تحدثت صحيفة “جارديان” الإنجليزية عن تصرف المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، آرني سلوت، تجاه النجم المصري محمد صلاح في مباراة الأحد ضد مانشستر يونايتد في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
واستضاف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة فريقي ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد في الجولة الثامنة من الدوري الإنجليزي، موسم 2025/26، حيث خسر حامل اللقب بهدفين مقابل هدف.
وشارك محمد صلاح في تلك المباراة كأساسي ولكنه ظل غائبًا عن أدائه المعهود عنه، ليقرر المدرب آرني سلوت استبداله في الدقيقة 85.
وقالت صحيفة “جارديان” الإنجليزية: “طوال مسيرة محمد صلاح مع ليفربول تقريبًا، كان ملعب الأنفيلد في حالة من الغضب بسبب استبدال محمد صلاح بعد لحظات من تأخر فريقه ومع اقتراب الوقت من تعرض الفريق لهزيمة أخرى، خاصة في مباراة مثل تلك أمام مانشستر يونايتد، الذي سجل ضده رقمًا قياسيًا قدره 16 هدفًا”.
وأضافت: “ولكن ليس يوم الأحد، تم قبول استبدال محمد صلاح في الدقيقة 85 ونزول زميله جيريمي فريمبونج على أنه رمية نرد أخيرة ضرورية بعد أداء ضعيف آخر من الدولي المصري”.
طاالع.. عاجل ورسميًا | المرشحون لجائزة أفضل لاعب في إفريقيا 2025.. محمد صلاح وظهور مصري آخر
وواصلت: “كان رد الفعل على التبديل واضحًا، مكان محمد صلاح المضمون في التشكيل الأساسي لـ ليفربول مهدد لأول مرة منذ انضمامه قبل أكثر من ثماني سنوات، سيكون التهديد أكبر إذا كان فيديريكو كييزا أو فريمبونج، البديلان الحقيقيان الوحيدان في جهة اليمين، قد أحدثا تأثيرًا كبيرًا عند البدء كما يفعلان من مقاعد البدلاء”.
وأردفت: “لا يوجد بدلاء بمستوى محمد صلاح في الفريق حسب الخطة التي يعمل بها سلوت، وبالتالي فإن أي تراجع في مستوى صاحب الـ 33 عامًا محسوس بشدة”.
واختتمت: “وسواء كان الأمر يتعلق بمساعدة محمد صلاح من خلال اختيار تشكيلة أكثر استقرارًا حوله، أو مكافأة كييزا على ظهوره النشط بمنحه دور أساسي، فإن لدى سلوت مشكلة مُلحة يجب معالجتها فيما يتعلق بخط هجوم ليفربول”.
ويستعد ليفربول لخوض مباراته في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء يوم الأربعاء، ضد نظيره فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت في الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري.
Fast bowler is confident England can turn their fortunes around as the games begin to come thick and fast in the Women’s Ashes
Valkerie Baynes13-Jan-2025
Lauren Bell trapped Ellyse Perry lbw during an impressive opening spell•Getty Images
England are looking for a Melbourne re-set after dropping the first game of their Ashes battle on Sunday with Australia.Faced with defending a below-par 204 after being bowled out inside 44 overs amid poor shot selection and some smart Australian bowling led by Ashleigh Gardner’s 3 for 19, England fell short by four wickets as Gardner and Alyssa Healy mowed down the bulk of the target with 67 balls to spare.Lauren Bell, the England seamer who was economical in taking 1 for 25 in her nine overs, believed her team deserved “a lot of credit” for making Australia’s run chase a little harder than the hosts would have liked in the first ODI at North Sydney Oval. It might have been even tougher were it not for a couple of dropped catches at crucial moments.Alice Capsey put down Ellyse Perry off the bowling of Lauren Filer and was probably relieved to see Bell dismiss the allrounder a short time later. Sophie Ecclestone’s bizarre fumble, meanwhile, when Gardner was on 31 and Australia needed 22 more runs with six wickets down was impossible to quantify.”We got 200 on a pitch that I think the par score batting first was about 250, so putting in an effort to almost defend that was, I think you can take a lot of confidence from it,” an upbeat Bell said. “There are a few things that we could definitely work on moving forward. Obviously Australia caught very well and we dropped a few in at important moments. Moving forward, there’s a few places we can work on and really focus on the next game, but I think as a whole we can take a fair amount of confidence from the game.”Filer started England’s defense well with the early wicket of Phoebe Litchfield for just 4 and had in-form allrounder Annabel Sutherland caught in the deep to end the match with 2 for 58 from eight overs. Ecclestone accounted for the key wickets of Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath to finish with 2 for 38. But England will need an improved performance all-round if they are to avoid going four points down in the second ODI at Junction Oval on Tuesday.”We’re one game into a pretty long series and we’re two-nil down, but we’re going to have to start the next game and imagine it’s nil-nil and go again,” Bell said. That is the beauty of these series. We can come back and we’re just going to have to reset and go with our plan and just go again.”We’ll sit down as a team and review. Our batting group will get together and it will obviously be different conditions over in Melbourne, so we’ll have to adjust to them. But