Arsenal were dealt a scare during their 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday as Noni Madueke, their most dangerous attacker in the first half, was substituted at the break. Mikel Arteta revealed after the game that the winger, who has impressed in recent weeks while deputising for Bukayo Saka, suffered an injury that prevented him from playing on into the second half.
Celtic still have plenty of time left to dip into the market to improve their squad for the 2024/26 campaign before the summer transfer window closes at the start of next month.
Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to add more quality to his options across the park in the coming weeks, particularly in the attacking areas of the pitch.
Speaking earlier this month, the Northern Irish head coach said: “The squad will hopefully look again different come the end of the window.
“I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”
As you can see in the post above, Rodgers confirmed back in May that Portuguese winger Jota is set to be out of action for up to nine months with a knee injury.
This means that Celtic supporters may not see the former Benfica starlet out on the pitch in green and white again until January or February of next year.
Why Celtic need to replace Jota
The Scottish Premiership champions need to sign another left-sided attacker before the window slams shut to ‘replace’ Jota, because he could be out for more than half of the season.
Celtic’s rather drab 1-0 win over St Mirren, decided by a deflected strike from Luke McCowan, highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements to come through the door in the weeks to come.
Rodgers would surely have loved to have had Jota available to bring off the bench, or start, to add some attacking quality in the final third, after the winger delivered four goals and two assists in seven league starts in the second half of last season.
Goals
0.63
Top 6%
xG
0.48
Top 8%
Assists
0.32
Top 17%
xA
0.37
Top 8%
Chances created
1.89
Top 25%
As you can see in the table above, Jota hit the ground running in the Premiership after his return to Glasgow from Rennes in January, ranking highly among his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the left flank.
The Portuguese star is a winger who has the ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis, which is why his injury came as such a big blow for the Hoops and Rodgers, and why he has to be replaced.
Daizen Maeda is currently the only fit and available senior left winger in the first-team squad, and James Forrest, 34, was the only winger of any description on the bench at all against St Mirren.
This is why the Hoops must dip into the market to sign a player who can fill the gap left by Jota’s injury, to ensure that Rodgers is not left without adequate resources out wide until next year.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
TEAMtalk recently reported that Brondby winger Clement Bischoff has emerged as a key target for Celtic, as they plan to bring in two more wingers before the end of the window.
The outlet claimed that the Danish youngster is available for a fee of around £6.3m, but that they could also face competition from Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Why Celtic should sign Clement Bischoff
Celtic should push to win the race for the 19-year-old talent’s signature this summer because they could finally replace the injured Jota by bringing him to Parkhead.
Bischoff could be the perfect signing to fill the specific need of this signing. He is a young player who may not expect to start every single game straight away, at the age of 19, which means that Jota’s return from injury may not cause problems in the squad.
Whereas, having Jota, Maeda, and another senior left-sided attacker who wants to start every week could cause problems and leave Rodgers in a difficult situation.
This means that Bischoff could fit the bill perfectly by coming in to play important minutes in the first half of the season, before moving to more of a back-up role when the Portuguese forward is back, learning from him to aid his own development.
The teenage whiz, who was described as a “flamboyant” and “technical dribbler” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has also shown enough quality in his time with Brondby to suggest that he can provide quality to Celtic straight away.
Extraordinarily, Bischoff has already created 24 chances and five ‘big chances’ in six games in all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign for the Danish side, playing on the left of a front three.
Appearances
29
Goals
2
Big chances created
9
Key passes per game
1.5
Assists
3
Dribbles completed per game
1.6
Dribble success rate
52%
As you can see in the table above, the teenager only managed two goals and three assists at league level for Brondby last season, but all of his starts came as a left wing-back.
The Danish side have utilised him as a winger, instead of as a wing-back, at the start of this season and he has already produced one goal and one assist in three Superliga games.
This shows that he can provide more quality offensively when used on the wing, but it also shows that he is a versatile player who could be used in other positions down the left by Rodgers when needed.
Therefore, Bischoff could be a brilliant addition to the Celtic squad as a quality and versatile young player who could make an instant impact, whilst also having the potential to complement Jota when he is back fit and available.
Celtic could unlock Idah's full potential with swoop for "exciting" £5m gem
Celtic could help to unlock Adam Idah’s full potential by signing this reported transfer target.
