All posts by z3u9t.icu

For too long have Manchester United have tainted their once imperious reputation with poor recruitment, thus putting a stopper in the dreams of progress after the illustrious Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Sir Alex stepped down from his legendary post 12 years ago, and still United have flattered to deceive, still seeking another Premier League or Champions League title, still struggling for consistency on the pitch.

Cautiously and not without hiccups, INEOS and technical director Jason Wilcox are steering the club away from their past inconsistencies, with hefty fees hurled at stars without consideration of consequences, without deeper thought at whether it would be a prudent move.

Take the £70m signing of Real Madrid’s Casemiro in 2022, for example. The 33-year-old Brazilian has had his ups and downs at Old Trafford and does currently ride the crest of one of his larger waves, but there’s little question United haven’t received bang for their buck.

An elite and effective midfielder is the nucleus of a successful team. Roy Keane was a fine example way back when, simply brilliant and all-consuming under Ferguson’s wing.

Where Roy Keane ranks among Man Utd midfielders

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is a controversial figure down the red streets of Manchester, but he revealed to Rio Ferdinand this week that he considers Keane as one of the best midfielders of all time.

Among the toughest and most combative players to ever play in the division, Keane was instrumental in raising the Ferguson era and cementing it as one of the greatest in European history.

Indeed one of the finest central midfielders to have played in the Premier League, there’s a compelling case to be made that Paul Scholes is the only United man across modern top-flight history to have left a greater legacy.

And even then, some might argue Keane is the cream of the crop.

One thing’s clear, the Glazer Family haven’t managed to sign a player to rival the Irishman in the years since they first purchased a stake in Old Trafford, and that needs to change if United are returning to the top.

There is a member of Amorim’s crop who was actually billed as the next version of Keane, but, as Sky Sports’ Gary Neville has intimated, this big-money addition hasn’t been good enough.

Man Utd thought they signed Keane 2.0

Keane may be known now for his gruff and candid punditry for Sky Sports, but he will forever be defined by his performances at Manchester United.

In Casemiro, United may have fancied they landed a midfielder who could have rivalled the one-time Republic of Ireland captain, in terms of ability, but that didn’t prove the case.

Though they felt they may have got second time lucky with Manuel Ugarte, who was considered by British publications to be the new version of the former skipper when leaving Paris Saint-Germain and joining Erik ten Hag’s project for about £50.5m.

A steely enforcer with exceptional tackling statistics across his professional career, Ugarte, 24, was once described as “a younger Kante” by reporter Zach Lowy, before completing a trip to England. However, questions were soon raised about his performances in the Premier League.

Ugarte may be among the most relentless recyclers of possession out there, but he leaves much to be desired on the ball. In fact, FBref record the Uruguayan to rank among the bottom 18% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the bottom 25% for progressive carries per 90.

Given that his progressiveness on the ball is so shallow, you would expect him to be among the crispest passers out there, but an 85% pass success rate in the league this season perhaps underlines why Amorim has only started the South American twice, especially as he is averaging three fouls every two matches, as per Sofascore.

Bruno Fernandes

36

9.70

Casemiro

24

5.06

Scott McTominay

2

5.00

Mason Mount

17

4.78

Christian Eriksen

23

4.66

Kobbie Mainoo

25

3.55

Manuel Ugarte

29

3.08

Toby Collyer

6

2.50

That’s somewhat grim reading, and Casemiro’s impressive forward distribution accentuates Ugarte’s deficiency.

Many of Man United’s problems have stemmed from the midfield this season, and discordance within Amorim’s tactical set-up is the root of that wider issue.

However, Ugarte certainly hasn’t helped himself when called upon, with Neville slamming him as a “massive problem” after United were thrashed in the Manchester derby last month, continuing to say that the Uruguay international is a “massive problem”.

Toward the start of the current campaign, writer Mohammed Butt even labelled him as “absolutely useless”, and though this is rather scathing, there’s little question that changes will be sought in the future if things do not improve.

But Ugarte’s lack of quality on the ball is an inherent problem; it’s simply not within his wheelhouse of key strengths. With this in mind, how far can he take his Man United career? This is especially pertinent if Amorim strengthens his grip on the reins and makes headway at the helm.