we’ll get together as a group and work out the little bits we can tidy up and hopefully put on a better performance.”With such a tight turnaround between matches a theme throughout the series which consists of three ODIs followed by three T20Is and a four-day Test match in the space of 22 days, any adjustments will need to be made almost on the fly.”It’s definitely tough,” Bell said. “We’re just going to have to adapt really quickly, communicate with the girls that maybe have played at Junction Oval and try and get as much information as we can about the pitch. Then the opening batters, if we bat first, or the opening bowlers, it’s just really important to communicate what the pitch is doing as soon as we get there.”One lesson Bell can take from Sydney is having the courage to stand by her convictions. Her determination that she had trapped Perry directly in front of the stumps was crucial after England had burned a review earlier.Bell managed to convince captain Heather Knight and wicketkeeper Amy Jones to again call upon the DRS, which confirmed that she had Perry plumb.”I was obviously really happy to get her and I had to stand my ground a little bit and tell Heather and Amy that I thought it was out,” Bell said. “It was two v one. I really, really thought it was out. Heather and Amy weren’t sure and I didn’t want to be the one to lose our last review, but yeah, I’m really glad I stood firm.”A batting performance in which Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge top-scored with 39 and 38 respectively combined with a bowling attack that struggled to combat Healy’s smart innings of 70 from 78 balls and needed more support in the field suggests that if England are to overturn the deficit in this campaign, they will need to stand very firm indeed.
It was like Scott Boland had never been away. Against India in Adelaide, in his first home Test for two years, he could have had a wicket with his first delivery of the match if not for his heel being on the line rather than behind. Instead, Boland struck with his first ball of the second innings, one of his five wickets in a game where he got the crowd into as much of a frenzy as Mitchell Starc’s dramatic opening to the Test or Travis Head’s thrilling century.And yet, Boland’s comeback could last just one match. Josh Hazlewood, the pick of the attack in the first Test in Perth, is making good progress in his recovery from the mild side strain which kept him out of Adelaide, and there is confidence he will be ready for the the third Test that starts on December 14 at the Gabba.”If someone needs to make [way], they’ll be pretty unlucky,” Pat Cummins said.Related
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Boland had expected to play a role at some point last season, but none of Australia’s first-choice quicks suffered a problem, and that left him as a spare part throughout. The last time he featured for Australia was in Ashes 2023, the one occasion he has struggled in his Test career as England’s Bazballers used his metronomic length against him and took him at 4.91 per over across his two outings where he claimed just two wickets.At times, India tried to do the same in Adelaide – Nitish Kumar Reddy hammered Boland for 21 off an over in the first innings, and Rishabh Pant took him on in the second – but they were brief interludes rather than sustained takedowns. By the end of the Test, Boland’s home record read 33 wickets at 13.54.”Just feels like something’s going to happen with Scotty,” Head had said after the second day’s play in Adelaide. “He’s been high quality his whole Test career. We said that at the start of the week it’s nice to have someone like him being ready to go. He can come back in, and you know the impact he’s going to have. He’s taken some huge wickets for us. The hill was going mad for him. [He’s] a hugely important guy for us in the squad: he’s a great person, boys absolutely love him, the public love him. Whenever he does get a chance, you can’t be happier for him.”Boland’s ability to land it on the ideal spot from the beginning of a spell was on no better display than in Adelaide. KL Rahul was walking when Boland’s first delivery zipped through to the wicketkeeper, before the no-ball call came; bizarrely, Snicko suggested there wasn’t a nick, although the daylight was less clear than with Mitchell Marsh’s none-edge against R Ashwin on the second day.Josh Hazlewood on the side injury: “I was very happy [with] where I was, and it still happened. So I was pretty annoyed”•AFP/Getty Images
