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Nuno Espirito Santo will be hoping that his Nottingham Forest side can put their disappointment of losing the FA Cup semi-final to good use in returning to Premier League action full of fight.

After all, Forest only find themselves outside of the coveted top five positions in the division on goal difference, with clashes to come in May giving them the perfect opportunity to clinch Champions League football over rivals Chelsea and Aston Villa.

To confirm a spot amongst Europe’s elite, however, the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss will know he needs everyone performing at their optimum, with Murillo needing to put in even more dominant displays at the back to ensure victories are forthcoming.

Murillo's impressive season at Forest so far

The City Ground hasn’t had the reputation this season for producing jaw-dropping spectacles in terms of goals, with a low 24 goals being scored in total by the Tricky Trees across 16 home contests.

But, the resilient defensive displays consistently on show will have pleased the Forest masses watching on, away from the entertainment levels being hit-and-miss, with Murillo in the heart of the defence constantly leading by example.

The Sao Paulo-born centre-back is the dictionary definition of a player who plays with his heart on his sleeve, leading to Murillo averaging a hefty 6.7 clearances on average this season in the Premier League.

Collecting 11 clean sheets across 32 league outings too, the £15m once forked out on his signature back in the summer of 2023 continues to look like an unbelievable bargain, with the 22-year-old’s valuation now standing at a whopping £46m as per Transfermarkt.

Forest will aim to hold onto Murillo for as long as they can, with another top performer for the season unfortunately tipped to move away from Nottingham as Manchester City come sniffing about.

The "sensational" star who could be Forest's next Johnson

This wouldn’t be new territory for the Garibaldis if another of their standout figures were to up and leave for more luxurious pastures, considering Brennan Johnson departed the club in September of 2023 for a chance at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs would have to cough up a significant £47.5m to land the tricky Welshman, but that price tag was more than justified when you take into account Johnson’s eight-goal heroics during Forest’s debut season back amongst the top tier’s elite.

Well, Morgan Gibbs-White could soon follow Johnson’s upward trajectory if reports are to be believed, with Manchester City – the side who just knocked Forest out of the FA Cup – reportedly eyeing up a move for another of Espirito Santo’s standout talents.

talkSPORT have previously suggested that it would take a ridiculous fee of £100m for Forest to consider parting ways with their classy number ten, though, meaning he’s now worth even more than the aforementioned warrior figure of Murillo, and for good reason.

Games played

113

Goals scored

16

Assists

27

Value when joining

£25m

Value now

£70m

Increase in %

180%

The former Wolves youth product turned Tricky Trees royalty has really come into his own this campaign, with the explosive attacking midfielder up to a stunning 14 goal contributions in all competitions, leading to Pep Guardiola and Co circling.

Purchased for just £25m from Wolves, Gibbs-White is yet another example in Espirito Santo’s camp of smart and well-thought-out buys paying off in the long-term, with Murillo’s original £15m price-tag looking like peanuts too.

Of course, the Champions League chasers will want to keep their “sensational” – as he’s been previously lauded by football writer Louis Wheeldon – midfielder around for as long as possible.

But, the allure of the Etihad could prove too strong to turn down, particularly if Forest slip up in their pursuit of the top five.

Just imagine him & Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest keen on signing £30m star

Nottingham Forest could be about to make a huge signing that would take Morgan Gibbs-White to the next level.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 30, 2025

With other Premier League sides emerging in the race to sign James Trafford this summer, Newcastle United have reportedly turned their attention towards an impressive Ligue 1 alternative.

Interest growing in Trafford as Newcastle consider other options

Whilst the Magpies have reportedly had personal terms agreed with Trafford since last year, they’re yet to get a deal over the line with Burnley and may lose out amid the fresh interest of Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Suddenly, Newcastle could be left scrambling to find another top target to replace the ageing and struggling Nick Pope.

The Newcastle No.1 has had plenty of injury struggles in the last year or so and is yet to provide convincing form since returning to full fitness. Now, for the first time in his time at St James’ Park, the shot-stopper’s place is in doubt.

