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As rumours continue to arrive regarding Bruno Guimaraes’ future, Newcastle United have reportedly made their first move in the race to sign a potential replacement for their star midfielder.

Newcastle could lose Guimaraes

For the last two transfer windows, Newcastle have been forced to sit back and watch as clubs around them spend big and welcome the reinforcements that they so desperately need.

Now, however, the Magpies could be back in a position to flex their riches and finally free from PSR constraints this summer in what would be a major boost for Eddie Howe.

It must be said though, that freedom may not come without sacrifice. To spend that money, a big-money sale may need to come first, which could see the likes of Guimaraes depart.

The Brazilian has been at the centre of headlines this week amid Arsenal’s reported interest and could yet provide Newcastle with a bitter-sweet moment by leaving to fund their summer reinforcements.

The next Aguero: Newcastle now battling to sign "fantastic" £12m sensation

He’s one to watch…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 15, 2025

Of course, if he does depart then the Magpies will need to go in search of a replacement almost instantly and that may see them turn their attention towards a rising star.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Newcastle have now made their first move in the race to sign Benja Cremaschi from Inter Miami this summer, making checks on the midfielder who’s also a target for Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

At 20 years old, the American could emerge to become an ideal heir to Guimaraes’ midfield throne at the heart of Howe’s midfield. Having featured at the Olympics for USA last summer and featured alongside Lionel Messi in Miami since, Cremaschi is almost ready for the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

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

His ability to play as a defensive, central and attacking midfielder almost mirrors the versatility that Guimaraes provides. Meanwhile, at such a young age, there’s every chance that Howe could mould Cremaschi into his next top midfielder.

"Sharp" Cremaschi has the Beckham approval

If there were any doubts over the midfielder’s ability, then the approval of Inter Miami owner and Premier League legend David Beckham should instantly put those fears to bed.

Speaking about the 20-year-old, Beckham previously told reporters: “As much as I love seeing the players and the team that we have created at Miami, you’ve got Leo, you’ve got Sergio, you’ve got Alba, you’ve got Luis Suarez, when I see them passing around the pitch and all of a sudden they pass to Benjamin Cremaschi, who has come through our academy from a young kid and is now playing with these players, that makes me proud.”

Now, that pride could yet culminate in an impressive sale if Newcastle come calling this summer in search of their next Guimaraes.

Also dubbed “sharp” by former Fulham defender Tim Ream, it’s clear that Cremaschi is one to watch in the MLS this season before he potentially has a big decision to make regarding his future.

Potentially destined for the Premier League, Cremaschi could quickly solve a pending problem for Howe at St James’ Park this summer.

Chelsea are now involved in a four-way transfer race to sign a “outstanding” Premier League striker, with Enzo Maresca keen to bring in a forward capable of challenging for Nicolas Jackson’s starting spot, according to a report.

Blues stepping up striker pursuit

The Blues have been left short on options at striker over the past few weeks, with Jackson and Marc Guiu both sidelined due to injuries, which has meant Pedro Neto has been given the nod in the unfamiliar role of centre-forward.

As such, Maresca has now started to step up his pursuit of a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window, and there is believed to be strong interest in Lille striker Jonathan David, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha is one of the lesser-known targets, and the west Londoners’ relationship with the French club could give them the edge in negotiations for the striker, who is also wanted by Everton, West Ham United and Aston Villa.

Chelsea set to sign £25m Premier League forward Maresca called "fantastic"

BlueCo are now working on a move for a player Enzo Maresca rates very highly.

2 ByDominic Lund Mar 17, 2025

Newcastle Unitred’s Alexander Isak, on the other hand, is one of the most sought-after strikers in world football, and Chelsea are expected to enter talks to sign the Sweden international, who could command a fee of £120m.

However, Isak is not the only Premier League striker on the shortlist, with a report from The Boot Room revealing the Blues are now keen on signing Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro.

Pedro could be brought in to challenge for Jackson’s starting spot, but he will not come cheap, with reports from elsewhere stating Brighton value the Brazilian at £100m.

There may also be fierce competition from within the Premier League, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United said to be keen on a deal.

"Outstanding" Pedro starring for Brighton

The 23-year-old is Brighton’s top scorer this season, netting eight goals in 23 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has also displayed his ability to set up his teammates, providing six assists.

