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The new season kicks off in less than a month for Celtic and they are yet to dip into the market to make their first signing of the summer transfer window.

Kilmarnock await the Bhoys at Paradise in the opening match of the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign and it remains to be seen whether or not there will be any new faces for the supporters to look forward to seeing in action.

A new number one is on the agenda for the Hoops after Joe Hart officially retired from professional football at the end of May, following three seasons in Glasgow.

Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka and Croatia star Dominik Livakovic have both been linked with transfers to Parkhead to fill the vacant position.

Along with a new first-choice shot-stopper for Brendan Rodgers, the Premiership champions could also look to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season.

Celtic were held to a 1-1 draw by lower league side Ayr in their first pre-season friendly, with their only goal coming via Kyogo Furuhashi's penalty, and they may want to improve their firepower before the window slams shut.

Celtic pursuing deal for Irish striker

According to the Daily Record, the Hoops are 'confident' of securing a deal to sign centre-forward Adam Idah on a permanent basis from Norwich City.

The report does not, however, reveal what their next step is with the Canaries or how much they are prepared to pay to land the Ireland international.

BBC Sport reported last week that the English Championship side officially rejected an offer of between £4m and £5m from the Hoops for the 6 foot 3 attacker.

The outlet added that the Yellows are not actively looking to cash in on their talented academy graduate, as Johannes Hoff Thorup – who replaced David Wagner this summer – is keen to take a look at him in pre-season.

HITC then published a claim that it could take a fee of up to £8m to sign the 23-year-old marksman from Norwich, who are said to be open to selling the attacker for the right price.

This latest report from the Daily Record states that the club are confident, though, and this suggests that they feel they can reach an agreement with the Canaries.

They may either be ready to splash out £8m to make it happen or they could reach a compromise and pay a fee between £5m and £8m to secure his services.

If the Bhoys can eventually get a deal over the line for the Irish sensation then they could repeat the masterclass they played with the signing Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain.

Celtic's Odsonne Edouard masterclass

The Hoops initially signed the French centre-forward on loan from the Ligue 1 giants for the 2017/18 campaign and he enjoyed a solid debut season at Parkhead.

Edouard ended the term with a return of nine goals and three assists in 22 Premiership appearances for the Scottish giants, with three goals and one assist in three top-six split matches.

His form during that loan spell convinced the Bhoys to splash out a club-record transfer fee of £9m to sign him from PSG on a permanent deal in the summer of 2018.

18/19

32

15

6

19/20

27

22

11

20/21

31

18

6

21/22

4

2

1

Total

94

57

24

As you can see in the table above, Edouard then went on to prove himself to be a prolific scorer for the Premiership side over the next three-and-a-bit years.

He averaged more than one goal every other game in the league for Celtic over just over three seasons as a permanent player, following his loan, and that attracted interest from elsewhere.

In the summer of 2021, Premier League outfit Crystal Palace swooped in to sign the French marksman in a £14m deal that could rise to a whopping £18.5m.

This shows that they pulled off a masterclass with the signing of Edouard as they made a significant profit on the £9m they spent to snap him up after his initial loan stint.

Therefore, their bold decision to smash their club-record transfer fee to ensure that they landed him on a permanent deal turned out to be a blinder.

Why Adam Idah could be Odsonne Edouard 2.0

Whilst the £8m figure touted for Idah would not break the club's transfer record, signing the Norwich ace looks set to take a huge amount of money for Celtic and they should now press ahead to sign him as the Irishman could turn out to be Edouard 2.0.

At the age of 23, they would be signing a centre-forward who has plenty of time left on his hands to develop and improve over the years to come.

This means that the £23k-per-week attacker could grow whilst working with Rodgers on the training pitch and increase his value by performing well on the pitch for Celtic.

That could then attract interest from elsewhere and land him a big-money move back down south to net the Hoops another huge payday, which was also the case with Edouard.

Idah's form for the club during his loan spell at Parkhead in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to follow in the Frenchman's footsteps to become a consistent and lethal scorer in the Premiership.

Appearances

15

Starts

5

Goals

8

Big chances missed

7

Conversion rate

27%

Minutes per goal

76

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland international racked up a staggering eight goals in just five league starts for the Scottish giants.

Idah, whose ability was hailed as "incredible" by Rodgers, averaged a goal every 76 minutes – more than one every 90 minutes – and that was considerably better than Kyogo's return of one goal every 179 minutes in the division.

