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Manchester United are in the market to sign a new centre-forward to lead the line for Ruben Amorim in the 2025/26 campaign, and that could spell trouble for Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.

The latest on Rasmus Hojlund's future at Man Utd

According to the print edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by FCInterNews, Italian giants Inter want to sign the Denmark international to replace Mehdi Taremi this summer.

The Serie A side, who finished second in the league and were finalists in the Champions League, have ‘accelerated’ a move to snap up the former Atalanta attacker from the Red Devils.

La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Hojlund has made it clear that he likes the idea of playing for Inter next season, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will really push for the transfer.

The outlet claims that Inter are pushing to sign him on loan with an obligation to make it permanent next summer, whilst Manchester United would prefer an instant sale to boost their coffers.

Hojlund is said to be valued at around £38m by the Premier League giants, which is more than Inter are willing to spend on a new striker at this time, and the two clubs are in talks over a deal that would work for all parties.

His exit from Old Trafford would pave the way for a new centre-forward to arrive in Manchester, though, and the club are already reportedly eyeing his replacement.

Man Utd in positive talks to sign Bundesliga striker

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign former France U21 international Hugo Ekitike from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

The report claims that the Red Devils are progressing in positive talks to bring the former PSG marksman over to England during the summer transfer window, as they look to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

It states that the Premier League side are accelerating a deal for the 22-year-old centre-forward, after making positive contact with his representatives to discuss a move to Old Trafford.

Foot Mercato adds that United have also contacted Frankfurt to discuss a potential fee for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, and that all parties are feeling positive at this moment in time.

The outlet, however, also reveals that Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in signing the French attacker and could provide competition for his signature.

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This may be why the Red Devils are ‘accelerating’ a swoop for the young marksman, amid talks with the player and Frankfurt, as they look to win the race for his services.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March, and his statistics in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would be a big upgrade on what United currently have at their disposal.

24/25 season

Rasmus Hojlund (Premier League)

Hugo Ekitike (Bundesliga)

Appearances

32

33

Shots on target per game

0.4

1.5

Goals

4

15

Goals per game

0.1

0.5

Big chances created

4

12

Assists

0

8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Ekitike vastly outperformed Hojlund at league level as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the number nine position, producing 27 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, in comparison to the Dane’s eight.

This is why this fresh report detailing United’s pursuit of the Frankfurt star should come as good news to Amorim, who could have a huge upgrade for his attack if the transfer goes through this summer.

Related Man Utd set to prioritise deal for £65m star if Tottenham sign Mbeumo

The Red Devils have a backup plan.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham

Arsenal are closely monitoring a “special” young midfielder, who has been cleared to leave his club for a fee of £25m in the summer, according to a report.

Gunners eyeing a midfielder

The Gunners had a quiet January, with Mikel Arteta ultimately deciding to wait until the end of the season before making any major additions to his squad, and there is a belief they are close to agreeing a deal for a midfielder.

Club chiefs hope to have the deal for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi wrapped up before the summer, with the Spaniard still high on the list of targets at the Emirates Stadium.

Zubimendi would set the north Londoners back around £50m, so he would not come cheap, and the 26-year-old is not the only midfielder Arsenal are interested in signing at the end of the season.

Related Arsenal now "most likely" team to sign £33m forward, Arteta loves his pace

The Spaniard is a big admirer of his attributes.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini

According to a report from CaughtOffside, the Gunners are closely monitoring Sunderland’s Chris Rigg, and after a recent development, a deal could be a possibility.

The Black Cats have now cleared Rigg’s departure for a fee of £25m in the summer, with the Championship side now resigned to sanctioning his departure, having previously been resistant to letting him leave.

However, it could be a difficult task to win the race for the Sunderland star, as he is also attracting interest from a number of other top Premier League clubs, alongside the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

At this stage, it is unclear which club are leading the race for the 17-year-old, but a move to Arsenal or Liverpool could be tempting, with both clubs well-placed to compete for major trophies.

Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Leicester City (a)

February 15th

West Ham United (h)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (a)

February 26th

Manchester United (a)

March 9th

Chelsea (h)

March 16th

Rigg has shades of Jude Bellingham

Much like Jude Bellingham at Birmingham City, Rigg has managed to force his way into the first team of a Championship side at an extremely young age, scoring four goals in 27 league games this season.

