Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will surely be pleased with how his side has adapted to Premier League football after their promotion from the Championship.

The last six teams to have come up from the second tier have all been relegated at the first time of asking, and the Whites, Sunderland, and Burnley are hoping to avoid making it nine from nine.

Leeds have racked up eight points in seven matches in the Premier League so far this season, lifting them above the relegation zone, in what has been an impressive start to the campaign.

They lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur last time out in the top-flight at Elland Road, but they had a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth and a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which included a stunning goal from Anton Stach, prior to that.

The German central midfielder smashed his free-kick right into the top corner for his first goal for the club after his move from Hoffenheim in the summer window.

Another signing from the summer transfer window who has impressed since his arrival at Elland Road is exciting wide attacker Noah Okafor.

Where Noah Okafor ranks among Leeds United's attackers

It may not be unfair to suggest that the Switzerland international is the best and most effective attacker within Farke’s first-team squad in the Premier League this season.

Okafor, who was signed from AC Milan, has hit the ground running in English football with two goals in four starts in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which is twice as many goals as any other player in the team has managed.

He is the only Leeds player who has scored more than one goal this season in the top-flight, with his strikes against Wolves and Spurs, and that suggests that the forward is, at the very least, the most effective goalscorer in the attacking ranks.

Sofascore rating

7.06

1st

xG

1.16

2nd

Goals

2

1st

Minutes per goal

153

2nd

Big chances created

1

2nd

Dribbles completed per game

2.2

1st

Key passes per game

0.8

2nd

As you can see in the table above, Okafor ranks either first or second in a host of key attacking metrics for the Whites in the Premier League, which speaks to how influential he has been at the top end of the pitch in the early stages of the campaign.

The Swiss speedster, who scored in the 2-1 defeat to Spurs last time out, is an electric dribbler who can score goals and create chances for his teammates, which makes him an invaluable part of Farke’s attack.

Despite that, Transfermarkt have Okafor as the 13th-most valuable member of the squad, at £11m, and the seventh-most valuable winger or striker, even below Jack Harrison at £12m.

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Another player who is worth even more than the Switzerland international, despite his impressive form in the Premier League, is central defender Pascal Struijk, whom the Whites have hit the jackpot with since his move to the club from Ajax.

Leeds have hit the jackpot with Pascal Struijk

The Dutch central defender joined the club at U21 level on a free transfer at the start of 2018, as his contract with Ajax was due to expire, and he was able to rise through the ranks at Thorp Arch.

Struijk made seven appearances for the U21 team before he emerged as a regular first-team squad member in the 2020/21 Premier League season under Marcelo Bielsa, playing 27 times, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed star has since racked up 166 appearances for the first-team in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit, and has started all seven of the club’s league matches this season.

Struijk was particularly important to the club’s promotion to the Premier League last season, scoring five goals in 35 appearances, as he formed a reliable partnership with Joe Rodon.

The 26-year-old titan, who scored two late goals in a dramatic comeback against Sunderland, kept 14 clean sheets in 31 starts in the second tier last term, per Sofascore, which speaks to how defensively solid the team were with him in it.

Farke has kept his faith in both Rodon and Struijk, despite the signings of Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw, in the Premier League so far this season.

The German boss described him as a “crucial” player back in 2023, and he still relies on the Dutchman, even if his performances this term have not quite been up to scratch.

Tackles

6

Bottom 34%

Duels won

19

Bottom 40%

Duel success rate

43.2%

Bottom 3%

Aerial duel success rate

46.4%

Bottom 13%

Interceptions

2

Bottom 9%

Blocked shots

2

Bottom 34%

As you can see in the table above, Struijk currently ranks among the worst centre-backs in the division in a host of defensive statistics, which suggests that he needs to improve his performances if he wants to remain in the side.

