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Aston Villa are now reportedly racing to sign Oscar Mingueza alongside Premier League rivals West Ham United as those in the Midlands look to land a La Masia graduate.

The Villans turned on the style against Bournemouth, bouncing back from defeat at Anfield to head into the international break with a convincing victory under their belt. Emiliano Buendia’s free-kick was undoubtedly the pick of the four goals that Unai Emery’s side scored, as he continued his recent, much-welcomed resurgence.

After a tough start to their campaign, Villa now sit seventh and Emery admitted that his side “are recovering from a bad start”, telling reporters: “I am very happy with the win.

“We are recovering from a bad start to the season. The effort physically was huge and to manage the squad with different players, with the effort we needed, we can feel proud after the game.

“This is the level of the players. We are trying to set our standards in everything [we do], every day how we prepare for the game, and the quality of the players is important.”

Qualifying for European football, whether it’s the Europa League, Europa Conference League or in the best-case scenario, the Champions League, is more important than ever in the Midlands. Those at Villa Park can’t afford to miss out and run into more problems with PSR limitations as a result.

Their poor start to the season stemmed from a disappointing summer transfer window and the chaos of potential sales that never arrived. This time next year, they must be in a better position on that front.

Fixing their PSR problem would see Emery’s side reach another level entirely and could finally see long-term target Mingueza arrive.

Aston Villa racing to sign Mingueza

According to reports in Spain, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo alongside the likes of West Ham and Newcastle United. The Villans have been admirers of the La Masia graduate for some time, but have consistently failed to secure his signature.

Capped four times by Spain, the defender has also played twice for the national team of Catalonia, who are not recognised/affiliated with FIFA or UEFA due to their status as one of Spain’s regional football federations.

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa amid interest from Tottenham and Arsenal

Recent reports have indicated that Aston Villa would be keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Emery will be hoping that 2026 is finally the year that the right-back arrives, given that he’s on course to become a free agent next summer and any transfer complications will suddenly become far easier to navigate.

Former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman once predicted that the Spaniard would have a “great future” and that could yet arrive in the Midlands, where he’d compete for a place with Matty Cash, who is in excellent form.

Minutes

670

966

Assists

2

0

Tackles Won

4

10

Ball Recoveries

30

24

When compared, it’s clear that Mingueza and Cash have different qualities. Whilst the former is arguably better going forward, the Villa star has been a more well-rounded player so far this season – impressing in and out of possession.

What is clear is that Mingueza’s arrival would add vital depth to the right-back role for Emery, even if he’s forced to provide backup for Cash.

"Best in the league" – Media stunned by "aggressive" Aston Villa star vs Bournemouth

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt tried to pull a fast one on MLB's new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system on Friday afternoon.

In the bottom of the third inning of a matchup against the New York Yankees, Rays right-handed pitcher Eric Orze fired a 3-2 changeup high above the strike zone. When the home plate umpire called ball four to award a walk to Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., Rortvedt tapped his helmet to challenge the call.

After a few moments, ABS confirmed that, yes, the pitch crossed home plate high above the strike zone and was properly called a ball.

The pitch tracker on MLB's Gameday agreed with the umpire and ABS that the seventh pitch of the at-bat was far above the strike zone. But to be fair, Orze did get Chisholm to chase a fastball high up in the zone earlier in the at-bat.

It'll be interesting to watch MLB's ABS experiment unfold throughout spring training as it will be utilized in about 60% of the exhibitions in Florida and Arizona.

Teams are awarded two challenges apiece at the beginning of each game and can utilize them whenever they'd like to challenge a ball or strike call. If the challenge is successful, the call is overturned and the team keeps the challenge. However, in the Rays' case, Rortvedt was wrong, so they lost a challenge and Chisholm still trotted to first base with a walk.

The ABS won't be in effect in the regular season—at least not in 2025. But if it does get implemented in the future, there will be plenty of head-scratching challenges like Rortvedt's attempt on Friday.

