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Out-of-favour Celtic midfielder James McCarthy could leave the club at the end of the season, according to former Hoops hero Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: McCarthy struggling for minutes

The 31-year-old joined Celtic on a permanent deal from Crystal Palace last summer as he sought to make an impact under Ange Postecoglou.

It hasn’t worked out for McCarthy, though, with the Republic of Ireland international limited to just four starts in the Premiership overall.

The midfielder’s current deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2025, but it seems unlikely that he will remain at Parkhead until then.

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The Latest: McCarthy backed to leave Celtic

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed that McCarthy could even be shipped off this summer, having struggled to impress for Celtic. The 62-year-old said of the Irishman:

“McCarthy, well he’s hardly kicked a ball since he came in. I thought he was going to come in and be our hardman in the midfield.

“He likes a tackle but it hasn’t quite happened for him this season. Some of the midfielders have gone off the boil a bit, like Hatate, and he can’t find a way in.

“Hopefully he can get himself fit over pre-season because he started this season injured, it’s been a struggle for him. But if he can’t do that then, well, we already have a lot of midfielders and if he isn’t going to play, why would he stay?”

The Verdict: Makes total sense

McCarthy is a talented player who has enjoyed a good career – he was once hailed as ‘incredible’ by Roy Hodgson during his time at Palace – but it is hard to see how he is going to feature prominently in Postrecoglou’s plans moving forward, given how rarely he has started this season.

The incoming title win will secure Champions League football, which could entice midfield additions to the club this summer, duly pushing the Irishman further down the pecking order.

It could make sense for all parties for McCarthy to move on and enjoy a fresh challenge, giving him the chance to become a regular elsewhere, while also getting his £14,000-per-week salary off Celtic’s wage bill.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou has dropped a double Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.

Manchester City are only a handful of games away from potentially securing their fourth Premier League title in five years.

With 34 matches played, Pep Guardiola’s side have won 26, drawn five and lost three, scoring 84 goals and conceding 21 along the way.

Despite the four very important games that the Citizens have left to play, it seems as though the hierarchy at the club behind the scenes already have some plans in place regarding the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the news?

In a recent tweet, journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared an exciting update on what sort of transfer business could take place behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

He said: “Manchester City will sign a new midfielder once [Erling] Haaland saga’s over. Paul Pogba has been discussed internally as @MikeKeegan_DM reported – still nothing advanced, PSG also in the race #MCFC.

“Frenkie de Jong, highly rated but expensive. Scouts have monitored Matheus Nunes too.”

Taking this into account, it could well end up being a rather busy summer transfer period for the reigning Premier League champions.

If they are then able to not only secure Haaland’s signature but bring a new midfielder in as well, this would be music to the ears of Guardiola to help him refresh his squad.

With the Citizens set to wave goodbye to veteran midfielder Fernandinho in the summer once his current contract runs out, it’s easy to see why the club would be aiming to bring in a new midfield option.

Should the Brazilian find himself not putting pen to paper on a new deal, his place in the squad would be open for a potential new recruit to fill.

In terms of the three midfield options that Romano mentioned in his tweet, the fact that all three have provided goals and assists for their clubs in their respective leagues this season could make them valid options for such an attacking team like City.

If the Sky Blues end up sealing the league title and then completing the deals that they want to get done in the summer, this would leave Guardiola ecstatic and put City in a good place to attack the 2022/23 campaign and try to continue being as successful as possible.

In other news: Man City eyeing bargain move for £290k-p/w “work of art”, supporters would be ecstatic

Alex McLeish has now dropped a Glasgow Rangers transfer claim involving Josh McPake.

The Lowdown: McPake free to leave Rangers

As per Football Insider, a source from Ibrox has revealed that Giovanni van Bronckhorst and co have now given the ‘green light’ for the 20-year-old to leave in the summer, as he is ‘surplus to requirements’.

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They have personally ‘told’ McPake that he can go after his loan spell at Tranmere Rovers ends this season.

The Latest: McLeish reacts to McPake latest

Speaking to Football Insider, former Light Blues manager McLeish has given his reaction to the news, claiming that Rangers should be looking to sell players like McPake who do not quite make the grade.

The 63-year-old said: “If they can generate some big money for these sorts of players they feel are not up to the required level, then why not?

“That’s good business. Chelsea have done it over a vast number of years.

“Chelsea have got these players in and later on down the line, they’ve secured big fees for them – and there are plenty of other clubs who have done the same. Why not Rangers?

“It really does take a lot to play at the Scottish Premiership level for Rangers. The demands it comes with are massive, and you can’t always get it right.

“There won’t always be players coming off the conveyor belt, but if there’s a method of raising big money for players who can’t make the grade – then it’s a no-brainer.”

The Verdict: Sell

Having been sent out on loan no fewer than five times by the Gers over the course of his fledgling career so far, it is now time for both McPake and the Ibrox club to part ways for good.

