All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

There is no need to shy away from the fact that Glasgow Rangers need to improve in a lot of areas if they want to claim to be the best club in Scotland once again.

They have not won the Scottish Premiership title for four years and ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy added to the cabinet.

Russell Martin has arrived at Ibrox this summer with the ambition of bringing the Light Blues back to the top, but there also needs to be improvements made off the pitch when it comes to recruitment.

Kevin Thelwell and the recruitment team have to ensure that the former Scotland international has the tools at his disposal to put a successful team on the pitch, whilst also maximising any potential sales.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Gers do not have a particularly rich history of selling talent, with no sales worth more than £20m in their history to date.

However, they have still done well to maximise the money that they have got from sales in recent seasons, with Antonio Colak’s exit from the club standing out as one great example of that.

Rangers hit the jackpot with Antonio Colak

There was a point in time when it looked like the Croatian centre-forward was on course to go down as one of the greatest Rangers strikers of the modern era, after his lightning-fast start to life at Ibrox.

He joined the Light Blues from Greek side PAOK in the summer of 2022 and caught the eye with his early performances in the Scottish Premiership as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first-choice number nine.

Livingston

0

0

Kilmarnock

1

0

St Johnstone

1

0

Hibernian

0

1

Ross County

2

0

Celtic

0

0

Dundee

2

0

Hearts

2

0

St Mirren

2

1

Motherwell

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Colak scored ten goals and provided two assists in his first ten games for the club in the top-flight, which shows that he was on course to be an incredibly prolific number nine for the club.

However, a change in management, with Michael Beale coming in, essentially put an end to his time at Ibrox, as he only went on to score four goals in his last 14 outings in the league after that.

Colak was then sold to Parma for a reported fee of £2.5m in the summer of 2023, and the Gers hit the jackpot with that fee when you consider what he has gone on to achieve.

The Croatian forward has only scored four goals in 48 matches for Parma and Spezia combined since leaving Scotland, and is now valued

at just £850k by Transfermarkt.

This shows that the Scottish giants struck gold with his sale because he failed to replicate his early form at Ibrox elsewhere and is now worth significantly less than the £2.5m they got for him.

European club pushing to sign Rangers star

The Light Blues could be about to repeat the masterclass they played with Colak amid interest from a European side in one of their current centre-forward options.

Transfer Focus

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

According to The Scottish Sun, AEK Athens are pushing to sign Cyriel Dessers from the Scottish giants within the next 48 hours, from Sunday night.

The report claims that the Greek team want to accelerate a deal for the Nigeria international in the next couple of days because they want him to join them on their pre-season tour of the Netherlands this week.

It adds that they have offered a fee of £4m for the experienced marksman, but Rangers are holding out for a fee of £5m, and that haggling over the fee is the last step in a potential deal.

Dessers has already agreed personal terms with AEK Athens, which is why it is now down to the clubs to thrash out a fee, and there could be progress in the coming hours.

Why Dessers could be Colak 2.0

The Nigerian striker could follow in Colak’s footsteps by leaving Rangers and failing to replicate the success that he had at Ibrox in front of goal.

Given how dominant Rangers and Celtic are in the Premiership, playing for one of the big two in Glasgow is a great opportunity for strikers because they know that they will get plenty of chances to shine.

In two seasons at Ibrox, Dessers missed a staggering 48 ‘big chances’ in the Scottish top-flight for the Light Blues, which shows that he has had plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net in the division.

A haul of 34 league goals in two seasons is a respectable return for the striker in isolation, but the 48 ‘big chances’ that he missed suggest that his finishing has not been good enough and that the forward should have even more goals to his name.

Appearances

12

xG

5.49

Goals

3

Big chances missed

10

Ground duel success rate

36%

Aerial duel success rate

45%

As you can see in the table above, Dessers also struggled in front of goal in the Europa League, underperforming his xG and missing ten ‘big chances’.

These statistics suggest that the Nigerian striker, who former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness described as “infuriating” and “invisible” at times, will not continue to score goals at an impressive rate if he is in a team that does not create enough chances for him, because of his below-par finishing.

AEK Athens only scored 48 league goals this season, compared to the 80 Rangers scored in the Premiership, which suggests that Dessers would be part of an inferior attacking unit and would not get as many chances to score.

