All posts by z3u9t.icu

Chelsea have now hatched a plan to win the race for a “powerful” Paris Saint-Germain player, amid rival interest from fellow Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Blues stockpiling talented youngsters

Under BlueCo ownership, Chelsea have implemented a model of buying talented youngsters before shipping them out on loan to sister club Strasbourg or elsewhere, and it looks as though they are set to adopt a similar strategy in the summer transfer window.

The Blues have already sealed deals for Sporting CP duo Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda, with the latter recently helping the Portuguese side clinch the Liga Portugal title on a dramatic final day.

Essugo, on the other hand, has spent the current campaign on loan at Las Palmas, whose relegation from La Liga has now been confirmed, but Chelsea will be happy their new signing has gained some experience in a major league, having made 25 league appearances this term.

Quenda is set to spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Sporting, while a number of other youngsters could follow a similar route to the likes of Djordje Petrovic, Andrey Santos and Diego Moreira by joining fellow BlueCo-owned club Strasbourg to develop their game.

According to a report from Sports Zone (via Sport Witness), that is exactly the future plan for Paris Saint-Germain defender Axel Tape, should Chelsea be able to lure the 17-year-old to Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.

The west Londoners are said to value Tape highly, and they have now hatched a plan to beat their Premier League rivals to his signature, with two other unnamed English clubs in the race for the youngster, who is set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract.

Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are in pole position for the defender as things stand, however, with the teenager planning to leave PSG this summer, despite the French club’s eagerness to keep hold of him.

£172k-per-week star keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League race

He’d want the move to Stamford Bridge no strings attached.

13 ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025 "Powerful" Tape could be exciting long-term signing

Given his age, the Frenchman is yet to make a real name for himself at first-team level, featuring just twice in Ligue 1 during the 2024-25 campaign, but there are indications that he could go on to achieve big things.

Football scout Ben Mattinson singled out the starlet for praise on X back in April, saying: “When at CB, he’ll make powerful marauding runs through the middle third to break through the press.”

Mattinson also goes on to describe the PSG ace as “physically strong in duels” and a “progressive passer through the lines”, so there are clear signs that he could be a well-rounded modern-day centre-back.

As such, Tape could be an exciting long-term addition to the squad, but Chelsea should also look to bring in a centre-back capable of immediately slotting into the starting XI this summer, with Axel Disasi in talks to join Aston Villa.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business on Sunday and Celtic will be looking at ways that they can improve their squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Brendan Rodgers may have a domestic treble in his sights after his side ended this year with two of the three trophies, winning the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.

The Northern Irish head coach will have at least one signing in the building by the start of next month, though, as Kieran Tierney is set to arrive from Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract at The Emirates expires.

With Greg Taylor out of contract and Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan deal expiring, the Scotland international is the only left-back on the club’s books heading into next season.

As well as wanting new signing to arrive to improve the team, Rodgers will also be hoping that some of the younger players in the squad can kick on and improve.

Hyun-jun Yang has shown plenty of promise during his two years at Parkhead so far, and his progression from year one to year two suggests that a big third season could be coming.

Why Hyun-jun Yang could be a star for Celtic

The South Korean attacker joined the Scottish giants from Gangwon on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023, and did not enjoy the best first year in Glasgow.

Yang ended the 2023/24 campaign with a return of one goal and three assists in 31 appearances in all competitions for the club, which shows that the winger provided little in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch.

This term, however, the 23-year-old star produced six goals and six assists in 34 matches for the Scottish Premiership champions in all competitions, whilst playing on the right and the left flank.

These statistics show that Yang has improved during his time at Parkhead, learning with more experience in Scottish football, and that is further illustrated by the difference in his performances in the top-flight.

Appearances

24

23

Goals

1

5

Conversion rate

5%

25%

Possession lost per game

9.8x

6.8x

Assists

3

2

Pass accuracy

81%

86%

As you can see in the table above, the South Korean star delivered more quality in front of goal and was more reliable in build-up play for Celtic, by being more efficient with the ball.

Gangwon president Kim Byung-ji claimed he “could easily become a world-class player like Son Heung-min” ahead of the winger’s move to Scotland, which illustrates how highly he is rated in his home country.

Yang is not at a world-class level, yet, but he is clearly improving, and Celtic are now reportedly interested in signing a player who could help to take his game to the next level in the future.

Celtic bid to sign English star

According to Football League World, Celtic have made an approach to sign Peterborough United left-back Harley Mills in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops have tabled a bid to sign the 19-year-old defender from the English League One club, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Posh are willing to accept it.

