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Newcastle United can now boast three wins on the trot in all competitions at their beloved home patch of St James’ Park, having left it very late to secure a Premier League win yesterday against Marco Silva’s Fulham.

The Magpies brushed aside Jose Mourinho’s Benfica with ease 3-0 in the Champions League in mid-week, but on their return to the bread and butter of top-flight action, it would take a crucial strike by club captain Bruno Guimaraes right at the death to clinch a slim 2-1 win over the determined visitors from West London.

Having also been the hero who secured the Toon a 2-0 victory over Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest earlier in the month, it’s clear that the number 39 is now an undroppable part of Howe’s first-team set-up.

Why Bruno Guimaraes is undroppable

With Sandro Tonali sitting out another game, Howe would have known that he was relying on Guimaraes to be a bright spark from the centre of the park once more.

The energetic Brazilian was just that for the Tyneside giants, with his third Premier League goal of the season already seeing him pounce on a spill by Bernd Leno to send the majority of St James’ Park into raptures.

Away from the Brazilian coming up clutch again, the ever-reliable Toon captain also amassed four key passes as he attempted to get the teammates around him onto the scoresheet as well, with eight duels also won, showing off the 27-year-old’s tenacious approach in battling away for his side.

Having not missed a single Premier League game last season, and with this electric start to this campaign already under his belt, it’s surely obvious now that Guimaraes is a deserved staple of Howe’s lineups.

Guimaraes isn’t alone, arguably, in being an untouchable member of his manager’s XI, though, with this consistent top performer now making a compelling argument to be considered in the same conversations as the much-loved midfielder.

The Newcastle star who is as undroppable as Guimaraes

As was stated above, Newcastle didn’t have the smoothest ride out there against Silva’s away side.

Thankfully, Guimaraes bailed the Toon out with that vital 89th-minute effort, but if it wasn’t for Jacob Murphy’s sharp accuracy in front of goal after just 18 minutes, as well, a win could have easily slipped out of Howe and Co.’s grasp.

While Guimaraes would go on to steal all the plaudits in the second 45 minutes, his 30-year-old teammate also made sure Fulham knew he wasn’t messing about in the first half, with three shots on target in total, nearly seeing Murphy pick up more than one goal to put the contest beyond doubt.

The Toon veteran would be substituted off on the 61st minute mark as he visibly tired, but his electric first-half display alone surely means he’s a shoo-in for a start again when the Tyneside outfit travel to a troubled West Ham United side at the start of November in Premier League, having also been branded as a player that “every squad needs” by journalist Andy Sixsmith for his unwavering commitment to the club during the 2-1 win.

Minutes played

63

61

Goals scored

0

1

Assists

1

0

Touches

31

37

Accurate passes

10/15 (67%)

14/18 (78%)

Key passes

1

0

Big chances created

1

0

Successful dribbles

0

1/2

Total duels won

0/1

3/5

The table above backs up Sixsmith’s glowing words, with Murphy content at being given limited minutes, knowing he can create an opening or thunder home a goal at a moment’s notice, with just 68 touches accumulated over Newcastle’s last two games, resulting in an assist and a goal falling into his lap.

Rivals for his spot in the team in the form of Anthony Elanga don’t have the same sort of blistering numbers to hand, with the out-of-sorts Swede still yet to get off the mark for his new side after a mammoth £55m summer move.

With the dependable winger noted as being deep in the “form of his life” at the final whistle by Newcastle-based blog Mouth of the Tyne, alongside the Athletic’s Chris Waugh stating that he keeps “producing big moments”, there looks to be little wriggle room in the main XI for the likes of Elanga and Harvey Barnes, as Murphy now appears to be one of Howe’s main men next to the assured South American.

Forget Elanga & Barnes: Howe must now unleash Newcastle's "unsung hero"

Newcastle need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League as Fulham travel to SJP.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 25, 2025

It’s the start of a new era for Newcastle United at boardroom level.

Last week, Ross Wilson was appointed as the club’s new sporting director.

They’ll be hoping he sticks around in the role, having succeeded Paul Mitchell, who held the position for only a year, while Dan Ashworth only held the post for two years, before being placed on extended gardening leave prior to his ill-fated five-month stint at Manchester United.