This, therefore, means that the striker’s value could decrease in the years to come, as a result of a lower goal return, and the Light Blues could look back on a £4-5m deal as a great success, as they can with Colak’s £2.5m exit, as Dessers may not be able to replicate his goalscoring form for the Gers in Greece due to his underwhelming finishing.

Dream Dessers replacement: £6.5m star now keen on signing for Rangers

This Rangers target has said that he would “suit” a move to Ibrox this summer.

ByDan Emery Jun 22, 2025

It is now down to the club to get the best possible deal for the Nigeria international in these negotiations with AEK Athens in the coming hours.

West Ham United could sell Mohammed Kudus this summer and are already making strides in the hunt for his replacement.

West Ham and Mohammed Kudus could go their seperate ways

The Hammers expect plenty of movement in both directions over the next few months and could be set to part ways with one of their best players if reports are to be believed.

Recently, Chelsea have made contact over a potential move for Kudus, and he is also said to be on the radar of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Intriguingly, the Ghana international has a release clause of £85 million that is open to top-flight clubs in England across the first ten days of July. However, it remains to be seen whether a saga involving the former Ajax man will develop at the London Stadium.

In the case of Newcastle, former scout Mick Brown believes they would try and land Kudus at a fee below his exit clause due to the premium involved in a prospective transfer.

“At £85million or whatever his release clause is, there’s no way Newcastle would do that deal. They’ll consider it if they can cut down that price tag, but they’re not sure about him. They’ve got other targets as well, so I think they’re more likely to go for them before Kudus.”

West Ham now racing to sign 24 G/A midfielder who's "out of this world"

The Hammers are now in a straight shoot-out with a rival Premier League club for the signature of a goal-scoring midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Jun 3, 2025

If Kudus were to depart, the Hammers would need to act decisively on the market to secure an appropriate replacement, and they could well now be closing in on a smart acquisition if that turn of events were to occur.

West Ham 'well positioned' to sign Nicolas Gonzalez

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, West Ham are ‘well positioned’ to sign Juventus winger Nicolas Gonzalez and the Argentina international is likely to be on the move for £22 million this summer.

Seen as an ideal replacement for Kudus, the 23-year-old registered five goals and four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last season. While he was not part of his country’s World Cup winning squad he is highly decorated at international level, winning two Copa Americas.

Capable of playing on either flank, as an attacking midfielder or through the middle, he is a versatile presence that could help to allieviate the burden on the likes of Jarrod Bowen when it comes to chance creation.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether Kudus will need to leave first in order for a move to go through or if the finance would be available already in terms of being able to meet both his transfer fee and wages.

Either way, West Ham appear to be stepping up their hunt for attacking reinforcements and there will be plenty of excitement in East London if this one materialises.

Real Madrid are now in advanced contract talks with a star player to try and fend off Manchester United’s recent approach, according to a new report.

Balancing incomings and outgoings the order of the day at Old Trafford

As of now, it has been a rather quiet start to the transfer window for the Red Devils, as they have just completed one bit of transfer business, and that was the signing of Matheus Cunha. More arrivals are expected however, with Bryan Mbeumo heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, and now United are said to be confident in beating Tottenham to his signature.

Man Utd eye £34m Onana replacement from the same place they overpaid for Hojlund

Man Utd and INEOS have now identified a new target to replace Andre Onana in goal.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 16, 2025

United are also being linked with players who can improve them in other aspects of the team. They are seriously interested in signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt and have now added Marco Carnesecchi to their list of options to replace Andre Onana in goal. However, these purchases may have to be put on hold until the club moves some players out the door.

Alejandro Garnacho is one whose time at the club appears to be up, as United are now prepared to sell the Argentine. The Red Devils are looking to get at least £50 million for the attacker this summer. Chelsea were linked with a move for Garnacho back in January, and they are believed to be still interested in a deal now. Meanwhile, Aston Villa have also joined the race to sign Garnacho, as he may be seen as a replacement for Marcus Rashford, who has now returned to Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen have also been linked with a move for the United man, and while their interest is genuine, it is a deal that is unlikely given finances and the fact that Garnacho’s preference is to remain in the Premier League.

Man Utd make approach for Brahim Diaz

Given the Red Devils are willing to sell Garnacho, they have been on the lookout for replacements, and according to a report from Spain, Man United have made an approach to sign Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid.