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The comparisons don’t stop there given the youngster’s keen eye for goal, becoming the second-youngest player to score in the second tier back in September 2023, missing out on Bellingham’s record by just 13 days.

The teenager was lauded as a “special talent” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley earlier this season, and it is clear to see why so many top clubs are queueing up for his signature in the summer.

A price tag of £25m may seem steep for a player who is still so young, but he has already gained a great deal of first-team experience at Sunderland, and there is every indication his value could skyrocket in the coming years.

A “massive” Manchester United player is now expected to be out injured for a number of weeks, according to a fresh claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd dogged by injury problems

The Red Devils have made such a disappointing start to the season, with the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag understandably huge, considering his side are languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.

In fairness to the Dutchman, he hasn’t always been helped by injury problems to various players, however, with United having to make do without a number of key figures throughout the campaign to date, not least long-term absentee Luke Shaw at left-back.

The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are injury victims currently, with both withdrawing from their respective England and Argentina duties during the current international break. Meanwhile, exactly the same now applies to right-back Noussair Mazraoui, who won’t be representing Morocco over the next week or so because of a fitness issue.

Man Utd suffer fresh injury blow

Taking to X, Romano relayed the news that Harry Maguire will be out injured for Manchester United for a number of “weeks”, sharing the player’s comments:

Maguire may not be the long-term answer at the heart of United’s defence, considering he is now 31 years of age and not without his critics, but having him unavailable is still another undoubted blow for Ten Hag.

The Englishman hasn’t let the Red Devils down in recent weeks, scoring the vital equaliser away to Porto, as well as being picked ahead of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez against Aston Villa last weekend, and his manager at Old Trafford said of him last year:

“[Maguire] was playing a massive, massive game. A very good performance. He showed leadership and in and out of possession he was very good, so I’m very pleased with that performance from Harry.”

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Maguire may remain behind De Ligt and Martinez in the pecking order when everyone is fit and firing, but there is a reason why Ten Hag opted for him over them at Villa, feeling his experience and character would be important in a must-not-lose clash.

Related "Safe pair of hands" now interested in taking over from Ten Hag at Man Utd

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Posts ByBrett Worthington

While a lack of quality and pace can arguably be aimed at the £190,000-a-week defender, his passion for United cannot be questioned, and supporters appreciate the effort he has put in ever since joining. For that reason, not having him as an option after the internationals is far from ideal, during a period in which mental fortitude is vitally important, both for the players and the manager.

It is remarkable to think that just over 18 months ago, Aston Villa found themselves languishing perilously close to the drop zone, after losing six of their opening 11 Premier League games of the season under Steven Gerrard.

Unsurprisingly, the Liverpool legend was duly sacked, with the Midlands side opting to give a certain Unai Emery a second stab at Premier League life – the Spaniard having previously been sacked after just over a year-and-a-half at Arsenal.

Once derided at the Emirates, Emery is now something of a hero at Villa Park, having steered the club to Europa Conference League qualification last season, before romping to a top-four finish this time around.

While a run of four league games without a win to end the campaign has somewhat dampened spirits, it would appear that the Villans are set to swiftly strengthen ahead of that upcoming Champions League campaign, with reports indicating that a deal for Luton Town's Ross Barkley is nearing completion.

With a chance to land the former England international – who Paul Merson claimed was "not far off player of the season" – on the cheap, Emery and co appear to be moving astutely already, amid additional reports that another midfielder could be targetted in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa's search for a midfielder

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Villa are reportedly set to make a bid for Lazio maestro, Matteo Guendouzi, with the fiery Frenchman believed to have had a falling out with manager Igor Tudor in Rome.

The report suggests that the Serie A side are seeking to rake in roughly €30m (£26m) with the sale of the 24-year-old, with Emery – who previously signed the mercurial talent back in 2018 while in charge at Arsenal – willing to cough up that figure to get a deal done.

The piece outlines that it is the Villa boss who is pushing to seal a reunion with his former Gunners asset, with Guendouzi having played 66 times under the four-time Europa League winner – more than he has under any other manager.

This news comes amid claims that the Midlands highfliers are also interested in plumping for Chelsea skipper, Conor Gallagher, with the Blues believed to be 'open to doing business' amid their own PSR concerns – as per the Independent.