Trafford would arguably be an instant upgrade on Pope too, having enjoyed an excellent season in the Championship with Burnley, who have been one of the best defensive side’s in the division’s history.

Starts

41

21

Clean Sheets

28

5

Saves P90

1.78

3.14

Save Percentage

85.2%

71%

More clean sheets than Pope has managed Premier League starts this season, Trafford is one that Newcastle will not want to miss out on in the coming months.

On that note, however, it seems as though those in Tyneside are at least planning for the worst, having identified a number of alternative options. The likes of Aaron Ramsdale, for example, have been among the headlines as of late and reportedly finds himself on Newcastle’s radar despite suffering relegation at Southampton.

Newcastle in talks to sign Marseille winger Luis Henrique

The Magpies want to beat one of their league rivals to his signature.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 15, 2025

What’s more, the Magpies have also reportedly turned their attention towards an option outside of English football and one who has attracted plenty of attention from the Premier League.

Newcastle make first checks on "incredible" Fofana

According to The Boot Room, Newcastle have now made their first checks in the race to sign Yahia Fofana from Angers this summer. They’re not alone in their interest, however, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City all reportedly sending scouts to watch the goalkeeper secure a clean sheet in a recent 2-0 victory over Montpellier.

So, just like in the race to sign Trafford, Newcastle must battle their way past a growing line to get themselves front of the queue for Fofana, who has already earned plenty of praise this season.

Praised for an “incredible breakout season” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in the last campaign, Fofana has only improved since then and now rightly finds himself on the radar of the Premier League. If Newcastle miss out on Trafford this summer, then turning towards the 24-year-old would certainly be a good idea.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has had to think somewhat outside of the box in recent weeks in the absence of first-choice centre-forward Nicolas Jackson.

The 23-year-old Senegal international has been out injured with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last five Premier League games.

Although the Chelsea boss confirmed he will be available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night, it remains to be seen if he will start. Replacing him has not been easy; the 23-year-old has nine goals and five assists in 23 Premier League games this term.

One of the players tasked with stepping up in the absence of Jackson was Christopher Nkunku.

The latest on Christopher Nkunku’s Chelsea future

Nkunku’s numbers this season across competitions are more than reasonable. The Frenchman, who is a graduate of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, has scored 14 times and grabbed five assists in 38 games.

However, just three of those strikes and two assists have come in the Premier League in 25 games. In the run of five games without Jackson, the former RB Leipzig star has scored and assisted just two goals, both of which came against Southampton.

However, his form across the season could well be a concern for the Blues. This could lead to Nkunku’s departure in the summer transfer window. A report from GiveMeSport at the end of March suggests the Frenchman will leave Stamford Bridge.

He was close to leaving the club in January for a fee reported to be £60m. A return to the Bundesliga was on the cards, with Bayern Munich supposedly interested. Now, it seems a departure is inevitable.

If he is to leave the club in the summer, perhaps Chelsea already have their dream replacement waiting in the wings, in the form of a young talent who is currently out on loan.

Chelsea’s in-house Nkunku replacement

Chelsea have infamously become known for buying lots of elite young talent over the past few summers and keeping them on the backburner until they are ready to make an impact at first-team level.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Well, one of the best examples of this is perhaps 19-year-old striker Deivid Washington. The Brazilian is currently on loan at Santos, the club from which he was originally bought from by the Blues back in August 2023.

He has only played two games and 28 minutes in his second spell at the Brazilian giants, and is yet to find the back of the net. However, he did score two goals during his initial stint at the club, after breaking through the esteemed academy that produced the legendary Neymar, now a teammate of Washington.

The attacker, who can play as a centre-forward, out wide on the left or just behind the striker, has made a real impression for the Blues’ youth team so far.

Across two seasons, he has scored ten goals and grabbed an assist in 18 games.

