Tag Futebol

Those of a Celtic persuasion are in mutinous mood right now, and rightly so, having been forced to witness a calamitous summer of transfer activity.

An unbeaten start to the new domestic season has also been overshadowed by last month’s grim Champions League exit, with the failure to properly enhance Brendan Rodgers’ ranks leading up to that tie having undoubtedly backfired.

In the Premiership, away from the chaos, things appear to have gone a little bit stale, with the current crop producing displays that are a far cry from the scintillating style of the glorious Ange Postecoglou era.

The recent drab Glasgow derby was an obvious case in point, with that 0-0 stalemate at odds with Postecoglou’s outfit at their pomp. Just look back to such performances as the 3-0 win over the Ibrox side in February 2022.

Parkhead was at its buoyant best that night, and the football was simply stunning, with the men in green and white almost playing a different game to their beleaguered opponents.

That magic, that ferocious approach, has since been lost.

From plucking bargains from afar under the Aussie, the Hoops have resorted to paying over the odds during the Rodgers regime, with far too many transfer dealings having gone south of late.

Celtic's recruitment record post-Ange

As noted by former Celtic skipper Scott Brown, the club’s recruitment record under Postecoglou was simply “fantastic”, with the experienced coach simply a master at acquiring a hidden gem on the cheap.

Take Matt O’Riley, a player signed for just £1.5m from EFL side MK Dons back in January 2022, before ultimately being sold to Brighton and Hove Albion on a £25m deal in the summer of 2024 – marking a sensational profit.

Such success stories have been few and far between since then, however, with the 2023 summer window proving particularly disastrous. Indeed, of those signed amid Rodgers’ return, only Paulo Bernardo and Hyun-jun Yang are still at the club – albeit with even the Korean having come close to departing for Birmingham City before the recent deadline.

The likes of Gustav Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma and Marco Tilio have all come and gone without so much as leaving a trace, having looked destined to fail from the off amid their limited roles under Rodgers.

While it is too early to judge this summer’s transfer dealings, the recruitment of 12 months ago is also worthy of scrutiny. Adam Idah, for instance, has already been shipped off to Swansea City, while Arne Engels – signed for £11m – has yet to truly establish himself as a regular starter in Glasgow.

Described as “nowhere near the finished article” by his manager, the young Belgian appears to be burdened by such a lofty price tag, with that expensive outlay a constant source of debate among supporters and pundits alike.

The 22-year-old may well still come good, although the race is on to live up to the weight of his transfer fee.

Market Movers

Expand Collapse

Would the Hoops not have been better off seeking out a bargain instead, in the mould of say Reo Hatate?

How Hatate's value compares to Arne Engels

Reflecting back on that night in the winter of 2022, the rout of Rangers proved a breakout moment for that man Hatate, with the Japanese genius netting two stunning efforts to properly announce himself to the Parkhead faithful.

As per reporter Michael Bridges, Hatate and his compatriots simply “ripped the league to shreds” following their arrival.

Having been signed from Kawasaki Frontale just a few weeks prior, the all-action midfielder quickly made a mockery of his meagre £1.1m price tag, having been a mainstay under both Postecoglou and Rodgers since then.

After chalking up 13 goals and 14 assists in 66 games under the new Nottingham Forest boss, as per Transfermarkt, Hatate has enjoyed a rather similar record under his successor, with 15 goals and 14 assists under his belt from 81 outings.

While Rodgers did hint at the 27-year-old’s “inconsistency” during their first year working together, he did go on to flourish last term, having also got off the mark in 2025/26 with an outrageous effort away at Aberdeen.

That thumping strike emphasises just why the diminutive playmaker is such a “big talent” – in the words of Rodgers – with his overall record of 56 goal involvements in 147 games in all competitions ensuring he has more than made his mark in Glasgow.

Hatate – 24/25 Premiership stats

Stat (*per game)

Record

Games

37

Goals

10

Assists

4

Big chances created

14

Key passes*

1.2

Pass accuracy*

82%

Tackles*

0.9

Interceptions*

0.2

Total duels won*

44%

Stats via Sofascore

Such a stellar impact can also be felt when considering his soaring market value, with Hatate deemed to be worth as much as €13m (£11m), according to Transfermarkt. For comparison, Engels’ value is now said to be around €12m (£10m).

