All posts by z3u9t.icu

Sheffield Wednesday have a big game ahead of them tonight as they prepare to take on Sunderland once again for the second leg of their semi-final play-off clash.

The Owls fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg on Friday at the Stadium of Light after Sunderland striker Ross Stewart nabbed the ball off Sam Hutchinson and put a shot past Bailey Peacock-Farrell just before halftime.

At the end of the game, the away side could only register seven shots at goal and only one on target.

On the flip side, Sunderland were able to rack up 15 attempts at goal in total with four being on target as well as hitting the woodwork on one occasion.

This shows just how lacklustre Darren Moore’s side were going forward and how proficient the Black Cats were at the same time.

Heading into tonight’s showdown at Hillsborough, it seems as though the home side have been dealt a potential injury blow that could impact their chance of turning the tie around and securing a much-needed victory

What’s the news?

According to Sunderland manager Alex Neil, the Wearside club’s on-loan striker Nathan Broadhead could be available to play in Monday’s game after missing the first leg through injury.

Since arriving at the club back in the previous summer transfer window on a loan deal from Premier League side Everton, the 24-year-old has found the net 13 times in 25 appearances across all competitions.

This shows just how much of an attacking threat he is and why it’d be a big blow for Moore and his side to be potentially facing off against him and Stewart this evening.

To further highlight how much of a deadly attacking figure Broadhead is, only MK Dons attacker Max Watters (75%) has a higher percentage for shots on target in the league this season than him (58.8%).

His overall performances in the league have earned him a season rating of 6.89/10, making him the fourth-highest rated player currently in Sunderland’s squad according to WhoScored.

Whether the striker ends up making an appearance tonight or not, Moore will be hoping to see his Wednesday side put in a much more dominant performance this time out if they want any chance of getting a positive result.

However, that will be a very difficult task if their defence comes up against the Everton loanee.

In other news: Premier League side are pushing hard for this Sheffield Wednesday starlet…

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their transfer interest in Brighton central midfielder Yves Bissouma…

What’s the talk?

According to The Mirror, the Seagulls gem is one of the players PIF are plotting a deal for this summer as they look to bolster Eddie Howe’s side.

The report claims that sponsorship deals could give the Saudi Arabian consortium the ability to strengthen the squad in the upcoming transfer window and Bissouma has been named as a player who may come through the door.

Supporters would love him

The Magpies supporters would love him at St. James’ Park as he would be a sensational addition to Howe’s Toon team ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Bissouma is a tenacious, hard-working, midfielder who also has the quality on the ball to progress his team up the pitch. He can operate in a box-to-box role or in a deep-lying position and has proven that he can perform to a high level on a consistent basis in the Premier League.

Journalist Richie Mills dubbed him a “Rolls Royce” and he has been labelled as an “exceptional” gem previously by Gary Lineker. These comments illustrate how highly rated he is by pundits and reporters as he has impressed since moving to England. 

In the top-flight this season, he has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.10 across 23 appearances, proving that he is a reliable performer – competing at a high level throughout the campaign. He has made a whopping 5.2 tackles and interceptions per game as he has shown that he is able to consistently win the ball back off the opposition to regain possessison for his team.

Bissouma has also completed 89% of his attempted passes and 1.4 dribbles per game at a success rate of 68%. This shows that he has the ability on the ball to make things happen after he makes a tackle or interception, which makes him a well-rounded, quality, midfield player at Premier League level.

Therefore, the fans would love to see him playing in black and white next term as they would enjoy seeing him throw himself into challenges and take opposition players on with the ball at his feet, as his statistics suggest that he would be able to do. It is now down to PIF, however, to ensure that the supporters get that opportunity by snapping up the £50m gem in the coming months.

AND in other news, “NUFC want..”: Mark Douglas drops big Darsley Park transfer claim that’ll delight Howe…

Leeds United have been encouraged to make a move for Matt Targett in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with MOT Leeds News, Paul Robinson stated his belief that, following recent reports claiming that the Whites are one of the sides interested in a move for the Aston Villa left-back at the end of the season, Victor Orta must do all he can to land the 26-year-old this summer, as he would represent a huge upgrade on Junior Firpo.

Speaking about the left of Jesse Marsch’s backline, the former England international said: “I think the left-back position is an area they need to address.

