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Celtic went into the final international break of the season off the back of a disappointing 3-2 defeat to their city rivals in the Scottish Premiership at Parkhead.

Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed that his side let the game slip away from them after they brought the score back to 2-2 from 2-0 down at half-time, as Hamza Igamane scored an 88th-minute winner for Rangers.

Goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate got the Hoops back into the game and the home crowd appeared to be pushing them on for a winner, before that late sucker-punch.

Despite that loss, Celtic are a whopping 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership table and it seems to be a matter of when, not if, they clinch a fourth successive league title.

There were also other positives to take out of the clash with their Glasgow rivals, despite the disappointing scoreline, as central defender Maik Nawrocki stepped up with an impressive showing.

Why Maik Nawrocki deserves more minutes this season

The Polish central defender had not played a minute of Premiership action or started a single game in any competition for the club this season prior to the clash with Rangers at Parkhead last time out.

Injuries to Liam Scales and Auston Trusty resulted in Rodgers deciding to go with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Nawrocki as the central defensive pairing, and the latter certainly took his chance to impress.

Those did not watch the game may see that the former Legia Warsaw man made his first start and that Celtic conceded three goals and lost and try to connect the dots, but none of the goals conceded were down to any errors on his part.

If anything, Nawrocki’s contributions in the heart of the backline for the Scottish giants prevented the highly-motivated Rangers team, managed by Barry Ferguson, from scoring even more goals at Parkhead.

Clearances

7

Interceptions

4

Tackles

1

Dribbled past

0x

Ground duels won

2/2

Aerial duels won

5/8

Pass accuracy

93%

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old colossus won 70% of his physical duels with Rangers players and did not get dribbled past a single time, whilst he also read the game well to make four interceptions.

So far this season, Scales has averaged 4.3 clearances and 1.7 tackles and interceptions per game, whilst Trusty has averaged 3.3 clearances and 2.4 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premiership.

This suggests that Nawrocki has the potential to offer more than both of them as an out-and-out defender if he can maintain the level that he displayed in the clash with Rangers.

Therefore, the summer signing from 2023 deserves more minutes between now and the end of the campaign to prove to Rodgers that he has a future as a key player for Celtic before the next transfer window.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Nawrocki is currently one of the lowest valued players in the squad at Parkhead, and a strong end to the season as a first-team regular could help to boost his value.

Celtic's lowest-valued players in the 24/25 season

At the time of writing (25/03/2025), the former Legia Warsaw man is valued at just £1.7m by Transfermarkt and there are only four outfield players in the squad who are worth less, albeit one of them is the rarely-seen James McCarthy.

Hyun-jun Yang, who has recently emerged as a key squad option for Celtic with five goals and six assists this season, has seen his value rise to £2m – £300k above Nawrocki.

James McCarthy

£83k

Johnny Kenny

£188k

James Forrest

£417k

Anthony Ralston

£1.2m

Maik Nawrocki

£1.7m

Luke McCowan

£1.7m

Hyun-jun Yang

£2m

Liam Scales

£2.9m

Jeffrey Schlupp

£4.1m

Adam Idah

£4.6m

The 24-year-old titan’s goal between now and the end of the season should be to nail down a place in the XI next to Carter-Vickers ahead of the summer, in a bid to improve his position in the squad and his market value.

There is, however, a former Celtic centre-back who is currently worth even more than both Yang and Nawrocki. The Hoops cashed in on Jack Hendry in the summer of 2021 for a reported fee of £1.5m, and he has thrived since then.

Celtic sold their own John Stones

The Scotland international was signed from Dundee in January 2016 and made just 27 first-team appearances, despite earning comparisons to John Stones in his younger days.

During his time at Wigan, before his move to Parkhead in 2016, Hendry spoke about being compared to the Manchester City and England star. He told The Guardian:

“The conversations were initially all about going to Everton, into the 23s and developing the way Stones had done. The Wigan chairman told me they had missed out on Stones when he went to Everton so now it was their turn to get one up.

