All posts by z3u9t.icu

2024/25 has been the season of the underdog – something Newcastle United are aware of more than most, having seen off Premier League champions, Liverpool, to claim Carabao Cup glory at Wembley earlier this year.

A central part of ending the Magpies’ lengthy silverware drought has been the underdog’s underdog, Jacob Murphy, with the previously maligned Englishman enjoying a simply sensational campaign at St James’ Park.

Eight years on from joining from Norwich City, the long-serving speedster has finally found his groove, having enjoyed steady improvements last term after finishing with 11 goals and assists in what was, at that point, by far his best-ever Premier League campaign.

A year on, the 30-year-old is now basking in the success of a 2024/25 season that ended with almost double the number of league goal involvements, having rightly been lauded for his “absolutely incredible” form by pundit Daniel Sturridge.

Unfortunately for Murphy, however, it looks likely that he’ll face a battle to hold down a starting berth on the right flank next term, not least with Eddie Howe and co seemingly chasing the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Mohammed Kudus.

Latest on Newcastle's interest in Mbeumo and Kudus

There is an argument that Murphy’s ascension has simply come as a result of the lack of alternatives available to Howe on that right-hand side, particularly with Miguel Almiron returning to Atlanta United back in January.

Of course, the experienced winger deserves credit for taking his chance with both hands, although it has been evident that a fresh face is what the Magpies truly want – not least after bidding £50m for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga last summer.

Now heading into another summer window, all eyes are on Brentford’s Mbeumo, with reports suggesting that PIF are ready to make a bid for the Cameroon international, amid rival interest from Manchester United.

The £60m-rated sensation has enjoyed a remarkable rise of his own, having scored 20 league goals for the Bees this season, with a departure from the Gtech now looking a possibility with just a year left on his current deal.

While the 25-year-old looks to be the club’s leading target, an alternative option has emerged in the form of West Ham United’s Kudus – with the latest reports indicating that the Hammers could accept a bid of around £65-£70m.

As those price tags emphasise, plugging that gap on the right flank certainly won’t come cheap for those on Tyneside, with the club perhaps ruing their decision to cash in on their own Mbeumo and Kudus hybrid.

Newcastle already sold their own Mbeumo and Kudus

Following a season that ended with a League Cup triumph and Champions League qualification, it is difficult to suggest anything should have been done differently, with the Magpies riding the crest of a wave right now.

That said, in years to come the club may look back on last summer’s PSR-enforced transfer activity with a tinge of regret, having sold homegrown sensation, Elliott Anderson, to Nottingham Forest for £35m, while also allowing Yankuba Minteh to join Brighton and Hove Albion for £30m.

In the case of the latter man, he never actually made an appearance for Newcastle, prior to his swift exit, with the Gambian initially signing from Danish side Odense, before joining Feyenoord on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

That stint in Holland, while working under Arne Slot, saw the 20-year-old register 16 goals and assists in 37 games in all competitions, with one scout even noting that he could “reach Sadio Mane[‘s] level” in the future.

An obvious talent then, although with the Magpies needing to comply with financial regulations, the decision was taken to offload Minteh to the Seagulls, a move that has since yielded 12 goals and assists for the young winger. For comparison, Kudus ended the season with just nine goals and assists.

Non-penalty goals

0.17

0.40

0.29

Shots

2.61

2.08

1.66

Assists

0.10

0.18

0.20

Shot-creating actions

3.72

3.80

3.13

Pass completion

83.6%

66.1%

62.5%

Progressive passes

2.75

3.72

2.35

Progressive carries

3.41

3.43

4.41

Successful take-ons

3.20

1.37

2.25

Touches in attacking box

4.41

4.43

7.15

Progressive passes received

7.51

9.25

9.84

A direct left-footer, with pace to burn, who operates on the right flank, the Brighton starlet certainly shares a more than passing likeness to both Mbeumo and to Kudus, a fact that has been reinforced by FBref noting that the pair are among the Premier League players deemed to be statistically similar to him.

The trio are particularly alike with regard to their dribbling prowess, as evidenced in their successful take-on percentage, while they are all adept ball carriers, who can drag their team up the pitch.

