All posts by h716a5.icu

Celtic are currently 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table with six matches left to play before the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Brendan Rodgers’s side are on course to win the top-flight title for the fourth successive year, since the old enemy won it in the 2020/21 season, but it has not been a perfect season by any stretch at Parkhead.

The Hoops have already lost more games (four) than they did in the entirety of the 2023/24 Premiership term, with their most recent defeat coming against St. Johnstone last weekend.

Celtic have lost two of their last three matches, having lost 3-2 to Rangers before the international break, and that is something Rodgers will be concerned about heading into the summer.

The Hoops boss will not want it to become a habit heading into next season and, so, will be looking at what has gone wrong in recent games to make adjustments and improve the team.

What went wrong in Celtic's loss to St. Johnstone

There were several reasons why the Premiership leaders ended up on the wrong side of a result against the team rooted to the bottom of the table last weekend.

One of them was that Auston Trusty, who came in to replace Maik Nawrocki, gave away a cheap free-kick that presented the home side with a chance to put pressure on the goal, resulting in a header that made it 1-0.

That gave the Saints something to hold on to and they did exactly that for the rest of the match as they sat deep and defended the box for their lives, needing their goalkeeper to make nine saves in total.

Celtic were unable to break them down to get the equaliser, and a subsequent winner, because they did not offer enough quality in the final third, due to their top performers failing to step up.

Minutes

76

61

45

Goals + assists

0

0

0

Shots on target

1

2

0

Key passes

2

0

1

Big chances created

0

0

0

Pass accuracy

76%

73%

72%

Duels won

7/11

2/6

3/10

As you can see in the table above, the front three that Rodgers selected to the start did not do enough at the top end of the pitch, with zero ‘big chances’ created combined.

Nicolas Kuhn, in particular, struggled as the German forward delivered zero shots on target, one key pass, and lost 70% of his duels in the first half before being withdrawn from the action at the break.

It has been a frustrating time for the 25-year-old attacker, whose form has dipped from his early season heroics, and Rodgers may be thinking of ways to get the left-footed whiz back to his best.

Nicolas Kuhn's recent struggles for Celtic

After the defeat to St. Johnstone, Kuhn has now been substituted at half-time in two of the last three matches, having also been hooked at the break in the loss to Rangers.

Chalkboard

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

The German winger has only scored one goal in his last ten appearances in the Premiership and has been substituted by the 72nd minute in all five of his most recent starts in the division, which suggests that Rodgers has not been overly pleased with what the forward has produced on the pitch.

Kuhn had scored nine goals in his first 17 outings in the Scottish top-flight, which shows that there has been a clear drop-off in his output in the final third from the right wing.

The former Bayern Munich and Ajax youngster was the star of the show for the Hoops in the first half of the season, as evidenced by his exceptional goal return, but he now needs to find a way to reignite that flame.

Whilst there are things Kuhn could do to get back to his best, like delivering more quality in his actions at the top end of the pitch from the right flank, there is also something that Rodgers could do to put the forward on the right track.

Why Celtic must play Nicolas Kuhn in a new role

36 of the 25-year-old star’s 37 starts in all competitions this season have been on the right flank and the Hoops manager could brilliantly revive the winger’s form by unleashing him in a brand new role for the club.

The ex-Rapid Vienna star has never played in a central position for Celtic but he has played as a centre-forward at previous clubs, scoring an eye-catching 29 goals in 43 matches in his career in that role.

Kuhn is currently struggling for goals, making little impact at the top end of the pitch, and a spell in the team as a striker could help him to rebuild his confidence, before going back out to the wing.

With the league all-but-secured – 13 points clear with six games to go – Rodgers can afford to experiment and try new things with the team, which is why unleashing the German in a brand new role could be worth trying.

Appearances

27

10

xG

9.59

2.09

xG per 90

0.53

0.24

Goals

10

3

Big chances created

10

5

Assists

8

1

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic star has outperformed his xG in both the Premiership and the Champions League this season, which speaks to his ability to efficiently finish chances that come his way.

This suggests that the potential may be there for him to be an effective centre-forward with the team creating chances for him in central positions, rather than him needing to create openings for himself by coming in off the right flank.

The Celtic star, as shown in the clip above, is capable of providing exceptional finishes and Rodgers must, now, offer him the chance to showcase his finishing quality as a centre-forward in one of the team’s upcoming matches, in an attempt to help him get back to his goalscoring best for the Scottish giants.

Rodgers must finally get rid of Celtic dud who earns more than Maeda

Celtic must move on from the forward who earns even more than Daizen Maeda.

4 ByDan Emery Apr 9, 2025

Manchester United are preparing to beat Arsenal to the signing of a “lightning” quick striker who has 19 direct goal contributions this season, according to a new report.