However, Fabrizio Romano has since revealed Real Madrid are now in advanced contract talks with the forward to fend off the interest from United and others. Indeed, Arsenal also joined the Red Devils in making an enquiry, but it seems the playmaker has made his mind up and will stay put for the forseeable future.

Diaz, who has been dubbed an “astonishing” talent by journalist Mina Rzouki, has been at Real Madrid since January 2019, when he joined the club from United’s arch-rivals Manchester City. The Morocco international has had two separate spells on loan at AC Milan since moving to Spain, but in the last two seasons he has become an important member of the Real Madrid squad.

Apps

117

Goals

20

Assists

19

Last season, Diaz played 31 times in La Liga, as well as 11 times in the Champions League. The Red Devils would have seen Diaz as a perfect player who could play in the wide number 10 role, a position Amorim is trying to improve in before pre-season gets underway.

It has been a funny old season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were abysmally poor in the Premier League and FA Cup but somehow managed to win the Europa League.

Now the North Londoners have the Champions League to look forward to next year, although based on how utterly dominant Paris Saint-Germain were in the final on Sunday, they’ll need to add some real quality to the squad in the coming weeks and months.

Fortunately, recent reports have suggested that the club may well be closing in on the signing of a top-quality midfielder who has won comparisons to one of the stars for PSG in the final: Vitinha.

Tottenham transfer news

The last few weeks have seen Spurs linked with several incredible talents, such as Daizen Maeda and Rayan Cherki.

Transfer Focus

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

The former might not be the most exciting name, but considering he scored an astounding 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 games for Celtic this season, his supposed £25m price tag could represent a real bargain.

Yet, Cherki might be an even better deal, as the young Frenchman has been able to rack up a tally of 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances for Lyon this year and could be available for around £19m thanks to a release clause in his contract.

Even still, the North Londoners now seem keen on someone who’d possibly be the best deal of the lot, and it’s another player from Ligue 1: Angel Gomes.

According to a recent report from journalist Ben Jacobs, Spurs have already made an offer for the England international.

In more good news, he goes on to reveal that while other clubs, including West Ham United, have also made offers for the midfielder, Tottenham have “grown in confidence” that they’ll be able to get their man.

The reason so many teams have already submitted offers to the player is that he’ll be a free agent at the end of this month and, therefore, represents a sensational bargain.

In all, it’s a deal Spurs should be fighting to get sealed as soon as possible, as, on top of his own qualities, Gomes has also won comparisons to the incredible Champions League-winning Vitinha.

How Gomes compares to Vitinha

So, before we get to some of the other reasons Spurs should be signing Gomes this summer, it’s important to address this comparison to the unreal Vitinha and where it’s come from.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in Ligue 1 last season and came to the conclusion that the Portuguse star was the ninth most similar midfielder to the Englishman ace in the competition.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, passing accuracy, key passes, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.29

0.27

Progressive Passes

7.13

7.71

Progressive Carries

1.71

1.74

Passing Accuracy

89.4%

89.7%

Expected Assists

0.21

0.17

Key Passes

1.68

1.57

Successful Take-On %

62.9%

61.5%

Aerial Duels Won

0.24

0.17

On top of his undeniable similarities to a European champion, the midfield “magician,” as dubbed by fellow professional Jonathan Panzo, has plenty of experience.

For example, despite being just 24 years old, the Edmonton-born star has made ten appearances for Manchester United, 32 for Boavista, four for the England senior side and 134 for Lille.

Ultimately, even if he wasn’t available for free, Spurs would be wise to sign the experienced and reliable Gomes, so the fact he’s available for free makes this transfer a total no-brainer.

He's shades of Bale: Spurs confident of signing "superstar" winger for £0

Spurs could sign a player who’s like Gareth Bale this summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 2, 2025

Liverpool have now made contact over a summer deal for a “ridiculous” forward, who is also a target for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, according to a report.

Reds ramping up summer transfer plans

With deals to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez seemingly progressing nicely, the next task at hand for FSG may be to strengthen in attacking areas, given that Mohamed Salah has largely carried the goalscoring burden this season.

Salah’s attacking numbers this term are off the charts, but Jamie Carragher has admitted that he’s had some concerns about whether the Reds’ other forward options, such as Luis Diaz, are at the required level.

