A new contract could be heading the way of "magic" Rangers star Borna Barisic in the near future, according to a new update from journalist Dean Jones.
Rangers January transfer news
The Gers have done so well to battle to within touching distance of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race, as Philippe Clement's positive start to life as manager at Ibrox continues. Rangers won 3-1 at home to Dundee on Saturday afternoon, while the Hoops' 2-1 loss at Kilmarnock the following day means Clement's side are now only five points adrift of top spot with a game in hand.
New signings in the January transfer window are surely needed to further increase their chances of going all the way in the league, however, and Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna has been linked with a move to Rangers. Everton's Ben Godfrey is another who has been seen as a potential Ibrox target, as it's clear the defence is an area of focus for the new boss.
There are also key players who Clement will have to fight to keep hold of however, and an important update has emerged regarding one such figure.
Barisic in line for new Rangers deal
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said talks are underway between Rangers and Borna Barisic over a new deal at Ibrox.
Rangers defender Borna Barisic.
"Obviously, there is uncertainty around the left-back position at the moment. Barisic has been at the club for a long time now, and he has got a few clubs looking at his situation because he could sign a pre-contract with a club abroad in January.
"There have been a few mooted in that sense, so it is a situation to watch. But Rangers have begun the process of talking to him about an extension, and that began a couple of months back. You would be expecting that to progress pretty soon if there is going to be a good ending to it from a Rangers perspective.
"They need to try and make sure that the contract situation works out suitably, from their point of view, pretty soon because Rangers will need to be wondering what they will do by the time they get to the end of the season if they don't get good indications that he is going to sign a new deal."
Barisic signing a new deal at Rangers would be great news, with the 31-year-old such a steady performer for the club over the years, making 222 appearances in total and chipping in with 52 assists in that time.
Steven Gerrard hailed him as "magic" during his time as Gers manager, following a goal in a 1-0 win against St Mirren, and he is someone with so much experience but still with years left in him at this level.
Barisic has started ten Scottish Premiership games so far this season, averaging 1.9 clearances and 1.8 aerial duel wins per game, and with his current deal expiring next summer, an extension is a no-brainer
English winger Ryan Barnett has bagged Wrexham's Goal of the Season award for his stunner against Forest Green Rovers.
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Barnett bags Goal of the Season awardScored brilliant volley against Forest GreenWrexham earned promotion to League OneWHAT HAPPENED?
Barnett scored the fifth goal in the Red Dragons' thumping 6-0 win over Forest Green in League Two on April 13. The 24-year-old scored a scorching volley from James McClean's floating cross which won him the prestigious Steve Edwards Goal of the Season award.
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The Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mcelhenney-owned side organised their annual awards night on Tuesday where several stars from both their men's and women's teams were honoured. Star striker Paul Mullin was declared the club's Player of the Season.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
After gaining promotion to League One, Phil Parkinson's boys are currently enjoying a well-earned break and will be back in action on the field in July as they are all set to face Chelsea in a pre-season friendly in California.
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.
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
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.
Rangers last ten January signings
Year
Todd Cantwell
2023
Nico Raskin
2023
Aaron Ramsey
2022
James Sands
2022
Amad Diallo
2022
Mateusz Zukowski
2022
Scott Wright
2021
Jack Simpson
2021
Ianis Hagi
2020
Florian Kamberi
2020
Via Transfermarkt
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.
Ben Godfrey
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.
Glasgow Rangers continued their excellent start under Philippe Clement as they delivered a five-star show against Dundee at Dens Park last night.
The kick-off was delayed until 8.30pm due to traffic issues in the area and after only eight minutes of the match, the players trudged off the pitch due to a fire alarm being set off following a stunning pyrotechnic display by the away support.
The Gers soon started to cause plenty of problems to the home side, taking a single-goal lead into the halftime break in what was a controlled performance.
Four more goals followed in a wonderful second-half display and Clement will be buoyed by how well his starting XI performed, especially Danilo, who made his first start since September.