Hojlund now a "damaged player" amid new striker links

United’s already dismal season sank even lower with a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday. The loss, sealed by a superb Pablo Sarabia free-kick in the 77th minute, leaves United level on points with Wolves – a team that, until February, had been battling relegation, with Wolves’ resurgence only underscoring United’s ongoing stagnation.

It was a disappointing display from Ruben Amorim’s side overall, but one player who particularly struggled was Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker failed to score once again, leaving him with just three goals in 28 Premier League appearances. Against Wolves, he managed only 13 touches, completed a single dribble, and lost eight duels.

Speaking after the game, Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals, described Hojlund as a “damaged player”.

Manchester United ready to move for Vlahovic

There’s no doubting that United need to upgrade on Hojlund this summer, and according to a new report from TuttoJuve, they already have a target in mind. The Italian outlet claims United are “ready to move” for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, who has registered 14 goals and five assists across all competitions this season.

United are reportedly considering a €45 million (£38 million) bid for the Serbian international, a long-standing target for Arsenal. However, Vlahović is said to be seeking an annual salary of €10 million (£8.6 million) to join Old Trafford—a wage that would place him among the club’s top earners.

Vlahović joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2022 and has since scored 55 goals in 139 appearances for the Old Lady. His strike rate mirrors the form he showed at Fiorentina, where he netted 49 times in 108 games.

Speaking about Vlahović back in 2021, former Fiorentina player and pundit Micah Richards was full of praise.

“I have watched him a couple of times now,” Richards told BBC Radio Five Live, per The Independent. “He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

Well, that is about as deflating a night as Arsenal fans are going to experience this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night, and instead of repeating the heroics of their game against Real Madrid, they seemed to just shrink.

It took all of three minutes for the visitors to take the lead through Ousmane Dembélé, and while the Gunners had a few chances of their own, the French side was undoubtedly the better team overall, taking a 1-0 lead back to Paris next week.

Arsenal's biggest underperformers against PSG

It would be fair to say that, apart from David Raya, none of the starters really stood out for the right reasons, but there were undoubtedly a few who stood out for all the wrong ones.

Indeed, with Thomas Partey forced to sit out through suspension after his daft yellow card in Madrid, Arteta’s side were forced to make some changes.

The most notable of which saw Mikel Merino play in midfield with Leandro Trossard playing as the centre-forward.

While it was Merino who saw a second-half goal ruled out for offside, Trossard had a poor night at the office and didn’t give Arsenal the out-ball his Spanish colleague has provided so well since becoming a makeshift striker.

Not only did the Belgian struggle to hold up the play but he was also missed a gilt-edged chance in the second half. Sent through on goal, the winger came close to equalising from close range but was denied fabulously by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG net.

Gabriel Martinelli was another who missed a fine opportunity to score on what was a frustrating night for the Brazilian.

Following on from his winning goal at the Bernabeu earlier this month, there was hope, if not an expectation, that Martinelli would once again rewind the clock to his 22/23 form against PSG last night, but that just didn’t happen.

While he still fulfilled his defensive duties, the Brazilian wideman was a frustrating watch in attack, failing to make the most of the few chances created for him.

Moreover, with how often Hakimi got forward, there was certainly space for him to exploit, but he just couldn’t, and then, with almost the final kick of the game, he blazed the ball into row Z.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, who awarded the winger a 5/10 at full-time, and one backed up by his statistics.

For example, in his 95 minutes of action, the 23-year-old failed to find the back of the net with an expected goals figure of 1.08, took two shots off target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed two big chances, made just six passes, misplaced two of three crosses and was offside once.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

1.08

Expected Assists

0.03

Passing Accuracy

6/10 (60%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Shots On Target

1

Shots off Target

2

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (0)

Duels (Won)

5 (2)

Lost Possession

8

Big Chances Missed

2

Offside

1

However, as bad as Martinelli was, one of his teammates was even worse.

Arsenal's worst performer vs PSG

So, while a few other starters let themselves down somewhat last night, one quick glance at social media will reveal to you just who the worst offender was: Martin Odegaard.

It was a night that demanded a captain’s display, but instead of that, the Norwegian international put in what content creator Connor Humm described as a “hall of shame” performance.

The man who should be unlocking defences for the Gunners was instead completely ineffective for the vast majority of the game, and even when he did do something right on occasion, he’d only go and lose the ball or make the wrong pass right after.

It was possibly his most disappointing showing of the campaign yet, which is odd for someone who has undoubtedly been one of Arsenal’s best players of the Arteta era. However, since his ankle injury earlier in the campaign, he’s been way off it, scoring just five times in 2024/25.