Diaz’s ability to play through the middle may tempt Arne Slot to keep hold of the Colombian, considering Darwin Nunez is looking increasingly likely to be heading for the exit door, but there may also be a temptation to bring in a new winger.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Get French Football News), Liverpool have now made contact over a deal for AS Monaco forward Maghnes Akliouche, who has also emerged as a target for French champions PSG.

The Champions League finalists are only willing to spend €50m (£42m) on the winger, however, and with Monaco looking to hold out for a fee of €60m (£51m), the deal is currently at a standstill, which could allow one of the other potential suitors to swoop.

Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on Akliouche, with the latter club recently opening talks over a deal, so there may be competition for his signature from the Reds’ Premier League rivals.

Liverpool now also working to sign young Italian left-back with Kerkez

Michael Edwards isn’t messing around this summer.

ByHenry Jackson May 20, 2025 "Ridiculous" Akliouche starring in Ligue 1

PSG have re-asserted themselves as a dominant force in Ligue 1 under Luis Enrique, but Monaco are also likely to be pleased with their campaign, having secured a third-placed finish, and the right-winger was one of their most important players.

The 23-year-old picked up five goals and 10 assists in 32 Ligue 1 outings, while also catching the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who described the Frenchman as “ridiculous”.

Not only are Liverpool looking at signing a new winger, this summer, but they have also set their sights on an attacking midfielder, with Florian Wirtz recently speaking to Slot about a move to Anfield, although a deal is likely to be on the expensive side.

Akliouche’s main position is right-wing, but the Monaco star has also featured in attacking midfield on a number of occasions, and he may be better suited to playing in that area for the Reds as an alternative to Wirtz, considering it will be very difficult to dislodge Salah.

The transfer window is just around the corner, and it looks set to be a big one for Arsenal.

While Mikel Arteta’s side have had to contend with a torrent of injuries this year, it’s still become increasingly clear that they do not have the attacking options at their disposal to get over the line.

For example, the only player to reach double digits for goals and assists in the squad this year has been Bukayo Saka, who’s done so despite missing almost four months of action with a hamstring injury.

So, with this in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to see the North Londoners being linked to so many talented attackers in recent weeks, including one who has won the Premier League in the past and even been compared to Saka.

Arsenal's winger search

While the priority for Arsenal this summer will likely remain a new centre-forward, the club have still been linked with a plethora of talented wide players, such as Nico Williams and Rayan Cherki.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has a release clause of £48m in his current deal, which doesn’t seem too steep considering he’s still just 22 years old and has managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this year.

However, Cherki could be even cheaper, with some reports claiming he could be available for just £30m, which would be a steal, as in just 43 games this season, the young Frenchman has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists.

Yet, if the club want to go all out on a superstar striker this summer, they might have to go for a genuine bargain on the wing, someone like Leroy Sané.

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Bayern Munich star, and, alongside Chelsea, are currently the frontrunners to secure his signature.

While the competition from the Blues is far from ideal, the good news is that the £245k-per-week star wouldn’t cost anything in transfer fees, thanks to his current deal expiring in the summer.

It might still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Arsenal should do what they can to bring Sané to the Emirates, as he would add some real quality to the attack, and he’s even won comparisons to Saka in the past.

How Sané compares to Saka

So, before we get into some of the other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Sané this summer, let’s examine this comparison to Saka and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it comes from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at last summer’s European Championships and concluded that the Englishman was the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the German in the entire competition.

We can better understand their similarities by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which they rank closely, including but not limited to expected assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Expected Assists

0.09

0.11

Progressive Passes

3.04

3.57

Passing Accuracy

83.8%

83.8%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.03

3.30

Goal-Creating Actions

0.43

0.47

Successful Take-Ons

2.17

2.00

However, on top of their statistical similarities, they are also both predominantly right-sided, left-footed players who have played and thrived under Arteta’s coaching, with the German spending several years with him at City.

Aside from the similarities to their best player, though, why should the Gunners bring the Bayern star this summer?

Well, first and foremost, while he has spent plenty of time off the right, he’s just as capable on the left, meaning he could provide some genuine competition to both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard next season on top of being able to rotate with others in the side.

Moreover, even though he’s closer to the end than the start of his career, the “world-class” international, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has still been seriously effective this term, racking up 13 goals and six assists in 44 appearances, totalling 2348 minutes.