The subject of interest from Serie A side Udinese back in May, before ultimately staying put at Celtic, the 11-cap international looks like a player who will soon rake in a sizeable profit for the club, should he move on in the near future.

In the meantime, however, the hope will be that Hatate can play a central role in trying to revive this limp season for Rodgers and co, with the Hoops in very real danger of merely letting things drift.

Related Celtic may have their biggest talent since Doak in "lightning" 19-year-old

While Ben Doak continues to shine away from Celtic, the Hoops could have their own rising star to enjoy

Posts ByRobbie Walls Sep 9, 2025

كشف كايل ووكر لاعب بيرنلي، عن مشاعره تجاه قرار رحيله عن صفوف مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، بعد سبع سنوات ونصف قضاها في ملعب “الاتحاد”.

ووكر غادر مانشستر سيتي في يناير الماضي، ولعب معارًا إلى ميلان لنهاية الموسم، وغادر وانتقل بعد ذلك لصفوف بيرنلي، الفريق الذي يكافح للابتعاد عن مراكز الهبوط.

وأجرى ووكر مقابلة مع “سكاي سبورتس”، وتحدث قائلاً: “هل كان عليّ مغادرة مانشستر سيتي؟ كنت قائد الفريق، ودائمًا ما يكون الشخص أول من يتحمل اللوم عندما لا تسير الأمور على ما يرام”.

وأضاف: “في تلك المرحلة من الموسم، هل كان عليّ الرحيل؟ بالنظر إلى الماضي الآن، على الأرجح لا”.

وأشار: “كان عليّ البقاء مع زملائي وأصدقائي، الذين أعتبرهم عائلتي، لكن ربما لأول مرة في مسيرتي، كنت أنانيًا، كنت أفكر في نفسي وفي رغبتي بلعب كرة القدم”.

اقرأ أيضًا | بين محمد صلاح وهالاند.. “بي بي سي” تتكهن بهداف الدوري الإنجليزي 2025/26

وأردف: “لم أكن سعيدًا بالجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، ولعب بعض المباريات هنا وهناك، شعرت أنه لا يزال عليّ إثبات قدرتي على الأداء على أعلى مستوى”.

وأستطرد ووكر: “عندما يطلب مني نادٍ مثل ميلان الانتقال لصفوفه، يصعب عليّ الرفض، عندما عدت في الصيف، كان لديّ وقت للتفكير في الأمر، لا أندم على ذلك، لطالما رغبت في تجربة كرة القدم خارج إنجلترا، أنا سعيد لأنني فعلت ذلك لمدة ستة أشهر، مع أنني ربما كان بإمكاني تقديم أداء أفضل قليلاً”.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has accused the Premier League of inflating the players' salaries and transfer fees. According to the 63-year-old, this affects the global market and other leagues including the Spanish top flight as well as he stressed the importance of "sustainability" across Europe's leagues.

• Premier League punching above their weight?

  The 2025 summer window saw around 12,000 international transfers, and the spending, as per FIFA, was a whopping $9.7 billion. This was 50% more than last season, with Premier League clubs alone spending $3.19 billion on high profile such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, who all joined Liverpool, and new Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko. This was more than the cumulative figure of Spain ($666m), Italy ($950m), France ($730m) and Germany ($980m), prompting Tebas to warning of a destructive outcome if such spending continues.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tebas explains his point with an example

  While speaking at the third edition of the Expansion & Marca Business Sport Forum, he said: "We always compare ourselves to the Premier League, but we should see how we are doing compared to the Bundesliga. I want to point out how the Premier League's numbers are not correct. The turnover of La Liga and the Bundesliga is very similar; we're around €4 billion in revenue. The Premier League earns not double, but 1.8 million more, but we're going to say double. The logical thing is that if La Liga spends €700 million, the Premier League would spend €1.4 billion. But in the last seven seasons, the Premier League has always spent much more than double, which is what it should have. This year, it should have spent €1.4 billion, but it spent €4 billion. Where do those €2.5 billion come from? Losses. What happens? Inflation. If you pay more than you should have spent, you'll lose. Your turnover, what happens? If someone pays much more, it inflates salaries and affects us all because the market today is global."