“I’ve grown up with people speaking about our similarity. I’m now going to be on the same pitch as him. It’s funny how football works out. He has had criticism, come back and is a world-class footballer so he is a great role model.”

He was seemingly unable to live up to that comparison at Celtic, given his lack of game time, and was sent out on loan to Oostende in Belgium, giving the Pro League side an option to buy him – for the aforementioned fee of £1.5m, for the 2020/21 campaign.

Interestingly, though, the centre-back almost immediately completed another transfer, joining Belgian giants Club Brugge for a reported fee of £3.5m just one month later, due to a release clause that was put in his deal.

Hendry went on to play 41 times for Club Brugge in all competitions before Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £6.5m in the summer of 2023 – a fee considerably higher than what Yang and Nawrocki are currently valued at.

This means that his value soared by 333% in the space of two years, from the £1.5m that Celtic sold him for to the £6.5m that the Saudi Arabian side signed him for, and the Hoops may regret that they did not get more value out of the Scottish titan.

Starts

34

8

Pass accuracy

91%

89%

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.0

1.0

Clearances per game

2.5

4.0

Duel success rate

57%

74%

Hendry, who has been an incredibly reliable figure in possession and a strong defender off the ball, has been Al-Ettifaq’s own version of Stones with his mixture of technical and physical qualities in a centre-back position.

Celtic, unfortunately, could not unearth their version of the Manchester City star during the Scottish titan’s time at Parkhead, but he did not get many opportunities to showcase his quality.

That is a lesson that can now be learned from to better handle Nawrocki, who has shown that he deserves to have more minutes on the pitch moving forward, having proven that he can put in exceptional performances at Premiership level.

Rodgers must, now, hand more starts to the Polish centre-back in the hope that he can kick on and flourish at Parkhead, in a way that Hendry never got the chance to do – causing Celtic to miss out on having their own John Stones at centre-back.

Celtic star was sold for £4.5m, now he scores more frequently than Maeda

Brendan Rodgers cashed in on the Celtic attacker last year and he is now more prolific than Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.

ByDan Emery Mar 25, 2025

Life as a homegrown, academy talent is never straightforward, not least at a club like Manchester United, with those who rise up into the first team often met with lofty expectations and intense scrutiny.

Early goodwill shown toward a young prospect from supporters can often be replaced by negativity, with the modern game particularly obsessed with looking further afield for new talents, rather than promoting from within.

A current example could well be Kobbie Mainoo, with the 19-year-old having enjoyed a stunning 2023/24 campaign which resulted in a call-up to England’s Euro 2024 squad. Fast forward less than a year, however, and the injury-hit teenager has become something of a forgotten man, with talk having been rife in January regarding a swift departure.

Thankfully, there have reportedly been positive talks over a new contract for the midfield maestro, with it looking as if his long-term future is set to remain at Old Trafford.

Unlike Mainoo, however, not every member of Ruben Amorim’s squad will still be at the club next term, with the Red Devils and INEOS perhaps set to face their own Trent Alexander-Arnold scenario this summer.

Man Utd's notable homegrown exits

Perhaps the worst-kept secret in football in recent months had been Alexander-Arnold’s desire to depart for Real Madrid, with the 26-year-old’s future having been the centre of heated debate in Liverpool, amid his expiring contract.

As was widely reported on Tuesday, it looks as if that long-awaited switch is finally coming close to completion, with the Englishman – who had been a product of the club’s academy – set to end his Anfield affiliation in order to make the move to Spain this summer.

Those of a United persuasion will certainly remember losing one of their own to Madrid in the not-too-distant past, with Class of 92 star David Beckham departing on a £25m deal in 2003, following a dispute with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Subsequent years also saw Beckham followed out the door by former youth team colleagues, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt, with the pair joining Everton and Newcastle United, respectively, amid the search for increased game time.

As those cases epitomised, not every graduate can reach the status of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Gary Neville as a one-club man, with more recent times having also seen a raft of homegrown, academy sales at Old Trafford.