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 Premier League side Fulham have also made an offer of £1m for the impressive young full-back, which shows that there is set to be plenty of competition for his signature in the coming weeks.

Football League World adds that he would only join the Cottagers as an U23 player to bolster their academy, whilst the Hoops are looking for a player to compete with Tierney.

Meanwhile, Peterborough are also looking to pin the player down to a new contract, and it could be down to the player to decide which path is best for him moving forward.

If Celtic are able to win the race for Mills, though, then they could sign a left-back who could help Yang to fulfill his potential at Parkhead in the years to come.

Why Mills could be a great signing for Yang

At the age of 19, the Peterborough United star would arrive at Parkhead as a long-term signing who could grow into being the first-choice left-back for years to come.

This means that he and Yang could form a long-term partnership down the left flank if Rodgers opts to deploy the South Korean forward on the left wing, providing him with chances to cut inside onto his stronger foot instead of being forced down the line or backwards when on the right.

Mills only emerged as a regular starter for the Posh towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but his performances in the EFL Trophy and League One suggest that the potential is there for him to be an excellent option for Celtic.

The teenage star’s “stunning” free-kick at Wembley helped Peterborough to win the EFL Trophy in April, whilst he also averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game across six appearances in the competition.

His form in League One, albeit only across 11 matches, also suggests that he could come in to offer more to the team from a defensive perspective than Taylor, who could leave on a free transfer this summer, did.

Appearances

28

11

Tackles per game

1.3

2.2

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.0

Clearances per game

1.9

2.5

Error led to shot or goal

2

0

Ground duel success rate

58%

65%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

57%

As you can see in the table above, Mills appears to be superior to the Scottish left-back across the board as an out-and-out defender, making more tackles, interceptions, and clearances per game, whilst also being stronger in his duels without making any big errors.

This suggests that the £1m-rated star could come in and lockdown the left-back position as a brilliant defender who could stop opposition wingers from pushing Celtic back in matches.

Not only could that improve the Hoops from a defensive perspective, but it could also free up Yang to play higher up the pitch on the left wing and closer to the opposition goal.

The South Korean star, if deployed on the left, would not have to track back as much if Celtic have a much better defensive full-back behind him instead of Taylor, potentially allowing him to be closer to goal to have more opportunities to score and create in the final third.

Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Celtic star who was meant to be his own Rodri

Celtic must move on from this star who was compared to Rodri before joining the club.

ByDan Emery Jun 3, 2025

This could, therefore, take his game to the next level and allow him to continue his upwards trajectory in a Hoops shirt, on his path to living up to the “world-class” claim.

Regis Le Bris enjoyed what can only be described as a dream debut season as Sunderland manager.

Many Black Cats bosses have come and gone in quick succession in recent years as promotion to the Premier League has evaded them.

But, in the Frenchman’s case, it was a first-attempt job, with the ex-Lorient head coach now eager to prove himself in England’s elite league after an up-and-down stint in Ligue 1.

He will know that a stern defence will be key if Sunderland stand any chance of beating the punishing drop, with a new defensive brute reportedly now on his shopping list to toughen up the Wearside underdogs.

Sunderland considering move for 6-foot-3 colossus

The Championship playoffs did showcase Sunderland’s excellence in the centre-back department with Daniel Ballard taking his team to Wembley with a last-gasp header versus Coventry City, whilst loan ace Chris Mepham would complete a whopping 12 clearances against Sheffield United in total to shut out the annoyed Blades.

But another centre-back could soon join the building in the form of ex-West Bromwich Albion brute Cedric Kipre. Football outlet Africa Foot states that Le Bris and Co view the Ivorian as a serious option after promotion.

Whilst the 6-foot-3 colossus is well known to EFL fans for his imperious displays with the Baggies, he is just fresh off a season in the French top-flight with Stade De Reims. This venture might well have ended in relegation, but it bodes well for Kipre not finding the Premier League daunting.

How Kipre can be Ballard 2.0 for Sunderland

Regardless of his time out in Ligue 1, his standout showings in the Championship earn enough merit on their own, with his authoritative approach out from the back – matched by his ability to pop up with a crucial header – meaning he could become Ballard 2.0 for Le Bris.

He also shone in spurts for Reims despite relegation, with the headed effort above unfortunately just not enough to keep Samba Diawara’s men afloat.