The £120k-per-week talent shouldn’t be quite written off just yet, but the initial excitement that the club had landed their next version of a legend like Keane looks a long way away now.

Not Sesko: Carrington's "machine" is destined to be Man Utd's next No.9

Manchester United have their next number nine brewing at Old Trafford…

ByRobbie Walls Oct 16, 2025

Nottingham Forest have now submitted a £15m offer for an “elegant” midfielder, as they look to move ahead of West Ham United in the race for his signature.

Forest keen on another midfielder after Luiz

The noise surrounding Nuno Espirito Santo’s future will be an unwanted distraction, with the manager’s future now in doubt after publicly making it clear his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis has deteriorated since last season.

However, up to this point, the Tricky Trees have enjoyed a very positive summer transfer window, having brought in the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye and James McAtee, although securing Morgan Gibbs-White’s future was arguably the most important piece of business.

Forest have also recently added another midfielder to their ranks, with Juventus’ Douglas Luiz arriving on an initial season-long loan, which includes a conditional obligation to buy next summer.

Despite adding a proven Premier League midfielder to their ranks, Nottingham Forest remain keen on bringing in a more defensive option before the September 1st deadline, and an offer has now been submitted for AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa.

That is according to a report from Foot Mercato (via Sport Witness), which states Forest have now tabled a proposal of €17m (£15m), which is slightly higher than West Ham’s offer of €16m (£14m).

Both offers are currently still on the table, but there could be competition from elsewhere, with Atalanta also keen on the defensive midfielder, having recently contacted his entourage to assess the possibility of a deal.

Nottingham Forest: Marinakis opens talks with "incredible" Nuno replacement

Evangelos Marinakis has now entered discussions to appoint a new manager.

ByDominic Lund Aug 24, 2025

As such, there could be an intense battle for Magassa’s signature before the transfer deadline, which would be beneficial for Monaco, should a bidding war break out.

"Elegant" Magassa could be excellent signing for Forest

As previously mentioned, Forest have made major improvements to their midfield this summer, but the majority of their signings flourish going forward, while the Monaco maestro has more of a defensive mindset.

In fact, the Frenchman has performed extremely well across a number of important defensive metrics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

3.54 (97th percentile)

Interceptions

1.80 (96th percentile)

Blocks

1.73 (90th percentile)

Scout Jacek Kulig has described the 21-year-old as an “elegant” player in the past, while also revealing the youngster is capable of slotting in at centre-back, which would make him a versatile addition to Nuno’s squad.

Not only that, but scout Ben Mattinson believes the Monaco starlet is very comfortable in possession of the ball, saying: “On the ball he has a forward-thinking mindset looking to play through into the midfielders high up or spray passes wide out to the wings. His passing range is top.”

As such, Magassa, who made seven Champions League appearances for Monaco last season, could be an excellent addition to Nuno’s squad, and a move to the City Ground would surely be a more attractive proposition than joining West Ham, given their recent struggles.

Celtic need to bring in a new winger, or two, to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ options at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window officially slams shut.

The Hoops currently have Daizen Maeda, Hyun-jun Yang, and James Forrest as their senior wide players, and Maeda is the only one to have managed a goal contribution so far this season.

The Japan international teed up Luke McCowan for his goal on the opening day against St Mirren, before he notched his first goal of the campaign in the 4-1 win over Falkirk in the League Cup.

Yang and Forrest combined for six goals and eight assists in the Scottish Premiership last season, per Sofascore, and have yet to prove either of them has what it takes to be a regular starter on the right flank.

This means that the Hoops are still yet to find their replacement for German winger Nicolas Kuhn, who was Rodgers’ first-choice option on the right side last term.

Celtic sold the former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich youngster to Como for a fee of £17m earlier this summer, and his exit left a hole in the attack.

Why Celtic need to replace Nicolas Kuhn

It may seem obvious as to why the Hoops need to find a replacement for the left-footed attacker, but the club are over a month on from selling him to the Italian outfit and have yet to find a player to replace the impact that he made on the pitch.

Kuhn delivered heaps of quality in the final third on a regular basis for the Scottish giants across all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, which earned him his £17m move to Italy.