Indeed, just last summer, the new INEOS regime cashed in on Scott McTominay, with the midfielder joining Napoli on a £25m deal. Prior to that, Anthony Elanga had made the move to Nottingham Forest for £15m in 2023, while James Garner moved to Goodison for £9m in 2022.

Those deals, it must be said, appeared to be club-led amid the current PSR demands, with few having perhaps been as high profile as that of Alexander-Arnold’s impending switch – until now, that is.

Man Utd's own Alexander-Arnold situation

Much to the frustration of those on Merseyside, the playmaking full-back appears intent on severing ties with his boyhood club in search of a fresh adventure abroad, with the decision to depart on a free transfer set to be a particularly contentious one.

As far as United are concerned, the sale of Marcus Rashford this summer would prove far less controversial, considering his exile from Amorim’s ranks, although it would be a similar situation with regard to the end of his lengthy stay in Manchester.

The 27-year-old – who is currently on loan at Aston Villa – could be in line for a permanent switch to his temporary home, with the Midlands side holding a £40m option to buy at the end of the season.

Non-penalty goals

0.31

Top 23%

Assists

0.23

Top 33%

Shot-creating actions

3.51

Top 44%

Pass completion

72.7%

Bottom 38%

Progressive carries

2.36

Bottom 25%

Progressive passes

2.52

Bottom 28%

Successful take-ons

1.30

Bottom 45%

Tackles

0.99

Bottom 23%

Aerial duels won

0.46

Bottom 44%

Like Alexander-Arnold, however, Rashford appears to have his eyes set further afield, with reports rife in January that the forward was intent on sealing a dream move to Barcelona, having outlined his desire for a “new challenge” back in December.

There is then a very real prospect that the £300k-per-week United man could be lining up against his England colleague in LaLiga next term, should he get his wish, with reports this month again linking the Camp Nou giants with a summer swoop.

Again, unlike Alexander-Arnold, the manner and timing of Rashford’s exit would not be controversial, but like his compatriot, he has certainly been a major talking point at United in recent years.

Much like the debate over the Liverpool man’s future potentially being in midfield, rather than at right-back, there have long been question marks over Rashford’s role as a striker or a left-winger.

In any case, an exit has become almost inevitable in truth, not least since he was left out of the Manchester Derby back in December.

That appeared to be the latest sign of his woes, having also been punished by former boss Erik ten Hag last season, following a trip to Belfast ahead of the FA Cup clash with Newport County. As journalist Liam Canning put it, he had become a “major major problem”.

After the highs of scoring 30 goals in 2022/23, just 15 goals have followed in the last 18 months or so, with the decision to move him on to Villa Park marking the beginning of a sad end to his Red Devils association.

When a likely move does occur this summer, Rashford will be able to look back on five major trophies, and 138 goals for the club in all competitions. ‘Trent’, meanwhile, will have chalked up well over 80 assists and collected his own gamut of silverware.

For differing reasons, these two local heroes will be moving on this summer, with both players perhaps feeling a fresh start is needed. For both men, this is not the way most thought it would end.

As they say, ‘you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain’…

Cost £0: Man Utd hit gold on "generational" star worth more than Rashford

Man Utd have found a new rising star at Old Trafford

ByRobbie Walls Mar 25, 2025

Darwin Nunez has reportedly 'already started moving to organise' the next stage of his career as a Liverpool exit beckons.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Nunez struggling for Liverpool minutes
• Linked with Atletico Madrid and Saudi
• Already 'started moving' ahead of next transfer

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, claims that Nunez has decided to leave Liverpool this summer due to a lack of game time under Arne Slot this season. The report adds that the Uruguay international has even started moving to organise his life in Madrid as he eyes a link-up with Diego Simeone's side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nunez swapped Benfica for Liverpool for a club record fee of £85 million ($113m) in 2022 but his impact at Merseyside outfit has diminished under Slot in comparison to his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp. It seems the 25-year-old is destined to be sold this year but reports suggest Madrid would prefer to sign Nunez on loan with a mandatory purchase option rather than a flat out fee this summer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Nunez, who has also been linked with a Saudi Pro League move, has scored just five goals in 29 Premier League games this season. Incidentally, his contract at Anfield runs until 2028, so the Reds will likely want a decent fee for his services.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Nunez may play his last Liverpool game this weekend when the Premier League champions round off their season at home to Crystal Palace.

