All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic are thought to be in pole position to complete the signing of an international attacker, with the individual in question a new target for the Scottish Premiership giants.

Sutton makes demand to Celtic manager Rodgers

The Hoops are back in action this weekend, during what has been a tough period for the club, with doubts surrounding the future of manager Brendan Rodgers.

Writing for The Daily Record, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has demanded that Rodgers make a decision about his next step either way, with it acting as a distraction currently.

“I think Rodgers will simply now have to come out and tell everyone if he’s going to be staying or going. If he’s going at the end of the season, so be it. We saw it at Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp and it’s happened elsewhere. There needs to be some clarity – for everyone.

“It could be that he’s not made his mind up yet, or even that the club wants to go down a different route, which is another matter altogether. You look at the muck being thrown around with claims about Rodgers trying to engineer an exit, which wasn’t mentioned in the statement.

“Are they going to stumble on with a manager who doesn’t want to be there and a club that feels the same? How is that going to work?”

Rodgers made it clear that he wasn’t happy with Celtic’s business in the summer transfer window, but a new update suggests they are in a strong position to possibly make a new signing in 2026.

Celtic in pole position to sign international forward

According to reports from abroad [via The Celtic Way], Celtic are leading the race to sign winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, who could join on a free transfer in the January window, with the winger a new target for them.

The 22-year-old Kazakhstan international is out of contract at the end of December 2025 and the Hoops are thought to be at the front of the queue to snap him up, having sent scouts to watch him in action.

Not a huge amount will be known about Kenzhebek, considering he is currently plying his trade at homeland club Yelimay Semey, but the fact that he is an international winger immediately outlines his pedigree.

In fact, he has registered six goal contributions in only seven appearances for his current club, with four goals and two assists coming his way, and he can play on either side.

Celtic are in need of some attacking inspiration, given the lack of reinforcements that came their way this summer, and Kenzhebek could ultimately be a shrewd and cheap option midway through the season.

Celtic have struck gold on Ange signing who's now worth more than Engels

One Celtic star has seen his value soar since his move to Parkhead back in 2022…

ByRobbie Walls Sep 11, 2025

For Rodgers, that would be a welcome shot in the arm, during a period in which all is not well at Parkhead, but that is assuming the Northern Irishman is still in charge of Hoops by the time the January window arrives.

Over the years, Tottenham Hotspur has been the home to numerous incredible attacking midfielders – many of whom have captured the hearts of the fanbase during their respective periods at the club.

James Maddison is just one of the current players who has starred in such a role, racking up 16 goals and 19 assists for the Lilywhites in 75 outings – with six of his efforts last campaign helping them towards Europa League glory.

Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen both shared the responsibility in such a role during the Mauricio Pochettino era, with the latter undoubtedly going down as one of the club’s best-ever additions.

The Dane cost just £11m back in 2013 and helped the club reach the Champions League final back in 2018/19 – registering 27 goal contributions in his 51 appearances that season.

However, current boss Thomas Frank now has his own version of a young superstar to rely on – with the talent potentially able to add himself to such a list in the years ahead.

Spurs’ move to land Xavi Simons this summer

After a summer of disappointment in trying to land a new number ten, the fanbase’s patience was rewarded late on in the window, after completing a £52m transfer to sign Xavi Simons.

Whilst it appears as though the Dutchman may have been third choice, a deal for his signature could prove to be a bargain if he can build on his recent success with RB Leipzig.

The 22-year-old has registered over 15 goal contributions in each of his two full seasons in Germany – handing Frank the ammunition he’s craved within forward areas.

A move for his signature was only made possible after missing out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, potentially being a blessing in disguise, with Simons a player with huge potential to improve, given his tender age.

However, he may have found first-team minutes hard to come by – especially if the hierarchy has kept hold of a player who was previously on the books in North London.

The former Spurs star who was the original Simons

Since taking the reins during the off-season, boss Frank has struggled to rely upon a recognised number ten, with Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both currently out with injuries.

Pape Sarr has often filled the void over the last couple of weeks, but has done so in featuring in an unfamiliar role, with the Senegalese star more suited to a deep-lying role.

However, a deal for Simons could allow the youngster to return to his natural position, which in turn could offer a more balanced midfielder for Frank’s 4-3-3 system.