Danilo’s statistics vs Dundee
The Brazilian hitman netted a last-minute winner against Hearts last weekend and despite still recovering from his fractured cheekbone suffered a couple of months ago, he was given a start by the Belgian last night.
It proved to be an inspired move as the striker took nine shots in total during the tie, looking like a real livewire leading the line.
He did miss four chances, yet the former Feyenoord forward got on the scoresheet in the second half, and he also set up Sam Lammers for his goal.
He lost possession just three times and managed to make four key passes during his time on the pitch and his display proves that he should be Clement’s number one option to lead the line going forward.
It was Lammers who looked like a man reborn however, and he put in arguably his finest performance last night for the Light Blues.
Sam Lammers stats vs Dundee
Starting the match just behind Danilo, the Dutchman did link up rather well during a first half which promised much but delivered just one goal.
He came to life in the second half and like Danilo, he grabbed a goal and an assist, while taking 57 touches during his spell on the pitch.
His goal was wonderfully taken and was praised by Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie, who said: “What a finish from Sam Lammers – stunning finish from range.
“He’s had a tough time as of late but that was a great moment. Turns his man, moves onto his left and finds the net spectacularly.”
Lammers also succeeded with two out of three attempted dribbles along with creating one big chance and playing one key pass, a decent return for a player who has struggled immensely this season.
His display was promising, and hopefully it allows him to click into gear and start producing the goods on a regular basis for Clement during this new era at Ibrox.
While one good performance won't completely eradicate the scrutiny that has come his way since he joined in the summer, it may well be the catalyst to salvaging his career in Scotland.
It was a solid away result by the Gers and game by game they are showing big improvements. With a tie against Hearts on Sunday for a place in the League Cup final, Clement will need his players to play exactly like they did last night.
Everton is a footballing institution that is steeped in history, although very little of their success can be attributed to the club's recent glory, or lack of it, having not won a major trophy since the FA Cup back in 1995.
The eight-time English champions and five-time FA Cup winners have never looked like returning to their trophy-laden period in the 1980s and have instead dwindled down the Premier League table.
With the Toffees more accustomed to battling relegation rather than challenging for silverware these days, it is easy to get lost in the doom and gloom, but the club has still unearthed some gems in the transfer market, especially in the early to mid-2000s.
Tim Cahill's £2m move from Millwall in 2004 turned out to be one of the biggest bargains since the turn of the millennium, as was flying full-back Leighton Baines, who joined from Wigan Athletic for £6m in 2007.
While that pair reached iconic status in an Everton jersey, it was the signing of Thomas Gravesen from Hamburg in 2000 that set the trend for unearthing gems in the transfer window.
How Thomas Gravesen became an Everton fan favourite
Gravesen burst onto the scene at Danish club Vejle Boldklub and Hamburg before truly rising to prominence as a midfield sensation for Everton after joining for £2.5m.
A technically gifted midfielder with an eye for goal, the Dane quickly became a fan favourite and almost had the unique ability to change the atmosphere, conducting those around him playing his tune.
Away from the field, he was nicknamed the "mad dog" for his eccentric personality and maverick attitude, left an ever-lasting mark in his five years at Everton, becoming a crucial component to the energy and dynamism in Walter Smith's midfield, while his importance increased further with the arrival of David Moyes in 2002.
Widely recognised for his lung-bursting runs from deep and possessing a canon of a strike that struck fear into opposition defenders, Gravesen utilised that weapon to devasting effect at Goodison Park.
Thomas Gravesen's career in numbers
Clearly, his eccentricity off the field didn't prevent him from showing his talents on it, making 167 appearances for Everton, including a return on loan in 2007/08, scoring 12 and assisting 12 across both spells.
Having left a monumental impact on Merseyside, helping the club finish fourth in the 2004/05 season, Gravesen is also fondly remembered, if somewhat through slight bemusement, for sealing a £2.3m move to Real Madrid at the height of the club's Galactico era in 2005.
Although the 66-cap Danish international possessed the unerring technical attributes, namely his ability to dribble his way upfield and glide through opposition defences from deep, it was still odd for many during that time to see him playing alongside the likes of Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane and the great Brazilian Ronaldo.