Newcastle United do have an EFL Cup final on the horizon, but there will be a disappointment in the air on Tyneside all the same as Eddie Howe’s Magpies crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Brighton and Hove Albion would eventually run out 2-1 victors in extra-time courtesy of a late Danny Welbeck strike, as both sides ended up entering the additional 30 minutes of action down a man due to two red cards in a feisty affair at St James’ Park.

Before all that drama played out, however, a former Newcastle face came back to haunt the Toon in Yankuba Minteh, as the Gambian attacker – who never properly donned Magpies black and white – showed Howe and Co what they’re missing out on.

Minteh's heroics at St James' Park

After a standout loan stint in the Netherlands with Feyenoord saw Minteh bag 11 strikes from 37 games, many back at Newcastle would have expected the 20-year-old to be given a fair shot in the first team.

Instead, however, the Tyneside outfit were at the mercy of PSR and had to offload the young winger, eventually selling him to Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls for £30m, a decision which now has come back to bite them.

It was a muted celebration from the 20-year-old on his return, but the Brighton speedster would have been delighted inside, with this breakaway strike his tenth goal contribution for the season from 26 clashes.

Whilst there will be a lot of obvious regret on Newcastle’s end that they let Minteh go prematurely, the Magpies are stacked in the attacking department arguably, even if Anthony Gordon did steal the headlines for all the wrong reasons in this match with a dismissal.

After all, Jacob Murphy has been one of Newcastle’s underrated players this term, featuring in Minteh’s preferred position and contributing with six goals and eight assists.

Minutes

83

69

Goals

0

1

Touches

50

32

Shots

1

1

Accurate Passes

19/26

12/18

Key Passes

1

2

Successful Dribbles

0/4

1/2

Ground Duels Won

3/10

4/7

Aerial duels won

0/1

0/0

Tackles

1

2

Therefore, there is likely to be even more sorrow in the air that Newcastle let another revitalised performer depart.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Missed more than Minteh: Newcastle will regret letting £35m star leave

Newcastle have fallen victim to some dodgy sales in recent years, notably allowing Chris Wood to exit the building for £15m, only for the New Zealand sharpshooter to now be on 18 goals and counting for Nottingham Forest this season in league action.

Alongside Wood in Nuno Espirito Santo’s camp is another former Toon figure in Elliot Anderson, who the top-flight overachievers managed to lure to the City Ground last summer for a figure of £35m.

Like Minteh, Anderson has arguably become a man-possessed for Forest in the middle of the park ever since this move was sanctioned, with the 22-year-old a promising local talent for the Magpies when amassing three assists from 55 games.

Now, however, as scout Jacek Kulig stated, “the most expensive signing in the club’s history is really paying off”. He’s also been described as “one of the best signings of the entire summer” by European football expert Zach Lowy. Fine praise indeed.

This has certainly left Newcastle in a sticky situation where they must curse their decision-making now to get rid of their homegrown talent, even if it did help PIF and Co comply with PSR rules in the process.

Games played

26

Goals scored

1

Assists

5

Touches per game

50.3

Accurate passes per game

25.9 (82%)

Big chances created

6

Tackles per game

2.5

Ball recoveries per game

5.3

Duels won per g ame

6.5

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Anderson is the heartbeat of this energetic yet dogged Forest side, with flair in spades whenever he roams forward, but that is matched with grit and a fight that has seen him win a high 6.5 duels per top-flight contest.

In an alternate reality, Anderson would slot in nicely to the central midfield spots in Howe’s XI now, but it wasn’t to be as the Forest number eight now goes about securing a top-four finish for his side at the expense of his ex-employers.

