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Newcastle United could be receptive to offers for captain Jamaal Lascelles this summer, The I’s Mark Douglas has reported.

The lowdown

The Magpies paid £4.5m to sign the defender from Nottingham Forest back in August 2014. He has gone to pass the 200-appearance mark for the club (211) and featured in the PFA Championship Team of the Year when they won promotion back to the Premier League in 2016/17.

Lascelles, who still has more than two years to run on his £40,000-per-week contract at St James’ Park, is valued at £9.9m by Transfermarkt.

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The latest

Douglas wrote for The I that Newcastle have a surplus of players, and he named some of those who could be offloaded this summer to remedy the situation.

Lascelles is one of the players who ‘might go’, with Newcastle potentially set to consider any bids for the 28-year-old.

The verdict

An exit for Lascelles may have been unthinkable earlier in the season, with the Englishman starting 20 of Newcastle’s first 24 Premier League matches.

However, he appears to have fallen down the pecking order following the arrival of another centre-back in Dan Burn in January. Indeed, Eddie Howe has selected the 28-year-old Derby native for just two of the last 12 top-flight games.

Lascelles has said that he would ‘run through a brick wall’ for his manager, but with Financial Fair Play requirements a consideration for Newcastle, they may need to make a ruthless decision to offload their club captain.

In other news, Pete O’Rourke says the Newcastle faithful would be ‘licking their lips’ at this mooted signing

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly ‘made contact’ with Paulo Dybala’s representatives ahead of a possible move to the Premier League this summer, according to ESPN journalist James Olley.

The Lowdown: Previous links

The 28-year-old, who currently plays for Juventus, did hold talks with the Lilywhites back in 2019 when Mauricio Pochettino was in charge, but they failed to reach an agreement before the transfer deadline due to issues with his image rights.

The striker is expected to leave the Serie A giants when his contract expires at the end of the current season though, and with four Premier League clubs said to be interested in his services, the chances of him staying in Italy beyond this campaign are now highly unlikely.

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The Latest: ‘Made contact’

ESPN reporter Olley took to Twitter to confirm that Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle have all ‘made contact’ with Dybala’s team, though it’s believed that nothing is yet at an advanced stage.

Expanding in an article for ESPN, it’s claimed that Antonio Conte has ‘identified’ the 32-time international as an ideal target, ahead of his squad overhaul in preparation for the start of the new term.

The Verdict: Perfect target

If the opportunity arises for Spurs to sign the forward, then it’s an absolute no-brainer of a deal to try and get over the line.

The £222k-per-week star has been prolific for Juventus so far this season, where he has made an impressive 20 goal contributions in just 34 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Once hailed for having an “extraordinary” technique by his former Palermo teammate Stefano Sorrentino, Dybala would be a wonderful option to have up top alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, and if the Italian boss can secure his signature, he could play a huge part in helping the north London outfit achieve a top four spot next year or even better.

In other news… a source has revealed some new Tottenham pre-summer exit talks.

Manchester United are now very keen on signing Ajax midfielder Jorthy Mokio, amid a new update on his future at the Eredivisie club.

With Man United looking to sign a new midfielder, the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba have been identified as potential targets, but it could be difficult to compete for their signatures, having already established themselves as Premier League stars.

As such, it may be a savvy move to bring in a lesser-known midfielder, with talks to sign AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit recently advancing, as speculation over Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford continues to build.

Ruben Amorim has suggested Mainoo’s lack of game time is due to United simply not playing in enough matches to make full use of the entire squad, saying: “Imagine for me to have Mainoo with that (many) minutes that he’s playing, he needs more games for me to make a rotation because, with one game (a week), it’s really hard.”

However, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes making themselves undroppable in recent weeks, a Mainoo departure could be on the cards, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a potential replacement.

Man Utd now very keen on signing Jorthy Mokio

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, in a report for Sky Sports, Man United have now emerged as one of the clubs most interested in signing Ajax midfielder Mokio, who has decided he wants to leave the Eredivisie club.