The 25-year-old magician ended his only full season at Celtic with a return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he offered goals and assists week-in-week-out.

13 of those goals and nine of those assists for the Hoops came in the Premiership, as he caused constant problems for opposition defenders in the top-flight.

xG

0.46

Top 10%

Goals

0.62

Top 8%

Shots on target

1.30

Top 14%

xA

0.34

Top 10%

Assists

0.43

Top 10%

Chances created

2.49

Top 12%

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn was one of the most dangerous wingers in the Premiership with his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate.

This is why it is important that the Hoops push to bring in a high-quality forward to ‘replace’ what the German attacker provided on the pitch for Rodgers in the 2024/25 campaign.

Celtic make contact over deal for Dutch winger

According to CeltsAreHere, Celtic have made contact with the representatives of Feyenoord winger Calvin Stengs, having identified him as a potential signing.

The report claims that the Hoops have contacted him to express their interest in bringing the forward over to Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

This means that the Scottish giants are exploring a possible deal to snap up the 26-year-old dynamo, but they have yet to speak with Feyenoord to discuss a fee for the attacker.

CeltsAreHere adds that it will not be an easy deal for Celtic to get done before September’s deadline because the Dutch side are not actively looking to cash in on him and view him as a key part of their plans moving forward.

It had been reported last year that Charlotte FC were close to signing the forward for a fee of £6.4m, but the player rejected the transfer. This may, though, offer a rough guide to how much the Hoops may need to pay for his services.

Why Celtic should sign Calvin Stengs

Rodgers should be pushing the board to formalise the club’s interest in Stengs by following up on their contact with the player with official talks with Feyenoord to get a deal done.

This is because the Netherlands international, who scored against Celtic in the Champions League in 2023, could be the manager’s next version of Kuhn.

Like the German whiz, Stengs is a left-footed right winger who likes to cut inside onto his favoured foot to deliver goals and assists at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis.

The 26-year-old talent missed 35 games through injury last season, per Transfermarkt, and that led to a return of just one goal in 16 matches in all competitions.

Whilst supporters may be concerned by that injury record, it is worth noting that Stengs only missed 14 matches through injury in the six seasons before that combined.

The Dutch star, who Jacek Kulig claimed “could do wonders” as a winger in the right system, showcased his quality in the final third for Feyenoord in the 2023/24 campaign, before last season’s injury woes derailed his progress.

xG

5.22

Top 20%

Goals

6

Top 22%

xA

8.59

Top 2%

Chances created

71

Top 1%

Cross accuracy

33%

Top 13%

Assists

12

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, Stengs ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in the Eredivisie as both a scorer and a creator of goals that term, ending the season with 18 direct goal contributions in the division.

The £6m-rated star delivered eight goals and 17 assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for Feyenoord that term, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can provide a constant threat at the top end of the pitch when fit and playing regularly.

Stengs, who scored 24 goals and racked up 22 assists in 113 games for AZ Alkmaar, could fill the hole that has yet to be filled since Kuhn’s move to Como was confirmed over a month ago, as he has the quality on the ball to replicate the impact the German star made.

Of course, there is still a degree of risk attached to any move for the Feyenoord ace because of the volume of games he missed last season, but his overall injury history does not suggest that it is likely to be a long-term concern.

Celtic could avenge Kvistgaarden miss with swoop for "flamboyant" £7m star

Celtic could avenge their Mathias Kvistgaarden blunder with a swoop to sign this star.

ByDan Emery Aug 16, 2025

Therefore, Celtic should be pushing to get a deal done for Stengs before the end of the window because he has the potential to be Kuhn 2.0 for Rodgers as another left-footed right winger who can offer goals and assists with impressive regularity.

Manchester United’s forward line has had somewhat of an overhaul during the summer transfer window, unsurprisingly so given their lack of goals in 2024/25.

The Red Devils only managed a tally of 44 goals in the Premier League, an average of 1.15 goals per 90 – a tally no way near good enough for a side of their stature.

Ruben Amorim has taken measures to improve such a situation, securing the signatures of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – with the pair setting the hierarchy back over £130m.

The pair netted 35 top-flight goals between them last season, potentially forming a deadly partnership with soon-to-be new addition Benjamin Sesko, who has agreed a £74m deal with the club in recent days.