1 ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2025
Liverpool fans were treated to some fine football last season, with Arne Slot’s Reds barnstorming their way through the 2024/25 campaign and winning the Premier League comfortably.
To think that Slot achieved this, taking the baton from Jurgen Klopp as he did, without any real first-team investment, is quite unbelievable. FSG did move to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus for £12.5m, but he only started once in the top flight all term, that appearance coming in May, after the title had been wrapped up.
This summer, however, paints a different picture. Wide defenders Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong look fit for a title-winning squad, and Florian Wirtz even more so, the German creative joining Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee.
The matter of a centre-forward remains unresolved. Liverpool’s top target is Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the Magpies are rather fond of their prized silver.
As such, a deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is in the works, with the Frenchman actually submitting a transfer request to speed things along. Such a profile is duly needed, especially with Luis Diaz facing a potential Anfield exit.
The latest on Luis Diaz's Liverpool future
Diaz, 28, is one of Slot’s most trusted lieutenants. Last season, he enjoyed a career-best in England after notching 25 goal contributions across all competitions.
The Colombian, however, has entered the penultimate year of his contract and wants a pay rise. Such a rise doesn’t seem to be forthcoming, and thus, he’s seeking a route out of Merseyside.
Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been among the frontrunners, both enticed by Diaz’s electric pace and his potency and his versatility across wide and central attacking berths.
However, Barcelona are now pushing ahead with a deal for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, leaving Bayern and suitors over in the Saudi Pro League to engage in a straight shootout.
If Diaz does go, Liverpool will need a replacement, even though Cody Gakpo grew in strength last term and even though FSG plan to sign the versatile Ekitike.
Liverpool line up Diaz heir
Spanish reports have indicated that, while Arsenal remain favourites, Liverpool may yet push ahead and pursue a deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo this summer.
The South American is widely considered one of the most talented forwards in the world, but Xabi Alonso’s chock-full frontline has made him expendable.
Arsenal are preparing an offer worth €80m (£68m) for the Brazilian forward, though Los Blancos are expected to reject this as they hold out for their original €100m (£85m) asking price.
The potential for advancement over on Merseyside hinges solely on the outcome of Diaz’s transfer saga.
Why Liverpool want Rodrygo
With Rodrygo’s illustrious Real Madrid journey seemingly drawing to a close, Liverpool might find themselves regretting not making their move, should Diaz indeed leave.
The 24-year-old’s track record speaks for itself. However, Rodrygo is rarely deployed on the left wing, his favourite and most productive position, for the Spanish giants have Vinicius Junior in that position, and Kylian Mbappe too.
By signing Rodrygo, Liverpool could secure a “world-class” winger, as he has been dubbed by former teammate Luka Modric, for the coming era, one who could combine with Ekitike to create a deadly strikeforce on the same level as Liverpool’s before, when Jurgen Klopp was in his Anfield heyday.
This blend of experience and up-and-coming exuberance could work wonders for Slot’s side, especially when considering there’s a legendary figure in Mohamed Salah to complete the set on the right flank.
Even in spite of a ‘poor’ season, Rodrygo has finished with as many goal involvements as Diaz, and indeed, has wonderfully illustrated his propensity for impact when coming off the left, with six goals and six assists across only 12 matches as a left winger.
Right winger
31
8
5
Left winger
12
6
6
Centre-forward
10
0
0
Moreover, his six-goal haul in La Liga, while not a fine representation of his clinical edge by any stretch, also returned only one missed big chance, as per Sofascore, which plays right into Ekitike’s hands.
Frankfurt’s rising talent has the makings of an elite goalscorer, but he’s also a sharp and intuitive player, capable of achieving a wide range of things when in full flow, which could make him a dream partner for Rodrygo at the top end of the pitch.
As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranked among the top 10% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 20% for ball recoveries per 90.
What can we ascertain from this? Well, Ekitike’s movements and link-up play would actively promote Rodrygo’s own quest for goals. Hardly a target man in the strictest sense of the word, the adroit forward’s ability to create and his knack and deceiving opponents with off-the-ball movement would play right into Rodrygo’s goalscoring focus.
Not that the Real Madrid man is so one-dimensional. After all, in La Liga last season, he completed 91% of his passes while averaging 1.6 key passes per game, which is an absurd rate of crispness for one performing in and around the final third, especially when considering he chipped in with regular creative balls.