Imagine him & Idah: Celtic in talks to sign £4m star

The Hoops are reportedly pursuing a deal to snap up the talented midfielder.

1 ByDan Emery Jul 7, 2024

Therefore, Celtic must now sign the Norwich gem on a permanent deal this summer in the hope that he can carry that form over to a full season in Scotland and push on to become Edouard 2.0 at Parkhead.

Celtic have just over two months left to complete the business they want to do in the summer transfer window, which opened just over a week ago.

The Hoops are coming off the back of a domestic double in the 2023/24 campaign under Brendan Rodgers, who returned for a second spell at Parkhead last summer.

A Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup last month ensured that the Bhoys collected some silverware, after they had been knocked out of the League Cup and the Champions League during the first half of the season.

The Northern Irish head coach could be forced to make changes to his forward department in the summer window, with players moving away and possibly coming in.

Belgian giants Genk have been linked with a swoop for South Korea international Hyeon-gyu Oh and are said to have tabled a bid of around £4m for his services.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether or not Adam Idah will join on a permanent basis from Norwich City after his initial loan, with new Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup wanting to look at him in pre-season before making a decision.

Celtic's interest in SPFL centre-forward

The Athletic recently reported that the Hoops are one of a number of clubs interested in a possible deal to sign centre-forward Theo Bair from Motherwell this summer.

It was stated that both Old Firm teams – Celtic and Rangers – are eyeing up the Canada international after his exploits in the Premiership last season.

The outlet added that a host of German sides are also keen on the SPFL marksman, which shows that there will be plenty of competition to land his signature over the coming weeks.

It remains to be seen whether or not Motherwell are prepared to cash in on their star striker, or how much they would be willing to sell him for if they were.

Meanwhile, Norwich are said to be looking for a fee of at least £6m for Idah amid Celtic's interest in bringing him back to Parkhead on a permanent basis.

However, as aforementioned, the English Championship side are set to take a look at him in pre-season so that their new manager can judge whether or not the Ireland international will be a part of his plans moving forward at Carrow Road.

Rodgers could now forget all about a swoop for the 6 foot 3 dynamo by winning the race to sign Bair from Motherwell ahead of Rangers and the German teams keen on him.

Adam Idah's loan spell with Celtic

The Irish attacker arrived at Paradise on loan from Norwich in the winter window earlier this year and hit the ground running as an impressive goalscorer.

Kyogo Furuhashi endured a difficult season in front of goal as the Japan international spurned a staggering 24 'big chances' and only scored 14 times in 38 league appearances.

That meant that the Hoops needed another player to step up and provide the firepower needed to get them over the line in the Premiership and that is what Idah did during the second half of the campaign with eight goals in 15 outings.

Appearances

15

Starts

5

Goals

8

Big chances missed

7

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the Canaries academy graduate stepped up with a much-needed goalscoring burst without even starting games on a regular basis.

However, Rodgers and his staff need to judge whether it was a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come from the 23-year-old attacker, who had previously struggled to score goals on a consistent basis.

Idah only scored 17 goals in 115 appearances in all competitions for Norwich after breaking through from the academy, and never managed more than six goals in a single league campaign for them.

The risk for Celtic is that they pay £6m, or more, to acquire his services and his form reverts back to what it was in Norfolk instead of carrying on from where he left off at Parkhead.

A similar issue is also there with Bair, who is coming off the back of the best season in his career to date, but the Motherwell man has proven his quality over the course of a full season as a starter, whereas Idah was predominantly on the bench for Celtic.

Why Celtic should sign Theo Bair

The Canada international, who is currently competing at the Copa America with his country, was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for the 2023/24 campaign, thanks to his fantastic performances on the pitch.

Fascinatingly, the 24-year-old ace joined Motherwell from Premiership rivals St. Johnstone last summer after a dismal return of one goal in 27 league games.

Perhaps he needed that first year of Scottish football to adapt to the league as his form in his second term proved to be the polar opposite of his initial struggles, which could also be put down to a change in environment.

Bair started 31 of his team's 38 Premiership matches last season and caught the eye with 15 strikes, which earned him a place in the Team of the Year, and this shows that he can provide a consistent goal threat whilst starting week-in-week-out.