While that sounds unfair, it is once again an opinion shared by the aforementioned Braidwood, who gave the 26-year-old a 4/10 match rating, while Humm further laid into him, saying that he was so anonymous at times that he may as well have just “sat in the stands.”

Unsurprisingly, such damning indictments of the captain are more than justified by his statistics, as in 89 uninspiring minutes, he amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.08 and no expected goals figure, he misplaced 100% of his crosses, didn’t take a single shot, failed in five of six dribbles and only won 25% of his duels.

Minutes

89′

Touches

42

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.08

Assists

0

Passing Accuracy

24/27 (89%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (0)

Shots

0

Dribbles (Successful)

6 (1)

Duels (Won)

8 (2)

Lost Possession

14

Ultimately, last night was a massive disappointment for Arsenal, and if they are to overturn PSG’s one-goal advantage next week, then Odegaard is going to have to either put in a substantially improved display or be dropped entirely.

Indeed, his performance meant the team were practically playing with ten men at the Emirates and in truth, he may not be good enough to be a regular starter anymore.

Their new Sanchez: Arsenal weighing up bid for "unstoppable" £40m star

Arsenal could sign their new Alexis Sanchez this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 29, 2025

Make no mistake about it, this has been an utterly dreadful campaign for Manchester United.

Whether it was Erik ten Hag in the formative months of the season or Ruben Amorim in the latter stages of the term, no one has been able to get a tune out of this downtrodden Premier League giant.

After suffering a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Brentford on Sunday afternoon, it reduced the Red Devils to their 16th league defeat of 2024/25. That’s the first time that’s happened since 1989/90, before the Premier League even existed.

In truth, United were not expected to win this one. Their focus is well and truly on their Europa League semi-final next Thursday, and as a result, Amorim rang the changes.

There was a first start for 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, while 20-year-old Tyler Fredricson started at centre-back and 18-year-old Harry Amass was given a run out at left-wing back.

On that evidence, the defeat was not a shock. Still, it did little to help an already dispondent fanbase.

Where it went wrong for Man United at Brentford

While teenager Chido Obi struggled in attack, notably having just 18 touches of the ball, it was not an awful day for United in attack.

Mason Mount – who had not found the net in 400 days – opened the scoring, darting into the penalty area and finishing off a close-range opportunity.

Alejandro Garnacho and Amad also scored late on to save United’s blushes somewhat, but those two goals were too little too late. Still, it showed that there is promise for the future at Old Trafford.

It was at the back where United met their downfall. The tone was set when Brentford found their equaliser on 27 minutes. Amass was absolutely bullied by Michael Kayode who beat the youngster to the ball inside the area and then it cannoned off Luke Shaw for an own goal.

The second goal was equally as comical. Matthijs de Ligt went down injured and United switched off, which allowed Mikkel Damsgaard to find Kevin Schade who didn’t have to do much at the back stick.

For Schade’s second and the hosts’ third, there was very little resistance at the back post either where Fredricson left the Bees forward open at the and he was left with a simple finish.

It was then made all the worse when United failed to apply their offside trap correctly. The ball was slid in between the back line on the edge of the box and then Kayode laid it on a plate for Yoanne Wissa to score, completely unmarked again.

Chalkboard

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

Clearly, very little in the United backline helped but it was Shaw who was notably bad.

Luke Shaw's performance in numbers

At the peak of his game, Shaw proved himself to be one of the best left-backs not just in the Premier League, but also in Europe.

That was certainly the case at Euro 2020 where as you should all remember, he scored in the final against Italy for England.

Well, since then, it’s been a sad and agonising tale of woe for the left-sided defender who has struggled to stay fit, most notably in the last few seasons.

While Shaw managed over 30 league appearances in 2022/23, he was only seen on 12 occasions in the top-flight last season and only five times in 2024/25 to date.

In truth, this should be his last start in United’s famous colours; he was not good enough.

Minutes played

45

Touches

30

Accurate passes

19/24 (79%)

Key passes

0

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

0

Clearances

2

Tackles

1

Interceptions

0

Duels won

1/3

The own goal was bad enough but he had already nearly turned one into his own net in the first three minutes of the game. In the words of Manchester Evening News reporter, Samuel Luckhurst, he simply “wasn’t at it” having also been given the captain’s armband.

Well, it wasn’t a captain’s performance, let’s put it that way. The left-back was handed a 2/10 match rating by the Express and was consequently was hauled off after just 45 minutes.

One can excuse a lack of match fitness and you may well blame that for Shaw’s display in London this weekend, but he’s really not shown very much in his limited outings this season.

During his 45 minutes on the field, he only completed 79% of his passes and won just one of his three duels. Unsurprisingly, his 30 touches were also fewer than goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s total of 57 touches.