Tipped to have “a massive future” in the game by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – who suggested last year that Newcastle’s right wing woes would be “solved” by integrating the youngster – Minteh looks to be the type of player that Howe and co are chasing this summer.

Yes, the Tynesiders could well forget all about that 2024 sale, if one of Kudus or Mbeumo makes the move this time around, although it may well sting that they could have fixed their problem position a year ago.

Anthony Gordon 2.0: Newcastle prepare offer for "world-class" £20m star

Newcastle are prepared to make a series of exciting signings in the transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair May 30, 2025

Everton have now made an offer to sign a “highly talented” defender, whose club are now willing to cash-in this summer, according to a report.

Toffees eyeing defenders with Keane departure imminent

Michael Keane’s time on Merseyside is coming to an end, with the 32-year-old set to leave Goodison Park upon the expiration of his contract this summer, meaning David Moyes will be tasked with bringing in a new centre-back.

There is no shortage of options for the Toffees, who have wasted no time identiying potential replacements for the English defender, with Nantes’ Nathan Zeze the latest player to join the list of targets.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Nathan Zeze

Nantes

£17m+

Yann Bisseck

Inter Milan

£47m

John Stones

Manchester City

Unknown

Victor Lindelof

Manchester United

Free

The need to bring in a new centre-back could also be exacerbated by Jarrad Branthwaite’s potential departure, with Chelsea now keen on taking the Englishman to Stamford Bridge.

One defender who will not be leaving the Blues this summer is Seamus Coleman, with the Irishman’s contract recently being extended by one year, but there have been suggestions that a new right-back could arrive at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Coventry City’s Milan van Ewijk emerged as a potential option for Moyes’ side earlier this week, and a report from Turkey (via Sport Witness) has revealed that Everton have also made an offer for Galatasaray right-back Elias Jelert.

Galatasaray are looking to cash-in on Jelert this summer, amid interest from a range of different clubs, with some unnamed Spanish sides coming forward with proposals of their own.

A deal is likely to be relatively inexpensive, with the Turkish side looking to recoup the €9m (£8m) they spent on the right-back, but a loan deal also remains a possibility, given their eagerness to get him off the books.

Jelert struggling in Turkey despite being "highly talented"

It is clear that Everton need to start thinking about long-term replacements for Coleman, given that the captain is now 36-years-old, and there are some signs the Galatasaray defender could be a suitable option.

The Dane was lauded as “highly talented” by analyst Jacek Kulig during his time with FC Copenhagen, during which time the 21-year-old racked up a great deal of first-team experience at a young age, making 97 appearances for the club.

The next Richarlison: Everton join race to sign "extraordinary" £30m CF

David Moyes is hoping to sign a new striker at Everton this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 20, 2025

However, it would be fair to say the move to Galatasaray hasn’t worked out for the youngster, who has made just a handful of starts for the Turkish champions this season, which suggests he isn’t at the level to make the step-up to the Premier League.

As such, despite the fact Jelert could be available on the cheap, it would be a risk to bring in the Denmark international this summer, and it may be wise for Everton to sign a player who is proven in a major European league.

Barry Ferguson has three more matches left to manage as the interim head coach of Glasgow Rangers before he moves on from Ibrox this summer.

The former Scotland international came in to replace Philippe Clement earlier this year and has only won four of his 12 games in charge of Rangers to date, drawing his most recent clash in the Old Firm derby.

Ferguson, therefore, has not done much to suggest that the new owners, when they complete their takeover, should be looking to hand him the role on a full-time basis moving forward.

In fact, TEAMtalk recently reported that the 49ers want to appoint a fresh face with no prior connection to Rangers, which immediately rules out Ferguson, who has now played for and managed the Light Blues.

The outlet added that Steven Gerrard is also out of the running, because of that stance, and will not be returning to Ibrox for a second stint in the dugout.

Whilst the 49ers will not be pursuing a move for the out-of-contract English tactician, they should be looking for a manager who can be their own version of the Liverpool legend.

Why the 49ers should want their own Steven Gerrard

Back in the summer of 2018, Rangers, who were aiming to put Celtic’s dominant run of league titles to a stop, confirmed the appointment of Gerrard on a four-year contract.