Wilson himself has previously been a sporting director at Huddersfield, Southampton, Rangers and, most recently, Nottingham Forest, spending two seasons in the East Midlands before now heading to Tyneside.

Under Saudi ownership, Newcastle are certainly one of the most ambitious clubs around, so Wilson is likely to oversee plenty of high-profile deals, but which current squad members will need to be phased out in the coming year or so?

Newcastle's squad transition under PIF

Since the Saudi takeover in 2021, a lot of the Newcastle squad have remained virtual ever-presents.

Eddie Howe has been in charge of 183 matches to date, with 12 players featuring in at least 100 of them, nine of which are currently at the club.

Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almirón and Alexander Isak are the only trio of exceptions, and the latter’s record-breaking departure could signal the start of a new era.

Chalkboard

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

Using the £125m yielded from the no longer very popular Swede’s sale, the Magpies spent around £256m last summer, recruiting five new senior players on a permanent basis.

Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey are yet to make much of an impact due to injury, but Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw have established themselves as part of the first-choice lineup, while Nick Woltemade has made quite the early impression, scoring four goals already.

So, while players such as Bruno Guimarães, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope have been stalwarts of the Newcastle team for around four years, players are going to have to be eased out, and for one in particular, he could be on borrowed time.

Newcastle's ageing star set to be phased out

Kieran Trippier will always go down in history as Newcastle’s first signing of the Saudi era, arriving in January 2022 for around £12m.

With previous club Atlético Madrid, he’d won the La Liga title the season before and was first-choice for England at the time, thereby representing a major coup for a side in the Premier League relegation zone at the time.

Well, to date, he has made 132 appearances for the Magpies, starting all eight Champions League fixtures they’ve had, as well as both EFL Cup Finals, donning the armband during the defeat to Manchester United at Wembley.

So far this season, Trippier has also started five of seven Premier League fixtures, but was left on the bench against Bournemouth, before coming on towards the end against Arsenal after Tino Livramento was stretchered off with a knee ligament issue.

Considering he’s set to be sidelined for around eight weeks, Trippier will be required to deputise for now, but there’s already started to be a changing of the guard in terms of Newcastle full-backs, with Livramento earning three England caps, while Lewis Hall’s performances on the opposite side are catching the eye too.

Writer Scott Wilson labelled Trippier Newcastle’s “talisman” shortly after his arrival but, now 35 years old, his importance is starting to be diminished.

So, let’s compare the England international’s statistics from last season to the year before.

Appearances

28

25

Minutes

2,240

1,308

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Chances created

2.6

1.6

Big chances created

0.52

0.14

Crosses

2.5

1

Take-on success %

73%

50%

Interceptions

1

0.9

Ball Recoveries

6.6

4.7

Tackles

2

1.5

Ground duel success %

53%

56%

Touches

98

98

Average SofaScore rating

7.31

6.94

As the table outlines, by pretty much every metric included, Trippier’s numbers worsened last season compared to the year before.

His chance creation numbers drastically decreased, as did his out-of-possession statistics, including ball recoveries and tackles.

This is a clear sign of a player in decline, which is to be expected given the player’s age, but with Trippier in the final year of his contract, one of Wilson’s biggest challenges will be finding a replacement who has not only his quality but also his leadership skills.

Before Dan Burn: Newcastle "leader" is the first player Wilson must ditch

This Newcastle United star, who was once called a leader by Alan Shearer, is now on borrowed time on Tyneside.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 13, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras segue sem conseguir contratar um reforço nesta janela de transferências. Apesar de ter um alvo definido, o Verdão continua com sérias dificuldades para entregar para Abel Ferreira o “camisa 5” tão esperado desde a saída de Danilo. Aníbal Moreno é o principal nome na lista alviverde, mas os entraves junto ao Racing-ARG vão além das condições financeiras. Prazo e Libertadores estão no caminho dos palmeirenses.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Segundo apurou a reportagem, o Palmeiras ainda não fez uma nova oferta depois das duas recusadas na última semana. A mais recente delas foi de 7,5 milhões de dólares (R$ 36 milhões). O clube argentino avisou que faria negócio por 10 milhões de dólares livres de impostos (R$ 48 milhões), algo que o Verdão não pretende pagar. No entanto, nenhuma outra condição de negócio foi apresentada até aqui.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

O Verdão até conta com um importante aliado nas conversas, que é o próprio Aníbal Moreno. O volante tem o desejo de buscar novos ares nesta janela de transferências e gostou do projeto palmeirense. Ele, inclusive, já teria comunicado ao Racing-ARG a sua vontade de prosseguir com a oferta do do clube brasileiro. No entanto, os argentinos seguem firmes com as negativas e não deve ceder ao atleta.