  He also touched on the UK government's interventions, referring to the establishment of an independent regulator, adding: "Today, the Premier League is being intervened by the government because they are worried about what is happening to English football. Last year, it lost €1.2 billion; La Liga isn't going to lose money, nor is the Bundesliga. I no longer talk about Italy and France because they are much worse off. We always go to the Premier League, but I am careful about the state of the Premier League, which has reached the point of being invested in by the government. Companies are competitive and economically sustainable. What we are doing in Spanish football is very important."

• Tebas approached UEFA

  Tebas wants to curb the Premier League's spending, and to get it incorporated, he has approached UEFA multiple times.

  "The rules need to be made much more uniform because they're different," he said. "What's allowed in the Premier League isn't allowed in Spain, and UEFA should take an interventionist stance there. We've had a few meetings with UEFA, and we'll see if we continue along those lines, which is what everyone wants, including many Premier League teams."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  La Liga more like Bundesliga than Premier League

  La Liga introduced their economic control over the teams in 2013, after being inspired by UEFA's Financial Fair Play model. The president says comparisons to the Premier League are not helpful, preferring to put La Liga on a par with the Bundesliga instead.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has defended the output of his top-three batters – particularly makeshift opener Nathan McSweeney – in difficult batting conditions, as Australia’s selectors mull their options for the final two Tests of the series.Australia’s selectors are due to meet on Thursday morning to select the sides for Melbourne and Sydney after a rain-affected draw in Brisbane left the Border-Gavaskar Trophy poised on a knife’s edge at 1-1.Top of the selectors’ agenda will be extra bowling cover for the injured Josh Hazlewood with Scott Boland the obvious man to come back into the XI. But it would be hard for them not to at least discuss the top three, and in particular their openers, after another difficult week in Brisbane.Related

• India and Australia take a moment to recalibrate as Gabba stalemate leaves everything up for grabs

• Hazlewood likely to miss rest of India series with calf strain

Usman Khawaja, who turned 38 on Wednesday, was undone by Jasprit Bumrah for the second time in the Test match and the fourth time in the series. His partner, McSweeney, escaped Bumrah’s clutches for the first time in the series but instead nicked a wide delivery from Akash Deep. Marnus Labuschagne nicked one of Bumrah’s most innocuous deliveries of the series for just 1 as Australia slumped to 16 for 3 on their way to a bizarre third innings of 89 for 7 declared as they tried fruitlessly to set up a result before rain ended the game.Labuschagne averages 16.40 across five innings in the series, with 64 of his 82 runs coming in one hit in Adelaide. McSweeney averages 14.40 with a highest score of 39. Khawaja is averaging just 12.60, having been arguably Australia’s most reliable batter in 2022 and 2023.It appears unlikely that any change will be made despite the lean returns.Calls from the public for 19-year-old phenom Sam Konstas are growing louder following his stunning 20-ball half-century on BBL debut for Sydney Thunder on Tuesday night. That followed his century against an India attack that featured all of the Test bowlers bar Bumrah.But Cummins defended the contributions of his top three in the context of Travis Head’s two magical centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane, which according to the skipper were set up by the top three ensuring he didn’t walk out to face the new ball.”Everyone’s always hoping to score more runs,” Cummins said after rain ended the third Test. “I think the trend in world cricket pretty much all around the world is the top three is a really hard place to bat at the moment. Particularly here in Australia, the wickets are tough. I think there’s little snippets that have been important. Again, that first innings, Trav walks in 35 overs into the game, I think that makes a big difference, the same in Adelaide. Obviously they [the top three] would be hoping to score more runs, we’d like them to score more runs, but I think they have made some important contributions that others have benefited from.”Usman Khawaja has been cleaned up by Jasprit Bumrah four times this series•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