Despite his slightly concerning form at this moment in time, the Dutch star is valued at a whopping £15.6m by Transfermarkt, which means that he is worth more than Okafor (£11m). He is also the joint-fourth most valuable player at the club, per Transfermarkt.

Considering that the Whites picked him up from Ajax’s academy and he started his career in England at U21 level, it is fair to say that Leeds hit the jackpot when they signed Struijk back in 2018.

He has developed into, at the very least, a Championship promotion-winning central defender, and one of the most valuable players in the squad at £15.6m.

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At the age of 26, Struijk also has plenty of time left ahead of him to increase in value, but he must first turn his Premier League form around and show that he is good enough to start week-in-week-out in a top-flight side that can avoid relegation.

Harry Kane. The greatest goalscorer in Tottenham Hotspur history. Perhaps their greatest ever player too.

The prolific striker left Spurs behind in 2023, finally departing after scoring a swashbuckling 280 goals in 435 games for the Lilywhites.

For too long, Kane had failed to win a trophy, to pick up an award that his performances for well over a decade deserved.

That curse continued during his first campaign in Germany. Now of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen topped the German heavyweights’ monopoly on the title.

Kane’s first piece of silverware finally came last term, his side victorious in the league. England’s greatest centre-forward has his major trophy, he can rest easy.

However, might there be thoughts of returning to Spurs?

Spurs targeting £86m Harry Kane alternative

Reports emerged late last month that Spurs were ready to launch a move to re-sign their former talisman if given encouragement on the player side.

Kane’s contract in Munich ends in 2027 and there is a release clause of £56.7m in his terms that could reportedly be activated at the end of the current season.

Sadly for those of a Tottenham persuasion, a move looks to be unlikely. Speaking to the press this week, Kane revealed that he could definitely see himself remaining in Germany.

With that move off the table, if Spurs have desires of improving their forward line, something they need to do given the injury-prone Richarlison and Dominic Solanke, an alternative will be required.

Reports from Spain this week suggest that Porto striker Samu Aghehowa could be that man.

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Indeed, it is claimed that Spurs are one of the major contenders to sign the Spanish striker in 2026, but they do face a few obstacles.

The first is Samu’s £86m release clause. The second is competition from further Premier League clubs, primarily Aston Villa and Newcastle.

His former club, Atletico Madrid, are also keeping a close eye on his development, perhaps regretting the decision they made to sell him to Porto.

Why Samu is such an exciting striker

Kane is the best goalscorer Spurs have ever seen, but he’s remarkably taking his game to new heights since moving to Germany.

Harry Kane record @ senior level

Team

Games

Goals

Spurs

435

280

England

107

74

Bayern

106

103

Millwall

27

9

Orient

18

5

Leicester

15

2

Norwich

5

0

Last term, the England international bagged 41 goals in 51 games. This season, he’s in the form of his life, netting 18 times in ten outings. It’s Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo levels in their pomp.

Such form has seen calls for Kane to win the Ballon d’Or, but as the player himself has admitted, he may well need to win the Champions League or World Cup to be in the conversation. Wouldn’t that be something, eh?

Despite that, Kane is now 32 and while he only looks like he’s getting better in front of goal, there is no resale value here for Spurs and you do have to doubt just how long he will be able to do it at this rate of knots.

Spurs fans will no doubt lust after his return to north London but it’s not exactly a signing for the future. Samu, however, certainly would be.

He’s no mug in front of goal either. Just 21 years of age, the Spain international scored on 27 occasions in 45 fixtures throughout 2024/25.

The young attacker has been similarly rampant this season, scoring five goals in eight fixtures. As European football expert, Zach Lowy, has alluded to, Samu “has everything it takes to be one of the best strikers in Europe.”

Lowy mentions that while Porto’s star man is certainly still “rough around the edges” at his age, he holds the ball up brilliantly and chases the ball down “like a madman”.

Combine that with his ability to score goals on a regular basis and you have a complete package ready to take one of Europe’s top five leagues by storm.