Away from this unfortunate relegation on his CV, though, Kipre has proven himself in the past as a brave battler in the challenging second tier of English football, with the Baggies left gutted by the 28-year-old’s decision to depart the Hawthorns last summer.

Games played

44

20

Goals scored

2

2

Assists

1

1

Touches*

67.1

47

Accurate passes*

48.9 (87%)

33.2 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

4.3

2.3

Clearances*

3.7

4.0

Total duels won*

4.2

4.6

Clean sheets

14

2

Looking at the table above, Kipre was a rock-solid option for the Carlos Corberan-led Baggies, with a mightily impressive 14 clean sheets notched up from 44 clashes.

Further, the table shows off the similarities between the defensive duo, with both Ballard and Kipre chipping in with three goal contributions each, away from also being able to valiantly battle away with duels, winning a similar number.

Much like Ballard, too, the current Reims number 21 has had to bounce back from plenty of Premier League rejection, with his early career seeing him be let go of by Leicester City.

The Sunderland titan also had to wave goodbye to Arsenal to join the Stadium of Light, but he will now have a shot at top-flight redemption on Wearside next season.

Kipre will also fancy his chances at being a formidable presence for Le Bris’ outsiders, having once been labelled as “one of the best defenders in the division” by the Second Tier podcast when plying his trade in the EFL’s top league.

Now, it’s up to the “fantastic” defender – as he’s also been labelled by football journalist Josh Bunting – to earn his stripes up a league, with Kipre having the potential to be as loved as Ballard if his brick-wall presence allows safety to be secured.

Sunderland can land bigger coup than Henderson by re-signing £40m "wizard"

Sunderland supporters would love if this statement deal were to go through.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 1, 2025

A “sensational” goalkeeper has now been identified as Aston Villa’s top target to replace Emiliano Martinez this summer, according to a report.

Martinez's time at Villa could be coming to an end

After being a peripheral figure during his time with Arsenal, Martinez’s career has gone from strength to strength since making the move to Villa Park, most notably playing a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, scooping up the Golden Glove award.

The goalkeeper’s impressive performances for his country go hand in hand with some top displays at club level, recently winning the Premier League Save of the Season award for a remarkable stop against Nottingham Forest.

However, the 32-year-old’s time with the Villans could now be coming to an end, amid growing interest in his signature, with Manchester United currently showing the strongest interest, while Atletico Madrid have also been named as potential suitors.

As such, Unai Emery may be tasked with bringing in a replacement between the sticks this summer, and a new top target has now been identified by recruitment chiefs, namely OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, Bulka is now emerging as Aston Villa’s first-choice option to replace Martinez, should the goalkeeper move on this summer, although Marseille and some other unnamed clubs could provide competition for his signature.

Nice had been hoping the shot-stopper would be willing to commit to a new contract, but discussions have not progressed, and if he doesn’t sign a new deal, the French side will look to cash in this summer, potentially opening the door for a move to Villa Park.

"Sensational" Bulka impressing in Ligue 1

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has singled the Pole out for praise in the past, describing him as “sensational” for his performances at club level, most notably putting in a remarkable performance against Paris Saint-Germain back in April.

Aston Villa join battle for "fantastic" midfielder in cut-price £8m deal

He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 8, 2025

The 25-year-old achieved a Sofascore match rating of 10, courtesy of a fantastic display against the Champions League winners, making a number of important contributions as his side ran out surprise 3-1 winners at the Parc des Princes.

Statistic

Number completed

Clearances

2

Saves

12

Saves from inside the box

9

Goals prevented

2.53

French journalist Julien Froment was also left impressed by the Poland international’s performance, hailing the £6k-a-week goalkeeper for his “colossal” contribution to his side’s shock victory, which suggests he could now be ready for a big move this summer.

That said, while Bulka could be a fantastic signing for Aston Villa, they will still be hoping that Martinez is willing to remain at the club, having won two Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper awards during his time at Villa Park, most recently scooping up the 2024 award.

Chelsea have started their Club World Cup campaign in topsy-turvy fashion, so Enzo Maresca will undoubtedly be keen on seeing more from his team.

The competition won’t be the only thing he has his eyes on over the coming weeks, especially as the summer transfer window is now in full swing.

Maresca is keen to improve his squad, and with qualification for the Champions League secured, money is available in abundance.

Players such as Jamie Gittens and Mohammed Kudus have been linked with the Blues as of late, but is it the defence that perhaps needs the most work done this summer?

Chelsea transfer news

While links to attacking players seem to pop up most days, Maresca is still chasing a defender or two.