Unfortunately, it never worked out as most envisaged during his time at the Bernabeu as he made 49 appearances and failed to reach the heights that his years at Everton promised.
Despite keeping a low profile since retiring from professional football in 2008 at the age of 33, he's certainly been busy.
What Thomas Gravesen is doing now…
According to the Danish tabloid BT, Gravesen knew he needed to plan for life after football, investing his wages into several financial businesses.
The tabloid claimed that the former midfielder made tens of millions from those investments and although they didn't say what he spent them on, he took his newly-found riches and moved to Las Vegas in 2012. The rest? Well, he was in Vegas…you do the math.
He put the money, estimated to be around £100million, to good use, gambling in Las Vegas’ legendary casinos, where he developed a particular passion for poker.
He was reportedly a regular at Vegas’ high-roller poker tables, where he was able to go under the radar as a non-celebrity.
From a solid box-to-box midfielder during his playing days to a poker aficionado worth hundreds of millions, it's been a whirlwind time for Gravesen since retiring, to say the least.
A woman sacked by Cricket Australia after she criticised a Tasmanian politician’s policy on abortion access in the state has reached an out of court settlement with the board
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2018
James Sutherland, Cricket Australia CEO•Getty Images
Cricket Australia has avoided the potential of an extensive court battle by settling their case with former employee Angela Williamson who was sacked follow tweets about abortion.Last month, Williamson was heavily critical of Tasmania’s Health Minister Michael Ferguson for his comments on the state’s abortion policy, calling his comments “irresponsible, gutless and reckless”, which led to Cricket Australia claiming she had breached their social media policy.The decision generated significant international headlines and raised questions about the extent of freedom employees had to express political opinions without endangering their employment.Williamson, who had initially rejected an alternate job offer from Cricket Australia to pursue her case in Federal Court, had made strong allegations about the role Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman played in her sacking. Hodgman maintained he had not played any role in Williamson’s dismissal.In confirming the case had been settled out of court, Cricket Australia did not give any other details.”Following ongoing discussions, Cricket Australia, Cricket Tasmania and Angela Williamson have been able to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter,” a spokesman said.Williamson had been compelled to fly to Melbourne from Hobart to have a surgical abortion earlier this year due to not being able to access the service in Tasmania. She had been employed by Cricket Tasmania for 18 months at the time of her dismissal, and had, prior to working for Cricket Australia, held a job as a government relations manager in Tasmania.Williamson had sought compensation for loss of income, humiliation, damage to her reputation, anxiety and distress.”I spoke my mind on a political issue because I believe strongly in the reproductive health rights of Tasmanian women,” Williamson had said around the time of her dismissal. “I am disappointed the case wasn’t resolved today but I am prepared to continue my fight in the Federal Court.”
Cole Palmer and a host of Chelsea players came to Raheem Sterling's defence after his disastrous show in the FA Cup.
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Chelsea players came to Sterling's defence
Apologised to fans on Instagram
Missed a penalty in Chelsea's win over Leicester
WHAT HAPPENED?
It was a night to forget for the former Manchester City and Liverpool winger as he displayed a disastrous show in the club's FA Cup quarter-final clash against Leicester City on Sunday. Sterling missed a penalty in the first half that could have doubled the Blues' lead over the Foxes and then blasted a free-kick well off target towards the end of the second half.
Although the west London side eventually emerged victorious, Sterling was jeered by the fans at Stamford Bridge and the player later took to Instagram to apologise for a dismal show.
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WHAT CHELSEA SAID
On the English winger's apologetic post on Instagram, a host of Chelsea players including Palmer, Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez showed their solidarity with the player by leaving a reply in his comment section.
Palmer commented, "My brother. Shit happens no need to apologise gg", Gusto wrote, "Big bro no need to apologise", while Fernandez replied, "Come on Raz".
