Leeds United fans will be praying Daniel Farke can be the manager in the Elland Road dug-out to consolidate the Whites as a Premier League regular again, but they won’t be holding their breath.

After all, there was even talk this off-season that the German could reportedly be relieved of his duties, with his worrying track record in the top division – as seen in his one relegation with former side Norwich City – meaning he could be in too deep on his return again.

The Whites hierarchy have admirably stuck by the promotion-winning expert, though, with a barrage of transfers now needed to give the ex-Canaries boss his best chance at remaining put in the Premier League with his current employers.

Leeds now targeting £10m-rated ace

Whilst the West Yorkshire titans would storm to the Championship title with a club-record 100 points, improvements need to be made all over the pitch to make the gulf in quality feel less stark.

Already, Farke and Co. have been linked with moves for Emiliano Buendia, Tammy Abraham and Kalvin Phillips to significantly bolster their squad, but it’s in the goalkeeper department where the Whites are crying out for their most pressing upgrade.

It has now been widely reported that Illan Meslier will be ditched as Leeds’ first-choice stopper in the big time after one too many error-strewn performances in the second-tier, with the Daily Mail Online following this up with a report that Newcastle United ‘keeper Nick Pope is now on their agenda as they hunt down a new number one.

With a move for Caoimhin Kelleher also falling by the wayside, Pope could be the next best thing for Farke’s men, with the Magpies perhaps now ready to offload their £10m-rated figure amidst interest in Burnley’s James Trafford.

Why signing Pope is a must for Leeds

With Phillips available for around the same £10m price tag, it could end up being a toss-up between Pope and the former fan favourite.

Well, when assessing which transfer is most needed, it’s a no-brainer that Leeds must prioritise picking up the 6-foot-6 ‘keeper over a sentimental Elland Road return for the midfielder.

Transfer Focus

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

Leeds could well look a little light on their feet centrally when making the step-up, with Joe Rothwell returning back to parent side AFC Bournemouth this summer, but the Whites are in dire need of a solid pair of hands in between the sticks over urgently requiring any midfield additions.

After all, away from Meslier nearly costing his team dear last campaign with three errors directly leading to goals, the ex-Lorient stopper has struggled in the intense environment of the Premier League previously.

Games played

107

221

Saves made

377

687

Goals conceded

198

252

Clean sheets

21

73

Wins

32

86

Losses

50

71

The table above highlights the 25-year-old’s struggles in the big time compared to the more comfortable Pope, with Meslier only keeping a meagre 21 clean sheets from 107 top-flight outings next to the Magpies’ number 22 collecting a sturdier 73.

Away from just their clean sheet numbers, Pope has also shown he can cut it at the level over a prolonged time, even as Eddie Howe and Co’s aspirations have changed from being a middle of the road outfit to a Champions League challenger, with a bumper 86 wins sticking out from his 221 Premier League clashes and counting.

Therefore, the “phenomenal” Pope – as he’s been previously praised by ex-Toon goalkeeping great Shay Given – would easily displace Meslier on his arrival to West Yorkshire.

Whereas, it’s not a given that Phillips would be able to shake up things centrally, with faces such as Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev likely getting the immediate nod over the Manchester City flop.

Having already suffered a relegation with the Whites too, it just feels like Leeds would be sleepwalking into another disaster if Meslier were kept in between the sticks.

Whereas, with the 33-year-old coming in as the new number one instead, the confidence levels would be increased that Farke and Co. could put up a stern fight to beat the drop.

A bigger coup than Buendia: Leeds looking to sign "exceptional" £10m star

Leeds United would pull off a bigger coup than landing Emiliano Buendia by signing this exceptional midfielder.

3 ByKelan Sarson Jun 1, 2025

With their summer business officially underway courtesy of Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe are now reportedly ready to make their first approach to sign a big-money Premier League winner.

Newcastle confirm Antonio Cordero arrival

Starting as they mean to go on, Newcastle confirmed Cordero’s arrival from Malaga last week. The young Spaniard is set to officially arrive on 1 July when his current contract expires and he becomes free to complete his move to Tyneside.

After putting pen to paper, the young winger told the club website: “It’s truly an honour to be here, truly a pleasure. I am a person who likes to aspire high. Why not come to one of the best places in the world to do it. It’s a big step, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’m happy to do it and have a great desire to get going already.”