Ajax are looking to tie the midfielder down to a new contract, but he could seemingly have his head turned, with a number of clubs from across Europe now in the race for his signature.

The 17-year-old is being followed very closely by United, having been identified as the perfect target, but there could be competition for his signature, with Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt also emerging as potential suitors.

The Belgian has been likened to N’Golo Kante, given that he flourishes from a defensive point of view, placing in the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 over the past year, and the 84th percentile for clearances, when compared to other midfielders.

Not only that, but the youngster has also established himself as a first-team regular for Ajax at a very young age, being lauded as an “amazing” player by scout Jacek Kulig.

With Mainoo’s future up in the air, it would make sense to bring in another young midfielder, but Man United may also need to sign another central midfielder alongside Mokio, given that Casemiro’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Man Utd want to sign one of the Premier League's "best" central midfielders Next Carrick: Man Utd want to sign "one of the best CMs in the PL" for £60m

Man United could enhance the quality of their midfield with the signing of another Michael Carrick.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 19, 2025

Manchester City and England defender John Stones revealed he briefly considered retiring amid his injury nightmare last season.

The 31-year-old’s 2024/25 campaign was decimated by foot and hamstring injuries, which saw him make just 24 appearances for club and country and none after February.

Stones considered retirement amid Man City injury struggles

He is back fit again this season and looks set to make his first appearance under England boss Thomas Tuchel in the upcoming games against Wales and Latvia.

Despite his injury woes last season, Stones, on £250,000-a-week at the Etihad, was invited to Tuchel’s summer camp for the games against Andorra and Senegal, which showed the German’s intention for the defender to be part of his plans.

“I love England so much and I love playing for England,” Stones said. “Some of the best moments in my career have been playing for England at tournaments.

“And when he said to (me), would I come out and be with the guys and continue my training, it was a no-brainer. For me to come and show my face to the guys, offer advice, be a good team-mate, I suppose – it was a special moment.

“I had not thought about it since, because everything moves on so fast. But it was a big sign and something that I was really happy to

do.”

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United have opened the 2025/26 season in a way that underlines both their potential and their limitations.

Their early form has mixed defensive solidity with attacking struggles.

A goalless draw with Aston Villa on the opening day was followed by a chaotic 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool, sealed by a 100th-minute Rio Ngumoha strike.

Stalemates against Leeds and Bournemouth sandwiched a narrow 1-0 win over Wolves, leaving Newcastle searching for rhythm at both ends of the pitch.

In attack, the void left by Alexander Isak has been evident.

New arrivals Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa were brought in to fill the gap, but Woltemade is still adjusting to Premier League intensity, while Wissa was sidelined for a month after suffering a knee injury on international duty.

The lack of fluidity has shown up in the underlying numbers: Newcastle have generated just 4.6 expected goals (xG) – better only than the newly promoted clubs, Wolves and Aston Villa.

Defensively, though, the platform looks elite. Newcastle boast the league’s lowest xG conceded at 2.5, with Arsenal next-best at 3.3.

Newcastle United

2.5

Arsenal

3.3

AFC Bournemouth

3.6

Liverpool

4.0

Crystal Palace:

4.7

This means that Howe’s side already have a strong foundation from which to grow. What is striking, however, is that the tactical emphasis has shifted.

Howe, once reliant on direct transitions, has been experimenting with a more possession-heavy approach, with structured build-up play central to his long-term vision.

That shift has placed the spotlight firmly on the man in goal.

Why Nick Pope needs to be dropped

Nick Pope remains Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper and has been a dependable figure since arriving from Burnley in 2022.

Now 33, he has made over 100 appearances for the Magpies, including keeping goal in their Carabao Cup triumph over Liverpool last season.

His England experience – ten caps – underlines his status as a high-level shot-stopper. So far this campaign, Pope has kept four clean sheets, leading the Premier League Golden Glove race.