The manager may have been able to navigate such injury woes in the early stages of the campaign had the club kept hold of Giovani Lo Celso a couple of years ago.

The Argentine originally joined the Lilywhites on loan for the first half of the 2019/20 campaign – before linking up on a permanent basis just a few months into his spell. It was a colossal deal, signed for £55m, the same price the Lilywhites shelled out to land Mohammed Kudus this summer.

He does possess a similar career path to Simons, subsequently being on the books of PSG before moving to another European outfit, which led to their respective transfers to join Spurs.

Lo Celso racked up 90 appearances over a three-year spell in North London – scoring a crucial goal against Manchester City a couple of years ago, which helped the side claim one of their famous results against Pep Guardiola’s men.

The Argentine featured 24 times in his final year at the Lilywhites – before being sold in an £8m deal to return to his former outfit Real Betis.

Such a move has allowed for the 29-year-old to recapture his best form, scoring ten times and registering four assists in the last two years – helping the LaLiga side reach the Conference League final in 2024/25.

Games played

34

Goals & assists

12

Pass accuracy

85%

Chances created

2.7

Shots taken

2.1

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

1.4

Duels won

59%

Successful crosses

1.5

Whilst he ultimately failed to reach the levels many expected him to in North London, he was still a superb option for the first-team, potentially being offloaded too prematurely.

Many supporters will be hoping Simons doesn’t suffer the same fate – needing to replicate such form from his time in the Bundesliga if he is to be a success during his time playing under Frank.

Levy let Spurs star leave for £0, now he could've been Frank's new Mbeumo

Tottenham Hotspur may have offloaded one of their former stars way too prematurely.

4 ByEthan Lamb Sep 3, 2025

After six long and arduous weeks of trying, it looks as though Manchester United are finally set to announce their second landmark signing of the summer.

Matheus Cunha arrived rather swiftly at the start of the window but since then it’s not been plain sailing for Jason Wilcox and Co. However, a breakthrough in negotiations was reached with Brentford a few days ago to seal the signing of Bryan Mbeumo for a fee of around £71m.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that the winger had arrived at Carrington to complete the formalities of a move to Old Trafford.

Yet, United aren’t done there with a new centre-forward being earmarked by the recruitment team.

Man United's pursuit of a new striker

With Rasmus Hojlund scoring just four league goals in 2024/25, it’s abundantly clear that Ruben Amorim needed more firepower.

Mbeumo and Cunha will certainly provide that but they’re not out-and-out centre-forwards.

Transfer Focus

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

Nicolas Jackson is, however, and reports this weekend suggest that the club has held talks with the player’s agent over a potential move. Considering his hit-and-miss form at Chelsea, this isn’t one that is likely to excite Man United supporters.

Viktor Gyokeres’ name will, though. It’s been widely expected that the Swede will move to Arsenal this summer but with Amorim at the wheel, United have stood a chance of securing a player who played so well under the Portuguese at Sporting.

Well, it’s still a move that could come to fruition with reports from Portugal this weekend reporting some exciting news as far as United fans are concerned.

It suggests that with Arsenal’s move stalling, the Red Devils have leapt into the race again and are said to be ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement on a fee for the attacker.

It’s alleged that United are willing to pay just over €70m (£60m) to bring the player back to England.

Despite all of that, Romano has made it clear that the striker is still giving his priority to Arsenal.

Why Viktor Gyokeres could be Man United's answer to Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak’s name has been a hot topic this week with Liverpool laying down a statement of intent.

Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggested that the Premier League winners were ready to do a deal at around £120m, but Newcastle United insist that he will not be going anywhere this summer.

That’s understandable considering just how good he was in 2024/25. The Swede found the net on 27 occasions in all competitions and scored 23 in the league, only second to Mo Salah.

In short, he was really rather impressive, showcasing exactly why some, including analyst Raj Chohan, think that he is “the best striker in the world.”

Well, if a player with 27 goals is up there as the best, so is Gyokeres. Described as “the best finisher in the world” by analyst Spencer Mossman and as a “monster” by journalist Alex Turk, there are not many better at hitting the net with such regularity as Isak’s fellow countryman.

Once of Coventry City and Brighton, Gyokeres has done it before in England, but it’s in Lisbon, Portugal, where he’s really found his footing.