Creating chances is one of the Brazil international’s finest qualities, and he ranks very highly on a number of other key attacking metrics over the past year compared to his positional peers.

Progressive passes

3.56 (94th percentile)

Progressive carries

3.41 (94th percentile)

Assists

0.27 (89th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.49 (89th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

3.37 (89th percentile)

Having also been lauded as “outstanding” by analyst Chris Kearney, the Brighton star is clearly a top forward, but the only concern will be the fact he is not exactly the most prolific in front of goal.

Pedro places in just the 19th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90, given that he clearly thrives in other aspects of the game, so it may be unwise for Chelsea to shell out £100m on a striker who does not guarantee goals.

Amid an incredible run of form, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has now delivered the latest update on Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace future with one move already made.

Jurgen Klopp makes contact with Palace boss Glasner

The Eagles have been excellent since the turn of the year, putting the frustrations of the first-half of the campaign to one side and pushing on to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals and pushing for a top-half finish. If there were any questions over Glasner’s ability to take this current side to a new level then those have now been answered in emphatic fashion.

Crystal Palace racing to sign "phenomenal" Arsenal man to replace Freedman

Arsenal are desperate to keep him…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 1, 2025

Without a defeat to their name in their last five games in all competitions and with just one goal conceded in that time, the sky is the limit for Palace as the Premier League season nears its conclusion. Glasner, even after losing Michael Olise last summer, has found a way to turn his side into the best version that Selhurst Park has seen during his tenure.

That success could yet come with unfortunate consequences. Just as Olise’s form did last season, top European clubs will be keeping an eye on the Austrian manager as he continues to impress on all fronts.

According to Sky Sports’ Plettenberg, RB Leipzig and Red Bull chief Jurgen Klopp have now made contact with Glasner over a move to the German club after they sacked Marco Rose last week. With just over a year remaining until the Austrian’s Palace contract runs out, Leipzig will have to pay a fee but will at least have the chance to trigger an exit option – much to the Eagles’ frustration.

After such an impressive run, Palace will undoubtedly be desperate to keep hold of Glasner, who they’ll hope feels there’s still work to be done in South London.

Crystal Palace must do everything to keep Glasner

For some time, Crystal Palace were stuck in a Roy Hodgson cycle which may have kept them up – and he deserves great credit for that – but ultimately settled for mediocrity. Patrick Vieira threatened to disrupt that only for his reign to end in failure and the cycle to continue. Glasner, however, hasn’t just disrupted it, he’s torn the usual script apart.

With the chance to step into an FA Cup final with victory over Aston Villa this month, Glasner has it all to play for at Crystal Palace and should hand both Klopp and Leipzig a swift rejection.

With promotion and League One title glory well within their grasp, Birmingham City have now reportedly turned their focus towards securing a bargain deal to sign a defensive addition this summer.

Birmingham strolling towards promotion

With games in hand on second place Wrexham, Birmingham sit clear at the top of League One and look unlikely to ease their hold on the top of the tree anytime soon. With just a handful of games left to play, the Blues are also on course to secure early promotion above third place Wycombe and could even seal their Championship spot as early as April 18 when they square off against the struggling Crawley Town.

Left delighted with his side’s most recent victory against Barnsley, watching on as they soared to a 6-2 win, manager Chris Davies told reporters: “It was a big three points. To score six goals at home and win 6-2 is a wonderful day for us.

“I thought were good throughout, we had to be patient when they went down to ten men but to score six in front of the home fans is brilliant. Against ten men, it’s a mental game. You can think it’s going to be easy, but it doesn’t work like that.

“To get a sucker punch after we score, with a long throw, that frustration can build so it was really important for me at half-time that I calmed the players down and made them see the game quite clearly and what we needed to do, the positions we needed to get into and how to attack them relentlessly. If we did that, we would score the goals to win the match and we did.”

That victory only strengthened their stride towards promotion and securing an early place should only benefit Birmingham as they go in pursuit of one particular summer bargain.

Birmingham plotting bargain Harry Darling deal

According ton Wales Online, Birmingham are now plotting a move to sign Harry Darling on a free deal once his current contract comes to an end at Swansea City this summer. The defender does reportedly have an offer on the table from the Championship side but is yet to put pen to paper on an extension – opening the door for his exit in the coming months.