There is a reason Chelsea nearly signed him too. They’ve been busy hoovering up some of the best young talent in the world in recent years and had agreed a deal worth £35m before the move collapsed. That could be to Spurs’ gain if they do seal Samu’s signature next year.

Some might be concerned about the fact that the striker is unproven in a major league. Viktor Gyokeres has had an indifferent start at Arsenal since swapping the Portuguese top-flight for the Premier League.

He was more prolific than Samu, too, notching 54 goals last season, but it’s key to remember that the Spurs target is younger. His future in the game looks immense and while it’s a stretch to suggest he’d replicate Kane, he can certainly help them forget about making a move for a player who will be in his mid-30s by the time his contract in Germany expires.

Samu, on the other hand, will still only be 23. He has the world at his feet and he’s ready to dominate European football for years to come.

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With their sights set on further upgrades, Manchester United have now reportedly leapfrogged Liverpool in the race to sign a Premier League rival who’s worth £70m.

Man Utd's 2026 transfer plans

Victory over Sunderland at least bought Ruben Amorim more time, but there’s no denying that the pressure is still on. Such results should be a formality at a club of Man United’s stature and, simply put, they have been anything but since the former Sporting Club boss arrived. That said, INEOS’ transfer plans suggest that they’re still ready to back their manager.

The impact of their spending has already been on show this season, too. Senne Lammens made his full debut against Sunderland and instantly silenced the noise that has been surrounding United’s No.1 role for a number of years. Meanwhile, Benjamin Sesko has now discovered his golden touch – scoring twice in his last two games.

Those at Old Trafford will be the first to admit that there’s still plenty of work to be done, especially when 2026 arrives. The investment into Amorim’s squad must continue and may yet even feature another shot-stopper.

Aiming to overhaul the position completely with Lammens and one other star, the Red Devils have reportedly shown interest in signing Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Barcelona when he returns from his current spell on the sidelines.

The experienced goalkeeper would come with hefty wages, which should act as a warning sign after previous mistakes, but may add invaluable experience to Amorim’s dressing room.

He’s not the only option in that department, though. United have also been linked with Emiliano Martinez again. The Aston Villa goalkeeper came close to joining the club in the summer, before they chose Lammens instead. Now, after competition for the summer arrival, United could reportedly go back in for the World Cup winner.

Signing proven Premier League players seems like a route that INEOS could look to go down after Cunha and Mbeumo, with Martinez already linked and an attacking star now also on Man United’s radar.

Man Utd jump ahead of Liverpool in Semenyo race

As reported by Caught Offside, Man United now hold stronger interest in Antoine Semenyo than Liverpool and INEOS have identified the Bournemouth winger as a player who is “well worth” paying for.

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The impressive forward has enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign – scoring six goals and assisting another three in seven Premier League games. It’s the type of form that so often leads to a big move, but Bournemouth are unlikely to sell for a bargain price. Reports have even gone as far as to suggest that the Cherries value their star man at £70m.

Naturally, Semenyo’s current form has also earned him some fairly high praise from those around the Premier League. And that includes from Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool ace Jamie Redknapp.

The pundit said after the Bournemouth winger scored in a recent comeback win over Fulham: “It was a hard night to play football but it didn’t matter to Semenyo. He just glides across that surface. An incredible, unique talent. So fantastic to see.”