Appearances

38

38

Goals

15

14

Big chances missed

11

24

Conversion rate

21%

14%

Aerial duel success rate

41%

26%

As you can see in the table above, the Canadian dynamo also significantly outperformed Kyogo in terms of his quality as a goalscorer in the division.

Bair, who also recorded six assists for his teammates to go along with his goal threat, missed 13 fewer 'big chances' whilst scoring one more goal than the Celtic forward.

Now, imagine how many goals the young marksman, who manager Stewart Kettlewell described as "unplayable at times", could score if he had the high-quality chances that Kyogo had created for him in a Hoops shirt.

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ByDan Emery Jun 24, 2024

He could emerge as a superb scoring option for the Bhoys and an upgrade on the wasteful Japanese striker, which would then allow Rodgers to forget all about signing Idah on a permanent deal from Norwich.

Sunderland fans won't quite know what to expect from the new Frenchman occupying the Black Cats dug-out now, with Regis Le Bris joining from Lorient to put an end to the lack of a permanent boss troubling those on Wearside.

Fresh off relegation in Ligue 1, before walking away to move to England, Le Bris will be judged solely on how he copes with the pressures of Championship football.

Yet, the Sunderland fanbase will be wanting and almost demanding a much improved season ahead, after finishing in a dire 16th spot last campaign.

That will be easier said than done, however, with the pressures of the Sunderland job post proving too much for some in recent memory, but the relative unknown entity in the Black Cats hot-seat could begin to endear himself to his new set of supporters if he was to get rid of a forgotten, injury-prone figure soon.

Dennis Cirkin's time at Sunderland

Once a promising first-team gem at the Stadium of Light, it's fair to say Dennis Cirkin's career for the Wearside outfit is now a sorry state of affairs.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youth product had an extremely productive 22/23 campaign, before becoming plagued with injuries this season just finished, with five goals managed from down the left-flank.

Since then, however, Cirkin has found himself regularly in and out of the treatment room at Sunderland, with only eight games managed in the Championship during the entirety of the 23/24 season.

That caused a whole host of issues for the struggling Black Cats consequently, with a lack of a nailed-down left-back making this a problem area for the various different managers that walked in and out of Sunderland before Les Bris' arrival.

It remains to be seen whether the injury-prone 22-year-old is in Les Bris' plans going forward, with the likes of Leo Hjelde and Aji Alese at his disposal at left-back as well, with Cirkin's excessive wage a potential factor as to why Sunderland could be prepared to offload the ex-Spurs defender soon.

Cirkin's wage at Sunderland

As per Capology, Cirkin's salary at Sunderland currently stands at a handsome £10k-per-week, meaning he earns the same amount as Anthony Patterson in-between the sticks at the Black Cats, despite Patterson being everpresent last season in the league, minus the final day.

Cirkin's hefty pay packet actually remarkably makes him a higher earner than wanted man Jobe Bellingham, who earns just £6.5k-per-week, even with the 18-year-old being fresh off a breakthrough season at the Stadium of Light.

Plenty more will be presumably expected of him under Les Bris' guidance, after picking up seven goals and a solitary assist from 47 appearances during his debut season.

1. Jack Clarke

£16.9k-per-week

2. Daniel Ballard

£15k-per-week

3. Bradley Dack (now released)

£15k-per-week

4. Patrick Roberts

£12.5k-per-week

5. Anthony Patterson

£10k-per-week

= 5. Dennis Cirkin

£10k-per-week

Sunderland have shown they won't hesitate in binning off high earners too, as seen in Bradley Dack being let go of on the club's recent retained list, who earned an excessive £15k-per-week.

Cirkin could be the next for the chop, therefore, with Sunderland hoping that another club would gamble on his services if they were to put him up for sale, hoping that he can become injury-free again and shine.

Le Bris might well see something in Cirkin this pre-season, on the contrary, and pray that he can be a star under his tenure, but the former Tottenham man's spell playing at the Stadium of Light could soon be over, especially if more unfortunate injuries come his way.

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ByKelan Sarson Jun 24, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten run across all competitions has now extended to three games across all competitions after Tuesday’s Champions League win over Slavia Prague.

The Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory in Europe after penalties from Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and an own goal from opposition defender David Zima.

Thomas Frank looks to have finally found a winning formula, as seen in recent weeks, after previously failing to win in any five matches, four of which came in the Premier League.

