doesn't fight, and doesn't run better than the player who runs for 90 minutes?"

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lingard is yet to have much of an impact at the club following his move. He's made only three substitute appearances and has yet to manage a single goal or an assist, although he does have two yellow cards to his name already. FC Seoul currently sit in seventh place in the table after four games and have won just one match so far this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD

  Lingard clearly has work to do to convince his manager of his qualities. He is currently struggling with a knee injury which could rule him out of FC Seoul's next game against Gimcheon Sangmu on April 3.

West Ham United and manager David Moyes are said to be keeping tabs on "extraordinary" striker as Michail Antonio's future remains up in the air.

Who could West Ham sign next?

It was a productive summer transfer window for sporting director Mark Noble and technical transfer chief Tim Steidten, who managed to bring in James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus for a total of around £134 million. Ward-Prowse in particular has gone to impress under Moyes, but the state of West Ham's current squad means they may need to dip back into the market.

Tomas Soucek, Pablo Fornals, Ben Johnson, Vladimir Coufal, Antonio, Conor Coventry, Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski and Angelo Ogbonna are all out of contract next year as things stand (Transfermarkt), while there is some uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma. As a result, West Ham are believed to be eyeing up a new defender, with Bayer Levekusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Man United centre-back Harry Maguire linked most recently.

The need for a new striker is also pretty prevalent, as Antonio's age and contract situation don't exactly make him a prime candidate to lead the line for Moyes in future seasons. There is also little faith in alternative option Danny Ings, who has played just 37 minutes in the Premier League so far this term.

Will West Ham replace Michail Antonio?

Reports suggest that West Ham could opt to replace Antonio soon, with Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy among the prime candidates. The Guinea striker, before his recent hamstring injury, started the Bundesliga season in scintillating form; scoring 14 goals in eight German top flight matches. However, he isn't the only option, as Dean Jones writes for TEAMtalk.

Sharing an Adam Hlozek transfer update, the reporter claims that Bayer Leverkusen's striker has found his way on to the West Ham target list as a possible Antonio replacement. It is believed Moyes and co are weighing up the possibility of signing a new forward, as Antonio's future is indeed in doubt. They did attempt to bring in the likes of Hugo Ekitike from PSG and Yuri Alberto from Corinthians in the summer, only for those prospective moves to fall through.

West Ham do have the option to extend Antonio's stay by another 12 months, but may need to consider the future, and we think Hlozek is an interesting option. The Czech Republic international, who would join a Czech contingent at West Ham made up of Coufal and Soucek (if they don't leave next year), has notched a goal and assist in the extremely limited game time he's had this season.

This isn't the first time Moyes has been considering a move for him, either, as 2021 reports claimed West Ham had held lengthy talks over signing him from Sparta Prague (90min).

"Adam is an extraordinary player," said agent Pavel Paska two years ago.

"Despite the injury he had an excellent season, he was able to make his mark even in matches at the European level. That's why I didn't really understand why he wasn't nominated for the match against Denmark, I can't think of any explanation for that decision."

Although their recent defeat left them incredibly frustrated, Arsenal should be pleased with the start they’ve made in the Premier League this season. The Gunners laid down a marker by overcoming Manchester City at The Emirates a few weeks ago and have continued their pursuit of English football’s ultimate silverware ever since.

They’ll face their first test of character following the Newcastle defeat, however, and Mikel Arteta will hope to see his side show signs of champions rather than the all too familiar sign that the wheels are beginning to fall off of their title charge this early on. Meanwhile, off the pitch, the North London side are enjoying a solid season and are set to secure yet another star player’s future at the club.

Arsenal contract news

Over the last year or so, we’ve seen a new side to Arsenal away from The Emirates. This is no longer a club who are forced to roll over and sell their best players; a club that has said goodbye to the likes of Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry, Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas to seemingly bigger clubs in the past. Instead, what we see now is a club capable of keeping hold of their stars whilst poaching others from elsewhere.

Continuing that trend, according to Football Insider, Arsenal have offered Ben White a new deal at the club, which would result in a pay rise. White’s wages, as things stand, sit at a whopping £120k per-week. A new deal would see that number increase, however, as the defender looks to extend his stay at Arsenal beyond 2026 when his current contract expires. Talks are reportedly progressing well and the former Brighton & Hove Albion man could officially put pen to paper in the coming months as a result.

“Outstanding” Ben White set to be rewarded

When White arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2021, it was difficult to know just how he’d perform for the Gunners. He impressed at both Leeds United and Brighton, but this was still a struggling Arsenal side at the time in an environment that could quickly become difficult for most players.

Two years on, any doubts over White’s ability have been completely squashed after the defender quickly became somewhat of a revelation in an unexpected right-back role. White’s stats prove that he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down this season, either.

