All posts by z3u9t.icu

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

Nottingham Forest are now “preparing to submit” an offer for an “elusive” forward “in the near future”, journalist Yakup Cinar has revealed.

Forest looking to sign Elanga replacement

It will be very difficult to find a replacement for Anthony Elanga, given that the Sweden international was one of the driving forces behind Forest’s unexpected push for Europe last season, amassing 17 goal contributions in the Premier League.

However, a number of exciting options have been identified, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing the Tricky Trees and owner Evangelos Marinkais have now made their first move for Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, who has already given a move to the City Ground the green light.

However, with Serie A champions Napoli also in the race for Ndoye, it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, and Marinakis and the Reds are also planning to make a move for an alternative option.

That is according to Cinar, who recently revealed: “West Ham and Aston Villa wanted Baris Alper Yilmaz at half-time (January). I also recently met with his manager, Tuncay Maldan. Nottingham Forest are preparing to submit a €25-30m offer to Galatasaray for Baris Alper Yilmaz in the near future.”

With an offer of £22m – £26m set to be launched soon, it is clear that Forest retain a strong interest in the forward, but it remains to be seen whether Galatasaray are tempted by a bid in that ballpark, having previously been keen to hold out for £30m.

Nottingham Forest learn £50m target could be tempted by Europa League place

The Tricky Trees could have an opportunity to land a new star…

BySean Markus Clifford Jul 19, 2025 "Elusive" Yilmaz impressing in the Turkish Super Lig

It is little wonder the Tricky Trees are planning to launch a move for the winger, given that he has been a regular source of goals and assists for Galatasaray for quite some time, and the 2024-25 campaign was the 25-year-old’s most impressive to date.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

25

4

2

2023-24

37

6

7

2024-25

32

12

3

The Turkey international also scored in the Europa League last season, and that experience could be useful for Forest, given that they are set to embark on a European campaign of their own next season.

Not only that, but the attacker has given one of the Premier League’s top defenders a tough time in the past, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk saying: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”

As such, Yilmaz could now be ready to test himself in England, and given that he is able to play on both wings, the Galatasaray star could be an ideal replacement for Elanga.

It’s only a matter of days now until Sunderland officially get their pre-season run of games underway with a trip to local side Gateshead.

Sunderland supporters far and wide will no doubt be making the short trip in anticipation of seeing a whole host of new signings pull on the strip of the Black Cats for the very first time, with Reinildo now officially confirmed as the Wearside outfit’s fourth summer signing after his Atletico Madrid contract expired. Winger, Simon Adingra, also looks set to arrive in a hotly anticipated deal from Brighton.

They will surely be eager to impress as Regis Le Bris’ men build up their fitness this summer before Premier League football makes its long-awaited return to the Stadium of Light next month.

£21m striker still on the Sunderland radar

Not everything is going Sunderland’s way across the chaotic summer transfer window to date, as hurdles now appear to be stopping them from securing more business.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, recent reports suggest that their pursuit of Armand Lauriente is stalling due to the Black Cats not offering enough money to Sassuolo, even as the Frenchman now declares he wants a move to England.

This will surely rumble on, with Sunderland better placed, it seems, to land Lyon star Georges Mikautadze in the meantime.

Indeed, Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri took to X to confirm that the newly promoted side holds significant interest in the captivating Georgian, having been taken aback by the profile of the 24-year-old.

AS Roma is also named as a party interested in working out a deal with the 5-foot-9 striker, with £21m the recently touted figure that might be enough for Lyon to part ways with their star-man, owing to their ongoing financial woes.

FC Metz

64

38

13

RFC Seraing

57

36

4

Lyon

47

17

11

Ajax

9

0

0

Why Mikautadze could be Lauriente's dream CF

Based on the above table, which examines his goalscoring exploits wherever he has been across his glittering career, this could well be a statement buy as Sunderland attempts to avoid the Premier League drop.

Add Lauriente into the mix alongside the aforementioned Adingra and the Black Cats could really take the top-flight by storm with their attacking firepower, with the explosive Georgia international perhaps the dream centre-forward for the pair bounce off.

While Adingra has caught the eye in England, scoring eight goals in 60 Premier League outings to date, the other two players in question have never taken the leap to the English game. That wouldn’t stop them all coming together to entertain, however.

Last season, even from just 13 starts in league action for Paolo Fonseca’s Lyon, the enigmatic Mikautadze would manage to fire home a clinical 11 strikes for his bumpy side, with a bumper six assists also coming his way to further prove his devastating effectiveness up top in Ligue 1.

