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The January transfer window has been open for a week and Leeds United have been linked with a number of players as they look to bolster their squad.

Latest Leeds transfer news

It has been claimed by journalist Darren Witcoop that the Whites are one of a number of Championship clubs interested in a deal to sign Kieffer Moore from Premier League side Bournemouth.

The reporter has stated that the player currently favours a return to his former club Cardiff City, but Leeds, Norwich City, Ipswich Town, Coventry, and Sunderland are also in the running.

Daniel Farke's side are eyeing up a swoop to sign the Wales international this month and the German head coach could land an upgrade on Joel Piroe by winning the race for his signature.

Joel Piroe's season in numbers

The Dutch forward extended his poor run of form in front of goal to one strike in eight matches in all competitions with a blank against Peterborough in the FA Cup on Sunday.

He was brought in from fellow Championship side Swansea in the summer transfer window and has been primarily used in a supporting striker role behind Georginio Rutter.

However, Piroe has struggled at times, particularly recently, and his all-round performances have left plenty to be desired in the second tier.

Starts

Seven

Goals

One

Assists

Zero

Duels lost

24

The 24-year-old whiz has scored nine goals from 10.27 xG (Expected Goals) in 26 league appearances, which shows that he has slightly underperformed in front of goal, and only produced one assist for his teammates.

Piroe has also lost a staggering 71% of his aerial duels throughout the campaign and this indicates that the former Swans star has not provided a reliable physical outlet for Leeds at the top end of the pitch.

The statistics that show why Moore would be an upgrade on Piroe

Journalist Josh Bunting claimed that the "proven" Championship scorer Moore could "cause havoc" up front, in relation to a possible move to Sunderland, and that is exactly what he could do for Farke.

The German head coach could use the £15k-per-week titan as a battering ram for his side in the final third. He has the quality and physicality to lead the line brilliantly, which would allow Rutter to drop into a number ten role where his creativity could flourish in a deeper role with more space to work with.

In his last season in the second tier, Moore racked up nine goals, two assists, and four 'big chances' created in 15 starts for Cardiff and Bournemouth combined during the 2021/22 campaign.

He managed nine goals from 6.91 xG and this means that the towering centre-forward produced as many goals from less xG and provided more assists than Piroe has in ten more starts this season.

Appearances

27

Starts

12

Goals

Four

Aerial duel success rate

54%

Moore also plundered 20 goals in 40 league starts for the Bluebirds during the 2020/21 campaign, which shows that he can perform over the course of a season.

The 31-year-old ace also won 59% of his aerial duels that term and this suggests that the Cherries titan has far more quality in the air than Piroe and could, therefore, offer something different to Farke's team in the final third.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Moore could provide more quality in terms of his finishing and creativity, whilst also being a better outlet for the side with his physicality, and that is why he could be an upgrade on what Piroe has provided thus far.

Leeds United will be keen to make moves in the transfer market this window and now look set to wrap up an important piece of off-field business at Elland Road towards the end of the month.

Leeds United January rumours…

Following a period of keen anticipation, Leeds United alongside others are now well underway in the transfer window and they will be looking to conclude deals to finalise both incomings and outgoings in order to balance their squad depth.

Daniel Farke has indicated that he is happy with the options at his disposal, though he hasn't ruled out adding to his side over the next few weeks, as he stated in a recent press conference:

"I'm happy with our squad. I think we have a pretty balanced squad and in all areas. There's not one particular position where you think okay, there is definitely a need that you have to do something. But again, it's also I think, professional to stay awake and also to check if there are some options."

Leeds United want to sign "dangerous" new full-back in £8m+ transfer

He could replace Djed Spence at Elland Road.

ByDavid Comerford Jan 5, 2024

Hellas Verona defender Josh Doig and Bournemouth winger David Brooks were named as early targets for the Whites this month; however, it remains to be seen whether Farke will act to bring them in to try and aid his side's quest for promotion from the Championship.

In other news, Leeds United are also believed to be waiting in the wings for Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore, though the Bournemouth man is also attracting interest from Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Despite all focus being on dealings in the transfer market, news has emerged detailing that the 49ers Enterprises appear to have made an off-field appointment at Elland Road.