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Além da questão financeira, que o Alviverde parece não ter poder para negociar nos termos exigidos, o Racing não quer perder aquele que talvez seja o seu principal jogador. Assim como o Palmeiras, o time hermano vem tendo dificuldades para se reforçar na janela e provavelmente não conseguiria repor a saída de Moreno no mesmo nível. O Racing disputa as oitavas de final da Libertadores contra o Atlético Nacional-COL e acredita que pode seguir longe na competição, por isso quer manter a equipe forte.

+ Palmeiras tem mais uma oferta recusada pelo Racing, mas já sabe quanto precisa pagar por Aníbal Moreno

Outro aspecto que pesa nessas conversas e vale para ambos os lados é o prazo. Os times que estão na Libertadores têm até o dia 29 de julho para inscreverem jogadores na próxima fase do torneio. Cada agremiação pode substituir até cinco jogadores na lista de 50 nomes que foram inscritos para a fase de grupos. Caso o reforço não chegue antes deste sábado (29), a inscrição somente poderá ser feita para as quartas de final. Vale lembrar que a janela brasileira fecha no dia 2 de agosto, depois do prazo dado pelo Conmebol.

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Tanto pelo lado do Palmeiras quanto pelo lado do Racing, a impressão é de que a negociação dificilmente sairá dentro das condições apresentadas até aqui. O Verdão não pretende gastar muito mais do que já foi oferecido, enquanto os argentinos não abrem mão dos termos exigidos e de contar com o jogador. Com menos de cinco dias para o prazo de inscrição na Libertadores, o acordo está cada vez mais distante.

+ Desejado pelo Palmeiras, Aníbal Moreno é considerado o ‘melhor meio-campista do futebol argentino’

Wendel, do Zenit-RUS, foi outro alvo cogitado pelo Alviverde, mas os valores apresentados afastaram qualquer chance de negociação. Pessoas que estiveram próximas das conversas afirmaram que o “pacote” somando transferência, salários e luvas sairia na casa dos R$ 150 milhões. O Flamengo agora está mais próximo de fechar com o meio-campista.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will be hoping for more additions to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window next week.

Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor have been added to the group to bolster his options in the final third, but the former Norwich City manager wants more.

Earlier this month, the boss said: “There is no doubt we need reinforcements, especially in the offence. Dominic can’t be the only step. We are on a good path, prepared for the first games and I hope when the transfer window is over we have a squad who is capable of fighting because we have one clear target – to stay in this league.”

It is hard to blame Farke for having that stance when you consider that the West Yorkshire outfit have only scored two goals in their first three competitive games: a penalty and a Jayden Bogle goal against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Another winger, on top of the signing of Okafor from AC Milan, is on the agenda and it will be interesting to see who they go for before next Monday’s deadline.

One player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road before the end of the window is Tottenham Hotspur forward Manor Solomon, who spent last season on loan in West Yorkshire.

Manor Solomon's impact at Leeds last season

The 26-year-old attacker spent the season on loan to help the Whites win the Championship and earn promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James were already in the building as wide options for Farke to call upon on the left and the right flanks, but he was able to break into the team and establish himself as a key player for the German boss.

Solomon went on to start 30 of his 39 appearances in the Championship, per Sofascore, on the club’s way to hitting a staggering 100 points in the second tier last term.

xG

8.14

Top 8%

Goals

10

Top 6%

Shots on target

25

Top 12%

xA

10.30

Top 1%

Chances created

67

Top 5%

Assists

12

Top 3%

As you can see in the table above, the Israel international made a huge impact in the final third in those 39 appearances, scoring or creating 22 goals in 30 starts.

These statistics show that he performed consistently in front of goal to win vital points for the Whites with goals and assists that changed and won games in the Championship.

Whilst the club may yet look to bring him back before the deadline, the Whites are reportedly looking at another player who could be the new Solomon at Elland Road.