Meanwhile, in what is likely to be one of his final acts as sporting director, Paul Mitchell welcomed Cordero to the club, saying: “Antonio is an exciting talent. We’re delighted to bring him to Newcastle United amidst interest in Spain and across Europe. He has lots of potential, and the next phase of his development will be for the club to select a loan move that will challenge him and build on his experiences.”

Following an impressive start to the summer, it seems as though the Magpies are only just getting started. Recent reports have indicated that they’ve already made an enquiry to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga and Brighton’s Joao Pedro as they look to make up for missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Attacking reinforcements seem to be top of their wishlist too, with Howe now reportedly ready to make his first approach to sign a Premier League winner this summer.

Howe and Newcastle ready to make Grealish approach

According to The Sun, Howe is now ready to personally make an approach to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City as he looks to help the England international revive his career courtesy of Newcastle.

The midfielder was dropped by Pep Guardiola on the final day of the season and reports have since revealed that he could miss out on a place in Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad as the exit door swings open.

The next move is key for Grealish with the World Cup coming up next summer and Thomas Tuchel recently making it clear that he needs to be back playing every week if he is to work his way back into the England squad.

Related £50m star so close to joining Newcastle his club are lining up replacement

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Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 8, 2025

The Three Lions boss told reporters: “He is never shy of pressure. It’s the opposite. He grows in big matches but he’s a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That’s basically everything. Nothing has changed.”

With that said, if any side can offer the former Aston Villa star that and cover his hefty £16m-a-year salary, it may well be Newcastle this summer.

Manchester United have identified a lesser-known new target in their quest to find an upgrade on goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to a recent report.

Man Utd identify alternative options in the market

The transfer window is now officially back open and will remain open until the beginning of September, which means United can now look to add more arrivals after Matheus Cunha before the club returns for pre-season training.

Man Utd talks progressing to sign "one of the best strikers out there"

Manchester United are reportedly accelerating a deal to sign a new centre-forward.

ByDan Emery Jun 15, 2025

The Red Devils are continuing to try and find an agreement with Brentford to sign Bryan Mbeumo this summer. United have already seen one bid turned down, and while a new offer has yet to go in, Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg has reported that United do now have a “verbal agreement” in place with Brentford over a deal for Mbeumo.

But his arrival will not stop the Red Devils from looking to sign a new striker; Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is one player the club has looked at, but he is said to be prioritising a move to Arsenal.

Therefore, United have started to look at other options, and one striker they are taking a serious look at is Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Foot Mercato have reported that United are interested in a deal for the forward and are now accelerating their move, as talks are progressing well. Plettenberg also states that United are the only team to make contact with Frankfurt, as both Liverpool and Chelsea are also keeping an eye on the player’s situation, so it may be a summer of seeking multiple options for their priority positions.

Man Utd keen on signing new £34m ace as Onana replacement

As the Red Devils continue to look at ways of improving their forward line, club chiefs are also in the market for a new goalkeeper, and according to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are interested in signing Atalanta shot-stopper Marco Carnesecchi.

The report states that the 24-year-old is “coveted” by United, as they believe he would be a good replacement for Onana. It goes on to add that Atalanta value their goalkeeper at €40 million, which is roughly £34 million, but given he is under contract until 2028 negotiations could be difficult, with the report noting how much United were forced to pay for Rasmus Hojlund.

Carnesecchi joined Atalanta’s academy back in 2017 and was promoted to the first team two years later. However, he’s had to remain patient when it comes to game time, as he only got a regular shot in goal during the 2023/24 season, playing 27 games in Serie A. He kept his place in goal last term and played 34 times in the league, keeping 13 clean sheets in the process. The Italian also played nine times in the Champions League, during which he kept an impressive five clean sheets.

Apps

76

Goals conceded

79

Clean sheets

28

His arrival at Old Trafford depends heavily on what happens to Onana, who has been linked with a move away from the club. It was reported over a month ago that he was in talks about a move to Saudi Arabia, but as of yet a move has yet to materialise. The 29-year-old has been in Burkina Faso over the past week and was asked about his future under Ruben Amorim, to which Onana responded he doesn’t know.

Onana said of his United future: “Will I leave? I don’t know, we’ll see!”

Setting their sights on weakening their top four rivals ahead of next season, Aston Villa are now reportedly seriously interested in signing an attacking star who has already scored at Villa Park before.