There’s no denying that the trio could cause many sides endless troubles throughout 2025/26, with other areas of the pitch needing similar investment between now and the end of the window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Carlos Baleba has emerged as a shock option for United in the midfield department, with the Brighton star’s agents in talks with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old could well be out of the club’s price range this summer, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side slapping a £100m price tag on his head to fend off any interest in his services.

However, the middle of the park isn’t the only area which could also be strengthened, with United making a move to land Fiorentina centre-back Pietro Comuzzo, according to Firenzeviola.

They claim that Amorim’s side have been spotted scouting the 20-year-old during pre-season, with the club able to get a closer look at the talent in the clash against the Italian outfit this weekend.

The report also states that Sunderland and Bournemouth have also been keeping a close eye on his progress, but any deal could cost any interested party a fee in the region of €40m (£35m).

Why United’s £35m target could be their next Yoro

Leny Yoro was a huge addition to the United squad last summer, joining the club in a staggering £59m in a move to bolster the side in the immediate and long-term future.

The Frenchman had to bide his time during the early stages of the 2024/25 season, but after Amorim’s arrival, he cemented his place in the side and demonstrated signs of being a great buy from INEOS.

He managed to register a total of 33 appearances across all competitions, scoring his first goal against Lyon in the Europa League – helping the side secure their place in the final.

Yoro also ended his debut year at Old Trafford with a tally of 1.7 aerials won per 90, along with a 93% pass completion rate – showcasing his superb ability to be a ball-playing option in the club’s backline.

However, a move for current target Comuzzo could see them land another young, talented defender, with the Italian producing numerous top-tier stats despite his tender age of just 20 years.

When comparing his stats to those of Yoro from the 2024/25 campaign, the Italian managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing how he can follow in the teenager’s footsteps at Old Trafford.

Comuzzo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Raffaele Palladino, made more key passes per 90 last season, showcasing his excellent ability to pick out a teammate in possession.

Games played

33

21

Minutes played

2200

1165

Key passes made

0.4

0.1

Tackles won

0.9

0.8

Blocks made

1.4

0.3

Clearances made

4.6

3.3

% of tackles won

79%

68%

Aerials won

2.6

1.2

Aerial success rate

59%

50%

He also managed to win more of the tackles he entered last season, whilst making more blocks and clearances per 90, handing Amorim the added defensive talent he needs ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 20-year-old’s dominance is further reflected in his tally of aerials won per 90, potentially offering the side an added threat at both ends of the pitch – something which has been greatly lacking in recent months.

Whilst competition for his signature is fierce, the club are building an exciting project which any young player may prove to be tempted by in the near future.

£35m for a player of his calibre could prove to be excellent business, potentially seeing Comuzzo strike an excellent partnership with fellow youngster Yoro in the years ahead.

Perfect for Bruno: Man Utd leading the race to sign "phenomenal" £100m gem

Manchester United could be about to land another big-money talent for Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 7, 2025

Manchester City are aiming to reclaim the Premier League title this season and could take a step in the right direction if they can push their latest pursuit over the line, per reports.

Manchester City set to seal deal for James Trafford

Earlier this week, it was reported that Manchester City were in advanced talks to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, and it is now more of less confirmed that he will be on his way to the Etihad Stadium courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Taking to social media platform X, he stated: “More on exclusive story on James Trafford joining Manchester City: understand medical tests will take place early next week, main part on Monday. Man City to pay £27m fee to Burnley for the goalkeeper, as revealed.”

Now that the saga of bringing in a new goalkeeper is over, Pep Guardiola will be keen to swiftly move onto other targets and the Citizens are looking to bolster their backline.

In what would be a statement signing, Manchester City are preparing a £69 million bid for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, though the Catalan giants are said to be working on tying him down to an extension.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are among rival sides that have moved to strengthen their ranks ahead of the new campaign, laying the gauntlet down to Guardiola’s men after a disappointing campaign last time out.

Man City in talks to sign £34m PSG star, Pep once said he has "huge skill"

The Blues have stepped up their interest in a Paris Saint-Germain player, who Pep Guardiola rates very highly.