With a rich attacking crop and a system which was set up without a hitch last season, Slot will be confident that by adding players such as Ekitike and Rodrygo, he can grow his Liverpool team into an even more powerful and threatening state.
Such players could combine to create something truly special, not just set up to defend their Premier League title but also to challenge for the biggest prizes across the board. Year in, year out.
He’s worth more than Isak: Liverpool have hit gold on "generational talent"
Liverpool have one of Europe’s best players in this talented star.
5 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 19, 2025
Manchester United have submitted an offer for a former Premier League striker, who has release clause of £44m, according to a report.
Man Utd set sights on Gyokeres alternatives
Fabrizio Romano has now made it clear that Viktor Gyokeres is “only” thinking about signing for Arsenal this summer, with the Swedish striker refusing to turn up for Sporting CP training, meaning Man United will likely have to move on to alternative targets.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is among them, with Rio Ferdinand recently insisting securing the Nigerian’s signature would soften the blow of missing out on Gyokeres, saying: “He’s a centre-forward, he’s experienced, he knows how to score goals at the top level. I’ve seen today that Galatasaray have put a £50m bid in.
“I mean, £50m to get a top-class striker, one of the top strikers in the world, is absolute peanuts in today’s market. I’ll be disappointed if he goes to Galatasaray for that type of money when Man United are crying out for a No. 9.
“I’ll be disappointed to miss out on Gyokeres if we don’t get a No.9 in. But if we got Osimhen, then I wouldn’t be too concerned.”
According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness) United are also battling Galatasaray for the signature of a different striker, namely Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, with both clubs making contact over a potential deal.
In fact, it is claimed the Red Devils have even gone as far as submitting a bid, although it is unclear whether they are willing to match the €52m (£44m) release clause in the striker’s Fiorentina contract.
Serie A winners Napoli are also in the race for the centre-forward, who is in two minds about his future, with the next six days said to be ‘key’.
Man Utd set to make £34m bid for "immense" star who Amorim thinks is ideal
The Red Devils plan to make a proposal to sign a defender, with Ruben Amorim believed to be a keen admirer.
ByDominic Lund Jul 9, 2025 "King of kings" Kean has earned big move
The former Everton man’s previous stint in the Premier League didn’t go exactly to plan, scoring just two goals in the competition for the Toffees, but the Italian has really kicked on since returning to his home country.
Last season was the Fiorentina star’s most impressive campaign to date, scoring 25 goals in all competitions as his side finished sixth in the Serie A and reached the semi-final of the Europa Conference League.
Competition 24/25
Appearances
Goals
Serie A
32
19
Conference League
9
3
Italian Cup
1
1
UECL qualifiers
2
2
Football writer Mina Rzouki was also left impressed by the Italy international’s displays, describing him as a “king of kings” after bagging a brace in a 3-0 victory over Inter Milan back in February.
That said, it would be a big gamble for Man United to sign Kean, given that the forward struggled during his previous spell in England, so it may be wise to turn their attentions to Osimhen, who bagged 37 goals in all competitions last term.
Newcastle United are taking massive steps forward in the transfer market after a slow start to proceedings.
Despite securing Champions League qualification for this season, Eddie Howe didn’t rush into things throughout June, taking his time to assess potential targets to make sure they would be the right signing for Newcastle.
One of their first signings looks like it could be Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. The Englishman will cost the Magpies in excess of £30m, which is a record for an English goalkeeper.
Howe will be hoping the 22-year-old is worth it. If he settles, there is no reason why he cannot be the number one at St James’ Park for the next decade.
Trafford*
2025
Newcastle
£30m
Ramsdale
2021
Arsenal
£28m
Pickford
2017
Everton
£25m
Ramsdale
2024
Southampton
£25m
Henderson
2023
Crystal Palace
£20m
Ramsdale
2020
Sheffield United
£18.5m
Trafford
2023
Burnley
£15m
Forster
2014
Southampton
£10m
Johnstone
2024
Wolves
£10m
Pope
2022
Newcastle
£10m
*subject to being finalised.
Additionally, a move for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga appears to be close to completion. After having an opening bid for the Swede rejected, Howe came back with an offer worth in the region of £55m.
This certainly appears as though it will be accepted, giving the manager a significant boost regarding his attacking options for next season.