Later in his first over, Boland again found Rahul’s edge, but Usman Khawaja couldn’t take the chance at first slip. Boland got on the board by trapping Shubman Gill lbw, and then removed India captain Rohit Sharma with a trademark delivery which nipped sharply off the seam. There was no problem with Boland’s foot when he angled one across Yashasvi Jaiswal with his first ball of the second innings. A few overs later, he moved one the other way to take Virat Kohli’s edge.”[It’s] just admiration, he just sticks to his guns,” Hazlewood said. “He does his job, he doesn’t try and be anyone else. Whether he’s playing for Victoria or Australia, it’s the same thing, it’s the same areas. We’ve seen him take multiple wickets in an over, so once he gets on a roll, it’s just bang, bang, bang. In these conditions, [with the] pink ball under lights, there’s not many better.”But Hazlewood himself has 278 Test wickets, and will return if fit. He had a full bowl in the middle of Adelaide Oval on Monday, sending down two spells. Then it would be a case of how well he pulls up from those in the following 24 hours. Hazlewood explained that the latest injury was not “a typical side strain”, but was part of an ongoing issue he has had which has left him frustrated and searching for a solution.”You’re running in to bowl, and you just grab your hat and you’re off and you’re out for six weeks – it’s not that sort of side strain,” he said. “It’s from sort of repetitive use. It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but [had] perfect prep this year, played the Shield game and ticked all that off.”I was very happy where I was, and it still happened. So I was pretty annoyed there for a few days. There was plenty of meetings from CA’s point of view [with] physios, [and] doctors, all that stuff. So [we will] come up with a few options and see if we can stop it from happening again. I’ve ticked every box so far this week. The side’s obviously been a troublesome area for me in the past. So if I can lean on the side of caution, I guess [I will] a little bit.”Hazlewood continued to bowl for a brief period after first feeling pain in Perth, but past experience came into play.”I remember the time in quarantine before the Ashes, I probably pushed it for quite a while,” he said. “The time against West Indies, I think it was in Perth… Pat did his quad, and we had to bowl a few more overs. It feels every over you bowl in that situation sort of adds another few days [more recovery] every time.”While in India’s case, Jasprit Bumrah looks in need of greater support, Australia’s pace depth could prove a decisive aspect of this series.”Obviously [we’ve] got Scotty there, who does a fantastic job every time he plays,” Hazlewood said. “That sort of makes the decision a little easier. Sometimes you’ve sort of got to be pretty much 100% to play. And if not, Scott is there [ready] to go.”If Boland is back carrying the drinks at the Gabba, Australia know that should they need their super sub again, it’s very unlikely he will let them down.
Spinner complained of high fever and body aches on the fourth morning and did not take the field with the rest of his team-mates
Danyal Rasool10-Oct-2024
Abrar Ahmed ended with figures of 35-0-174-0, with England singing him out for attack•Getty Images
Legspinner Abrar Ahmed is being treated in a hospital in Multan after being taken ill. Abrar, who bowled 31 overs on day three against England, complained of a high fever and body aches on the morning of the fourth day, and did not take the field with the rest of his team-mates.A PCB statement said he had undergone a number of tests, and a further update would be issued once results were received.Abrar endured a difficult time with the ball, with England singling him out for attack. For much of the second half of the day, he was reduced to bowling outside leg stump from around the wicket to Joe Root and Harry Brook. It did drag his economy rate down, but he was the only frontline bowler to go wicketless, with his final figures reading 35-0-174-0. It is in stark contrast to his debut on this very ground against the same opposition in 2022, when he took 11 wickets in the game – and five before lunch on day one – to catapult him to the top of Pakistan’s red ball spin pecking order.Related
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But injuries have dogged him consistently throughout his career. He made his professional debut for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL as an 18-year old but then spent a number of years out of the game with a persistent back injury. He sustained a nerve injury during a tour game ahead of Pakistan’s three Test tour of Australia, ultimately missing all of them, as well as the first Test against Bangladesh in August.Pakistan named Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood in the squad for the ongoing first Test against England, but released them ahead of the start of the game.