Prior to that summer, the Hoops had won seven Scottish Premiership titles in as many seasons and the Gers needed a manager who could wrestle back control of the league.

Gerrard was a risky appointment, as he had not managed a first-team game by that point, and it was not a move that instantly worked out for the Light Blues, because the English boss needed time to develop a style and to build a squad that was ready to win the title.

Rangers finished in second place, behind Celtic, in the manager’s first two seasons at Ibrox, before they went on to win the division in the 2020/21 campaign, going unbeaten in the process.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st (Champions)

1st

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s side won 32 of their 38 matches that season to clinch the Premiership crown and to stop Celtic from winning ten in a row.

The Light Blues then won eight of their first 12 matches in the following season, taking them to the top of the table, before the manager decided to pursue an opportunity with Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, Rangers have finished second in all four of their seasons without Gerrard at the helm, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement, and Barry Ferguson have all failed to deliver a title to the Ibrox faithful.

The 49ers should, therefore, want to find their own version of the English boss because they now face the same task that the club faced in 2018: stopping Celtic’s title dominance.

Why Rangers should target Frank Lampard

Back in October 2023, when Beale was relieved of his duties, Sky Sports reported that Frank Lampard had shown an interest in the available post at Ibrox.

Almost two years later, the 49ers must target the English manager to see if he would be interested in the job this time around, should Coventry fail to earn promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

It seems unlikely that he would want to ditch the Sky Blues if they make their way to the top-flight in England, but Rangers must attempt to convince Lampard to make the move to Scotland if Coventry do not join Leeds United and Burnley in the top division.

The 46-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 formation, joined the Sky Blues when they were 17th in the Championship and level on points with the bottom three and led them to a fifth-placed finish, to secure a place in the play-offs.

Speaking on talkSPORT recently, pundit Jermaine Jenas hailed Lampard’s ability to work through criticism and claimed that he has done a “pretty special” job at Coventry, which is hard to argue against when you look at the images above.

The former Chelsea midfielder, who played alongside Gerrard at international level for England in their playing days, has had mixed success throughout his managerial career, but is currently thriving at the CBS Arena.

24/25

Championship (Coventry)

29

1.79

5th

22/23

Premier League (Chelsea)

9

0.56

12th

22/23

Premier League (Everton)

20

0.75

19th

21/22

Premier League (Everton)

18

1.11

16th

20/21

Premier League (Chelsea)

19

1.53

9th

19/20

Premier League (Chelsea)

38

1.74

4th

18/19

Championship (Derby County)

46

1.61

6th

As you can see in the table above, Lampard enjoyed early success with sixth and fourth place finishes with Derby County and Chelsea, before being sacked by the Premier League giants and by Everton.

He then endured a dismal interim spell at Chelsea after Graham Potter’s dismissal at Stamford Bridge, earning just 0.56 points per game across nine matches, before taking the Coventry job earlier this season.

Whilst managing at the top of the Premier League may be a step too far for him at this moment in time, Lampard has finished in the play-off positions in both of his seasons in the Championship with Derby and Coventry, which shows that he can motivate and set up a team to win consistently.

Couple that with the respect that his playing career earns him, and there is a compelling argument to suggest that he could be the 49ers’ own version of Gerrard in the new era at Ibrox, as another manager on the up who has something to prove rather than someone who has been there and done it and may not have the same motivation.

Not just Gerrard: "Error prone" Rangers star must not be part of 49ers era

Steven Gerrard is not the only big name who should not be part of the 49ers era at Rangers.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

Like Gerrard, Lampard is yet to win a league title and the prospect of doing that at Ibrox could be an attractive and highly-motivating factor for him, which is why the 49ers could tempt him to leave Coventry if his side fails to win the play-offs.

The English tactician has shown promise at Championship level and has proven that he can galvanise a losing team and turn it into a winning one, which is, in essence, what Rangers are in need of.

Liverpool are looking for reinforcements to strengthen their argument to continue winning silverware and they are now looking to fend off stiff competition for one of South America’s most talented youngsters.

