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Mason Crane sparked a spectacular Middlesex collapse as Glamorgan opened their 2025 Vitality Blast campaign with a five-wicket win at Merchant Taylors’ School.The 28-year-old leg-spinner struck with his first ball on the way to figures of 4 for 28 as the hosts capitulated from 45 for 0 to 124 for 9 in their 20 overs.Kane Williamson top-scored with 25 and Ryan Higgins hit a quick-fire 21 amid the clatter of wickets.Glamorgan had troubles of their own in reply, slipping to 64 for 5, before superb ball-striking from Asa Tribe and Dan Douthwaite in a stand of 64 in 38 balls saw Glamorgan home with four and a half overs to spare.On a two-paced pitch of variable bounce, Williamson and skipper Stephen Eskinazi managed one boundary in the first six overs before the former swept Hayden Kerr over the ropes for six to suggest a change of momentum.Those hopes were dashed when Eskinazi swept Crane’s first offering to a catcher in the deep, before hesitation in running proved fatal later in the over as Williamson was run out by Kerr’s direct hit. The first ball of Crane’s next over accounted for Ben Geddes, whose decision to reverse sweep saw his stumps scattered.The Glamorgan fielders were excellent throughout with Tribe holding onto a good catch at deep mid-on to dismiss Leus Du Plooy and give Crane his third wicket and the four-fer was sealed when Luke Hollman, who sparkled briefly, lobbed one tamely to Timm Van der Gugten.Ryan Higgins followed up his 44 in Thursday’s defeat to Sussex with a six and two fours in another hard-hitting cameo, but he holed out off Douthwaite (2 for 18) as the hosts’ innings fell away.Kiran Carlson looked in a hurry to head back to Wales, hoisting an early six before Zafar Gohar got him to loft one in the hands of Du Plooy and fellow opener Will Smale was bowled by a beauty from Noah Cornwell which broke a bail in the process.Ben Kellaway perished caught behind from an attempted ramp off Tom Helm and when the same pair accounted for the dangerous Colin Ingram in the same over, Glamorgan were 40 for 4 at the end of the powerplay.All eyes were now on Cooke, who got an unbeaten hundred the last time Glamorgan visited the school in 2023 and he soon pummelled a short one from Hollman over the ropes.Helm returned to have him caught at point with the first ball of a new spell, a slower delivery slashed low to De Caires at point, but Tribe, who’d patrolled the boundary expertly when Glamorgan fielded wrestled back the initiative for the visitors with some brutal hitting.Four times in four overs he cleared the, ropes treating spin and seam with equal disdain, and with Douthwaite belatedly joining in the fun Glamorgan scampered home.

A lot of the DC batters got starts but none of them managed to cross 40, with Axar’s 32-ball 39 the highest of the innings

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2025

After a tough couple of days, the Ahmedabad pitch gave a bit of respite for batters on a hot Saturday afternoon. Karun Nair, KL Rahul, and Delhi Capitals’ (DC) middle-order batters got starts, but none of them crossed 39. Gujarat Titans (GT) used only five bowlers for 19 overs of the innings. Prasidh Krishna, who got hold of the purple cap, pulled the visitors back after a great start with a four-wicket haul.DC leaving out Jake Fraser-McGurk created the new opening combination of Abhisek Porel and Nair. Porel’s boundaries in the first over; a drive on the up over mid-off and a help-along flick behind square, showed that the pitch could be trusted.He fell to a full toss from Arshad Khan and Rahul’s shift in approach kept DC ticking. Rahul cut Siraj and was able to pump him down the ground. His start was ominous but an outswinging yorker from Prasidh trapped him lbw for 28 off 14 balls.Nair, too, got boundaries on both sides of the wicket. He was out in a relatively soft manner, ramping a shortish ball straight to deep third.A pristine cover drive from Stubbs off Prasidh brought up DC’s hundred in the ninth over. But he and Axar Patel were relatively sedate after that during the 53-run stand off 36 balls. They were happy to take Rashid Khan and Ishant Sharma for ones and twos.Rashid bowled quicker and at the stumps in his first two overs. He slowed the pace down in his third as Stubbs took him for six down the ground but then miscued a swipe across the line. Rashid ran back but couldn’t hold onto the catch close to the ring at mid-on. It led to a slog-swept six from Axar next ball.Ishant was struggling in the heat and went off the pitch after two overs. Siraj returned and removed Stubbs, who reverse swept a yorker and the ball lobbed to short third.GT’s death bowlers included a lot of yorker attempts with short balls peppered in between. It nearly worked first ball, but Rashid dropped Axar at the start of the 17th.The DC skipper could not hit a boundary in his last nine balls and was out caught behind. He charged Prasidh and tried to slap a length ball over cover and got an edge. Prasidh was on a hat-trick a ball later, thanks to a brilliant diving catch from Jos Buttler to dismiss Vipraj Nigam.Ashutosh Sharma was the primary boundary hitter in the final overs. He got a six and a four off Arshad early in his innings and hit two sixes off Prasidh later on. R Sai Kishore, whose only over was the final one of the innings, went for just nine, as GT inched past the 200 mark.