Muyeye fifty before startling collapse, as Roderick leads reply for the hosts
ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2024
Joe Leach ran through the Kent line-up•Getty Images
Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach made a successful return to action after injury with a six-wicket haul on day one of the Vitality County Championship encounter with Kent at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Leach finished with 6 for 52 from 11.5 overs – the second-best figures of his career – as Kent were dismissed for 171 in 49.5 overs after being put into bat.It was his first appearance since the Championship match against Nottinghamshire in late May because of a recurrence of a knee problem and he is hanging up his spikes at the end of the campaign.But Leach’s determination to return for the finale of the season paid off handsomely once he had settled into his rhythm in his second spell from the New Road End after conceding 26 runs in his first four overs.Three wickets in 13 balls undermined Kent’s promising start and they subsided from 73 for 0 and lost 10 wickets for 98 in 32.4 overs.There was also an encouraging debut for New Zealand paceman James Hartshorn who bowled a nagging line and length.But the bowlers were also backed up by some fine catching behind the wicket, most notably by Rob Jones who held onto four chances at second slip.Gareth Roderick continued his fine form with a half century to spearhead Worcestershire’s reply and they closed 34 in arrears with eight wickets in hand.Worcestershire handed an opportunity to Hartshorn after fellow Kiwi Nathan Smith was forced to cut short his spell at New Road through injury.Captain Brett D’Oliveira, Kashif Ali, Leach and Adam Finch all returned after lengthy spells on the side-lines. Kent included new signings in pace duo Alfie Ogborne, on loan from Somerset, and West Indian Akeem Jordan.D’Oliveira put Kent into bat and Tawanda Muyeye adopted an aggressive vein with a succession of boundaries. But he was fortunate to edge Hartshorn just short of second slip and twice flashed hard at Finch as the ball flew over the slip cordon.He completed a 62-ball half-century with his 10th boundary but the game turned on its head after Leach switched to the New Road End. Muyeye (56) pushed forward to a delivery which left him and Jones held onto a fine catch away to his left at second slip.Kent skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond was undone by a similar ball with Ethan Brookes at third slip making no mistake. Leach had settled into a perfect rhythm and Jack Leaning edged through to keeper Gareth Roderick.Worcestershire continued to apply the pressure in the immediate post lunch session with three more quick wickets.Finch, whose first two overs had cost 27 runs, returned and accounted for Joey Evison who drove hard at a ball which nipped away and was caught behind.Hartshorn picked up his first wicket for the county as Harry Finch cut a delivery which swung away to Jake Libby at backward point.It became 103 for 6 when Finch found the inside-edge of Ben Compton’s bat and Roderick did the rest for his third catch.At that point Kent had lost six wickets for 30 runs in the space of 15.4 overs.There was a deserved first breakthrough for Taylor when Matt Parkinson flashed hard and Jones made no mistake at second slip.Leach collected a fourth scalp when Grant Stewart went for a big hit back down the ground and had his off stump knocked back.He polished off the innings in quickfire fashion with Jones holding onto two more sharp opportunities at second slip to dispose of Alfie Ogborne and George Garrett.Roderick and Libby then provided Worcestershire with an assured start to their innings and the 50 came up in only 11.1 overs.The partnership was worth 89 when Libby (30) pushed forward to Ogborne and was caught behind.New batter Kashif Ali quickly brought up the Worcestershire hundred with a cover drive for four off the same bowler but on 17 he fended a delivery of extra bounce from Jordan to first slip.Roderick completed a 107-ball half-century with seven fours.
Well, it feels like Liverpool and Newcastle United are primed for a summer of fencing over Alexander Isak. The Magpies striker is on FSG’s wishlist, even if there’s a prevailing sense that Eddie Howe’s side are going to ensure their talisman stays put.
In fact, PIF have priced the centre-forward at £200m and are reportedly prepared to make him the highest-paid player in Newcastle’s history.
It’s unlikely that this one will come to fruition for Arne Slot’s side, but the door isn’t completely closed on a stunning summer capture to complement the thick breadth of talent already being added to the Anfield ranks: Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz brought in from Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez just announced too.
Isak was only outscored by that man Mohamed Salah in the Premier League last season, and is one of the most mobile and talented nines in Europe, even remarked to have been “the best striker in the world” last season by analyst Raj Chohan.
Of course, in order to get such a deal over the line, Liverpool would need to make sure they offload Darwin Nunez.