ByDominic Lund Jul 23, 2025

Undeterred by the challenge, the former Barcelona man could now look to sanction a deal to bring one of England’s brightest talents to the Etihad Stadium from one of their domestic rivals.

Manchester City make fresh Tino Livramento approach

According to TBR, Manchester City have made a fresh approach for Tino Livramento and would be willing to pay over £50 million to sign the Newcastle United full-back.

With three years left on his deal on Tyneside, the Magpies are keen to offer him a contract extension. Should he opt to remain in the North East, the Citizens could turn their attention to either of Juventus duo Andrea Cambiaso and Nicolo Savona.

Five similar players to Tino Livramento (FBRef)

Dennis Appiah

Saint-Etienne

Joe Scally

Borussia Monchengladbach

Destiny Udogie

Tottenham Hotspur

Pep Chavarria

Rayo Vallecano

Gideon Marsh

Auxerre

Labelled someone who is “developing into a top player” by legendary Premier League star Ashley Cole, Livramento registered a solitary assist in 45 appearances across all competitions last term as Newcastle secured Champions League qualification and won the EFL Cup.

Eddie Howe has no intention of selling the right-back this summer, but he is at the top of Manchester City’s shortlist, creating an intriguing scenario that may last the length of the window.

Time is of the essence as the league season draws closer, so it will be interesting to see if Guardiola and company can successfully progress in negotiations.

Louis Saha was a player who captured the hearts of the fanbase at Manchester United over a four-and-a-half-year period, racking up 124 appearances for the Red Devils.

The Frenchman struggled with injuries during his stint at Old Trafford, but managed to register a total of 42 goals and 15 assists, helping the side win two Premier League titles.

Apart from his goalscoring record, he was also known for his movement and his ability to torment the opposition, with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher paying homage to his movement off the ball.

By no means was he prolific during his spell in the North West, scoring one goal every three outings, but it was his all-round play that made him such a threat to sides in England’s top-flight.

In the present day, boss Ruben Amorim has the opportunity to land his own version of the forward in an attempt to help the side rise up the league table in 2025/26.

The latest on United’s hunt to land new attackers this summer

Bryan Mbeumo has been the name on the lips of all United supporters this summer, with a deal for his signature appearing to be dragging on throughout the majority of the transfer window.

However, a breakthrough may appear in the coming days, after the Red Devils submitted a third offer of £65m fixed fee with £5m in potential add-ons.

He’s not the only attacker who’s emerged on their radar in recent days, with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson a player they’re strongly considering, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

He claimed that Jason Wilcox have been discussing a deal for the signing of the 23-year-old striker in recent days, after he scored 13 times across all competitions last campaign.

Jacobs further stated that Enzo Maresca’s side could be open to offers for the Senegalese international, with a £100m price tag for his services previously mooted.

Why United’s £100m target could be the perfect Mbeumo partner

Mbeumo’s ability to thrive in England has been showcased over recent months, especially after his latest year in the Premier League in the capital with Brentford.

The Cameroonian international managed to score 20 times in 2024/25, in what was the best goalscoring season of his professional career, leading to the interest in his signature.

He will be tasked with improving the situation within the final third, given United only managed to find the back of the net on 44 occasions in their 38 outings last season.

However, he could be aided by Jackson in any attempts, potentially being the perfect partner to the 25-year-old, whilst also being Amorim’s answer to Saha.

The Senegalese star, who has “Louis Saha vibes” according to former Red Devils star Rio Ferdinand, always likes to get beyond the last defender, leading to Theo Walcott singing his praises.

Like the Frenchman, he’s not the most clinical option, scoring just 24 league goals in the last two years, but his all-round ability could see him be a success – averaging 6.2 touches in the opposition box per 90, subsequently able to get on the end of Mbeumo’s deliveries.

His impressive numbers don’t stop there, averaging 1.4 shots on target per 90, whilst completing 1.2 dribbles per 90, having the talent in various areas to thrive at Old Trafford.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

15

Shot-on-target accuracy

45%

Pass accuracy

76%

Aerials won

37%

Shots on target per game

1.4

Fouls won

1.2

Jackson could also potentially return the favour for the Cameroonian should they both join the club, creating 1.2 chances per 90, potentially being the perfect striker for the current 3-4-2-1 system.