Aston Villa still reeling from UCL disappointment

11 days on from their defeat against Manchester United which cost them Champions League qualification, Aston Villa will still be collecting themselves and wondering what might have been. Their first reaction, of course, was anger directed at PGMOL and referee Thomas Bramall. Those in the Midlands took aim at the decision to use the 35-year-old in such an important game after Morgan Rodgers’ effort was controversially ruled out.

The Villans released a statement on the matter not long after their fate was confirmed at Old Trafford, which read in part: “Aston Villa can confirm the club has written to the PGMOL to raise concerns over the selection process of match officials following today’s game with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Aston Villa now ready to offer major deal to sign £50m Mozambique winger

He could replace Marcus Rashford.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 4, 2025

“With such high stakes surrounding today’s fixture, the club believe a more experienced referee should have been appointed. Of the 10 referees to officiate across the Premier League today, Mr. Bramall was the second least experienced.

“The decision to disallow Morgan Rogers’ goal, which would have given the club a 1-0 lead with 17 minutes remaining in the match, was a major contributing factor to the club not qualifying for the Champions League.”

11 days on, that anger may have turned into major disappointment, but Villa must simply move on and turn their focus towards the transfer market. Already, their sporting director, Monchi, has reportedly set his sights on the likes of Lucas Chevalier and even a Premier League rival in a bid to improve Unai Emery’s side and weaken another.

Aston Villa seriously interested in Jackson

According to Simon Phillips, Aston Villa are now seriously interested in signing Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea this summer and face competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid in pursuit of the forward’s signature.

Having lost Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, the Villans have been without a natural backup for Ollie Watkins for the last six months but could finally solve that problem when the summer arrives. Villa Park have already had a glimpse of Jackson’s goalscoring prowess too, given that he scored at Villa Park in Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup win in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Senegal international has shown signs of his quality since then in the 2024/25 season, in which he scored 13 goals in all competitions and earned impressive praise from Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

The Italian told reporters in November: “He is doing very well with us. Since we started, he has been open minded in what we ask him, and sometimes we require different things from him.

“He’s has an open mind and wants to learn and he’s doing very well, not just in goals and assists, but also the way he works off the ball. The way he presses, he is always aggressive and we are very happy.”

Being the massive club they are, Arsenal have been blessed with an abundance of world-class players in the past.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were unreal in the early 2000s, while Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez were the shining lights of the latter Arsène Wenger years.

However, on top of the bonafide stars, the Gunners also had more than their fair share of those who fell one or two rungs below, those who were still incredibly talented but are now seen as cult heroes more than anything else.

Theo Walcott would likely fall into the category for many fans, as while he never really fulfilled the potential so many believed he had, the former England international was still more than a handful, responsible for some iconic goals and was arguably the club’s best attacker for a season or two.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international who could be the Mikel Arteta’s own Walcott.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented internationals touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Rodrygo and Mohammed Kudus.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is reportedly available for around £84m, which might be a fee worth paying, as in 51 games for Real Madrid this season, he has scored 14 goals and provided ten assists.

On the other hand, Kudus might prove even more challenging to pry away from West Ham United as, according to reports from last week, he has a release clause worth up to a staggering £120m in his current deal.

Fortunately, another attacking talent has entered the frame for Arteta and Co: Anthony Elanga.

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in the Nottingham Forest star ahead of the transfer window reopening next week.

The report claims that, alongside the Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Aston Villa have all been watching the Swedish international ‘closely.’

However, on top of dealing with the potential competition, the North Londoners would have to stump up a hefty fee of around £60m to get their man.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Elanga’s ability and the potential for him to improve further, it’s one Arsenal should be fighting for, especially as he could be their new Walcott.

Why Elanga would be Walcott 2.0

Okay, while there are certainly numerous reasons why Arsenal would want to, and probably should, sign Elanga this summer, let’s first address just why he could be the club’s new Walcott.

The first is that, like with the former Southampton gem, it would be another example of the Gunners signing an exciting and dynamic right-winger who can play in other positions from a fellow Premier League side.

Moreover, while the Swede is a fair bit older than the Englishman was when he moved to North London, the fact he’s still just 23 years old means there is plenty of time for him to further develop and grow in N5.

However, there is another, even more significant similarity between the two players: their pace.