One area that he has yet to bolster is his defence. Last season, the Toon conceded 58 goals in 48 matches. This works out as 1.2 goals conceded per match.
Should Howe look to go far in the Champions League and secure a top-five spot in the top flight next term, improving this is vital.
As such, it appears as though he has made Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini his main target.
Why Newcastle are looking at Giorgio Scalvini
It was reported a few days ago by Scott Wilson of the Northern Echo that Newcastle would be spending the weekend trying to secure a deal for Scalvini.
This came after it was reported that the club had made the defender their top target as Howe looked to fend off interest from Chelsea and Tottenham to bring the player to St James’ Park.
He endured an injury-ravaged campaign last year, making only eight appearances throughout 2024/25 due to suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury.
The season before, however, saw the youngster emerge as one of the finest Italian talents in Serie A.
Compared to his positional peers in the top-flight of Italian football, he ranked in the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, along with ranking in the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 4% for interceptions and in the top 16% for aerials won per 90.
This shows just how effective he was at both ends of the pitch for Atalanta, and he made a 45-minute cameo in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen. His display rendered the likes of Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface quiet during a sublime 3-0 victory.
On the surface, he would make a fine signing. It appears as though he has returned to full fitness and should he settle in at Newcastle, Scalvini could be the future of their defence.
Everything depends on the transfer fee that the Serie A side are demanding, however. If it is too high, Howe could well walk away from the deal.
Alternatively, could the club go after another centre-back? There is one who may not cost as much as Scalvini.
Newcastle eyeing Scalvini upgrade
With around £85m being spent on Trafford and Elanga this summer, Howe won’t have much left to further bolster his squad.
Of course, moving a few players on will help, but there is no doubt the manager is going to have to be smart when it comes to recruitment.
According to Football Insider, the Magpies have earmarked Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi as a potential alternative to Scalvini. The report also goes on to state that should an offer of £30m be made, it is likely to be accepted.
The Argentinian is the club captain at the French giants, although with Scalvini potentially costing around the £60m mark, a move for the Marseille star is certainly the more attractive one, certainly from a financial point of view anyway.
Could Balerdi be a better signing than the young Italian? His wealth of experience in European football suggests so.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The eight-cap Argentine made his mark at Boca Juniors, but it wasn’t long before Borussia Dortmund snapped him up in 2019.
He ended up featuring just eight times for the Bundesliga side, but a move to Ligue 1 five years ago has seen Balerdi push on and become an excellent centre-back.
Accurate passes
87.4
Tackles
2
Interceptions
1.4
Total duels won
5
Balls recovered
6
Clearances
2.7
Due to Scalvini’s injury issues last season, it is best to compare the two centre-backs for their statistics throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
That season, Balerdi succeeded with 86% of his passes, averaged 1.9 interceptions, and 2.9 tackles and won an impressive 6.2 total duels per game – a success rate of 64% – in Ligue 1.
Comparatively, Scalvini succeeded with 82% of his passes, while averaging 1.8 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and winning 4.8 total duels per game – a success rate of 56% – during his Serie A campaign.
Furthermore, Balerdi lost possession fewer times (9.6 vs 10) than Scalvini, while also recovering more balls (6.2 vs 4.9) and making more clearances per game (3.1 vs 2) in their respective league seasons.
These statistics indicate that the Marseille defender might well be the better signing, especially considering he also has plenty of experience in the Champions League.
“An extraordinary player” in the words of manager Roberto De Zerbi, there is an argument to be made that the player has yet to reach his peak.
This could certainly be achieved at Newcastle, especially as he would be a guaranteed starter at the heart of the defence.
Scalvini is a wonderful prospect for the future. But for the here and now, Balerdi must be the priority.
Their new Gordon: Newcastle "close" to signing "electric" big-money star
As Eddie Howe looks to bolster his attacking options, Newcastle are “negotiating” to sign an “electric” winger who will be sensational Gordon repeat.
ByBen Gray Jul 7, 2025
If Mikel Arteta could pick any striker in world football to bring to Arsenal this summer then it’s likely Alexander Isak would be at the top of their list.
The Gunners looked at adding the impressive Swede to their ranks before he actually signed for Newcastle, but were reportedly put off by his asking price.