Liverpool kickstart their summer transfer business

The Premier League trophy will arrive at Anfield in a matter of weeks and there is little to be despondent about among the Reds’ support, who have taken to Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s magnificent debut season in charge.

Internally, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have signed extensions to continue their association with Liverpool. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains unsolved amid heavy links claiming the Three Lions international could join Real Madrid.

While the wait goes on regarding his long-term plans, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda to strengthen their forward line following an excellent season for the Japan international north of the border.

Reds scouts have also ran the rule over Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers and it is anticipated that they could make a move to bring the former Manchester City man to Anfield.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the radar to provide competition for Andy Robertson after another solid campaign for the Wolverhampton Wanderers man, even if he would cost around £51 million to lure from the West Midlands.

Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"

Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 1, 2025

Several other names will continue to do the rounds and plenty of transfer scenarios are set to be thrown around in connection with Liverpool, given their status as reigning champions under Slot. Tapping into that theme, the Reds have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s brightest talents once the window opens.

Liverpool make transfer approach for Flamengo's Wesley

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have made ‘informal approaches’ to Flamengo over Wesley as they look to land the Brazilian star following over a year of scouting the full-back. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona are also in contention to sign the 21-year-old, who the Reds see as an ideal successor to Alexander-Arnold should he depart this summer.

Wesley in 2025 – Serie A

Tackles won

9

Successful crosses

8

Completed dribbles

8

Recoveries

28

Goals

0

Assists

1

Chelsea are preparing an opening offer of around £17 million for his signature. However, Flamengo are looking to recoup a fee nearer the £29.7 million mark. Negotiations are expected to pick up pace during the Club World Cup.

Labelled “exceptional” by Felipe Luis, the Brazil international has made 125 appearances for Flamengo in total, registering three goals and five assists. His agent has travelled to England previously to hold talks with Manchester City and Liverpool surrounding a potential transfer, suggesting that there could be legs to this story from more than one angle.

Conceivably, the Reds stand a good chance of landing Wesley due to their position as Premier League title holders. Nevertheless, it will be up to the player himself to determine his next career step.

Looking to splash the cash once again this summer, Chelsea could reportedly kill two birds with one stone by including one of their young loanees in a swap deal to sign an instant upgrade.

Chelsea take one step into Conference League final

Whilst their Premier League form has sparked plenty of concern in recent months, Chelsea are continuing to thrive in the Europa Conference League in which they are expected to stroll to victory. Putting on another show in their semi-final first leg, Enzo Maresa’s side eased past Swedish outfit Djurgarden 4-1 thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and a brace from Nicolas Jackson.

After watching on as his side took one step into the Europa Conference League final, manager Maresca told reporters: “It was the perfect night, an important semi-final and it is a good result. We need to be focused on the second leg.

“The first 70 minutes was good but then in the last 20 minutes we dropped a little bit, but we cannot drop, we cannot relax, because otherwise, it is complicated. We have done a good job but now we need to finish the job at home.”

Chelsea prioritising move for Barcelona star after news of £55m exit clause

The west Londoners are very keen.

ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025

It’s in the final on 28 May that the Blues could square off against Real Betis in Poland. The La Liga side also won the first leg of their tie – defeating Fiorentina 2-1 – and will be looking to step into the final before causing a potential upset.

Occasions made for match-winners, those at Stamford Bridge have already reportedly set their sights on a summer swap deal to welcome another player who would be just that.

Chelsea considering Gittens swap deal

According to Christian Falk and Caught Offside, Chelsea are now considering a swap deal to sign Jamie Gittens, which would see Carney Chukwuemeka complete a permanent move to Borussia Dortmund. The 21-year-old has spent the season on loan at the German club and could now reportedly be used in the Blues’ attempt to sign Gittens.

Chelsea are certainly serious about Gittens too, with contact already reportedly made with the talented winger from Cobham as they prepare to make their move for a player valued at a hefty €50m-€60m (£43m-51m). Whether that contact is enough to convince Gittens into a return to England for the first time since leaving Manchester City as an academy graduate remains to be seen, however.

Praised for his “amazing” form by football talent scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season, Gittens has since scored 12 goals and created another five in all competitions in the current campaign.