Premier League 2 (2023/24)

9

5

0

Premier League 2 playoffs (2023/24)

2

1

0

EFL Trophy (2024/25)

2

0

0

Premier League 2 (2024/25)

5

4

1

He has also shown goal-scoring nous for Brazil’s under-20s. He has been handed eight caps at that level of international football, scoring three goals, including a fantastic diving header against Ecuador.

The Santos academy graduate was once described as a “highly talented” star by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and this certainly rings true when looking at what he has achieved in academy football so far.

With more exposure to senior football as a Santos player and, in the longer term, in a Chelsea shirt, the Blues could have an excellent player on their hands. He has already played three times for the West Londoners, and will surely hope to be given even more of an opportunity.

He is certainly a player Chelsea fans can get excited about, and if Nkunku does depart this summer, then Maresca might have a ready-made replacement waiting for his chance in 2026.

He's like Gyokeres: Chelsea plot bid for "one of the best STs in the world"

Chelsea are targeting another player to improve the options within the final third.

1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 1, 2025

Director Andrea Berta has personally held talks over signing a high-earning player as one of his first actions at Arsenal, and it is believed the Gunners target could now be tempted to join Mikel Arteta’s side as a result.

Andrea Berta's list of forward targets at Arsenal

Rumours have surrounded the acquisition of a new striker for Arsenal this summer, with Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko all repeatedly linked.

Arsenal: Berta tells Arteta to sign "powerful" forward likened to Aguero

He’s been compared to Man City’s all-time top goalscorer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

Following Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz’s long-term injuries, the need for another prolific option up top is made all the more prevalent, with midfielder Mikel Merino currently being used as an emergency makeshift striker.

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Arsenal are developing a strong interest in Gyokeres to fill the void from next season, according to David Ornstein, while fellow reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has tipped Berta to make an offer for Isak.

However, while a new striker is believed to be high on Berta’s agenda, the Italian also plans to upgrade Arteta’s wide options.

According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal are targeting a left-winger this summer, and they’re even pondering the possibility of bringing in someone who can compete with Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.

Last summer, under ex-director Edu, Arsenal displayed a real interest in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams for the role.

It was reported at the time that Williams was a top target for Arteta, off the back of an impressive 2023/2024 campaign where he bagged 19 assists in all competitions, but the Spain international opted to remain at Bilbao for this season.

The 22-year-old’s contract includes a £48 million release clause, and Arsenal’s interest hasn’t gone away. However, they face very stiff competition for his services, as Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also targeting Williams.

Andrea Berta holds Arsenal talks with Nico Williams targeted

That is according to The Guardian and journalist Ed Aarons, who states that Berta has personally held Arsenal transfer talks with Williams’ representatives in “one of his first acts” as director.

In his report for The Guardian, Aarons also reports Berta’s influence could tempt Williams to join Arsenal over elite clubs in the race for his signature – following two years of heavy scouting from the Gunners.

The £200,000-per-week forward is also expected to push for a summer exit, but while his £48m release clause will be enticing, the major obstacle will lie in his rumoured wage demands. Williams apparently wants as much as £300,000-per-week at his new club, which would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player.

The question is, would he be worth it? Williams carries a reputation as one of La Liga’s most highly-rated young attacking stars, completing the fifth-highest rate of successful take-ons per 90 in the entire division (WhoScored), and his exciting style would hand Arsenal another major weapon in the final third.

His return has lessened this season compared to last – scoring nine goals and assisting seven others in all competitions – but his form has picked up lately as we approach the summer window.

Being a referee in the Premier League is arguably one of the toughest jobs in football, with a select group of officials regularly entrusted to take charge of top flight fixtures.

Even though VAR is still causing plenty of controversy week in, week out, decisions on the field are now more important than ever, with technology doing its best to try and not get involved unless it is ‘clear and obvious’.

The game is also arguably faster than it’s ever been, so referees need to be extremely fit and quick to react. But who is the best referee in the Premier League right now?