Leeds-born allrounder turned down contract extension and will move at end of season

Matt Roller17-Jun-2025Jordan Thompson, the combative Yorkshire allrounder, will make a shock move to Warwickshire at the end of the 2025 season after turning down a contract extension at his boyhood club.Thompson, 28, was born and bred in Leeds and has played for Yorkshire since Under-13s level, graduating from their academy and into the first team. But he has signed an all-format contract with Warwickshire for the next three seasons and said the move will represent a “new chapter” after making the “tough decision” to leave Yorkshire.”I’m incredibly excited to be joining Warwickshire and starting this new chapter,” Thompson said. “While it was a really tough decision to leave my home county of Yorkshire, the clear vision for the club and the opportunity to play alongside a number of familiar faces make this a truly exciting move for me.”Related

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Thompson took 32 wickets as Yorkshire won promotion to Division One of the County Championship last summer but his finest moments for them came in T20 cricket. In the Blast in 2022, he held his nerve with a brilliant 20th over to sneak past Surrey in the quarter-finals at The Oval, then hit an 18-ball 50 in defeat to rivals Lancashire at Finals Day.”The club would have loved to have kept him, but were unable to agree contract terms,” Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshire’s general manager, said. “Whilst it’s obviously disappointing to lose Jordan, we understand his reasons and would like to take this opportunity to wish him all of the best for the future.”Ian Westwood, Warwickshire’s coach, said: “Jordan is a three-dimensional, multi-format player who will be a great addition to our squad both on and off the field. He’s a quality performer who I believe still has his best days in front of him. He’s known for his competitiveness and thrives on being involved in big moments on the field. We can’t wait to welcome him to the Bears.”Yorkshire have struggled in the first half of this season: they are second-bottom in Division One after winning one of their first seven Championship matches and are propping up the North Group in the T20 Blast. Thompson has only featured once in their T20 season due to a side strain but returned in their defeat to Durham on Sunday.Warwickshire also recently announced that Danny Briggs, their left-arm spinner, will rejoin Sussex at the end of the season on a white-ball contract that will see him involved in coaching the club’s young spinners.

Vinicius Jr’s Real Madrid future is in serious doubt after a public fallout with Xabi Alonso during El Clasico and growing frustration over his stalled contract talks. The Brazilian is reportedly eyeing a move to Paris Saint-Germain, drawn by Luis Enrique’s playing style and leadership, as relations in Madrid reach breaking point despite his recent public apology.

• Vinicius Jr’s future in doubt after El Clasico outburst

  Tension between Vinicius and Madrid boss Alonso has reached boiling point, with the Brazilian winger reportedly determined to leave if the Spaniard remains in charge next season. The rift came to light after Sunday’s 2-1 El Clasico victory, when Vinicius reacted furiously to being substituted in the 72nd minute. Cameras caught him storming off and shouting: “Always me! I’m leaving the team! I’m leaving!”

  While Los Blancos attempted to downplay the incident, reports from Spain suggest the relationship between the pair has broken beyond repair. Vinicius feels belittled and devalued” by Alonso’s approach and believes he is treated unfairly compared to Kylian Mbappe, the club’s marquee arrival and Florentino Perez’s new favourite.

  The 25-year-old has scored five goals and provided four assists in 10 La Liga appearances this season but has yet to find the net in the Champions League. Despite his contributions, tensions off the pitch are overshadowing his performances, with the player openly considering an exit next summer if Alonso remains.

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• AFP
  

  Apology fuels speculation as Alonso snub deepens Madrid rift

  In an attempt to ease tensions, Vinicius issued an apology on social media, addressing his teammates, fans, and club president but notably omitting Alonso’s name. The winger wrote: "Today I want to apologize to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

  The exclusion of Alonso from the message has only intensified speculation of a fractured relationship. Sources close to the dressing room claim several senior players have also grown frustrated with the coach’s strict rules, with one insider suggesting Alonso “thinks he’s Pep Guardiola.”

• PSG and Luis Enrique emerge as top destination for Vinicius Jr

  According to , PSG have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Vinicius should he leave Madrid. The attacker himself is said to be intrigued by the opportunity to play under Luis Enrique, whom he admires for his charisma and attacking philosophy.

  The Brazilian reportedly believes Enrique’s fast-paced, high-pressing football would suit his strengths perfectly, and he has taken encouragement from the positive experiences that Neymar and Lionel Messi had under the Spanish tactician. Despite previous Premier League and Saudi interest, Les Parisiens remains his preferred destination due to their Champions League pedigree and tactical style.