While he was playing under Wenger, the former Arsenal star wasn’t always necessarily the most technical of footballers, but he was blisteringly quick, as shown by the Castol Football Index calculating his top speed to be 22.72 mph in March 2014, which converts to about 36.56 km/h.

In comparison, the Forest star reached an even higher speed of 22.78 mph this season, which is about 36.66 km/h, but did even better and hit 22.93 mph last season, which is around 36.91kmph.

Impressively, that is currently the fourth-fastest sprint since Premier League records began and more than justifies his statement that he’s “one of the fastest players in the league.”

Appearances

43

Minutes

2752′

Goals

6

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

Minutes per Goal Involvement

152.88′

Finally, on top of being absurdly fast, the “special” talent, as dubbed by manager Nuno Espírito Santo, is also a potent threat, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists in just 43 appearances, totalling 2752 minutes this season.

That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 152.88 minutes.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more attacking talent to the squad this summer, and someone who’s a genuine threat while also being incredibly fast sounds like just the player they should be signing.

He's like Mbappe: Arsenal submit offer to sign £68m "powerhouse"

The prolific international would be a sensational and game-changing signing for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 11, 2025

Leeds United will be doing plenty of deals in the next couple of months in an attempt to build a squad that can avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites have already made one new signing to bolster Daniel Farke’s options at the top end of the pitch, as Lukas Nmecha has agreed a deal to join the club on a free transfer from Wolfsburg at the start of next month.

He only scored three goals in 19 appearances in the Bundesliga during the 2024/25 campaign, and has only scored eight league goals in the last three seasons combined.

This does not suggest that Nmecha is likely to be the go-to centre-forward option from the start for the West Yorkshire outfit, but the former Germany international could provide experienced back-up to the other number nines in the squad.

The 26-year-old star will not be the last striker to arrive at Elland Road this summer, though, as reporter Graham Smyth claimed that the club are still looking for another addition in that position.

This could spell bad news for 21-year-old marksman Mateo Joseph’s future in West Yorkshire, amid speculation that he could move on ahead of next season.

Why Mateo Joseph could leave Leeds

The Spain U21 international is reportedly being eyed up by several clubs, as GIVEMESPORT recently claimed that Birmingham, Strasbourg, and Real Betis are all keen on securing his signature.

This suggests that there will be no shortage of suitors for the Whites academy graduate if Farke decides that he will not be a part of his plans for the Premier League season, which will kick off with a clash against Everton on the first Monday Night Football of the campaign.

Joseph has now had a taste of first-team football, with 61 Championship outings and four goals in the last two seasons, and should be wanting to play regular minutes next term to continue his development.

The Spanish youngster only scored three goals in 39 matches for Leeds in the second tier during the 2024/25 campaign, but did put up some promising underlying numbers.

24/25 Championship

Mateo Joseph per 90

Percentile rank vs forwards

Non-penalty xG

0.36

Top 29%

Shots total

2.73

Top 11%

Shots on target

1.05

Top 17%

Non-penalty goals

0.21

Bottom 34%

xAG

0.13

Top 20%

Assists

0.21

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

2.31

Top 20%

Touches in the opposition’s box

5.25

Top 10%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Joseph ranked highly among his positional peers when it came to getting into high-quality shooting positions and creating chances for others, but his finishing let him down.

A loan move away from Leeds to play regularly and hone his skills next term could be the ideal next step for him, whilst Leeds are eyeing up a striker who could be an upgrade on him in the short term.

Leeds plotting move for new striker

According to TEAMtalk, the Championship champions are eyeing up further forward additions after the signing of Nmecha, and Besiktas striker Semih Kilicsoy is one of the players they are plotting a move for.

The Turkish attacker and Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz are both said to be targets for the West Yorkshire outfit, as they look to improve Farke’s options in the final third.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

TEAMtalk adds that Leeds are moving forward in deals to sign Muniz, Kilicsoy, and USG’s Noah Sadiki, with the Besiktas whiz said to be available for a fee of £18m.

The outlet claims that the Whites have extensively scouted the Turkey U21 international and view him as a versatile star with potential who would come in as a long-term signing for Farke.

If Leeds can get an £18m deal over the line to sign the 19-year-old forward during the summer transfer window then they could have an immediate upgrade on both Nmecha and Joseph for next season.