On the way to winning the Portuguese league title last season, he scored 39 league goals in 33 games and beat the goalkeeper on 54 occasions in 52 outings across all competitions. That backed up a scintillating 2023/24 term in which the Sweden international bagged 43 in 50.

Like Isak, he’s incredibly prolific, and they do share some similar traits, notably in their ability to carry the ball long distances and run the channels.

Goals

1.25

0.75

Assists

0.22

0.20

Shots on target

2.12

1.34

Key passes

1.96

1.34

Progressive passes

2.18

2.88

Successful take-ons

1.92

1.37

Progressive carries

4.26

2.71

Aerials won

1.15

0.85

Signing a player with little experience of the Premier League is always a risk, but with United simply needing more firepower, if they could hijack Arsenal’s move for Gyokeres, it would be a serious statement of intent.

Long have they needed their answer to someone like Isak, a pure out-and-out goalscorer, a powerhouse forward. In Gyokeres, they’d surely find that.

Better signing than Mbeumo: Man Utd in talks to land "exceptional" £60m ace

Manchester United’s huge activity within the transfer market looks set to continue despite a deal for Bryan Mbeumo.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 20, 2025

It is just 40 days since Glasgow Rangers were last in action, drawing 2-2 on the final day of the Premiership season, but they’ll be back very soon at Ibrox, now managed by a new gaffer in the form of Russell Martin.

Rangers’ pre-season schedule commences a week on Saturday, while it is now less than four weeks until competitive action returns to Govan as they enter the second qualifying round of Europe’s premier competition.

By late-July and into August, matches will come thick and fast, Martin’s Premiership debut as Rangers manager coming at Fir Park on Saturday 2 August, hence the need for new signings, and plenty of them, as soon as possible.

Rangers looking to bolster their back line

It is clear that defensive reinforcements at Ibrox are very near the top of Martin’s list of priorities.

Conor Coady is reportedly in talks to join Rangers, while Max Aarons has signed on loan. Rangers are also reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring Owen Beck from Liverpool.

Now, according to a report by Football Insider, Rangers have ‘opened talks’ with Peterborough United in an attempt to sign Emmanuel Fernandez, who is valued at around £300k, according to Transfermarkt’s estimations. It’s reported that Martin has already given the green light to complete a deal.

As documented by Samuel Seaman of Pink Un, Norwich City came close to signing Fernandez in January, having a bid accepted before the deal ‘collapsed’ on deadline day.

He references Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony, who forecasted that the Canaries “will try again in the summer”, adding that the defender “has all the attributes needed to have a great career, he wins everything in the air… and can play out with the ball”.

Now though, rather than moving to Norfolk, could the centre-back be on his way north of the border?

Why Emmanuel Fernandez would be an upgrade on Robin Pröpper

As noted by Mark Walker of the Herald, FC Twente manager Joseph Oosting has revealed that he has held talks with Robin Pröpper over a potential move back to Enschede, with Rangers having already agreed to sell him for £1.5m.

Few Rangers supporters are likely to be too devastated to see the Dutchman depart, given that he struggled during his first, and potentially only, season at the club, with Ewan Paton of the Rangers Review asserting that Scottish football is ‘too quick and physical for his capabilities’.

So, would Fernandez be an upgrade? Let’s find out.

Appearances

42

43

Minutes

3,407

3,210

Interceptions

0.9

0.9

Tackles

1.1

1.2

Dribbled past per game

0.2

0.4

Clearances

5.8

3.9

% of ground duels won

62.83%

53.25%

% of aerial duels won

76.97%

54%

Average Sofascore Rating

7.20

6.69

First and foremost, worth noting that, even though Fernandez was plying his trade in EFL League One, according to Global Football Rankings, England’s third-tier is only ten spots below the Scottish Premiership, ranked 53rd and 43rd respectively.

In terms of the numbers, the Englishman comes out on top for the majority of defensive metrics included, most notably in terms of duels, winning a staggering 77% of his aerial duels across all competitions.

This is partially due to the fact he is 6 foot 4 in, or 194 cms if you prefer, very much an imposing central defender.

​​​​Thus, Peterborough chairman, Darragh MacAnthony labelled him a “colossus”, adding “he’s been our best defender this season… he’s a gentle giant off the pitch, but aggressive on it”.