His shot-stopping ability is reflected in his numbers: 3.07 saves per 90 with a save percentage of 71.7%, significantly above league average.

Yet, the flaws in his game are equally obvious.

Pope’s playing profile jars with Howe’s evolving tactical plan. While Newcastle are attempting to construct attacks patiently from the back, Pope looks uncomfortable when pressed with the ball at his feet.

Whenever the ball cycles back to him, Newcastle’s possession often stalls, with centre-backs reluctant to involve him under pressure.

It is not that Pope lacks bravery, but rather that his technical ceiling is lower.

Against teams who press high, this becomes a liability.

As Howe tries to embed a possession-first style, Pope’s skillset increasingly feels at odds with the project.

Howe already has the perfect Pope replacement

This summer, Newcastle moved to address the issue by signing Aaron Ramsdale on a season-long loan from Southampton.

At 27, he remains in his goalkeeping prime and was one of the few Saints players to emerge with any credit last season.

His arrival followed Martin Dubravka’s move to Burnley, giving Howe a goalkeeper with very different attributes to Pope.

Ramsdale is far more comfortable with the ball at his feet.

He touches the ball 43.8 times per 90 (compared to Pope’s 31.1) and completes passes across a much greater distance, with a progressive passing distance of 566.4 per 90 – almost double Pope’s output.

He is proactive in distribution, unafraid to break lines and feed midfielders under pressure.

His higher volume of completed passes per 90 (25.8) makes him far better aligned with a possession-oriented strategy.

Statistically, Ramsdale lags behind Pope in pure shot-stopping.

He makes more saves per 90 (4.00 compared to Pope’s 3.07) but his save percentage is lower at 67.6%, while his goals against per 90 (2.20) reflects Southampton’s struggles last year.

Clean sheet percentage is another weakness, sitting at just 10.0% compared to Pope’s 28.6%.

Yet, context matters – Ramsdale played behind one of the league’s most porous defences, whereas Pope has benefited from Newcastle’s defensive structure.

Ramsdale has already impressed Newcastle supporters in flashes.

During pre-season he saved a penalty against Espanyol, a reminder of his shot-stopping pedigree, while also displaying the technical quality that Pope cannot replicate.

Fans are increasingly calling for him to be given a run in the league, believing that his attributes would unlock Newcastle’s attempts to play more expansively.

For now, Howe has stuck with Pope – who he has previously labelled as “one of the best shot-stoppers” he’s worked – valuing his reliability and the clean sheets he has delivered.

Chalkboard

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

But with Newcastle increasingly defined by their ability to dominate possession and progress the ball, the pressure is mounting to hand Ramsdale his chance.

The tactical shift may eventually demand it.

Howe must now drop Newcastle flop who was worse than Willock

This Newcastle United attacker struggled as much as Joe Willock did away at AFC Bournemouth.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 21, 2025

Celtic take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this weekend and could now be set to hand an unexpected debut to a youngster amid a new injury concern for Brendan Rodgers.

Brendan Rodgers reflects on Celtic's summer window

Undoubtedly, dissatisfaction surrounding Celtic’s lack of efficiency in the summer transfer window has been widespread among supporters, who were left furious at the hierarchy’s inability to equip the Bhoys properly for their Champions League playoff against Kairat Almaty.

With Kelechi Iheanacho and Sebastian Tounekti arriving late on, Rodgers has been left with some solace. Still, many feel that he has been dealt a tough hand with the tools he has available relative to the rude financial health the Scottish Premiership champions possess.

Reflecting honestly on a disappointing summer, the Irishman has admitted his side weren’t ready for their vital European qualification matches, but he retains hope that his ambition can be matched by the board in windows to come.

He stated in his pre-match press conference: “I think the business model of the club is highly successful. What we have to marry that in with is the football. Not just investment, timing of investment.

“It was clear what we needed, and we needed it early. We had these qualification games. Summer 2025 was a critical window for us to get players in to be ready for these games, and we weren’t ready. That made me leave last time. This time I won’t do that, one hundred per cent.”