  His contract with Los Blancos runs until June 2027, but the impasse over salary negotiations has given him leverage. Unless Madrid offer improved terms next summer, the club may be forced to sell rather than risk losing him for free a year later – a scenario that has alarmed president Florentino Perez.

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  Dressing room divide and a pivotal summer ahead

  Madrid may be winning matches, but behind the scenes, the atmosphere is tense. Multiple first-team players have questioned Alonso’s distant management style and heavy tactical discipline. The situation risks escalating further if results dip or if Vinicius pushes for a move in the summer.

  PSG are closely monitoring developments and are prepared to test Madrid’s resolve with an offer should the rift persist. For now, president Perez is backing Alonso publicly, but privately, club executives are wary of losing one of their brightest stars. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and his prime years ahead, Vinicius Jr faces a defining decision about his future. If relations cannot be repaired, his next destination could be the Parc des Princes where Luis Enrique awaits with open arms and a project perfectly suited to his talents.

MatériaMais Notícias

Existe, de fato, mais de uma versão sobre a origem do Mosqueteiro como mascote do Corinthians. A mais antiga delas remonta a 1913. Mas você sabe o motivo do quarto Mosqueteiro ter sido escolhido para representar o mascote do Timão? 

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasDicasFortaleza x Corinthians: odds, estatísticas e informações do segundo jogo da semifinal da Sul-AmericanaDicas02/10/2023CorinthiansBarcelona tem estratégia para vencer corrida pela contratação de Gabriel Moscardo, do CorinthiansCorinthians02/10/2023CorinthiansDemissão de Luxemburgo no Corinthians teve forte desabafo do treinador ao presidente DuílioCorinthians02/10/2023

+Gil diz que o Corinthians precisa colocar a cabeça no lugar antes de ‘decisão’ contra o Fortaleza

Naquele ano, o Corinthians começou a disputar o campeonato da Liga Paulista de Futebol (LPF), ao lado de Germânia (atual Esporte Clube Pinheiros), Internacional e Americano. Teria, portanto, se tornado o “quarto mosqueteiro”, como o personagem D’Artagnan, que, no romance Os Três Mosqueteiros, do escritor francês Alexandre Dumas, juntou-se a Athos, Porthos e Aramis. Essa versão, no entanto, carece de registros da própria época, pois só aparece reproduzida em textos das décadas seguintes.

Além disso, o Campeonato Paulista da LPF de 1913 foi disputado por cinco times, e não por quatro, pois havia também o Ypiranga. A mais aceita é a versão de que o apelido “mosqueteiro” teria surgido após a primeira vitória internacional da história do Corinthians: 3 a 1 no Barracas, da Argentina, em um amistoso disputado no Parque São Jorge na tarde de uma quarta-feira, feriado de 1º de maio de 1929.

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A denominação apareceu no dia seguinte àquele jogo, em uma crônica para A Gazeta escrita pelo jornalista Thomaz Mazzoni, famoso também por ter criado as mascotes de outros clubes, como o Periquito do Palmeiras e o Santo do São Paulo, além de nomear os clássicos Corinthians x Palmeiras como Derby, Corinthians x São Paulo como Majestoso e Palmeiras x São Paulo como Choque-Rei.

Naquele texto, Mazzoni saudou a “fibra de mosqueteiro” do time bicampeão paulista de 1928/29 (que depois chegaria ao tricampeonato em 1930), formado por Tuffy, Grané e Del Debbio; Nerino, Guimarães e Munhoz; Filó, Apparício, Gambinha, Rato e De Maria. O “trio final” (goleiro e três zagueiros), Tuffy, Grané e Del Debbio, também era chamado de “Os Três Mosqueteiros”. Eles compunham, ainda, a defesa titular da Seleção Paulista, que na época disputava o Campeonato Brasileiro de Seleções.