The latest on Darwin Nunez's future
25 years old, Nunez should be heading into his prime – and he might be, but not at Liverpool. It hasn’t worked out for the man who cost FSG some £64m to bring over from Benfica (his full £85m fee will not be reached).
Anticipated to be on the move for several months, things are starting to move, with Serie A champions Napoli locked in talks with Liverpool to bring the player – who has green-lit the potential transfer – over to Naples.
Despite his flaws, Nunez remains popular within the Liverpool fanbase and is endowed with the archetypal physical faculties of the modern high-level striker. But consistency has proved elusive across his three years on Merseyside, and now it’s time for change.
Nunez actually regressed under Slot’s management, scoring just seven times across 43 matches in 2024/25. Others rose to the occasion, stepped up, but, tactically, the Uruguayan was incongruent in the system, unable to process the calculated and measured nature of the coach’s vision.
Liverpool's DarwinNunezcelebrates after winning the Premier League
Liverpool might not sign Isak this summer, but it’s pretty clear that a new striker will be required to combat Nunez’s departure. Someone refined and respected as one of the continent’s sharpest marksmen.
And someone affordable at that.
Liverpool open talks for Nunez upgrade
According to Correio da Manha, Liverpool have entered the race for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, with Arsenal and Manchester United the notable competitors.
The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe over the past few years and is believed to have a €80m (£68m) price tag, something Liverpool have confirmed after opening talks with the player’s representatives.
Said to be ‘heartbroken’ after Sporting president Frederico Varandas purportedly went back on a gentleman’s agreement to let him leave for a comparatively modest fee at the end of the 2024/25 season, Gyokeres has no intention of playing for the two-in-a-row Liga Portugal champions again.
Arsenal are the clear favourites in the race, but Liverpool are there, and they need a striker.
Why Liverpool should sign Viktor Gyokeres
Gyokeres is at the top of his game and has been profiled favourably by some of English football’s heaviest hitters. He might not have the same depth of talent as Isak, and indeed remains at this point unproven in the Premier League, but he’s a “ball-striking monster”, as per analyst Ben Mattinson and could prove a massive upgrade on Nunez.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokereskisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal
When you consider he’s available for a fraction of the cost that FSG would need to pay to bring Newcastle’s goal-getter over to Anfield, snapping him up before rivals steal ahead feels like a bit of a no-brainer.
In fact, Isak’s 27-goal haul across the campaign is dwarfed by that of his compatriot, who fired 54 goals home for his outfit across domestic and European endeavours, playing only 52 matches.
1.
Viktor Gyokeres
33
39
2.
Kylian Mbappe
34
31
3.
Mohamed Salah
38
29
4.
Robert Lewandowski
34
27
5.
Harry Kane
31
26
Think of a forward, the best you can. They didn’t outscore Gyokeres in any of Europe’s top ten divisions last season, with the Swede’s 39-goal haul an illustration of his prowess.
His clinical nature – something that Nunez is decidedly lacking in – has even illustrated a sharper ball-striking quality than Isak, and if that can be translated over to English football, Slot will be a happy man indeed.
A fair criticism would be that he plies his trade in Portugal, and Nunez wrapped up his final campaign in the country with 34 goals across 41 matches in all competitions, prompting Jurgen Klopp to spend prodigally on his signature.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
However, Gyokeres is far more accomplished, technically, athletically and physically, having been described as a “very physical striker” and a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Moreover, he’s proven his ability to steal the show against the Premier League’s finest.
And if that’s not sold him, just take a look at FBref’s evaluation, Gyokeres’ data gleaned across a period of 12 months to paint a vivid picture of his completeness, not just a goalscorer.
Indeed, he ranked among the top 11% of positional peers across divisions similar to the Liga Portugal for assists, the top 1% for progressive carries and shot-creating actions, and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.
Nunez was much younger when he arrived in the Premier League, a raw prospect with the hint of something special. Conversely, Gyokeres is at the heart of his prime years, no doubt robust and confident enough to work well with Salah, Wirtz and the like.
Fans have always clung onto hope that their record forward would come good, but when Slot stated in February that he “can’t accept” his work rate after a string of disappointing performances, it became quite clear that his day was done.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
It’s time for change, and Gyokeres would be a fantastic addition given his relatively affordable price tag and the existing depth of creative quality in Slot’s squad.