Some may argue that the Dane is starting to get the best out of his current playing squad, with a period of adaptation evidently needed after his summer appointment.

However, despite the three-goal triumph in North London last night, the manager will no doubt have seen some glaring flaws that will need correcting in the weeks ahead.

Spurs's biggest underperformers against Slavia Prague

After starting each of the last four games on the substitutes bench, winger Wilson Odobert was handed the chance to start from the off against Slavia Prague.

However, the Frenchman struggled to make the desired impact, as seen by his tally of 86% duels lost, leading to his withdrawal in the 76th minute of the clash.

Other figures, such as zero dribbles completed and two big chances missed in the final third, also highlight his lack of positive impact despite Frank’s faith shown in the youngster.

He wasn’t alone in struggling to deliver during the win, with Pedro Porro unable to produce the regular attacking quality the fanbase have become accustomed to in recent years.

The Spaniard only managed to complete one of his five attempted crosses, whilst completing just 66% of the passes he attempted – largely being ineffective when in possession.

He also failed to win any tackles against the Czech side, whilst failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – showcasing his lack of quality at both ends of the pitch in North London.

Spurs star needs to be dropped after Slavia Prague

Spurs have spent heavily over the last couple of years to try and be competitive in the Premier League and try and compete for titles under Frank in the years ahead.

In the recent summer alone, the Lilywhites hierarchy backed the manager with over £120m worth of funds to make an immediate impact during his first year at the helm.

Xavi Simons was just one of the additions made by the hierarchy during the off-season, but he’s struggled to make an impact across various competitions in recent months.

He went 17 games without a goal until last week, but the Dutch star has started to find his feet – as seen by his tally of two goals in his last two games for the Lilywhites.

The same can’t be said for striker Richarlison, who has constantly struggled for consistency after his own £50m transfer from Everton back in the summer of 2022.

The Brazilian international has been Frank’s starting centre forward for the majority of 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to net a total of seven goals across all competitions.

Whilst such a tally may seem respectable, he’s often gone missing in major moments this campaign, as seen against Slavia Prague in the meeting on Tuesday.

He was once again handed a start at the top end of the pitch, but he was unable to provide the goods in front of goal and was subsequently replaced in the 68th minute.

Richarlison was only able to register a measly tally of 22 touches, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 50 – showcasing his lack of impact in North London.

Minutes played

68

Touches

22

Passes completed

9

Possession lost

7x

Big chances missed

1

Aerials won

50%

Passes into final third

1

Fouls committed

2

He also only managed to complete nine passes and lost possession on seven separate occasions, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the Champions League clash.

The Brazilian also missed one big chance in front of goal and won just 50% of his aerial battles, often struggling to provide the focal point Frank has massively craved.

As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold, further showcasing his struggles in North London.

After such a showing, Frank must certainly be left with no choice but to drop the forward and hand the likes of Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani the chance to stake their claim for the number nine role.

Richarlison has no doubt been a decent option for Spurs over the last couple of years, but it’s becoming increasingly evident week on week that he’s not at the level needed for success.

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Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a new talisman in the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb 3 days ago

Richard Hughes was rightly lauded after overseeing a staggering summer transfer window for Premier League champions Liverpool, but any positivity has been scourged away by the dreadful form that has fractured Arne Slot’s reign.

Nine losses across 12 fixtures is bad enough, but the limp and toothless manner of many of the defeats – especially recent losses at Anfield against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League – underscores the severity of the crisis Slot is dealing with.

He needs to find answers, or else FSG will be forced into making a rare managerial dismissal. It’s inevitable that discussion is increasing about the security of Slot’s position.

That would be an outcome few of a Red persuasion would want, not least because of a shortage of options.

Jurgen Klopp’s name has been bandied about, but this is not realistic.

Who Liverpool could replace Slot with

Klopp draped the curtain on his Liverpool dynasty at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. He was tired. It had been a tough, gruelling, heavy metal career on Merseyside, where he had devoted nine years to restoring Anfield as a global superpower.

Premier League

1x

19/20

Champions League

1x

18/19

FA Cup

1x

21/22

Carabao Cup

2x

21/22, 23/24

Club World Cup

1x

19/20

UEFA Super Cup

1x

19/20

Community Shield

1x

22/23

There has been some discussion online as to whether FSG should push for a comeback, but this romanticised notion would fall flat.