He has only managed one senior Gers appearance, which came in a Europa League qualifier in July 2019, and at 20 years of age, he needs to move on from the club once and for all in order to enjoy more regular first-team football.

It is a shame for the player, who came through the youth ranks at Rangers and was sufficiently regarded to be given a new deal just last year, but this summer feels like the perfect time to let McPake go, so long as the club can get a decent fee for him.

In other news, these were Rangers’ three worst players against RB Leipzig

Manchester City have been one of the deadliest teams in the Premier League in terms of scoring goals over the past few years.

Since Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge of the club back in the 2016/17 season, City have scored at least 80 goals in every league campaign, breaching the 100-goal mark on two occasions.

Now that the next summer transfer window is around the corner, it seems as though the reigning league champions have their eye on adding one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers to their ranks.

What’s the news?

According to journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano during his latest Here We Go podcast, talks between the Manchester club and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland over a potential summer transfer move are progressing.

He said: “In the coming days we’ll have some final answer on Erling’s side. We know that Manchester City are progressing with talks but on Real Madrid’s side, they feel Man City are the frontrunner. They are in the process to sign him but it’s not a done deal. They are working on the details, the conditions and the payment.”

City fans will be delighted

Since joining the German club back in the 2020 January transfer window from RB Salzburg, the 21-year-old has been scoring goals for fun.

With 87 appearances under his belt, the striker has scored 85 times and delivered 23 assists for his teammates.

One of those assists came against Guardiola’s team in last season’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash.

Last season saw the centre-forward rack up 90 shots at goal in the Bundesliga, with 47 being on target, leaving only Robert Lewandowski (56) and Andre Silva (53) with more.

To further highlight what a hot commodity the Norway international is, only Kylian Mbappe (£144m) has a higher market value than Haaland (£135m) in world football according to Transfermarkt.

Having been reported earlier this month that the Manchester club have agreed terms on a potential deal for the striker, it certainly feels now like the Citizens are in the driving seat to eventually bring Haaland to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Taking all of this into account, this will only be music to the ears of many City fans who will undeniably be over the moon with the prospect of seeing the Dortmund star firing in goals for their side.

Moving forward, if City can wrap this deal up as quickly as possible, this will surely put them in a good shape ahead of next season and keep their impressive record for scoring goals going.

In other news: Pep can blow supporters away as MCFC eye bid for “dynamic” £58m gem, he’s Gundogan 2.0

Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points after they beat Sunderland 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday.

A screamer from Ruben Dias set the Cityzens on their way before Rayan Cherki provided a genius rabona assist for Phil Foden to seal all three points with the third goal.

Despite a run of five wins in their last six matches in the Premier League, there is always room for improvement at Manchester City for Pep Guardiola, which means that they could be active in the upcoming January transfer window.

Man City scouting Bundesliga star

One thing that the Cityzens do not have in abundance is players with real speed who can run off the last line, but they are now looking at a star who could provide that.

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 CaughtOffside, Manchester City are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential swoop to sign RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the Ivorian talent in action in the Bundesliga this season, ahead of a possible move for him next month or next summer.

It adds, though, that Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also been watching the 19-year-old starlet, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature.

CaughtOffside reveals that insiders believe that his value could rise as high as £87m amid interest from a host of top European clubs, whilst his contract does not expire until 2030.

Why Man City should sign Yan Diomande

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the teenage whiz’s signature because he could be Guardiola’s new Sterling, as a rapid right-footed right winger who can provide a real threat in behind.

In Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, City have a collection of right-sided attackers who are at their best dropping into play to take the ball with their back to goal or on the half-turn, but they do not have a natural right winger who wants to run in behind.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described Diomande, meanwhile, as a “crazy speedster” who has become a “weapon” in the final third by adding goals and assists to go along with his electric pace.

The Ivorian star scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt in a 6-0 win for Leipzig at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to seven goals in 15 appearances for the German side.

Diomande has scored six goals from 3.03 xG and registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, in the Bundesliga for his club, whilst he has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game, which speaks to how direct and purposeful his play is.

Sergio Aguero (260)

Kevin De Bruyne (177)

Joe Hayes (146)

David Silva (136)

Eric Brook (145)

Raheem Sterling (86)

Erling Haaland (144)

Bernardo Silva (75)

Colin Bell (149)

Phil Foden (65)

Francis Lee (138)

Sergio Aguero (65)

Raheem Sterling (131)

Riyad Mahrez (59)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling was also a player who provided quality in the final third to go along with the pace that he used to run in behind opposition defenders.

The fact that the England international and Sergio Aguero are the only two players who feature in the top seven for both goals and assists speaks to how effective he was for Guardiola on the right wing as both a scorer and a creator.

Diomande is a talented young player who has the potential to follow in Sterling’s footsteps, because he has already shown that he can provide quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga with Leipzig this term, with eight goal contributions so far.

Like Sterling, the 19-year-old winger is a dynamic forward who can go down the line or run in behind on his right foot, but he can also drop deep and come inside onto his weaker foot, having scored four goals with his left foot and two with his right, per Sofascore.