Coming as a surprise, Celtic are at the front of the queue to sign Yelimay Semey winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, who is available on a free transfer come the January window.

Either way, Rodgers has to play with the cards at his disposal for the foreseeable future, and he may now be forced into offering a shock full debut to a largely untested teen.

Colby Donovan could be set for full Celtic debut vs Kilmarnock

Continuing his lengthy conversation with the media, Rodgers went on to confirm that Anthony Ralston is currently sporting a moon boot and will spend a period of time on the sidelines.

He stated: “Tony, he’s obviously unavailable and will be in a boot for a little bit longer. So, yeah, hopefully he’ll be back in a little while.”

Given that Alistair Johnston is also out of action for Celtic due to a hamstring problem, Colby Donovan could now be set for his full debut, as he is the only other option Rodgers has that is naturally a right-back by trade.

Praised for his “aggressive” qualities by the former Liverpool manager, the Scotland Under-21 defender has featured twice off the bench this term against Livingston and Kairat Almaty, though the Lennoxtown product has never started for his boyhood club.

Marcelo Saracchi may be called into an unfamiliar right-back berth. However, it seems unlikely Rodgers would utilise the loanee on his wrong side, and Donovan is now in line to start until one of Ralston or Johnston returns.

Liverpool made mincemeat of the Premier League’s finest in 2024/25, winning the title in Arne Slot’s first season at the helm.

Such was their dominance that a late-season sojourn over in the Gulf states was permitted while rivals worked toward positive finishes to the term.

This wasn’t the case for the Anfield side; far from it. However, 2025/26 will bring a new campaign and Liverpool are acting like it, using their pull, heightened by the recent success, to sign Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool like to pluck exciting talents from their divisional rivals, and this summer is proving no different. Indeed, with a fee agreed with Leverkusen for the £34m sale of Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate’s future uncertain as he enters the final year of his contract, Real Madrid lurking, is it any surprise that sporting director Richard Hughes is hoping to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi?

Why Liverpool target players like Kerkez & Guehi

Liverpool might have broken the British transfer record this month (should Wirtz’s fixed £100m fee be expanded by the £16m in add-ons), but the Merseysiders tend to walk down a less-beaten path, signing up-and-coming talents from clubs settled lower down the Premier League ladder.

Take Andy Robertson, for example, signed from Hull City for just £10m back in 2017. He’s since solidified his name among the division’s all-time great full-backs.

1.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

259

64

2.

Andy Robertson

308

60

3.

Leighton Baines

420

53

4.

Graeme Le Saux

327

44

5.

Kieran Trippier

204

38

And how could we forget Gini Wijnaldum? The Dutchman was the industrious, metronomic heartbeat which kept Klopp’s system ticking, purloined from Newcastle United after their relegation to the Championship.

Shoutout Xherdan Shaqiri, too.

The point is, Liverpool run their club intelligently, identifying players proven in the Premier League and with plenty of scope for growth. Manchester United, with their Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, may well have taken a leaf from their rival.

While FSG are in a position to sign superstars like Wirtz, they haven’t lost track of their roots: Kerkez, signed for £40m, is evidence of his, hailing from the south coast, while the 24-year-old Guehi would also align with this tried-and-tested Merseyside method, having been at the centre of transfer rumours in recent days that suggest Liverpool would be willing to pay £50m to snap him up.

Slot will have had his say in identifying such players, looking to bring them to Anfield, but he is benefiting somewhat from the club’s prowess when Klopp was at the helm. Certainly, there’s one star in particular who aligns with the discussed method who should be the barometer from which to judge an addition’s success.

Liverpool have struck gold on Premier League signing

Like Kerkez and Virgil van Dijk before him, Alexis Mac Allister has proved a stunning signing for Liverpool, joining the club from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £35m two years ago.