While Minteh’s exit will undoubtedly sting, seeing a homegrown prodigy – one of your own if you like – thriving elsewhere is certainly a bigger pill to swallow.

Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time

A look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 5, 2025

Chelsea have endured somewhat of a disappointing run in recent weeks, losing three games in a row across all competitions, subsequently having an impact on their Premier League standing.

However, Enzo Maresca managed to end their poor run of form last night, claiming a 4-0 win over bottom side Southampton at Stamford Bridge, a victory that was just their third league win of 2025.

Such a convincing display will add needed confidence to the first-team squad, also bolstering their chances of claiming a Champions League place by the end of the season.

However, despite the huge scoreline, multiple players struggled to produce one of their best performances, potentially being punished by higher-quality opposition on another day.

One player in particular was wasteful in West London during the triumph, extending his own disappointing run within the final third over the last few weeks.

Cole Palmer’s form for Chelsea in 2025

Cole Palmer has been the leading talisman in front of goal for Chelsea since his move from Manchester City in 2023, as seen by his mammoth tally of goal contributions.

The England international has registered 60 combined goals and assists in his 75 appearances for the Blues, but has struggled to maintain his performance levels over the last couple of weeks.

Palmer has failed to register a goal contribution in any of the last six games across all competitions, scoring just twice since the turn of the year, showcasing his decline in form.

His showing against the Saints was a wasteful one, notching seven efforts on goal, including three on target, but was unable to find the back of the net – something which he hasn’t usually struggled with in West London.

Such a spell will come as a surprise to the fanbase given his impact over the last 18 months, with Palmer needing to dig deep between now and the end of May to recapture his impressive form.

However, it has allowed for one player to potentially overtake the Englishman in terms of importance to Maresca, with one player thriving since his return to the side.

The Chelsea player who’s becoming more important than Palmer

During the early stages of the 2024/25 season, midfielder Enzo Fernández struggled to cement his place in Maresca’s starting eleven, with Moises Caicedo and Roméo Lavia ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, he’s emerged as a key member of the first team squad in recent weeks, repaying the faith shown in him by the Italian – impressing beyond anyone’s imagination.

Since the turn of the year, the Argentine may only have registered a single goal, but he has starred with his underlying stats, with his showing against Southampton up there with one of his best in recent times.

Fernandez started at the base of the side alongside Caicedo, featuring for 89 minutes at the Bridge, arguably one of the best performers within the side last night.

The 24-year-old completed 88% of the passes he attempted, whilst also winning 100% of the duels he entered – offering a real commanding presence in the midfield department.

Enzo Fernández’s stats for Chelsea against Southampton

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

89

Touches

80

Pass accuracy

58/66 (88%)

Duels won

5/5 (100%)

Chances created

6

Dribbles completed

1/1 (100%)

Recoveries made

7

Stats via SofaScore

Enzo also created six chances, completing 100% of dribbles and making seven recoveries – producing a sensational all-round box-to-box performance for the Blues.

As a result of his display, the former Benfica ace was handed a 9/10 match rating by Football London journalist Bobby Vincent, further demonstrating how impressive he was in the convincing victory.

Palmer has no doubt been crucial to the side over the last couple of months, with the former City star expected to have a drop-off after such a stellar start to life in West London.

However, Fernandez has since stepped up to the plate, producing multiple impressive showings at the heart of the side, taking responsibility with Maresca reaping the rewards as a result of the trust shown in him.

Related Chelsea's £100m star in the making has very quickly become a liability

He’s been really disappointing recently for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Feb 24, 2025

كشف هاني سعيد المدير الرياضي بنادي بيراميدز، حقيقة ما تردد عن قيام الفريق بالاحتفال ببطولة الدوري، بعد مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا الأخيرة حال الفوز بها.

ويشهد الموسم الحالي، صراعًا شرسًا بين الأهلي وبيراميدز على لقب بطولة الدوري المصري، حيث يتصدر المارد الأحمر برصيد 55 نقطة، بينما السماوي في المركز الثاني بـ 53 نقطة.