Rank

Ref

1

Anthony Taylor

2

Michael Oliver

3

Stuart Attwell

4

Craig Pawson

5

Jarred Gillett

6

Darren England

7

Chris Kavanagh

8

Simon Hooper

9

Andy Madley

10

Peter Bankes

11

Robert Jones

12

Michael Salisbury

13

Tony Harrington

14

Samuel Barrott

15

Thomas Bramall

15 Thomas Bramall

One of the least experienced referees in the Premier League, Thomas Bramall was the man in the middle that made a huge mistake by disallowing Aston Vila’s goal against Man Utd on the final day of the 2024/25 season.

That arguably cost Villa a place in the Champions League, but the PGMOL have stuck with Bramall, who, at 35 years of age, appears to be a referee in the early stages of his top flight career.

14 Samuel Barrott

One of the card happiest referees in the Premier League, Samuel Barrott is one of the most inexperienced officials in the top flight after making his debut in 2023/24.

He took charge of 23 games in 2024/25, apologising for one mistake he made in Crystal Palace’s defeat to Brentford after wrongly ruling out Eberechi Eze’s free-kick.

13 Tony Harrington

Tony Harrington is among the referees to average the least amount of fouls awarded per 90, but that doesn’t make him a bad official.

He made his Premier League debut in 2021/22 but just hasn’t been given a regular run of games in the top flight. Harrington’s best tally of games came in the 2024/25 season where he officiated 18 fixtures.

12 Michael Salisbury

Michael Salisbury has never been a regular in the Premier League after taking charge of his first game in the 2021/22 season.

He was on VAR duty and instructed referee Robert Jones to look at Josh King’s goal against Chelsea which was incorrectly ruled out. Salisbury was dropped by the PGMOL shortly after.

11 Robert Jones

Nottingham Forest aren’t the biggest fans of Robert Jones, with Evangelos Marinakis’ side lodging an official complaint against the 38-year-old after a series of decisions against the Reds.

He was the first Premier League referee to ever perform a red-card rejection, however, some of Jones’ decisions are controversial and he averages awarding a penalty every three games.

10 Peter Bankes

Peter Bankes has now reffed more than 100 games in the Premier League since 2019, however, the Merseyside-born official has regularly come in for criticism from fans.

Former referee Keith Hackett even said Bankes looked “out of his depth” in 2025 after a decision he made in Man Utd’s clash with Bournemouth.

9 Andy Madley

A FIFA licensed referee who has taken charge of the FA Cup final, Andy Madley has taken charge of more than 100 Premier League games since 2017/18.

More recently, he has made some controversial decisions, including one between Everton and Man Utd which resulted in Toffees fan Tony Bellew calling him a “cheat”.

8 Simon Hooper

Often blowing early instead of allowing advantage, Simon Hooper has enraged Premier League players and managers in recent years.

An experienced top flight official after making his debut in 2015, Hooper has often come in for criticism and was actually injured at the end of October in Liverpool’s defeat to Brentford, while he was also the man in the middle during the Reds’ controversial defeat at Tottenham in 2023.

7 Chris Kavanagh

Chris Kavanagh has been a hot topic of conversation in recent years, whether it be for sending off Declan Rice for kicking the ball away or leaving Bruno Fernandes upset after he missed his penalty.

The Greater Manchester official has been on FIFA’s books since 2019 and is closing in on 200 Premier League matches at the age of 40.

6 Darren England

Another FIFA referee, Darren England caught the eye of the international governing body after two years as a Premier League official.

He was a part of the VAR team that somehow incorrectly ruled out Luis Diaz’s goal for offside in Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham, but in recent years on the pitch, has been consistent.

Arsenal are well-stocked all over the pitch and boast one of the finest squad depths in England, yet they continue to be linked with high-profile transfers ahead of January.

Arsenal overcome Brentford to go five points clear

On the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their commanding lead at the Premier League summit with a professional 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

The victory extended their unbeaten streak to an incredible 18 matches across all competitions, with Arteta seriously rotating his squad following a recent demanding triple-header against Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze were all rested from the starting lineup, but the Gunners’ strength in depth showed with Ben White and Noni Madueke combining brilliantly down the right throughout.