Some extra height and presence is exactly what Rangers require, suggesting the 23-year-old would be an excellent addition.

He'd send Propper packing: Rangers are in talks to sign "infectious" star

Rangers are in talks to sign star who could send Robin Propper packing this summer.

ByDan Emery Jun 24, 2025

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of another attacking player after Matheus Cunha in what will be their third capture of the summer.

Cunha delighted as Man Utd prepare more attacking signings

The Red Devils have made a positive start to the summer transfer window, officially securing the signing of Cunha from Wolves, which represents exciting business.

The Brazilian was his side’s standout player in 2024/25, scoring 15 goals in the Premier League, and speaking about his move to United, Cunha couldn’t hide his delight, admitting it is something he has dreamed about since he was a young boy.

“It is hard to put into words my feelings about becoming a Manchester United player. Ever since I was a child in Brazil watching Premier League games on TV at my grandmother’s house, United was my favourite English team and I dreamed of wearing the red shirt.

“I want to thank my family and everyone who has helped me make that dream a reality. I can’t wait for the start of pre-season to get to know my team-mates and prepare for the season ahead.”

United fans will be hoping that this is just the start of the club’s transfer business this summer, with huge improvements needed, and they have also signed young left-back Diego Leon, who will join from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño in July.

Up front, the Red Devils have been strongly linked with a move for Bryan Mbeumo as they make a point of upgrading on the struggling Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, both of whom could leave the club.

However, it seems the first out and out striker signing will be one to improve the academy ranks, potentially following a similar path to the first-team as a certain Paul Pogba.

Man Utd close in on deal for Le Havre teenager

According to an update from The Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are now “set to complete” the signing of Enzo Kana-Biyik from Le Havre’s academy.

The 18-year-old has looked likely to join the Red Devils for some time and now the transfer is nearly sorted, with the club “expected to formally announce the arrival” imminently.

The last academy-to-academy transfer between the two clubs was of course Pogba, who joined two years earlier than Kana-Biyik at the age of 16, eventually going on to play 157 Premier League games for United.

The teenage striker is a player with so much long-term potential, and such signings are something the Red Devils must focus on more moving forward, having too often taken a punt on ageing attackers who are past their very best, from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Edinson Cavani, to name just a few.

Man Utd now open talks to sign "insane" £13m+ colossus who embarrassed PSG

The Red Devils are stepping up their pursuit of a 25-year-old…

2 ByDominic Lund Jun 13, 2025

Kana-Biyik has been described as a “talented” player by journalist Fabrizio Romano, and he has scored nine goals in 18 appearances for Le Havre’s Under-21s, showcasing his attacking prowess.

If United could secure the services of Kana-Biyik, and also bring in a more proven striker this summer, it would set them up nicely in that area of the pitch for years to come. Hojlund doesn’t look like being the solution, and if their new arrival has even half of the career success of Pogba – he won a World Cup after all – he could be a bargain.

The closest Tottenham Hotspur have come to winning the Premier League in generations was under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine’s best team may have ended up being less successful than Ange Postecoglou’s current side – trophy-wise, anyway – but it was stacked with some outrageously talented players.

The likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and a young Son Heung-min will always get the plaudits from those outside of the fanbase, and understandably so, but the Lilywhites faithful know full well that Mousa Dembélé was just as important to that side.

The Belgian was an utterly superb central midfielder, so supporters should be excited about recent reports linking the team to a youngster who has shades of the retired monster about him.

Spurs midfield targets

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other central midfielders who have been touted for moves to Spurs in recent weeks, like Quinten Timber and Angel Gomes.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is the brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, the captain of Feyenoord, reportedly worth £25m and could be an ideal addition to the squad, as he’s capable of playing in attacking, central and defensive midfield.

Likewise, Gomes could be a sensational signing as, thanks to his contract with LOSC Lille expiring this month, he’ll be available for nothing, and at just 24 years old, he already has experience of national team football, the Champions League and top-flight football in both Portugal, France and England.

Yet, neither one of these internationals could really be described as having shades of Dembélé to them, unlike Adam Wharton.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Crystal Palace star is now a serious target for the North Londoners.