Klopp is not the answer. His quasi-retirement has seen him assume the post of Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH, and it’s important to remember that the German tactician’s tactical shrewdness waned toward the end of his tenure. He was tired, after all.

But, if Slot is fired, Liverpool would need to find a replacement, and Spanish sources suggest Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is on the shortlist.

Iraola, 43, is one of the most exciting young managers in Europe, having shaped the Cherries into a front-footed and sharp attacking outfit.

Compensation pay would be required to pull him away from the Vitality Stadium, but given Iraola’s vision aligns with the club’s long-term project, he might be the one to go for.

Why Iraola could be perfect for Liverpool

It was a bold move for Bournemouth to ditch Gary O’Neil after the pragmatic manager steered the club to safety after promotion to the Premier League in 2022/23. A bold move, but one carried out with diligence, for Iraola was earmarked as a progressive option.

And Bill Foley must be delighted. In 2023/24, Bournemouth recorded a record points total (56) in the Premier League, leading​ journalist James Horncastle to hail him as “the best coach in the Premier League” for his sharp-witted and positive approach.

Iraola likes aggressive and high-octane football. He is not as turbo-charged in his approach as Klopp, but the Spaniard would infuse Liverpool with more risk-taking and directness than Slot prefers, albeit still maintaining an emphasis on retaining possession.

This could play to the strengths of Florian Wirtz, who has had a tough time since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m in the summer.

A silky and inventive attacking midfielder, the German has yet to register a goal involvement in the Premier League and has lacked the clarity and poise that was expected after the thrill of his official announcement.

There remains a world-class talent in there, and Wirtz’s woes come with the caveat that he has entered a dysfunctional tactical system.

Iraola’s focus on a 4-2-3-1 formation suggests that the 22-year-old could find a natural place at number ten. As per FBref, he does rank among the top 11% of positional peers in the English top flight this term for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.

This suggests that Wirtz has the potential to be a superstar in England, and Iraola can provide the stability and fluency of tactics to help realise that.

He might not be Klopp, but Iraola has labelled his tactics as being akin to “rock and roll”. Klopp’s famous branding of his vision as being ‘heavy metal football’ suggests that Liverpool might hit the jackpot by making this switch.

No one wants to see Slot be sacked, but this pitiful form and level of performance cannot be allowed to continue, and Iraola has the acumen to revive Wirtz and bring the champions back into the ascendancy.

Better than Isak: Liverpool join race for "one of the best RWs in the world"

Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure is crumbling before him, and FSG are considering changes.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 28, 2025

Leeds United are looking like they will have a huge fight on their hands to avoid relegation this season. Their first campaign back in the Premier League is not going to plan, with Daniel Farke’s side just one point clear of the drop zone at the moment.

The underlying numbers do not make for good reading if you are a Leeds fan, either. The West Yorkshire outfit have massively underachieved according to their expected points, which is 15.49xPTS, over four more than they actually have.

In attack, they’ve only scored ten goals, although Farke has continued to pick a similar front three across the season. That means Brenden Aaronson has kept his place in the side.

Aaronson’s disappointing form this season

As an attacking unit, Farke’s Leeds side have certainly left a lot to be desired. The Whites’ lack of form in front of goal has been an issue, as has the fact that they are struggling to create a substantial number of chances.

Aaronson is certainly someone who has underperformed. The USA international only has one goal and one assist this season, but has been one of Farke’s most trusted lieutenants.

He’s played all 11 games in the top flight this season, and has started all of the last eight.

In terms of output for the 54-cap American international, he’s only managed one goal and one assist so far this term.

Perhaps that is because he is playing on the right wing despite being a number ten by trade, but Leeds fans must surely be expecting better numbers.

As far back as last season, there have been question marks surrounding Aaronson’s ability.

Former Leeds defender Jon Newsome said, “I don’t think he’s at the level in my honest opinion,” implying the Whites could do better in that area of the pitch.

They might have the perfect Aaronson replacement already at the club, in a player who is thriving out on loan.

The on-loan Leeds star who could break into the first team

Perhaps Leeds can make better use of their talent in and around the first team squad, if not this season, then in years to come. Farke has shown trust in up-and-coming youngsters in the past, with Archie Gray a prime example a few seasons ago.