We are so used to seeing Shaw as a flying wing-back and perhaps he should have started there on this occasion given Amass’ own struggles. Yet, this was evidence that he now completely lacks confidence, perhaps not just in his fitness but in his own abilities.

The 29-year-old left the action having been dominated by the Brentford attack. Their clever play and trickery on the edge of the box were simply too much for him to handle.

Don’t be surprised if this is one of, if not the last time, we see him start a game for the club.

Perfect for Cunha: Man Utd in advanced talks to sign "world-class" talent

Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements, with a deal edging closer for one star.

ByEthan Lamb May 2, 2025

This summer is a huge one for Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager, needing to complete a huge overhaul of the squad if they are to compete at the top end of the Premier League next season.

His side have failed to deliver in the league throughout 2024/25, currently sitting in 15th position with just three outings remaining in the current campaign.

However, the Red Devils still have an opportunity to end the year with a trophy, potentially winning the Europa League against fellow English top-flight side Tottenham Hotspur.

Their tally of just 42 goals in their 35 league matches is the fifth-lowest in the division, highlighting the real need for attacking reinforcements throughout the off-season.

The hierarchy have already wasted no time in planning for the summer, with numerous attacking stars already emerging on their radar to help bolster Amorim’s front line.

An update on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been United’s main options in forward areas throughout 2024/25, but that could be about to change with a move for Matheus Cunha.

The Wolves talisman has notched 15 goals and six assists in the league this campaign, leading to the Red Devils entering talks to trigger the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause.

However, he could be joined at Old Trafford by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, with Foot Mercato claiming the hierarchy are also in talks with his representatives over a summer switch.

It also goes on to state that the forward is also keen on a deal to move to the North West this summer, with parent side Napoli demanding €75m (£64m) for his signature.

Further into the report, it claims the Red Devils are the only English side willing to match his £200k-per-week demands, opening the door to a switch should the talks progress in the right direction.

Why United’s £64m target would be perfect with Amad & Cunha

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United in what has been a dismal season for the club, often producing the goods for Amorim’s side within the attacking areas.

The Ivorian has registered ten combined goals and assists since the 40-year-old back in November, missing a huge chunk of action due to his ankle issue, which sidelined him for just under three months.

The 22-year-old scored in stoppage time of the 4-3 defeat against Brentford last weekend, registering his first effort after returning from injury – hoping to play a huge role in the Europa League in the coming weeks.

Amad has often played in a central role behind the striker, potentially being partnered by Cunha in such a position and aiding Osimhen in the final third at Old Trafford.

When delving into his stats from this campaign, the 26-year-old has greatly impressed on loan at Galatasaray, highlighting the threat he will pose should he complete a switch to England.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by former Nigerian footballer Oghenekaro Etebo, has registered 24 goals in his 27 Süper Lig outings – sitting as the division’s top scorer.

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, averaging a staggering 7.3 shots taken per 90, along with 3.4 shots on target per 90 – having all the tools to impress in attacking areas for Amorim’s side.

Games played

27

Goals scored

24

Shots taken

7.3

Shots on target per 90

3.4

Shot-creating actions

3.8

Progressive carries

1.8

Aerials won

4.3

Aerial success

64%

He’s also won 4.3 aerial duels per 90, along with 1.8 progressive carries completed per 90, offering the side an all-round option at the top end of the pitch in their quest to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Whilst talks over a deal to take him to the Theatre of Dreams are still in their early stages, it would be an excellent transfer that would bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal.

£64m would be an expensive addition for the club given the current cost-cutting operation in place, but it’s one that would be worthwhile, potentially being the most important signing they could make in the coming months.

Shades of Pogba: Man Utd eager to sign £20m "freak of nature" this summer

Manchester United are interested in signing a £20m star who has shades of Paul Pogba.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Liverpool typically sought to strengthen with untapped potential when under the wing of Jurgen Klopp. But Klopp has left his long-held manager’s post last year, and things feel different at Anfield.

That’s not to discredit the German’s dynasty, taking the reins on Merseyside when the Reds were a pale shadow, reduced to a colourless, rudderless state. Klopp made Liverpool whole again, winning a fair amount of silverware along the way.

However, FSG have undergone a refurb and are now looking to strengthen Arne Slot’s Premier League-winning squad with some of the finest that Europe has to offer.

One of those targets is Florian Wirtz, 22, whose playmaking quality knows no bounds. Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman will fetch a considerable figure this summer, but Liverpool are very much intent on staying in the race.

Why Liverpool want Florian Wirtz

At the start of the season, former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes claimed Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world,” with his vision, awareness, and magic touch proving invaluable for Xabi Alonso’s side over the past few years.