Why Leeds should sign Semih Kilicsoy

There are many reasons why signing the teenage marksman from Besiktas makes a lot of sense for Leeds, including his age profile. At 19, he has many years left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player, which means that the striker could grow in value over time.

It also means that he may not demand to be the first-choice number nine week-in-week-out in the Premier League straight away, and be happy to be a versatile bench option at first, which would allow the Whites to also sign a more experienced striker, such as Muniz.

Kilicsoy’s performances for Besiktas in the last two seasons also suggest that he would offer more quality in front of goal than both Nmecha and Joseph in the top-flight.

The Turkish attacker, who was once hailed as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons combined for his club side.

Joseph managed seven goals and four assists for Leeds in all competitions, and Nmecha racked up five goals and zero assists in that same time, which immediately suggests that the teenage star has more to offer the team at the top end of the pitch.

24/25 (per 90)

Kilicsoy (Super Lig)

Joseph (Championship)

Goals

0.21

0.21

xG on target

0.35

0.35

xA

0.13

0.10

Assists

0.14

0.21

Dribbles completed

2.49

0.78

Dribble success rate

57%

42%

Fouls won

2.00

1.29

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Kilicsoy offered more quality at the top end of the pitch than Joseph this season, with more goals and xA combined per 90, along with far more success in dribbling past opposition players.

Impressively, the teenage attacker managed 0.59 goals and 0.21 assists per 90 in the Super Lig in the previous campaign, when he managed 11 goals and four assists in the division, whilst Joseph scored one goal in 22 league games for Leeds that term.

Therefore, Kilicsoy could be a very exciting signing for Leeds as a young forward who has shown that he has the potential to make a big impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals, even more so than Joseph and Nmecha have in recent years.

Related Better than Aaronson: Leeds submit bid to sign £21m Sadiki alternative

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jun 17, 2025

This is why Leeds must press ahead with a deal to sign the £18m-rated centre-forward before the start of the Premier League season to bolster their attacking options.

Celtic completed their first signing of the summer transfer window earlier this week when they announced that Kieran Tierney has re-joined the Glasgow giants.

The experienced defender will officially link up with his new teammates when his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the month, returning to Scotland as a free agent.

Tierney came up through the academy system at Parkhead and won five Scottish Premiership titles during his time in the first-team, a haul that he will now be looking to add to.

The 28-year-old full-back amassed 37 assists in 170 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions, and he will be aiming to provide that sort of creativity down the left flank for Brendan Rodgers.

Tierney is set to come in as a direct replacement for Greg Taylor, whose Celtic contract expires this summer, but the Hoops have also lost their second-choice left-back, as Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan has come to an end.

Why Celtic need to replace Jeffrey Schlupp

Celtic will play in four competitions next season: the Champions League, the Premiership, the League Cup, and the SFA Cup. Because of this, having depth across the park in every position is vital for Rodgers.

It is not enough to just have one player in each position, and that is why the Bhoys have to sign a back-up left-back to replace Schlupp, particularly when you take Tierney’s injury history into account.

The Arsenal left-back has missed 45 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that there is a concern that he will not be available on a consistent basis for Rodgers next term.

This emphasises the importance of signing a replacement for Schlupp because the Hoops will need a left-back who is good enough to step in and start when Tierney misses games through injury over the course of the season.

Appearances

13

2

Starts

7

1

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.7

7.0

Duel success rate

52%

71%

As you can see in the table above, Schlupp was needed to start eight matches in the Premiership and the Champions League, despite only joining in January, which shows how important it is to bring in a quality back-up option in that position.

Celtic, therefore, need a left-back who provided the quality, particularly defensively, that Schlupp provided during his five-month loan spell at Parkhead.

The Scottish giants are in the market for another option in that position and their latest reported target could be an even better signing than the Palace loanee was.

Celtic progressing in deal for Scottish defender

According to a recent claim by journalist Graeme Bailey, Celtic are progressing in their pursuit of a deal to sign Josh Doig from Sassuolo in the summer transfer window.

The reporter was speaking about Harry Toffolo’s situation, after it was confirmed that he is leaving Nottingham Forest on a free transfer, and all but ruled out the Hoops in the race for his signature, due to their interest in Doig.

Transfer Focus

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

Bailey told EFL Analysis: “He’s an interesting one. I did hear a little bit of a squeak for Celtic, but I don’t think there’s anything in that. I do know Celtic are looking at Josh Doig and I think that one’s progressing, to be fair.”