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CorinthiansLance!

انتهت مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا، التي أقيمت اليوم الخميس، منذ قليل، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

وواجه الأهلي نظيره سيراميكا كليوباترا، في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، على ملعب هزاع بن زايد.

طالع.. فيديو | جراديشار يسجل هدف الأهلي الثاني أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا

وحقق الأهلي الفوز على سيراميكا كليوباترا بهدفين مقابل هدف ليتأهل إلى نهائي كأس السوبر المصري 2025.

وسجل هدفي الأهلي محمود حسن تريزيجيه ونيتس جراديشار، بينما جاء هدف سيراميكا كليوباترا عن طريق مروان عثمان.

وحقق الزمالك الفوز على بيراميدز بركلات الترجيح، ليتأهل إلى النهائي ويواجه الأهلي. موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة في نهائي السوبر المصري

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي، مع الفائز الزمالك، يوم الأحد المقبل الموافق 9 نوفمبر في تمام الخامسة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسادسة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت السعودية والسابعة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت الإمارات.

Wednesday, June 26 is a massive sports day with the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, but there is also plenty of afternoon baseball to dive into, starting with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays at 12:10 p.m. EST. 

Every day at SI Betting, we break down our favorite props, best bets, straight up picks and home run picks in Major League Baseball. 

With a loaded Wednesday slate, I’ve narrowed down two plays – one prop and one side – for June 26. 

MLB Best Bets TodayNew York Yankees Moneyline (-148) vs. New York MetsBrady Singer UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-160)

New York Yankees Moneyline (-148) vs. New York Mets

The New York Yankees have been struggling as of late, losing Tuesday’s matchup with the New York Mets to fall to just 3-7 in their last 10 games. 

However, New York is in a prime bounce-back spot with rookie Luis Gil on the mound on Wednesday. 

Gil has a 2.77 ERA on the season, and while he was rocked in his last outing against the Baltimore Orioles, he has led the Yanks to a 12-3 record in 15 starts. Plus, the youngster has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of his 15 outings.

The Mets are countering with Sean Manaea (4-3, 4.16 ERA), but I’m concerned about him as of late. The lefty has a 6.75 ERA in June, with the Mets going just 1-3 in his four starts. His season-long ERA has jumped from 3.63 to 4.16 in the process.

The Yankees are still one of the better offensive teams in baseball, and they scored seven runs in Tuesday’s loss. Don’t be shocked if they ride a Gil start to a win on Wednesday. 

Brady Singer UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-160)

Kansas City Royals righty Brady Singer has pitched well in 2024, posting a 3.29 ERA across 15 starts. 

He’s in a prime spot to build on that on Wednesday, as the Royals take on the Miami Marlins, who rank 29th in the league in OPS and runs scored this season. 

Singer has just four starts all season where he’s allowed more than two earned runs, and since a rough outing on June 11 against the Yankees, he’s rebounded to allow just four runs over 11 innings of work against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers.

Miami is easily the best matchup Singer has had this month, and I expect him to find his early season form where he posted a 2.63 ERA through the first two months.

Celtic lost another star player during the summer transfer window when they sold electric forward Nicolas Kuhn to Serie A side Como for a fee of £16.5m.

The German attacker ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership champions, per Transfermarkt.

Kuhn provided a huge threat at the top end of the pitch down the right flank because he had the quality to cause the opposition problems as both a scorer and a creator of goals, domestically and in Europe.

The Hoops did not sign a natural right winger to replace the German, though, and Hyun-jun Yang and James Forrest have combined for no goals or assists in nine combined appearances in the Premiership this season, per WhoScored.

This suggests that Celtic are struggling on the right wing because they did not go out into the market to sign a like-for-like replacement for the left-footed attacker.

Another player the Hoops have yet to fully replace since they sold him for big money is attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley, who joined Brighton & Hove for a fee of more than £25m last year.