That said, the Blues aren’t the only side reportedly interested, with Premier League hopefuls Sheffield United also linked to the Swansea contract rebel as the summer transfer window approaches.

The interest in the 25-year-old centre-back should come as no surprise either. Former Swansea manager Luke Williams is just one of few to praise Darling in recent months, telling reporters following a hard-fought draw against West Bromwich Albion in January: “Harry was outstanding, and it is impossible to question his commitment to the football club because that an heroic performance from him.

“He is fantastic at defending the goal, competing for everything with the opposition. But he also had plenty of brilliant actions in helping us to build-up to try and score. He was brilliant, he’s an excellent player.”

Manchester United have been in contact with a “superstar” who Barcelona are looking to sign for free this summer.

Man Utd produce memorable Europa League comeback against Lyon

The Red Devils produced one of their best European comebacks in recent history on Thursday evening against Lyon, advancing to the semi-finals of the Europa League in the process.

Ruben Amorim’s side looked to be cruising to the last four before Lyon took the tie to extra time, and despite having 10-men, the Ligue 1 side then took a two-goal lead with just 10 minutes remaining.

However, goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and a Harry Maguire winner in injury time sparked wild scenes at Old Trafford, with United running out 5-4 winners on the night and 7-6 victors on aggregate.

Man Utd will now take on Athletic Club in the last four, with Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt awaiting in the final in Bilbao at the end of May.

Talking after the dramatic win over Lyon, Amorim said: “I was watching again the ’99, the documentary [when we completed the Treble by beating Bayern Munich with two late goals in the Nou Camp], so to have some inspiration for this moment. But, was a great night. I think the team were tired and you feel it during the game, and then 4-2 with one more player and, in the end, you think it’s over. But here, it’s never over.

“We tried to put Harry Maguire [up there] because he’s the only guy that can score a goal with his headers. And then Kobbie Mainoo, he has a lack of pace in this moment because he had that injury and he stopped for a while, but he’s really good on short spaces, and then he has the ability to do that kind of goal. And then we try it, and sometimes it works, and today was a good day.”

Man Utd now in advanced talks to sign £52m star who's "out of this world"

The Red Devils are making progress in their pursuit of a midfielder, but there could be competition from rivals Manchester City.

ByDominic Lund Apr 18, 2025

All of United’s focus now will be on winning the Europa League to guarantee Champions League football at Old Trafford for 2025/26, something which could help in regards to signing some top players over the summer.

Man Utd make contact to sign 25 y/o Barcelona target for free

One player who has been linked with a move to Man Utd is Lille striker Jonathan David. Out of contract at the end of the season, the Canada international looks set to find a new club over the summer, with Amorim recently demanding the Red Devils to pursue a move for the 25-year-old.

According to TBR Football, Barcelona are the most likely to sign David for free this summer, however, Man Utd have been in contact with the striker’s representatives recently.

Dubbed a “superstar”, David is also being eyed up by Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool after another excellent season in front of goal.

A move to Barcelona remains David’s preferred destination, but by the looks of things, a move to Man Utd can’t be ruled out at this stage, especially with the Red Devils still having the chance of Champions League football next season after Thursday night’s rescue mission.

Newcastle United are planning talks with a “scary” attacking player ahead of a potential move to St James’ Park this summer, according to a new update.

Newcastle plan transfers in line with Champions League push

The Magpies picked up three more important points in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, easing to a relatively straightforward 3-0 win at home to Ipswich Town despite a slow start to the match.

While Newcastle’s season hasn’t always been perfect, winning the EFL Cup was a huge moment in the club’s long history, and qualifying for the Champions League would be another significant achievement for Eddie Howe and his players.

The Magpies sit third in the Premier League table with four matches remaining, and while Nottingham Forest will overtake them if they win their game in hand this week, they are still in a wonderful position to finish in the top five.

Newcastle’s remaining matches are taxing, however, with a crucial home clash with Chelsea on the horizon, as well as trips to both Brighton and Arsenal, so there is still plenty of work to do in the coming weeks. Being in the Champions League will help them attract top names to the club, and one such player has been mentioned as a summer target.

Newcastle planning talks to sign "scary" attacker

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle and Paul Mitchell plan to hold talks with Ademola Lookman over a move to the club, as they look to entice the Nigerian away from Serie A side Atalanta.

