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The Daily Record recently reported that five Glasgow Rangers players will be allowed to move on from Ibrox before the end of the January transfer window.

Kieran Dowell, Clinton Nsiala, Nedim Bajrami, Danilo, and Rabbi Matondo are all free to leave in the coming weeks on permanent deals, whilst Lyall Cameron could be sent out on loan for the rest of the season.

It is not a surprise to learn that Danny Rohl wants to move on from Dowell, for example, because he has not played a single minute of competitive football since August, having been given a chance by Russell Martin at the start of the campaign.

Rangers in talks to sell flop

On top of Dowell and the other four players mentioned in that Daily Record article earlier this month, another Light Blues flop is on his way out of the club.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to Joshua Barrie, Glasgow Rangers are “in talks” with Argentinian outfit Huracan over a deal that would see Oscar Cortes make the move to South America.

The winger, signed by Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen, is currently on loan with Sporting Gijon in Spain, but this move would see that loan cut short so that he can move to Argentina.

Barrie claims that the two clubs are currently in talks over a deal that would be a loan with an option or obligation to buy, which means that they are looking to sell the Colombian forward.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Hurucan are willing to pay at the end of the loan to make the deal permanent in the summer transfer window.

Why Cortes has been a bigger flop than Dowell

With Cortes seemingly now on his way to leaving the club on a permanent basis, it is hard to say anything other than that he has been an even bigger flop than Dowell.

The English midfielder has not been a success at Ibrox. Since signing on a free transfer from Norwich in 2023, he has contributed with two goals and three assists in 38 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

He has not offered anywhere near enough quality in the final third, hence why he has found himself on the fringes ahead of a January exit, but it must also be recognised that the ex-Canaries star joined on a free.

Cortes, however, was signed for a whopping fee of £4.5m from Lens in the summer of 2025, after an obligation to buy was put in his loan deal in 2024.

The obligation to buy meant that the Gers had to pay £4.5m for a player who had only scored one goal and provided one assist in 16 Scottish Premiership games in 18 months for the club, per Sofascore.

Rangers defender Richard Foster said that Cortes “looked miles off it” when given an opportunity shortly before the loan deal had to be made permanent, and interim boss Barry Ferguson suggested that he needed to up his levels in training to get more game time.

After signing permanently, despite his struggles across his 18-month loan stint, the winger was sent out on loan to Sporting Gijon for the 2025/26 campaign, but he has failed to deliver a goal or an assist in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Rangers career

Dowell

Cortes

Fee

£0

£4.5m

Appearances

38

19

Goals

2

1

Big chances created

4

1

Assists

3

1

Game stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Cortes and Dowell both look set to permanently end their Rangers careers with fairly dismal statistics, given that they are both attacking players.

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It is the Colombian, however, who looks like the bigger flop and worst signing out of the pair, because he has not offered as much on the pitch, whilst costing a significant fee, rather than joining on a free transfer.

Rangers have only signed eight players for more than £4.5m in their history, including the likes of Ryan Kent, Youssef Chermiti, and Tore Andre Flo, which illustrates how costly the Cortes deal was.

With that in mind, albeit without knowing how much money they could recoup for his services as part of the option to make this potential loan permanent, the 22-year-old dud may have to go down as one of their biggest ever flops.

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The money they paid to sign him, the lack of output on the pitch, and the failed loan before a permanent exit from Ibrox all point to him going down as a huge flop.