Hey, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

Move to 12/6 conference-style Championship also favoured by players’ union

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2025

Surrey have backed keeping the County Championship at 14 games•Surrey CCC/Getty Images

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has called for a reduction in both County Championship and Men’s T20 Blast games, urging county chairs and CEOs to “prioritise the welfare” of players ahead of a vote on restructuring the domestic game from 2026 onwards.A majority of male county cricketers in England and Wales favour reducing the number of Championship games played from 14 to 12, according to data collected by the PCA. The players’ union is also recommending a cut to the Blast schedule to help ease the number of back-to-back fixtures which it believes put players at risk.Players would also back a proposed move to a conference system for the Championship with a 12/6 split – two upper divisions of six above a lower division of six, with promotion and relegation as well as a grand final between the conference winners.Related

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PCA reiterates fatigue concerns ahead of county domestic review

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England allrounder Chris Woakes, the PCA’s England Men’s representative, said the call for change was not about playing “less cricket because they don’t want to – it’s about being able to produce the best cricket on the field as possible”.”Welfare is extremely important and not just players but coaches and staff,” he said. “We need to get the scheduling right to give players the time to prepare, recover and make sure they’re in the best state physically and mentally.”The game is now played at a greater intensity and faster rate, especially in white-ball cricket. When you’re having to play back-to-back games it’s almost impossible to be at 100%. Having gaps between games and with safe travel is very important.”The ECB announced on the eve of the new season a review into the domestic structure – the third in the last seven years – overseen by the Professional Game Committee. Consultation has been ongoing, with a vote on the proposals expected later this month.Recently, a number of counties have begun making their preferences public: Surrey and Somerset have called for maintaining 14 Championship games, with a return to eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two; Durham and Lancashire support the 12/6 conference plan, while Middlesex have backed sticking with the Championship as is, with two divisions and 10 teams in the top tier.The PCA expressed concerns about the current schedule at the start of the summer, saying 83% of respondents to a survey cited physical concerns over their workload and 67% called the fixture list detrimental to their mental health.Olly Hannon-Dalby, PCA chair, suggested that “a change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option” and that it would “breathe new life” into the competition.”We are at a critical moment regarding the future of professional cricketers in England and Wales,” he said. “The schedule has always been a contentious issue and we have seen too many reviews with no change but the feeling in recent seasons due to ever-increasing intensity of fixtures has led the game to a position where positive action has to be taken immediately and as an opportunity for the game to grow.”We understand the process is not straightforward and all counties have their own prerogative, however, the game needs to come to a consensus on a way forward to prioritise a duty of care to its players who are asking for reform, not just for their own health but also for an improved product on the field.”We have over 400 male players and we recognise the different career paths available … to protect the majority, a change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option and would breathe new life into what I believe would become the best red-ball competition in the world.”Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s chief executive, said: “Cricket has always been an incredibly innovative sport and relaunching the Blast and Championship with an optimum schedule would see clubs, supporters and players benefit from being involved in world-leading domestic cricket.”We have been pleased the consultation has provided space for player views to be heard and there is a consensus that back-to-back Blast games need to be drastically eased with the aim for the competition to change to 12 regional group games.”With the One Day Cup to stay alongside The Hundred, the congestion of the intense schedule cannot be improved enough by losing two 20-over games across a six-month season alone.”As employers, every county needs to understand the player concerns while looking at the positive outcome a 12/6 split would have in the Championship. The welfare of the players should be at the heart of the decision-making process and we urge all county Chairs and CEOs to consider this when taking their vote.”Ultimately, the right decision would serve to future-proof our game with clarity and commitment to a new era.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo saiu do Maracanã vaiado pela torcida depois da derrota para o São Paulo por 1 a 0 no primeiro jogo da final da Copa do Brasil neste domingo (17). O único gol da partida foi marcado ainda no primeiro tempo, aos 45 minutos, por Calleri, o artilheiro tricolor. Jorge Sampaoli deixa o Flamengo como um bando em campo e fica com nota zero.

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O Lance! traz as atuações do primeiro jogo da final da Copa do Brasil no Maraca.

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O jogo de volta é no Morumbi no próximo domingo (24), às 16h.

Liverpool are back. The latest interminable international break has wrapped up, and Arne Slot will know that his side’s form needs to change, having suffered three successive defeats before the October pause.

But the truth is, the cracks can be traced right through to the start of the campaign. There are many reasons for this, one of which is the heft of Liverpool’s summer spending.

Sure, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz completed bumper moves to Merseyside and are indeed the most expensive players in Premier League history, but it’s understandable that Slot’s new-look side might require a bedding-in period.

But, especially in the case of Wirtz, improvements are needed.