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After the match, manager Mauricio Pochettino also came to the experienced player's defence as he urged the fans not to jeer at Sterling after just one unfortunate performance on the pitch.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
The Blues will meet reigning champions Manchester City in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Their next outing will be after the international break in the Premier League on March 30 as they take on Burnley.
Liverpool's resounding start to the season has endured its first tout of turbulence, though Jurgen Klopp will be confident that winning ways in the Premier League will resume promptly.
Having steamrolled into early form, the Reds constructed a seven-match winning streak across all competitions after drawing their opener against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – very much restored after a challenging 2022/23 season.
This excellent vein of form was halted by a controversial defeat against table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur, preceding a recent 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on the south coast.
Liverpool manager JuergenKloppcelebrates after the match
Such form is certainly not concerning, but several patterns are becoming a bit of an unwanted theme, namely the slow starts to matches and the continuing debate over Alexis Mac Allister's role as the No. 6.
How is Alexis Mac Allister playing this season?
Mac Allister was signed from Brighton in a £35m transfer in the summer after winning the World Cup with Argentina, and while he has looked crisp and controlled in the centre of the pitch, there are indeed a few question marks floating around his current role.
It is important to note that Liverpool were utterly woeful for large parts of last season and offered a collective midfield that was rather shambolic, unable to effectively aid the attack and definitely incapable of efficiently protecting the backline.
But, nonetheless, Mac Allister is both creative and energetic and his best qualities lie in a role that suits; due to Liverpool lacking a specialist no. 6 outside of squad option Wataru Endo and youngster Stefan Bajcetic, the 24-year-old has been deployed in the deep-lying role across all eight of his Premier League outings as a Red.
He has still showcased his skills, completing 89% of his tackles and winning 2.8 tackles per game – as per Sofascore – but the eye test will show that there is still much defensively to be absorbed.
Statistic
2022/23
2023/24
Average rating
7.20
6.95
Appearances
35
8
Goals
10
0
Assists
2
1
G/A ratio
0.34
0.12
Shots per game
2.5
0.4
Key passes per game
1.3
0.4
Pass completion
87%
89%
Tackles per game
2.0
2.8
Interceptions per game
0.6
1.5
Dribble rate + win %
1.2 (67%)
1.0 (67%)
Duel rate + win %
5.5 (58%)
5.5 (52%)
The table inserted above lists comparisons between the current Premier League campaign and the previous, and what's intriguing is while the £150k-per-week ace is situated much deeper and thus experiencing a severe decline in his offensive attributes, his defensive metrics don't quite warrant the change.
What is meant by this? Well, his passing accuracy is only marginally improved from last season, though his rate of creativity has decreased significantly; additionally, while he is naturally making more tackles and interceptions due to his placement on the pitch, he's actually less successful in duels.
This is not alarming, as such, but it is an illustration of how he is not being utilised in a manner that allows his best attributes to shine, and the forthcoming international break should now give Klopp ample time to mull over the player's suitability to the role.
Yet to produce that glittering, standout performance, Mac Allister's quality is undeniable but he is indeed struggling to provide the impact of a player more naturally suited to the holding position, which is perhaps contributing toward Liverpool's slow starts.
Perhaps a change is in order, in the short-term, at least, and with Ryan Gravenberch still waiting for his maiden starting berth in the English top-flight, it might just be time to integrate the Dutchman into proceedings and utilise his progressive presence.
How good is Ryan Gravenberch?
Gravenberch joined Liverpool in a £34m transfer after struggling for minutes in Germany with Bayern Munich last season – having only joined from homeland side Ajax the summer before.
He had long been regarded as a hot prospect, with ex-Ajax ace Wim Kieft even labelling him as his nation's "greatest talent", but after just three Bundesliga starts across the 2022/23 term, his hype had simmered down somewhat.
Klopp offered him a lifeline, and with it an opportunity to rise to the fore and start exuding the quality that is clearly within his grasp.
While the 21-year-old is neither the No. 6 Liverpool still somewhat needs, he could be the answer to stopping the slow starts, perhaps starting over his Argentinian peer alongside someone of Endo's ilk, who can provide the industriousness to let his qualities shine.