Why Matt O'Riley was so valuable for Celtic

The Scottish giants raked in a club-record fee of £25m from the Premier League side when they decided to cash in on the Denmark international. This was because of the value that he provided on the pitch for the Bhoys in the 2023/24 campaign.

Brendan Rodgers arrived at Parkhead in the summer of 2023 to replace Ange Postecoglou in the dugout in Glasgow, and he was key to O’Riley’s impressive progression on the pitch.

The left-footed midfielder scored three goals and provided 12 assists in the Premiership in the 2022/23 campaign under the Australian head coach, which was an impressive return given his creative output.

Rodgers, though, elevated O’Riley to the next level at Parkhead by freeing him up to take on more responsibility as a goalscorer, putting him further up the pitch to break into the box by joining attacks.

Matt O’Riley (Premiership)	22/23	23/24
Appearances	38	37
Shots on target per game	0.7	1.2
Goals	3	18
Goals per game	0.1	0.5
Big chances created	16	14
Assists	12	13
Assists per game	0.3	0.4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the English-born playmaker scored 15 more goals under Rodgers than he did under Postecoglou in the previous Premiership season.

Per WhoScored, O’Riley led the team in both goals (18) and assists (13) in the Premiership in that season under the Northern Irish head coach, which is why he was so valuable to the squad, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

These statistics and his importance to Celtic convinced Brighton to splash a fee of more than £25m on him in the summer of 2024, and the Scottish giants are still looking for their next version of the Dane.

Benjamin Nygren has shown flashes of promise in a central midfield role, with three goals and one assist this season, and Arne Engels delivered nine assists in the Premiership and the Champions League combined last season, per Sofascore.

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

However, Celtic may have their next Matt O’Riley in the making in the form of a player who has been rarely used by Rodgers, so much so that he has played fewer minutes than both Nygren and Engels.

Portugal U21 international Paulo Bernardo has not had too many opportunities to impress in the middle of the park, but has shown potential to develop into an impressive player in the future.

Why Paulo Bernardo could be the next Matt O'Riley for Celtic

Signed on a permanent deal from Benfica in the summer of 2024 after a loan spell in the 2023/24 campaign, the central midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at the start of this season.

Luke McCowan, Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate have all played more minutes than Bernardo in the Premiership, per WhoScored, which shows that the manager rates other players ahead of him in his position at this moment in time.

The Portuguese star has only played 74 minutes in the league. This comes after he started 13 of his 28 outings in the division in the 2024/25 campaign, and showed plenty of signs of real quality at the top end of the pitch.

24/25 Premiership	Paulo Bernardo per 90	Percentile rank vs midfielders
xG	0.22	Top 7%
xG on target	0.23	Top 8%
Goals	0.14	Top 20%
xA	0.21	Top 11%
Assists	0.21	Top 13%
Chances created	2.20	Top 9%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Bernardo excelled against his positional peers per 90 in a host of key offensive metrics, in both scoring and creating goals.

These statistics suggest that the former Benfica starlet, who was described as “tenacious” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could provide a big threat at the top end of the pitch from midfield as both a scorer and a creator of goals if given the chance to start week-in-week-out and play more minutes for the Hoops.

His assist, for O’Riley in fact, in the clip above illustrates the kind of quality that Bernardo can provide in the opposition’s box when he is free to push forward and join in with attacks to make things happen in the final third.

The Portuguese whiz is a creative and silky attacking midfielder who has the ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate when allowed to express himself on the pitch, but Rodgers has rarely given him an opportunity to do that.

Celtic’s manager elevated O’Riley to the next level by playing him week-in-week-out and pushing him up the pitch to score goals, and Bernardo has the potential to follow in the Dane’s footsteps.

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But it is now down to Rodgers to provide the 23-year-old star with more chances from the start to allow him to find some consistency in his performances and his end product on the way to being the club’s next O’Riley.