The £100m price tag that is being mooted is way too expensive for the Blues talisman, with the hierarchy needing to negotiate a deal if they are to land him this summer.

The prospect of the forward linking up with Mbeumo at Old Trafford could be a frightening sight for the opposition, potentially firing the club to success in the near future.

Amad will love him: Man Utd preparing bid to sign "eye-catching" £25m star

Manchester United appear to be making a move to land a star who’d thrive with Amad Diallo.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 17, 2025

Newcastle United must act swiftly if they are to have a squad strong enough to compete in both the Premier League and Champions League next term.

So far, only Anthony Elanga has made the move to the Magpies this summer. That was an excellent piece of business, but more is required for Eddie Howe.

There has been no shortage of links, that’s for sure, but other clubs have beaten them to the punch for players such as Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitiké and Bryan Mbeumo.

Although adding another striker or two to the squad is a priority for the manager, there are other areas which could do with strengthening.

Newcastle's search for a new midfielder

The midfield area has not been earmarked for improvement, especially not compared to the attacking and defensive departments at the club.

Transfer Focus

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

That’s not to say Howe won’t consider a move for someone who could offer the right qualities, however.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Newcastle are looking at the possibility of bringing Conor Gallagher back to the Premier League this summer.

That being said, the Toon face competition from Tottenham Hotspur, with Thomas Frank said to be an admirer.

The player’s agent has already started putting the feelers out to determine the midfielder’s options but he would ideally stay with Atletico Madrid if he had the choice.

The Atleti star could be available for around £50m, which might be tempting for Howe. The manager can call on several midfield options, but adding in Gallagher could be a wise move, particularly considering the former Chelsea man offers the same sort of qualities as Bruno Guimaraes.

Why Newcastle must sign Conor Gallagher

Guimaraes is the fulcrum behind this Newcastle side that not only won the League Cup last term, but also secured a Champions League place for the second time in three seasons.

He scored five goals and grabbed eight assists throughout 2024/25, and Howe will be looking for him to continue this fine form into next season.

Gallagher may have played 50 times for Atletico, but only 27 of those came from the starting XI. He has qualities similar to Guimaraes, however, especially when comparing their stats from the 2023/24 Premier League season.

That term, Guimaraes was the most comparable player, via FBRef, to Gallagher, and they both performed well.

Metric

Guimaraes

Gallagher

Goals

7

5

Assists

8

7

Big chances created

12

11

Tackles per game

2.4

2.3

Total duels won per game

7.7

5.7

Key passes per game

1.7

1.4

The pair also registered similar statistics with regard to goals and assists (12 vs 15), shots per 90 (1.38 vs 1.32), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.14 vs 3.94), tackles won (52 vs 53), successful take-on percentage (58.5% vs 54.5%) and touches in the attacking penalty area (79 vs 75) domestically that season.

On this evidence, Gallagher would be an excellent signing, offering Howe the all-round package in the middle of the park that Guimaraes also provides.

Not only can he contribute in the final third, but the Englishman is more than able to chip in defensively and help his team off the ball.

He was even hailed as a “machine” by former Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo, signifying how important he was to their style of play.

Will Howe be willing to shell out £50m for a midfielder when he is in urgent need of a striker and defender this summer? Only time will tell, but Gallagher would certainly be worth the money.

Newcastle send scouts to watch "electric" star who'd be their very own Gakpo

He has impressed with his end product of late.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 21, 2025

Celtic have developed a strong reputation for buying players and then selling them on for a profit further down the line, and Nicolas Kuhn is the latest example of their expertise in player trading.

The German forward is closing in on a £16.5m transfer to Serie A outfit Como this summer, 18 months on from paying £3m to sign him from Rapid Vienna.

He is set to join that list above, between Odsonne Edouard and Moussa Dembele, and will be above some big names, including Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

The Netherlands captain joined the Hoops from Groningen and made 115 appearances before his £13m transfer to Southampton in the summer of 2015.

Celtic's interest in Dutch defender

The Scottish Premiership champions could repeat the blinder they played with van Dijk by swooping to sign another Dutch central defender with potential this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Celtic are reportedly keen on a deal to sign £3m-rated Famalicao centre-back Justin De Haas to bolster their options at the back, and a Dutch expert has told them what kind of player they could be getting.