Another player who could fit that bill next season, when he returns to the club, is on-loan star Joe Gelhardt. The 23-year-old attacker is excelling in the Championship for Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals Hull City this term.

The versatile attacker, who can play on the right, as a number ten or at centre-forward, has seven goals and two assists in the second tier for the Tigers this season.

His form in recent weeks has been particularly impressive, with Gelhardt racking up seven goal involvements in just six games.

The Liverpool-born forward has certainly received lots of praise for his excellent form in a Hull shirt this season. Their boss, Sergej Jakirovic, described him as a “special” footballer and said that “he can reach the Premier League” one day.

It is easy to see how he could end Aaronson’s Leeds career next season, if he is given the chance to shine in a Leeds shirt. His underlying numbers this term are superior to the American’s. For example, he averages 0.8 goals and assists per 90 minutes compared to just 0.4 for Aaronson.

Goals and assists

0.8

0.4

Chances created

1.1

1.4

Take-ons completed

1.7

1.2

Ground duel success rate

54.55%

52.08%

Ball recoveries

5

4.6

Gelhardt – previously lauded as a “human wrecking ball” by Marcelo Bielsa – has never really been given a consistent chance at first-team level for the Whites. He’s only played 57 games across five seasons, with ten goals and assists in that time.

However, his performances this season will surely make Farke sit up and take notice.

Aaronson simply has not cut it in the Premier League, and with a talent like Gelhardt on their books, perhaps it is time Leeds give the 23-year-old a chance to shine next season.

Worse than Perri: Leeds dud is one of their worst signings in PL history

Leeds United have dropped some transfer clangers when looking back at their summer business.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 11, 2025

Liverpool are now reportedly ready to spend over £100m to sign Brighton & Hove Albion’s Yankuba Minteh in an attempt to solve one of Arne Slot’s glaring problems.

Winless in four Premier League games, Liverpool’s title defence has turned into an unexpected nightmare. Slot’s side have looked out on their feet even when clawing victories at the start of the campaign. For the first time in the Dutchman’s time at Anfield, he is under increasing pressure.

Defeat at Brentford was particularly damning. The Red were bullied in West London and a squad built on a £400m+ spending spree were silenced by some old faces in a stark reminder that money doesn’t always equal success.

Alas, what should concern those at Anfield the most is Slot’s recent admission that he’s yet to find a solution to the physical style that sides are implementing against Liverpool. In the era of Premier League football, the champions have simply been unable to compete, with Arsenal epitomising the change taking place in England’s top flight.

Former Anfield star Jamie Carragher recently echoed those struggles, saying: “Losing four games in a row for Brentford would be a disaster. To see the champions do it with the expenditure in the summer means we’re in crisis time for Liverpool right now.

“There will be a lot of serious questions asked in the dressing room between the players and the coaching staff and the people above the manager. When they’ve looked at what they’ve spent, they’ll be looking for a lot more.”

The solution may not even come internally for Liverpool either, who are ready to break the bank for Minteh in an attempt to at least fix one problem.

Why Liverpool are ready to break the bank for Minteh

According to FootAfrica, Liverpool are now ready to spend over £100m to sign Minteh from Brighton in 2026. The winger has enjoyed an impressive season so far and with the Reds looking to inject the directness that they lost when selling Luis Diaz in the summer, he has emerged as an ideal option.

Minutes

770

680

803

Goals

1

5

3

Assists

2

4

2

Successful take-ons

23

36

2

Although the goals are yet to come for Minteh, his take-on success is something to take note of when compared to Salah. The Egyptian, in one of his worst starts to a Liverpool season, has completed just two take-ons. Minteh, meanwhile, is already on 23 and still isn’t close to Diaz’s 36 for Bayern Munich.

Simply put, the Reds have not replaced Diaz’s direct ability with the ball which progresses play and maintains possession. Take that away and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ability to progress play with his passing range and Liverpool’s struggles begin to make sense.

The new Thiago: Liverpool "superstar" is becoming a "huge disappointment"

This Liverpool mainstay has flattered to deceive this season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 29, 2025

Described as “exciting” by scout Jacek Kulig, Minteh represents the type of player that Michael Edwards built his reputation on signing and should do so once again in 2026.

How Arne Slot has already replaced Salah

Manchester United are always on the hunt for top talent and could now be about to strike a deal for one of the world’s best goalscorers after making contact with his camp.