Lauriente has been here before in the French top-flight with Lorient, too, with a tally of ten goals and eight assists above his head from 68 Ligue 1 outings.

But, much like Mikautadze sparked into life even more for Lyon last season after already being well regarded as a menace up top, Lauriente really turned on the style across the 2024/25 campaign for Sassuolo, with his heroics playing a big part in Fabio Grosso’s men instantly returning to Serie A.

Games played

33

Goals scored

18

Assists

5

Scoring frequency

132 mins

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

6

Lauriente displayed a similar potent edge that the Georgian had in abundance in Ligue 1 for Sassuolo last campaign, with a sublime 18 goals and five assists coming his way, as only four big chances were spurned across the entire season.

Therefore, putting the two of them together with Adingra in Le Bris’ new-look Sunderland attack might well be a match made in heaven, with Mikaudatze perhaps living up to his billing as a “true icon” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig.

If all goes to plan, this will be just another intimidating league the dynamite duo have managed to conquer, as Sunderland prepare to spend more and more in their mission to survive.

Le Bris' very own Amad: Sunderland enter talks to sign "amazing" £13m star

Regis Le Bris might stumble upon his very own Amad Diallo if Sunderland secure this amazing star.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 8, 2025

Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises are “in negotiations” to seal a “complicated” transfer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Leeds’ transfer plans after Nmecha and Bijol deals

The Whites have made a start on their summer business ahead of their Premier League return, with Daniel Farke bringing in forward Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg as the first addition of the summer.

Nmecha has since been joined by centre-back Jaka Bijol, who looks like he could go straight into Farke’s side after Leeds spent £15m and gave the Slovenia international a five-year deal at Elland Road.

The 49ers and co also want to bring in a goalkeeper, central midfielder and marquee striker, bolstering the spine of Leeds’ side in the process, and they are willing to spend big on each position.

A top goalkeeping target is yet to be indetifned, whereas in attack, Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz appears to be the priority. In midfield, Strasbourg captain Habib Diarra is viewed as an ambitious target, and there have been claims that Leeds have made two offers for the Senegal international.

Leeds open talks with agent of "talented" Champions League level star

The 49ers mean business this summer…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

Diarra appears to be keen on a move to England, however, whether that will be with Leeds remains to be seen, and Romano has shared what he knows about a potential transfer.

Leeds "in negotiations" to seal “complicated" Diarra deal – Romano

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said that Leeds are “in negotiations” to seal a deal for Diarra, however, any move won’t be easy because of the valuation.

Leeds’ second bid was thought to be worth around £24m, and if that isn’t enough, the Whites may soon be into the territory of their most expensive signings of all time in Georginio Rutter and Brenden Aaronson.

1

Georginio Rutter

€34m

Hoffenheim

2023

2

Brenden Aaronson

€32.84m

RB Salzburg

2022

3

Rodrigo

€30m

Valencia

2020

4

Dan James

€29.1m

Man Utd

2018

5

Rio Ferdinand

€26m

West Ham

2000

Still just 21 years of age, Diarra has already played more than 100 games for Strasbourg, something which Liam Rosenior hailed.

“For Habib it’s been amazing. At his age? To play 100 games for this club? A club that he’s been at since he was 14 years old? A club that he loves? For him to be captain at his age says a lot about his character and mentality.

“I think he’s going to have an amazing career. He’s been magnificent in my time working with him and it was nice to see him with his family celebrating a really special moment.”

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

When Liverpool renewed Virgil van Dijk’s contract, they did more than just tie their star defender down to a new two-year deal.

Van Dijk is more than a world-class centre-back; he’s more, even, than a peerless skipper. The Netherlands icon has transcended his post as one of Liverpool’s star players, immortalising his name in Liverpool lore, right up there alongside Alan Hansen.

Yes, yes, he turns 34 next month. And, well, yes, Liverpool will need to be more careful in managing their captain’s minutes as he reaches the autumn days of his illustrious Premier League career.

But Van Dijk leads by example, and that’s on and off the field. He’s more than a defender; he’s a leader and rousing force. Tune in to Liverpool on the television, and you’ll hear the 6 foot 4 star baying at his teammates before heading out of the tunnel, switching them into gear.

Let’s enjoy him while we can, because FSG’s transfer chief, Richard Hughes, is already hard at work trying to secure a long-term heir.

Liverpool's efforts to sign the next Van Dijk

Dean Huijsen was written in the stars to succeed Van Dijk at Anfield. After a stunning breakout campaign at Bournemouth last year, the 20-year-old became one of the most sought-after young players in Europe, hailed for his incredible potential.