Andre Onana was labelled as "The Wall" by Trabzonspor as the exiled Manchester United goalkeeper kept a clean sheet to inspire his side to a 2-0 victory over Eyupsor in the Turkish Super Lig. The once heavily criticised goalkeeper, whose time at Old Trafford crumbled under the weight of mistakes, has suddenly become the heartbeat of Trabzonspor after a string of impressive performances between the sticks.

Redemption for Onana in Turkey

Onana has swapped the bright lights of Manchester for the serene backdrop of Turkey’s northern coast. His move to Trabzonspor came as a surprise to many, especially considering the club’s modest finish in seventh place last season and absence from European competition. But with transfer windows closed across Europe and options dwindling fast, Onana needed a fresh start. Since arriving last month, the former Ajax man has made an instant impact. Against Eyupsor, he was unbeatable as he registered four crucial saves and a passing accuracy of 86%. Trabzonspor fans roared his name throughout the game, while the club’s official account later shared a striking graphic hailing him as “The Wall.”  

AdvertisementGOALA chance to rise again for Onana

After being pushed aside at United, first by Altay Bayindir and then by the signing of Senne Lammens, his confidence appeared in tatters. However, away from the harsh glare of English football, he has rediscovered his swagger. A reported pay boost, including lucrative performance bonuses, sweetened the deal, but those close to Onana insist it’s the opportunity for redemption that truly drives him. It’s not just his shot-stopping that has caught attention. In a previous match against Gaziantep, Onana produced one of the most audacious assists of the Turkish season. Charging out of his box, he launched a pinpoint long pass that sliced through the opposition defence, allowing striker Paul Onuachu to score and snatch a dramatic 1-1 draw. Reports in Turkey suggest he’s become a key dressing-room leader, helping to motivate younger teammates. 

Onana to stay permanently in Turkey?

Trabzonspor have already hinted they’d love to keep him beyond his current loan deal, which runs until June 2026. However, any permanent move will require tough negotiations, as United did not include an option-to-buy clause in the agreement. With Trabzonspor’s transfer record barely reaching €7 million, any deal for a permanent switch would demand breaking that threshold. If Onana continues his resurgence, his price tag could soar beyond the Turkish club’s financial reach. But if his form dips, United might struggle to attract serious bidders and sell him at a throwaway price to the Turkish side. 

After sealing his move to Turkey, Onana said: "I am very happy. I can say that I am very happy. I am starting a new project, a new adventure for me, I am very happy to be here. This is a feeling that makes me so happy. I've never felt so much love from people around me. It's a wonderful feeling to be made to feel at home from the very first moment. I want to start working as soon as possible and reciprocate that love by making them happy on the field. I'm always ready. Every player wants to play and take part in these kinds of matches. Of course, we'll be playing against an important and strong opponent. But we're also aware of our strength."

However, United legend, Peter Schmeichel, took aim at Onana for his error-laden stint at United and said: "You think about the goalkeepers that we’ve had over these last couple of years and how many goals we’ve conceded from errors – nine already this season – it’s too much. My instruction when I played was to save the team 10 points a season, not give them away."

He went on to lavish praise on Senne Lammens and added, "This young lad [Lammens didn’t have much to do for a long time, but he did well when called upon. You could see his confidence grow after that first save, and the defenders reacted well. It’s far too early to judge him, though; he’s young, hardly played any competitive football, and the pressure at Manchester United can be relentless. He did well, it was clean and positive, things we haven’t been used to. But we’ll really see what kind of goalkeeper he is when he makes mistakes and has to respond to them. That’s when we’ll know how good he can be.”

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AFPOnana set to face his biggest test yet

Onana’s newfound fame, however, will face its sternest test this weekend when Trabzonspor travel to Istanbul to face reigning champions Galatasaray. A win would close the gap at the top to just two points, but a defeat could halt their growing momentum.