His first term, the Argentina international, who was instrumental in his nation’s 2022 World Cup triumph, filled in as a holding midfielder after the Anfield side failed in a bid to land Moises Caicedo; since, with Slot in charge, he’s moved back into a more expansive midfield role, winning silverware in both seasons on Merseyside.

One constant, however, has been Mac Allister’s brilliance in the centre of the park. The 26-year-old has only gone from strength to strength after switching the Seagulls for the Liverbird, with pundit Joe Cole even declaring him a “superstar” who “can play anywhere”.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

35 (30)

Goals

5

5

Assists

5

5

Touches*

74.2

55.8

Pass completion

88%

87%

Big chances created

3

6

Key passes*

1.4

1.3

Dribbles*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

5.9

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

4.1

3.3

Ground duels (won)*

5.0 (50%)

4.3 (50%)

Take a look at the table above. What do you see? Curiously, Mac Allister has shifted roles under Slot, less active and frenetic in his play, calmed into a controlling force which channels the flow of the coach’s ball-playing vision.

The South American star perhaps said it best himself: “In terms of the change, perhaps with Jürgen I played as a lone five [holding midfielder]. So, the position was very different. I was much more defensive than anything else.

“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more and obviously that creates more chances.”

It’s certainly showcased through the metrics: as per FBref, Mac Allister ranked among the top 20% of midfielders in the Premier League last year for goal involvements, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 14% for shot-creating actions and the top 13% for tackles per 90.

He’s the real deal, having ballooned in value and technical quality since making the leap. It’s a rise that Slot and co will no doubt hope Kerkez will follow, and Guehi too, should he sign from Palace this summer.

The fiesty midfielder’s progress at Liverpool has even impelled Real Madrid to come knocking on the door, with reports earlier in the year suggesting Florentino Perez would be willing to fork out some €90m (£76m) for the maestro, who has been earmarked as a potential long-term successor to Luka Modric’s soon-to-be vacant locker at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Naturally, this puts him in a much higher bracket than Kerkez and Guehi, but we must caveat that with a firm ‘for now’, as the ball-playing specialist may yet find his new and potential teammates to be rivalling him on the financial scales down the line.

Liverpool know their stuff, work with a calculated eye to sign up-and-coming Premier League stars and bring them up to elite status, when certain other high-station clubs then come sniffing around for fully developed product.

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?

Mac Allister is a perfect representation of that, and soon Kerkez and perhaps Guehi will be too.

Better than Gyokeres: Liverpool in the race for "the new Haaland"

Liverpool are sounding out a series of Alexander Isak alternatives this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

It might’ve only opened a few days ago, but the transfer window is already in full swing, and Arsenal need to get a move on.

After three years of coming close but failing each time, Mikel Arteta’s side need to ensure they finally get over the line in the Premier League next season, although to do that, the board need to provide them with some game-changing additions, or they’ll be left behind by their rivals.

For example, Manchester City have signed Tijjani Reijnders, Chelsea are close to signing Liam Delap, and perhaps most worrying of all, Liverpool look dead set on securing the sensationally gifted Florian Wirtz as soon as possible.

Yet, there might not be a need for fans to worry too much, as reports are now linking Arsenal to another tremendously exciting talent who could be their own answer to the Bayer Leverkusen gem.

Arsenal's transfer news

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other potentially game-changing players Arsenal have been linked to and could still sign in recent weeks, like Eberechi Eze and Rafael Leao.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has a release clause in his current deal, reportedly worth around £68m, which would be a fee more than worth paying, as in just 43 appearances for Crystal Palace this season, the FA Cup winner scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

Likewise, Leao enjoyed a stellar campaign of his own, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in 50 appearances, although with a release clause reportedly worth a staggering £145m, he might just be out of reach this summer.

However, there is another, arguably even more exciting, name now linked with the North Londoners: Xavi Simons.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of several teams keen on the RB Leipzig star this summer.

The report has revealed that, alongside the Gunners, rivals including Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all interested in signing the Flying Dutchman, who is valued at about £65m by the German outfit.