Van Dijk left Southampton to sign for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, and Huijsen could have followed a similar path, each proving a cut above. Moreover, Huijsen, while a Spanish international, was born and reared in Amsterdam to Dutch parents before relocating to Spain when he was five.

It felt like the perfect move for the player, moving to Liverpool, emulating one of the greatest defenders of his generation – and technically a countryman at that.

Well, Real Madrid clearly turned a blind eye to such a poetic story, for they brushed Premier League competition aside to activate the prodigy’s £50m release clause and bring him home.

Arne Slot still needs a new central defender, and while Huijsen is a one-of-a-kind talent, there might just be an alternative option waiting across the continent, having been of a vested interest to Liverpool in the past.

Liverpool enter race for new centre-back

Huijsen’s off the cards, yada yada, but he’s not the only talented centre-back looking to take the next step in his career.

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 Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Liverpool are interested in Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio, 23, once again, having been routinely linked with the dynamic defender across the past couple of years.

The left-footed defender has a €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract, but suitors are optimistic that they can engineer a more agreeable figure.

However, with Manchester United and Newcastle United thought to be interested too, FSG will need to up the ante if they wish to find a fitting long-term Van Dijk heir.

What Goncalo Inacio would bring to Liverpool

Inacio has yet to compete away from his Portuguese homeland, but he hasn’t exactly done that badly in Portugal, appearing 213 times for Sporting after graduating from their academy.

Journalist Antonio Mango has drawn attention to Inacio’s “insane” range of passing, and that’s corroborated by the data, for Inacio has completed an average of 89% of his passes across his senior career, as recorded by WhoScored.

Moreover, Inacio’s aerial ability suggests he could offer a similar level of ability in that regard as Huijsen, whose rangy frame and composure, leading to expert timing, is something that would have seen him exceed expectations when stepping into Van Dijk’s boots at Liverpool.

His modern-tailored style is exactly what Liverpool are looking for, and he’s a left-sided centre-back besides. To add further substance to the argument, this is a player who has been tracked by Liverpool for a number of years, and he’s only got better and better.

Having been an influential member of a two-time Liga Portugal-winning backline in recent years, Inacio has fostered the perfect mentality for a place in Liverpool’s first team, and he’s also blessed with a technical level that most other central defenders across Europe can only dream of.

Most, but not all. Huijsen can certainly throw down with the Portuguese ace on that front, and when racking up the respective players’ skills against each other, you can see that both offer similar qualities.

Goals + assists

0.20

0.19

Touches

91.48

74.94

Pass completion

89.7%

83.4%

Passes attempted

83.61

60.26

Progressive passes

7.34

4.89

Progressive carries

1.28

1.52

Shot-creating actions

1.72

1.59

Ball recoveries

4.67

3.89

Tackles + interceptions

2.75

3.23

Clearances

2.91

7.34

Blocks

1.08

1.48

Aeriel duels won

2.04

2.52

Huijsen is a strong defender, but his range of passing and creativity, his ability to play through the lines, are the facets which define him as a future superstar.

Inacio perhaps outperforms him in that regard, and if placed in Slot’s high-flying Liverpool system, you can only imagine the progress he could make, following the likes of Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch in making remarkable progress under the Dutchman’s wing.

Further to the point, Inacio made only one defensive error across his 28 top-flight appearances last term, whereas Huijsen made four playing for Bournemouth in the Premier League, albeit playing at what is considered a higher level, in more intense and rigorous conditions.

He’s not perfect, but the Portugal international has the making of an elite-level defender, and he could prove the dream Huijsen alternative if signed this summer, learning from Van Dijk over the next couple of years before breaking away from the Reds legend’s shadow and becoming a sensation in his own right down the line.

The dream XI Liverpool could build: Wirtz signs & "the next Mbappe" arrives

Liverpool are making sweeping changes in the transfer market as Slot prepares to defend his PL title.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 3, 2025

We don’t know exactly when, but in the near future, Liverpool could welcome three stunning acquisitions to Arne Slot’s title-winning squad.

The defensive flanks will be restored through deals for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Dutch speedster Jeremie Frimpong, while Florian Wirtz is on the verge of becoming Anfield’s record signing, looking likely to join Frimpong in moving from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Premier League champions have scarcely strengthened at all across the past three transfer windows, making their 20th top-flight title all the more sweet, but it has been tainted with some poignancy, with Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving next month.