How foolish they were. Isak has become a genuine phenomenon in the following years, notably scoring as many as 27 goals in 42 games throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
In comparison, Arsenal struggled in front of goal. No player scored double figures in the league and their leading bagsman was Kai Havertz on 15.
Sadly, Isak now looks to be off the table. Liverpool are also dreaming of a move but with a reported £150m asking price and the Toon having secured Champions League football, signing the forward is now a pipe dream.
Arsenal's Isak alternatives
Much of the chatter so far this summer has revolved around two men; Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
Sesko has been of interest for quite some time now but the asking price of both players, as it did with Isak a few years ago, is proving problematic.
Sesko is now thought to have an asking price of between £68m to £85m. That’s according to Sky Germany who still insist that Arsenal have a ‘positive’ feeling a deal can be done.
So, how about Gyokeres? Well, according to reports from Portuguese outlet, Record, Arsenal have put a £55m offer on the table. That isn’t deemed enough by his club, Sporting CP.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As a result, the report notes that Andrea Berta and Co are set to turn their attention to another striker. That man is Ollie Watkins.
Indeed, it’s speculated that the Gunners have put their efforts to sign Gyokeres on hold and will begin drawing up plans to sign Watkins instead.
It’s stated that talks have already been held with the Aston Villa forward’s representatives.
Arsenal tried to do a deal for Watkins back in January but with Jhon Duran heading to Saudi, a move felt impossible with all bids rejected.
Why Watkins could become Arsenal's very own Isak
Isak hasn’t just been one of the most impressive centre-forwards in the Premier League, but he’s also now one of the best in Europe, notably even heralded as “the best striker in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan.
Indeed, over the last two seasons, he’s been right up there as far as goal scorers are concerned, bagging 44 in 64 matches. The only two players to better that record? Erling Haaland and Mo Salah.
1. Erling Haaland
62
49
2. Mo Salah
70
47
3. Alexander Isak
64
44
4. Cole Plamer
71
37
5. Ollie Watkins
75
35
6. Chris Wood
67
34
7. Yoanne Wissa
69
31
8. Jean-Philippe Mateta
72
30
As we can see, the aforementioned Watkins is also right up there. Now said to boast an asking price of £40m, he could be around £100m cheaper than Isak which is rather incredible considering there isn’t much to separate the two players in the last two years. Indeed, only a few years ago, one prominent analyst on social media suggested that he was “a €100m player” if he could score goals regularly in the Premier League.
While he may not be as prolific as he was in 2023/24, if we add assists to the mix as well, the Villa star – who won the Premier League’s Playmaker Award in 2023/24 for creating the most goals – is a better all-around package.
In the last two seasons, Isak has registered just eight assists but Watkins has as many as 21. Compared to the Premier League’s best in that time, only Salah has more.
1. Mo Salah
28
70
2. Ollie Watkins
21
75
3. Anthony Elanga
20
74
4. Bukayo Saka
19
60
5. Cole Palmer
19
71
6. Jacob Murphy
19
56
7. Son Heung-min
19
65
8. Bruno Fernandes
18
71
So, there is a clear difference in their chance creation, but as far as their other attributes go, they’re very alike.
Crucially, not only are they both Premier League proven, something that neither Sesko or Gyokeres can shout about, they share similar traits such as the ability to play on the shoulder of the last man and run in behind.
In Havertz and Mikel Merino, Arteta has two players who lead the line with their back to goal. They don’t have the pace of Watkins or Isak to run beyond the defence. It’s an attribute they have sorely missed in the last few seasons.
They’re also rather proficient carriers of the ball. Over the last two seasons, Newcastle’s star man has registered 2.71 progressive carries per 90 minutes, actually beating Watkins’ efforts of 1.81 per 90.
They combine that with raw pace, too. During Euro 2024, Watkins was clocked at a top speed of 32.4 km/h while Isak has previously been clocked at 33.6 km/h. In comparison, Merino was the third-slowest player in the Premier League at one point during 2024/25, hitting a top speed of just 29.7 km/h.
So, it’s evident Arsenal need someone who’s a bit more mobile. Isak would guarantee this but with the Swede off the table, Watkins is surely the next best thing as far as proven players in the English top-flight go.
He’s a competent ball carrier, he’s got pace and he’s more efficient in front of goal than the aforementioned Sesko. He’s also far better at creating chances. Over the last two seasons, the England international has amassed 56 goal contributions while Sesko has only managed 34.