This suggests that the Hoops are moving forward in a deal to bring the Scottish defender back to Scotland, in what would presumably be a permanent move, given that he was just a key part of Sassuolo’s title-winning season in the Serie B.

If Celtic can finalise a transfer to sign Doig from the newly-promoted Serie A outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, then they could have an even better signing than Schlupp.

Why Josh Doig would be a better signing than Jeffrey Schlupp

Perhaps the biggest reason why he would be a better signing than the Palace loanee was would be the permanent transfer aspect of it, as it would be a long-term solution to that position.

Schlupp was only a short-term stop-gap until the summer, whereas Doig is 23 and could be Celtic’s back-up, or first-choice, left-back for many more years to come.

This means that Celtic could get far more long-term value out of this signing, should they sign him permanently, if he adapts well and performs on the pitch as hoped.

Doig, who former boss Gabriel Coffi claimed has “incredible potential”, also put in good enough performances on the pitch in the Serie B this season to suggest that he could be a quality addition to the squad when called upon as a back-up to Tierney.

Passes attempted

54.48

Top 6%

Pass accuracy

77.4%

Top 27%

Progressive passes

3.70

Top 22%

Progressive carries

3.00

Top 9%

Successful take-ons

1.23

Top 15%

Touches in the opposition’s box

1.81

Top 38%

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star could be well-suited to playing in a ball-dominant Celtic team, particularly in a similar role to the one that Taylor played this term, inverting into a midfield position in possession.

These statistics show that Doig is incredibly comfortable and progressive in possession, excelling as a passer and a carrier of the ball, which suggests that he would thrive under the unique demands that Rodgers places on his left-back.

Therefore, the Sassuolo star, who started 25 Serie B matches, could be a perfect fit for what Celtic are looking for in that position, which is another reason why he would be a terrific signing for the club.

Overall, he would be an even better signing than Schlupp due to his age, with plenty of room left to improve, his long-term potential as a signing due to it being on a permanent deal, and because of the quality that he can produce on the pitch.

Nicolas Kuhn 2.0: Celtic are in talks to sign “underrated” £2m star

Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign a star who could be their next Nicolas Kuhn.

ByDan Emery Jun 13, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are currently searching for their next head coach after they ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

The Light Blues had to watch on as Aberdeen secured silverware by beating Celtic on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup, a competition the club were knocked out of by lower league outfit Queen’s Park in one of Philippe Clement’s last matches in charge.

Rangers opted to relieve the Belgian head coach of his duties shortly after that dismal result in the cup, and Barry Ferguson came in as the interim head coach until the end of the season.

The former Scotland international, who played for Rangers in his playing days, only won six of his 15 matches in charge in all competitions, and ended his tenure with a 2-2 draw away at Hibernian.

It has since been confirmed that Ferguson will not be offered the job on a full-time basis and that he will return to his ambassador role at Ibrox.

This means that the job is still available to a head coach from elsewhere, and Davide Ancelotti is a name that continues to be linked with a switch to Glasgow.

Why Rangers should not appoint Davide Ancelotti

RangersReview reported that claims from Spain that the Italian coach is close to being appointed as the next manager are premature, but that there are further talks planned with the former Real Madrid assistant.

Ancelotti and his father Carlo said their goodbyes to the Real Madrid supporters after their final match against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Saturday, with his dad set to join the Brazilian national team.

It remains to be seen whether or not Davide will join him in Brazil or take up a post elsewhere, but Rangers should opt against a move for him this summer.

The Light Blues need a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox and hiring the former Real assistant would be a massive risk, because he has not managed a team in his senior career to date.

Real Madrid (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

233

Everton (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

67

Napoli (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

73

Bayern Munich (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

60

Real Madrid (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

119

PSG (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

77

As you can see in the table above, Ancelotti has only worked under his father as a fitness coach or as an assistant to date, which means that he is unproven as the main man leading a team.

His vast experience at gigantic European clubs, like PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, is a plus in his column, but there is no guarantee that he can use that as a head coach in his own right.

That is why Rangers should not appoint Ancelotti as their next head coach, particularly when they are reportedly eyeing up a manager who would be a much better option on paper.

Rangers have held talks with 3-4-3 manager

According to the BBC, Danish head coach Brian Priske has emerged as a contender for the vacant managerial position at Ibrox ahead of next season.