By contrast, despite being dubbed “talented” by Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl, Chukwuemeka has scored just once in all competitions whilst on loan in Germany.

Chelsea left it late on Sunday, but Enzo Maresca’s Blues came away from the frantic contest at near neighbours Fulham victorious with a 2-1 win secured at the death.

Pedro Neto smashed home a fierce effort as the clock ticked down to the 93rd minute mark to clinch the dramatic three points, but he wasn’t the only main talking point right after the dust had settled at Craven Cottage.

Indeed, 19-year-old sensation Tyrique George was the hero who got his team back in the contest with the much-needed equaliser, with the teenage attacker now hopeful of more senior minutes to come after his chaotic cameo against Marco Silva’s hosts.

George's promising performances for Chelsea

George would only find himself on the Craven Cottage turf for a mere five minutes before crucially levelling the contest, leaving Maresca delighted on the sidelines that he threw the promising youngster into the game.

This isn’t the Camden-born attacker’s only senior goal of the season to date, however, with George also lethal against Legia Warsaw in mid-April, but the coolness to slot home a chance past Bernd Leno when the likes of Nicolas Jackson were otherwise floundering was mightily impressive all the same.

Now off the mark in the Premier League, George will surely be demanding more first-team opportunities come his way, with the flexible starlet, who can play as a winger or as a number ten, already boasting 36 goal contributions playing for the U18s and U21s.

Minutes played

75

12

Goals scored

1

1

Assists

0

0

Touches

46

4

Accurate passes

31/35

2/2

Shots

1

1

But, he isn’t the only up-and-coming talent that Maresca and Co will be holding out high hopes for, with a similarly dazzling attacker perhaps more equipped to star in the first team over George.

Chalkboard

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

The "world class talent" who could dent George

The Stamford Bridge outfit haven’t always had a glowing reputation when it comes to giving their youngsters plenty of first-team minutes, but this could soon change away from George’s emergence on the scene.

After all, current Palmeiras ace Estêvão is ready and waiting to make an impression in England when he waves his native Brazil goodbye in June, having initially signed a whopping £29m deal in May last year.

The South American prodigy might well be two years younger than his new Blues teammate, but he has terrorised defences on a regular basis for Palmeiras ever since he entered into the first-team picture, leading to Chelsea splashing the cash to land the sensational 17-year-old.

Already heralded as a “world-class talent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, he clearly looks ready to be thrown straight into the deep-end of the Blues first team shortly, coming potentially at George’s expense.

2025

21

6

1

2024

50

19

12

2023

4

1

0

With a hefty 26 goals scored in total for the Brazilian side at a senior level, on top of 13 assists being tallied up, Estêvão will be keen to make an impact on Maresca’s starting XI, knowing he’s ready for that next step-up in quality.

Whereas, with George only managing two goals in the Blues’ first team, on the contrary, his time to become a consistent starter might well come more down the line, with the Brazilian wonderkid also adept at filling in down either wing or as an attacking midfielder like his rawer counterpart.

GOAL.com's 10 best wonderkids in world football.

In an ideal world, both players will be able to kick on next season. But, if it was a toss-up between the two, expect Estêvão to gain more meaningful first-team chances over the Englishman.

Not just Neto: Chelsea star with 100% passing is now undroppable

This Chelsea attacker could now be deemed as undroppable after his side’s dramatic away win at Fulham.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 20, 2025

Celtic were boosted by the return of their captain last weekend when Callum McGregor came into the side for the 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership, and they now prepare to face bottom-of-the-league St. Johnstone.

The former Scotland international had missed out on the defeat to Rangers before the international break through injury, and reminded the supporters of his quality and what the team lacked whilst he was out of the team.

Pass accuracy

99%

Passes completed

66

Key passes

2

Big chances created

1

Tackles + interceptions

2

Dribbled past

0x

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed metronome was almost perfect in possession, completing 99% of his attempted passes, and excelled defensively, as he was not dribbled past a single time.

The Hoops skipper has the ability to control matches with his use of the ball, dictating the tempo of matches with his incredibly efficient passing, and was a vital figure in the 3-0 win.

Arne Engels deputised for him in the number six role against Rangers before the break, but it is further forward where the Belgian’s talents are best suited.