With prior reports indicating that the Englishman would cost closer to £50m, despite having just a year left on his contract, perhaps Emery and Monchi would be wise to press on with their apparent interest in Guendouzi instead.

How Guendouzi compares to Conor Gallagher

Having been a mere teenager when arriving in north London from Lorient almost six years ago, it's fair to say that the best of Guendouzi – who scored just once and provided only four assists in 81 games for the Gunners – has been seen since departing English football.

An initial loan move to Marseille in 2021/22 – following a year at Hertha Berlin – proved particularly fruitful, with the instantly recognisable menace scoring ten goals and registering 19 assists in 103 games for the Ligue 1 side in total.

That included a return of five goals and 14 assists during his debut campaign at the Stade Velodrome, with the versatile asset – who even featured on the flanks that season – appearing to thrive in a more advanced attacking role.

As such, that serves as evidence as to why the eight-cap France international could be a dream alternative to Gallagher this summer, as he seemingly shares that knack for impacting proceedings in the final third.

In the case of the latter man, the former Crystal Palace loanee boasts a return of ten goals and ten assists in 95 first-team games at Stamford Bridge, including a haul of 16 goal contributions in all competitions in 2023/24.

Guendouzi vs Gallagher stats – last 365 days

Stat (per 90)

Guendouzi

Gallagher

Non-penalty goals

0.06

0.14

Assists

0.12

0.20

Pass completion

83.1%

89.2%

Progressive passes

5.09

4.95

Progressive carries

1.97

1.78

Touches (attacking penalty area)

1.88

2.27

Progressive passes received

3.30

3.51

Tackles

1.27

2.45

Interceptions

0.79

1.24

Stats via FBref

Guendouzi, by contrast, registered only three goals and four assists of his own this season, although unlike Gallagher – who typically operated as a number ten – the 6 foot 1 ace was deployed in a more orthodox midfield berth.

As his prior time in France showcased, Guendouzi can be a real threat in a more attack-minded role if given the licence to get forward, with a reunion with Emery potentially set to allow the Spaniard to get the best out of him.

Guendouzi's record under Emery

As previously stated, the Villa target was just 19 when he arrived at Arsenal in 2018, although he certainly made a strong impression on Emery, making 48 appearances across all fronts during his debut season.

Guendouzi's 2018/19 season under Emery – Premier League

33 games (25 starts)

0 goals and assists

3 'big chances' created

0.5 key passes per game

2.2 tackles & interceptions per game

0.7 successful dribbles per game

56% total duels won

1.9 fouls won per game

88% pass accuracy rate

Stats via Sofascore

That early impact appeared to suggest a bright future lay ahead for Guendouzi, with the former Villarreal boss stating at the time: "Matteo is very young but he has talent and his talent is also to adapt to what we need or what is needed in the Premier League.

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"It's also to be physically strong. We are working tactically and individually to improve, we are working with him on the videos and on the pitch and we are speaking to him because it's a big challenge for me, for our coaches and for him to achieve a big level here."

Lauded as a "warrior" by pundit Alan Shearer following a game against Villa, ironically, Guendouzi was certainly raw during his time in the Premier League, remarkably racking up 18 yellow cards in just 66 games under Emery's watch – including being sent off against Blackpool in 2018.

The suggestion was that the Poissy-born maverick had been a signing of the club rather than of Emery's own choosing, yet the experienced coach remarked that the teen's form had been a "very big, positive surprise", lauding the "hungry" youngster for his "character and quality".

That exuberance seemingly spilt over falling Emery's departure, as Guendouzi was exiled by Mikel Arteta following a falling out, yet the one-time Paris Saint-Germain youth asset has, to his credit, rebuilt a career for himself away from English shores.

Of course, Gallagher may represent the more Premier League-proven option, yet with his prior connection to Emery – and with a far cheaper £26m price tag – it would certainly make sense for Villa to add to their Barkley deal by snapping up another figure with a potential point to prove.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Celtic officially completed their first piece of incoming business during the January transfer window on Tuesday as they announced the signing of Nicolas Kuhn.

The 24-year-old forward has been signed from Austrian side Rapid Wien on a five-and-a-half-year deal for a reported to be within the region of £3m.