Benfica star Tomas Araujo emerged as a transfer target last week, while Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is reportedly on the club’s shortlist.

One player whom Maresca is also keen on is Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to football.london.

The report states that nothing has advanced on bringing another defender to Stamford Bridge, but things could change quickly, as they have set their sights on the central defender.

Murillo has been valued at £80m in the past by his club, indicating that if Chelsea are serious, they may need to stump up the cash.

If so, he could turn out to be the next Thiago Silva for Chelsea, no doubt about that.

Why Chelsea must sign Murillo

Former Chelsea defender Silva is still going strong back in his homeland with Fluminense. Indeed, he was arguably one of the finest players on the pitch against Borussia Dortmund at the grand old age of 40.

He made over 150 competitive appearances for Chelsea between 2020 and 2024, winning the Champions League in the process, as a terrific Brazilian centre-back for the Blues.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

38

4

1

2022/23

35

0

5

2021/22

49

3

2

2020/21

34

2

0

Silva commanded the backline superbly and was a born leader. Murillo may only be 22, but he could have the potential to have a career just as good as his compatriot.

He was excellent for Forest last term, and his performances saw him rank highly across a range of metrics when compared to others in Europe’s top five leagues.

Not only did he rank in the top 3% for blocks (1.95) per 90, but the defender also ranked in the top 7% for clearances (7.03) and in the top 2% for successful take-ons (0.76), which proves he is capable of shining both defensively and going forward.

Hailed as “monstrous” by journalist Ryan Taylor earlier this year, the Brazilian defender may not be the finished article just yet, but it won’t be long before he blossoms.

The youngster lived up to that praise by winning an impressive 60% of his total duels last term, while he was dribbled past on just 0.5 occasions per game in the top flight.

If Maresca wishes to improve his defensive options, then signing Murillo could be a wise choice.

The club struggled at times last year from a defensive viewpoint, conceding 59 goals in all competitions.

Signing the Forest man would certainly shore up the backline and provide the club with another sublime Brazilian centre-back to lead the defence once again.

Chelsea open discussions over signing £86m Club World Cup sensation

He’s emerged as an intriguing target for BlueCo.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Everton have yet to get going in the transfer window, with only Carlos Alcaraz joining the club.

He was on loan last season, and therefore, he isn’t exactly a brand-new signing, but David Moyes and TFG will be working tirelessly behind the scenes to bolster his squad ahead of the first season at their new stadium.

While the Toffees face an away trip to Elland Road to face Leeds in their match, the opening game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium will take place a week later when Moyes’ men face Brighton.

Between now and then, supporters will no doubt be longing for some new additions.

Everton ready to hijack move for Ligue 1 star

With Alcaraz through the door, it’s looking likely that Everton will make another signing in the shape of Fulham defender Kenny Tete, with the BBC reporting that talks are in progress.

A right-back by trade, Moyes could also be in the market to sign a left-back from Ligue 1.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, according to Leeds Live, the recently promoted club are keen on signing defender Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille this summer.

However, the report goes on to state that Everton are ready to hijack the move for the Swedish defender, who has just one year left on his current contract.

As such, Moyes could perhaps land a bargain should he convince the left-back to swap Lille for a move to Merseyside, rather than Leeds.

Adding some depth to the squad is a priority, which means a swoop for £6m-rated Gudmundsson could be ideal.

Given the fact that he would be moving from Ligue 1, the Swede could turn into Iliman Ndiaye 2.0.

How Gudmundsson could replicate Ndiaye at Everton

Ndiaye moved from Ligue 1 side Marseille last summer, going on to become one of the club’s key players last term.

Indeed, the winger netted 11 goals across all competitions for the Toffees, helping the club preserve their Premier League status for yet another season.

Goals

9

Assists

0

Big chances created

3

Key passes per game

0.5

Shots per game

1.1

Successful dribbles per game

2.1

The Senegal international also ranked in the top 9% for successful 1.96 take-ons (2.52) per 90 when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing why Leeds writer Joe Donnohue has described him as a “fun” player who’s also a “risk-taker”. He’s also competent defensively, however, ranking in the top 11% for tackles per 90 (1.96) over the previous 365 days.

It proves that talent can be found at a reasonable price in France, so might Gudmundsson be the next player to move across the channel?

The 26-year-old would be a great signing. He made 45 appearances for Lille last term, which included nine in the Champions League.

An attacking full-back, he was notably impressive in the competition. When compared to his peers, the Swede not only ranked in the top 19% for progressive carries (2.96), but he also ranked in the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.66) last term.