The opener arrived early on when White delivered an inviting cross that found Mikel Merino, who powered a header past Caoimhin Kelleher for his fifth goal of the campaign.

The Spaniard, who Arteta never expected to be the proficient going forward, has now netted 21 times in 2025 for club and country, showcasing his remarkable goalscoring form.

Arsenal suffered a blow before the interval when Cristhian Mosquera limped off with an ankle injury, compounding their defensive concerns with both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba already sidelined. Timber then replaced the injured defender as Arteta juggled his limited centre-back options.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews introduced Igor Thiago, Mikkel Damsgaard and Jordan Henderson from the bench after an hour, while Arteta countered by bringing on Saka and Eze.

Arsenal controlled proceedings but missed several opportunities to seal the contest earlier.

Arsenal hold new talks with Juventus star who Alonso has recommended to Real Madrid

The Gunners are ‘captivated’ by him.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 3, 2025

To add further injury worry after Mosquera, Arsenal’s arguable player of the season, Declan Rice, departed late with a calf problem, with Arteta now sweating over his fitness ahead of a hectic Christmas schedule and the clash with Aston Villa.

Saka finally made the points safe in stoppage time, latching onto Merino’s perfectly weighted pass before finishing past Kelleher despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the effort.

Given Arsenal’s injury curse which has plagued them since last season, sporting director Andrea Berta will be attentive to any unmissable transfer market opportunities.

Enter Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who is reportedly up for sale this winter after playing a bit-part role under Xabi Alonso.

Rodrygo expresses wish to join Arsenal as agents open talks

Arsenal have already been linked with a move for the Brazil international heading into January, following exploratory talks over a deal last summer.

The 24-year-old has managed just three La Liga starts this term, making the vast majority of his appearances off the bench, with Rodrygo believed to be in the process of finding a new club.

That is according to TEAMtalk and reporter Graeme Bailey, who also state that Rodrygo has ‘expressed a wish’ to join Arsenal among four other Premier League sides he’s also interested in.

Crucially, though, the ex-Santos star’s agents have apparently reopened talks with Arteta’s side, who also ‘pushed hardest’ to sign him in the summer window.

However, Arsenal will need a minimum £70 million to strike a deal, with a loan appearing unlikely as things stand.

Berta and co, meanwhile, are believed to be monitoring his situation closely, which isn’t hard to see why given their bad luck with injuries, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

The latter wingers are both out of contract in under two years, and with no sign of an extension for either, Arsenal need to think about long-term succession planning.

Rodrygo’s £282,000-per-week salary would put him in line with Arsenal’s highest earners, so it is an expensive transfer to pull off beyond just his club fee.

That being said, Rodrygo is also a player of proven quality, having racked up 68 goals and 53 assists in under 300 appearances for Los Blancos.

The 2025/26 season has been one full of inconsistency for Newcastle United. Whether it be on the field or in the treatment room, they cannot seem to string a positive period together.

After drawing 2-2 in last-gasp fashion with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening, it meant that Eddie Howe’s men have not won back-to-back games since the end of October.

In the Premier League, they are yet to win consecutive fixtures all campaign long. This cannot go on forever and sooner rather than later, the Magpies are going to need to sustain a period of form.

They have, of course, been hampered by Alexander Isak’s departure but in their bid to replace the iconic Swede, they have not been helped by Yoane Wissa. Signed from Brentford, the DR Congo striker is yet to be seen in the famous black and white stripes due to injury.

That said, he is nearing a return. Perhaps the former Bees forward could be the man to spark some extra life in this Newcastle team.

The tactical tweaks Eddie Howe needs to make at Newcastle

To cut Howe some slack, he has not been helped out by a number of his chief lieutenants this season.

In the last few weeks, Nick Pope has become something of a calamity between the sticks and even if he is now injured, it would not be a surprise to see Aaron Ramsdale replace Newcastle’s no.1 long-term. That feels like a necessary change if they are to improve at the back.