He might not have hit the same stratospheric heights of last year, but Wirtz has retained his world-class level across the 2024/25 campaign, outperforming Liverpool’s positionally similar players.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid when his contract expires, Liverpool are going to need to find a new way to maintain their matchless creative flair in the Premier League.

As you can see below, no English team has created more than Liverpool across the past five campaigns. Trent played a defining role in achieving this.

24/25*

Liverpool

105

23/24

Liverpool

102

22/23

Liverpool/Man City

103

21/22

Liverpool

97

20/21

Liverpool

82

Liverpool want to reinforce their successful season by bringing in new signings, and Slot’s aiming for the best. Though it would require another significant outlay, the Reds are also planning to move for a new name at number nine.

With Darwin Nunez set to be sold, this is one to start getting excited about.

Liverpool make contact to sign prolific striker

Liverpool desperately need a more reliable marksman. Nunez is consistently inconsistent, while Diogo Jota’s long injury issues have finally seeped into his game this year.

FSG are ready to move incisively. According to Caught Offside, Liverpool have opened contacts with Sporting Lisbon regarding the potential transfer of Viktor Gyokeres, though Arsenal are favourites in the race.

It’s felt the Gunners are closing on a £9m-a-year agreement with the Sweden striker, but that Liverpool – and Manchester United – have shown strong interest and are ready to pounce on any opportunity, should Mikel Arteta’s side fumble.

Gyokeres has been one of the most prolific players in Europe over the past several years, and Sporting are looking to fetch £60m for his sale.

Why Viktor Gyokeres could be a great signing for Liverpool

When Sporting signed Gyokeres from Coventry City for £20m after a failed promotion push to the Premier League, it was felt that English football had lost an interesting attacking profile capable of playing at the top level.

Two years later, the 25-year-old may return to English soil as “one of the best strikers in Europe,” as he has been described by Fabrizio Romano.

Across 100 matches for Os Leões, the one-time Brighton prospect has scored 95 goals and laid on 28 assists. Powerful and athletic, he’s surely tailor-made for a role at one of the Premier League’s top competitors.

The £62k-per-week star has bagged 52 goals from 50 matches in all competitions this season alone, meaning he’s significantly outscoring Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Isak is an incredible goalscorer and very much on Liverpool’s shopping list, but with a £150m price tag, it’s hrd to argue that he, with 27 goals from 41 games in 2024/25, would be the more prudent signing at an outlay some £90m more than Gyokeres. Liverpool have work to do across a number of positions, after all.

Only a few weeks ago, Gyokeres netted four goals in a single game for the Liga Portugal champions, who are level in first place with Benfica, superior goal difference owing largely to the centre-forward’s clinical shooting.

Given that he’s scored 57 league goals across his two terms in the Iberian division, Gyokeres has proven himself capable of leading the line at Liverpool, for sure. And when you consider he’s missed only 34 big chances in that timeframe, as per Sofascore, the argument only strengthens.

As per FBref, Gyokeres ranks among the top 1% of forwards this season in divisions similar to the Portuguese top flight for goals scored, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for assists per 90. Not bad at all.

Now think of all this, think of how efficient and deadly and “insane” all this is, as the 6 foot 2 striker has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Now imagine all that with Wirtz in behind him.

The fusion of skill sets could take a Premier League-winning Liverpool team to a whole ‘nother level entirely. Indeed, with Wirtz’s remarkable supply line finding Gyokeres, whose movements and intelligence get him in perfect positions from which he can let his predatory instinct take over, would allow Slot to challenge for the biggest trophies once again.

There was a decided lack of impetus across tournamental fronts this season: in the FA Cup, a rotated Liverpool fell to Plymouth Argyle, who have just been relegated from the Championship; after a dominant Champions League group phase, PSG got the better over two legs in the last 16; Liverpool did reach the Carabao Cup final, but were turned over by Newcastle.

In the Bundesliga this season, Wirtz might not have succeeded in defending Leverkusen’s title, but he has given a stellar account of himself once again. As per Sofascore, he’s hit 22 goal contributions from only 24 starts, creating 17 big chances and averaging 2.7 dribbles and 5.3 successful duels per game.

Last season’s Bundesliga Player of the Year knows his stuff, all right, and still so young in his career, he’s got the world at his feet.

The prolific performances of Gyokeres alongside Wirtz’s creative mind would surely spark the kind of success Slot is searching for next season, allowing Liverpool to take their fantastic campaign and shape it into a period of sustained, trophy-winning success.

He'd be amazing with Wirtz: Liverpool enter race for "magical" £100m star

Liverpool are looking to make sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.

1 ByAngus Sinclair May 15, 2025

Jobe Bellingham’s Sunderland future has been a talking point throughout this season, and now a new update has emerged ahead of the Championship playoff final.