Leeds eyeing move for Nottingham Forest winger

Former Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers chief scout Mick Brown has revealed that the 49ers are eyeing a last-gasp move for Nottingham Forest forward Jota Silva.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said: “I hear Leeds are interested in signing Jota Silva. They need new wingers, and he is one of the names on their list of targets.

Transfer Focus

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

“When he’s been involved for Forest, he looks busy and bright, always looking to make things happen and not afraid to get on the ball. He likes to get at people and he’s capable of producing in the final third as well.

“He’s a bit of a maverick, and those types of players are always welcome at Leeds. Forest have signed a number of wide players, and spent a significant amount of money on him, so I hear he is questioning where he fits in.”

It was reported by O’Jogo earlier this summer that Sporting were hoping to land him for a fee of around £10m including add-ons, and it remains to be seen if Leeds are prepared to pay that kind of money for his services.

Why Leeds should sign Jota Silva

Leeds should swoop to sign Jota Silva from the Tricky Trees because he could be a more affordable option on the flank, given that Solomon reportedly has a price tag of £20m over his head.

The Whites save £10m and land their next Solomon by signing the Portuguese star, as another winger who has become surplus to requirements at a Premier League side, just as was the case with the Israel international last summer.

Jota Silva only started five of his 31 appearances in the Premier League for Forest last season, per Sofascore, but showed glimpses of the kind of quality that he has the potential to provide on a regular basis at that level.

The 26-year-old ace scored three goals and created eight ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 891 minutes of action, which shows that he was an effective contributor in the final third despite limited minutes on the pitch.

Jota Silva’s form for Vitoria in Portugal in the 2023/24 campaign, before his move to England, shows that he can deliver consistent quality on the flank when starting regularly.

Appearances

33

xG

7.99

Goals

11

Big chances created

8

Key passes per game

1.0

Assists

5

Dribbles completed per game

1.3

As you can see in the table above, the Portugal international caught the eye with 19 goals and ‘big chances’ created in the top division in his country.

These statistics show that he can be an efficient finisher who also looks to create chances for his teammates on a regular basis at the top level, when playing week-in-week-out, which is why he could be an exciting signing for Leeds.

The versatile forward, who can play on the right or the left as a winger, could be the new Solomon at Elland Road by arriving from a Premier League team to light up the flanks in West Yorkshire with his quality in the final third.

Given the difference in price between the two players, Jota Silva may even be a better option than signing Solomon permanently because he has shown that he can deliver in the English top-flight as recently as last season.

Better than El Khannouss: Leeds prepared to make move for magic £30m star

Leeds United are reportedly considering a move to sign a star who is even better than Bilal El Khannouss.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 27, 2025

With Manchester City set to host Manchester United in the 197th Manchester derby on Sunday, we’ve taken a look at who could come out on top, the likely line-ups and injury concerns for both sides heading into the all-important affair.

Man City vs Man Utd team news

Starting with Man City, to say that it’s been a frustrating international break would be an understatement. The Citizens have come back with further injury woes and now have as many as 10 players on the treatment table. Given that Pep Guardiola’s side have just suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton, it’s the last thing that they needed.

Guardiola spoke about his side’s injury woes in his pre-match press conference, saying: “Omar is injured from Egypt [international duty]. John Stones as well is a doubt. [It’s] not a big issue, but he’s a doubt for Sunday. Rayan Cherki [is also injured] but the rest are fine.”

The Spaniard confirmed that Omar Mamoush will be out for a number of weeks alongside Rayan Ait-Nouri, whilst Stones and Cherki are also doubts to face Man United this weekend. There could, however, be a debut for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

In the red corner, meanwhile, things aren’t much better on the injury front. Ruben Amorim confirmed that Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot are all unavailable after taking knocks before and during the international break, handing his side a frustrating blow.

The Man United boss told reporters: “I think they are out for this game. I don’t know how long it is going to take. We need those players to be a very, very competitive team, but we have very good players that are eager to play, so we will be competitive on Sunday, but they are out, they cannot help us in this game.”

The Portuguese manager also remained coy when asked about a potential debut for Senne Lammens, which means that Altay Bayindir could get one last chance to impress.