The defence has not been helped by injury either. Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have both missed games and if Howe can now keep the English duo injury-free, they will be key to any improvement Newcastle make in the future.

Hall, in particular, has been outstanding since returning. He was hailed as the “best player on the field” against Spurs by BBC North East correspondent Andy Sixsmith and looks every bit a left-back who should be in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer.

Hall’s return has led to one key tactical tweak. Dan Burn is no longer playing at left-back. In that position, he had floundered and flattered to deceive, notably described as “the stuff of nightmares” in that role.

It’s in midfield and up top where Howe has struggled to find the most consistency. Summer arrival Anthony Elanga is still without a goal since arriving and Wissa’s injury problems are well-documented.

Anthony Gordon is arguably in the worst form of his Toon career too, scoring just once in nine league outings throughout 2025/26. It’s just as well they also have Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes to choose from in wide areas.

Gordon has been one of the biggest scapegoats of the ongoing campaign but there’s a bigger one in the middle of the park and it’s time for Howe to drop him to the bench.

Newcastle's long-term servant must no longer start regularly

This has been a hugely frustrating season for the likes of Elanga and Gordon but it’s arguably been a worse one for Joelinton, whose performances in the middle of the park are waning.

Signed as a striker by Steve Bruce in a then club-record deal, Howe has worked wonders with the Brazilian, turning him into a no-nonsense midfielder who loves a duel.

He’s been one of the most important components of Howe’s squad throughout the year, delivering his ‘greatest performance’ for the club during that League Cup win at Wembley last term.

Since then, however, it’s been a tale of woe for the former Hoffenheim man. Excusing his first term in England, this is arguably his worst since moving from Germany.

Chalkboard

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

In the words of journalist Mark Douglas in mid-October, he has been “nowhere near his best” in recent memory, leading to sections of the fanbase calling for him to be dropped from the XI.

He remained on the bench in the defeat to Marseille in Europe but has started the last three league games. His form, however, is not getting much better.

Journalist Charlie Bennett noted that Joelinton was “very sloppy” on the ball during Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with Spurs on Tuesday. The club’s number seven lost the ball 11 times out of 49 touches and had a pass accuracy of only 83%.

Minutes played

90

Touches

49

Accurate passes

29/35 (83%)

Key passes

1

Crosses

0

Shots

1

Dribbles

0

Possession lost

11x

Duels won

3/12

Judging by recent performances, which have been gritty but lacking composure, the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock must be wondering what they need to do to start more games.

There is no dislodging the likes of Sandro Tonali and skipper Bruno Guimaraes but there is an extra slot that is being filled, perhaps undeservedly, by Joelinton.

Willock, signed from Arsenal in a deal worth £25m has barely been seen this term. He’s fallen behind in the pecking order and the days of him running riot during that famous loan spell are now a distant memory.

Likewise for Ramsey. He joined from Aston Villa in the summer for a whopping £40m and even if he has struggled with injury, he should now be starting more matches.

The fact that error-prone Joelinton is starting ahead of them on a regular basis should leave the pair rather angry. Newcastle needed some extra drive and the ability to hold onto possession. Ramsey, in particular, with his ability to surge through midfield, could have offered this against Spurs.

Lewis Miley has started the odd game recently and was one of their best players in the win over Everton last weekend. Even he had a right to be fuming that Joelinton has started more games than him.

It’s time for a regular spot on the bench for the big Brazilian.

Fewer passes than Ramsdale: Howe must drop 6/10 Newcastle star after Spurs

Newcastle United were denied another Premier League win by Tottenham Hotspur last night.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Will Rangers be busy in the January transfer window?

Well, new manager Danny Röhl will certainly demand that they are, having taken over a complete mess, following Russell Martin’s short but ill-fated tenure.

Well, after spending around £30m on 13 new recruits in the summer, Rangers reported annual losses of £14.8m in their latest accounts on Friday, despite seeing revenue increase to £94.1m, a club record.