“Stuart Dallas, for me, is more effective in other positions across the field and you can benefit more from his leadership and experience there. It’s just not worked out for Junior Firpo.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title=”Read the latest Leeds United news and rumours!”]

“Whether he comes back next season, hits the ground running and comes back as a different player remains to be seen but, this season, his defensive capabilities have been exposed.

“Leeds have conceded far too many goals down the left-hand side, his mistakes have led to goals have been poor and if they are to develop a side, Targett is a player that is at a level who’d improve upon what you’ve got.”

Orta can axe Firpo with Targett

It is not difficult to see why Robinson believes that Leeds require an improvement at left-back, as it would be difficult to argue with the claim that Firpo has struggled to make any real impression in the side following his £13m move to Elland Road last summer.

Indeed, over his 20 Premier League appearances this season, the £10.8m-rated full-back has endured a rather torrid debut campaign for the Whites, scoring no goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates.

The £55k-per-week Dominican Republic international has also failed to impress in metrics more typical of his position, helping the Whites keep just one clean sheet, as well as being beaten by an opponent an average of 1.1 times and losing possession an average of 9.3 times per game.

These returns have seen the player whose defending Robinson dubbed both “schoolboy” and “inexcusable” average an extremely disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.56, ranking him as Jesse Marsch’s seventh-worst player in the league.

Meanwhile, over Targett’s 13 Premier League appearances for Newcastle this term, the £15.3m-rated left-back has been in sensational form, making an average of 2.6 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 2.4 clearances and 0.2 blocks per fixture.

The £35k-per-week defender has also impressed going forwards, making an average of 1.2 key passes, 1.5 crosses and 1.8 long balls per match, as well as completing 0.5 dribbles and taking 0.5 shots per game.

These returns have seen the player who James Hendicott labelled a “beast” average a WhoScored match rating of 6.99, ranking him as Newcastle’s fifth-best player in the top flight.

As such, it is clear for all to see that Targett would be a huge upgrade on Firpo, leading us to believe that Orta must do all he can to move the former Barcelona man on this summer, before using the funds received from his sale to invest in a move for the much more promising Targett.

AND in other news: Orta can land the next Gelhardt as Leeds eye “incredible” 18 y/o with “so much talent”

Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race and could bring a high-profile star to the Etihad Stadium in January after Pep Guardiola hatched a plan to land his signature.

Manchester City move on after seeing off Leeds United

Truthfully, Manchester City didn’t put on their best display against Leeds United. However, they will be delighted by the end result as Phil Foden’s classy winner prevented back-to-back defeats after losing out at Newcastle United.

Title races are never straightforward and always require steel in the face of uncertainty, albeit Guardiola reserved special praise for the scorer of the Citizens’ crowning strike as they kept on track in pursuit of the top-flight crown.

“It’s not the first time we saw that. A thousand, thousand, million times he’s done it. The quality, shooting, strong. Like his goal against West Ham to win the Premier League. Phil has to be around the box. Shoot or pass. His finishing is so quick. Phil is doing a really good season.”

Back-to-back blanks in front of goal for Erling Haaland may be a sign that more needs to be done in the way of recruiting someone to plug the gaps at the top end of the field. Still, Omar Marmoush is likely to be given more opportunities as the season continues to unfold.

Keeping pace at the top will require investment in January, especially given the Citizens’ rivals are likely to strengthen after a bruising festive period, which is set to stretch everyone’s squad to the limit.

Finding solutions when certain sources of goals dry up will be the challenge for all title contenders, not just Manchester City, but they could be the ones set to benefit early on in the January window if the Sky Blues can wrap up an exciting deal.

Elliot Anderson is one of their main targets but there are other irons in the fire.

Man City keen to activate Antoine Semenyo's release clause

According to The Times, Manchester City are exploring a move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They are considering activating the winger’s £65m release clause on New Year’s Day, potentially beating other suitors to sign the Ghana international.

Although not set in stone, there is a feeling at the club that bringing in the Cherries attacker could be the difference in their hunt for the Premier League title, an opinion that many will share after his flying start to the campaign.

Semenyo’s 2025/26 record – all competitions

Appearances

13

Goals

6

Assists

1

Dubbed “talented” by Jamie Redknapp, Semenyo has also created 15 chances and completed 21 dribbles on Premier League duty, per Fotmob, showcasing his appeal to suitors keen to tempt him away from the South Coast.