Gravenberch ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
A multi-functional midfielder, these metrics highlight a first-rate robustness, adept both on the ball and without it, and unquestionably capable of surging forwards and creating openings for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and co.
In fact, he's already got a goal and two assists to his name despite having yet to start in the Premier League, and next to Dominik Szoboszlai, he really could be the answer to propel the Reds into the next level.
Another summer midfield acquisition, the Hungary captain has been a bona fide revelation on Merseyside, arriving from RB Leipzig for £60m, dubbed the “Hungarian magician” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in 2022.
The 22-year-old has recorded an excellent average Sofascore rating of 7.29 in his new league, omnipresent across the pitch and completing 87% of his passes, making 2.1 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 7.4 ball recoveries per game – serving as the engine to charge the squad's drive.
With a "Rolls-Royce" such as the 6 foot 2 Gravenberch beside him, as he has been called by journalist Declan Carr, there's no telling the havoc Klopp's new midfield could wreak.
It's impressive that Liverpool have charged back into title contention after such a dreadful year despite completely changing the midfield – and still leaving plenty of room for constructive criticism.
This team is not at its peak, with recent results highlighting that, but this is not a worry. The Anfield side continues to improve and as it does so, the cogs will combine to return the club to the very forefront of domestic and continental competition.
Leeds United put in a stellar display against Watford on Saturday, as Phil Hay relayed the thoughts of Daniel Farke following the emphatic 3-0 drubbing of Watford: "Farke thinks this was Leeds' most complete performance so far. 'To dominate such a good side totally is pretty pleasing.'"
He has good reason to walk away delighted with such a performance, as despite failing to find the net with numerous first-half chances, his side exploded into life in the final 45 minutes, blowing away the visitors.
Elland Road played host to yet another impressive victory, with their Championship season now well and truly underway. Under the leadership of this affable German, who continues to slowly endear himself to his new fanbase, they are certainly on the right path towards promotion success.
However, one of the interesting stories to emerge pre-match was the absence of Luke Ayling from the starting lineup, despite the full-back having started all of their previous seven league matches this term.
The 32-year-old has, for better or worse, been a mainstay for years now in Yorkshire, so to see Sam Byram and Jamie Shackleton preferred to him must have taken many by surprise; even if it is clear that his powers have clearly begun to wane in recent seasons.
Despite that, it is still expected that the experienced star will have a huge say in their hopeful push for the title, as someone seemingly always fit, and always ready to give his all even if a lack of quality sometimes lets him down.
How has Luke Ayling played this season?
After the year he and his side endured last campaign, it came as a huge surprise that Farke neglected to overhaul the full-back positions over the summer despite them being a key problem area for Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch on occasion.
It seems like no matter who is signed for these positions, whether it be former Barcelona man Junior Firpo or Denmark international Rasmus Kristensen, Ayling refuses to be displaced from the team.
Fortunately, a fine start to the new season has eased fears over this transfer inactivity, with the ex-Yeovil Town ace boasting a 7.23 average rating after just eight games. It seems the defender is poised to roll back the years to their 2020 promotion campaign, having added one goal, one assist, 1.5 key passes and 2.9 tackles per game to uphold the aforementioned figure, via Sofascore.
To compare this with that 2019/20 term, and his eight goal contributions helped uphold a 7.26 average rating, despite his key passes dropping to 0.8 per game, and his tackles down to 1.8 per game. History could be set to repeat itself.
That's not to suggest that Ayling has been completely free of criticism in recent times though, having arguably been the victim of consistent recruitment errors that have forced the ageing star to continue as a starter.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher branded him an "idiot" back in 2022 after a reckless red card challenge against Arsenal had seemingly doomed them to the drop, whilst a few months later Leeds pundit Conor McGilligan had even harsher words on his quality levels: "I think he’d [Ayling] be struggling to get in a lot of Championship starting XIs right now. Maybe bottom-half Championship, but absolutely no chance, top 12.