By that measure, Australia’s top three are doing their jobs given Head’s two centuries, plus Steven Smith’s century and Alex Carey’s 70 in Brisbane put Australia in commanding positions in both games. It is clear that Australia are content, given the quality of Bumrah and the difficulty of new-ball batting, to simply ask their top three to absorb pressure and buy Head time to come in and play the way he does.”The trend is, it seems like, five, six, seven is sometimes where a bulk of the runs are scored in Test cricket all around the world,” Cummins said. “I spoke ahead of this summer when there was all the talk about batting orders, we didn’t really want to move our five, six, seven – they’ve been so important to many of our wins over the last couple of years. We’re not beholden to stats, we know there are certain roles, there are easier times to bat, harder times to bat, just like bowlers, so you are always looking at the best seven batters who will function as a unit and place them as best you can.”McSweeney and Khawaja’s numbers look extremely lean compared to that of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are averaging 47 and 38.60 respectively in the same conditions against Australia’s attack. But Rahul’s 84 in Brisbane could have been 30 had Smith held a straightforward chance at slip on day four, while Jaiswal has made just 32 runs in five innings outside of his match-winning 161 in Perth.Cummins was particularly supportive of the job McSweeney has done in his first three Tests, having been asked to debut as an opener with no prior experience at Sheffield Shield level and just two brief innings in the role for Australia A.”It’s been really hard for the opening batters for both sides really,” Cummins said. “I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s gone about it. Even today, someone starting out his career still being selfless enough to go out there and try to play shots rather than try and preserve and get a score. Really impressed with him, again probably hasn’t scored the runs he would have liked, but he has played some important knocks that have set up a win in Adelaide and a really good result here.”

أعلن النادي الأهلي، تقديم بلاغ إلى النائب العام وكذلك شكوى لـ المجلس الأعلى لتنظيم الإعلام ضد مدحت شلبي مقدم البرامج الرياضية.

ويأتي هذا التصعيد بعد حالة الجدل التي أثارتها تصريحات مدحت شلبي، والتي اعتبرها مسؤولو القلعة الحمراء مسيئة وغير صحيحة بحق رئيس النادي محمود الخطيب.

طالع | بالدليل.. أسامة حسني يرد على مدحت شلبي: الخطيب لا يدعي المرض

وكان مدحت شلبي قد أدلى بتصريحات في الساعات الماضية أثارت حالة واسعة من الجدل، بعدما أكد أن سبب غياب الخطيب عن السفر إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية مع بعثة الأهلي في كأس العالم هو عدم حصوله على التأشيرة وليس المرض كما قيل وقتها. بيان الأهلي بشأن مدحت شلبي

قررت إدارة النادي تكليف محمد عثمان، المستشار القانوني للأهلي باتخاذ كافة الإجراءات القانونية ضد مدحت شلبي، وما جاء على لسانه بشأن الكابتن محمود الخطيب، رئيس النادي، من كلام ينافي الحقيقة في برنامجه الذي تبثه قناة MBC Masr 2، وتقديم بلاغ للنائب العام، وشكوى عاجلة للمجلس الأعلى لتنظيم الإعلام”.

It’s been a very long time now since Birmingham City last called the Premier League home.

Indeed, it will have been a drawn-out 15 seasons this coming Championship campaign since the Blues were miserably relegated from the top-flight in 2011, but the aim will be to get back to this level very soon, with it not being the wildest shout in the world to tip Chris Davies’ confident group for back-to-back promotions immediately.

Adding exciting attackers such as Kyogo Furuhashi will do these wild aims no harm, as the new £10m signing prepares to cause Championship defences all sorts of havoc this coming season.

How Kyogo could take the Championship by storm

The Japanese forward has already tasted top-flight action in the United Kingdom previously.

Indeed, the 30-year-old attacker lit up the Scottish Premiership with plenty of menacing performances as a ruthless star up top, leading to Kyogo bowing out from his successful spell in Glasgow with a mighty 85 goals and 19 assists attached to his name.

Whilst some might question the competitiveness of Scottish’s top-flight next to the demands of the EFL’s elite league, it is clear that Kyogo is a red-hot goal machine on his day, with that electric form in the bread and butter of league action for Celtic also being seen on Europe’s grandest stage in the Champions League.