Why the next few weeks are crucial for Wirtz

Wirtz left Bayer Leverkusen for Liverpool in July as a legend. Though he’s only 22, the German playmaker spearheaded Xabi Alonso’s invincible, multi-trophy-winning domestic season of 2023/24, and he was crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Year.

A high-profile move to the Premier League always comes with a heavy dose of anxiety, and the silky attacking midfielder has done little to prove Liverpool will receive bang for their buck so far, having failed to notch a goal involvement across eight matches after assisting Hugo Ekitike’s opener in the Community Shield.

Of course, drawing conclusions at this early stage would be reductive, and there is every confidence and expectation that Wirtz will begin firing on all cylinders soon.

But there’s no denying it’s been a slow start, and every passing game will now come weighted with unwanted extra scrutiny.

With the player having taken the no. 7 shirt from Luis Diaz this summer, Wirtz is expected to perform, but there’s already a young wide forward waiting in the wings who might be eyeing that particular shirt already.

The Liverpool talent who could take the #7 shirt

Liverpool have any number of talented young players in their grasp, but none more so than Rio Ngumoha, who has quickly become a household name on Merseyside for his match-winning goal against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in August.

Aged 16 at the time, the electric-paced winger found space and composure in the final embers to seal all three points for the Reds during that highly-charged contest, adding a priceless moment to a career catalogue which is sure to be well-worn by the time he hangs up his boots, many years from now.

Hailed as a “phenomenal talent” by former youth coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, the former Chelsea prospect has featured five times across all competitions so far this season and is so talented that FSG decided against signing a direct Diaz replacement this summer, instead promoting the teenager to a more prominent role.

Wirtz is only 22, but he’s struggling to adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League at this present moment.

Ngumoha, however, has already broken his seasonal duck, and given that Isaksson-Hurst continued to stress that he expects to see the forward on the Ballon d’Or list one day, there’s every reason for Liverpool fans to get excited.

And there’s plenty of cause for Wirtz to start looking back over his shoulder at that.

Youngest Scorers in Premier League History

#

Player

Age

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

He’s still so young, and already playing such convincing football, the fleet-footed talent may even end up surpassing Wirtz and taking that shirt from him, should things not work out for the Germany star in the end.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 12, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo com a janela de transferências nas principais ligas da Europa tendo fechado na sexta-feira (1º), o Chelsea, da Inglaterra, ainda tenta a contratação do volante Gabriel Moscardo, do Corinthians. O Timão, por sua vez, quer receber um valor maior do que o oferecido inicialmente pelos ingleses para concretizar a venda.

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A ideia da direção corintiana é negociar o atleta por 30 milhões de euros (R$ 159,9 mi, na cotação atual). O clube alvinegro possui 80% dos direitos econômicos, sendo que os outros 20% pertencem ao próprio jogador.

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Os Blues ofereceram inicialmente 21 milhões de euros (R$ 111,9 milhões) pelo meio-campista. A proposta, no entanto, chegaria até a 25 milhões de euros (R$ 133,6 milhões), dependendo de metas que podem ser alcançadas. A quantia, porém, foi recusada pelo Corinthians. 

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O Chelsea segue conversando com o estafe de Moscardo mesmo com o fim do período de mercado. A ideia dos ingleses nunca foi ter o jogador imediatamente, tanto que na proposta feita à direção corintiana, a previsão de liberação do jogador seria em junho de 2024. O objetivo é sair na frente de rivais no Velho Continente e garantir a compra da promessa o quanto antes.

Desde as categorias de base, o camisa 44 corintiano era monitorado por pessoas ligadas ao Manchester City. O Barcelona foi outro clube que colocou o garoto no radar antes mesmo da estreia dele pelo time principal do Corinthians. Após o volante estrear como profissional, há pouco mais de dois meses, dirigentes do Arsenal buscaram informações sobre ele. 

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+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Timão no Brasileirão

O Chelsea tem como trunfo a boa relação com Giuliano Bertolucci, empresário do jogador. Recentemente, o agente negociou os atacantes Ângelo e Deivid Washington, ambos ex-Santos, com os Blues. Mesmo com entrada importante no Stamford Bridge, Bertolucci não descarta conversar com outros times da Europa sobre a joia corintiana.

Gabriel tem 17 anos, mas fará aniversário no próximo dia 28, atingindo assim a maioridade, que já permite que ele seja transferido para o exterior. O jogador tem 10 partidas disputadas na ‘equipe de cima’ do Timão.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been questioned about Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time in the Premier League so far this season.