Sunderland 90 minutes away from the Premier League

The Black Cats are preparing for one of the biggest games in their recent history on Saturday afternoon, as they battle Sheffield United at Wembley for a place back in the Premier League.

It is a mammoth occasion for both sides, in what is considered the most valuable game in the English football calendar, and Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has said that his players have matched his pre-season expectations of them.

“We are exactly where we wanted to be. In our first meeting in this room, I asked them what is the purpose of the season and they told me they wanted to get promoted. Here we are. We’ll have this opportunity.”

The difference between victory and defeat on Saturday cannot be downplayed, with Sunderland knowing that a return to the Premier League will not only allow them to sign better players this summer, but also give them a better chance of retaining the services of current Stadium of Light heroes, from Bellingham to Chris Rigg.

The former has been linked with a move to follow in his brother’s footsteps by joining Borussia Dortmund, and there has been a development in that story ahead of the final.

Dortmund confident after talks with Bellingham

According to Bild [via Sport Witness], Bellingham has held “fruitful” talks with Borussia Dortmund over a summer move to the European giants, who now believe they are well placed to sign him.

It is stated that several Premier League clubs are also in the race to sign the youngster, however, with champions Liverpool mentioned as potential suitors. Much will hinge on the playoff final result, with defeat for the Black Cats almost certainly meaning he will leave.

If Saturday’s game isn’t big enough already, Sunderland will know that beating the Blades will give them a far greater chance of keeping Bellingham, which is a major incentive. The 19-year-old has been such an influential performer throughout the season, starting 41 Championship matches and being lauded by captain Dan Neil, who said of him back in 2023.

Sunderland must now unleash their new Jack Clarke in the playoff final

Regis Le Bris must find a way to start Sunderland’s new Jack Clarke at Wembley.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 22, 2025

In truth, Sunderland can’t necessarily expect Bellingham to stay if they remain in the Championship next season, with the Englishman no doubt having big ambitions.

The lure of testing himself in the Premier League for the Black Cats isn’t out of the question, though, so it’s a case of them getting the job done this weekend.

The summer transfer window officially opens for business on Sunday and Leeds United are preparing to build a squad to compete in the Premier League.

One star who is reportedly on their radar is Argentine attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, as journalist Sebastien Vidal recently claimed that the club are set to bid for the Aston Villa attacking midfielder.

The 28-year-old star racked up 24 goals and 41 assists in 121 appearances under Daniel Farke at Norwich, and has 12 more assists than any other player in the manager’s career to date.

Buendia produced two goals and two ‘big chances’ created in 11 games on loan at Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of this season before returning to Villa, and now he could be on his way to Elland Road.

The former Norwich star is a playmaker, as shown by his assist record under Farke, and Leeds could pair him with a new striker if they manage to bring him over from the Villans.

Leeds eyeing deal for new striker

Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that the club were not going to build their attack around Joel Piroe because they have doubts over his ability to make the step up to the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

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

It would make sense, therefore, for the West Yorkshire outfit to target a striker who has already scored goals in the English top-flight, which is what they are doing.

According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are considering a swoop to sign Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that they have identified Callum Wilson, Jamie Vardy, and Ferguson as potential options to bolster their attack, as all three have the Premier League experience that they would like.

Brighton’s Ireland international spent the second half of this season on loan at West Ham United, and it remains to be seen what will happen with him this summer, but Leeds have emerged as a potential option for him.

Why Leeds should sign Evan Ferguson

If the Whites can get a deal over the line for Buendia this summer, Ferguson could be a dream signing to partner the Argentine playmaker in the final third.

As aforementioned, the ex-Norwich star is a playmaker extraordinaire and he would benefit from having a clinical striker who can make the most of his creativity.

Supporters may see that Ferguson scored one goal in 23 Premier League games this season and doubt his goalscoring credentials, but it is worth noting that he missed all of pre-season last summer with a knee injury and never found his rhythm in the campaign.

22/23

5.67

6

+0.33

23/24

3.97

6

+2.03

24/25

1.36

1

-0.36

Total

10.29

13

+1.89

As you can see in the table above, the Irish forward had caught the eye in his previous two seasons in the top-flight, outperforming his xG by 2.36 to score 12 goals for Brighton.

Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker likened him to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland in the 2023/24 season, when he scored six times, saying: “I do see a hint of Haaland about him, his stature, his movement, his youth and stuff like that.”

Ferguson still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, at the age of 20, as he is, clearly, not at Haaland’s levels of goalscoring yet, but Leeds could have their own mini-Haaland at Elland Road by bringing him to the club.

Haaland scored 22 goals from 22.01 xG in the Premier League for City this season, but does share a similar build and play style with the Brighton youngster as Lineker claimed.