Leeds United set to hire Jordan Miles

According to Football Scotland reporter Mark Hendry, Leeds United are set to hire Aberdeen recruitment chief Jordan Miles and plan to offer him a major role in their transfer negotiations this summer after initially targeting him last month. The 33-year-old only joined the Dons from West Ham United in the summer; however, he is now expected to depart the Granite City for a compensation fee to take up a position at Elland Road.

Sammie Szmodics

Blackburn

25

16

3

Adam Armstrong

Southampton

26

13

9

Morgan Whittaker

Plymouth

26

13

5

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds

23

12

6

Jack Clarke

Sunderland

26

12

2

Jonathan Rowe

Norwich

24

10

2

One key caveat to the deal is that he will remain in post at Aberdeen until the end of the month despite attempts from the Whites to bring him south of the border before the window's conclusion. Nevertheless, they will need to wait to get their man, who will be tasked in the immediate term with trying to seek additions to help his current employers rise up the Scottish Premiership table.

Recruitment has improved at Leeds United since Nick Hammond arrived last summer as interim football advisor and shrewd signings such as Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Ethan Ampadu have gone on to make a marked impact at the club.

Now, the 49ers look to have landed a key appointment as they aim to restore Leeds United's status as a club capable of competing in the top bracket of English football.

Leeds United will undoubtedly be keen to continue assembling their squad over the next few weeks; however, one fan favourite could now move away from Elland Road this month, according to a report.

Leeds United seek January reinforcements

Leeds United have put up a commendable fight this campaign in the Championship and look set to be in the race for promotion under Daniel Farke; however, the German coach will be aware that his squad may require further surgery this month to reach their full potential at Elland Road.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has already kicked off some rumours over who the Whites could look to move for by suggesting that Leeds could look at Villarreal forward Ben Brereton Diaz; however, this would be more likely to form part of their summer transfer activity in light of loan interest from Sheffield United in the Chile international.

Recent reports also suggest that talks have already taken place between the Yorkshire outfit and Hellas Verona regarding left-back Josh Doig, who is also admired by Serie A pair Monza and Torino, alongside Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Injury problems could play a part in Leeds United's transfer activity following fitness problems surrounding Junior Firpo, Sam Byram and Stuart Dallas this term and Doig could be available for a mid-season transfer after contact was established between his intermediaries and the clubs in question.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

On the other side of the fence, one full-back could now be set to leave the Whites in January after interest in his services has come to light according to an outlet.

Luke Ayling could leave Leeds

According to Sky Sports News, Middlesbrough are keen to sign Leeds veteran Luke Ayling this month after his limited involvement under Farke this campaign.

Five similar players to Luke Ayling – (FBRef)

Player

Club

Jesus Gallardo

Monterrey

Ricardo Chavez Soto

Atletico San Luis

Raheem Edwards

CF Montreal

Juan Sanabria

Atletico San Luis

Carlos Isaac

Albacete

Reporter Hayley McQueen told viewers of the development, stating: "One line into us this morning and it concerns Leeds United and long-serving defender Luke Ayling. We understand that Middlesbrough have interest in signing the player who's made just eight league starts for Leeds this season. He actually hasn't featured since November, I'm sure that will be discussed and explored further."

Labelled "integral to everything Leeds do" by journalist Phil Hay, Ayling has made 15 appearances in all competitions for the Whites this term, notching one goal and one assist (Ayling statistics – Transfermarkt).

Farke has also recently given high praise to the former Arsenal youth player in an interview cited by The Yorkshire Evening Post showing his love for the player, stating: "I pretty rarely talk about something like this, but in terms of football, 'team-mate' and 'group' character, Luke Ayling is second to none and probably the best player I've ever worked with in these terms."

Nevertheless, at 32 years of age, Ayling may fancy a new challenge before entering the twilight years of his career and could opt to bring the curtain down on an eight-year stint at Elland Road.

A West Ham United ‘source’ has now shared some huge contract news out of Rush Green involving star winger Jarrod Bowen.

The Lowdown: Moyes eyeing new deals…

Aiming to maintain his team’s status as a Premier League force, Irons manager David Moyes is looking to tie down some of his key players, with the club tipped to table multiple new contract offers.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-newest-updates/” title=”West Ham newest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Declan Rice has apparently been offered a mega eight-year deal, according to talkSPORT, but there is currently no indication that he will put pen to paper.