It would be a costly and somewhat complicated transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and potential, one Arsenal should fight for, especially as he could be their answer to Wirtz.

Why Simons would be Arsenal's answer to Wirtz

So, there are actually several ways in which Simons could be looked at as Arsenal’s own Wirtz – should this transfer happen – and the first is that he’s already won comparisons to the Leverkusen star.

For example, FBref compared players in similar positions in the Bundesliga this season and came to the conclusion that the German was the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Dutchman.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, key passes, passing accuracy, passes into the penalty area, tackles and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.48

0.50

Non-Penalty Goals

0.21

0.23

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

78.3%

Key Passes

2.13

2.18

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.51

2.49

Tackles

1.17

1.23

On top of their undeniable statistical similarities, the pair would also seriously improve the attacking output of the teams they may be set to join.

For example, in the league alone this season, the Liverpool target racked up a brilliant haul of ten goals and 13 assists in 31 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

It’s safe to say the former PSV star has really showcased why he’s “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one analyst on social media, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in 25 league appearances, which comes out to a still sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.47 games.

Finally, both stars would be moving from the Bundesliga to the Premier League at 22 years old to inject more creativity and cutting edge into two title rivals for next year.

Ultimately, while he might not be as exciting a name, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Simons this summer, as he could very much be their answer to Wirtz.

The dream XI Arsenal could build: £85m star & the "new Haaland" both sign

After another disappointing season, Arsenal have a big summer of transfers ahead of them.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 3, 2025

Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this afternoon was enough to secure the club Champions League football ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Levi Colwill’s strike just minutes into the second half was enough to secure all three points for Enzo Maresca’s men, ending the year in fourth during the Italian’s first season at the helm.

Such an achievement is exceptional, handing the hierarchy a needed boost in the financial department, certainly aiding the current PSR standing and easing any concerns.

The win in the East Midlands was certainly a hard-fought contest, with the side deserving of a place among Europe’s elite, having the opportunity to claim a third European Cup.

However, despite the triumph, numerous players struggled to make the desired impact on Trentside, potentially putting their place in the side at risk over the summer transfer window.

Chelsea’s poor performers against Nottingham Forest

Midfielder Enzo Fernández has been widely linked with a move away from Chelsea in recent weeks, with Real Madrid the main outfit in the race for his signature.

The Argentine struggled to produce his best display in the win, failing to win a single tackle and only managed to complete 70% of the passes that he attempted.

He wasn’t alone in failing to impress, with attacking midfielder Cole Palmer once again disappointing and needing to recapture his best form in 2025/26.

The 23-year-old failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, and registered a measly completion rate of just 17% from the crosses he put into the box.

However, despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other first-team regular was unable to extract his highest performance levels, putting his long-term future at Stamford Bridge at huge risk.

The 5/10 Chelsea star who may never play for the club again

This summer is now likely to be an exciting one for Chelsea supporters, with the manager now able to have the extra funds to make the changes he desires to his playing squad.

He’s done a magnificent job in leading the side to a place in the top five, deserving the chance to land any targets he feels would improve the options at his disposal.

However, he will likely want to move players on in the process, with winger Jadon Sancho still having a huge question mark next to his future in West London over the coming months.

The 25-year-old joined on loan from Manchester United last summer, with an obligation to buy for £25m, but they could pay a fee in the region of £5m to send him back to his parent club.

However, his showing in the East Midlands was one that wouldn’t have satisfied the hierarchy, which could spell the end of his stint as a Chelsea first-team player.

Sancho featured for 62 minutes of the contest, failing to register any efforts on goal and was unable to complete any dribbles, showcasing his lack of impact in the final third.

He also only registered a measly tally of 32 touches, a figure that was lower than that of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who managed a total of 44.

Minutes played

62

Touches

32

Shots taken

0

Dribbles completed

0

Tackles won

0

Aerials lost

100%

Possession lost

6x

The loanee also failed to win a single tackle, whilst losing 100% of the aerial duels he entered, showcasing his inability to impress across all areas of the pitch.