The 20-year-old starlet has shown that he can score goals efficiently at Premier League level, as evidenced by his form in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, and that is why the Whites should gamble on him this summer to arrive as a dream signing alongside Buendia.

Orta wanted him: Leeds eyeing move for "very prolific" Piroe upgrade

Leeds United are eyeing a Joel Piroe upgrade who was previously wanted by Victor Orta.

1 ByDan Emery May 29, 2025

Farke could have a potentially lethal attacking pairing by reuniting with the Argentine playmaker to consistently create chances for the efficient Ferguson to finish off.

Chelsea have made a winning start to their Club World Cup campaign.

On Monday night, Enzo Maresca’s team easily swatted aside MLS outfit Los Angeles FC 2-0 in Atlanta, with Pedro Neto breaking the deadlock on the cusp of half time, before Enzo Fernández, teed up by debutant Liam Delap, made the points secure.

The major talking point was all the empty seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with around 22,000 in attendance, but this is not a good look in a venue that holds up to 75,000; for context, Atlanta United average around 45,000 in Major League Soccer this season.

Nevertheless, Maresca won’t care about that one jot, as his team prepare to take on Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, after the Brazilian outfit were also 2-0 winners on Monday, beating Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Philadelphia.

Back at home, Chelsea continue to be busy in the transfer market, so are they about to land yet another wide-forward?

Chelsea's search for a new winger

Signing new forwards is clearly the order of the day for BlueCo this summer with Delap already in the door and Hugo Ekitike also touted with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Now, the Blues have another target in mind according to the latest reports.

As per David Ornstein of the Athletic, Chelsea ‘have made a verbal enquiry’ as they seek to sign Olympique Lyonnais winger Malick Fofana.

Meantime, French outlet L’Equipe add that Lyon value the forward at around £50m.

Transfer Focus

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

The 20-year-old began his senior career at Gent, before joining les Gones for a reported fee of £14.5m in January 2024, making 62 appearances for Lyon to date, scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “magnificent winger prospect”, so could he be set to swap France for West London?

Why Chelsea should sign Malick Fofana not Jamie Gittens

After deciding not to make Jadon Sancho’s loan from Manchester United permanent, paying a £5m penalty fee as a result, Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian reports that Chelsea are ‘prioritising’ signing a right-footed left-winger this summer.

Well, BBC Sport claimed last week that the Blues had seen a £42m rejected by Borussia Dortmund for 20-year-old Englishman Jamie Gittens, who they claim has already agreed personal terms.

But now, are the Blues turning their attention to Fofana, and who is actually the bigger prospect? Let’s find out.

Appearances

41

48

Minutes

2,280

2,790

Goals

11

12

Assists

6

5

Goals – xG

+5

+6.7

Expected assists

4.4

3.5

Shots on target %

54%

40.3%

Progressive carries

157

161

Attempted take-ons

83

232

Take-on success %

39.8%

44.8%

Shot-creating actions per 90

3.43

3.57

Goal-creating actions per 90

0.61

0.45

Average SofaScore rating

7.24

7.05

As the table outlines, Gittens is much more of a prolific dribbler; in fact, across Europe’s top five leagues, only six players attempted more take-ons, according to FBref.com.

However, Fofana is a significantly more of a direct goal-threat, underlined by the fact he registered more assists and a higher amount of expected assists, as well as goal-creating actions per 90 and a better shots on target percentage.

​​​​​​​

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes the Belgian international possesses “enormous potential” and has a “big future ahead”, while Brandon Liss of Total Football Analysis outlines how Fofana likes to hold width on the left side, tasked with taking on opposition full-backs, “working tirelessly” and demonstrating “excellent work rate”.

Meantime, Astorre Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines asserts that Fofana ‘has huge potential’, describing him as an ‘explosive winger​​​​​​​’ who ‘combines well with teammates’ and is a threat in front of goal.

Lyon are currently under pressure to sell and fast because they have been provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial irregularities, a situation that remains up in the air.

Thus, if Chelsea are able to take advantage of Lyon’s predicament and get a deal done, Fofana is unquestionably a top-class talent.

Maresca must sign an upgrade on 5/10 Chelsea dud who lost the ball 10 times

Chelsea beat LAFC 2-0 in their first game of the Club World Cup.

3 ByKelan Sarson Jun 17, 2025

Manchester City are seeking to retain their FIFA Club World Cup crown this summer as the tournament takes on a new and exciting format, with 32 teams competing to be named football’s best club side.

After much excitement and intrigue, the revamped FIFA Club World Cup has begun, with stars like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Michael Olise already taking centre stage in the United States.