Midfielder Tomas Soucek is another man at the London Stadium who has been at the centre of possible fresh terms, but talks have reportedly stalled and there is currently no confirmed update so far.

Now, as per Football Insider’s inside ‘source’, club owners GSB are seemingly eyeing another major in-house agreement.

The Latest: GSB eyeing major in-house agreement…

It is now believed that West Ham are set to offer Bowen a ‘huge’ new deal to fend off interested suitors this summer and are ‘planning to open talks’ with the player ‘within weeks’.

The source explained that Moyes’ star attacker is in line for a bumper pay rise as the Hammers seek to back their manager both in the transfer market and by keeping hold of their most crucial assets.

The Verdict: No-brainer…

Bowen has been nothing short of a revelation in east London over 2021/22, becoming one of their most potent attacking threats and enjoying no shortage of fine moments.

He finished West Ham’s memorable run to the Europa League semi-finals as their joint-top scorer in the competition with three goals, whilst also registering one assist and taking the joint-most shots at goal per 90 (WhoScored)

A pivotal player both domestically and in Europe, the 25-year-old has come on leaps and bounds since the start of this season, and we believe that securing him to a new deal is a no-brainer.

However, much like Rice, it will all depend on whether Bowen actually agrees to put pen to paper.

In other news: Moyes likely to make huge bid for ‘world class’ star after claim that he likes West Ham, find out more here

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Leeds United in the Premier League this afternoon, looking to return to winning ways after their draw in the Champions League in midweek.

Thomas Frank will no doubt want to return to league action with a bang, after only managing to secure a 1-1 draw against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.

However, on the whole, it’s been an impressive start to life in North London for the Dane, only suffering one defeat in his first nine matches after taking the reins in the summer.

Whilst Daniel Farke’s side are a newly-promoted outfit, they are still a side to be feared, with the Whites unbeaten in each of their last two top-flight outings.

If the Lilywhites are to have the best chance of avoiding a shock defeat at Elland Road, the manager desperately needs to drop one player who’s been extremely poor as of late.

Richarlison’s poor form in recent weeks

After scoring twice in the Premier League opener of 2025/26, there was a sense of excitement building at Spurs that Richarlison could be the man to lead the line under Frank.

While he’s managed to find the back of the net three times in his first six outings, the Brazilian has become a scapegoat in recent outings, given his lack of impact in the final third.

His recent showing against Bodo Glimt in the Champions League was arguably one of his worst of the campaign, only achieving a total of ten touches in his 90-minute performance.

Richarlison also only managed to complete two passes, whilst also losing possession five times – an average of once every two times he made contact with the ball.

The 28-year-old may have had limited opportunities, but he was also wasteful when the ball fell his way, subsequently missing one big chance and costing the Lilywhites a chance of claiming all three points.

The injury situation in attacking areas has been less than ideal for Frank, but he desperately needs to drop the Brazilian and hand one player the chance to flourish this afternoon in Yorkshire.

The player who needs to replace Richarlison against Leeds

Dominic Solanke has been Spurs’ main talisman over the last 12 months, often providing the goods within the final third before Frank’s arrival during the off-season.

The Englishman cost a club-record £65m last summer from Bournemouth and subsequently endured a solid first campaign in North London – scoring 16 goals across all competitions.

However, he’d found minutes hard to come by, only featuring for a total of 31 minutes in the Premier League, with an ankle injury preventing him from putting a consistent run together.

Another option that Frank must consider against Farke’s men is French star Mathys Tel, with the youngster needing a run of games to showcase his talents in North London.

The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with the Lilywhites, scoring three goals in his 20 appearances – but often struggled for consistency under Ange Postecoglou.

However, the hierarchy decided to fork out £30m for his signature during the off-season, with the board putting trust in the youngster to thrive in the years ahead.

Tel has only made four appearances in the Premier League this season, only one of which was from a starting position, with added minutes desperately needed to allow him to reach his full potential.

Despite his lack of action, he’s been labelled “Thierry Henry-like” by former fan-favourite Jermaine Defoe, further highlighting the talent he currently possesses.

The Englishman stated about his unbelievable ability to glide past his opponent, something which has been reflected in his tally of 67% dribble success rate in 2025/26.