Now, it will be over to City officials as they aim to convince Semenyo that moving to Manchester is the best course of action for his career. On the face of it, playing a part in a title chase could be an appealing prospect.

Alongside Anderson: Man City open talks to sign "top-drawer" £70m star

The Citizens are in the market for attacking reinforcements and have now identified a Premier League star.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 30, 2025

One of Everton’s marquee summer signings in 2025 was young centre-forward Thierno Barry. The Frenchman joined from Villarreal over the summer, costing the Toffees a fee said to be £27m. He signed a four-year contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

David Moyes is certainly easing him into his new club, which is smart given he is just 22 years of age. Barry has played just 143 minutes so far, and although he hasn’t scored, his record for the Yellow Submarine last season suggests he has top potential. He bagged 11 goals and assisted four in 35 La Liga games.

Eventually, it seems as though the plan is for Barry to replace Everton’s current first-choice striker, Beto.

Beto’s season so far

The man leading the line this season has tended to be Guinea-Bissau international Beto. The 27-year-old has struggled to find his best form on Merseyside, but this term he’s shown a glimpse of what he can do at his best.

That is best highlighted by the fact he’s already scored this season, both in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield and in the Premier League.

That strike in the top flight came in the 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the former Udinese star opening the scoring thanks to a Jack Grealish assist.

Yet, the striker has not really shown his best form in an Everton shirt, across his time for the club. In 75 appearances since moving to Merseyside in 2023, he’s only found the back of the net 17 times.

Beto’s average of 0.22 goals per game certainly leaves a lot to be desired. There are flashes of brilliance, and he scored eight Premier League goals in 30 games last season, but he has yet to prove himself a reliable and consistent asset.

It may well be the case that Everton look at bringing through a new striker soon enough. Barry is waiting in the wings, and they also have someone out on loan who could be a perfect long-term option.

Everton’s on-loan Beto replacement

The Toffees have certainly got some good options in their academy. Young playmaker Harrison Armstrong is someone who has been in and around the first team and grabbed two assists in the cup clash with Masfield.

Another player who could one day break through and become the eventual Beto replacement is Martin Sherif. The 19-year-old is currently out on loan at League One club Rotherham United and has made a strong start despite picking up an injury.

The Dutchman, who has played for the Netherlands at under-17 level, has featured three times for the Millers this term. He’s already bagged one goal, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Wigan Athletic, a game in which he also played 90 minutes.

His stats from that game against Wigan show the kind of quality that the young striker has. Although he only had 23 touches, he made them count, registering two shots on target. Off the ball, he won five duels, showing an impressive work rate.

Touches

23

Pass accuracy

83%

Key passes

1

Shots on target

2

Goals

1

Duels won

5

The 19-year-old, described as a “nuisance” of a striker by journalist Lewis Bower, has featured on the bench for the Toffees. Although he is yet to make his debut, Sherif has featured in the matchday squad nine times.

As for his record for the academy sides on Merseyside, the numbers are yet more evidence that he could become a top striker.

In the under-18s Premier League, he’s scored 21 times in just 40 appearances, and has five Premier League 2 goals.

It remains to be seen just how much longer Beto can keep his place in the starting lineup at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. One thing is for sure, with Barry an option for Moyes and Sherif gaining valuable loan experience, the competition for places is exciting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Friedkin must sell "really poor" Everton star who earns more than Ndiaye

Everton might be better off cutting their losses with one high earner…

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 10, 2025

West Ham United have been here before when losing a star asset in the drama of the summer transfer window.

Indeed, the summer of 2023 saw Declan Rice heartbreakingly leave behind his boyhood Hammers for Arsenal, with the only bonus being that £105m hit the Irons’ bank account to soften the immediate blow.

At least the Premier League side had sufficient time to adjust to their Rice-less reality, with Lucas Paqueta’s exit from the club, perhaps going right down to the wire of deadline day, instead, amid interest in his services from Aston Villa.

Graham Potter’s men will surely have last-minute replacements up their sleeve in case their much-talked-about midfielder does depart, with the low-morale Hammers entering into a last-ditch race for this £34m gem, as per reports.

West Ham enter late race for £34m star

The latest on Paqueta’s short-term Hammers future seems to change by the minute.