The England international only played 45 minutes of football across the first three matches, and was an unused substitute in the first two games, playing the second half against Burnley.

Amorim has explained, in the quotes above, that the central midfielder is competing with the captain, Bruno Fernandes, for a starting berth in the team, which seems like a bit of a waste of talent when you consider that he is one of the most valuable players in the squad.

Where Mainoo ranks among Man Utd's most valuable players

Mainoo is currently valued at £43m by Transfermarkt, having come through the academy system at Carrington, but finds himself out of the picture at Old Trafford, when it comes to making the starting line-up.

It feels like a waste to have such a valuable and promising young talent rotting away on the bench, particularly when the system – a 3-4-2-1 formation – keeping him out of the side has yielded eight wins in 30 Premier League games under Amorim.

Benjamin Sesko

£60m

Matheus Cunha

£52m

Bryan Mbeumo

£48m

Leny Yoro

£48m

Kobbie Mainoo

£43m

Bruno Fernandes

£43m

Amad Diallo

£39m

Manuel Ugarte

£39m

Lisandro Martinez

£35m

Matthijs de Ligt

£33m

As you can see in the table above, only four other players in the squad are more valuable than Mainoo. Three of them, Yoro, Mbeumo, and Cunha, are locked in starters, and Sesko may be a starter once he is up to speed.

Whilst it is a shame that the England international cannot get into the starting XI at the moment, United also had a nightmare with another academy graduate midfielder who is now valued as much as Mainoo, Scott McTominay.

Man Utd's Scott McTominay howler

The Scotland international came through the youth ranks at Carrington, just like Mainoo, and racked up 29 goals in 255 matches for the first-team in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

He had shown some very promising signs throughout his time in the senior side. Gary Neville claimed that he “turned into Paul Scholes and Roy Keane” after scoring twice in a Premier League game against Leeds, for example.

Last summer, however, Erik ten Hag decided to part ways with McTominay and sanctioned a £25m transfer to Italian giants Napoli. It is fair to say that the decision has turned out to be a poorly-judged one.

Manchester United replaced him by agreeing a deal worth up to £50.5m to sign Manuel Ugarte from Sporting, and the two players have had hugely contrasting fortunes since those two transfers.

As you can see in the graphic above, McTominay has delivered 20 goals and assists combined for Napoli, helping them to win the Serie A title last season.

The 28-year-old star won the Serie A Player of the Year award and his Transfermarkt value has shot up to £43m as a result of his exceptional performances, taking him on par with Mainoo and significantly higher than the £25m fee that Napoli paid for him.

Meanwhile, Ugarte delivered one goal and two assists in 29 appearances in the Premier League last season, per Sofascore, and has not started a single game in the current campaign.

At the time of writing, the Uruguay international’s Transfermarkt value is £39m, which is less than McTominay’s and far less than the £50.5m deal that was agreed for him last summer.

This shows that United had a howler last summer because they essentially swapped McTominay for Ugarte in the middle of the park, and are worse off for it at this moment in time given how the two players have performed and how their values have changed.

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Manchester United, as evidenced by his form for Napoli, did not get the best out of McTominay, and they must now avoid repeating the same mistake with Mainoo by leaving him on the bench and in a set-up that seemingly does not suit him.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has not been afraid to make it clear to the board that his squad needs fresh blood before the end of the summer transfer window.

The former Liverpool and Leicester boss is in the final year of his contract at Parkhead and has urged the club to back him with more recruits at the top end of the pitch.

Speaking about transfer plans recently, the Celtic manager claimed that they “need competition at the top end of the field” and said that it is “important” for the Hoops to get that before the end of the window.

The Scottish Premiership champions are set to be without Jota until next year, potentially, as he nurses an ACL injury, and sold Nicolas Kuhn to Como earlier this summer, which has left the squad very light in the wide areas.

At this moment in time, Rodgers only has three ‘natural’ senior wingers at his disposal in Hyun-jun Yang, Daizen Maeda, and 34-year-old veteran James Forrest.

It is, therefore, no surprise to hear that the manager wants the club to bring in attacking reinforcements, particularly as Yang has yet to prove that he can be a frontline option.