The 27-year-old has plenty of potential suitors, however, with new Premier League champions Liverpool mentioned as an option, and Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all in the mix, too. While Juventus also get a mention, they are unlikely to be able to afford the £55m being demanded for his signature.

Lookman could be a brilliant signing for Newcastle ahead of next season, hopefully coming in as competition for Alexander Isak, rather than a replacement for him, The former Everton man has scored 50 times for Atalanta, including 18 goals this season, and the best moment of his career to date was a memorable hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Lookman has been described as “scary in tight spaces” by Tuttosport, while Gian Piero Gasperini has hailed him as “truly extraordinary” and “among the best” there is in the world currently. Indeed, he has been somewhat of a late bloomer, going from failed Everton flop to emerging as a truly top player in Europe now at the age of 27.

Attacking reinforcements are a must for Newcastle in the summer, with more firepower required after arguably too much pressure on Isak’s shoulders this season, and the Atalanta ace could be a perfect addition, given he would also provide depth on both wings.

Romano: Newcastle "keen on signing" £70m "tank" with same agent as Gordon

They’ve wanted him for ages.

ByBarney Lane Apr 27, 2025

The Nigeria international has Premier League experience, making 96 appearances in the competition, and he is at a great age to come in and be a star man for the Magpies straight away.

Last night was not the game or result Arsenal would’ve been hoping for ahead of their Champions League semi-final next week.

Mikel Arteta’s side lined up against Crystal Palace, who happen to have an FA Cup semi-final this weekend, and put in one of their most lacklustre and underwhelming performances of the entire season, which saw them pick up their 13th Premier League draw of the campaign – the second most in the competition.

From David Raya between the sticks to Raheem Sterling in attack, there were dire displays across the pitch for the Gunners.

However, there was at least one player who put in yet another impressive showing, a player who has made himself undroppable and is starting to resemble Granit Xhaka in certain ways.

The story of Xhaka's redemption at Arsenal

Arsenal paid Borussia Mönchengladbach around £30m for Xhaka in the summer of 2016, and while he wasn’t particularly poor, it would probably be fair to say he underwhelmed for the first few seasons of his career in North London.

However, it was clear from the get-go that he was a passionate player and that, combined with his seniority, saw him handed the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery in September 2019 following a vote from his teammates.

Unfortunately, the team’s results nosedived soon after and, following an unsavoury episode in which he swore and goaded a jeering Emirates before throwing the shirt and armband to the floor, he had the captaincy stripped from him less than two months after receiving it.

The Swiss international would later reveal that at that point, he was set on leaving the club but eventually decided to stay and fight for his reputation after being convinced to do so by the recently appointed Arteta.

While it took some time, the Basel-born titan eventually started to win the fans back onside, and finally, after three years of graft, he was handed the armband again by Arteta in the absence of Martin Odegaard away to Brentford in September 2022, a game that also saw the fans begin to sing his name again, much to his appreciation.

That season would be his best in red and white as he racked up a brilliant tally of nine goals – two of which came in his final game – and seven assists in 47 appearances from central midfield.

Xhaka left the club that summer, but instead of doing so under a cloud of controversy as it seemed he would just a few years earlier, he left as a cult hero and with a rapturous Emirates Stadium singing his name.

Now it looks like a player in the current squad could be crafting something of a cult status for himself this year.

16/17

46

4

3

2

17/18

48

3

8

0

18/19

40

4

5

0

19/20

41

1

2

0

20/21

45

1

2

1

21/22

30

1

2

2

22/23

47

9

7

0

The current Arsenal star with shades of Xhaka

There are probably some of you thinking that the player in question is Mikel Merino, as, after all, the Spaniard is positionally similar to Xhaka and has seen his stock skyrocket among Arsenal fans in recent months, but you’d be wrong.

Chalkboard

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

Instead, the current Gunners star who is starting to have shades of the Swiss international about him is none other than Jakub Kiwior.

Okay, so we know the pair couldn’t be more different in terms of position and, therefore, playstyle, but where they play has practically nothing to do with this comparison, as it’s based on their standing within the fanbase more than anything else.

For example, just a few months ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan who’d had a particularly strong feeling towards the Polish international, as while he’s stepped in here and there, he’s never really looked like a first-team quality player.