Liverpool entered the 2024/25 season with a reputation to uphold.

Arne Slot’s debut campaign in charge could hardly have gone better, with the Reds claiming the Premier League title.

Yet this summer has brought significant change at Anfield, with a reshaped attack, a record-breaking midfield signing, and the arrival of a long-pursued striker.

The summer business was headline-grabbing.

Florian Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, briefly becoming the most expensive player in British football history before that record was broken weeks later by Alexander Isak’s £125m switch from Newcastle.

The squad was further bolstered by Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Geovani Leoni and Hugo Ekitike, while mainstays Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez departed.

Results at the start of the season have been strong – a 4-2 win over Bournemouth, a 3-2 victory at Newcastle, and a 1-0 triumph against Arsenal before the international break.

But behind the scenes, Slot still has questions to answer.

Wirtz's struggles at the start of the season

Signed from Leverkusen after interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Wirtz was expected to light up Anfield.

Instead, the playmaker has endured a difficult start, raising the possibility of tactical adjustments.

Starting all three league matches, he has yet to register a goal or an assist.

While he grew into the second half against Arsenal, critics have noted that his influence does not match the price tag.

This issue has also extended to international duty.

After Germany’s 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in World Cup qualifying, manager Julian Nagelsmann publicly questioned his players’ commitment.

Wirtz responded days later with a direct free-kick goal against Northern Ireland, showing flashes of quality that hint at his long-term potential.

But Liverpool fans are still waiting for that same spark in red.

His numbers underline the paradox. According to FBref, Wirtz ranked highly for creativity and progression last season: 5.02 progressive carries, 6.74 progressive passes, and 5.66 shot-creating actions per 90.

Yet those underlying metrics have not yet translated into output, leaving Slot with a conundrum.

Liverpool's Wirtz solution

This is where Dominik Szoboszlai enters the conversation.

Lauded by journalist Bence Bocsák as “Gerrard-esque,” the Hungarian has quietly been one of Liverpool’s most effective performers this term.

After being criticised by Slot for his part in Bournemouth’s opening goal on the first day, he responded emphatically.

A stunning 30-yard free-kick secured victory against Arsenal, while his stint at right-back in the raucous win at St James’ Park highlighted his versatility.

Szoboszlai has typically been deployed in defensive midfield or even wide to cover injuries, including Jeremie Frimpong’s absence.

But it could be argued that his natural home is in attacking midfield, the very role Wirtz is occupying.

With Alexis Mac Allister struggling for fitness, a space has opened up – and Szoboszlai has the credentials to fill it.

Statistically, Szoboszlai compares favourably in some key areas.

Matches Played

31

36

Goals

10

6

Assists

12

6

Progressive Carries

131

72

Progressive Passes

176

131

His pass completion rate of 84.3% dwarfs Wirtz’s 78.3%, while his pressing intensity and stamina have been widely praised.

He averages 4.73 progressive passes and 4.30 shot-creating actions per 90 – slightly behind Wirtz, but with greater efficiency.

His ability to contribute defensively adds another dimension to Slot’s midfield puzzle.

Wirtz still leads the way for goal involvements last season (22 to Szoboszlai’s 12), and his 198.1 progressive passing distance per 90 shows his ability to advance play.

But Szoboszlai’s adaptability may give him the edge in the short term, particularly in high-intensity fixtures where control and work rate are paramount.

Chalkboard

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

The tactical question, then, is whether Liverpool persist with Wirtz to allow him to adapt, or whether Slot pivots towards a proven performer in Szoboszlai.