Despite this, the club are still expected to be busy in the January transfer window, but sporting director Kevin Thelwell will be tasked with finding gems in the market, so has one already been identified?

Rangers' search for a new attacker

One of Rangers’ many issues this season so far has been a lack of attacking firepower.

Across all competitions, only captain James Tavernier and Djeidi Gassama have scored more than three goals, with youngster Findlay Curtis and Danilo the only players on three.

Thus, according to a report in Kazakhstan, Rangers are attempting to sign winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek.

They note that “negotiations began” between his representatives and the Glasgow-based giants, while Dundee United and Aberdeen as well as clubs in Slovakia, Russia, Greece are also in the race.

Transfer Focus

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

So, could he soon become the first Kazakh player to represent Rangers, with Kazakhstan thereby becoming the 67th different nationality represented at Ibrox?

What Galymzhan Kenzhebek would bring to Rangers

Despite the fact he is only 22 years old, Galymzhan Kenzhebek has had something of a journeyman career to date.

After bouncing around various Kazakh clubs including Kairat Almaty, a name that’ll send a shudder down the spine of any Celtic fan, and then did something few of his compatriots do by venturing abroad, enjoying stints with Akritas Chlorakas​​​​​​​ in Cyprus and Košice in Slovakia.

He did return home in June, joining Yelimay Semey, for whom he was on fire, scoring six goals in his final nine Kazakh Premier League appearances before the season concluded on 26 October, firing his team up to fourth, thereby qualifying for a major UEFA competition for the first time ever.

However, by the time they play that historic Conference League qualifier in August, it seems unlikely that Kenzhebek will still call Semey home.

The Rangers Journal labels him a “very pacy and direct” winger, also praising his “goal-scoring instincts” and outlining that he is a high-volume winger who “loves to just get the ball and commit defenders”.

Meantime, Kai Watson was also impressed, noting that he is a “quality ball carrier” and could add quality to the Rangers squad at a pretty low price.

Well, as well as starring for his club, Kenzhebek has also made the breakthrough at international level this year too.

He scored his first-ever international goal at the Borisov Arena against Belarus in a friendly in June, before netting twice during a 4-0 demolition of Liechtenstein last month, thereby starting each of Kazakhstan’s last six World Cup qualifiers, including Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Belgium, a famous point, a match Nicolas Raskin also started.

So, could Kenzhebek replicate Daizen Maeda’s success from across the city?

Well, when the Japanese international arrived at Celtic from Yokohama F. Marinos on a bargain deal in January 2022, he was a complete unknown, but his skillset sounds very reminiscent​​​​​​​ to that of Kenzhebek, as a pacey forward who typically operates off the left flank.

While an “inconsistent finisher” right now in the view of Watson – much like the at-times erratic Maeda was when he arrived in Glasgow – Rangers will hope their potential new recruit can go on to eventually prove equally as clinical in Glasgow derbies.

Hibernian

15

7

Kilmarnock

13

7

Hearts

12

6

Livingston

7

6

Rangers

22

5

Motherwell

12

5

Aberdeen

11

5

St Johnstone

10

5

Ōita Torinīta

6

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So, while Kenzhebek is not proven at an elite level, he is seemingly worth the risk and, at a low fee, could prove to be a masterstroke in recruitment?

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Almost a week and a half on from Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation from Celtic, the Scottish champions appear no closer to naming a permanent successor, with this manager saga likely to run and run if recent history is anything to go by.

While the abrupt nature of the Northern Irishman’s exit has no doubt put the club hierarchy on the back foot, there is little evidence to suggest that those at the helm will secure a replacement swiftly.

You only have to look back to the chaos surrounding the Eddie Howe and Ange Postecoglou developments back in 2021.

The fear is that despite a positive week or so on the pitch, the Hoops may well take the easy route until the end of the season, with recent reports suggesting that 73-year-old interim boss Martin O’Neill is in line to see out the campaign.