An unnamed Voetbalzone reporter recently told 67HailHail: “He had a good season at Famalicao in Portugal and was part of the Team of the Week seven times. He’s tall, 6′ 4”, strong in the air and a good tackler. He’s strong on the ball and reads the game very well.”

They added: “He has gone a bit under the radar in Holland and I don’t expect Ronald Koeman to put him in his squad soon. But a move to Celtic could change things of course, as that’s a huge club.”

Why De Haas could be Celtic's next van Dijk

At a fee of just £3m, there would be plenty of scope for Celtic to make a profit on the centre-back in the year to come if they manage to strike a deal for him this summer.

De Haas is 25 and heading towards the prime years of his career, which means that the Hoops could sign him at an optimal time right before his value potentially peaks, particularly if he earns a senior international call-up.

In terms of the quality that he could provide in the left centre-back role which is also where van Dijk played for the Hoops, you only have to

look at his performances in Portugal to see that he has the potential to be a solid addition for Brendan Rodgers.

In fact, De Haas faced Sporting superstar Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 97 goals in 102 games for the club, and kept him quiet in April of last year.

Errors

0

Goals + assists

0

Pass accuracy

90%

Pass accuracy

77%

Blocks

2

Shots

2

Clearances

2

Shots on target

0

Interceptions

2

Key passes

1

Dribbled past

0x

xG

0.11

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old defender silenced the highly-rated striker, who did not score a goal, have a shot on target, create a ‘big chance’, or assist a goal.

This shows that the 6 foot 4 titan can step up to lock down elite strikers when he is at his best, which shows the kind of level that he can get to.

De Haas ended the 2024/25 Liga Portugal season with 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game, more than any Celtic centre-back managed in the Scottish Premiership, which speaks to his ability to step in and cut out attacks on a regular basis.

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If Celtic can provide him with a platform to showcase his qualities in the Champions League and the Premiership, De Haas could develop into yet another highly-valued star who could follow in his countryman’s footsteps at Parkhead.

Newcastle United are on the hunt for what seems to be their primary target this summer, a new right winger.

The Magpies have a huge season ahead of them, with Champions League football returning to St James’ Park, and are looking for extra depth on the right to go along with Jacob Murphy.

After being rejected by Bryan Mbeumo, the Magpies seemingly switched their attention to Anthony Elanga.

According to David Ornstein, they placed a bid of around £45m, but that was rejected by Nottingham Forest, the Sweden international’s current club.

Whilst there is still a chance they could return with a bid for Elanga, there have been reports about their new targets out wide.

Newcastle's new right-wing targets

It is definitely a blow for the North East giants to perhaps lose out on the signing of Elanga. He was a player they have seemingly targeted for a while, having made a move for him last summer. However, they certainly have other options.

Transfer Focus

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

It seems as though Newcastle could move for a new target after they failed to sign Elanga. Keith Downie of Sky Sports reported a few days ago that they are ‘exploring’ a move for other players, including Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi.

If Eddie Howe’s side decide to try and sign the Germany international, he could cost £43m, according to SportBILD a few weeks ago.

The same report also suggests that Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the winger, although it is not clear if they will challenge the Magpies in their move or Howe gets a clear run at his latest winger target.

How Adeyemi compares to Anthony Elanga

At 23 years of age, Adeyemi has already played a great deal of football at the highest level and has made a great impression. He notably impressed last season for Dortmund despite struggling with an injury, and is now playing in the Club World Cup in the United States.

In 2024/25 so far, including the ongoing competition happening Stateside, he has played 38 times, scoring an impressive 12 goals and grabbing a further nine assists. Given that he has featured for just 2,261 minutes, the equivalent of 25.1 full 90-minute games, contributing to 21 goals in that time is a great effort.

The Magpies will certainly know a bit about the damage Adeyemi can cause. Having played against him twice before in the Champions League, he grabbed an assist against them at Signal Iduna Park. Adeyemi’s quick feet and excellent long pass enabled Julian Brandt to counter-attack Newcastle, which he ended up scoring.

Sweden international Elanga had a fantastic campaign in the Premier League last season too. He played all 38 of Forest’s games, scoring six goals and grabbing 11 assists, including a sublime effort against former side Manchester United.