He was reportedly in line to make a £47m move to Unai Emery’s Villans, but now, according to journalist Jacob Steinberg, he should be staying put, unless a drastic exit takes place imminently.

That was seemingly rubberstamped by the Brazilian’s goal celebration during the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Still, after the pretty bleak start to the season experienced by those at the London Stadium, additions to the midfield ranks could be prioritised.

Indeed, as per Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the already relegation-threatened Hammers have entered the late race to secure the services of Arsenal reserve midfielder Fabio Vieira.

Plettenberg states that a departure is planned before deadline day for Vieira to exit the Emirates, with the previous £34m buy for the Gunners also attracting interest from Stuttgart.

How Vieira can be Fornals 2.0

Potter and Co. might well view the Portuguese attacking midfielder as a suitable replacement for Paqueta if the Brazilian does up and leave dramatically, with West Ham also winning their next Pablo Fornals potentially by snapping up the versatile 25-year-old.

Before heading back to his native Spain with Real Betis, Fornals was a firm fan favourite plying his trade in East London.

The six-time Spain international would tally up an impressive haul of 23 goals and 19 assists across a mammoth 203 appearances for the club, with pundit Noel Whelan even going as far as to herald the 29-year-old as an “unsung hero” when he was still pulling on claret and blue.

Vieira will hope he can be seen in a similarly glowing light if he leaves North London behind shortly, having shone in flashes for Mikel Arteta’s men, when not consistently stuck on the periphery.

After all, despite making just 49 appearances for Arsenal since his £34m switch from FC Porto, the attacking midfielder has gone on to collect a respectable three goals and ten assists.

With a sublime 15 goals and 24 assists under his belt in Portugal, too, he really could come into his own as an adaptable, Fornals-like presence if Potter and Co. come calling.

AM

65

9 + 20

CM

42

7 + 7

RW

24

3 + 4

RM

18

2 + 2

SS

9

3 + 3

LW

4

1 + 1

LM

3

0

Across his up-and-down playing days in Portugal and England, Vieira has at least managed to stand out as a flexible presence, with seven different positions on the pitch being filled by the diminutive 5-foot-7 attacker across 165 clashes above. To add context, Fornals would line up in the same number of different positions for West Ham during his celebrated stay.

While he hasn’t always been front and centre of Arteta’s plans, the 25-year-old playmaker will pray he can get back to his “special” best at the London Stadium, as he was once labelled by writer Hayley McGoldrick, having also been dubbed a “smooth operator” previously by journalist Tom Kundert. That smooth presence could certainly also be applied to Fornals.

If he can star in East London away from the stifling environment of North London, he could also fill a Paqueta-shaped hole down the line, with the Brazilian also being showered with high praise, having been branded “mercurial” for the Hammers by ex-London Stadium coach Mark Warburton.

Even if he does stay, West Ham needs some boosts to lift the dire mood, with Vieira arriving just in the nick of time perhaps having that desired effect.

Dream partner for Magassa: West Ham plotting raid to sign £15m "pitbull"

Following the arrivals of both Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes on Friday, could West Ham United now sign a £15m midfield “pitbull” as well?

Aug 31, 2025

Despite the addition of Florian Wirtz this summer, Liverpool have been aggressive in their efforts to improve Arne Slot’s backline.

The Reds certainly weren’t awful at the back in 2024/25, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold heading to Real Madrid, signing Jeremie Frimpong was a necessity.

At left-back, Milos Kerkez is set to arrive, replacing Andy Robertson whose best years look beyond him.

At centre-back, they may also require a replacement for French defender Ibrahima Konate. He’s wanted by Real Madrid and an exit grows more likely.

How Liverpool could replace Konate

Konate enjoyed a fabulous season for the Reds, partnering Virgil van Dijk in expert fashion.

While the Dutchman eventually signed a new contract at Anfield, he may not be joined by his partner in crime for too much longer.

Transfer Focus

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

Recent reports suggest that Real Madrid are interested in prising the French defender from Liverpool but there’s further interest from clubs in Saudi and Champions League winners, PSG.

So, with that in mind, Liverpool have been seeking alternatives. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi has been earmarked, as too has RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba.

That’s according to journalist Lewis Steele who revealed on his YouTube channel that “Lukeba at Leipzig could be one to watch, it’s clear Liverpool have kept an eye on him.”