Showered in praise as a result of his Arsenal performances, Kevin Campbell told the Highbury Squad YouTube channel when talking about White: “That just shows the trajectory of Ben White, he’s a centre-back at right-back and I think he’s grown in that position. Ben White has been outstanding, the clean sheet is for the goalkeeper and the back four, that’s their hat-trick. Ben White as I say is going from strength to strength, the way he plays, he’s not gung-ho, it makes us so much more solid because you have to respect the space against Manchester City.”

A murder investigation is underway after human remains were found near Manchester United's academy training ground.

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• Murder investigation launched in Salford
• Human remains wrapped in plastic found
• Discovered near Man Utd's academy

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A member of the public found the remains wrapped in plastic in woodland in Kersal Dale in Salford on Thursday. The Cliff Facility, where United used to train and where the academy is now based, has reportedly been sealed off.

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  MURDER INVESTIGATION BEGINS

  Detectives and a pathologist confirmed human remains were found and police have since been searching the rest of the woodland. Greater Manchester Police said efforts to find out who the victim was have been unsuccessful, no arrests have been made, and a murder investigation has begun.

• POLICE APPEAL

  Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “I want to assure the local community that although this is a disturbing and unsettling find, we have a large visible presence in the area to complete enquiries, provide reassurance and to listen to any concerns. I encourage anyone who may have relevant information to speak to these officers.

  “A large scene is now in place, and is likely to remain for some time, whilst we work to unravel what exactly has happened here. The area is closed to members of the public. The victim has not yet been identified, but we know that behind this discovery there will be a family who have lost a loved one, and we want to make sure they are supported as quickly as possible.

  “Anyone who thinks they may have witnessed something suspicious in the Kersal Dale area over the last few days, could be key to unlocking what happened. I would ask that anyone who has any information that may be relevant to our enquiries, no matter how big or small, comes forward by calling 101 and quoting log number 2695 of 4 April 2024. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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  POST-MORTEM

  Police say a post-mortem examination will take place in the hope of identifying the victim. However, officers are not expecting the examination to reveal a cause of death as the full body has not yet been found. Further updates from the force are expected.

Trent Alexander-Arnold took a dig at Arsenal as he claimed Liverpool played a part in their defeat against Aston Villa.

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• Alexander-Arnold took a dig at Arsenal
• Gunners got too excited after Liverpool's loss
• Arsenal went down against Aston Villa last week

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Last Sunday, Arsenal and Liverpool faltered in the Premier League title race thereby handing an advantage to Manchester City as the two giants went down in their respective games. The Reds first lost to Crystal Palace 1-0 at Anfield and later in the day, the Gunners were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa.

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  Now Liverpool and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken a sly dig at the North London club, claiming that Liverpool's defeat left the Gunners too overconfident for their encounter, as they set their sights on taking advantage of the Reds' slip.

• WHAT TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID

  Speaking to , the right-back said: "If those fixtures were reversed and we played second and Arsenal played first, maybe it would've been a different mentality. It all comes down to mentality. I think our result played a part in Arsenal's result. They have potentially got too excited and thought 'This is our chance, this is what we need to do'."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Jurgen Klopp's side will be next seen in action on Sunday as they take on Fulham in an important Premier League away fixture.

Glasgow Rangers will curse the timing of the recent international break as the Ibrox side look rejuvenated under new manager Philippe Clement.

Under the Belgian – who replaced Michael Beale last month – the Gers have won five of their six matches, while conceding only three goals, and not only has he got the club brimming with confidence, but he has established a clear playing style.

This has all come using the same players that Beale had access to, and it suggests the previous regime was clearly missing something.

Clement has inherited Beale’s summer signings and while several have underperformed – most notably Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers – the likes of Jack Butland and Danilo have impressed at opposite ends of the pitch.

With this foundation, the 49-year-old could build his squad around these two summer arrivals and with the January transfer window approaching, could he be tempted to delve into the market for a player or two.

He will have his own targets, of course, and plenty of ideas on how to vastly improve the squad. The key question is, will the finances be there to adequately meet his ambitions?

With this in mind, it looks as though the Light Blues are showing an interest in a Premier League defender who is struggling for game time in his current team…

Rangers transfer news – Ben Godfrey

According to 90min, the Glasgow side have reportedly shown their interest in Everton centre-back Ben Godfrey just weeks until the transfer window opens.

The Toffees are open to selling the player they purchased for a fee in the region of £20m just over three years ago, especially considering he has featured just once this season in the league.

Fellow Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also interested in the defender, however, and these two sides indicate the Gers have some stiff competition on their hands.

Throw in the likes of Burnley, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, and it’s clear that if Clement really wanted the Everton player, he is going to have to make an impressive pitch.