Games played

4

Minutes played

104

Starts

1

Pass accuracy

83%

Crosses completed

0.9

Dribble success

67%

Duels won

6.9

Recoveries made

2.6

He’s also averaged 0.9 crosses per 90, along with 6.9 duels per 90 won – further highlighting his impressive all-round nature within attacking areas in North London.

It may be an unpopular call, but it’s one that needs to be done to give Frank the best chance of finding out his best eleven after taking the reins a few months ago.

Such a decision could give Richarlison the time he needs to recapture his form, which in time could create healthy competition for the Lilywhites within attacking areas.

Spurs already have dream Son heir who's yet to play in the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur could save themselves millions with a Heung-min Son replacement within their ranks.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

An exciting Newcastle United injury lift has emerged over the weekend regarding two first-team players…

What’s the talk?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has reacted to Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson both making their long-awaited returns from their respective knocks.

Both players came off the bench in what turned out to be a disappointing afternoon for the Toon army as they lost 5-0 to Manchester City at The Etihad in the Premier League.

After the match, The Chronicle quoted Howe as saying: “Massive boost for everyone connected at Newcastle to see them back. We have missed them.”

Supporters will be buzzing

The supporters will surely be buzzing with both of them being back in action for the Magpies for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it means that Trippier and Wilson can both have a say in where Newcastle finish in the league table. They are currently one point off the top half of the table and this means that they are in with a realistic chance of landing in the top-10 if they can pick up results against Arsenal and Burnley.

Both players being fit and available will be a boost because they have proven that they can put in top performances for the club. Trippier has averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.42 since arriving from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window and has scored two goals for the club to date, showing that he can make an impact in the final third whilst putting in sublime all-round displays from full-back.

Wilson, on the other hand, has scored 18 Premier League goals since the start of last season. He has found the back of the net six times in 14 starts this term after managing 12 goals and five assists in 23 starts in 2020/21, which shows that he is capable of being a match-winner for the Magpies with his knack for scoring goals.

Therefore, both players have the requisite quality to have a major say in Newcastle’s last two matches of the campaign. They can help the team to finish in the top half and that would be an exciting way to end Howe’s first season at the club.

The fans will also be buzzing with their availability as it means that they will be getting game time under their belt ahead of 2022/23. It means that they will not be arriving for pre-season with more work to do than the others as they have been fully integrated back into the group this month.

AND in other news, Forget Dubravka: £23k-p/w NUFC lightweight who lost 75% duels let Howe down badly…

Everton’s ongoing search for a reliable winger has become one of the defining narratives of their pre-season.

Following the departures of Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom, both of whom returned to their parent clubs after loan spells last term, manager David Moyes faces mounting pressure to reinforce his squad’s attacking width.

The club has cast a wide net in pursuit of fresh talent, but so far, the results have been disappointing.

One key target, Lyon’s Malick Fofana, one of Ligue 1’s most exciting young prospects, looks to have turned down a £31.5m move, reportedly preferring a move to a club competing in the Champions League.

That has left Everton to identify alternatives capable of filling the void quickly.

Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo has also been linked with a move to Goodison Park, but the Spanish side’s insistence on his £51.9m relegation release clause makes negotiations difficult.

Meanwhile, Como’s Assane Diao, who has impressed since arriving from Real Betis, is another name in the mix, but competition for his signature is fierce.

One of the most intriguing potential signings is Southampton’s 19-year-old Tyler Dibling, with the Toffees said to have made a £27m bid for his services. That offer was swiftly rejected, with it yet to be seen if a renewed approach will arrive.

Dibling is a player with a promising future and has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Dibling’s natural aggressiveness and ability to influence matches through direct running rather than intricate passing are traits increasingly valuable in modern football.

However, despite these qualities, Dibling remains largely unproven at the highest level.

Everton’s immediate needs may demand more than promise and potential.

Everton looking at Dibling alternative

Enter Jack Grealish. The 29-year-old England international has become a focal point of speculation in the Everton transfer saga.

Left out of Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad last December and struggling to find consistent game time, Grealish is reportedly available for transfer.

As per TEAMtalk, while his hefty £300k per week salary complicates the possibility of a permanent deal, Everton are willing to make a substantial loan bid in order to bring him in. There is said to be optimism on Merseyside that a deal can be struck.

Grealish’s versatility is a major asset. He can operate both as a winger and as an attacking midfielder, providing Moyes with tactical flexibility.