The report claims that the manager, who was sacked by Feyenoord earlier this season, has already held talks with the Scottish giants over a possible move to Glasgow.

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It states that the process is ongoing and that Priske is one of a number of candidates they have lined up to permanently replace Clement, following on from Ferguson’s departure at the end of the season.

The BBC adds that Ancelotti and former Southampton head coach Russell Martin have also been named as managers who could be in the frame alongside the Danish tactician.

With this in mind, the 49ers, Patrick Stewart, and Kevin Thelwell must all agree to pursue Priske further, beyond the initial talks that have been held, because he would be miles better than Ancelotti.

Why Rangers should appoint Brian Priske

Rangers should swoop to appoint the 48-year-old tactician because he is a proven winner who has won league titles in the top divisions in multiple other countries.

Priske, who typically deploys a 3-4-3 system, is an experienced manager who has been there and done it. Whereas, Ancelotti has it all to prove and is yet to show that he has what it takes to lead a team to success on his own.

Rangers will want to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership to prevent Celtic from winning a fifth title in succession, which is why they should appoint a manager who has a proven track record of success when it comes to winning leagues, or at least coaching a winning team.

Priske won two league titles during his time with Sparta Prague in Czechia and won a league title in his first season in management with Midtjylland in the 2019/20 campaign in his home country.

24/25 (Feyenoord)

21

39

3rd

23/24 (Sparta Prague)

35

87

1st

22/23 (Sparta Prague)

35

78

1st

21/22 (Royal Antwerp)

40

67

4th

20/21 (Midtjylland)

32

50

2nd

19/20 (Midtjylland)

30

65

1st

As you can see in the table above, the Danish boss has never finished below fourth in a league season, although Feyenoord dismissed him earlier this term with his side in third, so it could have gone either way if he had been kept on.

This shows that Priske has won two league titles in the last three seasons, and three in six seasons as a manager, which is why he would be miles better than Ancelotti as an option for the Gers.

He has the relevant experience and success to suggest that Rangers would be making a brilliant decision to bring him in, whilst Ancelotti would be a huge gamble given his lack of experience as a first-team head coach.

Priske also won the Dutch Super Cup with Feyenoord and the Czech Cup with Sparta Prague, which shows that he can also handle cup competitions and has the potential to deliver success in the League Cup and the SFA Cup.

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Therefore, the Light Blues must swoop to appoint the Danish head coach as their permanent replacement for Philippe Clement because he appears to be the ideal candidate on paper.

Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign took a disastrous turn when the Blues faced off against Flamengo in Philadelphia.

It was looking all rosy for Enzo Maresca’s side after Pedro Neto opened the scoring, but a second successive win for the West Londoners in the competition ended up falling out of their grasp in horrible fashion.

Nicolas Jackson’s second-half dismissal was the beginning of Chelsea’s downfall, leading to Filipe Luis’ Flamengo taking home a surprise 3-1 victory.

This loss would have angered Chelsea fans, knowing full well that the Blues are looking to upgrade on Jackson soon in the chaotic summer transfer market, as seen in their ongoing pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt gem Hugo Ekitike.

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Jackson could well find he’s out of the door soon, as the Blues’ patience begins to wear very thin. Yet, the shock defeat to Flamengo would have also made Chelsea aware that they need to seal an upgrade in the goalkeeper department too.

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As per a new report by TEAMTalk, Chelsea are ready to go all in for a new goalkeeper very soon to replace the inconsistent Robert Sanchez.

It’s stated that the Blues have not cooled off regarding their interest in AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan, with a second bid now being prepared for when the Club World Cup finishes.

A bid around the £20m mark, which includes add-ons, could well seal the deal here, with Chelsea in dire need of a new, reliable ‘keeper, particularly if reserve stopper Djordje Petrovic bids farewell to Stamford Bridge for good this summer.

Why signing Maignan should be a bigger priority than Ekitike

Whilst Jackson does currently find himself in the bad books at Chelsea after his red card incident, he has at least managed to show off his class in flashes when bagging 30 Blues strikes and counting.

Whereas, Sanchez is becoming more and more known for his error-strewn performances in West London with the capture of Maignan perhaps a more pressing matter than landing Ekitike.

After all, whilst Ekitike appears to be the flavour of the month with the Blues, Liverpool and Manchester United all sniffing around, the blistering Frenchman has flopped before when a big move has been put in front of him.