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This is why City should be pushing to get a deal done for the youngster when the January transfer window opens, because Diomande could provide Guardiola with a right-sided option that he has not had since Sterling left the club.

Chelsea are now set to enter talks to sign a new midfielder, who Enzo Maresca believes would be a perfect fit in his system.

Blues looking to sign another midfielder

There is arguably a case to be made for Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo being the best midfield duo in the Premier League, with Reece James describing them as “phenomenal” and “up there with the best midfielders in the world” back in July.

While the Blues weren’t at the races at Old Trafford on Saturday, losing 2-1 against Manchester United after Robert Sanchez saw red in the fifth minute, Caicedo and Fernandez certainly didn’t let them down, with the former making five tackles, the highest number of any player.

As such, there is arguably little reason to spend big on another top midfielder, and the Blues have now identified a potentially cost-effective transfer target in the middle of the park, with Maresca personally a fan.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Chelsea now plan to open talks over a deal for Mikel Jauregizar, in order to assess whether the Athletic Bilbao star would be willing to make a move to the Premier League.

At 21-years-old, the signing of Jauregizar would fit the model of signing young players, and the report makes it clear he would be a more affordable option than the likes of Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, who have previously been linked.

Maresca believes the Spaniard’s playing style would be ideal for his system, with the youngster’s vision, ball recovery and long-passing ability named as some of his key strengths.

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Chelsea endured an awful afternoon in the pouring rain at Manchester United.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 21, 2025 "Baller" Jauregizar could excel at Stamford Bridge

The central midfielder is held in very high regard by scout Ben Mattinson, who once described him as an “underrated baller”, and there are signs he could be a success at Stamford Bridge, having impressed for Athletic Bilbao.

One of the maestro’s key strengths is his ability to win back possession, placing in the 90th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, which suggests he could be a fantastic rotation option for Caicedo and Fernandez.

The starlet also has a keen eye for goal, as displayed at Old Trafford last season, finding the back of the net with a fantastic strike from distance in the Europa League.

The Blues are already well-stocked in the engine room, but given that Romeo Lavia can’t seem to put his injury problems behind him, it could make sense to bring in another option, and Jauregizar is showing promising signs at Athletic Bilbao.

That said, fans will be hoping the young Spaniard joining isn’t a sign Fernandez is on the move, with it recently being revealed Chelsea are willing to sell the midfielder on three conditions…

Aston Villa are now readying an end-of-season offer for an England international, who Thomas Tuchel has called “excellent”.

Villa set sights on new midfielder amid McGinn update

During the summer transfer window, there were suggestions that John McGinn could move elsewhere, with the midfielder being linked with a move to Everton, but the captain ultimately ended up staying put, and there has now been a new update on his future.

Former scout Mick Brown has revealed that Villa are looking to tie McGinn down to a new contract, saying: “They’re going to look to get him tied down to a new deal to secure his future at the club, because of that stability and leadership he brings to the squad.

“It’s something they’ll sit down and talk about in the next few weeks because at the moment, there are a few concerns there that they’re going to have to address.”

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However, after making a slow start to the Premier League season, with the Villans failing to score in their first four games, it has now been revealed that they are looking to bolster their options in the engine room.

That is according to a report from Milan Web, which states Aston Villa are now ready to make an end-of-season offer for AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, whose contract with the Italian club is set to expire in 2027.

Loftus-Cheek’s future at the San Siro is up in the air, with AC Milan willing to listen to offers in the region of €20m (£17m), and a number of rival Premier League clubs are in the race for his signature.

Newcastle United and West Ham United have also expressed an interest in the central midfielder, who recently received his first England call-up since March 2019.

"Excellent" Loftus-Cheek lauded by Tuchel

Tuchel knows the 29-year-old well from his time as Chelsea manager, lauding the maestro as “excellent” courtesy of his performance in the 2022 FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.

Since then, the former Chelsea man has gone on to receive more praise from the England manager, after the 52-year-old called him up to the Three Lions squad during the recent international break.

The 10-time England international has made a solid start to the Serie A campaign, scoring one goal in his opening three games, while also impressing with his dribbling, aerial and passing over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

Statistic

Average per 90

Progressive carries

2.88 (96th percentile)

Pass completion %

88.6% (84th percentile)

Aerials won

1.74 (87th percentile)

As such, if Loftus-Cheek continues his current performance levels, he could be a solid signing for Aston Villa next summer.

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

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

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

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

Tottenham transfer news

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

Transfer Focus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Gomes compares to Vitinha

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

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

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

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.29

0.27

Progressive Passes

7.13

7.71

Progressive Carries

1.71

1.74

Passing Accuracy

89.4%

89.7%

Expected Assists

0.21

0.17

Key Passes

1.68

1.57

Successful Take-On %

62.9%

61.5%

Aerial Duels Won

0.24

0.17

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

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

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

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