Man City predicted line-up (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes; Dias; Ake; Gvardiol; Rodri; Reijnders; Silva; Bobb; Haaland; Doku

Man United predicted line-up (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Yoro; De Ligt; Shaw; Amad; Mainoo; Casemiro; Dorgu; Mbeumo, Fernandes; Sesko

Man City vs Man Utd recent results

The Manchester derby is never an easy one to predict. For all of Man City’s Premier League dominance across the last six years, they’ve not been without games to forget against their local rivals. And that proved to be the case last season.

Even as Amorim’s side stumbled to a woeful bottom-half finish, they managed to take three points at The Etihad in dramatic fashion – scoring twice in the final two minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Man City vs Man Utd results

Season

Competition

Man Utd 0-0 Man City

24/25

Premier League

Man City 1-2 Man Utd

24/25

Premier League

Man City 1-1 Man Utd (7-6 penalties)

24/25

Community Shield

Man City 1-2 Man Utd

23/24

FA Cup

Man City 3-1 Man Utd

23/24

Premier League

What instantly stands out about recent meetings is Man United’s record. The Red Devils have lost just once in five games in normal time against their rivals and will be looking to go five games unbeaten this weekend.

Coming into the game, form would suggest that Man United should actually have the edge. Amorim’s side entered the international break off the back of a last-gasp 3-2 win against Burnley, whilst Man City entered off the back of two defeats in three games.

Man City vs Man Utd predictions and odds

Although recent form says different, the bookies have got Man City as favourites heading into the Manchester derby. At 8/11, the Citizens are being backed to secure their first victory for a month and their first win over their rivals in over a year. Man United, meanwhile, are priced at 10/3 to shock Guardiola and co. at The Etihad once again and a draw sits at 14/5.

Both sides could do with victory here, that is undeniable. A victory for Man United would be a much-needed statement after their nervy showing against Burnley and Carabao Cup upset at the hands of Grimsby.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 13, 2025

As for Man City, they could go without a win in three Premier League games in something that is almost unheard of for Guardiola. In an unpredictable affair, goals and drama can be expected as Manchester rivals clash for the 197th time.

Prediction: Man City 2-2 Man United

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones was honoured at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium after he completed his sport directorship degree in a bid to start a new career. Jones only retired last year after so much time spent battling injury setbacks, walking away from playing with just five senior appearances in his final four seasons. Now, instead of marshalling defences, he's plotting moves from the boardroom.

A degree of pride for Jones

The ex-England international picked up his diploma on Tuesday as part of the PFA Business School programme, joining fellow graduates Yoane Wissa and Ilkay Gündogan. For a man once tipped for greatness before injuries crushed his progress, the diploma marks a fresh start.

AdvertisementThe search for purpose after retirement

Standing proudly at the ceremony, the Lancashire-born defender said: "It’s a proud moment for me to graduate today. This is something I decided I wanted to do when I retired. I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s been a good networking opportunity as well as an educational one, and I’m really excited about what doors it opens up in the future.

"When I finished playing, I asked myself: ‘Well, what do I do now?’. I like the coaching side of the game, and I’m still really ambitious about that, but I needed something else as well. This gave me a focus which is what I needed at the time. I reached out to the PFA when I heard about the course and it’s something that I was passionate about doing; something I could get my teeth into. The technical aspects of the sporting directorship role I really admire, and maybe in the future it’s a role that I’d like to fill."

Already plotting his comeback

Even before calling time on his playing days, Jones had started laying the foundations for his second career. Since the 2023-24 season, he’s been working with Manchester United’s Under-18s, helping guide the next generation through the academy.

"It’s something they allow me to do and what I wanted to do, to broaden my horizon on the coaching side of things and see how they do things," he said. "I feel like I’m in a position now where I’m ready for a challenge."

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AFPJones pursuing his UEFA Pro License

Jones is also pursuing his UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification available in Europe, which could eventually see him take a dugout role. The plan is clear: Jones wants to be armed with every possible qualification, whether it leads him into management, talent development, or the director’s office. 

West Bromwich Albion kicked off the new Ryan Mason era with a victory at the Hawthorns last time out as the former Tottenham Hotspur coach picked up a debut three points as a rookie manager.

The Baggies just about edged past opponents Blackburn Rovers on the intense opening day in the Championship, as Isaac Price proved to be the difference-maker between the two sides with an early first-half effort.