Those numbers are fairly similar to the ones Adeyemi put up in the Bundesliga; he contributed 13 goals and assists in the German top flight, but played just 25 games.

Described as a “counter-attacking weapon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and as “unstoppable” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, you can certainly see how that is similar to Elanga by watching how quick he is in the above goal. Adeyemi is not exactly slow, and, as per Speeds Database, has a top speed of 36.30 km/h.

Statistically, via FBref, Adeyemi has numbers which far exceed Elanga. For example, the German international averaged 0.82 goal involvements and 0.69 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to the Forest star’s 0.61 goals and assists and 0.65 goal-creating actions each game.

Goals and assists

0.82

0.61

Goals per shot on target

0.39

0.25

Progressive carries

4.28

3.67

Take-ons completed

2.52

0.90

Goal-creating actions

0.69

0.65

Tackles and interceptions

1.7

0.90

If this is the type of profile Newcastle want to sign this summer, and they miss out on Elanga, they might end up with the better option in Adeyemi. The Dortmund attacker is quick, dangerous in transition and able to score and assist at a consistent level, more so than Elanga.

For £43m, a fee they’re clearly willing to spend, this seems like a fantastic addition to the Magpies’ squad, and could be a better option than the Forest star.

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The transfer window might be closed again for a few days, but it feels like Arsenal are starting to fall behind their rivals.

For example, Manchester City have already secured the services of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Ait-Nouri and look set for more.

However, perhaps the most worrying development, at least in terms of the Gunners’ chances in the Premier League next season, has been Liverpool’s £116m capture of Florian Wirtz.

The German is about as perfect an example of a statement signing as you’ll ever see, but in some more positive news, reports have recently linked Arsenal to someone who could be their own version of the international superstar.

Arsenal transfer news

While Arsenal are yet to make any official signings this summer, they have been linked with a host of potentially game-changing stars, such as Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo.

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 has a release clause reportedly worth around £68m in Crystal Palace contract, and while that is a sizeable sum of money, it would be a price more than worth paying for a Premier League-proven attacker who scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.

Likewise, while Rodrygo could cost a whopping £84m this summer, his tally of 24 goal involvements this season and record of winning the biggest trophies in the game means he’d be a superb addition to the Gunners’ squad.

However, regarding the North Londoners’ answer to Wirtz, it looks like it will be Benjamin Sesko.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the RB Leipzig star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Gunners have now made a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations and are expected to make an offer of €100m early next week, which comes out to around £85m.

It would represent an enormous vote of confidence in the young striker, but given his ability and potential, this is a transfer Arsenal should get done as soon as possible, as Sesko could be their own Wirtz.

Why Sesko would be Arsenal's Wirtz

Okay, so the first thing to say is that the two players are obviously not comparable in terms of position, as while Wirtz can play in a few other places, he is primarily an attacking midfielder, not a striker.

However, their positions have little to do with why Sesko could be Arsenal’s version of the German.

The first actual reason is that, like Liverpool’s new creator, the Slovenian international has the potential to be a truly game-changing addition to the Gunners.

Appearances

45

Minutes

3258′

Goals

21

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.6

Minutes per Goal Involvement

120.66′

For example, even though he’s still just 22 years old, the former Salzburg gem was able to score 21 goals and provide six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes.

That means the Radeče-born “monster,” as dubbed by respected data analyst Ben Mattinson, averaged a goal involvement every 1.66 games, or every 120.66 minutes for a pretty poor Leipzig side.

So, just imagine what he could do under Arteta with Bukayo Saka to the right of him, hopefully, a new left-winger on the other side and a rejuvenated Martin Odegaard behind him.

Moreover, despite standing a mammoth 6 foot 5, the 41-capped behemoth is still incredibly rapid and capable of hitting speeds of 35.69 km/h and then, to top it off, you only need to watch his clips to see how technical he is with the ball at his feet.

Finally, aside from the ways in which Sesko could take Arteta’s side to the next level, he’d also be arriving for huge money and from the Bundesliga, just like Wirtz.

Ultimately, even though the money involved is more than most expected, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign the Leipzig gem this summer.

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