Indeed, the 23-year-old only netted three goals on the books of Paris St. Germain after a breakout Stade De Reims spell. Therefore, similar pressures could get to him again after a 22-goal season leading the line for Frankfurt, especially if a reported £60m price tag comes to fruition.

On the contrary, the much-talked-about Maignan is a seasoned professional now at the highest level, as seen in his glistening resume of 343 appearances and counting for both Milan and Lille in some tough, challenging divisions.

Therefore, the “elite” keeper – as he was once labelled by Liverpool’s number one Alisson – should be able to arrive at Stamford Bridge and succeed, with plenty of clean sheets often following him wherever he goes.

Maignan’s record at Milan & Lille

Season

Games

Goals conceded

Clean sheets

24/25

53

59

14

23/24

42

52

12

22/23

29

27

10

21/22

39

32

19

20/21

48

38

23

19/20

34

41

12

18/19

38

33

15

17/18

34

53

5

16/17

12

14

4

15/16

4

3

1

Stats by Sofascore

In total, Maignan is now up to 115 clean sheets for both the Ligue 1 club and his current Serie A employers, with last season seeing him collect 14 of those. To add context, the error-stricken Sanchez lagged behind on ten, with five saves still not enough to keep Flamengo at bay last time out.

At around £20m or so, Chelsea really must prioritise adding the Frenchman to their camp soon over progressing with the far more expensive Ekitike deal, with Maignan having a way smoother June to date too, keeping a clean sheet for his nation against Germany in the Nations League.

The fact of the matter is that Maresca has plenty of attackers at his disposal. Regardless of Jackson’s ill-discipline, they will find a way to score goals. The acquisition of a new gloveman, however, could be the difference between winning titles.

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With all eyes on their Premier League return, Leeds United are reportedly looking to get their summer business underway by securing a double swoop for two Ligue 1 talents.

49ers aiming to back Leeds in transfer market

Whilst the 49ers group have been busy completing their takeover of Scottish giants Rangers, they’ll still be focused on ensuring that Leeds have a side capable of avoiding the drop at the first time of asking. In doing so, the Whites would become the first promoted side to keep hold of their Premier League status in the last six attempts. That’s the extent of the task at hand for the 49ers and Daniel Farke’s side.

Chairman Paraag Marathe is ready to back Leeds in the transfer market this summer, however, having told reporters last month when asked about potential business: “I’m not really ready to go into that, but yes, your speculation is probably right.

“It’s going to be a mix of seeing if there are inbounds along with outbounds. And that’s probably, that’s probably accurate, but really not ready to go into more detail than that. But we are looking at maximizing what we can do, and so that involves the whole bag, ins and outs.”

Just who arrives is the big question. The transfer window is now open and those at Elland Road will be desperate to see the 49ers get their business underway as soon as possible.

To that end, Dara O’Shea could be one to watch. Recent reports revealed that Leeds are interested in signing the Ipswich Town star and granting him an instant return to the Premier League following relegation.

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Back in the top flight, the impressive defender would be an impressive first pick. He ticks the box for experience both in the Premier League and now a relegation battle. On a personal note, O’Shea himself will be desperate to avoid the drop for a second season on the bounce.

He’s not the only target on Leeds’ radar, however. The 49ers are also reportedly targeting a double swoop to land a Ligue 1 duo this summer.

Leeds chasing double swoop for Fofana and Abdelli

As reported by Ouest France, the 49ers and Leeds are now chasing a double swoop to sign Yahia Fofana and Himad Abdelli from Angers this summer. The former would be an instant upgrade on Illan Meslier at just £8m, whilst the latter would offer plenty of leadership from midfield following his captaincy of the French side in recent years.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Yahia Fofana	Ilian Meslier
Clean Sheets	7	21
Saves per 90	4.09	1.62
Save Percentage	74.2%	72.7%

Having been dropped by Farke at the back end of last season as Leeds secured promotion, Meslier’s place remains in question and the arrival of Fofana could see the Frenchman exiled altogether at Elland Road.

Alongside Fofana, Abdelli would make an impact in his own right. The midfielder completed the same amount of progressive passes as £100m+ Liverpool target Florian Wirtz last season and two more than Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. He was a standout in Europe’s top seven leagues on that metric and could now be on his way to Elland Road.