In fact, it was only in December that Arsenal podcaster Phil Costa branded the former Spezia ace “shocking,” claiming that “he hasn’t kicked on at all since joining” and that, at the end of the day, “he isn’t good enough.”

Now, in his defence, it wasn’t an uncommon opinion, with content creator and fan Alexander Moneypenny describing the international as “shakey” following his underwhelming performance vs Bayern Munich last season.

So, while there wasn’t the same vitriol that there was surrounding Xhaka’s fall, there was a similar desire from plenty of fans to move the Tychy-born star on and find someone better as soon as possible, which in turn led to some serious concern over how he’d cope covering for Gabriel Magalhães following the Brazilian’s hamstring surgery.

However, instead of becoming a weak spot in the team, the “extraordinary” defender, as dubbed by Robert Lewandowski, has stepped up in a massive way.

For example, aside from a minor mistake early on in the first leg against Real Madrid, he was simply sensational. Moreover, after William Saliba’s mistake that led to a goal in the second leg, there is a strong argument that he was the better centre-back of the pair.

Then again, last night, while the Frenchman made a costly mistake, he was near-enough faultless, scoring a goal, making some impressive tackles and earning himself an 8/10 match rating from journalist Tom Canton, which was more than justified by his statistics.

For example, in 98 minutes of action, he scored, made six clearances, won 100% of his duels, blocked two shots, made one tackle, lost the ball just seven times despite taking 135 touches, completed 115 passes, was accurate with two of three long balls, and was even successful in 100% of his dribbles.

Minutes

98′

Expected Goals

0.04

Goals

1

Clearances

6

Blocked Shos

2

Tackles

1

Dribbled Past

0

Duels (Won)

2 (2)

Lost Possession

7

Touches

135

Passing Accuracy

115/120 (96%)

Long Balls (Accurate)

3 (2)

Shots on Target

1

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (1)

Fouls

0

Ultimately, Kiwior has transformed from a player fans were worried about starting into one who’s outshining Saliba and becoming an increasing fan favourite for the no-nonsense way he’s going about his job – if that doesn’t remind you of Xhaka’s transformation, we don’t know what will.

Worse than Saliba: 3/10 "passenger" must never start for Arsenal again

Arsenal suffered yet another draw as they slipped up against Crystal Palace.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 24, 2025

Fair to say, Chelsea have been pretty active in the transfer market in recent years, and this activity is showing little sign of slowing down.

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the Blues in 2022, they’ve signed over 40 senior players, costing in excess of £1bn, but are forecast to spend big again this summer.

So, do the West London side now have a highly-rated defender in their sights?

Chelsea's latest centre-back target

According to a report by Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News, Chelsea are ‘seriously considering’ a move to sign Jorrel Hato, a 19-year-old defender who plays for Ajax. The Blues are said to hold a ‘long-standing’ interest in him.

Transfer Focus

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

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reports that the soon-to-be-re-crowned Eredivisie champions value the teenager at £40m, a fee the Blues would surely not be shy to pay, given their recent track record.

Kieran King of Football London notes that Hato ‘has established himself as one of Europe’s most talented young defenders’, while Jacek Kulig from Football Talent Scout labels him “immense”, describing him as both a “complete full-back” and a “ball-playing centre-back”.

So, could he be the latest youngster on his way to Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea's current centre-back conundrum

In recent weeks, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah have emerged as Chelsea’s first-choice centre-back duo, starting three of the last five Premier League matches alongside each other.

Nevertheless, Enzo Maresca has spent the majority of the season chopping and changing his centre-back partnership, as the table below outlines.

Levi Colwill

33

31

31

Trevoh Chalobah*

15

12

10

Wesley Fofana

14

14

14

Tosin Adarabioyo

34

27

13

Benoît Badiashile

18

16

3

*was recalled from a loan spell at Crystal Palace in January

As the table emphasises, Colwill has been, by some distance, Chelsea’s most utilised central defender this season, especially in the Premier League, starting 31 of their 34 league fixtures to date.

His performances have yielded widespread praise, with Simon Johnson of the Athletic labelling him Chelsea’s ‘untouchable figure at the back’, while David Hytner of the Guardian notes that his ‘impressive’ form has earned England recognition.