23/24 Bundesliga

Nicolas Kuhn (via Sofascore)

Appearances

16

Goals

Two

Assists

Five

Big chances created

11

Sofascore rating

7.22

There are still around two weeks left to go before the window slams shut and the Hoops are reportedly in the market to make further additions to their squad.

Football Insider recently reported that Brendan Rodgers would like to bring in three signings on top of the deal to snap Kuhn up from Austria.

The former Leicester City boss has identified three other positions that need to be addressed; goalkeeper, left-back, and centre-forward ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Celtic's search for a left-back

According to FootballScotland, the Hoops are interested in a swoop to sign impressive young full-back Owen Beck from Premier League side Liverpool.

The report claims that the talented youngster, who spent the first half of the season on loan with Dundee, has been on the club's radar since October.

It states that the Bhoys remain keen on a deal for the Reds academy graduate but look set to be made to wait as Jurgen Klopp weighs up the best way to go about dealing with his left-back situation.

Kostas Tsimikas and Andrew Robertson are currently out injured and this has left the German head coach with a dearth of options in that position, which has forced Joe Gomez to be deployed there in recent weeks.

Liverpool recalled Beck from his loan spell from Dundee to provide much-needed cover for their first-team. However, FootballScotland add that the Europa League side could send him back out on loan if Robertson or Tsimikas return before the end of the month.

This suggests that Celtic could have an opportunity to snap up the Welsh dynamo to bolster their left-hand side before the transfer window slams shut, if they remain patient.

A potential issue with that is that the Hoops could wait until near deadline day and then be left scrambling around to sign an alternative if Liverpool ultimately decide that they would rather keep Beck at Anfield until the end of the season.

The report also claims that fellow Scottish side Glasgow Rangers are also eyeing up the 21-year-old prospect, which means that there could be competition to land his signature if he does become available for a loan or permanent transfer.

If Rodgers and Celtic are able to snap up Beck to add to their left-back options before the window slams shut, the Liverpool whiz could supercharge current Hoops forward Luis Palma.

Luis Palma's outstanding start to life in Scotland

The Honduras international has made 21 of his 22 Celtic appearances on the left flank and this means that he would line up ahead of the Reds youngster in the team.

Palma joined from Aris ahead of the 2023/24 campaign after an impressive season with the Greek side as a scorer of goals from the flank.

He produced 11 goals and four assists in 20 league appearances for the club and that convinced the Hoops to swoop to secure his services last summer.

Since his move to Parkhead, the 24-year-old whiz has been electric on the wing for the Scottish giants with his ability to score and create goals at an excellent rate.

Only three players – David Turnbull (seven), Kyogo Furuhashi (eight), and Matt O'Riley (ten) – have scored more Scottish Premiership goals than Palma (five) for Celtic this season.

Meanwhile, no Hoops player has provided more assists than the impressive forward (nine) as he has been Rodgers' biggest creative threat at the top end of the pitch.

The former Aris star has racked up nine assists, 11 'big chances' created, and 3.4 key passes per game across 17 appearances and 14 starts in the top-flight so far.

Palma is capable of the spectacular and has been a consistent contributor in the final third. However, Rodgers could supercharge his star forward by signing Beck to bolster the attacking quality down the left flank.

Why Beck could help to supercharge Palma

The 21-year-old whiz is already a proven Premiership performer, thanks to his loan spell with Dundee, and could hit the ground running at Parkhead as he already knows the division and has performed to a high level in it.

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Beck caught the eye with his marauding displays down the left wing for the Scottish outfit as he showcased his quality in and out of possession.

Defensively, the £2.8k-per-week talent produced consistently solid performances with 2.9 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match. No current Celtic full-back has averaged more than 2.1 tackles or 0.4 interceptions per game in the Premiership this season.

This suggests that the Liverpool prodigy could cut out more opposition attacks to win possession back for his side in comparison to the likes of Alistair Johnston and Greg Taylor, which could create more counter-attacking opportunities for Palma to stretch his legs and cause havoc in transition with his creative brilliance.

Beck, who was once hailed as "spectacular" by scout Jacek Kulig, could also provide quality in possession and help the winger by offering a threat at the top end of the pitch that could attract more attention from opposition defenders and open up more space for the right-footed left forward to cut inside.