The enigmatic and much-loved coach has already done a creditable job with two wins from two, although the head should surely rule over the heart. A younger, more long-term appointment needs to be made.

Finding such a figure may well prove tricky mid-season, although a range of targets are already being considered…

Latest on Celtic's manager search

As already stated, the somewhat worrying whispers are that O’Neill could be given the reins until the summer, despite the fact that the treble winner had been parachuted in after a six-year absence from the game at managerial level.

Turning to the veteran coach may well be the only option if Dermot Desmond and co are unable to acquire their top targets, however, with it yet to be seen if the likes of Kieran McKenna can be prised from Ipswich Town.

With a potential return for that man Postecoglou also deemed to be ‘very unlikely’, a clear favourite for the vacancy has yet to emerge, with the Scottish Sun suggesting that the Parkhead outfit have now put together an eight-man shortlist of possible candidates.

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As per that report, among the names who is being considered is 37-year-old Efrain Juarez, with the Mexican coach touted as something of a shock appointment having come out of the blue as a new managerial target.

Currently at the helm of Liga MX side Pumas UNAM, the promising coach previously had a brief spell as a player at Celtic between 2010 and 2012, albeit while making just 21 appearances in total during that forgettable stint.

Also previously an assistant coach to ex-Hoops boss Ronny Deila at New York City FC, Standard Liege and Club Brugge, Juarez does have something of a Celtic connection, with his name thrown into the ring as the Premiership side prepare interviews with prospective targets.

A wildcard move it would certainly be, although similar gambles have paid off in the past for the Glasgow giants…

Why Celtic could appoint their next Postecoglou

As already stated, Celtic are no strangers to chaos when it comes to seeking out a new manager, with the summer of 2021 – in the wake of Neil Lennon’s second Parkhead exit – seeing a protracted pursuit of Howe prove fruitless.

With time running out ahead of the new campaign, a surprise pick was selected in the form of Postecoglou, with the Greek-Aussie later quipping that he was seen as a “joke” by many when he arrived in Scottish football.

Following initial struggles – including a run of three away league defeats in a row – the attack-minded coach quickly quashed the doubters after overseeing two seasons of stunning success, romping to five domestic trophies with a brand of football that has hardly been seen before or since.

Fluid, relentless, breathtaking – Celtic under Postecoglou’s watch were a joy to behold, regularly putting the likes of Rangers to the sword with an almost unstoppable level of performance.

That remarkable stint in charge emphatically extinguished any concerns over his lack of Celtic connection or prior experience in European football, with such a left-field appointment no doubt paying dividends for those at Parkhead.

While Juarez does have brief experience of the club, like Postecoglou he is yet to manage a European side in his embryonic coaching career thus far, having taken over at Pumas in March following a successful stint at Colombian club Atlético Nacional before that.

Like Postecoglou, Juarez has had to fend off the doubters and has done so to notable effect. Indeed, question marks over his lack of experience as a manager were quickly put to bed in Colombia, as he claimed the league and cup double last year.

Days in charge

750

Games

113

Wins

83

Draws

12

Losses

18

Players used

53

Points per game

2.31

Trophies won

5

From 27 games in charge of his former side, he won 15 games and enjoyed a points per game ratio of 1.93. For context, while it is a small sample size, that record exceeds what Postecoglou has achieved in any of his career stints, barring his time at Celtic, where he achieved a 2.31 points per game ratio from his 113 games in charge, as per Transfermarkt.

A passionate coach with a style of play noted for its “quick transitions” – as per journalist Esteban Cristancho Medina – the 4-2-3-1 manager certainly has shades of Postecoglou about him, ensuring he could be a risk worth taking.

While, unlike ‘Ange’, Juarez does not boast a wealth of experience as a manager to date, he has already proven his credentials amid his exploits in Colombia, cultivating a winning formula that could be translated into success in Scotland.

No stranger to being something of an underdog when appointed at his former employers, he would no doubt relish the chance to silence any critics at Celtic – just as Postecoglou did so before him.

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