Three strikes have come the brand-new Birmingham attacker’s way in such a revered competition, meaning he should be able to take to the pressures of the second-tier in his stride.

It will all be down to the relationships he forms at St. Andrew’s, though, with Kyogo very much a poacher-like presence in attack – as seen in his minuscule average of just 16.9 touches during the 23/24 season in the Scottish top-flight – but that season would still see him bag a venomous 14 league strikes.

Therefore, he will want to bounce off an exciting partner willing to put chances on a plate for him, with another potential incoming acting as the dream winger for the lethal 30-year-old to work alongside.

The "special" star who could be Kyogo's dream winger

Whilst Birmingham have played it a bit safe by signing Championship-proven talents this summer, with both Demarai Gray and Tommy Doyle well-versed in the tricks of the trade at the level, splashing out £10m on Kyogo does show that the Blues are willing to be risky with their moves this summer.

The next risky play on the end of the newly promoted side could be to explore the Eredivisie again, having been successful going down this route in the not-so-distant past when snapping up Willum Thor Willumsson, as Sontje Hansen now reportedly comes back onto their agenda.

It’s clear by watching this rapid breakaway goal by Hansen that he could go on to be a joy to watch at St. Andrew’s if all slots into place, but it is being reported now that both Middlesbrough and Wrexham are also keen on the NEC Nijmegen ace.

If the Blues are after a tricky and slick attacker to complement Kyogo’s clinical nature, they should look to jump to the front of the queue to land him.

Described as a “special” player by his former U17 coach Peter Van De Veen, the winger has registered glowing numbers across his last two Dutch top-flight seasons, showing off a forward player who is equally deadly in front of goal, whilst also possessing an unselfish side to tee up teammates.

Games played

33

31

Goals scored

6

6

Assists

4

4

Big chances missed

4

2

Big chances created

7

7

Looking at the table above, the Dutchman has been very consistent for Nijimegen across their last two league campaigns, with 20 goal contributions coming his way.

Yet, if he were surrounded by a better quality teammate, such as Kyogo, feeding off his chances, those numbers might well increase, with only eight assists being tallied up, despite 14 big chances being created overall.

Hansen might well also fancy the chance of proving himself in England, having once been on the radar of Leeds United, as the lightning-quick attacker and Kyogo potentially join forces to help Birmingham shine in the Championship.

Birmingham City could sign "special" star who's even better than Doyle

Tommy Doyle could have competition in the midfield spots at Birmingham City if this star is also signed.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 8, 2025

Stokes dismissed off final ball of day to dent Durham’s hopes of defendable lead

ECB Reporters Network01-Jul-2024Fantastic four-wicket returns from Tom Taylor and Nathan Smith gave Worcestershire a fighting chance in a rain-affected second day of their Vitality County Championship clash with Durham.The pair had the ball on a string at the Seat Unique Riverside and picked up key wickets, but 40 from Colin Ackermann helped Durham build their lead to 226 after finishing day two on 148 for nine.With plenty of rain around, there was no play at Chester-le-Street until just after one o’clock and the visitors took two wickets in a seven-over spell before being forced off by the weather once again.Wickets continued to fall in the evening session, but Ackermann adapted to the conditions and helped his side build a challenging lead.Smith, who is yet to be capped at international level for New Zealand, has been a fantastic addition to the Pears’ team, with the overseas star adding to the two second innings wickets he took late on in a chaotic day one, finishing with figures of four for 52.Meanwhile, Taylor picked up four for 46 including the vital wicket of England captain Ben Stokes with the last ball of the day.Durham resumed on 33 for three after the start was delayed by more than two hours due to rain.Nightwatchmen Matthew Potts and Peter Siddle resumed on nought and two respectively after the late spurt of wickets on day one.Potts, who has received a recall to the England Test squad for the West Indies series, looked to be positive and kept the scoreboard ticking over.The first wicket of the day fell in the fourth over of the day when Taylor bowled Siddle for three with a brilliant piece of bowling. Potts whipped a probing ball from Smith off his pads for four, a shot that any top order batter would be proud of, but he was soon back in the pavilion for 18 as Smith took two of his stumps out the ground.The rain then returned and there was a lengthy delay before Ackermann and Bedingham, who was accompanied by runner Scott Borthwick due to a hamstring niggle, returned to the crease.The pitch continued to offer plenty of assistance to the bowlers after the second rain delay, with the exceptional Smith getting the ball talking. Despite his injury, Bedingham crunched a lovely cover drive to the boundary, which got him off the mark.After a positive start to his innings, South African international Bedingham pulled a short ball from Smith straight to the hands of Amar Virdi on the legside boundary for 17.Ackermann continued to bat sensibly along with Ollie Robinson as they added to Durham’s lead.Robinson was then dismissed for nine in a similar fashion to Bedingham after he pulled a Ben Allison ball to Matthew Waite at fine leg.That brought England captain Stokes to the crease, with the all-rounder putting in a dogged performance with the bat, but he also showed his boundary-hitting capabilities as he pulled an Allison ball for six.Taylor got his third wicket of the innings, with Ackermann edging behind for a resilient 40 late on.Stokes departed with the last ball of the day for 26 as Taylor bowled him with one that kept low, however the hosts have a lead of 226 heading into day three on a challenging pitch.