23/24 Premiership

Owen Beck

Greg Taylor

Touches per game

55.5

99.5

Key passes per game

2.0

1.9

Crossing accuracy

31%

15%

Dribbles completed per game

1.4

0.6

As you can see in the table above, the former Dundee star created more chances, completed more dribbles, and was far more effective as a crosser despite almost having half as many touches of the ball per match as Taylor.

Imagine what Beck could do if he had 44 more touches per game for Celtic than he had during the first half of the season in the Premiership.

His attacking output could be staggering and that is another reason why the Hoops target could supercharge Palma as the left-back could create a high volume of chances for the winger to add to his goal tally and climb the ranks within the squad, ahead of the likes of Turnbull, Kyogo, and O'Riley.

Tottenham Hotspur endured quite a busy Deadline Day despite only welcoming one new face, as Ange Postecoglou had sought to strengthen in key areas before the transfer window slammed shut.

That being said, he had already bolstered his squad sufficiently early on in the summer, having tied up deals for James Maddison and Manor Solomon as well as turning the loanees Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro into permanent fixtures.

Then, Micky Van de Ven marked the integral defensive acquisition needed to add some much-needed solidity after a weak season at the back last year.

Despite bringing in the dominant Dutchman, for a fee that could reach £43m, the general feeling was that another centre-back might be needed to provide sufficient cover for Cristian Romero on the right side of their back four.

Many names were touted throughout a summer posed to be a revolutionary one, but in the end, fans had to settle for just the nine signings.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

That’s not to suggest that they did not at least make a late push to fill that void though, with reports emerging late on Deadline Day that offered a glimmer of hope for the Lilywhites at the eleventh hour.

Did Trevoh Chalobah nearly sign for Spurs?

Whilst that final day of the window was largely dominated by their pursuit and eventual capture of Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson, there were other rumours circling that had fans quietly positive that there was more to come than just the £47.5m Wales international.

Conor Gallagher was one such option, although after seeing a bid turned down the north London club focused their efforts elsewhere.

However, they reportedly remained in west London as they sought that final centre-back signing, with Fabrizio Romano writing at 8:23 pm that night:

The English defender has fallen rapidly out of favour at Stamford Bridge of late despite a meteoric rise to prominence just two years ago, where he established himself as a fine ball-playing asset who is still just 24 years old.

Despite their late push, which even the Tricky Trees mirrored with a failed swoop of their own, in the end, Chalobah decided to stay with his boyhood club despite the wealth of defensive talent that sits ahead of him in the pecking order.

Whilst the breakdown of such a desperate last-gasp move should come as no surprise, it actually outlined their failure to have captured a player for that role earlier in the window, despite those numerous aforementioned targets.

One such rumour that refused to die down was their reported interest in Edmond Tapsoba, who would have provided the perfect profile for Postecoglou’s possession-based system.

Even if his £50m price tag might have seemed lofty, it would have represented far better value than Chalobah, who too saw the same valuation handed to him by the Blues.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Van de Ven’s stellar start to life in England stands as proof of how easily the Bayer Leverkusen star could have taken to the Premier League, with the former Wolfsburg ace having managed a 7.15 average rating this season, buoyed by his 93% pass accuracy, 1.3 tackles and 3.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

To pair two former Bundesliga talents together would have proven instantly profitable, given they share a similarly steely physical profile, but have that elegance that lends to the modern game.

The former was emphasised by scout Antonio Mango, who claimed: “He’s a monster. Ball playing defender. Comfortable on the ball. Big, strong. Quick. Position good with a very good footballing IQ.”

After all, when compared to other centre-backs across Europe, Tapsoba sits in the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 3% for progressive passes per 90 and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

This fed into his outstanding league campaign last term, where the Burkina Faso titan maintained a 6.88 average rating of his own in the league, upheld through his 1.1 interceptions, 1.5 tackles and three clearances per game, via Sofascore.

It is clear that the classy yet combative ace would have marked a far superior piece of business than signing Chalobah for a similar fee, especially given the gulf in quality between them.

Although the Chelsea star also shines when compared to the same aforementioned group across Europe, ranking in the top 16% for progressive carries per 90, it is his lack of experience that sets him apart from the Bundesliga rock.

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After all, he boasts just 45 Premier League appearances across his short career, compared to Tapsoba’s 103 in the German top flight.