Steele added: “I’ve been told Liverpool have had scouts at many RB Leipzig games this season. He could be one as well to watch in terms of Liverpool trying to get the best young defenders on the market.”

Why Lukeba could be better than Guehi for Liverpool

While Wirtz signing for Liverpool was certainly the biggest news of the week out of Merseyside, news that the Reds could also make a move for Guehi was the second hottest topic.

Towards the end of the week it was revealed that Richard Hughes and Co were set to launch a bid to sign the England international this summer, while reports since then note that Liverpool are now closing in on an agreement on personal terms. Whether or not he joins this summer remains to be seen.

Valued at £70m by Crystal Palace, he could be available for as little as £45m, considering he has one year left on his contract at Selhurst Park but Guehi is allegedly willing to wait a year and leave on a free transfer if he doesn’t get to move now.

Premier League proven and having captained the Eagles, there is very little risk attached to his deal. Yet, could Liverpool actually sign a player with bigger potential in Lukeba? Quite possibly.

Said to previously be among the “best U21 CBs in Europe’s top 5 leagues” and described as “one of the best defensive prospects in world football” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, the Frenchman, who is now still only 22, has a skillset that perfectly encapsulates a modern defender.

Like a Jorrel Hato, a Josko Gvardiol, Lukeba possesses the tools to be able to play as a hybrid centre-back and left-back. That level of versatility already trumps Guehi, who is more of a traditional centre-half.

The skillset that the 22-year-old provides, however, is also incredibly exciting. He possesses excellent ball-playing ability, ranking inside the best 20% of defenders in Europe’s big leagues for progressive passes. He’s supremely comfortable with the ball at his feet, also sitting among the top 1% of centre-backs for progressive carries.

He’s truly elite in this department already, ranking as the fourth most progressive U21 centre half in Europe during 2023/24.

Pass completion %

85.1%

83.5%

Key passes

0.23

0.47

Passes into final 3rd

5.14

3.91

Progressive passes

4.57

3.94

Progressive carries

1.03

0.65

Successful take-ons

1.14

0.35

Tackles won

0.97

1.00

Interceptions

0.97

0.82

Aerials won

1.49

2.00

When comparing the two defenders’ numbers, it’s clear to see just how much more progressive Lukeba is. Guehi is certainly comfortable on the ball, but the Leipzig star is next level when it comes to advancing forward with possession.

Crucially, that doesn’t come at the expense of his defensive duties either. Despite not ranking highly for aerials won, as far as tackles are concerned, there’s not that much of a difference. Lukeba even makes more interceptions per 90 minutes.

So, while Guehi might well be a proven England international with Premier League experience, Lukeba has a special profile and boasts all of the talent to become one of the finest centre-backs in Europe.

He's a dream Isak alternative: Liverpool exploring move for £160m forward

Liverpool are hoping to sign a new centre-forward to replace the outgoing Darwin Nunez.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 19, 2025

Regis Le Bris has now joined an exclusive club when it comes to Sunderland managers who have triumphantly secured Premier League football for the Black Cats.

The last successful boss to guide the Wearside outfit up to the big time was Roy Keane all the way back in 2007, with Sunderland managing to consolidate themselves as a top-flight worthy club from that point onwards until their demise ten years later.

The former Lorient head coach will be desperate to return the Black Cats to their former glories as a Premier League staple, therefore, but he will have to likely stomach Jobe Bellingham’s departure if he is to excel in the elite division.

The latest on Bellingham's future at Sunderland

Breaking down at the close of the dramatic playoff final, Bellingham must have realised that this unbelievable day out at Wembley could be the final ever time he dons Sunderland colours.

The teenage sensation could well be foolish not to move on whilst he’s a hot commodity, seen in new reports that he is in Germany for talks with Bundesliga titans Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential summer switch.

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also keen on the Sunderland starlet, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, with his promising return of four goals and three assists this season clearly catching many an eye.

This isn’t the only crushing development with Tommy Watson – who scored the crucial winner at Wembley to down Sheffield United – also leaving the Stadium of Light behind soon to join Brighton and Hove Albion for £10m.

Yet, all this bad news coming through doesn’t have to completely demoralise the newly promoted team, considering the Black Cats have an impressive reputation for homegrown youngsters coming good.

This could be the case once more when potentially bumping up a promising 20-year-old prodigy who might well be a savvy Bellingham replacement if all goes to plan.