Transfer Focus

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

While last season saw him limited to just 721 minutes, his previous campaigns have demonstrated his class at the highest level.

Why Grealish could be the upgrade Everton need

According to data from FBref, during the 2022/23 treble-winning season, Grealish was a creative powerhouse, boasting 6.27 progressive carries per 90 minutes and averaging 4.55 shot-creating actions.

His pass completion rate was an impressive 84.1%, and he made nearly 34 touches in the attacking third every game.

This kind of influence and creativity is precisely what Everton have been missing.

Pep Guardiola, speaking in February following an FA Cup fourth-round win, encapsulated this spirit perfectly:

“Jack is one of those players that came to fight in these stadiums when the people shout; he is a fighter.”

This, combined with a proven record in the Premier League and international football, marks Grealish out as a safer bet compared to younger, less experienced targets.

Looking deeper into the profiles of Grealish and Dibling reveals the dilemma Everton face between short-term reliability and long-term potential.

Dibling’s statistical profile impresses in terms of physicality and defensive contribution.

He ranks in the 90th percentile or higher for several key metrics: fouls drawn (2.49 per 90), tackles in the midfield third (0.86), and percentage of dribblers tackled (61.5%).

He also ranks highly for shots blocked and successful take-ons, underscoring his combative style and willingness to engage opponents directly.

In an era where many players focus on limited touches and rapid distribution, Dibling’s approach of moving the ball with pace by dribbling is a distinctive asset that could unlock defences.

However, Dibling’s end product at the Premier League level remains limited: just two goals and one assist in a full season of appearances.

Everton’s current squad demands players who can immediately influence the attacking phase, and Dibling still has work to do to reach that level consistently.

Grealish, on the other hand, offers proven creativity and goal involvement at the top tier. With 27 Premier League goals and 39 caps for England, his experience is vast.

His impact when fully fit is undeniable.

His progressive passing and dribbling numbers during his peak season reflect a player capable of dictating play and carving open defences.

Furthermore, Everton’s financial situation means a loan deal for Grealish could provide immediate quality without a long-term financial commitment, balancing ambition and pragmatism.

Ultimately, Everton’s winger conundrum highlights a broader strategic choice: invest in a young, unproven talent with high potential or secure an experienced player who can deliver now.

Given the team’s recent struggles and urgent need for creativity, Grealish appears to be the upgrade Everton need, even if only temporarily.

The new James Rodriguez: Everton readying offer for "special" PL star

Moyes wants to reinforce Everton’s attack this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 30, 2025

It’s been an interesting summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far.

The club were quick to fire Ange Postecoglou and appoint Thomas Frank, but as things stand, have made just one genuine new first-team addition in Mohammed Kudus.

Compare that to fellow ‘big six’ side Liverpool, for example, and it simply doesn’t look like enough, as they’ve already signed stars like Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.

Moreover, the Reds now appear set to land the goalscoring extraordinaire Hugo Ekitiké, although, based on reports, Spurs could be looking to sign someone who has been compared to him, someone who is also an Arsenal target.

Spurs target the next Ekitike

While there is some understandable frustration from some Spurs fans this summer due to Kudus being the only new genuine first-team signing so far, there are still reasons to be positive.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, Daniel Levy and Co still seem intent on signing Morgan Gibbs-White, with some reports claiming that they’re set to make another improved offer of £65m, perhaps in a bid to placate and smooth things over with Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis.

Moreover, the North Londoners have continued to invest in promising youngsters, with Japanese centre-back Kota Takai joining for £5m, Mathys Tel making his move permanent for £30m and Croatian defender Vuskovic finally joining up with the first team after spending the last two years out on loan.

In fact, the club appear intent on adding even more promising prospects to the squad this summer, including one who could become their own Ekitike.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Sébastien Vidal, who claims Spurs are interested in Mainz gem Nelson Weiper.

The journalist has revealed that the Lilywhites have now joined the list of clubs keen on the Germany U21 star, a list that includes rivals Arsenal.

Vidal has revealed that an offer of €14m – £12m – should be enough to tempt the Bundesliga side into selling their exciting prospect this summer.

It might sound like a lot of money for someone relatively unknown in England, but Weiper looks like he could be something special, and he’s already been compared to the incredible Ekitike.