He does have 18 months left on his current contract and this could potentially knock down the asking price, but it remains to be seen just how low Everton will drop with regard to a price tag.

If Clement does somehow manage to pull off this signing, it could be reminiscent of the Gers swoop for Connor Goldson back in 2018 and Godfrey could be just like the current Rangers defender.

Connor Goldson’s Rangers statistics

The former Brighton and Hove Albion defender joined Steven Gerrard’s revolution just over five years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

He has become a mainstay in the heart of the Ibrox defence, missing a total of just 17 matches through injury during his half a decade in Glasgow, and has gone on to win a Premiership title along with the Scottish Cup, while making 283 appearances in the process.

His highlight was featuring in all 38 matches during the title-winning 2020/21 season, where he won 71% of his total duels and was dribbled past just 0.2 times per game, demonstrating how impressive he was physically and proving to be one of the best defenders in the country.

Injury disrupted his 2022/23 season, but he has roared back during the current campaign and not only can be imposing at the heart of the defence, but the fact he ranks second across the squad for accurate passes per game suggests the Englishman is able to pass his way out of danger and begin attacks from the back.

Godfrey has shown similar characteristics in the past and this could give him the chance to turn into another Goldson for Rangers.

How Ben Godfrey and Connor Goldson compare

The 25-year-old helped Norwich City win the Championship title in 2019 where he won 57% of his total duels and was dribbled past only 0.3 times per game, showcasing a maturity far beyond his years as he gained promotion to the Premier League.

He significantly impressed during his first season in the top flight to secure a move to Everton and in his maiden campaign for the Merseyside outfit, Godfrey won 64% of his ground duels and he also ranked in the top ten in the squad for accurate passes, tackles and interceptions per game, demonstrating that he could become a regular fixture in the first team over the coming years.

His early form at the Toffees led journalist James Whaling to brand him a “monster” and the £20m fee was beginning to look like an incredible bargain.

His appearances started to dwindle, however, as following 36 games played during his first season, this number subsequently dropped to 27 during his second year to just 15 last term and under Sean Dyche, he has slipped way down the pecking order.

Goldson found himself in a similar position during his last two years at Brighton, featuring just 18 times across all competitions, and the move to Rangers certainly revitalised him while giving him the platform to challenge for trophies and feature on the European stage.

Perhaps a fresh start north of the border is exactly what Godfrey needs in order to give his career a jolt. What better club to join than Rangers?

If he keeps fit, there is no doubting his talents and he could even form a solid defensive duo alongside Goldson, improving the Gers backline in the process.

The next few weeks could be crucial with regard to making inroads into signing the defender and with the likes of Spurs and the Magpies interested, Clement may need to act swiftly.

He is too talented to be languishing on the bench for Everton, and he could well take notice of his former teammate, Todd Cantwell, and his career trajectory.

Once a starlet in East Anglia, he went through some rough times at the club before he joined Rangers. He now looks like a different player and one who could finally return to the form that saw him shine brightly in the Premier League, albeit rather briefly.

Godfrey has the attributes to play at the highest level, but will Rangers be the lucky side who manage to snatch him up? Only time will tell.

Mesut Ozil’s remarkable transformation since hanging up his boots has led to former Germany team-mate Mario Gomez to brand him “a little Cristiano”.

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• Playmaker retired in 2023
• Has been hitting the gym hard
• Likened to Portuguese superstar

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  World Cup winner Ozil, who retired in 2023, was often accused of being lightweight and lacking the stomach for a fight during his distinguished playing career. He graced the books of Real Madrid and Arsenal, while claiming a global crown in 2014, but was famed for his relaxed approach to playmaking.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 35-year-old has now bulked up considerably, with more time being spent in the gym pumping iron than he ever did when turning out at Santiago Bernabeu and Emirates Stadium. Ex-Blancos colleague Ronaldo is among those to have been left suitably impressed by Ozil’s body reshaping, commenting “bro not bad” on one social media post.

• WHAT GOMEZ SAID

  Gomez has now had his say on the new hulking version of Ozil, telling the Phrasenmaher podcast: “First of all, it's admirable how he pulls it off. However, I am someone who believes in the happy medium because I have experienced swings in both directions and know that extremes often lead to nothing good. I don't know what his mission is behind this.

  "It looks a bit crass and wouldn't be my thing – but that's not the point. When you come out of a career in which you received a lot of encouragement and praise for years, you naturally look for something that fulfils you. Mesut now seems to have found this in the gym. He also played with Ronaldo and maybe thinks: 'Now I have time to become a little Cristiano'.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ronaldo, who is still going strong at 39 years of age while on the books of Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, is famed for his relentless work ethic and ability to keep himself in the best possible shape. Ozil now boasts the physical frame to compete with CR7 – who he spent three years working alongside in Madrid between 2010 and 2013.