Why Arne Engels has been worth the money for Celtic

The Hoops gambled when they splashed a club-record fee of £11m to sign the 21-year-old gem from Augsburg last summer, as he had only started 13 of his 32 matches in the Bundesliga last season.

Engels did not have a wealth of experience or a track record of excellent performances at a high level for Celtic to be sure of what they were getting when they signed him, which is why it was such a gamble to splash the cash on him.

The Belgium international’s performances for the Scottish giants since his move to Parkhead, however, have proven that he has been worth the money so far.

Engels has delivered at the top end of the pitch with a return of ten goals and 12 assists in 44 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, making him only the second central midfielder – after Matt O’Riley in 2023/24 – to hit double figures for goals and assists for Celtic since the start of the 2020/21 season.

This shows that the Belgian whiz has surpassed expectations, given his lack of experience prior to joining the club, as he has joined an elite group of midfielders – with just him and O’Riley – over the past five years to achieve that record, whilst still having a couple of months left to add to his tally.

There was one Celtic midfielder, however, who did not have his best afternoon in the win over Hearts at Parkhead last weekend, as Reo Hatate struggled against the Jam Tarts.

Why Reo Hatate should be dropped

Rodgers must ruthlessly ditch the Japan international from the starting line-up for this clash with St. Johnstone after he failed to provide an impressive showing last time out.

Hatate was selected to line up alongside McGregor and Engels in midfield, but did not reward Rodgers’ faith in him with an excellent performance on the pitch.

Minutes

81

Touches

74

Shots

2

Shots on target

0

Goals

0

Key passes

0

Duels won

0/5

Tackles + interceptions

0

Dribbled past

1x

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese midfielder offered next to nothing in the final third, and was a liability defensively, losing all of his duels and being dribbled past once.

This shows that Hatate was ineffective at both ends of the pitch, as he did not impact play enough offensively or protect his back four, and that is why Rodgers must drop him out of the starting line-up.

Chalkboard

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

Celtic are against the team that is currently sat at the bottom of the table and that presents the league leaders with a chance to rotate and offer chances to lesser-seen players, including Portuguese ace Paulo Bernardo.

Why Paulo Bernardo should start against St. Johnstone

The former Benfica starlet made his first appearance since the 8th February when he came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Hearts last weekend, having been struggling with an ankle injury.

This clash with St. Johnstone, who are bottom of the table with 19 losses in 31 matches, could be the perfect opportunity to hand him his first start since returning from injury, against a team the Hoops can reasonably expect to boss the game against – given their respective positions in the division.

When he has been fit and available, Bernardo has proven his worth to the Scottish giants with some excellent displays in the middle of the park as one of the number eights ahead of McGregor.

The Portuguese whiz has scored two goals, created five ‘big chances’, and registered three assists in just 11 league starts, which shows that he can contribute offensively, but maybe not to the level that Engels can – meaning that the former Augsburg man can step up in that area.

One of those two goals came against St. Johnstone away from home back in September, as the central midfielder brilliantly found the bottom corner from the edge of the box with a sublime finish.

As well as being a threat in the final third, Bernardo is also a “tenacious” – as described by Rodgers – defender out of possession, constantly looking to win the ball back for his team.

The right-footed dynamo has averaged 4.0 tackles and interceptions combined per 90 in the Premiership, which illustrates his desire to get stuck in with challenges to help his team out defensively. Meanwhile, Hatate has averaged 1.5 tackles and interceptions per 90 and did not make any against Hearts.

This suggests that Bernardo would come into the team as an upgrade on the Japanese dud from a defensive perspective, which could help Celtic to cut out any counter attacks that St. Johnstone may have.

It also suggests that he would be ideal next to Engels in the team because he can provide the defensive edge to complement the Belgian’s brilliant offensive power.

Rodgers plots move for "incredible" star who'd be Celtic's new Elyounoussi

Celtic have reportedly sent scouts to watch the £5m-rated forward in action.

ByDan Emery Apr 4, 2025

It is now down to Rodgers to drop Hatate from the starting XI to make room for the Portuguese talent to come back into the side this afternoon.