Those are strong metrics, particularly considering the sheer quality of opposition he played against, with Lille coming up against Real Madrid, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid, defeating the two Spanish sides in the process.

Defensively, the 26-year-old won 54% of his total duels in Ligue 1 last season, along with being dribbled past on just 0.4 occasions per game, showing his strength in one-on-one battles.

Ndiaye made a wonderful impact after moving from the French top flight. If Moyes signs Gudmundsson this summer, the Swede has all the qualities to follow in his footsteps.

He's Ndiaye 2.0: Everton enter race to sign "wonderful" star

Everton have yet to make a signing this summer to bolster their squad.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 21, 2025

It wouldn’t be controversial to say that the last few years have been nothing short of a roller coaster for Tottenham Hotspur, and their squad building has reflected that.

Yet, for all the problems he had to contend with, plenty of which were of his own making, Ange Postecoglou led the club to their first trophy in 17 years last season, but that still was not enough to save his job.

So, new boss Thomas Frank has to somehow live up to the Australian’s European record, while rebuilding the squad into one that can seriously compete in the Premier League and the domestic cups.

Fortunately, Daniel Levy and Co have already splashed £30m on making Mathys Tel’s deal permanent, and if reports are to be believed, the club have several exciting targets for the rest of the summer.

So, here’s what Spurs’ dream squad could look like if everything goes according to plan this summer.

The Goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario keeps his place

After starting brilliantly for the club in the 23/24 season, it would be fair to say that Guglielmo Vicario wasn’t at his best between the sticks for all of last season.

Granted, he did miss a sizable portion of the campaign through injury, but according to FBref, he was in the bottom 24% of keepers for save percentage in the league.

Unfortunately, it was just as mixed a campaign for new signing Antonin Kinsky. While he impressed in his first game against Liverpool, he then made mistakes away at Anfield in the League Cup semi-final which reminded everyone he’s still a young, developing shot-stopper.

Lastly, Brandon Austin should remain the third choice, as he performed well enough in his three appearances last season.

Full list of goalkeepers: Guglielmo Vicario, Antonin Kinsky, Brandon Austin.

The Defence Spurs keep their incredible partnership

While it’s impossible to ignore the performance-related problems that severely hampered Spurs’ last season, and the often absurdly high line that led to many a goal for opposition sides, the biggest issue regarding the defence was fitness.

For example, Micky van de Ven missed a whopping 32 games for club and country, while Cristian Romero missed 27.

If the North Londoners can keep them fit, alongside the likes of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie, and integrate the young Ashley Phillips and Luka Vuskovic, then there is every chance their defensive record will be streets ahead next season.

In terms of transfers, Frank and Co. need to ensure they keep hold of Romero, as Atlético Madrid continue to circle. Additionally, bringing in Antonee Robinson would add some brilliant depth.

The USMNT ace has been linked with a £40m move to N17, and while he might not be the biggest name around, he enjoyed a brilliant campaign with Fulham last season, racking up ten assists in just 36 league appearances.

Full list of centre-backs: Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso, Ashley Phillips, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, Luka Vuskovic.

Full list of right-backs: Pedro Porro, Djed Spence.

Full list of left-backs: Antonee Robinson, Destiny Udogie.

The Midfielders Spurs battle Arsenal for international star

We have made it to the area of the team where Spurs have the most talent: midfield.

In fact, the North Londoners are blessed with so many brilliant players that Frank and Co should be looking to sell at least one in the coming weeks: Yves Bissouma.

That would still leave Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur to compete for the number six role, and then Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr as the specialist central midfielders.

The wealth of talent continues in the more attacking roles, as Dejan Kulusevski racked up 21 goal involvements in 50 appearances and James Maddison managed 23 in 45 games.

Appearances

50

45

43

Minutes

3450′

2718′

3303′

Goals

10

12

14

Assists

11

11

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

0.51

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

164.28′

118.17′

132.12′

They might not be alone either, as this summer has been yet another in which the club have been linked with Eberechi Eze.

The Crystal Palace star might appear closer to joining Arsenal as things stand, but with a £68m release clause, there is still a chance Levy and Co could finally sign the incredible international.

Moreover, considering he was able to produce 25 goal involvements in 43 games last season, we have no doubt he’d be a smash hit.

Full list of midfielders: Archie Gray, Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Pape Matar Sarr, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Eberechi Eze.

The Attackers Spurs go big on the frontline

For all their problems last season – and there were plenty – Spurs were still a relatively effective attacking outfit, and ended the campaign as the league’s eighth top scorers.