Why Weiper could be Spurs' future Ekitike

So, the first place to start is with the most concrete comparison to Ekitike, as we are well aware that it might sound a little absurd to compare an up-and-coming striker with someone who is set to cost £79m.

The comparison itself stems from FBref, which analysed players in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League over the last 365 days, and concluded that the French phenom is the second most similar forward to the Mainz ace.

While it might be hard to believe, the best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by exploring some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.64

0.77

Progressive Carries

1.67

1.86

Shots on Target

1.53

1.53

Live Passes

20.5

20.6

Tackles

0.64

0.56

Successful Take-On %

47.6%

43.7%

Aerial Duel Win %

43.6%

46.8%

While he still has plenty of developing to do, the fact the 20-year-old was able to take as many shots on target as Ekitike in the top-flight for a team that finished sixth is seriously impressive, and suggests he could become a real threat in dangerous areas.

In fact, you don’t even have to speculate too much, as across his junior career he has been a seriously prolific striker.

For example, in just 19 games for Mainz’s under-19s, he’s scored 22 goals and provided one assist, and in just 474 minutes for Germany’s U21s, he has scored four goals and provided one assist.

Ultimately, there is always going to be an element of risk in signing someone so young, but with the fee needed beingf relativley low, his impressive numbers and the compariosons to Ekitike, this feels like a risk worth taking for Spurs.

Better deal than Kudus: Spurs willing to pay £61m to sign "complete" star

Spurs are in talks to sign a Premier League star who is an even better signing than Mohammed Kudus for Thomas Frank.

ByDan Emery Jul 21, 2025

Celtic’s amazing head coach of recent times, Ange Postecoglou, achieved great success during his two years at Parkhead before a move to England.

The Australian boss, who won the domestic treble in his final campaign at Celtic, won the Scottish Premiership title in both of his seasons with the club.

Underpinning his success at Paradise was the excellent work done in the recruitment department, signing the likes of Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, Joe Hart, and Cameron Carter-Vickers among others.

Jota was, arguably, the greatest signing of Postecoglou’s tenure as he joined the Hoops for a reported fee of £6.5m, after thriving on loan in his first season at the club, as shown in the graphic below.

After his exceptional form in the 2022/23 campaign, Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad swooped in to sign the winger for a reported fee of £25m, representing a huge profit for the club, and the winger has since returned on a permanent deal from Rennes in January for £8m.

Not all of Postecoglou’s signings at Celtic paid off, though, and one of the most infamous, for lack of a better word, moves was the addition of James McCarthy in the summer of 2021.

The curious case of James McCarthy

Ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, the Scottish giants confirmed the double signing of Joe Hart on a permanent deal from Tottenham Hotspur and McCarthy on a free transfer from Crystal Palace.

At the time of that double deal, Postecoglou said: “I’m delighted that we have signed two top-class players in Joe and James. Both of them have a wealth of experience at both club and international level, and that is something which can only benefit the squad, and I’m looking forward to working with both of them.”

Hart went on to live up to that “top-class” tag with 64 clean sheets and only 145 goals conceded in 153 matches – less than a goal conceded per game – in three years at the club.

McCarthy, however, has not had the best of times at Parkhead so far and only played 22 times, racking up 739 minutes of action, in the 2021/22 campaign.

He followed that up with just 62 minutes on the pitch in five appearances in all competitions in the 2022/23 term, missing significant time through an injury picked up midway through the season – per The Scottish Sun.

Since the 2022/23 campaign, McCarthy has not made a single appearance for the first-team – playing two times for the B team in the Lowland League last season – and his current status is incredibly unclear.

24/25

0

£728k

23/24

0

£728k

22/23

5

£728k

21/22

22

£728k

As per The Scottish Sun earlier this year, there is a mystery surrounding the Irish midfielder because he has been removed from the club website, was not in the team picture in pre-season, and has not made a senior appearance since the 2022/23 campaign, yet Celtic have never confirmed his departure.

Per Salary Sport in the table above, the Hoops are still paying McCarthy £728k-per-season and Transfermarkt reports that the Irishman’s current deal does not officially expire until this summer, which means that the club appear to be paying a significant sum of wages for, essentially, nothing in return.

It is a bizarre situation and one that may be officially resolved in the summer if and when they confirm that he has left the club at the end of his deal.