وجاءت تلك الأنباء، بسبب شكوى ناديي بيراميدز والزمالك في المحكمة الرياضية “كأس” ضد قرار عدم خصم الـ3 نقاط من الأهلي إثر أزمة الانسحاب من مباراة القمة الأخيرة بالدوري، حيث يرى السماوي أنه إذا تم خصم الـ3 نقاط، سيتوج بطلًا للدوري حال الفوز أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا.

طالع | أحمد شوبير عن تصريحات هاني سعيد: الأهلي “جبروت”.. وسبب لهم المرض

وقال سعيد خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر” لبرنامج “الكورة مع فايق”: “الأنباء التي ترددت أنني سآخذ فريق بيراميدز وأحتفل به إذا حققنا الفوز في المباراة المقبلة هذا الكلام غير صحيح، ومن يقول هذا الحديث شخص مغيب”.

وأضاف: “ننتظر قبل الجولة الأخيرة قرار المحكمة الرياضية، بحجب إعلان بطل الدوري من عدمه، وأعتقد الحكم النهائي سيأخذ بعض الوقت”.

وأضاف: “منذ عملي في بيراميدز، لم أتفوه بكلمة خطأ في حق الأهلي أو الزمالك أو أي نادي، ومؤخرًا تنشر تصريحات على لساني لم أصرح بها من الأساس”.

Sheffield United have been extremely busy this transfer window to date as Chris Wilder goes about adding more quality here and there to his Blades ranks to make their promotion dreams a reality.

Already this window, the South Yorkshire side have obtained the services of Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz in attack, whilst Hamza Choudhury and Harry Clarke have also joined as loan bodies to help out the promotion chasers at the back.

More defensive additions could well be on the menu as we head towards the dramatic window finally slamming shut, as a new face begins to be linked with a move to Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United's search for a centre-back

As per an exclusive report by the Sheffield Star, the Championship side are now set to launch an official bid for Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga, as the club’s desperate search for some fresh blood in the centre-back department drags on.

Indeed, United look to be seeking out Tanganga’s signature now with no movement on Queens Park Rangers’ end over a deal for centre-back star Jimmy Dunne, with QPR boldly wanting £3m out of the Blades to land the 27-year-old.

Whilst not winning a deal for Dunne would be a blow, Tanganga would be more than an apt body to get in to soften this disappointment, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man a colossus at the Den this campaign so far.

How Tanganga compares to Jimmy Dunne

Much like the Irishman, the London-born defender has been a rock at the back for the Lions in second-tier action.

Last time out against Dunne’s Hoops, Tanganga more than showed off his imposing aerial prowess with a stunning nine duels won as Alex Neil’s men got the better of Marti Cifuentes’ visitors in a tight 2-1 win.

This ability to get stuck in and be a brute would make Tanganga an ideal Harry Souttar replacement, who is now out for the season with a serious injury, leading to the Blades scrambling about for some new bodies at the back.

But, as can be seen with this smart finish earlier in the campaign against Leeds United, the £35k-per-week Millwall man would also be able to chip in with a goal here and there to boost his side’s firepower, with Wilder known to love his defensive titans to be able to fire home goals at a moment’s notice alongside being attritional.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Tanganga

Dunne

Games played

27

29

Goals scored

2

4

Assists

0

1

Touches*

48.6

69.3

Accurate passes*

25.2 (78%)

34.7 (76%)

Interceptions*

1.0

1.2

Tackles*

1.7

2.1

Ball recoveries*

3.8

3.2

Clearances*

5.3

5.6

Total duels won*

6.3

7.8

Clean sheets

11

7

Whilst the table above proves that Dunne could offer that similar ability in spades, there would be a risk attached in attempting to get the QPR ace through the door with a wild £3m price tag above his head, on top of the fact he had to sit out that last league match versus Millwall owing to an alleged injury.

Whereas, with Tanganga – who has a lower valuation of £1.4m according to Transfermarkt – you have a more realistic late swoop that could be pulled off, with the 25-year-old also boasting more clean sheets in Championship action this season at 11, contrasted next to Dunne’s seven.