He'd be Wirtz 2.0: Liverpool stand a "chance" of signing the "next Mbappe"
Liverpool believe they have a good chance to sign a star who would be a Florian Wirtz repeat.
Celtic missed out on the domestic treble earlier this month when they were beaten by Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park.
The Hoops had already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup, but they were unable to claim the third trophy in the collection against the Dons.
Brendan Rodgers may want to go all the way next season, after failing to win the treble in both of his first two years back at the club, and could do that by improving his squad in the summer transfer window.
With that in mind, here is the dream starting line-up that Rodgers could build to attack the 2025/26 campaign head-on when they return to action later this year…
1 Kasper Schmeichel
Starting off between the sticks, Kasper Schmeichel should still be the number one for Celtic next season, at least to begin with, after an impressive debut campaign, despite his own goal in the SFA Cup final.
The former Leicester City stopper racked up an impressive 24 clean sheets in 49 appearances after joining from Anderlecht on a free transfer last year.
2 Alistair Johnston
At right-back, Celtic should be aiming to keep hold of Alistair Johnston amid reported interest from English sides Ipswich Town and Fulham this summer, after he scored four goals and provided ten assists in the Premiership this season.
3 Cameron Carter-Vickers
At the heart of the defence, Cameron Carter-Vickers should be a mainstay in the team again next season, after he was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year yet again. The colossal central defender has the right-sided centre-back position locked down, and it should stay that way.
4 Liam Scales
Liam Scales in action for Celtic.
The left-sided centre-back position is up for debate, unlike the right side, with Auston Trusty, Maik Nawrocki, and Liam Scales all in contention to play that role.
Scales, however, ended the season as the first-choice for Rodgers, despite Trusty and Nawrocki being fit and available, which suggests that he will head into pre-season as the obvious partner to Carter-Vickers.
5 Kieran Tierney
Left-back is another position that should be fairly obvious. Kieran Tierney is joining on a free transfer from Arsenal and should be the go-to option in that area of the park when fit and available.
The Scotland international produced 37 assists in 170 matches for Celtic during his first spell at the club, which suggests that he could provide a huge creative outlet down the left flank for the Scottish giants next season.
It remains to be seen whether or not Greg Taylor, who is out of contract this summer, will be at Parkhead next term, so Tierney is currently the only senior left-back who is guaranteed to be in the squad.
6 Callum McGregor
Callum McGregor
At the base of the midfield three, captain Callum McGregor is another obvious pick for Rodgers. The skipper started 34 of his 35 appearances in the Premiership this season, which does not suggest that he is close to being on his way out of the XI.
7 Arne Engels
Celtic broke the bank to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg last summer in a club-record £11m move, and he repaid them with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances for the club in his debut season.
8 Lennon Miller
Another new addition to the squad, alongside Tierney, could be Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller, who could arrive to complete the midfield trio with McGregor and Engels.
Serie A side Udinese have been linked with a summer move for Reo Hatate, and Celtic could sign the Scottish starlet, who is a reported transfer target, to replace the Japanese ace.
Appearances
37
32
Goals
10
2
Big chances created
14
12
Key passes per game
1.2
1.6
Assists
2
8
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.1
3.1
Ball recoveries per game
3.2
6.3
Duel success rate
44%
53%
As you can see in the table above, Miller would be an exciting replacement for Hatate because he offers a similar threat as a creator whilst being better out of possession, albeit he does not provide as much of a goalscoring presence.
At 18, the Scotland U21 international is also nine years younger than the Celtic star and could be the long-term option for Rodgers in that position, which is why it could make sense to cash in on the Japanese star to sign the Motherwell maestro.
9 Nicolas Kuhn
Nicolas Kuhn ended the 2024/25 campaign with an eye-catching haul of 21 goals and 15 assists in all competitions from a right wing position for the Hoops.
The left-footed star provided a constant threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants, which is why he should remain the starting option on that flank.
10 Mathias Kvistgaarden
The third signing that could be added to this dream starting XI, alongside Tierney and Miller, is Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden.
Celtic are reportedly weighing up a club-record swoop for the Danish marksman, who is valued at in excess of £12m, and it could be a fantastic piece of business for the club to upgrade on Adam Idah.