However, like transfer target Hato, the 22-year-old England international can be both deployed at centre-back and left-back, suggesting they would be vying for the same position, so let’s assess how the duo compare this season.

Appearances

33

47

Minutes

2,880

3,932

Goals

1

3

Assists

1

6

Pass completion %

89.7%

88.5%

Tackles

40

81

Tackles won

34

54

% of dribblers tackled

61.5%

80.4%

Blocks

34

45

Interceptions

34

36

Clearances

104

79

Errors leading to a shot

4

5

Ball recoveries

108

166

% of ground duels won

50.8%

57.6%

% of aerials duels won

59.2%

51.85%

Touches per 90

88

65

As outlined by the table, Hato would represent a massive upgrade on Colwill, especially defensively, with the Dutchman excelling when it comes to tackles, blocks, interceptions, ball recoveries and ground duels this season.

Of course, there will be a question mark as to whether the teenager would be able to thrive at a higher-level; according to Global Football Rankings, the Premier League is the strongest league in the world, with the Eredivisie ranked 12th.

Nevertheless, still only 19 years old, of course, Hato appears to have all the attributes to become a world-class defender, so will he be the latest young talent on their way to West London?

Approach made: Chelsea now ready to splash out £60m to sign "amazing" star

He almost joined Arsenal in January…

ByTom Cunningham May 3, 2025

Liverpool will soon look to build on winning the Premier League title and new reports have now offered encouragement to the Reds in their hunt to sign a world-renowned star.

Liverpool held by Arsenal after conceding two-goal lead

In their first home match since becoming champions, Liverpool were held by Arsenal in a 2-2 draw despite opening up a comfortable advantage courtesy of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino hit back for the visitors to steal a point, but the main talking point was supporters’ mixed reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s appearance from the bench.

Coming off the back of his decision to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer, there are plenty of fans who made their frustration known despite the backdrop of a brilliant season for all involved at Liverpool. Arne Slot will be keen to banish any negativity present at Anfield, which is likely to disappear promptly in the summer once high-profile targets become public knowledge.

Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo could join the Reds to add a layer of elite quality on the right flank, illustrating a marker of FSG’s ambition to keep the club at the summit of English football for time to come.

Fewer touches than Alisson: Slot must axe 5/10 Liverpool dud after Arsenal

Arne Slot must drop this Liverpool dud who was worse than Conor Bradley against Arsenal.

3 ByDan Emery May 11, 2025

Lyon’s Malick Fofana may arrive at Liverpool to replace Luis Diaz, offering another inkling regarding the type of profile Slot wants as part of his project once the window opens. Next term, the Reds’ divisional rivals are likely to be stronger and in a better position to compete for the Premier League crown, meaning statement additions are necessary to add shine to a squad bristling with talent.

This is something they could now achieve if all goes to plan, per recent developments.

Kevin De Bruyne tempted by Liverpool move amid conflicting reports

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Kevin De Bruyne is seriously considering a proposal from Liverpool and could be tempted by the prospect of one more season in the Premier League before moving to the MLS or Saudi Arabia.

It is important to point out that there have been conflicting stories surrounding the Manchester City icon – claims of a Liverpool offer being made for the 109-cap Belgian star have previously been circulated. On the other hand, Fabrizio Romano has said that Liverpool are not in talks to sign De Bruyne.

Either way, the 33-year-old is possibly the most lucrative free agent on the market this summer after deciding to leave the Etihad Stadium – City were placing a £100m price tag on him last year amid interest from the Middle East.

Kevin De Bruyne’s incredible time at Manchester City

Appearances

419

Goals

108

Assists

177

In a transitional season for the Citizens, De Bruyne has struck six times and delivered eight assists. Those may not be groundbreaking numbers, but the fact he has created 55 chances in the Premier League is enough to showcase his appeal.

Despite the rivalry that exists between Liverpool and Manchester City, Slot could pull off one of the most-talked about signings over recent years if the man in question’s willingness to move to Anfield is indeed legitimate.

Celtic were hit with a pretty devastating blow at the start of this month when it was confirmed that the knee injury sustained by Jota is going to keep him out for the best part of a year.

The Hoops winger hobbled off during the first half of the 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice, a result that won the Scottish Premiership title, with a knee injury.