If Arsenal want a win-now solution, Watkins is the man.
He's more proven than Gyokeres: Arsenal in talks to sign £63m "monster"
Arsenal could sign a proven elite striker instead of Viktor Gyokeres.
ByMatt Dawson Jun 15, 2025
Chelsea’s transfer policy under owner Todd Boehly has seen them sign plenty of under-21 starlets over the past few years. It has been a real focus of the Blues since Boehly became the majority owner at Stamford Bridge, with one of the best examples being Cole Palmer, who Jamie Carragher said in October is “the best player in the Premier League”.
However, the England international, who has been sensational in a Chelsea shirt, is not the only under-21 to excel at Stamford Bridge. One example would be Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia, described as “one of the best midfielders” when at full fitness by manager Enzo Maresca.
Well, Chelsea could be looking to add to the list of talented players to join the club as an under-21, if one transfer rumour is to be believed.
Chelsea’s latest under-21 transfer target
As we know, the Blues have not been afraid to bring highly-rated young players. 2025 will be no exception, with deals for attacking pair Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian, plus young midfielder Dario Essugo, already agreed.
The next player to add to that list could be Dean Huijsen. The 20-year-old Bournemouth centre-back has been linked with the Blues by Fabrizio Romano. The highly-reputable journalist reports the Blues are ‘ready to trigger’ Huijsen’s £50m release clause, and are looking to do the deal in the next month or so.
However, they are not the only side that will try to sign Huijsen. The Spain international is also a target for Spanish giants Real Madrid, and the Blues’ Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool will also look to trigger his release clause.
Why Huijsen would be a good signing
There is no doubt that winning the race to sign Huijsen this summer will be tough for Chelsea, but if they manage it, they will be adding an elite talent to their squad. The Spaniard is a “sensational” player, according to football analyst Ben Mattinson.
He has been a pivotal figure at the back for the Cherries this season, who have been excellent in the top flight. He has featured in 34 games across all competitions, notching up 30 of those in the top flight, managing to score three times, too.
Chelsea will surely be encouraged by the fact that the 20-year-old machine has been part of one of the Premier League’s best defences this season. According to Sofascore, the 43 goals Bournemouth have conceded are bettered by just two sides, and they have kept eight clean sheets.
Signing Huijsen this summer could be ideal for the West Londoners if they miss out on signing Marc Guehi. According to a recent report from TEAMTalk, Newcastle United have ‘leapfrogged’ Chelsea in the race to sign their former academy star from Crystal Palace.
Just like Bournemouth’s Spanish defender, Guehi has been a key man at the heart of the Eagles’ defence, in what has been a fantastic season so far.
He has played 43 games across all competitions, chipping in with three goals and helping lead his side to an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
Cost will surely not be a factor in the Blues’ decision this summer. There is just £4m difference between the pair, given Palace reportedly want £46m for Guehi. Thus, it seems like a decision Chelsea will surely make based on who they think is a better player.
The stats on FBref actually suggest that Huijsen might be a better signing than Guehi for the Blues. For example, in the Premier League this season, the Cherries defender averages 3.33 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, compared to 2.62 tackles and interceptions each game for Huijsen.
Progressive passes
4.96
3.94
Tackles and interceptions
3.33
2.62
Clearances
7.17
4.76
Progressive carries
1.55
0.65
Aerial duels won
2.56
2
There is certainly plenty of evidence to support the fact that Huijsen would be a better addition to the playing staff at Stamford Bridge. His quality in and out of possession would certainly raise the ceiling in West London.
Although £50m is a sizeable amount of money to invest, there is no doubt about the quality of player Chelsea would be signing.
Big Jackson upgrade: Chelsea to enter talks to sign "world-class" £60m star
Chelsea could be about to land a star who become Enzo Maresca’s new star man in the final third.
ByEthan Lamb May 13, 2025
Liverpool’s victory over bitter rivals Everton last night saw Arne Slot’s side claim their 22nd Premier League win of the season, pushing them one step closer to the title.
The Reds may have struggled to produce their best display, but Diogo Jota’s strike in the 57th minute secured all three points – making amends for their draw against the Toffees in February.
Slot’s side now have a 12-point buffer over Arsenal with just eight league outings remaining – looking to be in pole position to claim their second title in the last six seasons.