Where would Arsenal be without Declan Rice? During the 2024/25 campaign, if it was ever possible, he made his £105m price tag look like a bargain.

Send West Ham another £100m, the Emirates faithful cried. Quite. Rice put in some extraordinary performances throughout the back end of the campaign.

Who can forget those free-kicks against Real Madrid? The Gunners will be keen to erase their semi-final exit at the hands of PSG from their minds but no one will be forgetting his stunning displays in a hurry.

Once all was said and done, Rice ended the campaign with his best haul of goals and assists in a single season, netting nine times and registering ten assists throughout all competitions.

It was hardly a surprise, therefore, to see him crowned the Fans’ Player of the Season for his efforts.

This summer, they will hope to replicate that deal with Andrea Berta now guiding the transfer ship.

The latest on Arsenal's transfer plans

This has certainly been a busy few weeks for Berta since entering the club but he’s already getting his hands dirty, notably tying Gabriel down to a new contract.

Elsewhere, it’s all about how he can add to the current group with talks reportedly progressing well over a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

However, as David Ornstein of The Athletic has reported, Arsenal could be in the market for as many as three forwards with a centre forward, a left winger and a right-winger to play second fiddle to Bukayo Saka.

On the left, it could be Real Madrid’s Rodrygo who arrives. Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Gunners have a keen interest in the Brazilian and now they are set to ramp up their interest in the coming week.

Reports from Spain reveal that ‘Arsenal have decided to go all out’ to sign the 24-year-old and are now ‘willing to submit’ a €70m (£59m) bid in order to close a deal.

The coaching staff and Berta are both aligned on the fact that Rodrygo would be the ‘ideal’ profile to bring to north London this summer.

Why Rodrygo would be Arsenal's best signing since Rice

Two years ago, Edu and Arteta came together to seal the biggest transfer in the club’s history.

Transfer Focus

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

Arsenal fended off competition, largely from title rivals Manchester City, to bring Rice from east to north London in a remarkable deal totalling £105m. It took a while to get across the line, but it’s all been worth it.

Unsurprisingly, Arteta and Co haven’t gone near that fee since with their business in the transfer market leaving plenty to be desired.

Last summer was decent on the surface but it didn’t get Arsenal any closer to winning the league. In fact, they had a poorer season, certainly at domestic level.

David Raya signed permanently last summer and shone, notably sharing the Golden Glove with Mats Selz, but Riccardo Calafiori endured an injury-hit season, and Mikel Merino, bizarrely, didn’t show what he was truly capable of until becoming a makeshift striker.

The Spaniard has quickly become a fan favourite after a pretty torrid first few months back in England, but he ended the season with six goals in 12 games as a striker. Not what he was signed for, sure, but he’s coming into his own, even scoring for Spain this weekend.

So, this summer, Arsenal need to make a splash. They need that Rice-esque deal to bring them closer to the Premier League title and Rodrygo could be just that.