“But yet, he’s coming on for Leeds United to try and secure the game, as we saw at the weekend. Now, this is no disparaging comment on Luke Ayling. It’s just got to a point now where he’s not good enough. There are several Leeds players who, for me, are not good enough. Luke Ayling is not fit for Premier League football, for me.”
Although he seeks to dispel this notion by, ironically, impressing in the Championship, it is fair to say that Ayling's contribution across the 260 games played for the Yorkshire outfit makes him a cult hero regardless, sure to be lauded when he departs.
How much did Leeds United sign Luke Ayling for?
Given how important the defender has grown to be, having been plucked from the lower leagues as they themselves strived for a top-flight return, it is amazing to think back on the frugality of the deal.
After all, to pluck the former Arsenal academy ace for just £200k marked phenomenal business, as Gary Monk saw attacking potential in the full-back which was later realised.
Bristol City were the side who lost his services, and then had to watch him grow into a mainstay under Bielsa, and an important cog in that enthralling system. Journalist Hay would even write in 2020: "The more you look at him and analyse him, the more you realise he's integral to everything Leeds do."
How much was Luke Ayling worth when he first signed?
To emphasise just how much of a coup that deal was, Transfermarkt actually valued the defender at €500k (£435k) even before he had even moved to Elland Road.
Unsurprisingly, a switch to such a historic institution drew more eyes onto his game, and he would soon crack a €1m (£871k) valuation within just one year of being in Yorkshire.
Leeds defender Luke Ayling
Such steady growth marked a hallmark of the 6-foot rock's career, which remains at an admirable level even today.
What is Luke Ayling's market value now?
When viewing the current-day value of Ayling, CIES Football Observatory offers the most flattering figure to emphasise the importance still boasted even with their relegation.
After all, for someone at 32 years old to still be starring at such a high level deserves praise, with his €5m (£4.3m) valuation being more than fair.
To compare the growth enjoyed throughout a career forged on hard work, from that £200k move back in 2016, Ayling has seen his value grow by 2,050% across a seven-year period.
How much does Luke Ayling earn?
What further makes the defender a fine asset to Leeds is the fact that he is never one to kick up a fuss regarding play time, recent form or financial incentives.
As such, despite being one of the squad's longest-serving members, his £25k-per-week salary sees him earn less than Illan Meslier, Helder Costa, Daniel James and Firpo, via Capology.
1
Georginio Rutter
£70k-per-week
2
Patrick Bamford
£70k-per-week
3
Junior Firpo
£60k-per-week
4
Daniel James
£50k-per-week
5
Pascal Struijk
£50k-per-week
Admittedly a tiny wage for someone who has proven so important, perhaps this campaign could mark his last final push before accepting his exit in order to usher in a new age at right-back. Ayling has been a true hero at the club, even if he has come under fire at times, and should he steer them towards promotion, he could depart a content man.
Manchester United made it back-to-back wins with a commanding victory at home to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, with goals from Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial carrying the holders into the fourth round at a canter.
That much-needed result and performance had come despite Erik ten Hag making seven changes on the night, with the Dutchman shaking up his starting XI despite having typically avoided rotation during his United tenure thus far.
With the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford on the bench, it proved an ideal opportunity for the Red Devils' rising stars to earn a look-in, with goalscorer Garnacho also joined by Hannibal Mejbri and Facundo Pellistri in the attacking ranks.
There was likely particular excitement at seeing the latter man handed an opportunity from the start following his surprise inclusion away to Bayern Munich a week ago, with supporters seemingly desperate to see more of a talent who has been largely on the periphery during his time at Old Trafford to date.
Facundo Pellistri
While the 21-year-old does have just 15 appearances under his belt thus far since arriving on a £9m deal from Penarol back in 2020, the hope will be that he can feature far more regularly over the coming weeks and months, particularly in the absence of Antony and Jadon Sancho.
Despite having only been seen in flashes, it looks as if the diminutive talent could be able to emulate a cult figure of the club's recent history…
How did Pellistri perform against Crystal Palace?