Yet, sometimes the best course of action is to build upon your most significant strengths, and that might just be the approach Levy and Frank take this summer.

With that said, before getting to those who could come in through the door, let’s look at those who could leave, starting with Son Heung-min.

The captain solidified his status as a legend by lifting the Europa League last season, but it’s impossible to refute the fact that his impact on games has waned. Therefore, it could make sense for the club to act on the links to LAFC and Saudi Pro-League sides.

Likewise, following his successful season with Leeds United, it appears that the Lilywhites will cash in on Manor Solomon. At the same time, Dane Scarlett, Min-hyeok Yang, and Alejo Veliz would all benefit from another set of loan moves.

Transfer Focus

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

With that out of the way, it’s time to look at who could be coming in for Spurs this summer, and there are some seriously exciting names.

The first, and the one that feels most likely, is Mohammed Kudus, who has already been the subject of a failed £50m bid, but could be available for just £65m.

The “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Gary Al-Smith, didn’t have the best of campaigns last season, but was simply sensational in 23/24, scoring 18 goals and providing ten assists in 48 games.

The Ghana international will be excellent competition for Brennan Johnson, who was the club’s top scorer last season, and the young Wilson Odobert, who will be hoping for an injury-free year.

The opposite flank brings us to another genuinely exciting and young addition to the squad: Xavi Simons.

The Flying Dutchman, who could cost £60m, might’ve been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” by one data analyst, but his most played position last season, and across his career to date, is off the left – where he has scored 18 goals and provided 17 assists in 59 appearances.

Competing for the same starting berth should be Tel, who did just enough last season to convince Levy to sign him, and the potential superstar in the making, Mikey Moore.

It is probably still too early to see the Hotspur Way product start too many games next season, but like Ethan Nwaneri up the road last season, it could be the year rival fans really begin to take notice.

Finally, we’ve made it to the centre-forward position, and this could be particularly interesting next year.

The man most likely to retain his place leading the line is Dominic Solanke, as, although he wasn’t exactly prolific last season, the club-record signing was still effective, scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists in 45 games.

Appearances

45

40

34

Minutes

3393′

2871′

942′

Goals

16

20

5

Assists

8

7

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

0.67

0.20

Minutes per Goal Involvements

141.37′

106.33′

134.57′

However, he could have his work cut out to keep the position, as the North Londoners have been linked with a £50m Atalanta star, Ademola Lookman.

The former Everton star can play out wide, but has become more and more of a central striker in recent seasons, and to say he was effective for the Bergamo side last year would be a serious understatement.

In his 40 games, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by journalist John Bennett, scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, which works out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.48 games.

Finally, as it looks like he won’t be sold at the moment, keeping Richarlison as the third-choice striker and to help cover other areas across the frontline seems the smart thing to do.

Full list of wingers: Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, Mikey Moore, Mathys Tel.

Full list of strikers: Dominic Solanke, Ademola Lookman, Richarlison.

Spurs' answer to Gyokeres: £65m star is Frank's "top target" this summer

Spurs could seal their own game-changing signing this summer.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 7, 2025

Celtic’s busy summer transfer activity continues, but a fair few more signings will be required before they commence their Scottish Premiership title defence against St Mirren in just three weeks’ time.

On Friday, it was confirmed that Nicolas Kühn had joined Como for a reported fee of £16.4m, one of the biggest sales in the club’s history.

Following the departure of Kyōgo Furuhashi in January, that is an enormous number of goals that have been taken out of Brendan Rodgers’ team in 2025, hence why they are in the market for attacking reinforcements.

Celtic's search for a striker

Few players in Celtic’s modern history are as universally beloved as Shunsuke Nakamura, who played for the club between 2005 and 2009.

Transfer Focus

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

This is largely due to the fact that, as noted by content creator Jack Kenmare, the Japanese international is considered to be amongst the best free-kick takers of all-time.

During the 2006/07 season, Nakamura scored free-kicks home and away against Manchester United in the Champions League, including the only goal of a famous 1-0 win at Parkhead, before his free-kick at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock, coming in stoppage time no less, secured the title later in the campaign.

So now, could Celtic be about to land a brand-new dead-ball specialist?

Well, according to a report by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Celtic are attempting to sign Giuseppe Ambrosino on a season-long loan from Napoli, alongside another more proven forward.