Why Celtic need to replace Yang

Kuhn’s departure earlier this summer opened the door for the South Korea international to start the opening game of the Premiership season against St Mirren earlier this month.

Unfortunately, the right-sided attacker did not win a duel, produce a shot on goal, or create a chance for any of his teammates in 59 minutes on the pitch, as per Sofascore, which shows that he was totally ineffective in and out of possession.

It was telling that Yang was then an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen last weekend, as Rodgers clearly felt that he did not offer enough in the win over St Mirren.

The 23-year-old forward’s initial struggles at the start of this campaign suggest that he may be best suited to going back to the role that he played last term, rather than being a frontline option as a regular starter.

Appearances

23

Starts

9

Goals

5

Minutes per goal

196

Key passes

18

Big chances created

3

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, Yang provided a solid threat as a squad option for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, producing seven goals and assists in just nine starts.

That is a role that suits his ability, as he can come off the bench to make an impact and start the odd game when needed, but he does not have the game-changing quality to be a regular starter as a ‘replacement’ for Kuhn on the right flank.

Celtic eyeing deal for Danish forward

According to the Daily Record, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Go Ahead Eagles attacker Jakob Breum before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 21-year-old talent is on the ‘agenda’ for the Scottish giants, as they note that Rodgers is keen for more attacking talent to be added to the squad.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the versatile Danish star, who can play out wide or through the middle as an attacking midfielder, is high up on the club’s wishlist of possible signings.

Earlier this month it was reported that Go Ahead Eagles are looking for a fee in the region of £5m for Breum, and that the Hoops have already had an approach turned down for him.

It is now down to the board to go back in with another attempt to sign the Dane, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, before the deadline at the start of September, because he could come in as a big upgrade on Yang.

Why Celtic should sign Jakob Breum

The Hoops should swoop to sign Breum because he has played 27 games as a right-sided winger in his career, as well as 60 matches on the left flank, as per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he can fill the current gaps in the squad in the wide areas.

Celtic need to sign at least one winger, given Yang’s struggles and the fact that Maeda is the only left winger in the team, and the Go Ahead Eagles star could be the ideal addition due to the versatility that he would bring.

Whilst Yang, 23, has never scored more than eight league goals in a season in his career, and no more than five in a European league, Breum plundered ten goals in the Dutch top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 21-year-old star, who is two years younger than the South Korean flanker, put in some fantastic performances in the Eredivisie for his side last term, and his displays in the Netherlands suggest that he could come in as a big upgrade on the right wing for Celtic.

Appearances

26

23

Goals

10

5

Goals per game

0.4

0.2

Big chances created

6

3

Assists

5

2

Successful dribbles per game

0.9

0.7

Dribble success rate

47%

40%

As you can see in the table above, Breum was far more impressive with his work at the top end of the pitch at league level in the 2024/25 campaign in comparison to Yang.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to offer more to the team as a scorer, a creator, and a dribbler in any of the positions across the front, whether that is on either flank or as an attacking midfielder.

If Breum is able to translate those performances and the output that he provided over to the Premiership, he would be a superior option for Rodgers to call upon in the final third.

This would also allow Yang to go back to the role that he played last season for Celtic, coming off the bench more often than not to make an impact as a rotation player.

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Therefore, the club’s interest in a potential deal to bring Breum to Parkhead before the end of the summer could make a lot of sense, both because of how it could improve the starting line-up and what it would do for Yang’s role.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has not been afraid to make it clear to the board that his squad needs fresh blood before the end of the summer transfer window.

The former Liverpool and Leicester boss is in the final year of his contract at Parkhead and has urged the club to back him with more recruits at the top end of the pitch.

Speaking about transfer plans recently, the Celtic manager claimed that they “need competition at the top end of the field” and said that it is “important” for the Hoops to get that before the end of the window.

The Scottish Premiership champions are set to be without Jota until next year, potentially, as he nurses an ACL injury, and sold Nicolas Kuhn to Como earlier this summer, which has left the squad very light in the wide areas.

At this moment in time, Rodgers only has three ‘natural’ senior wingers at his disposal in Hyun-jun Yang, Daizen Maeda, and 34-year-old veteran James Forrest.

It is, therefore, no surprise to hear that the manager wants the club to bring in attacking reinforcements, particularly as Yang has yet to prove that he can be a frontline option.