Not to mention how highly thought of he is within that division, with Ivo Vieira, his former coach at Vitoria Guimaraes, having expected his rise to prominence: “Tapsoba was one of the best centre-backs to play in Portugal, he deserves whatever comes his way."

Postecoglou can hardly be faulted for the start he has enjoyed to life in north London, with his summer signings all largely integrating well, and his philosophy already being well-received by his fanbase.

However, had he abandoned his pursuit for Tapsoba to panic buy the out-of-favour Chelsea man at the death, it would surely have marked the first blunder of his tenure thus far.

Chalobah is a more than capable defender for now, but with the level that the Australian boss will seek to take his new side, perhaps there is a limit to his talents and just how far he could take them had he made the switch.

In the Leverkusen star, few can predict how high his ceiling may be, and therefore the next time Spurs come calling for his services, that £50m fee could have sky-rocketed.

Postecoglou will likely rue that failed swoop, given how the signing of Tapsoba would have capped off his summer spending with the perfect ending.

Celtic have officially confirmed that they have completed a deal to bring Brendan Rodgers back to Parkhead for a second spell in Scotland.

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has been in the market to find a replacement for Ange Postecoglou, and has now settled on the Australian's successor.

Rodgers will be thrust straight into the hustle and bustle of the summer transfer window and could secure the first masterclass of his second stint with the Glasgow giants by striking a deal with his former club Liverpool.

Who is Caoimhin Kelleher?

Celtic have been linked with an interest in Jurgen Klopp's back-up goalkeeper and Republic of Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher this summer.

He is a talented young shot-stopper who could be an excellent addition to the squad and the 50-year-old manager must use any remaining contacts on Merseyside to land the 24-year-old, who has valued at £30m by the Premier League outfit, whether that is on loan or on a permanent basis.

The 6 foot 2 titan's international manager, Stephen Kenny, recently backed the talented ace, who he once dubbed "exceptional", to move on from Anfield in search of regular game time:

"I think it will happen this summer. It is not right normally to talk about a player moving, but at Liverpool, he is behind one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It is not going to get any easier and you can't improve when you aren't playing."

Celtic must take advantage of his potential availability as the promising stopper has the potential to be an upgrade on current number one Joe Hart.

The former England international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 across 37 Scottish Premiership outings in 22/23 and made four errors directly leading to shots from the opposition.

Kelleher, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.53 and did not make any direct errors across his three outings in the Premier League and League Cup combined for Liverpool, as he spent the majority of the campaign behind Alisson, one of the top goalkeepers in the world.

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The Irish colossus also averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.72 and made zero blunders over six outings in those two competitions in the previous season, which shows that the Reds academy graduate has been exceptional whenever Klopp has called on him and is not as error-prone as Celtic's first-choice.

These statistics indicate that Kelleher would be a major upgrade on Hart if the 24-year-old can translate his form for Liverpool in recent years to consistent performances over the course of an entire season's worth of matches, due to his superior ratings and absence of mistakes.

Therefore, Rodgers could seal a masterclass by using his relationship with the Premier League side to iron out a move for the talented monster, who could improve the team tenfold next term.

Aston Villa are thought to be plotting a move for Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Dubravka profiled

The 34-year-old has made 128 appearances in the Premier League. The Slovakian was out on loan to Manchester United earlier this season and played in a 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Unai Emery’s Villa side in November.

He has since been recalled by the Magpies and made his first Premier League appearance of the season after Nick Pope was sent off against Liverpool last weekend.

The Latest: Villa linked with Dubravka

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Dubravka, claiming that Villa and Brentford are laying the groundwork ahead of potential moves for the veteran.

Those two clubs are thought to be plotting a transfer, with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez linked with an exit from the Midlands this summer.

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The Verdict: Squad player?

Dubbed a leader by The Chronicle’s Mick Quinn, Dubravka could prove to be a shrewd second-choice shot-stopper due to his experience, although making him first-choice to replace Martinez would be a gamble by NSWE and Villa.

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He has played just over 300 minutes of football during the current campaign and recently turned 34, appearing to enter the stage of becoming second fiddle at St James’ Park.

Villa have Martinez, Robin Olsen and Jed Steer on their books, but if two of those three were to leave this summer, then perhaps Dubravka could arrive alongside a younger ‘keeper, providing plenty of experience and knowledge of the English top flight.