Big-money transfers certainly haven’t been alien to Manchester United in recent seasons, with the hierarchy forking out a pretty penny on players in the transfer market.

The Red Devils’ transfer record currently sits at £89m, with such a fee being forked out for the signature of Paul Pogba back in the summer of 2016.

However, the club have previously come close to breaking such a record, especially after forking out a deal with £86m for Antony’s signature just a couple of years ago.

The hierarchy have seen first hand that spending big on such players doesn’t equal Premier League success, especially with the Brazilian leaving for just £19m last summer.

That hasn’t stopped the board from wanting to replicate such deals in the upcoming window, with numerous big-money deals touted ahead of the January market.

Man Utd’s hunt for new additions in January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have ramped up their efforts to land Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with the Red Devils even entering talks to land the Englishman.

However, a deal would likely be another expensive one, with Sean Dyche’s currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature in the coming months.

Ruben Amorim’s men aren’t alone in the pursuit for Anderson’s services, as rivals Manchester City have stormed into the race to land the 23-year-old in the near future.

He’s not the only big-money player currently in the Red Devils’ sights, as the hierarchy have identified Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior as a potential transfer target.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are currently preparing a club-record €150m (£131m) bid for the Brazilian, with the forward having just over 18 months left on his deal at the Bernabeu.

They also state that the player himself could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, especially given his recent fall-out with manager Xabi Alonso.

Why United’s £131m target would be Amorim’s next Garnacho

Not all of United’s stars have joined in massive transfers, as seen with winger Alejandro Garnacho, who joined for a minimal fee from Atlético Madrid as a teenager.

The Argentine managed to force himself into the first-team reckoning a couple of years ago, with the youngster registering nine combined goals and assists in his first season as a professional.

His next two seasons with the Red Devils would follow in a similar vein, as the 21-year-old scored 21 times and registered 15 assists – one of the best returns in the first-team squad.

However, it wouldn’t be enough to maintain his future at Old Trafford, as Amorim constantly made an example of him for his attitude issues which resulted in him being frozen out of the squad.

Garnacho would depart the club during the summer, joining Premier League rivals Chelsea in a deal worth a reported £40m – a decent fee given his failures in Manchester.

Despite the sale, Amorim could get his next version of the Argentine in January, especially if the hierarchy sanction a club-record move to land Vinicius.

As previously mentioned, he’s constantly had his own disciplinary issues, with it all coming to a head in the meeting with Barcelona, as the Brazilian reacted furiously to being substituted.

Such issues could lead to his exit from the Bernabeu, potentially leading to a switch to England and finally getting a taste of the greatest division in the world.

However, despite his struggles, he’s managed to impress on the pitch in recent times, with his numbers leading to Thierry Henry labelling him the “best in the world”.

Games played

13

Goals & assists

9

Progressive carries

8.9

Progressive passes

4.8

Pass accuracy

80%

Key passes

2.9

Passes into final third

1.9

Take-on success

38%

Carries into final third

2.9

Vinicius has already registered nine combined goals and assists in LaLiga this campaign, a tally that would make him the most effective player in Amorim’s current side.

Tallies such as 8.9 progressive carries and his 38% take-one success further highlight the talent he possesses with the ball, potentially having the creative nature to provide those around him with opportunities.

His passing stats also make for excellent reading, with the Brazilian making 2.9 key passes per 90, 1.9 of which going into the final third – arguably making him the perfect all-round attacker.

£131m would be a massive statement of intent from the board, but it’s a deal that would no doubt hand the first-team yet another world-class attacking option.

However, his attitude will certainly need to be watched, especially given the recent decline of Garnacho, with Amorim needing to keep the attackers’ feet firmly on the ground.

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Rangers manager Danny Rohl has confirmed that as many as six players are currently injury doubts to square off against Livingston in the Scottish Premiership this Saturday.

It’s bad timing for the Gers, who are attempting to make it four league wins from four under their new manager. Victory over bottom side Livingston would also see those at Ibrox rise to third if Hibernian also fail to beat Dundee. It would be the result of the strong start that Rohl has made to turn things around following the disaster that was Russell Martin’s tenure.