Brendan Rodgers then confirmed that the Portuguese forward could be out for up to nine months with a cruciate ligament injury, which means that the attacker is unlikely to be fit for the start of next season.

Based on that timeline, there is a real chance that Jota will not play for Celtic again in 2025, with a return in the first couple of months of 2026 currently being projected, and that could force the club’s hand in the summer transfer window.

The Scottish giants are set to be without a key wide attacker for a huge chunk of the 2025/26 campaign, which could result in them swooping for another winger in the coming months.

With this in mind, we have taken a look at three potential signings the Hoops could make to replace Jota until he returns from his long-term injury.

1 Tyrhys Dolan

Firstly, Blackburn Rovers dynamo Tyrhys Dolan is an intriguing option for the Scottish giants because he is set to be out of contract at the end of June, and would be available as a free agent.

Celtic are reportedly interested in a bargain swoop to sign the 23-year-old star from the English Championship side and it is easy to see why he has emerged as an attractive target for the club.

As well as potentially being a cost-effective signing due to his contract situation at Ewood Park, Dolan is also an ideal fit for Celtic from a footballing perspective, because he can comfortably play on the right wing, on the left wing, as a centre-forward, or as an attacking midfielder, with at least 26 appearances in his career in each position.

This means that Rodgers could use him on either flank, as he did with Jota when the winger was available, which makes him a like-for-like replacement for the former Rennes man in that sense.

Appearances

44

Goals

7

Conversion rate

14%

Big chances created

7

Key passes

44

Assists

6

As you can see in the table above, Dolan also showed signs of promise in a midtable Blackburn team in the Championship, delivering 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in a team that did not finish inside the top six in the division.

The 23-year-old star has yet to prove that he can deliver goals and assists consistently, though, so there is still a question mark over whether or not his output would improve if he played in a better team.

2 Kwame Poku

Sticking with the lower leagues in England, Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku is another talented young prospect who has been linked with a move to Parkhead this summer.

The Hoops have reportedly sent scouts to watch the Ghana international in action this season, and he could be available for a compensation fee when his contract with the Posh expires this summer.

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Poku played in a lower division than Dolan, in League One, but did showcase his ability to deliver consistent quality in the final third as part of a team that was chasing promotion to the second tier.

The 24-year-old magician ended the season with a return of 12 goals, nine ‘big chances’ created, and eight assists in 27 matches in the league for Peterborough, whilst predominantly playing on the right flank.

Whilst he has shown promise as a winger who can deliver quality on a regular basis, Poku would not be a like-for-like replacement for Jota because he is a left-footed attacker who typically plays on the opposite flank.

This means that there could be better options out there to directly replace Jota, and one of those options could come from further afield, in Norway specifically.

3 Sondre Orjasaeter

Celtic reportedly had an offer turned down for Sarpsborg forward Sondre Orjasaeter in the January transfer window, as the Norwegian side were looking for a fee of £7m for the winger.

The 21-year-old star, once dubbed an “artist” by Havard Flo, could be the perfect replacement for Jota because of his age, his style of play, and his quality.

Whilst he is comfortably the most expensive player on this list, as the other two options are out of contract this summer, Orjasaeter could be worth the expense for the Scottish giants.

Stylistically, the Norwegian sensation would be an ideal fit for the Hoops because he is a right-footed attacker who predominantly plays on the left flank, just as Jota does.

Appearances

28

7

Goals

5

1

Big chances missed

5

2

Big chances created

12

7

Key passes per game

1.9

2.0

Assists

5

2

Dribbles completed per game

2.4

2.7

As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter has caught the eye with his performances for Sarpsborg in the Eliteserien since the start of the 2024 campaign, with six goals and 19 ‘big chances’ created in 35 appearances.

This shows that he has the ability to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch, despite only being 21, from a left wing position, which is another reason why he could be an ideal signing to replace Jota this summer for Rodgers.

Orjasaeter, of course, is unproven in British football, unlike Dolan and Poku, and that is one thing that goes against him in this list, but the Hoops could gamble on his performances for Sarpsborg translating well to Scottish football, making him the dream signing to fill that left wing position.

It will now be interesting to see if Celtic go in for any of these three players, given that they are all reported to be of interest, or if they decide to look elsewhere to bolster their wide options.

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