Serious credit should be given in the direction of the Dutchman for his work in 2024/25, allowing for a seamless transition after taking the reins from Jürgen Klopp in the summer.
Numerous players managed to thrive in the Derby Day environment, many of which will have given the manager a selection headache ahead of the last couple of outings.
Liverpool’s star performers against Everton
Curtis Jones was forced to operate in a natural right-back role given the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley over the last few weeks.
However, the academy graduate produced a superb display, completing 93% of the passes he attempted, whilst also completing 100% of dribbles – thriving with the ball at his feet.
Luis Diaz has been an inconsistent figure in recent months, only netting one goal in 2025, but managed to tee up Jota for the only goal of the encounter.
The Colombian created six chances during his spell on the pitch – the most of any player – whilst also completing five dribbles, highlighting the threat he posed in the final third.
One other first-team member impressed throughout, undoubtedly cementing himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet as a result of his showing.
The Liverpool player who’s now as important as Salah
Mohamed Salah has been a crucial reason for Liverpool’s success in 2024/25, registering a staggering 54 combined goal contributions in his 44 outings to date.
However, the Egyptian’s future remains up in the air with just a couple of months remaining on his contract, with no news yet to be released on whether he will sign a new deal.
Undoubtedly, losing a player of his quality would be a huge loss for the Reds, with the hierarchy desperately needing to prevent losing the star man on a free transfer.
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has enjoyed a superb rise during his compatriot’s reign, becoming a key player in their success and cementing his place at the heart of the side.
He’s started every single Premier League outing this campaign, notching two assists and forming an excellent partnership with Alexis Mac Allister in recent months.
Last night was no different for the 22-year-old, completing 72 passes at a completion rate of 89%, with ten of his passes going into the final third and finding a teammate.
Minutes played
90
Touches
102
Passes completed
72/81 (89%)
Passes into final third
10
Dribbles completed
1/1 (100%)
Clearances made
2
Interceptions made
2
He also notched a tally of 102 touches, whilst also managing to complete a dribble and looking positive every time he had the ball at his feet.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Defensively, he also managed to impress, making two clearances and two interceptions whilst also managing to make seven recoveries – highlighting his impressive performance at the base of midfield.
As a result of his showing, he was handed a 7/10 match rating by Football Insider journalist Toby Wilding, showcasing how impressive his showing was for Slot’s men.
Given his performance, it’s evident that the former Bayern Munich man has enjoyed a revival at Anfield, looking to be a shrewd addition under his compatriot.
His showing last night was evidence of the talent possesses, undoubtedly being one of the first names on the teamsheet, arguably being as important as Salah to Slot given his emergence this season.
He's better than Frimpong: Liverpool working on deal to sign "complete" RB
Liverpool are already working on a deal to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.
ByEthan Lamb Apr 2, 2025
And which Indian Test bowler has sent down the most overs after age 35?
Steven Lynch02-Sep-2025Mackay in Australia hosted a one-day international again recently for the first time in 33 years. Was this a record gap for a single venue? asked Karthik Ramanan from India
The Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay staged two matches in Australia’s recent off-season white-ball series against South Africa. The ground – formerly known as Harrup Park – had previously held just one men’s international, the match between India and Sri Lanka during the 1992 World Cup. That one lasted only two balls before it rained, so the locals had to wait a long time for some meaningful cricket (men’s, anyway; the ground has staged five women’s white-ball internationals).The 33-year gap between men’s internationals is the second longest for any ground, and the identity of the first one is a bit of a surprise, considering the ground concerned had held its country’s first Test: it’s St George’s Park in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), which saw no international cricket between Tests against England in February 1914 and March 1949, a gap of more than 35 years.Mackay lies second, but there’s another slight surprise in third place: Edgbaston in Birmingham did not have an international match for nearly 28 years between 1929 and 1957. There were only Test matches back then, so no opportunities for occasional ODIs or T20Is.The Bulawayo Athletic Club in Zimbabwe went more than 25 years without staging a men’s international (1992-2018), while Essex’s County Ground in Chelmsford went almost 24 years without one between the 1999 World Cup and Ireland’s transplanted home series against Bangladesh in May 2023.I noticed in On This Day that Richard Illingworth scored 13 in both innings of his Test debut. I’m assuming that two ducks is the most common such double, but what’s the highest? asked David Cohen from Australia