Trent's emotional goodbye

Alexander-Arnold has been criticised on social media for his supposed lack of emotion in the build-up to his show-stopping finale at Anfield on Sunday, but the 26-year-old has never really been one to wear his heart on his sleeve.

However, who could say he was not freighted with ruefulness after Liverpool drew with Palace to wrap up the title, then finally lifted the league trophy in front of their fans?

The vice-captain will relinquish his position next month when he joins Real Madrid on a free transfer, his £180k-per-week contract set to expire.

At the end of the day, Alexander-Arnold’s rise from the academy has been synonymous with the period of sustained success across nearly a decade.

He made his professional debut, under Klopp’s wing, in the League Cup, starting during a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round.

Alexander-Arnold has since swept up the lot with his boyhood club, leaving the Premier League with more assists than any other defender in the division’s history. He’s won it twice, and indeed departs with a gold medal around his neck.

Premier League

259

18

67

Champions League

60

2

13

FA Cup

13

1

3

League Cup

10

–

6

Europa League

5

–

2

Community Shield

2

1

–

CL Qualifiers

2

1

–

FIFA Club World Cup

2

–

1

UEFA Super Cup

1

–

–

Trent’s glittering Liverpool legacy is incontrovertible, set in stone. However, it’s been dulled just a bit by his actions.

Indeed, there’s been a certain slyness to the way he’s ducked interviews across the year, his abject performance against Manchester United, his pointed celebration at West Ham United, retorting to fans questioning his love for the club.

Chalkboard

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

Had he shown more candour from the beginning, the whole fiasco might have been avoided. Alexander-Arnold, for sure, could have taken a leaf from Caoimhin Kelleher’s book, for the shot-stopper should also leave this summer but will do so having given his all and with transparency.

Liverpool must part ways with Kelleher

Out of contract at the end of next season, it looks like Kelleher is going to leave Liverpool this summer, having clearly expressed his desire to take a more senior role to “be a number one”.

Aged 26, the Republic of Ireland international has featured 67 times for Liverpool’s first team, with his efforts as Alisson Becker’s deputy leading skipper Virgil van Dijk to hail him as a “world-class” player.

Alisson is widely considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, but his biggest weakness has been his inability to tread water on the fitness front.

24/25

20 (10)

1,800′

23/24

26 (10)

2,400′

22/23

4 (1)

360′

21/22

8 (2)

750′

20/21

5 (2)

450′

19/20

4 (0)

360′

In truth, the fact Kelleher has enjoyed such regularity of action across his years as a Liverpool player underscores why Slot needs a steady number two to challenge Alisson for that top spot between the sticks.

Kelleher has performed the role incredibly well, with Jurgen Klopp even declaring him “the best number two in the world” after winning the Carabao Cup against Chelsea in February 2024.

Rising through the academy ranks after joining way back in 2015, leaving Ringmahon Rovers in his Irish homeland, Kelleher has now completed, instrumental in winning, notably, two League Cup titles and more besides.

However, he wants first-team football this summer and Liverpool cannot offer him that. He must be sold, with recent reports suggesting the likes of Aston Villa are interested in making their move as Emi Martinez prepares to leave for pastures new.

With FSG having acted pre-emptively last summer, agreeing a £29m fee with Valencia for Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, 24, there simply isn’t room for Kelleher anymore.

As per FBref, Kelleher ranks among the top 1% of goalkeepers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for clean sheet percentage (50%), but only among the top 38% for save percentage, making a comment on the strength of Liverpool’s backline.

He’s still a good goalkeeper, one with the potential to achieve greatness, but he pales in comparison to Alisson, and that’s not to his discredit.

Valencia’s star in front of the net, however, has been cherry-picked due to his potential to reach Alisson’s level. Indeed, having been described as an “absolute monster” of a shot-stopper with a commanding presence by Spanish journalist Paco Polit, capable of making “impossible saves.”

He proved his worth and then some during EURO 2024, a veritable wall for a Georgia side whose success in reaching the quarter-finals after beating Portugal led to him being awarded the Best Goalkeeper accolade, and deservedly so.

Already believed to be “one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe” by hawk-eyed talent scout Jacek Kulig, Liverpool might be onto a winner with this one, and it’s understandable that Kelleher should be allowed to search for a new chapter in his career, FSG playing a long game which might just see fans nodding their heads in appreciation of their owners’ shrewdness down the line.

Liverpool ready to launch £58m bid to sign a "magical" Nunez upgrade

Premier League champions Liverpool are looking to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 26, 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

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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.

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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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