The report has revealed that the club are ‘prioritizing a central midfield’ signing this season, and the young Englishman ‘figures highly on their shortlist.’

However, it won’t be an easy deal to get done, as the Eagles are after upwards of £60m for the midfield maestro, but even then, with his ability and potential, that may be a fee worth paying for Spurs, especially as he could emulate parts of Dembélé’s game.

How Wharton compares to Dembélé

So, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it’s important to state that we are not saying that Wharton is currently as good a player as Dembélé was during his pomp at Spurs, as that would just be silly.

However, given the fact that he’s still just 21 years old and will be until midway through next season, it’s not that out there to suggest he could reach that level in time, especially as there are some similarities between the pair.

The first, and perhaps most significant, is the fact that the Palace gem very rarely loses the ball.

In fact, according to FBref, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by members of the media, sits in the bottom 40% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for the frequency he is dispossessed, coming in at just 0.89 times per 90, or, in other words, less than once a game.

A great example of this was in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, as, on top of winning duels, making tackles and playing a number of excellent passes, he was also able to hold onto the ball brilliantly despite the immense amount of pressure Pep Guardiola’s side tried to exert on him.

This ability to keep the ball was one of the Belgian’s most impressive, and it seems like the young Englishman has it in spades.

Then there are the more surface-level comparisons, such as both players coming from a London club – Fulham in Dembélé’s case – and the fact that they could and can play in either central or defensive midfield.

Appearances

51

43

Minutes

3571′

3011′

Goals

4

0

Assists

5

5

Ultimately, while it’s a lot of money, Spurs should do what they can to sign Wharton this summer, as he looks like he has the raw abilities and ceiling to become the club’s next Dembélé.

Eriksen 2.0: Spurs looking to sign "extraordinary" £25m Sarr upgrade

The young leader could be just what Spurs are after.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Cole Palmer’s time at Chelsea so far has been sensational, and it was perhaps summed up last week during the Conference League final. The Blues beat Real Betis to become the first ever side to win all European trophies on offer, and a large part of that was thanks to Palmer.

The England international grabbed two assists to help Chelsea turn around a 1-0 deficit, providing goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson. His magical assists put the West Londoners 2-1 up, before the floodgates opened and two more goals were scored.

Palmer’s influence on that game, and indeed across his Chelsea career, has been astronomical. Interestingly, the Blues have been linked with someone who could be the second coming of the England international.

Latest on Chelsea's transfer search

Signing someone to have the same impact as Palmer has at Stamford Bridge will not be easy, by any stretch of the imagination. With that being said, one man in the Premier League who could become the second coming of Palmer is Morgan Rogers.

Transfer Focus

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

Chelsea are once again linked with the Aston Villa forward, this time by journalist Simon Phillips. He said that Rogers is ‘firmly on the radar’ at Stamford Bridge, with the West London outfit ‘prepared to bid for him’ this summer.

In his report, Phillips does not name a price, but suggests that Nicolas Jackson and Joao Felix are two players of interest to Villa, so a swap deal could be on the cards.

However, talkSPORT have previously quoted the versatile attacker at £100m, should he move this summer.

Why Rogers would be a good signing

The 2024/25 campaign ended in disappointment for Unai Emery’s Villa side, narrowly missing out on a spot in the Champions League on the final day of the campaign. However, it was partly due to Rogers’ good form that they were in that position in the first place.

In 54 games across all competitions, the 22-year-old attacker was sensational. He found the back of the net on 14 different occasions and grabbed a further 15 assists. It is fair to say he was a rich source of goals in Claret and Blue last season.

Break those numbers down further, and you have someone who is “unstoppable” in the Premier League, according to Jamie Carragher. Rogers managed eight goals and 11 assists in the English top flight this season, coming in 37 games.

There was not too much difference between Rogers’ 19 goal involvements and Palmer’s eventual tally of 24 in the Premier League. The England international also played 37 times, and managed 15 goals and nine assists across the top-flight season.

It is not just the goal involvement numbers that are similar between Palmer and Rogers. Not only are they both versatile attackers, but they both played for Manchester City’s academy. Whilst Rogers never made his debut for the East Mancunian outfit, their early footballing education has largely mirrored each other.