Ten men managed a higher debut double than Richard Illingworth’s brace of 13s against West Indies at Trent Bridge in July 1991. Highest of all was two 36s, by South Africa’s Dan Taylor against England in Durban in February 1914. Dan was the younger brother of Herbie Taylor, one of South Africa’s early greats, and their captain in that series.Syed Abid Ali of India and Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar both scored twin 33s on debut, while in the 19th century Bernard Tancred made two 29s in South Africa’s very first Test, against England in Port Elizabeth in March 1889. The England pair of Arthur Carr and Mark Ramprakash both started their Test careers with two scores of 27.You’re right that a pair of ducks is the most frequent (and most unwanted) debut double: in all, 46 men and nine women have suffered this fate.Who has bowled the most overs among Indian Test fast bowlers after 35 years of age? And who has taken the most wickets? asked Chetan Mishra from New Zealand
The fact is there haven’t been many Indian fast bowlers aged 35 or more: top of the list is Lala Amarnath, with 28 wickets, followed by Zaheer Khan with 16 and Umesh Yadav with 12. Amarnath bowled the equivalent of 503 overs, Zaheer 195.3, and Yadav 124. Vijay Hazare bowled the equivalent of 199 overs at a fairly modest pace, and took only nine wickets.If you lump in all Indian bowlers then Anil Kumble leads the way with 154 wickets after turning 35, while R Ashwin took 114 (note that this could exclude wickets taken in matches during which the player celebrated his 35th birthday).Among pace bowlers worldwide, James Anderson took the remarkable total of 224 Test wickets after his 35th birthday, while Courtney Walsh had 180 and Richard Hadlee 116.Lala Amarnath sent down about 503 overs and took 28 wickets after turning 35•Getty ImagesWhich Test ground (which has staged more than ten matches) has the highest average runs per wicket? I’m thinking Adelaide Oval… or perhaps somewhere in Pakistan? asked Andrew Dowling from China
An interesting question, and your first guess is not far off: as this list shows, Adelaide Oval lies seventh overall, with an average of 35.07 runs per wicket, and it has staged many more Tests than the grounds above it – 83 so far, with Georgetown’s Bourda Oval (36.26) next of those higher up, with 30 matches.On top overall is the Antigua Recreation Ground, with an average of 38.47 runs per wicket from 22 Tests: next comes McLean Park in Napier, which just scrapes in with ten Tests, in which the average is 37.99. After Bourda (and not including Adelaide), there’s a run of subcontinental grounds: Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium (36.07), Mohali (35.7), Chattogram (35.16), Lahore (35.05), Kanpur (34.9), Delhi (34.86), the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo (34.73), Rawalpindi (34.71) and Ahmedabad’s Modi Stadium (34.5). The top English ground is Trent Bridge in Nottingham at 32.55.I gather from Wisden that Shane Warne dismissed 236 different batsmen in his career. Is this a record? asked N Ravikanth from India
I suppose this is the opposite to last week’s question about the bowler with the most unique wickets. You’re right that Shane Warne dismissed 236 different batters in Tests, but the list is headed – as you might expect – by the overall leading wicket-taker, Muthiah Muralidaran. He’s clearly fond of round numbers, as he took 800 wickets in all, made up of 300 different opponents.Warne actually lies fourth on this list, also behind Anil Kumble, who dismissed 264 different batters, and James Anderson (263). He’s just ahead of Stuart Broad (234).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions
Here’s a look at where the game between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai can be won and lost in Ahmedabad
Sidharth Monga25-May-2023This is a classic tussle between an incomplete team going all out with the bat and a more rounded, consistently successful team looking to back its bowlers and their experience to contain the aggressive batting. Mumbai Indians have scored 65.9% of their runs in boundaries, the highest; only Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals have done worse than Gujarat Titans’ 58.65%. Mumbai have tried to hit a boundary every 2.3 balls, Titans every 3 balls.On the other hand, the top two wicket-takers in the league are Titans bowlers. They have taken a wicket every 17.3 balls, Mumbai every 20.5 balls. These bowling exploits let Titans play a more conservative game with the bat. Perhaps forced on Mumbai because of the injuries to their bowlers, their style has now become a clash of T20 cultures. It will all come to a head in Ahmedabad.Here’s what advantage the teams will look to take over the other.Related
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