	Simon Katich was Man of the Match for his double of 86 and 92 in New South Wales’ Pura Cup win © Getty Images

Simon Katich has used Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer as role models during his record-breaking campaign to regain a Test spot. Finishing the season as a Pura Cup-winning captain, Katich also set a record for the most runs in the competition, with his 86 and 92 in the decider pushing his tally to 1506 at 94.12.During the final, which New South Wales sealed by 258 runs, Katich insisted the trophy was all that mattered, but after the game he spoke about the possibility of a return to the international scene. “My whole philosophy was to try to improve as a player and I have looked at guys who got back into the Test team later in their careers and have become better players,” Katich said in the Australian. “There are quite a few examples of that whether it’s Matty Hayden, Justin Langer or Damien Martyn.”The tour of the West Indies starts in May and Katich is a strong chance of joining the squad, although it will be hard initially to break into a settled top six. Steve Waugh told Fox Sports Katich “should be playing for Australia”.”He is too good to be playing just domestically,” Waugh said. “He is a class player and he gets runs in all situations, particularly when it’s tough. The last couple of years have been very successful, they [Australia] have dominated teams. But now with a bit of a changing of the guard, I think they will need Simon Katich in the side at some stage.”Allan Border, a former selector, said Katich had responded well to being dropped from Australia’s contract list last year. “He can do no more,” Border said. “David Hussey and Brad Hodge are playing in [the Pura Cup final]. They haven’t done themselves any harm, Hodge in particular. But Katich, it’s hard to go past that sort of stuff.”

Jesse Ryder will strengthen the Ireland top order and also provide a useful bowling option © Getty Images

Ireland have signed Jesse Ryder, a 22-year-old New Zealand allrounder, as their second overseas player. Ryder, who plays for Wellington, has been with New Brighton in the Liverpool League.He has a solid first-class record with 2344 runs at 44.88, which has been enough to earn him a New Zealand A place, and bowls brisk medium pace. He is seen as an ideal replacement for Andre Botha, who picked up a finger injury against Somerset on Sunday.”Jesse is a quality player, and one that I’ve heard glowing reports about,” said coach Phil Simmons. “He is a fine striker of the ball, and will bat at number three in our line up. He’s an exciting talent, who just missed out on selection for the New Zealand World Cup squad.”Ryder joins South African paceman Nantie Hayward in the Ireland side for the Friends Provident Trophy. Roger Whelan, a right-handed batsman and seam bowler, replaces John Mooney, who is unavailable due to work commitments.Ireland squad for Gloucestershire and Essex Trent Johnston (capt), Jeremy Bray, Kenny Carroll, Peter Gillespie, Nantie Hayward, David Langford-Smith, Kyle McCallan, Kevin O’ Brien, William Porterfield, Jesse Ryder, Andrew White, Roger Whelan, Gary Wilson

Zimbabweans 181 for 6 beat Antigua & Barbuda 180 by four wickets
Zimbabwe opened their tour with a four-wicket win in a low-scoring match against Antigua & Barbuda at the Jolly Beach ground.Zimbabwe performed well given that they barely had time to recover from a gruelling 33-hour journey at the weekend. Antigua & Barbuda won the toss but struggled for runs, and only a sixth-wicket stand of 44 between Daniel Thomas (33) and Gavin Williams (31) enabled them to post 180. Ryan Higgins and Blessing Mahwire took 2 for 19, while Prosper Utseya finished with 2 for 29.Opener Piet Rinke led the Zimbabweans chase with a quickfire 42, but an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 40 between Gregory Strydom (23 not out) and Keith Dabengwa (15 not out) guided them home with 21 balls to spare.

Murray Goodwin, the former Zimbabwe international, has been charged by his Western Australia Cricket Association with a breach of Cricket Australia’s code of behaviour. Goodwin made comments last week about the selection criteria for the Zimbabwe side.Under the code, players are prohibited from making detrimental public comment. Alan Sullivan QC of New South Wales, who is the deputy senior commissioner of the Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour Commission, will hear the charge. No decision on when that will be has been made but it will be as soon as possible.Players who are found to have breached the public comment rule range from a reprimand, to a match ban or to a fine of up to $5750 for a first offence.Goodwin said in his comments that black players were selected ahead of better white players in order to meet a quota system. His former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower commented upon his arrival in Adelaide last week that concerns over the selection system had been part of Zimbabwe cricket for some time.