In fact, you could make a case for the early part of their professional careers being like for like, too. Palmer left City for a big move to Chelsea, a side competing for top four in the Premier League. Likewise, Rogers went to Villa, who have the same goals, except he made his move via Championship side Middlesbrough.

The stats on FBref also hint at the fact that Rogers could become the second coming of Palmer at Stamford Bridge. For example, the Villa star averages 0.46 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to 0.42 goal-creating actions each game from Palmer.

Goals and assists

0.52

0.64

Key passes

1.47

2.45

Goal-creating actions

0.46

0.42

Take-ons completed

1.91

1.44

Ball recoveries

3.44

2.99

Should Chelsea sign Rogers this summer, then he can certainly have the same impact on the club as Palmer has. The stats are there to suggest he is capable of such achievements, and he has certainly showcased last term just how much of a difference-maker he is.

Whilst £100m is a lot of money, there is no doubt that Chelsea would be upgrading their attack by signing Rogers, and he could well be the second coming of Palmer, which is a scary thought for the rest of the Premier League.

Delap upgrade: Deal being worked on for Chelsea to sign £60m "superhuman"

With Liam Delap poised to sign for Chelsea this week, could the Blues also bring in another “superhuman” striker, reportedly worth £63m?

Jun 2, 2025

Celtic have brought the curtain down on another successful campaign at Parkhead and could now be set to let go of one of their long-serving stars, per a report.

Change could be in the wind for Celtic this summer

Brendan Rodgers will feel disappointed that his side weren’t able to see a domestic treble over the line, but a double and tangible progress in the Champions League isn’t to be sniffed at in the grand scheme of things.

Nevertheless, the end to a long campaign has come at a good time for Celtic, who are already beginning to make decisions on the personnel that will prop up their talented squad next term.

Greg Taylor is now out of contract and may depart following an excellent six years of service, while talks are ongoing to resolve Jeffrey Schlupp’s future at Parkhead as his loan spell draws to a close.

Given his parent club Crystal Palace are currently paying him £60,000 per week, it remains to be seen if a deal will be thrashed out to take the Ghana international to Glasgow on a permanent basis.

Looking ahead, Rodgers has urged Celtic to use their Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen as fuel for next season: “Looking at the bigger picture, we won the league title, won the League Cup, sadly we just couldn’t go that next step. It’s been a really good season for us. This will hurt. That’s your motivation, that drives you going into next season.”

Celtic could sign Idah upgrade in £40m star who's "guaranteed goals"

Celtic have been tipped to swoop for a star who would be a big upgrade on Adam Idah.

ByDan Emery May 25, 2025

Supporters will hope that extends to their transfer business, and they are already beginning to make tough decisions if recent reports are anything to go by.

Scott Bain set to leave Celtic on free transfer

According to The Herald, Scott Bain is set to be allowed to leave Celtic on a free transfer despite having a year left to run on his contract at Parkhead.

The 33-year-old will now seek first-team football elsewhere after becoming a distant back-up option to Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks.

Scott Bain’s trophy-laden career at Celtic

Appearances

78

Clean sheets

40

Trophies won

7x Scottish Premiership, 5x Scottish Cup, 4x Scottish League Cup

Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan is out of contract and is set to replace Bain at Celtic, which will help their homegrown quota in line with UEFA squad registration rules due to being a club-trained player.

Cutting his deal short may be an abrupt end to former Dundee star Bain’s time in Glasgow, but he has enjoyed some memorable success and filled in admirably when called upon by Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou and current boss Rodgers.

However, he hasn’t played a single minute since a 3-2 victory over St Mirren at the tail end of last campaign, so it makes sense for the former Scotland international to try his luck as a number one elsewhere.

It is make or break for Sunderland this afternoon as their 2024/25 campaign will be defined by the outcome of today’s Championship play-off final clash with Sheffield United.

The Black Cats beat Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the play-offs, thanks to a dramatic late winner in extra-time from central defender Dan Ballard, sending the Stadium of Light into raptures.

Regis Le Bris now faces the unenviable task of selecting the right starting XI to take to the field against Sheffield United this afternoon at Wembley, and Chris Rigg is one player who should be brought back in.

Why Chris Rigg should start

Sunderland know that this is a high-stakes game and that any small errors could be the difference between another season in the Championship or playing Premier League football in the 2025/26 campaign.