Former West Brom manager Valerien Ismael could only watch on with a grimace from the opposing dug-out as he was undone by the 33-year-old, who was helped by Aune Heggebo putting in a standout performance during his first outing donning Baggies blue and white.

Heggebo's standout debut for West Brom

While Price stole the limelight with the only goal of the day, Heggebo did play a key role in the ex-Everton youngster lapping up the plaudits.

Indeed, the Nordic attacker was alert to the action unfolding around him after a long throw-in from Darnell Furlong caused confusion, leading to West Brom’s £4.7m summer buy laying it off to Price to tap a shot home.

His efforts against the Riversiders didn’t go unnoticed, either, with Heggebo actually winning himself a place in the Championship Team of the Week off the back of the former Brann attacker also winning 11 duels in the hard-fought win, as per Sofascore.

But, there will be a worry that he won’t cut it at the intimidating level when it comes to actually picking up the goals, having only fired two weak efforts at the Blackburn goal on Saturday.

This is where Mason could dip his toes back into the market to win himself an EFL-ready goal machine, with a £7m attacker potentially on his radar.

West Brom could look at signing £3m attacker

Over-relying on Heggebo to deliver the goods does feel as if it could backfire on the Baggies, particularly if the pressure is ramped up on the Scandinavian forward’s shoulders in the intense heat of a promotion race.

This is where Wycombe Wanderers’ Richard Kone could come to the rescue, with the former non-league striker turned EFL gem piquing a lot of interest in the Championship this summer regarding his availability, having been allegedly subject to a £7m bid in recent times from Luton Town.

The 22-year-old striker has experienced quite the rapid rise from the non-league pitches of Essex to leading the line for the Chairboys with some venom.

However, despite his form, he could be available as cheap as £3m now, according to football journalist Ron Walker, which might well even spur the Championship side into making a bid.

His explosive track record in the EFL automatically makes him an upgrade on Heggebo, who is still learning the ropes of the English game, with EFL-oriented pundit Gabriel Sutton even labelling Kone’s heroics in front of goal at Adams Park as “extraordinary.”

Games played

74

146

Goals scored

25

51

Assists

9

14

Hat tricks

1x

0

Goals per game

0.33

0.34

While the table above does look to swing initially in the favour of Heggebo, Kone is only 26 strikes shy of matching his counterpart’s goal tally for Brann, with his exploits last season for Wycombe making him look ready-made for a step-up in quality.

A blistering 21 of those efforts would come near the very top of League One last season, with the brand-new Baggies number 19 only registering 11 goals all of last year in the Nordic top-flight, on the contrary.

Further dubbed as a “mentality monster” by football writer Kai Watson, Kone should be able to take the pressures of the Championship in his stride if his League One prowess is anything to go by.

Heggebo could be forced to take a back seat if Kone were to join, however, but he shone in a more subdued role on the opening day anyway, as West Brom tries to fire in the goals no matter who scores them to seal promotion.

"Extraordinary" West Brom star's camp speaking to new club, they can afford him

Ryan Mason will be sweating over his exit.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 8, 2025

For the third summer in succession, Scottish champions Celtic have witnessed one of their star attractions fly the nest, with Nicolas Kuhn joining Jota and Matt O’Riley in seeking out pastures new.

Signed for just £3m from Rapid Vienna back in January 2024, the German winger has since been sold on for a healthy profit, with ambitious Serie A side Como forking out an initial fee of around £16.5m for his signature.

On the face of it, losing a player who scored 21 times last season in all competitions is a real blow for Brendan Rodgers, albeit with it fair to say that the 25-year-old blew hot and cold during his 18-month stint in Glasgow.

Indeed, the mercurial left-footer scored just three goals during the tail-end of 2023/24, having also only scored seven times across all competitions in 2025. Sandwiched in between that, of course, was his 14 goals at the start of 2024/25.

On that evidence, Kuhn is not exactly irreplaceable, albeit while remaining a key figure that Rodgers needs to replace. Thankfully, it looks like work is being done on that front.

Latest on Celtic's search for a winger

With Kuhn and Luis Palma out the door – and with the returning Jota sidelined with injury – the signing of a new recruit on the flanks is imperative. As it is, the wait goes on to see if Royal Antwerp star Michel Ange Balikwisha will be the man to fill the void, having repeatedly been linked with a move to Parkhead.