With Isak now leading the line and Mohamed Salah and Ekitike offering themselves from wide, creativity from midfield is vital.

Wirtz will almost certainly prove his value at Anfield over the long haul, but Szoboszlai offers a compelling case right now.

His pressing, ball progression, and leadership have been crucial to Liverpool’s perfect start, while his ability to step into Wirtz’s role could provide the spark needed in the months ahead.

As Slot weighs his options, Liverpool supporters may soon see the Hungarian restored to his preferred role – and if he continues to play as he has, the £116m signing could find himself fighting for minutes sooner than expected.

Liverpool have a prodigy who has the potential to hit Wirtz's price tag

Liverpool have enough quality to sustain a lengthy period of illustrious success.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 7, 2025

يستعد فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، لخوض مباراة مساء يوم الأربعاء في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا وذلك ضد نظيره فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت.

ويستضيف ملعب “دوتش بانك بارك” مباراة فريقي ليفربول وآينتراخت فرانكفورت، في الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2025/26.

ويمتلك ليفربول 3 نقاط بعدما فاز في الجولة الأولى على أتلتيكو مدريد بنتيجة 3/2، وخسر في الثانية أمام جالطة سراي بهدف دون رد.

كما يمتلك آينتراخت فرانكفورت 3 نقاط كذلك، حيث فاز في الجولة الأولى على جالطة سراي بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدف، وخسر بالنتيجة نفسها أمام أتلتيكو مدريد.

ويسعى ليفربول إلى مصالحة جماهيره بعدما تعرض للهزيمة في 4 مباريات متتالية، أمام كل من كريستال بالاس، جالطة سراي، تشيلسي ومانشستر يونايتد. موعد مباراة ليفربول وآينتراخت فرانكفورت اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة ليفربول وآينتراخت فرانكفورت اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 2. معلق مباراة ليفربول وآينتراخت فرانكفورت اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

سيعلق خليل البلوشي على أحداث مباراة الليلة.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

India fast bowler Shikha Pandey is set to represent Canterbury Magicians in the ongoing Women’s Super Smash 2024-25 in New Zealand, the club announced on Thursday. She will be the first player from India to play in the Super Smash.The six-team T20 tournament kickstarted on Thursday and will run till February 2. Magicians will be play against Otago Sparks in their opening game in Alexandra on Friday, with Laura Hughes leading the team.Pandey is fresh off her maiden stint at the WBBL, where she picked up 12 wickets in 12 matches for Brisbane Heat at an economy rate of under seven. A key bowling option with the new ball, Pandey was central to Heat finishing the competition as the runners-up. She also finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker for the side.Earlier, this year she also played for Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).Pandey last represented India at the T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa where she played only three games and took three wickets. She has been overlooked in the format since then with the Indian team management preferring younger crop of fast bowlers. Overall, she has 43 wickets in 62 T20Is at an economy rate of 6.49 and in ODIs, she has played 55 matches and scalped 75 wickets.Apart from Pandey, Australia’s Madeline Penna is the other overseas players in the Magicians’ squad this season.

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.

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

In only fourth match since taking the captaincy, Fatima Sana played a vital role with bat and ball

Valkerie Baynes03-Oct-2024

At one point, it looked like Pakistan had no business escaping Sharjah with victory.All out for 116 in a lacklustre innings where no one passed captain Fatima Sana’s ultimately crucial 30 in 20 balls, as she batted down the order at No. 7, and losing opening bowler Diana Baig to injury one ball into their defence, Pakistan looked well out of the match halfway through.But Sri Lanka had no response to their spin attack led by offspinner Omaima Sohail, who proved particularly tricky, keeping the ball low and extracting plenty of turn in taking 2 for 17. Nashra Sandhu also took two wickets and fellow left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal three, while Sana’s medium pace yielded two in a standout all-round performance from the young skipper.Baig took no further part in the match after breaking down during her run-up with what appeared to be an injury to her right calf muscle, which was already heavily taped, and Sana stepped in to complete her over.Related

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After changes in lifestyle, Fatima wants to be as quick as Ismail