Therefore, it could make sense to bring in another midfielder who can provide solidity just ahead of Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham, making it even harder for the Blades to break them down.

In the regular Championship season, Rigg won four duels per game on average, winning 47% of his battles overall, and averaged 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, without a single error that led to a goal or a penalty for the opposition.

Chalkboard

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

This means that the teenage midfielder would add another layer of defensive insurance ahead of the back four by coming into the side, but it would also mean that Eliezer Mayenda would have to drop to the bench to make way for the English ace to play behind Wilson Isidor.

Why Eliezer Mayenda should be dropped

Le Bris should ruthlessly drop the 20-year-old starlet to the bench for today’s final in order to make room for Rigg to provide a reliable presence at the top of the midfield.

This would also provide Mayenda with the opportunity to come on as an impact substitute, which suits his style of play with his directness and pace on the counter-attack, as he could cause problems for a tired Sheffield United defence late on.

His disappointing performance against Coventry in the second leg of the semi-final, though, suggests that it may be too much of a gamble to play him from the start.

Minutes

120

Goals + assists

0

Successful dribbles

2/6

Pass accuracy

29% (2/7)

Duels won

6/18

Key passes

0

Possession lost

15x

As you can see in the table above, Mayenda played the full 120 minutes against the Sky Blues and only completed two passes, without creating any chances, and lost the vast majority of his duels.

This suggests that he could be a liability in the final from the start if he produced a similar kind of performance, as the Sheffield United players could find it too easy to beat him in duels and to intercept his passes.

Therefore, dropping him for Rigg, who has won 47% of his duels and completed 79% of his passes in the Championship, could increase Sunderland’s chances of being solid from the start.

Le Bris would then have the option to bring Mayenda’s pace off the bench to make an impact late on, by taking Rigg off to play the Frenchman in a front two with Isidor, which is why this could be a good tactical move for multiple reasons.

Le Fee 2.0: Sunderland set sights on signing "fantastic" star from France

Sunderland could be about to pick up their next Enzo Le Fee with this summer buy.

ByKelan Sarson May 21, 2025

Newcastle United have now moved ahead of Chelsea in the race for an “amazing” Premier League defender, having taken concrete action to secure his signature, according to a report.

Magpies set sights on new centre-back

With current centre-back options Fabian Schar and Dan Burn now in their 30s, bringing in a new defender is expected to be a major focus for Newcastle this summer, and there has been a positive development in their pursuit of AS Monaco’s Wilfried Singo.

Paul Mitchell is now increasingly confident that a deal for Singo will be possible this summer, having previously sent scouts to watch the Ivorian defender in action, and there is a feeling the 24-year-old would be keen on a move to the Premier League.

Singo is not the only option on the shortlist, however, with it recently being revealed the Magpies have now joined the race for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is set to leave the German club on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

Newcastle could now keep Tonali and still sign £135,000-p/w Juventus star

The Magpies are making some smart moves…

BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025

Newcastle are also weighing up defenders who have already proven themselves in the Premier League, and TEAMtalk have now provided a positive update on their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who has been a long-term target.

According to the report, Eddie Howe’s side have now moved ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea in the race for Guehi, and his price tag has now been drastically reduced, with the Eagles now willing to sanction a departure for a fee of just £46m.

The Tynesiders have now taken concrete action to sign the England international, placing them in the driving seat, as the Blues have not taken any steps towards securing his signature, but the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest could also provide competition.

"Amazing" Guehi could be ideal signing for Newcastle

Schar and Burn have played a major role in transforming Newcastle into major contenders for trophies, with the latter even scoring in the EFL Cup final, but with both players now approaching their mid-thirties, a younger option may be required at centre-back.

At 24-years-old, the £50,000-a-week Palace captain fits the bill in that regard, and the defender’s vast Premier League experience could make him an ideal option, having now made 132 top-flight appearances.

During that time, the Englishman has caught the eye of compatriot Harry Maguire, who described the Palace star as “amazing”, which is underlined by the fact he is among the Eagles’ most consistent performers in the Premier League this season.

Guehi could be the perfect addition to the Newcastle squad this summer, and the fact that he is now set to be available for just £46m is an added bonus for the Magpies, given that the Ivory Coast-born star has previously been valued at around the £75m mark.