Man Utd sign Charlie Hardy as recruitment drive continues

Despite the transfer window being closed, the Red Devils have completed a deal to sign Derby County youngster Charlie Hardy as they continue to invest in talent for the future at Old Trafford.

The England Under-16 goalkeeper will sign a scholarship and is set to sign professional forms when he turns 17, becoming the latest in a long line of youthful additions, as broken by Andy Mitten of The Athletic.

While the club continue to search for a striker to lead the tline in years to come, Chido Obi-Martin continues to impress behind the scenes, and he isn’t the only one, with Carrington continuing to be a hub of excellence that can one day provide solutions at senior level.

Nevertheless, the here and now is what most Manchester United fans will be concerned with. Benjamin Sesko has made a bright start to his career in England, scoring two goals in eight Premier League appearances, though he is still finding his feet in new surroundings.

Sooner rather than later, Joshua Zirkzee could be on his way out of Old Trafford amid interest from West Ham United. Conceivably, this could pave the way for another striker to enter the building.

Financially, money generated from his sale may well be reinvested into the squad. Either way, movement in one direction will need to be followed with a counteraction to avoid Amorim’s squad being left short, something his side now reportedly plan to execute.

Man Utd make contact with Robert Lewandowski's camp

According to SPORT, Manchester United have made contact with the camp of Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who will be out of contract next summer if La Blaugrana opt not to activate his one-year extension clause option.

The outlet claim they will only do so if he continues to deliver in front of the target, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. are said to see the Poland international as someone who could help Sesko’s development if he were to swap La Liga for the Premier League

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Labelled a “goal machine” by Raphinha, the 37-year-old has scored four goals in nine matches this term. However, he is currently dealing with a muscle fibre tear and could be out for up to six weeks.

Of course, he will eventually recover, but one does have to wonder whether it would be worth taking a risk on someone who is clearly no longer in their prime from a fitness perspective.

Either way, Lewandowski is one of the best poachers on the planet and if Manchester United could afford his £350,000 per week wages, he may be worth taking a leap of faith for.

Can Viktor Gyökeres now kick-start his Arsenal career?

On Tuesday night, having been nine appearances for club and country without a goal, the Swedish striker scored twice in two minutes as the Gunners demolished Atlético Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League, named man of the match.

This takes Gyökeres’ tally to five goals for the club, all coming in home wins, now hoping this will be the start of a scoring spree, given that their upcoming opponents are Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley, Slavia Prague and Sunderland, before the small matter of a North London derby.

So, which teammate could truly get the best out of the man who proudly wears number 14 on his back, perhaps recreating Arsenal’s best-ever attacking partnership?

Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry's Arsenal legacy

Gooners of a certain vintage may well argue that they had the pleasure of watching the club’s two best attackers of all time play together, a key reason why Arsène Wenger’s side won the double in 2002 and were Invincible two seasons later.

Dennis Bergkamp spent over a decade in North London after arriving from Internazionale in 1995, scoring 120 goals and registering 116 assists for the club.

The non-flying Dutchman, a nickname given to him due to his aviophobia, was the archetypal number ten during a period where second strikers were on the rise in English football, with Eric Cantona at Manchester United and Gianfranco Zola at Chelsea.

Bergkamp was renowned for his impeccable first touch and mind-blowing technical quality, with Wenger praising his “exceptional brain” while Ian Wright believes that “Dennis changed the DNA” of the whole club, transforming from a defensive long ball team known as ‘boring boring Arsenal’ into the free-flowing side they would become, because Bergkamp was so good “you couldn’t bypass him”.

He would, of course, form a formidable partnership with Thierry Henry, who remains the Gunners’ all-time leading goalscorer with 228, the pair combining for a total of 18 Premier League goals during the 2003/04 season alone.

Unlike Arsenal’s current number 14, Henry was capable of producing magic moments all by himself, albeit it didn’t half help having Bergkamp, Robert Pirès, Freddie Ljungberg and others supplying him.

So, as Gyökeres looks to emulate Henry, now only 223 goals behind his all-time record, which may prove just out of reach, who could be his Bergkamp, thereby getting the best out of the Swede?

Arsenal's new Dennis Bergkamp

As already alluded to, the arrival of Dennis Bergkamp three decades ago was viewed as transformational, the only good thing Bruce Rioch did as manager, and the Gunners are now hopeful that Eberechi Eze’s move from Crystal Palace could have a similar effect.