Previously also a target in January, the Belgian forward is the name on everyone’s lips right now, with his agent Jibril Rekkab outlining to the Daily Record that his client would be interested in joining the Premiership side, albeit with talks yet to take place:

“Michel-Ange is not closed to the idea of joining Celtic, but the club would still have to come forward. No discussions are underway.”

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Elsewhere, meanwhile, parallel moves appear to be being made, with The Herald reporting that Celtic have seen a £1.5m bid rejected for Go Ahead Eagles winger, Jakob Breum, already this summer.

As per the report, that bid for the Danish talent fell below the Dutch outfit’s £5m valuation, with club director Jan Willem van Dop stating that such offers had been “so far apart” from their price tag.

If a compromise could be met later down the line, it’s fair to say that the 21-year-old would be a more than worthy alternative to Balikwisha.

How Breum compares to Balikwisha

Described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as “an underrated creative winger” who has “such an interesting future ahead”, Breum has captured the interest of those at Celtic Park amid his sparkling displays in the Netherlands of late.

Comfortable operating in a number ten berth or on either flank, the young Dane enjoyed a particularly fruitful 2024/25 campaign, having scored 11 times and registered six assists in just 31 games in all competitions.

That return – which takes his total tally for the club to 14 goals and ten assists in 68 games – included a haul of ten goals and five assists from just 26 outings in the Eredivisie, the top-flight of Dutch football.

For context, that league is deemed to be the 12th best in the world, according to Global Football Rankings, with the Premiership only ranking in a lowly 43rd on that list. Making the leap to Scotland should not be too much of an issue it would be seem.

Balikwisha, meanwhile, has been operating in the eighth-best league – the Belgian Pro League – although his recent injury woes might be of concern, having scored just four times and registered only three assists in 18 games last time out.

Balikwisha (23/24) vs Breum (24/25)
Stats (*per game)	Balikwisha	Breum
Games (starts)	33 (27)	26 (23)
Goals	7	10
Goal frequency	362min	206min
Big chances missed	6	4
Assists	5	5
Big chances created	6	6
Key passes*	1.5	1.7
Successful dribbles*	0.7	0.9
Tackles & interceptions*	3.1	1.1
Balls recovered*	3.9	4.5
Stats via Sofascore

The year prior, the 24-year-old still only registered seven goals and six assists in the league, with the table above outlining that it is Breum who comes out on top across a string of attacking metrics.

Indeed, the younger man averaged more key passes and successful dribbles per game, outlining his creative attacking threat, while also enjoying the superior record with regard to balls recovered per game, showcasing his ability to press from the front.

At just 21 too, Breum might well be the more exciting long-term option, with Balikwisha’s return of 29 goals and 17 assists in 141 games for Antwerp not exactly the most eye-catching total.

The question now remains which of the two – if either – will end up in Glasgow, and whether or not they can actually fill Kuhn’s shoes on the flanks…

As exciting as Balikwisha: Celtic contenders to sign "outstanding" star

Celtic are one of the contenders to secure a deal for a star who would be as exciting as Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 23, 2025

Chelsea have just landed a seismic financial windfall after reaching the Club World Cup final, but the expectation remains that they’ll still need to sell a host of players.

Enzo Maresca’s side knocked Thiago Silva’s Fluminense out in the semi-finals on Tuesday evening, courtesy of a stunning brace from new signing Joao Pedro, who put on a sublime display in their 2-0 victory against his former side.

"World-class" player reaches gentleman's agreement to leave Chelsea

He can depart for an obtainable fee.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 9, 2025

The win means that Chelsea are guaranteed to bank around £80 million from participating in the tournament, regardless of their next result, having reached the final with five wins from their total of six games played so far.

If Chelsea go on to win the whole thing, BlueCo will get a further £7.5 million – taking their total potential earnings closer to the £90 million mark.

“I am happy for the club,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s CWC prize money.

“But I don’t care, because when I prepare a game, I don’t prepare the game thinking if we win, we have more money. Because it is something for the club, it is not for us, unfortunately. We already have a clear idea about what we need to improve for next season. And hopefully we can have it.”