The Sunderland "diamond" who could replace Jobe

Of course, nobody will be expecting a youngster coming into a harsh Premier League environment to be an instant, rip-roaring success.

But, much like the patience that was exercised with Bellingham when he first broke through, the same should be applied to young midfielder Harrison Jones if he’s deemed worthy now of being handed over the baton by the Frankfurt-linked star.

After all, Jones has already been launched into the senior side six times during his fledgling career to date, with his gleaming numbers for both the U18s and U21s showing off his keen eye for a goal and assist much like Bellingham.

In the Premier League 2 alone this campaign, the Sunderland-born star has picked up five assists and three strikes, with his ability to shine both as a central option or down the wings making him very comparable to the soon-to-be departing Watson, away from any lofty comparisons to the in-demand number seven.

U18s

15

1

5

U21s

40

11

7

First team

6

0

0

Of course, Bellingham can also slot into the side down the flanks if needed, with a real hope in the air on Wearside that the homegrown “diamond” – as he has been lauded previously by youth coach John Hewitson – can have a formative season to come to try dress up the wounds of any major exits.

There will have to be a sense of realism over Jones hitting the ground running, though, as the Premier League is a testing beast, but if he can show glimpses of quality and learn off the likes of Enzo Le Fee, he could have a very bright future at his hometown club.

Forget Jobe: Sunderland may have their next Jordan Henderson in 8/10 star

Sunderland are finally back in the Premier League after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.

ByKelan Sarson May 25, 2025

If Glasgow Rangers are going to topple their arch-nemsis next term, the new owners are going to have a job on their hands to appoint the right successor to Barry Ferguson at Ibrox.

Given their cross city rivals’ recent success, the Light Blues need to find somebody who can come in and install a playing style that will see Rangers win trophies and progress in Europe. That simply hasn’t happened in the last few years.

Steven Gerrard managed to do all those things and more during his three-and-a-half-year reign between 2018 and 2021. Could he be an option this summer for a second stint in Glasgow?

The latest on Steven Gerrard's future

According to the Daily Record over the weekend, Gretar Steinsson from the 49ers and sporting director Kevin Thelwell have reportedly narrowed down the list to the final couple of targets.

A new manager could be announced by the end of next week if all goes to plan and Gerrard could certainly be on this list.

2021/22

22

12

1.86

2020/21

56

44

2.52

2019/20

54

36

2.17

2018/19

60

32

1.9

The Englishman led the club to their first Premiership title since 2011 during the 2020/21 campaign, going through the league season undefeated.

Of course, it wasn’t all sunshine under Gerrard. The first two seasons saw plenty of tough defeats and post-Christmas collapses, but he would be a solid option to restore the sinking ship.

However, the 49ers must take a strategic gamble on the next manager. It looked as though Davide Ancelotti was going to get the role, but ultimately, nothing came to pass with the coach set to follow his father, Carlo, to Brazil.

The ideal alternative to Gerrard and Ancelotti

So, who could they go after instead? Well, Italian manager Francesco Farioli announced his decision to leave Ajax after just a single season in the Netherlands.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

It would certainly be a major statement of intent if the 49ers could entice him to Ibrox this summer, that’s for sure.

Farioli left after failing to win the Eredivisie for Ajax, despite leading by nine points with seven games left.

It was a dismal collapse, no doubt about that, but any hopes of the club looking to go close again next season with Farioli at the helm have been dashed as the manager announced he was leaving Amsterdam.

“Francesco also played a key role in enhancing the high-performance culture at Ajax, for which we are extremely grateful,” said director Alex Kroes. He was also dubbed “unique” by journalist Lars Jesse following the news.

The 36-year-old tends to utilise an attacking 4-3-3 system, which could be a good fit for several players at Rangers.

Across his 54 matches in charge of the Dutch side, Farioli’s side scored 115 goals – 2.1 per game – while he accumulated 2.09 points per game.

One of the most overlooked aspects was just how well the Italian improved their defence. In the 2023/24 campaign, Ajax conceded a staggering 61 goals.

This season, they conceded only 32, having the best defensive record in the top flight. It wasn’t enough to seal the title, however.

For someone aged just 36, the boss has managed 167 games across his four club sides. It would be a risk, but the way he approaches the game with an impressive attacking philosophy, plus a resolute defence, could transform the fortunes of Rangers.