Why Celtic need to replace Yang

Kuhn’s departure earlier this summer opened the door for the South Korea international to start the opening game of the Premiership season against St Mirren earlier this month.

Unfortunately, the right-sided attacker did not win a duel, produce a shot on goal, or create a chance for any of his teammates in 59 minutes on the pitch, as per Sofascore, which shows that he was totally ineffective in and out of possession.

It was telling that Yang was then an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen last weekend, as Rodgers clearly felt that he did not offer enough in the win over St Mirren.

The 23-year-old forward’s initial struggles at the start of this campaign suggest that he may be best suited to going back to the role that he played last term, rather than being a frontline option as a regular starter.

24/25 Premiership	Hyun-jun Yang
Appearances	23
Starts	9
Goals	5
Minutes per goal	196
Key passes	18
Big chances created	3
Assists	2
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Yang provided a solid threat as a squad option for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, producing seven goals and assists in just nine starts.

That is a role that suits his ability, as he can come off the bench to make an impact and start the odd game when needed, but he does not have the game-changing quality to be a regular starter as a ‘replacement’ for Kuhn on the right flank.

Celtic eyeing deal for Danish forward

According to the Daily Record, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Go Ahead Eagles attacker Jakob Breum before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 21-year-old talent is on the ‘agenda’ for the Scottish giants, as they note that Rodgers is keen for more attacking talent to be added to the squad.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the versatile Danish star, who can play out wide or through the middle as an attacking midfielder, is high up on the club’s wishlist of possible signings.

Earlier this month it was reported that Go Ahead Eagles are looking for a fee in the region of £5m for Breum, and that the Hoops have already had an approach turned down for him.

It is now down to the board to go back in with another attempt to sign the Dane, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, before the deadline at the start of September, because he could come in as a big upgrade on Yang.

Why Celtic should sign Jakob Breum

The Hoops should swoop to sign Breum because he has played 27 games as a right-sided winger in his career, as well as 60 matches on the left flank, as per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he can fill the current gaps in the squad in the wide areas.

Celtic need to sign at least one winger, given Yang’s struggles and the fact that Maeda is the only left winger in the team, and the Go Ahead Eagles star could be the ideal addition due to the versatility that he would bring.

Whilst Yang, 23, has never scored more than eight league goals in a season in his career, and no more than five in a European league, Breum plundered ten goals in the Dutch top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 21-year-old star, who is two years younger than the South Korean flanker, put in some fantastic performances in the Eredivisie for his side last term, and his displays in the Netherlands suggest that he could come in as a big upgrade on the right wing for Celtic.

24/25 season	Breum (Eredivisie)	Yang (Premiership)
Appearances	26	23
Goals	10	5
Goals per game	0.4	0.2
Big chances created	6	3
Assists	5	2
Successful dribbles per game	0.9	0.7
Dribble success rate	47%	40%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Breum was far more impressive with his work at the top end of the pitch at league level in the 2024/25 campaign in comparison to Yang.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to offer more to the team as a scorer, a creator, and a dribbler in any of the positions across the front, whether that is on either flank or as an attacking midfielder.

If Breum is able to translate those performances and the output that he provided over to the Premiership, he would be a superior option for Rodgers to call upon in the final third.

This would also allow Yang to go back to the role that he played last season for Celtic, coming off the bench more often than not to make an impact as a rotation player.

Edouard 2.0: "Seriously talented" £13m star has emerged on Celtic's radar

Celtic are interested in a deal to sign a star who could be an Odsonne Edouard repeat at Parkhead.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 12, 2025

Therefore, the club’s interest in a potential deal to bring Breum to Parkhead before the end of the summer could make a lot of sense, both because of how it could improve the starting line-up and what it would do for Yang’s role.

سجل الدولي النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي الهدف الثاني لصالح فريقه أمام موناكو في المباراة التي تجمعهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحل مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا على موناكو، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

كان النرويجي المتألق قد استطاع أن يسجل هدف مانشستر سيتي الأول في الدقيقة 15 من عمر الشوط الأول، بعد تمريرة رائعة من زميله جفارديول.

وأضاف هالاند الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 44 من عمر الشوط الأول بضربة رأس قوية على يمين حارس موناكو.

⚽ رأسية متقنة من هالاند تعيد الأفضلية لمانشستر سيتي#دوري_أبطال_أوروبا #UCL #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/wvYHiF6SPy — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 1, 2025