Appearances
29
35
FotMob rating
7.29
6.86
xG
13.99
13.57
Goals
17
13
Chances created
19
19
Assists
5
0
As you can see in the table above, their respective performances at league level this season suggest that Kvistgaarden would offer far more than the Irishman as a superior finisher.
Therefore, Celtic should attempt to conclude a deal for the 23-year-old centre-forward, dubbed “sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, in the weeks to come as he could add an even greater goal threat to Rodgers’ side than Idah currently does.
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted their opening bid for a highly rated centre-back, as star defender Cristian Romero continues to attract Atlético Madrid’s admiring glances ahead of the summer window.
Atlético Madrid express interest in signing Cristian Romero
Atlético’s links to the Argentinian are nothing new, as Romero’s potential move to La Liga has been reported on regularly over the last few months.
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What is more concerning, though, is more recent claims that Romero is just as keen to leave north London as Atlético are on signing the £165,000-per-week centre-back, who starred throughout Spurs’ Europa League campaign and was crowned Player of the Tournament.
Player
Rating
Guglielmo Vicario
7.7
Yves Bissouma
7.6
Cristian Romero
7.4
Bruno Fernandes
7.4
Destiny Udogie
7.2
His defensive heroics helped Ange Postecoglou make good on his famous promise of always winning trophies in his second season, which will now go down in Lilywhites folklore, and Romero was pictured enjoying the celebrations as Spurs ended their 17-year wait for silverware.
However, hoisting the Europa League trophy aloft may well be one of his final acts in a Tottenham jersey.
TottenhamHotspur's CristianRomeroreacts
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo is one of the latest outlets to report that Romero has given the green light to join Atlético and is personally keen on a switch to Diego Simeone’s side, with the main obstacle being his £50 million price tag.
La Liga reports as far back as March also claimed that Romero is determined to leave Tottenham this summer, and according to media sources closer to home, the 27-year-old is still expected to go regardless of their Europa League triumph (Pete O’Rourke).
Therefore, it is little surprise that Spurs are believed to be targeting a centre-back when the window reopens.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
Tottenham remain in contention for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, as per GiveMeSport, and were thought to be seriously in the mix for Dean Huijsen before he decided to join Real Madrid from Bournemouth at the end of the season (Fabrizio Romano).
Guehi’s price tag is expected to be around £50 million, given he’s entering the final 12 months of his contract, but chairman Daniel Levy now also has his eyes on a cheaper alternative successor to Romero.
Tottenham submit opening bid for Genoa defender Koni de Winter
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, that man is “gifted” Genoa defender Koni de Winter.
The Belgium international has been targeted by the likes of West Ham, but it is actually Spurs who are making the most serious move for him out of any Premier League side.
La Repubblica states that Tottenham have submitted a £20 million bid for De Winter ahead of 1st June, and while the outlet doesn’t reveal Genoa’s stance on this offer, it is a signal of Spurs’ serious interest.
The likes of Inter and Juve have also been linked with the 22-year-old, perhaps highlighting his quality, with de Winter revealing that those close to him compare the defender to Man City legend Vincent Kompany.
“All my life I have been told I play like Vincent Kompany,” said De Winter to the i Paper.
“I have this ability to make runs with the ball like he did, I have the same technical side. It’s a really big name, so I one day hope to be able to live up to him. You look at the other big names (former Belgian Premier League defenders) and it is only right that they ended up playing in the best competitions.”
This summer is massive for Ruben Amorim if he is to succeed as Manchester United manager, needing to oversee a huge transformation of the first-team squad.
Their lowly Premier League standing this campaign is evidence that changes are desperately needed if they are to return to their former glory in the years ahead.
Whilst they still have a chance to claim a trophy in the form of the Europa League, it has undoubtedly been a disappointing year for the Red Devils – recording their lowest points tally in the Premier League era.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
However, with a couple of weeks left of the season, the hierarchy have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements for Amorim, aiding him in his quest of being a success at Old Trafford.
One area of the pitch in particular has been the subject of keen interest in the last couple of days, with the side in desperate need of reinforcements to take the Red Devils to the next level.
An update on United’s pursuit of new attackers this summer
Matheus Cunha has been the main target for United within the final third, with his move edging closer to completion, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is the latest player to emerge on the club’s shortlist, potentially linking up with the Brazilian at Old Trafford should they both move.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
The Frenchman isn’t the only striker currently on their shortlist, with Liam Delap also a key target after his £30m release clause became active after Ipswich Town’s relegation was confirmed.