Celtic, however, have another player who is fast becoming the new McCarthy, as another flop on fairly big wages despite rarely being seen on the pitch, in the form of Anthony Ralston.

Why Ralston is becoming the new McCarthy

Per Salary Sport, the Scotland international is on a weekly wage of £14k at Parkhead this season, with McCarthy being the only other player in the squad on the same wage.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

This means that he is currently on more money per week than Kasper Schmeichel (£13k), Nicolas Kuhn (£12k), Paulo Bernardo (£11k), and Luke McCowan (£8k), among other first-team stars.

That is despite Schmeichel being the number one goalkeeper and Kuhn delivering excellent performances this season, racking up 18 goals and 14 assists from a right wing position for the Scottish giants.

The German winger has, therefore, made a huge impact at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops in all competitions, providing quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Ralston, on the other hand, has only started five matches in the Champions League and the Premiership combined in the 2024/25 campaign, after starting six times in those two competitions last season.

The Scottish defender, who came up through the academy system, did start 61 Premiership matches between the 2019/20 and 22/23 campaigns, but has fallen down the pecking order in recent years.

24/25

5

£728k

23/24

6

£728k

22/23

14

£728k

21/22

25

£442k

20/21

1

£286k

19/20

21

£286k

18/19

3

£234k

17/18

7

£234k

16/17

1

£130k

As you can see in the table above, he has only started 11 league matches – alongside zero in Europe – since the start of the 2023/24 season for the Hoops, earning the best part of £1.5m in wages in that time.

The rarely-seen defender is, therefore, fast becoming the new McCarthy at Celtic as his number of league starts each season has declined year-on-year for the last four campaigns, despite still being a relatively high earner.

Ralston is currently earning more in wages than players, like Kuhn and Schmeichel, who offer far more on the pitch for the Bhoys, which suggests that the Hoops are throwing money down the drain with the reserve defender.

With this in mind, Celtic should consider moving the full-back on in the upcoming summer transfer window before his lack of minutes on the pitch reaches McCarthy’s territory.

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Unless Ralston can find a way to put himself back in Brendan Rodgers’ plans as a regular in the first-team, the 26-year-old flop is well on his way to becoming a forgotten man at Parkhead.

Leeds United want to sign an international forward in the summer who has been likened to former Newcastle United and Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic, according to a new report.

Leeds latest transfer news

Despite a recent drop-off in form, Leeds United are still well in the race for a return to the Premier League, two seasons after they dropped out of the division.

With just eight games to play, Daniel Farke’s side lead the Championship table, ahead of second-placed Sheffield United only on goal difference and two points clear of Burnley in third.

Whether that’s in the Premier League or the Championship, the Whites seem to already be preparing for next season, with a number of transfer targets reportedly already on their radar.

Among those are Southampton striker Cameron Archer, who was a target for the club in January, while, according to reports from Africa Foot, the Yorkshire club are also keen on signing Almeria forward Ibrahima Kone in the summer.

The most talked-about of Leeds’ potential summer transfers, however, is the proposed return of Kalvin Phillips. A recent report from TEAMtalk revealed that Leeds already have a verbal agreement with Phillips, who is currently on loan at Ipswich Town from Manchester City, to return to Elland Road if Farke’s side secures promotion back to the Premier League.

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Phillips himself is also said to be keen on returning to his boyhood club and is pushing for a move, which he hopes will be able to help him revive his stalling career.

Leeds want new 23 y/o forward likened to Mitrovic

Another player reportedly on Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises radar ahead of the summer is Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat. The 23-year-old, who has been capped 10 times by Ukraine, has scored 16 goals in 34 appearances this term, helping put Kyiv in pole position to land the Ukrainian Premier League title.

According to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, Leeds are one of a number of clubs, alongside West Ham United and Fulham, who are now keeping tabs ahead of a potential swoop in a few months’ time.

Vanat has been described by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig as a “complete forward” who boasts excellent “pace, finishing, shot power, movement, link-up play, ambidexterity”.

According to Football Transfers, Vanat has a similar style of play to former Fulham star Mitrovic, who now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal.

Leeds know all too well about the Serbian striker’s talents, with him having netted five goals and produced three assists in nine games against the Whites during his career, including twice in a thrilling Premier League game in September 2020, which Leeds won 4-3, and by the looks of things, a move for Vanat could be one to watch.