Scorecard

Andrew Flintoff: first five-wicket bag© Getty Images

Andrew Flintoff emerged as England’s hero with a thoroughly deserved Test-best 5 for 58 as West Indies collapsed to 224 all out on the first day of the third Test at Bridgetown. Flintoff also helped to justify Michael Vaughan’s decision to bowl first, as West Indies lost their last seven wickets for only 57 runs. England then ended a good day’s work at 20 for 1.Flintoff has earned himself the title of England’s unluckiest bowler thanks to the number of missed chances off his bowling. However, today he finally got some recognition for his whole-hearted efforts – although he still had his usual quota of dropped catches. He took the big wickets of Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who, along with Ramnaresh Sarwan, were the only batsmen to put up a fight for West Indies.England’s bowling – and fielding – wasn’t at its best. The attack tended to bowl too short, and there were three dropped slip catches. However, West Indies couldn’t capitalise on that, and despite a strong middle session, they had another day to forget.After the Windies had slumped to 20 for 2, Sarwan and Chanderpaul managed to steady the ship. Sarwan, the vice-captain, played sensibly, and added 68 resuscitating runs with Lara. He hit seven boundaries in his 19th Test half-century, and played shots all round the wicket, but without ever quite letting loose. Sarwan also put on 79 with Chanderpaul, until he drove airily at a full ball outside off from Stephen Harmison for Flintoff to take a head-high catch at second slip for 63 (167 for 4).Chanderpaul played one of his characteristic gritty, bitty innings. He stuck around for over two hours, but it should have been much less than that: at 10, he dangled his bat at another good-length delivery from Flintoff, and Mark Butcher, at third slip, fluffed a straightforward chance. However, Flintoff got his man later in the day, in the middle of the collapse, caught at slip – this time by Graham Thorpe, for 50 (198 for 7).The middle session was West Indies’ sole highlight in between more abject performances with the bat. While all eyes were on how the man of the moment Harmison would perform, it was the under-rated Matthew Hoggard who was the more threatening of the two, and he got England going. He was rewarded for his accuracy when he zeroed another one back into the left-handed Chris Gayle’s pads, and Rudi Koertzen sent him on his way, even though the replays suggested the ball would have missed leg stump (6 for 1).Daren Ganga, dropped early on by Thorpe and reprieved when seemingly trapped plumb in front by Harmison, couldn’t make the most of his let-offs. He finally padded up to one from Harmison that cut back in sharply. Hair lifted the dreaded finger, although the replays again suggested it would have missed off stump (20 for 2).Lara, as if to make up for his much-criticised decision to drop down to No. 6 in Trinidad, purposefully strode out after Gayle’s wicket. He took his time to get going, but then began to show signs of returning to his best with some belting cover-drives off both feet.But just as Lara was threatening to break loose, Flintoff struck gold. He forced Lara to prod forward at a full-length ball, and this time Butcher held on to the chance at gully (88 for 3). While England celebrated, Lara stayed there for a few seconds, holding his head in frustration at his loose shot and lack of footwork.

Ramnaresh Sarwan: held things together for West Indies© Getty Images

Flintoff will take all the plaudits, but it was Harmison who took the big wicket of Sarwan after tea, to prompt the major collapse. After Sarwan fell, Harmison literally bounced out Ryan Hinds. After clunking him on the helmet with a nasty short one, Harmison banged in two more throat-balls. Hinds took on the second one, but only spooned a catch to Simon Jones at fine leg (179 for 5). Then it was Ridley Jacobs’s turn to get the short stuff, and he found a Flintoff fireball too hot to handle, fending it away to England’s specialist substitute, Paul Collingwood, running in from point (197 for 6). Collingwood was on for Matthew Hoggard, who had succumbed to cramp. Another slip catch accounted for Pedro Collins, who edged Jones to Marcus Trescothick (208 for 8), and West Indies had lost five wickets for 41.Tino Best, dropped second ball by Butcher off Flintoff – no surprises there – added 17 valuable runs, but then the on-off Flintoff-Butcher combination worked for the second time, as Best gloved a catch out to the slips (224 for 9). That was Flintoff’s fourth scalp, and no-one was going to deny him that magical fifth. Fidel Edwards was the man who happened to be in the way, and when he tickled the ball behind to Chris Read, Flintoff was tickled pink. The emotion on his face was clear to see – even Duncan Fletcher, England’s usually taciturn coach, managed a smile.The only blemish for England was another failure for Trescothick, bowled by Edwards for 2 – he’s now scored only 20 runs in his last six Test ininngs – but Vaughan and Butcher saw out the rest of a long and satisfying day for England.