With Premier League pedigree also in his tank, Wilder will view landing the “outstanding” star – as he was once labelled by Gabby Agbonlahor – as a signing that would be able to acclimatise to the pressures of the league above well if promotion is sealed, as the second tier high-flyers continue to be busy right until 11pm hits.

Winter transfer window 2025: All the latest deals from England and Scotland

Find out who is on the move this winter with our comprehensive list of done deals from the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership.

ByStephan Georgiou Feb 3, 2025

It has been all change recently for Wolverhampton Wanderers. They ended what was a poor 2024 by sacking former manager Gary O’Neil, and replaced him with the experienced Vitor Pereira.

The Portuguese boss has made a great start to life at Molineux, winning two, drawing one and losing one of his first four games in charge. On the whole, he has made a positive start and the Old Gold are now out of the relegation zone.

As is often the case under a new manager, there have been changes in the squad, with certain players falling out of favour. That has certainly been the situation for Mario Lemina under Pereira.

Lemina’s 2024/25 season

When speaking of all change for Wolves in the last few weeks, perhaps no player can relate to that more than Lemina. It has been a hectic time for the Gabonese midfielder, starting with his dismissal as captain when O’Neil was manager.

A scuffle between Lemina and Bowen broke out at full time of the Old Gold’s defeat away to West Ham in December which “sparked the conversation” for a change in captaincy, according to O’Neil.

With the new manager in place, things got off to a slow start for the former Wolves skipper. A calf strain kept him out of Pereira’s first three games in charge, and he could only make a fleeting appearance off the bench against Nottingham Forest in the 3-0 defeat at Molineux.

That was a huge chance to impress, although Birmingham Live journalist Charlie Haffenden did not seem to think Lemina played too well. He gave the Wolves midfielder a 4/10 for his efforts, explaining that he ‘couldn’t have defended much worse’ for Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal which was Forest’s third of the night.

All of the things to have happened over the past few months might leave Lemina – who is reportedly keen to move on – in an interesting position at Wolves, and he is certainly not a guaranteed starter. His role in the squad might become even more under question with the Old Gold targeting a new midfielder.

Wolves could land perfect Lemina upgrade

The player in question here is Colombian international Richard Rios. According to a report from Brazilian news outlet RTI – which emerged over the weekend – the Old Gold are interested in signing the midfielder, who is highly rated by Pereira.

A price is not clear, but Manchester United were reportedly set to bid £17m for the 24-year-old Palmeiras man over the summer. Should Wolves decide to pursue a move, they could face competition from Fulham who are also interested.

The Colombia star has been key for Palmeiras over the past season. He has played 49 games across competitions, scoring four times and grabbing five assists. He also played a key role in his country’s run to to 2024 Copa America final, where he started all six of their games.

Like Lemina, Rios is a hard-working midfielder who is a tough tackler. Yet, his biggest strengths lie on the ball. The Colombian is elegant with the ball at his feet and is also a progressive and creative midfielder.

According to the statistics on FBref, he would certainly be an upgrade on the former Wolves skipper. For example, the 24-year-old averages 1.39 progressive carries and 5.31 progressive passes per game, compared to Lemina’s 0.59 progressive carries and 3.22 progressive passes.

Without the ball, they are statistically closer, yet Rios averages more ball recoveries per 90 minutes than the Gabon international. Specifically, he makes 6.55 compared to 4.8 for the Wolves man.

Rios vs Lemina key stats compared
Stat (per 90)	Rios	Lemina
Progressive carries	1.39	0.59
Progressive passes	5.31	3.22
Key passes	0.88	0.66
Ball recoveries	6.55	4.8
Tackles and interceptions	4.54	5.13
Stats from FBref

A deal to bring Rios to Molineux does not seem like it would break the bank for Wolves. At just £17m or so, it is an affordable price to upgrade their midfield by signing a 24-year-old who has a “huge amount of talent”, as football analyst Ben Mattinson has said.

