The Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper is reportedly attracting interest from Rangers as they aim to add more competition in goal

Josh Windass, speaking on Open Goal, jokingly dubbed Rangers-linked Pierce Charles the “best player in the world,” but beneath the humour, he genuinely believes the 19-year-old has the potential to reach the elite level of the game.

With Carl Rushworth no longer a viable option, Rangers boss Russell Martin has shifted focus, and reports now suggest that Charles has emerged as a serious target. Martin is actively seeking a goalkeeper to challenge current No. 1 Jack Butland and newly signed backup Liam Kelly.

Rangers have already secured a deal with Wednesday for winger Djeidi Gassama, taking advantage of the English club’s financial struggles to secure the £2.2 million signing. Now, they could return to Hillsborough for Charles — a highly regarded product of Manchester City’s academy who made 14 senior appearances last season and ended the campaign as Wednesday’s first-choice keeper.

Windass, who himself was once linked with a return to Ibrox, had high praise for the teenager:

“He’s 19. If he doesn’t play for Barca, Juventus, Bayern – one of those teams – I’ll be flabbergasted.”

While such praise may seem exaggerated for a player with only 15 senior appearances, Charles comes from an impressive footballing background. His older brother Shea Charles, now at Southampton, joined the Saints in a £10 million move in 2023 after his own development at Manchester City. Pierce has followed a similar trajectory, leaving City for Wednesday and quickly rising through the ranks.

Rangers view him as a potential long-term rival to Butland, someone who could elevate his game at Ibrox with the right development and opportunity.

Speaking recently about strengthening the goalkeeper position, Martin made his stance clear:

“You need to have two good goalkeepers, ideally three, at a club like this. It’s the same as any position — if someone’s desperate to play here and can help us, we’ll always consider it, provided it fits the balance of the squad.”

Pierce Charles now looks to be firmly on Rangers’ radar — and potentially the next emerging talent at Ibrox.

Kentucky Still in the Hunt for Elite 2026 Sharpshooter Billy White III — Could He Be the Next Koby Brea

Kentucky Still in the Hunt for Elite 2026 Sharpshooter Billy White III — Could He Be the Next Koby Brea? 🔥🏀

 

The July live period is in full swing, and Kentucky is wasting no time making moves on the recruiting trail. One name the Wildcats are keeping a close eye on? Billy White III, a 6-foot-8 sniper from Texas who’s lighting it up on the adidas 3SSB circuit  and who could become the next Koby Brea under Coach Mark Pope’s watch.

White, one of the premier shooters in the 2026 recruiting class, told KSR that Kentucky has remained consistent in its communication. “I talk to Kentucky, I would say, every week or so,” White said at last week’s 3SSB Championships in Rock Hill, SC. “Just good conversations. They said Coach Pope is gonna come out and watch me a little bit more this live period. I still hear from them a good amount.”

And true to their word, Coach Pope was courtside last Thursday watching White suit up for ASAK, with assistants Mikhail McLean and Alvin Brooks III continuing to build that relationship behind the scenes. McLean even visited White in Corpus Christi earlier this year  a clear sign that Kentucky sees real potential.

“He just said he likes my progression and likes my game,” White said. “He thinks Kentucky could really build me into an NBA prospect.”

A Star on the Rise 📈

At the 3SSB Championships, White averaged 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and knocked down nearly three triples per game, including a blistering 25-point outing against Garner Road where he hit seven three-pointers.

But it’s not just about the numbers  it’s the versatility and size at 6’8″, combined with that smooth perimeter stroke, that has Kentucky drawing comparisons to Koby Brea, the Dayton transfer who transformed into a second-round NBA pick after just one season in Lexington.

“I’m a shooter,” White said bluntly. “That’s what I get recruited to do. You saw the success with Koby Brea this past year, and just how fast they (Kentucky) play  you get open shots all the time.”

Is an Offer on the Way? 📝

Kentucky hasn’t officially offered White yet but that could change soon. According to White, Pope’s in-person evaluation during the live period is a key checkpoint. “They said Coach Pope coming to watch me is a big step towards that,” he said. “So once he gets back from this live period, he’ll sit down with the coaches, and they’ll go from there with it.”

If an offer does come through, expect Kentucky to move right into the top tier of White’s recruitment.

A Busy Fall Ahead 🍂

White already has a stacked official visit schedule for the fall:

• Virginia (Aug. 28-30)
• SMU (Sept. 6-8)
• Oklahoma (Sept. 20-22)
• Oklahoma State (Sept. 28-30)
• TCU (Oct. 3-5)
• LSU (Oct. 10-12)
• Maryland (Oct. 17-19)

A visit to Kansas is also expected to be added in mid-August, and a trip to Lexington could quickly rise to the top of his priority list if Kentucky makes things official.

“I’m keeping my options open,” White added. “That’s a program I’m looking forward to.”

With his list set to shrink in the coming weeks and a commitment decision targeted for shortly after his visits wrap up, don’t be surprised if Kentucky turns up the heat  and lands a future sniper who fits right into Pope’s run-and-gun revolution.