While the last player to come from Dutch football in Gio van Bronckhorst ultimately ended up being given the boot, his immediate success, winning the Europa League, proves that the adaptation period from the Netherlands might not be too challenging.

Goldson 2.0: Rangers "interested" in signing £2m star from England

Rangers have earmarked a Premier League defender as a potential new signing.

ByRoss Kilvington May 18, 2025

It is set to be a busy summer for Celtic.

A week on Saturday, the Hoops could secure a sixth domestic treble in nine seasons, but it is their European exploits that will have pleased Brendan Rodgers the most, reaching the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, narrowly beaten by Bayern Munich.

The Scottish Premiership champions will enter next season’s Champions League in the play-off round, set for a very tough two-legged tie, given that Bodø/Glimt, Crvena zvezda, København, Dinamo Zagreb or Ferencváros are currently forecast to be their potential opponents.

Thus, with two huge games to come on 19/20 and 26/27 August, Rodgers will want Celtic’s summer transfer business to be completed quickly and efficiently, so, how could the Hoops go about replacing Kyōgo Furuhashi in a bid to do just that?

The legacy Kyogo left at Celtic

When Kyogo joined Celtic from Vissel Kōbe for a reported fee of £4.5m in the summer of 2021, becoming one of the first signings of the Ange Postecoglou-era, few could have forecast he would become a club icon.

The Japanese forward scored 85 goals in 165 appearances for the Celts, winning eight major honours, meaning he ranks right up there when it comes to modern-day great strikers that the club have enjoyed, as the table below highlights.

Kyōgo Furuhashi

165

85

8

126

Odsonne Édouard

179

87

7

140

Moussa Dembélé

94

51

7

121

Leigh Griffiths

261

123

3

118

Gary Hooper

138

82

5

136

According to Graeme Macpherson of the Scotsman, Kyōgo is Celtic’s best striker since Henrik Larsson, an assertion the table above supports, while Charlotte Cohen of BBC Sport adds that the Japanese international will always be a ‘fans’ favourite’ who thrived in the big occasion.

However, given that the 30-year-old joined Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for £10m in January, Celtic are in the market for a replacement, so have they identified a striker who has the potential to become even better?

Celtic's hunt for a new striker

As has been widely reported since January, including claims from Denmark earlier this month, Celtic are pushing to sign Brøndby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden.

However, the Premiership champions are not the only club interested, with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt having ‘intensified its pursuit’ of the 23-year-old, who is valued at €13m (around £11m).

Football Insider even reported back in February that Celtic are working hard to finalise this deal, claiming that the Danish U21 international is Rodgers’ ‘number-one option’ to replace the departed Kyōgo.

So, why is Kvistgaarden in such high-demand? Well, let’s assess his statistics to help answer this question.

Appearances

124

Minutes

6,961

Goals

46

Assists

18

Minutes per goal

151

Well, Kvistgaarden is currently the second-highest goalscorer in this season’s Danish Superligaen with 16, bagging 22 across all competitions, while he ranks top for goals-per-90 minutes as well as first when it comes to shots on target-per-90.

Scout António Mango describes him as “absolutely sensational”, Chris Beaumont of Total Football Analysis labels him a ‘quick and agile striker’, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout asserted that he is ‘only getting better’.

So, could he actually be better than Kyōgo? Let’s compare the duo to try and find out.

Appearances

165

101

Minutes

10.741

6,233

Goals

85

42

Mins per goal

126

165

Assists

19

17

Shots on target %

45.5%

48.8%

Shots per 90

3.34

3.14

Shots on target per 90

1.52

1.53

Big chances missed

69

32

As the table outlines, Kyōgo’s statistics are generally more impressive than Kvistgaarden’s, but this should not be too surprising, given that the Japanese forward arrived in Glasgow at 26-years-old, while the Dane celebrated his 23rd birthday just last month, having only, somewhat recently, established himself in Brøndby’s first-team.

What is clear is that Kvistgaarden is a top-quality player, not just now but set to be in the future too, scoring goals at a high level; according to Global Football Rankings, the Superligaen is the 13th strongest league in the world, with the Scottish Premiership down in 43rd.

Thus, if Celtic are able to get their hands on Kvistgaarden, they should absolutely do so, even if it means breaking their transfer record, which currently stands at £11m.

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1 BySean Markus Clifford May 11, 2025