If this is a deal the Old Gold manage to get over the line, it will certainly boost Pereira’s side and increase their chances of survival.

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By
Joe Nuttall

Jan 7, 2025

Chelsea are in ongoing club-to-club discussions as they weigh up a January deal for one highly-rated forward, and a report has shared the player’s stance on making the move to Stamford Bridge mid-season.

Chelsea identify more targets after January transfer twists

Enzo Maresca faces the prospect of potentially having to let go a few more players than he’d hoped for, not including fringe trio Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei – who’ve long been tipped to depart this month.

Chelsea make contact with Premier League attacker who's keen to join

The west Londoners are seriously considering a January deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 14, 2025

Renato Veiga agreed terms on a move to Borussia Dortmund earlier this week, according to Fabrizio Romano, as he sets his sights on playing as a centre-back – rather than a left-back which has been the case under Maresca.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)

January 20

Man City (away)

January 25

West Ham (away)

February 3

Brighton (away)

February 14

Aston Villa (home)

February 22

However, it has since emerged that the 21-year-old only wants to go there on a straight loan deal.

While Christopher Nkunku made the bench for Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday, it is reliably reported that the Frenchman has reached a full agreement over joining Bayern Munich this month.

Nkunku wants to join Bayern immediately, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, but the west Londoners are set to demand around £59 million plus add-ons – so it remains to be seen whether this winter deal can be done.

Were the 27-year-old to depart, then BlueCo would apparently enter the market for a swift replacement (Simon Phillips).

It is believed Chelsea have made a new approach to Liam Delap’s agents in the last week, so the former Man City gem could be an option, but they could even look to tempt Bayern into parting company with Mathys Tel.

Credible media sources have revealed initial Chelsea talks with Bayern over a swap deal involving Tel and Nkunku, so this looks like one to watch as we enter the business end of January.

Mathys Tel willing to join Chelsea in January with Bayern talks ongoing

As per The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea and Bayern remain in discussions over the 19-year-old’s potential transfer to the Premier League, with Nkunku going the other way.

Bailey now writes a new development from the player’s side of things – Tel would be prepared to join Chelsea. However, he does have some reservations and would want guarantees over playing time. The France Under-21 international would ideally like to stay at the Allianz Arena, but is willing to make the switch if he is given assurances over match action.

Tel has also privately been informed that he’s not in Vincent Kompany’s long-term plans. If a swap deal cannot be done, then his rumoured price tag stands at around £34 million.

Jamie Overton will make his Test debut against New Zealand at Headingley on Thursday, in place of James Anderson, as England’s captain Ben Stokes confirmed a solitary change to the team that sealed the series with their five-wicket victory at Trent Bridge last week.Stokes, who had himself been a concern after missing training through illness on Tuesday, came through a training session on Wednesday morning after linking up with the squad, and will lead out the side in search of a 3-0 series win after a brace of uplifting performances at Lord’s and Trent Bridge.Anderson, who claimed 11 wickets at 18.63 in the first two Tests to reaffirm his status as England’s attack leader, will sit the match out with an ankle niggle – partly with a view to next week’s delayed fifth Test against India at Edgbaston, which gets underway three days after the conclusion of the Headingley match, and which England need to win to secure a share of the series that was postponed last year due to Covid scare.Related

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“Unfortunately Jimmy’s not pulled up as much as we’d like to so Jamie Overton is going to make his debut this week,” Stokes confirmed during his pre-match press conference.That solitary change means that England will not, after all, field twins in the same Test for the first time in their history, with Jamie’s brother Craig remaining an unused member of the squad.Under the previous regime, Stuart Broad might have been considered for a rest after back-to-back fixtures, but in keeping with England’s new policy of picking their best available XI for each game, he will continue as the seam attack’s senior presence.Jamie Overton’s debut comes four-and-a-half years after his brother Craig made his first England Test appearance, and comes as reward for a fine start to the season with Surrey, for whom he has claimed 21 wickets at 21, and consistently bowled in excess of 90mph/145kph.England 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Matt Potts, 11 Jack Leach.