The 21-year-old has been with Napoli since the age of ten, but is yet to make a senior appearance for I Partenopei, loaned out to Como, Cittadella, Catanzaro and most recently Frosinone, scoring five goals as I Giallazzurri finished 15th in Serie B.

Thus, a move to Celtic would be a big step-up for Ambrosino, but he could prove to be a useful addition.

Why Celtic supporters should be excited about Giuseppe Ambrosino

As the table below outlines, Ambrosino – who has been dubbed a “free-kick specialist” by journalist Graeme McGarry – has not pulled up any trees at any of his various loan clubs, but has impressed while representing Italy’s youth teams at major tournaments.

Como

Serie B

4

1

Zero

Cittadella

Serie B

15

1

2

Catanzaro

Serie B

28

3

2

Frosinone

Serie B

36

5

4

Italy U20s

U20 World Cup &

U20 Elite League

12

4

3

Italy U21s

U21 Euros

11

2

1

As noted in the table, Ambrosino was a key figure in the Italy side that reached the U20 World Cup Final in Argentina last year, starting six of the seven matches, scoring against the Dominican Republic in Mendoza, as gli Azzurrini were defeated 1-0 by Uruguay in the final at Estadio Único.

Then, just last month, he represented Italy at the under-21 European Championships, featuring in all four matches, scoring a stupendous, trademark free-kick to force extra time, as his side were ultimately eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Germany in Dunajská Streda.

These performances have yielded plenty of praise, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout impressed by his “finishing, movement and work-rate”, labelling him “versatile” and “unique” forward.

So, while very little is known about Ambrosino, he is clearly a player of immense talent.

When the aforementioned Nakamura joined Celtic in 2005, arriving from Serie A side Reggina, he was very much an unknown too, but would depart a bona fide cult hero, a status that he retains to this day.

So, as the Hoops look to shop in Italy again, Ambrosino could become only the fifth Italian to represent the Celts, after Rolando Ugolini, Paolo Di Canio, Enrico Annoni and Massimo Donati.

Whether or not his career will take off in Glasgow remains to be seen, but who doesn’t love a free-kick specialist?

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1 Jul 11, 2025

A first-team Glasgow Rangers player could now seal a return to his former club during the summer transfer window, according to their technical director.

Rangers players who could leave this summer

The Russell Martin era is now in full swing at Ibrox, with the Englishman looking to make his presence felt from the off, bringing in players who suit his style of play and selling some unwanted stars.

Ross McCausland is one player who falls into the latter category, with Aris Limassol and two teams in the MLS among the clubs who are believed to be interested in snapping up the Northern Irishman before the end of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin could leave Rangers for pastures new if big offers arrive in the coming weeks, with Besiktas expected to submit a new bid for the former imminently, though Martin would presumably like to keep them both.

Gers centre-back Robin Propper has been a divisive figure since arriving from FC Twente, not always fully convincing the masses with his performances, and a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

Propper could swap Rangers for Twente

Speaking to De Volkskrant [via Sport Witness], Twente technical director Jan Streuer has claimed that Rangers defender Proppper could seal a return to the club this summer, should Martin not see a future for him at Ibrox.

“We had too many changes at the back last season; something had to be done. It isn’t [very simple], because of all sorts of factors beyond your control. Just before last season, our captain, Robin Propper, left at the last minute. We really missed him. Rangers bought him.

“A Scottish top club, you can’t compete with that. Now there’s a new manager at Rangers, he might play less. Then he could return. But he’ll want to wait and see first whether he’ll actually play less. Do we have to decide: do we wait for that, or do we look further?”

Opinion may be split over Propper leaving Rangers before the new Scottish Premiership season gets underway, with his one-year stint at Ibrox not exactly earth-shattering to date. Ultimately, though, the 31-year-old’s future lies with Martin, who has paid him praise in the recent past, saying he has been “really impressed” with him since coming in as manager.

Given Propper’s age, though, and the fact that he isn’t likely to be seen as a key starter moving forward – he was limited to 21 starts in the Scottish Premiership last season – now does feel like a sensible time to move him on, receiving money for him before his contract begins to tick down.

Streuer does seem to have some doubts about Twente re-signing Propper, however, and if he does end up staying at Rangers, it certainly wouldn’t be a disaster.

Celtic need to add more firepower to Brendan Rodgers’ squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.

The Hoops head coach admitted earlier this month, after the team’s 4-0 win over Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly, that the club must add more goals to the team.