That means the former Premier League winner is currently averaging a goal involvement every 2.31 games, or every 123.57 minutes, which is undoubtedly the sort of output that would give the North Londoners a serious boost.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be going all out to sign Sané this summer, as not only does he share some key similarities with Saka, but he remains a productive attacker and, best of all, he’d be free.

Their answer to Salah: Arsenal make offer for £63m CF who's outscoring Isak

The dazzling striker could be the one to lead Arsenal to glory next year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 14, 2025

Will Manchester City end this season by hoisting aloft silverware?

On Saturday, the Sky Blues will compete in a third successive FA Cup Final, this time facing Crystal Palace, firm favourites to win the competition for the eighth time.

However, Erling Haaland was insistent this week that victory at Wembley would not constitute a successful season, simply echoing the message given by manager Pep Guardiola following the semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest.

So, regardless of the result this weekend, a mass-squad overhaul is required at the Etihad this summer, but could the recently dethroned Premier League champions land not one but two top-class midfielders?

Manchester City is targeting a new midfielder

It’s evident that City are hot on the trail of a crop of new central players with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze linked in recent weeks.

Yet, it’s not all about the England internationals as far as Pep and Co are concerned, with a bid now potentially set to be launched for one of the best midfielders in Italy.

Indeed, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City will “submit a formal opening bid” as they attempt to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan.

The 26-year-old joined Milan from AZ Alkmaar for a reported €20m (around £17m) two summers ago, and his impressive performances mean that, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, he is now valued at £50m.

Matt Santangelo from That Milan Podcast described the Dutchman as “fantastic”, adding that he’s been “Milan’s best midfielder this season”, while Luca Bianchin of Gazzetta dello Sport believes he is ‘one of the most beautiful players to watch in the world’.

With I Rossoneri down in eighth in Serie A and, following Wednesday night’s Coppa Italia defeat to Bologna, it’s looking very likely that Milan will not qualify for any European competition at all, so they’ll surely be under pressure to sell some key assets, merely adding to the speculation that Reijnders could be on his way to Manchester.

Manchester City's new-look midfield

It’s not just Reijnders because, according to a report by Christian Falk and Phillip Arens of Bild, Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen representatives as they aim to sign Florian Wirtz.

This, though, certainly won’t be an easy deal to get over the line given that, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also ‘made contact’ with Wirtz’s entourage, while TEAMtalk notes that incoming Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso would love to bring him from the BayArena to the Bernabéu too.

Patrick Scherer from Kölner Stadt Anzeiger claims that Wirtz is valued at around €100m (around £84m), reflective of the fact that, as noted by Michael Cox of the Athletic, he is ‘one of the most sought-after talents in world football’, adding that he is a top-class creator and ‘brilliant at finding space’.

What is clear is that Wirtz is a world-class talent and, whoever does manage to sign him this summer, will be getting their hands on a genuine difference maker.

What Man City's midfield and attack could look like in 2025/26

But how would Wirtz, Reijnders and the soon-to-be-returning from injury Rodri all fit together?

Well, let’s assess their respective statistics to help answer this question.

Appearances

44

52

50

Minutes

3,302

4,411

4,327

Goals

16

15

9

Assists

15

5

15

Shots

118

123

84

Shots on target %

44.9%

41.5%

32.1%

Attempted passes

2,170

1,848

4,588

Pass completion %

80%

87.9%

91.9%

Progressive passes

229

267

495

Attempted take-ons

205

92

78

Tackles

38

32

84

Blocks

38

24

32

Interceptions

21

49

34

Ball recoveries

141

143

287

Touches per 90

64

40

107

As outlined by the table, these three players as a midfield trio would work really well together, complementing each other’s strengths.

Rodri is pretty much exceptional at everything, no wonder Man City have missed him so much this season, with the Spaniard’s 107 touches per 90 and 4,588 attempted passes particularly eye-catching.

Wirtz meantime, is the creator in chief, one of only six players across Europe’s big five leagues to reach double-figures for both goals and assists this season, alongside Mohamed Salah, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Romelu Lukaku and Gaëtan Perrin.

Meantime, the German’s 205 attempted take-ons is also pretty noteworthy, ranked second in the Bundesliga this season for this metric.

Lastly, we come to Reijnders, who is something of an all-rounder, scoring a very impressive 15 goals across all competitions this season, actually taking the most shots of the trio, while his 49 interceptions stands out too, suggesting he’d been an excellent Rodri partner.