Sure, a centre forward is needed, but their output on the left-hand side, notably when Bukayo Saka was out injured, simply wasn’t good enough in 2024/25.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are great players to have in your squad but their end product hasn’t reached dizzy heights yet.

Martinelli did score in the Bernabeu this season but that was just one of ten goals in 51 matches, a goal every 5.1 games. As for Trossard, he also scored ten but did so in 56 matches, meaning the Belgian found the net once every 5.6 games.

In Rodrygo, they would secure an instant upgrade, someone with the capabilities to break games open.

The Madrid star, who is in the shadow of Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe in Spain, still found a way to score 14 times last season across 51 matches, once every 3.6 games. In 2023/24, he was even better, netting on 17 occasions and the year before that, he scored 19 times. He’s a goalscorer and a better one than Martinelli at that.

Martinelli’s finest campaign in England saw him beat the goalkeeper on 15 occasions back in 2022/23 and while he’s still young, he is actually just a year Rodrygo’s junior.

Described as “one of the best in the world” by his former boss, Carlo Ancelotti, this would be a sublime signing. His impact on this team could certainly be akin to Rice if he finds a way to replace Martinelli and Trossard.

Martinelli upgrade: Arsenal leading race for "frightening" £42m sensation

The young talent could develop into someone special at Arsenal.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 6, 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.

Regardless of whether Chelsea qualify for the Champions League next season, this summer is huge for Enzo Maresca if he is to continue his progression in the role.

The Italian joined from Leicester City back in June 2024, but has still had his doubters despite the possibility of a top five finish in the Premier League in the next few weeks.

The hierarchy may once again need to get the chequebook out during the off-season, with it being reported that a striker is top of their shopping list.

Such a decision is no surprise given their hunt for a new talisman over the previous couple of windows since the 45-year-old’s appointment nearly 12 months ago.

However, another position has emerged as an area for improvement during the upcoming window, with one player already appearing on their radar once again.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for a new centre-back

Over the last couple of days, it emerged that Chelsea were back in the race for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi after previously wanting to sign him in January.

The 24-year-old was once on the books of the Blues, but sold him to the Eagles for £18m in 2021 – a decision that looks to be a huge mistake given their interest in his signature.

It was also reported that the club are willing to part ways with either Trevoh Chalobah or Tosin Adarabioyo to raise funds to secure a return for the England international.

However, he’s not the only centre-back to emerge on their radar, with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen the latest star touted with a switch to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues aren’t alone in their hunt for his signature, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid also in the race to land the Spanish international during the off-season.

According to Simon Phillips, the Blues have held another round of positive talks with his representatives, advancing a deal that could see them trigger his £50m release clause in the summer.

Why the £50m star would be a better signing than Guehi

Guehi’s rise away from his boyhood club has been nothing short of sensational, exceeding beyond all imagination during his near four-year spell at Selhurst Park.

The 24-year-old has taken the responsibility of taking the captain’s armband under Oliver Glasner’s guidance, with his subsequent showings cementing his place in the England national team setup.

He was a key member of Gareth Southgate’s side at Euro 2024, missing just one game and starting in the 2-1 final defeat against Spain back in July of last year.

However, despite his glittering rise to stardom, fellow transfer target Huijsen would undoubtedly be a better signing given the fact he’s five years younger, whilst also producing numerous better stats in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

The Spaniard, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered more progressive carries and completed more of his passes – highlighting his excellent ability with the ball at his feet.

He’s also dominated defensively, winning more tackles per 90 and making more interceptions per game – offering Maresca that added defensive quality he’s desperately desired.

Huijsen has managed to thrive in the air too, winning more of his aerial battles to date, having the potential to improve further given his tender age.

Whilst £50m may appear to be a huge fee for a 19-year-old, it’s evident from the stats he’s produced this campaign that he possesses serious quality, such that it is way beyond his teenage years.

Elite-level defenders are extremely hard to come by in the modern game, with Huijsen the perfect player to solve their issues at the back, ending a chance of a fairytale reunion with Guehi in the process.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea now favourites to sign £85m "diamond"

Chelsea can seal their best signing since Palmer with this “English diamond”

By
Connor Holden

Apr 17, 2025