While Maresca pays no attention to matters like this off the field, it could still prove crucial to Chelsea’s balance sheet.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season	Average match rating
Cole Palmer	7.33
Moises Caicedo	7.02
Enzo Fernández	6.95
Nicolas Jackson	6.88
Noni Madueke	6.82
via WhoScored

The club were recently slapped with a UEFA fine for breaking FFP rules, and their estimated £140 million expenditure over the summer transfer window so far means that player sales are an absolute necessity, even if their CWC earnings could provide more breathing room.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke and Djordje Petrovic are all tipped to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with uncertainty also surrounding Nicolas Jackson after Chelsea’s signings of Pedro and Liam Delap.

There is also the matter of £195,000-per-week forward Christopher Nkunku, who isn’t a key starter for Maresca, and he’s attracting notable interest from abroad.

Christopher Nkunku keen to make Germany return and leave Chelsea

According to talkSPORT, Nkunku is keen on a return to Germany with Bayern Munich, who were heavily linked in the January transfer window, and Chelsea are waiting for the Bundesliga champions to make a formal approach.

They won’t have to wait at all for an approach from Saudi Arabia, though, as it is believed that Al-Qadsiah have already made an enquiry to the Frenchman’s representatives.

Nkunku is understood to prefer remaining in Europe, so Bayern appear to be the lead contenders as things stand, but it is suggested that Chelsea could demand around £60 million as they actively seek to sell the 27-year-old.

The squad player is currently one of their highest-earners, so getting him off the books for a reasonable fee could be one of Chelsea’s most imperative exit deals of the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and his plans for the summer window have taken another turn, with the Spurs chief attempting to back new manager Thomas Frank ahead of his debut season in the dugout.

Related Tottenham in talks for £38m attacker who Levy thinks could be the next Mbeumo

Spurs are “advanced” in their pursuit.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 1, 2025

Spurs kickstarted their recruitment drive with a £30 million permanent deal for Mathys Tel, and followed that up by agreeing a J League record £5 million deal for promising Kawasaki Frontale defender Kota Takai.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

The plan for Takai, according to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, is for him to compete for a place in the senior matchday squad, and Tottenham are apparently hopeful that he can replicate the likes of Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr as young players who’ve staked their claim in the starting eleven.

Frontale have now confirmed the 20-year-old’s exit, with Takai looking set to become a new Spurs player after July 5, even if they didn’t explicitly mention Tottenham.

“We would like to inform you that Kota Takai will be leaving the team at the end of the activity on Saturday, July 5, in order to complete the necessary procedures and preparations for a transfer to an overseas club,” read a club statement.

“We will notify you further regarding future plans as soon as they are officially decided.

“After the match against Kashima Antlers in the 23rd round of the J1 League on Saturday, July 5, Kota Takai will be giving a speech to the supporters. In addition, Takai will not be participating in the Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, July 6.”

According to recent reports, Takai could well be followed by West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus, if all goes to plan.

Fabrizio Romano says that talks are underway between all parties for the Ghana international, and he’s apparently open to making the switch across London.

Now, GiveMeSport have shared an intriguing update on the matter.

Daniel Levy holds talks with David Sullivan over signing Mohammed Kudus

GMS report that Levy has personally held talks with West Ham chairman David Sullivan over the signing of Kudus.

Levy apparently contacted his Hammers counterpart to discuss a deal for the ex-Ajax sensation, with Tottenham starting negotiations at £50 million for Kudus as they attempt to seal a quick deal ahead of rival suitors.

Spurs are wary of the competition for Kudus and have decided to move early for him. The 24-year-old, meanwhile, is actively seeking an exit from the London Stadium, but as things stand, West Ham are insistent that any offer made up to this point is unacceptable.

The Lilywhites will need to meet their capital rivals in the middle, even if West Ham are under some pressure to sell so they can begin their own summer transfer plans.

Kudus endured a mixed 2024/2025 when compared to his electric debut campaign in east London, but teammate Aaron Cresswell has perhaps already explained exactly why Tottenham are very keen.

“I’ve just trained with him and you don’t want to go anywhere near him,” Cresswell told the Iron Cast.

“I’m up against him all the time and I’m like: ‘Mo, go on over to the left!’

“He’s a top, top talent and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet. I won’t go near him in training because I know if I’m going to try to knock him off the ball, I had better make sure he’s not looking and doesn’t see me coming.

“You just can’t get near him. He’s so strong, so quick, so sharp.”