The Dutchman has racked up over 4,400 minutes for Milan during this campaign, sitting out just one of their 53 matches, and this was due to a suspension, and his availability is certainly a valuable asset so, if Man City are able to assemble these three as a midfield trio, they might just become unstoppable once again.

Florian Wirtz now has representatives in Manchester as Guardiola pushes deal

It’s not one they want to miss out on.

1 ByTom Cunningham May 14, 2025

Celtic are on the march to another potential domestic clean sweep, but could now face a battle on their hands to retain a talented young star, per reports.

Celtic take one step closer to a domestic treble

Hampden was literally a sea of green last weekend as Celtic fans packed out the national stadium on Sunday to witness their side batter St Johnstone 5-0 to reach the Scottish Cup final.

Brendan Rodgers now stands effectively one game off becoming the first ever Hoops manager to win three trebles in charge at Parkhead. They only need one point this weekend away to Dundee United to seal a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title.

In essence, Celtic have one match left this campaign that carries direct jeopardy. However, the thought of post-split clashes such as their trip to Tannadice followed by a meeting with Rangers the week after leave enough motivation for the champions to retain a healthy fire in their belly.

Come the summer, Rodgers’ priority will centre around securing Champions League-calibre additions to bolster his side ahead of the final qualifying round.

Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry is a target for Celtic following his refusal to sign a new contract at Selhurst Park. On the same token, Stoke City winger Million Manhoef is on the Bhoys’ radar, though may cost £10 million to bring to Glasgow’s east end.

Celtic fumbled the next Dembele when "generational" star left on the cheap

Celtic fumbled another Karamoko Dembele when they lost Ben Doak on the cheap.

ByDan Emery Apr 22, 2025

While incomings are always on the agenda, it would be negligent to rule out the fact that several departures could occur at Parkhead this summer to make room for fresh blood.

Further down the food chain, Celtic could now be set to lose a talented young star in a scenario that fans have seen unfold all too often in recent years.

Celtic could lose Dara Jikiemi to Nottingam Forest

According to Football Insider, Celtic could lose young defender Dara Jikiemi to Nottingham Forest after the Premier League outfit set their sights on bringing the 15-year-old to the City Ground.

Following some excellent performances at club level that led him to captaining Scotland’s Under-15 side earlier this year, he could become the latest in a long line of youngsters who have departed Lennoxtown to move on before making a sustained first-team breakthrough.

Ben Doak, Rocco Vata, Daniel Kelly, Liam Morrison and Cameron Harper are just a handful of prodigious stars who have left the Scottish champions in recent years while at a young age, enjoying a mixed degree of success south of the border and further afield.

Brexit has made Scottish soil a hotbed for scouts from English clubs due to tightened rules over signing EU-based players while they are under the age of 18. Celtic aren’t immune to this and will routinely face challenges in keeping hold of young talent for years to come.

With one eye on finishing the season strongly ahead of the play-offs and the other on building a squad for the future, Sunderland have now reportedly taken a talented 18-year-old on trial and are closing in on securing his signature.

Sunderland have play-off place secured

With just four games to go in the Championship campaign, Sunderland sit as many as 16 points clear of seventh place West Bromwich Albion and have, therefore, already secured their place in the play-offs. If things stay as they are, then the Black Cats will square off against Sheffield United, who will be the favourites, shock contenders Bristol City and Frank Lampard’s resurgent Coventry City.

As ever though, the drama is far from over in the Championship and anything could still change below Regis Le Bris’ side in the fight to secure a place in the top six come May.

With the pressure off, Le Bris’ side have begun to falter ever so slightly, however, with a 0-0 draw against Norwich City followed up by a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Swansea City to leave those at the Stadium of Light frustrated.

Following defeat against the Welsh side, Le Bris told reporters: “It’s a disappointing result. We had a lot of possession, but it was difficult to create chances – they were well-organised and stuck to their style.

Worry for Le Bris as Newcastle eye possible move for £25m Sunderland star

This would be a massive blow for the Black Cats.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 13, 2025

“They played with an aggressive shape. It wasn’t about keeping the ball – we did that – but we struggled to break them down and create real openings. We have to manage the squad. While the result wasn’t what we wanted, today was an opportunity for some players to get valuable minutes.”

Meanwhile, now that they’ve secured their play-off place no matter what, Sunderland have reportedly had the chance to turn their attention towards signing a future star.