Newcastle United are believed to be in the mix to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, with the teenager facing an uncertain future with the Bundesliga outfit.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports in Germany, the Magpies are said to be one of a handful of Premier League clubs who are keen on signing the 18-year-old in the near future, with the Germany international having just six months remaining on his existing deal at Westfalenstadion.

Transfer expert Mark Behrenbeck stated: “It is clear that a lot of top clubs are asking about Moukoko and are keen on him as he is available on a free transfer in the summer and is a bargain. We hear that Chelsea are the closest. There have already been negotiations and talks. More clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona and Newcastle are on the list, but Chelsea is the hottest, the others aren’t ready yet”.

This comes amid reports from journalist Florian Plettenberg who suggested that the promising youngster “won’t accept” the current offer of an extension from Dortmund, with an exit either in January or at the end of the season now a very real possibility.

Haaland-esque

The highly-coveted sensation has warranted such interest due to his sparkling form in his homeland in recent times, having scored six goals and laid on four assists in just 14 top-flight games this term, while his total tally this season stands at six goals and six assists in 22 games in the early months of the campaign.

The Cameroon-born gem – who was part of Hansi Flick’s World Cup squad for Qatar – only recently became the youngest player to ever hit ten goals in the Bundesliga, having also broken the record for the youngest player to make his league debut in the German top-flight back in November 2020.

Such a meteoric rise – which followed a string of prolific form at youth team level in which he scored 90 goals in 56 games for the U17s – has seen the exciting asset lauded as a “wonder” by his brother, Borel, while he is also said to be valued at around £22m, as per CIES Football Observatory.

Moukouko’s emergence onto the scene at Dortmund no doubt has similarities to that of former teammate Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian hotshot having also previously made his name for Die Borussen.

The 22-year-old – who previously scored 86 goals in just 89 games in the yellow jersey – has even lauded his former colleague for his sparkling talents, with the Manchester City talisman stating previously:

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“Moukoko’s much better than I was at his age. I’ve never seen such a good 15-year-old in my life. The advantage for him is that he’s already playing for Dortmund at the age of 15. At his age, I was still playing for my home town of Bryne.”

Should Moukoko be able to follow in his fellow left-footer’s footsteps and make his mark in the Premier League it would certainly prove a real coup for Eddie Howe’s side, with the Etihad machine having already shown his ruthless nature in English football with 18 goals in just 13 league games this season.

The Tynesiders will likely face a real fight to land the £4k-per-week starlet in 2023, although being able to secure a Haaland-esque talent could well be a real masterstroke.

Allan has left Everton and signed for Abu Dhabi-based Al Wahda on a permanent deal, with Fabrizio Romano taking to Twitter to relay the news late on Sunday night.

The Lowdown: Allan’s Toffees career

With former Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti wanting to reunite with the defensive midfielder, with whom he worked at Napoli, the Brazilian joined the Merseyside club in 2020 in a deal worth £21.7m.

During his two-year tenure at Goodison Park, the 31-year-old made 57 appearances for the Toffees, 52 of which came in the Premier League.

However, under Frank Lampard’s reign, Allan featured just 13 times for the club, failing to make a single appearance in the 2022/23 season as he was continually snubbed by the manager.

The Latest: Allan’s move

Romano has shared news of Allan’s departure from Merseyside.

Taking to Twitter on Sunday night, the reliable journalist stated: “Brazilian midfielder Allan has signed with Al Wahda on permanent deal from Everton. #transfers

“Medical completed and contracts signed in the last few hours, Allan leaves the Premier League. #EFC”

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The Verdict: Replaced by younger talent

After a decent first season with Everton as a regular under Ancelotti’s guidance, Allan seemed to be a strong signing for the Blues, who came in as one of the club’s highest-paid players on £120,000 per week.

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However, his propensity for injuries and decreasing levels of athleticism meant that he fell further down Lampard’s pecking order at the club, leading to some journalists issuing unforgiving labels such as ‘imposter’ towards the Brazilian.

With the likes of Amadou Onana and James Garner, accompanied by the highly experienced Idrissa Gueye, joining the club this summer, the Toffees clearly turned their attention to the long-term future of the squad.

Therefore, Allan’s departure will not come as a big surprise for Everton fans, as the club now seem to be on a different trajectory this season.