Pep Guardiola’s side can become the first English team to be crowned the kings of world football on two occassions with a triumph this summer, and only the second side in history to retain the title, after Real Madrid’s three-peat between 2017 and 2019.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

The eight-time Premier League champions’ quest to reach the final, which takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13, starts this week on Wednesday June 18 when they take on Wydad AC, who compete in Botola Pro, the top flight of Moroccan football.

City earned their place in this competition via their UEFA Champions League triumph against Inter back in 2023, while Wydad were crowned CAF Champions League winners in 2022 after a heroic 2-0 win against Egyptian side Al-Ahly.

Watch the FIFA Club World Cup live and on-demand here

Ahead of what should be an action-packed opening fixture for two of the four sides in Group G, here’s everything you need to know on how to watch – and who to be looking out for – when Wednesday rolls around…

Where to watch Man City vs Wydad at the Club World Cup

63 games featuring the world’s best players all in the space of a month and all in one place, for free! Sound too good to be true? It isn’t.

Indeed, FIFA revealed back in December 2024 that the extended Club World Cup will be available for free globally, with the world’s largest sports streaming platform, DAZN, showcasing every game with unique coverage which will finally settle the debate – who is the best club side in the world?

Available globally in 14 languages, DAZN is the only place to truly celebrate the groundbreaking new tournament, with easy access provided to watch the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham competing on the biggest stage.

If you are already a DAZN subscriber, then the Club World Cup action is already included in your membership. For those who haven’t yet signed up, all you need is an email address to register a free account on the DAZN website, with no hidden costs or added fees. You will then be able to watch every game on the DAZN app via your TV, computer, phone or even on your games console.

Man City vs Wydad AC (Wednesday 18 June – Philadelphia – 5pm UK time, midday local time)

FIFA Club World Cup Current Champions Manchester CityFounded 2000Most Championships Real Madrid (5)

DAZN

Watch all FIFA Club World Cup games free on DAZN. The biggest clubs and the best players in the world compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Watch Every Game Live on DAZN Man City vs Wydad – Who to look out for

Bouncing back from a challenging campaign, City have strengthened their ranks significantly in 2025, with several new signings included in their Club World Cup squad, like Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and perhaps most excitingly of all Rayan Cherki.

All three new arrivals could make their Man City debuts this week, while we are also likely to be treated to more spectacular showings from Omar Marmoush, who has scored eight goals in 22 games since moving to the Etihad Stadium in January.

Marmoush and Cherki could form an unstoppable attack which of course already includes Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland. The 24 year-old will be looking to continue his incredible scoring rate since moving to England, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements earlier this year, reaching the landmark with 84 goals and 16 assists in just 94 matches.

As for the underdogs, Wydad are the most successful team in Moroccan football history, winning 22 top flight titles, most recently in the 2021-22 campaign, when they also won their version of the Champions League and Cup Winners’ Cup to complete a historic treble.

Based in Casablanca, they had a poor season by their own lofty standards in 2024-25, finishing third in Botola Pro, but that is not to say they cannot pose a problem to their opponents in Group G this summer.

Undoubtedly their biggest threat is Dutch winger Mohamed Rayhi, who came through PSV’s academy and has been capped at youth level by the Netherlands. Rayhi scored 13 times this season and can play on either flank, but is best cutting in from the left onto his dangerous right foot.

A familiar face to MLS fans will be attacking midfielder Cassius Mailula. The South Africa international spent a year with Toronto FC before joining Wydad last summer, scoring five times and providing seven assists in his first campaign in Morocco. He will hope to be the creative force to unlock Man City’s defence on Wednesday.

Who else is in Group G?

Manchester City will fancy themselves as favourites to top Group G, but there is certainly some stern competition from Juventus, the 36-time champions of Italy, who qualified for this competition courtesy of their four-year UEFA ranking.

With two UEFA Champions League titles to their name, Juve have suffered a slight fall from grace in recent years, failing to win a league title since 2020 and finishing fourth in Serie A this season. Led by Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic and Turkey wonderkid Kenan Yıldız, they can restore themselves as a global footballing superpower with success at the Club World Cup.

June 18

Man City vs Wydad AC

Philadelphia – (midday/5pm)

June 18

Al Ain vs Juventus

Washington – (9pm/2am June 19)

June 22

Juventus vs Wydad AC

Philadelphia – (midday/5pm)

June 22

Man City vs Al Ain

Atlanta – (9pm/2am June 23)

June 26

Wydad AC vs Al Ain

Washington – (3pm/8pm)

June 26

Juventus vs Man City

Orlando – (3pm/8pm)

The final place in Group G has been taken by Al Ain FC, who are based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and compete in the UAE Pro League. They finished 5th this season but gained access to this summer’s action after winning the 2023–24 AFC Champions League.

Could Wydad kick off the Group G action with one of the biggest upsets of all time? Find out on DAZN!