Sunderland closing in on Isaac Allan

Having already offered Crystal Palace fullback Freddie Cowin an opportunity to impress, those at the Stadium of Light have now reportedly taken another young player on trial. According to the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland are now closing in on signing Isaac Allan from Lincoln City with the goalkeeper’s trial already underway and his chance to impress coming against Wolves’ youth side.

The 18-year-old is reportedly open to a summer move away from Lincoln even if the Imps offer him a senior contract at the club and that has seen Sunderland come swooping in.

Sunderland’s interest in a talented young player should come as no surprise. The Stadium of Light has become the land of opportunity for young players in recent years, whether that’s been thanks to the Black Cats’ academy or, indeed, their transfer business.

Both Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham are fine examples of that and now Allan could follow in their footsteps towards Le Bris’ side if he completes his move ahead of the summer. Another one for the future, Sunderland are attempting to build a side not only capable of gaining a Premier League place, but also maintaining it for years to come.

Harvey Barnes played an important role in Newcastle United’s most recent outing against Brentford, in which the Magpies won 2-1. Goals from Alexander Isak and a sublime effort from Sandro Tonali were enough to claim all three points for Eddie Howe’s side.

For that strike from the Italian, it was Barnes who provided the assist. The winger, who started on the left wing, put in a strong performance. As per Sofascore, he created three chances, completed two dribbles, and, of course, grabbed his assist.

After a performance like that, you might expect he’d keep his place in the Newcastle starting lineup for their next game against Leicester City. But, with some players returning from injury, that is not a guarantee.

Newcastle’s team news vs. Leicester

There could be some big players returning from injury for the Magpies’ clash with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester side. One of those is experienced defender Kieran Trippier, who was withdrawn from the game against Brentford.

Likewise, Newcastle’s talismanic striker, Isak, was substituted in the 66th minute. Given his injury issues at times in a Magpies shirt, they certainly do not want to risk him getting sidelined for an extensive period of time.

In his pre-match press conference, Howe gave an update on both of their availability ahead of the Monday night trip to Leicester. The Englishman explained that his squad have managed to avoid “any big injuries from Wednesday night”.

With that being said, he did imply that there was a chance they might be sidelined at the King Power Stadium. Howe explained that his side “certainly have a few niggles”, and it remains to be seen if Trippier and Isak will be available.

There is another player who could be set to return from injury in time to feature in the East Midlands. Newcastle fans would surely love to have him available.

The Newcastle player who could feature vs. Leciester

If Newcastle have Anthony Gordon back for the game against the Foxes, it would be a huge boost. As well as his three-match suspension, the winger picked up an injury on England duty during the March international break.

Chalkboard

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Howe was quizzed about him in the press conference before the Leicester game and gave an update on his progress. It certainly seemed positive, explaining that he is being “monitored” by the medical staff, before saying they “will have to wait and see” if he can play.

It has been another excellent season for Gordon in 2024/25. He has featured 34 times for the Magpies, scoring nine goals and grabbing seven assists. Between the start of November and the end of January, the winger went on an unstoppable run, scoring or assisting ten goals in a run of 14 games. As football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, he is “having a superb season”.

He is a player who steps up in the biggest moments, scoring goals in both legs against Arsenal, in the Carabao Cup semi-final. His goal in the second leg at St James’ Park was the fourth Newcastle scored in the tie and sealed their place at Wembley.

Gordon has the potential to hurt Leicester on Monday. His pace is deadly, and the directness with which he attacks is frightening for defenders. As per Sofascore, he has completed 1.5 dribbles and plays 2.1 key passes per game this term.

Goals and assists

0.5

11

Key passes

2.1

50

Dribbles completed

1.5

35

Expected goal involvements

0.54xGI

12.65xGI

Big chances created

0.3

6

Dropping Barnes for the “exceptional” Gordon, as football scout Antonio Mango called him, might be deemed harsh after his performance against Brentford. However, having the former Everton star available for the Champions League run-in will be crucial.

As he showed against Arsenal, he is a big game player, and with the skillset he possesses, he can be deadly against a fragile Foxes side. If Gordon is fit enough, he surely starts on Monday evening.

Best since Isak: Howe struck gold signing “big game player” for Newcastle

Eddie Howe hit the jackpot signing this “big game player” who’s Newcastle’s best signing since Isak.

ByConnor Holden Apr 6, 2025