All-round Fatima Sana, spinners give Pakistan a winning start

Pakistan had already been without Baig at the previous T20 World Cup in South Africa early last year after she fractured her finger shortly before the tournament, but on this occasion Sana said she believed it was just cramp and “she will be okay in the next match”.”When I got the captaincy I decided that I will lead from the front, so that’s the main thing I did today,” Sana said. “Unfortunately we got the early injury, I was under pressure at that time but and Muneeba [Ali] and Nida [Dar] told me that you have to come and do your work and so that’s the main thing because our whole team is banking on it.”At the age of just 22, Sana took over from Dar as captain in August. This was just her fourth T20 match in charge.She may have been quick to credit Dar and Muneeba for their support, but Sana’s captaincy caught the attention of opposite number, Chamari Athapaththu.”I would like to congratulate Pakistan captain, Fatima Sana,” Athapaththu said during the post-match presentation. “She played really good cricket and she is always leading from the front.”Meanwhile, ‘who else besides Athapaththu?’ has been a question following Sri Lanka around for a while now, their skipper enjoying an extended streak of form dating back to mid-2023. Since her unbeaten 80 off 47 balls against New Zealand in Colombo in July last year, Athapaththu has scored 928 runs in T20Is at an average of 44.19 and strike rate of 136.47, compared to her career strike rate of 110.77.And while it looked like it might be asked once more whether she would prove the difference when she took three pivotal wickets for just 18 runs, in truth, Sugandika Kumari had already gone some way to answering it by removing both Pakistan openers inside the first four overs of the match. Sugandika later returned to remove Baig, the eighth wicket to fall.Athapaththu took a wicket in the powerplay and two more in as many balls as Pakistan stared down the prospect of being bowled out inside their 20 overs. They reached the end but only just as Udeshika Prabodhani – who also finished with three wickets – removed Sadia, caught by Gunaratne at mid-off, with the last ball of the innings.When Athapaththu effortlessly scythed Sadia’s third ball to the boundary through point, Sri Lanka fans could have been forgiven for thinking victory would be swift. But that feeling fell away in the third over of the run-chase when Sana struck, luring Athapaththu to attempt a lofted drive which went straight to extra cover.As Sri Lanka wickets steadily tumbled – only Nilakshika Silva (22) and opener Vishmi Gunaratne (20 off 34) reached double figures – the run rate never fired and what might have been had Athapaththu stayed in became a question once more.Vishmi admitted the Sri Lanka batters struggled with the low, slow Sharjah pitch and the lack of pace from Pakistan.”It wasn’t easy to adjust to the conditions,” she said. “It was low pitch and they didn’t give pace to us and it was very difficult after this.”Both sides will expect to face sterner tests in the coming days. Sri Lanka play defending champions Australia next, back in Sharjah on Saturday, and Pakistan will play India in Dubai on Sunday.

Manchester United’s hunt for new attacking reinforcements has been evident over the last couple of weeks, with the hierarchy making key moves in the transfer market.

Matheus Cunha has already arrived at Old Trafford in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking to provide the firepower needed within the final third.

Bryan Mbeumo is another player who’s been firmly on their radar over the last couple of weeks, with multiple bids already being made for the Brentford talisman.

The Cameroonian international has stated his desire to join Ruben Amorim’s side this window, but he could still stay with the Bees if his asking price isn’t met during the off-season.

However, despite the interest in his signature, moves are being made elsewhere this summer to try and provide added depth and quality in the final third.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Given the tally of just 44 goals scored in the Premier League last season, United have been desperately hunting for a new talisman to lead the line in 2025/26.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Victor Osimhen and Moise Kean have all been touted with moves to the Theatre of Dreams, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of the aforementioned stars.

However, a new name has been mentioned over the last couple of days, in the form of free agent forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to Sun Sport.

The 28-year-old is currently without a club after leaving Everton at the end of his current contract, with the Red Devils already making contact with his representatives, as per the report.

It also states that Amorim is a keen admirer of the attacker with a surprise move on the cards this window in an attempt to add depth to the current forward line.

Why United’s latest target could be Weghorst 2.0

Wout Weghorst joined United on loan back in the 2022/23 season, looking to provide squad depth in the front line during the Erik ten Hag era at Old Trafford.

The Dutch international made 31 appearances for the Red Devils during his temporary stint, scoring just twice and leaving the club – leaving at the end of his short-term stint.

He struggled to capture the hearts of the fanbase during his spell at Old Trafford, often missing numerous gilt-edged chances, as seen by his tally of four big chances missed in the Premier League.