Nathan Hauritz’s World Cup call-up had a flow-on effect today withWynnum-Manly allrounder Chris Simpson called into the XXXX QueenslandBulls squad to play NSW in the Pura Cup in Sydney this week.Simpson, a right-hand batsman and right-arm off-spinner, was includedtoday in the Bulls team in place of swing bowler Adam Dale for theSydney Cricket Ground showdown with the third-placed Blues.Former captain Stuart Law will again be sidelined due to a wrist injury,with the right-hander hoping to be considered for next week’s Pura CupFinal.Hauritz’s selection as the replacement for Shane Warne in the World Cupteam last week and a finger injury to former Bulls spinner Scott O’Learyhas presented Simpson with the chance to make his first class debut.Simpson joins left-arm spinner Matthew Anderson in the team, with theQueensland selectors giving themselves the option of playing twospinners for the match.A Bulls rookie-contracted player this season, the 21-year-old Simpson isa late-developing spinner, only concentrating on developing his slowbowling last year. He was a member of the 2002 Commonwealth Bank CricketAcademy intake.He has played ACB Cup for the past two seasons and has enjoyed solidform for Wynnum-Manly this season in the Brisbane XXXX First Gradecompetition, taking 35 wickets and scoring 514 runs.NSW must beat Queensland to earn a spot in the Pura Cup Final at theGabba next week, with the Bulls securing their fifth home Final in a rowon Saturday with their outright win over Victoria.XXXX Queensland Bulls v NSW Blues, Pura Cup, SCG, Thursday – Sunday:Martin Love (c), Brendan Nash, Clinton Perren, Daniel Payne, LeeCarseldine, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, MichaelKasprowicz, Joe Dawes, Matthew Anderson, Chris Simpson. (12th man to benamed).

Skipper Darren Bicknell led Notts to a comfortable three-wicket win atTaunton to maintain their challenge at the top of Norwich Union League.Bicknell hit a stylish 79 and Paul Johnson 67 as the Outlaws passedSomerset’s total of 248-8 with an over to spare.For the Sabres it was a fifth defeat in eight games and they are looking at the prospect of a relegation battle, having only just survived in the First Division last season.Peter Bowler had given them hope by making 98 off 101 balls after the home side had won the toss in excellent batting conditions.Bowler hit two sixes and ten fours, but lacked support as the other leading Somerset batsmen contrived ways of getting out, having made a start.Even so, it looked a testing target for Notts, who raced away, scoring 92 off their first 15 overs, despite the early loss of Kevin Pietersen and Greg Blewett.Bicknell and Johnson put on 111 for the third wicket in rapid time before Bicknell was controversially adjudged run-out by stand-in square-leg umpire Peter Robinson, called in after David Shepherd hobbled off with a calf injury.There was an eye-catching contribution of 31 from talented teenager Bilal Shafayat, who together with Johnson, ensured the setback of losing Bicknell did not alter the course of the game.It was never an easy day for the bowlers and Notts’ South African left-arm seamer Greg Smith proved the most economical, conceding only 30 from his nine overs.He bowled with an accuracy and change of pace Somerset’s ragged attack could never match.

Newcastle United have been handed a key relief over Paraguay international Miguel Almiron this week…

What’s the latest?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has allayed fears that the attacking midfielder has suffered an injury, with the 28-year-old missing the 5-1 defeat to Tottenham due to an illness.

The former Atlanta United star was absent from the matchday squad and his omission may have left fans wondering whether or not he suffered a blow in training during the week.