Chalkboard

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

Well, the aforementioned Ian Wright certainly believes this could be the case, asserting that the move was “like when Bergkamp came”, adding “we need a player that has got a little bit more maverick… he’s a game-changer”.

Seemingly set to move to fierce rivals Tottenham, the last-minute U-turn which saw the boyhood Arsenal fan return home in August will forever remain a highlight of this season for supporters, irrespective of what the actual football delivers, emphasised by the reception he got when he was unveiled prior to the 5-0 demolition of Leeds.

So far, the England international opened his Arsenal account against Port Vale in the EFL Cup, while bagging his third assist for the club in mid-week, setting up Gyökeres to score the third during the demolition of Atlético Madrid.

The table below documents Eze’s influence over his new team.

Minutes

613

9th

Goals

1

8th

Assists

3

1st

Shots

16

4th

Shots on target

6

2nd

Big chances created

3

2nd

Key passes

7

7th

Shot-creating actions

23

5th

Goal-creating actions

4

2nd

Successful take-ons

10

2nd

As the table outlines, despite generally limited minutes, Eze’s creative influence has been on show so far, notching three assists, the joint-most of any Arsenal player, while also ranking second for big chances created and goal-creating actions.

Last season at Crystal Palace, he registered eight assists and created 11 Opta-defined big chances in the Premier League, hence why Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta pushed the boat out to sign him,

So, have there been signs that Eze and Gyökeres could work well in tandem?

Well, exhibit A in that regard would be the second goal during September’s 3-0 victory over Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, with Eze putting the ball on a plate for Gyökeres to fire home from mere picometers out.

As has been well documented, unlike Henry, Gyökeres is a striker very much reliant on others for service, touching the ball only 26 times on Tuesday, but scoring two goals, which is what he is in the team to do; to paraphrase Roy Keane, that’s his job!

With Ødegaard sidelined for another few weeks at least, much of the creative burden will fall on Eze, but he is more than capable of shouldering this responsibility.

While the pair have got a long way to go to be anywhere near as good as Bergkamp and Henry, they might just be able to fire the Gunners to a first Premier League triumph since those glory years.

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An encouraging new development regarding the future of West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has emerged, following a fresh development before the weekend Championship action.

West Brom prepare for Bristol City clash

The Baggies return to the field on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Bristol City to The Hawthorns for another important game in the promotion race. Their weekend opponents sit 11th in the Championship table and only five points adrift of Corberan’s eighth-place side, highlighting the importance of the game, as they look to pull eight points clear of them.

West Brom have endured a frustrating period of form in recent months, topping the table back in September before going on a long winless run, with so many draws thrown in. In fact, they have drawn 11 of their 21 league matches so far this season, leading to them falling out of the playoff places.

For Corberan, it has been such a frustrating period, and considering that managers are ultimately judged on results, there has been some understandable criticism aimed at him in recent times, during a season in which many expected the Baggies to be one of the leading contenders to win the Championship title.

That said, the 41-year-old has largely impressed since taking charge at West Brom back in 2022, guiding his side into the playoffs last season, being beaten by Southampton in the semi-finals. Now, a significant update has emerged regarding the future of the Baggies manager.

Encouraging update over Corberan's West Brom future

Despite a claim from AS [via Sport Witness] that Southampton have sent an “important offer” to West Brom boss Corberan, following the sacking of Russell Martin, they have instead agreed a deal with Ivan Juric, according to Fabrizio Romano on X.

For all the disappointment at West Brom’s form at times this season, this update still represents a real boost for the Baggies, considering what an influential figure Corberan has been over the past couple of years.

The fact that a Premier League club were actively trying to prise him away from a Championship club says a lot about his credentials, but it looks as though he is staying put. To see him leave The Hawthorns midway through the season would be a bitter pill to swallow.

Hopefully, Corberan feels that West Brom are the perfect club for him for the time being, believing that he can guide his West Brom team into the top flight in the coming months, masterminding an upturn in fortunes.

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That said, the lure of the Premier League is great for so many managers, both in terms of being able to test yourself against some of the best coaches in the world and also the financial benefits.

It remains to be seen if Corberan’s head could be turned by another approach from a different club, assuming Juric does complete a move to Southampton, but his sole focus is now hopefully on sealing promotion in the coming months.