However, Lyon star man Rayan Cherki has been touted with a summer switch to Manchester, with CaughtOffside reporting Amorim’s men are leading the race for his signature.
The 21-year-old has notched 12 goals and 19 assists across all competitions this season, and could be available for as little as £25m during the upcoming window.
Why Cherki could be even better than Amad
Winger Amad Diallo has become a key player during the Amorim tenure at United, notching 11 combined goals and assists since his arrival, but injuries have massively halted his progress.
The Ivorian has been missing for the last three months with an ankle issue, with the side massively missing his presence within the final third – leading to their lowly league standing.
However, he could be about to provide a huge boost to the side between now and the end of the season, as it’s been confirmed that he’s set to return to training after his lay-off.
Such a situation will undoubtedly improve their chances of claiming the Europa League, but his place in the side could be under huge threat going into the 2025/26 campaign.
A move for Cherki would massively boost the forward line in Amorim’s side, offering an upgrade to Amad and pushing the side closer to success in the near future.
Rayan Cherki
When comparing his stats with those of the Ivorian from the ongoing season, he’s massively outperforming him in numerous key attacking areas – with the £25m fee touted appearing to be a bargain.
The Lyon star, who’s been labelled “one of the best in the world” by one analyst, has registered more combined goals and assists to date, whilst also having a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.
How Rayan Cherki compares to Amad Diallo in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Cherki
Amad
Games played
27
22
Goals & assists
18
12
Progressive passes
9.3
2.9
Shot-on-target accuracy
44%
32%
Shot-creating actions
6.2
4.5
Take-ons completed
2.1
2
Carries into final third
3.8
2.6
Crosses completed
5.2
2.2
Stats via FBref
He’s also managed to complete way more progressive passes and completed more of the dribbles he’s attempted – having the skillset to provide other players within attacking areas.
Cherki’s talents don’t end there, completing more crosses and managing to achieve more carries into the final third – with the youngster excelling with the ball at his feet.
The United side has been devoid of flair and entertainment within the attacking department in recent years, with a deal for Cherki providing the excitement the supporters have often failed to see in their recent demise.
He could feature alongside Amad at the top end of the pitch under Amorim for many years to come, having the tools to push the club one step closer to the glory days they once endured.
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With Fabio Paratici set to return to the club, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly in constant contact with an impressive defender who’s also found himself on the radar of Real Madrid.
Fabio Paratici set for Tottenham return
Having left the North London club in 2023 following a two-and-a-half-year ban by FIFA which he is still serving, Paratici has reportedly agreed to return to Tottenham. The Lilywhites have plenty of work to do this summer and the return of an experienced sporting director may well go a long way towards things finally changing for the better under Ange Postecoglou.
How much room Spurs have to manoeuvre in the transfer window is the big question. Should they miss out on winning the Europa League and, subsequently, a place in next season’s Champions League, those in North London are unlikely to have a large budget to spend. After taking one leg in the final with a 3-1 first leg victory over Bodo/Glimt, however, Europa League victory is still very much a possibility.
Many will be quick to assume that a place in Bilbao is now firmly in Spurs’ grasp and Postecoglou reiterated that a repeat of his side’s performance on Thursday night next week will see them advance.
He told reporters: “Obviously they scored the goal late, which doesn’t reflect our dominance in the game, but if we repeat that performance next week it’ll be enough for us to get through.
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“Yeah, I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today, I thought our performance was everything it needed to be, really well organised and disciplined defensively and really calm going forward and created good opportunities for ourselves.”
Europa League victory would no doubt help to turn the narrative of their season on its head, perhaps saving Postecoglou’s job in the process and even luring top transfer targets to the club.
Tottenham in constant contact with Jonathan Tah
According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are in constant contact with Jonathan Tah over a summer switch following the expiry of his current Bayer Leverkusen deal at the end of the season. The Lilywhites are far from alone, however, with Manchester United and now even Real Madrid also looking to convince the defender into a move.
As Paratici plots his first transfer back, those in North London could end the summer having landed a true bargain. The Leverkusen defender played a pivotal part in last season’s invincible domestic double and has impressed once again throughout the current campaign.
A player who’s earned plenty of praise over the years, former Germany boss Joachim Low told reporters after handing Tah his international debut at the beginning of his career: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible.”