Lee Ryder Tweeted: “Eddie Howe confirms that Almiron was ill today.”

Delight

This news will surely leave the Toon head coach delighted as it means that the midfielder has not been hit with a knock that will keep him out of action for a number of weeks/months. Instead, he is dealing with an illness and will, hopefully, be able to overcome it sooner rather than later.

It is a big boost for the head coach as he is not blessed with options at the top end of the pitch. In terms of wide players, Ryan Fraser, Allan Saint-Maximin, Jacob Murphy and Almiron are the only natural candidates to play in those areas, although Joelinton and Matt Ritchie are capable of playing there if desperately needed.

Whilst the winger has been unproductive in front of goal this term, with zero goals in 22 appearances, he always works his socks off for the team.

He is a reliable player for Howe in terms of the defensive output he gets from him on the wing, with an impressive 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game as a forward. Almiron has won 3.3 duels per game and completed 80% of his attempted passes, which further goes to show that he is a steady player who will put in a solid shift for the side.

This is why Howe will be delighted that he has not suffered a nasty injury blow, as he will want to be able to call upon the midfielder to do a job when needed between now and the end of the season.

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The supporters may see it differently, though, as he lacks the quality to make things happen in the final third. He has zero goals and zero assists in the top-flight and has only created 0.6 chances per game – creating one ‘big chance’ in his 22 outings.

However, Howe does not have much in the way of alternatives and his defensive nous makes him a valuable asset in games where they are expected to be under pressure and defending for the majority of the game.

AND in other news, Less touches than Dubravka: “Struggling” NUFC flop with 6 passes was useless yesterday…

	Mahendra Singh Dhoni wants his batsmen to take on more responsibility © Getty Images

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has blamed his batsmen for India’s 50-run loss in Adelaide, and asked them to show more responsibility and consistency through the rest of the tournament. “The batsmen should have taken the initiative and been more careful about their shot selection,” Dhoni said after India’s second successive loss in the CB Series.Dhoni, who battled hard for his 37 and required a runner after suffering strains in both his calves, said that lack of patience could have been one of the factors for the failure. “It’s important to stick to your role and responsibility. They have done in bits and pieces but they have to get better.”Dhoni has long been stressing the need to preserve wickets, but the Indian batsmen failed to do that at the Adelaide Oval. “The first 12 overs with the Kookaburra ball is important and without Brett Lee it was important to keep wickets because it gets easier with the ball getting old and if you have the batsmen then it’s an advantage.”He also defended the team’s decision to go in with five bowlers after Virender Sehwag had failed to recover from a hip strain. “Viru [Sehwag] was not 100% fit. And I was very keen to go with five bowlers in our next game against Sri Lanka. So we decided we’d use the opportunity to try that out today and it paid off.”Nobody could argue with the fact that the Indian bowlers did a magnificent job to restrict Australia to a modest total for the second game in a row. “You don’t expect anything more from the bowlers. They have bowled brilliantly in the event so far.”The batting, though, came apart. It was important for India to build partnerships but there was only one notable stand, a 56-run fifth-wicket partnership between Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj seemed to be getting his form back when he pulled Brad Hogg to Stuart Clark at long-on. Dhoni, however, didn’t blame the batsman for taking the risk. “The shot was on,” Dhoni said, adding that the execution had been faulty.Instead, Dhoni reckoned his own dismissal dealt the knockout blow to the Indian chase. “The turning point was my run-out. And it was difficult for Robin [Uthappa] to lead the rearguard with the tail.”With India playing a batsman short, Irfan Pathan was pushed up to No. 3, but the move failed yet again, as it had at the MCG in India’s previous match against Australia, when Pathan managed a 30-ball 18. Dhoni, though, defended the move. “Sending Irfan up balances the batting order and keep it stable. And Irfan at 8 or 3 doesn’t make too much of a difference.”India’s second defeat in a row makes their next game, against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, even more crucial. Dhoni knows the importance of that match, and hopes his batsmen have realised that as well.