Lining up in his favoured role on the right flank, the Uruguayan starlet was a real outlet for Ten Hag's side against the Eagles, having 'worked tirelessly' throughout the contest, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst, after winning seven ground duels on the night.
Man United's Facundo Pellistri
Despite not being perfect on the ball – as he lost possession on 17 occasions – the promising youngster is a real asset when he does have an opportunity to run at defenders, having successfully completed three of his five attempted dribbles.
There was one instance, in particular, where the £20k-per-week sensation expertly turned his man inside his own half before bombing up the wing, showcasing that explosive turn of speed that has made him such a popular figure among the United faithful.
The 5 foot 8 ace – who has previously been described as "magnificent" by The Athletic's Andy Mitten – could have perhaps won a penalty for his side in the first half following a strong challenge from Chris Richards inside the area, with that yet another indication of the devastating threat he can pose in the final third.
How good is Facundo Pellistri?
As ex-Red Devils star Owen Hargreaves stated last season, Pellistri is an "old-school" winger who simply "loves sprinting past people", having offered a unique alternative in a modern era in which most wideman look to regularly cut inside, such as Antony.
Against Real Betis last season, for instance, the Montevideo native produced a "scintillating" run down the right in the build-up to Wout Weghorst's late strike, as per journalist Alex Turk, having burst into the box before picking out Scott McTominay with a clever pull-back.
That 'old-school' or old-fashioned trait of getting the byline and trying to beat defenders will no doubt evoke memories of one man who enjoyed glittering success at the Theatre of Dreams in the past, in the form of Antonio Valencia.
How good was Antonio Valencia for Man United?
Much like Pellistri – who "can bring speed on the pitch, create opportunities and create danger", as per teammate Raphael Varane – Valencia was also a real weapon during his decade-long spell with United, particularly during his early years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Having joined the club from Wigan Athletic back in the summer of 2009, the Ecuadorian whiz was tasked with helping to bolster a forward line that only recently lost the likes of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, following three successive title triumphs.
Manchester United's 2009/10 transfer window
Incomings
Key Departures
Antonio Valencia (£16m)
Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m)
Mame Diouf (£3m)
Carlos Tevez (end of loan)
Gabriel Obertan (£3m)
Fraizer Campbell (£3m)
Michael Owen (free)
Lee Martin (£2m)
Manucho (£2m)
Stats and fees vis Transfermarkt
While not of the same ilk as that legendary, Champions League-winning duo, Valencia was undoubtedly a menace in his own right, regularly bombing up and down the right flank and utilising his blistering pace.
Hailed as a "pure athlete" who could be "pretty hard to catch" when in full flow – according to ex-teammate Michael Carrick – the right-footed, right-winger also had the end product to match his eye-catching speed, notably contributing 13 assists during his debut season in all competitions.
That 2009/10 campaign saw Wayne Rooney – who netted 26 league goals that season – laud his fellow forward for the role he had played in contributing to his own achievements, with the Englishman stating at the time:
"I couldn't have scored the amount of goals I have this season without him. He's been great this year and the quality of balls he puts in the box for me has been unbelievable."
How many appearances did Antonio Valencia make for Man United?
Arguably the "full package" – according to Carrick – Valencia would ultimately go on to score 25 goals and provide 62 assists in 339 games in all competitions over the next ten years, having even taken on the club captaincy in Manchester.
With time, the 38-year-old – who won the club's Player's Player of the Year award in 2011/12 – also eventually moved into a right-back berth to help ease United's woes in that position, although it is as a flying winger for which he will be best remembered by those at Old Trafford.
Something of an unsung and understated asset, the now-retired machine was never one to desire the limelight, with the humble Pellistri seemingly following a similar journey, as it is the showman-like Garnacho who is the player more likely to steal the headlines.
It is fair to say that it has been a difficult road for the young Uruguayan over the past three years, such have been his lack of opportunities, although he seemingly has the tools to follow in Valencia's footsteps by forging a lengthy and successful career for himself at the Theatre of Dreams.