When asked about what Celtic need to do in the market, Rodgers said: “I think it’s bringing goals to the squad. Especially when you score four goals, it seems like you’re okay. But we lost an important player in Kyogo [Furuhashi] in January. He brought us a lot of goals. We lost Nicolas Kuhn. He brought us a lot of goals. Matt O’Riley even last summer.

“So even though we scored a lot of goals last season, we still want more. And our ambition is to have more. So I think all across the front areas, we have to be active in order to give us that depth we need.”

The Scottish Premiership champions now have to enter the market to find players who can provide Rodgers with better options at the top end of the pitch ahead of next season.

Celtic have shown that they are willing to enter a diverse range of markets to find new talent, including the Netherlands, as shown by their move for Giorgos Giakoumakis in the summer of 2021.

Celtic hit the jackpot with Giorgos Giakoumakis

The Greek international was signed on a permanent deal from VVV-Venlo after his exceptional return of 29 goals in 33 matches in all competitions for the Dutch side in the 2020/21 campaign.

Giakoumakis arrived at Parkhead as a prolific scorer in the Netherlands and joined at the same time as Kyogo Furuhashi under Ange Postecoglou, competing with the Japan international for a place in the starting XI.

During his 18-month spell in Glasgow, the Greek centre-forward showcased his quality in front of goal by scoring on a regular basis, despite rarely starting matches.

Giakoumakis ended his career in Scotland with a return of 26 goals in 57 matches in all competitions, which included a haul of 19 goals in 40 Scottish Premiership outings.

Appearances

21

19

40

Starts

11

4

15

Goal

13

6

19

Minutes per goal

81

114

92

Goals from shots inside the box

13/39

6/39

19/78

Conversion rate

30%

14%

24%

As you can see in the table above, the experienced forward only started 15 of those 40 league matches for the club, which makes his tally of 19 goals all the more impressive.

Giakoumakis was able to adapt to Scottish football after coming over from the Eredivisie, and Celtic could repeat the blinder they played when they hit gold with the striker by signing another attacker from the Netherlands.

Celtic in talks to sign Danish winger

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are in “talks” with Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles over a potential deal to sign winger Jakob Breum.

The reporter claims that the Hoops are continuing discussions with the Eredivisie outfit after they had multiple bids turned down for the 21-year-old talent.

Transfer Focus

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

Joseph states that the Scottish Premiership champions have already had two bids swatted away by Go Ahead Eagles, the latest of which was worth up to £2.6m.

He adds that the £2.6m bid fell ‘way short’ of the club’s valuation of Breum, which has been reported elsewhere to be around the £7m mark, and talks are now ongoing to find an agreement.

It now remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to significantly improve their offer in order to strike a deal for the versatile winger, as there appears to be a big gap between their latest bid and how much Go Ahead Eagles value him.

Why Celtic should sign Jakob Breum

The Hoops should sign the £7m-rated talent because he could be an excellent addition to the squad as a versatile and talented young star who could add a lot of value to the team.

His versatility, first and foremost, is a big asset. Breum predominantly plays on the left flank, with 60 career starts in that role, but he has also started 27 games on the right flank and 29 matches as an attacking midfielder, which shows that Rodgers could use him in a variety of ways.

The Denmark U21 international could also follow in Giakoumakis’ footsteps as another clinical finisher to come over from the Netherlands, albeit in a different area of the pitch.

In the 2024/25 Eredivisie, Breum scored ten goals from 6.27 xG and produced 8.35 xG on target. This essentially means that the quality of the shots he took from 6.27 xG increased his xG by more than two, which shows that he is an incredibly lethal finisher.

As well as being a top-quality finisher who could provide goals on a fairly regular basis, just as Giakoumakis did at Parkhead, the Danish youngster is also an excellent creator from the attacking midfield and wide positions.

xA

5.60

Top 8%

Chances created

44

Top 7%

Successful crosses

18

Top 19%

Successful long passes

53

Top 4%

Assists

5

Top 17%

Successful dribbles

23

Top 28%

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic target ranked highly among his positional peers in the Eredivisie when it came to creating chances and assisting goals for his teammates.

These statistics show that Breum, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, is an attacking player who has the quality to score and assist goals at an impressive rate.

This is why the 21-year-old talent could follow in Giakoumakis’ footsteps as another successful attacking signing from the Eredivisie, as he appears to have all the tools to be an excellent player for Rodgers to call upon next season.

Of course, it will be down to Breum to ensure that he adapts to Scottish football and hits the ground running, getting as many minutes as he can, and the forward’s versatility could help with that, as the youngster can fill so many positions.

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