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The German told reporters in the build-up to Rangers’ return to action that he believes they’re “in a good way”, but still need to work on breaking old habits on the pitch.

As January approaches, the former Sheffield Wednesday boss may also be eyeing up some potential improvements to his squad amid recent links with the likes of Kilmarnock’s David Watson.

The midfielder would add the kind of depth that the Gers could do with this weekend following the latest injury news.

Rangers vs Livingston team news

As revealed by Rohl, as many as six stars could miss Rangers’ game against Livingston this weekend following a frustrating international break. Mikey Moore, John Souttar, Derek Cornelius and Bailey Rice are all certain to be absent after picking up knocks, whilst Youssef Chermiti and Liam Kelly are facing a race against time to return to full fitness.

Rohl told reporters: “I am very happy and very proud of my players during the international break. We do have a couple of injuries from players returning, such as John Souttar, Micky Moore, and Derek Cornelius, who all have muscle injuries. Bailey Rice got injured during training, and Liam Kelly is a question mark at the moment.”

It’s a particular blow for Tottenham Hotspur loanee Moore, who scored his first Rangers goal against Dundee just before the international break. The 18-year-old, who was dubbed “brave” by former manager Martin upon arriving, has now seen his recent momentum halted by an untimely injury.

With Rangers set to face Braga in the Europa League next Thursday, Rohl will hope to have a positive update on several injuries just in time for what is a crucial game.

Rangers open talks to sign "quality" attacking star ahead of Aberdeen

While they haven’t been perfect, Arsenal have been far and away the best team in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are sitting four points clear of second place, and while the attack is yet to click fully, the rest of the team have been exceptional.

One of the standout stars, as was the case last year and the season before that, has been Declan Rice.

The England international has been a difference maker on more than one occasion so far, and so fans should be delighted about reports linking Arsenal to someone who could be another Rice-type signing.

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On top of becoming even more of an attacking threat in that left-eight position he moved into last season, the former West Ham United captain has shown more of that defensive steel he was famous for, dropping into a double pivot on several occasions with Martin Zubimendi.

So with the Englishman thriving in all phases of play, it’s not a surprise to see Arsenal moving for another player of his ilk, an international star in the making: Adam Wharton.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims the Gunners are one of several sides keen to sign the Crystal Palace star.

The report has revealed that, alongside the North Londoners, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United are racing to sign the 21-year-old, while Real Madrid are also keeping tabs on the situation.

However, on top of beating out the competition, the Gunners will have to stump up around £100m to tempt the Eagles into selling the jewel in their crown.

With all that said, Wharton’s immense ability and potential make him a player worth pushing the boat out for, particularly after an impressive first start for his country during November’s international break.

Why Wharton would be another Rice for Arsenal

Described as “the best U21 player in the Prem” by one analyst, if Arsenal were to bring Wharton to the Emirates in January, it would be another example of them poaching a highly rated central midfielder from another Premier League side.

Moreover, they would once again be taking a non-big six London-based outfit’s best English central midfielder.

Finally, it would be the second time within a three-year period that the North Londoners spend north of £100m to do so.

Now, beyond what would make the deals so similar, what makes the Palace ace analogous to the former West Ham star?

Well, like his older compatriot was at the time of his move, the 21-year-old ace is very highly rated, with former Sky Sports employee Matthew Stanger labelling him a “generational talent” and one CONCACAF B certified coach dubbing him “the best deep-lying English midfielder since Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.”

While that is indeed supreme praise, it’s easy to see where it has come from, as much like the 72-capped England star, he is capable of doing more than just sitting deep and shielding the back four.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for expected assisted goals, the top 4% for key passes, the top 5% for through balls, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90 minutes.

Key Passes

2.07

Top 4%

Through Balls

0.58

Top 5%

Expected Assists

0.22

Top 6%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

1.29

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.75

Top 10%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.26

Top 13%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.39

Top 17%

Crosses

2.78

Top 18%

Additionally, he has already won three senior caps for the Three Lions, and played a pivotal role in the Eagles winning the FA Cup last season – the first major honour in their history.

Ultimately, it is still early in his career, but Wharton looks to be a superstar in the making, and under someone like Arteta, could develop into another Rice-type monster.

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