However, a deal for Calvert-Lewin could see a repeat of a move for the 32-year-old, with the Englishman possessing a similar frame and skillset given their target man role.

The former Toffees star has previously been a top-level Premier League forward, with his best season coming back in 2020/21, where he managed to net 21 goals across all competitions.

Such form led to him being labelled as just “like Cristiano Ronaldo” by former teammate Richarlison, but it’s safe to say he’s failed to replicate such levels in the last couple of years.

He’s only managed 18 goals in the last four seasons, often struggling with injuries and only making more than 30 appearances in one of those campaigns.

Games played

26

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

63%

Passes made (per 90)

9

Successful dribbles

0.5

Times dispossessed

1.8

Aerials won

49%

Chances created

0.3

When delving into the stats he’s produced in recent seasons, they showcase how much he’s struggled, with his potential move to the Theatre of Dreams one they desperately need to avoid.

Calvert-Lewin would likely also command a hefty pay packet if he were to move to the club, earning an estimated £100k-per-week in his last season at Goodison Park, according to Capology.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils need another striker this summer if they are to push up the table in 2025/26, but it’s evident that he’s not the man to fill the void.

A deal for his signature is reminiscent of that for Weghorst from a couple of years ago, with the hierarchy needing to pursue alternative targets to hand the manager the tools and ambition for success.

Bad news for Bruno & Amad: Man Utd want to have deal "finalised by Monday"

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to another summer addition for Ruben Amorim.

13 ByEthan Lamb Jul 5, 2025

Is it set to be a busy summer at Celtic?

After missing out on the treble, beaten on penalties by Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, the Hoops are expected to heavily reinforce their squad this summer.

Well, with a crucial Champions League play-off tie circled in red on the calendar, taking place at the end of August, Brendan Rodgers will want his summer business to be done early, so are the Premiership champions about to land a new recruit?

Celtic targeting a new midfielder

Defenders are certainly the order of the day for the Celts this summer with Kieran Tierney’s return to Parkhead one of Scottish football’s worst-kept secrets.

However, the full-back isn’t the only player who could be closing in on a move to Paradise according to reports.

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Celtic have ‘opened initial talks’ to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

They outline the fact that the 20-year-old spent this season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, and the Portuguese club have an option to make this move permanent for €5m (around £4.2m).

However, given interest from Celtic, as well as Lille, Rio Ave are preparing to make a quick profit on Tıknaz, placing a €10m (around £8m) price-tag on his head.

So, would he be a good signing for the Scottish champions, and which former Celt is he reminiscent of?

Demir Ege Tıknaz: the next Nir Bitton?

Writer Ryan McGinlay believes that Tıknaz’s ‘resemblance in play-style to Nir Bitton is uncanny’ and, should he arrive, if the Turkey international had even half as successful a Celtic career, he’d be doing well.

Bitton signed from FC Ashdod in 2013 and would remain at Celtic for nine years, making 271 appearances and winning 18 major trophies.

Naturally a defensive midfielder, the Israeli international would frequently fill in at centre-back too, with Kieran Devlin of the Athletic praising Bitton’s ‘reading of the game’ and ‘composure in possession’, with Joe Sullivan labelling him ‘versatile and highly reliable’.

So, could Tıknaz be something similar?

Well, analyst Ben Mattinson believes the Turkiye U21 international ‘reads the game well’ allowing him to ‘step up and intercept​​​​​​​’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’, adding that he possesses a ‘decent passing range’ too.

Meantime, in an interview with Sarah Shephard of the Athletic, Tıknaz​​​​​​​ himself says he has a similar playing style to that of Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker… I can play box-to-box too”.

Well, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, the Turkish youngster is one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, so let’s assess his statistics in the Primeira Liga this season.

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Worth stating first and foremost that, according to a study by Bernd Frick, Tommy Kweku Quansah and Markus Lang, the Primeira Liga is one of the ‘least balanced leagues’ in European football, so the fact that Tıknaz was playing for Rio Ave, who finished 11th, makes his statistics all the more impressive.

The Turkish midfielder ranks highly for metrics both in and out of possession, sat third when it comes to interceptions, while also registering noteworthy numbers when it comes to his pass completion percentage as well as passes into the final third.

Thus, all available evidence suggests Tıknaz is a high-quality, high-potential player, one that Celtic should absolutely be looking to snap up.

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 7, 2025