As a result of his disappointing showing against the Reds, he was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Standard’s Malik Ouzia – highlighting the disappointing performance he produced.

Such a display will put doubt in Maresca’s mind over his long-term future, potentially saving them £20m to invest in other targets if they send him back to Old Trafford.

It’s safe to say that his time with the Blues has been well below the levels many expected, with the hierarchy needing to make sure that his outing today was his last for the club.

Their new Palmer: Chelsea lining up move for "direct" £75m PL star

Chelsea are again forecast to be busy in this summer’s transfer market, so could they sign a “direct’ Premier League star to be the next Cole Palmer?

ByBen Gray May 25, 2025

Celtic romped to a 5-1 win over Aberdeen in their final away match of the Scottish Premiership campaign on Wednesday night, despite playing a much-changed side.

Brendan Rodgers opted to hand opportunities to several players in the comprehensive victory for the Hoops, including the likes of Viljami Sinisalo, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny, and Maik Nawrocki, among others.

Nawrocki made just his third appearance in the Premiership this season and scored the opening goal in the match with a fine header, and he made five clearances, two blocks, and two interceptions.

Rodgers was also quick to point out how well the Polish colossus performed in possession, as the boss said: “I thought he (Nawrocki) played through the lines really, really well, defended well, and obviously, he was very dangerous in the box.”

The former Legia Warsaw central defender was not the only rarely-seen star who caught the eye for the Northern Irish head coach, though, as Irish striker Johnny Kenny made his first senior start for the club and impressed against the Dons.

Why Johnny Kenny could be a future star for Celtic

The Celtic manager was “pleased” for the 21-year-old centre-forward after the reserve striker scored his first goal for the club with a fine header in the second half.

Rodgers said: “Johnny, we’re also pleased for because he works so hard, he is a natural goalscorer. I think when you see his movement for the goal, it’s so, so good and everyone was delighted for him.”

The young attacker did brilliantly to get across his man to redirect the header into the opposite corner from Luke McCowan’s cross to make it 4-1 on the night.

That was one of the five shots that Kenny managed against Aberdeen, which shows that he provided a constant threat in front of the opposition goal, whilst it was one of two shots on target for the forward.

The Celtic striker, who had only made six substitute appearances in the league prior to that game, had not made a single first-team appearance for the club prior to his return from Shamrock Rovers in January.

Kenny did, however, showcase his potential whilst on loan in his home country, with a return of 26 goals and eight assists in 76 matches for Shamrock Rovers in all competitions.

Appearances

6

xG

3.78

Goals

5

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the Irishman caught the eye in the Conference League during the first half of this season, scoring five goals in six matches, before his return to Celtic at the turn of the year.

Kenny is a young talent who has shown potential to shine in the future for the Hoops, given his performance against Aberdeen and his goalscoring record in Ireland, but he is also 22 this summer and potentially at a crossroads in his career, where he will have to decide whether it is worth fighting for a spot at Parkhead or going elsewhere to be guaranteed regular game time.

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Meanwhile, Celtic could unearth an even bigger talent than the 21-year-old Irishman by continuing to integrate 17-year-old Sean McArdle into the first-team.

Why Sean McArdle could be an even bigger talent than Johnny Kenny

It took Kenny until the age of 21 to make his senior bow for the Hoops. McArdle, on the other hand, has made his Scottish Premiership debut before turning 18.

The teenage talent has come off the bench in the last two matches, since the club were confirmed as champions of the division, as Rodgers has decided that he is ready to play in the first-team.

McArdle made his debut against Hibernian at Parkhead last week before coming on for the final nine minutes against Aberdeen away from home on Wednesday night.

The 17-year-old Scottish ace was praised by Rodgers after his debut, as the head coach said: “I like him, he’s got decent legs, he’s got a nice football brain, left-sided, he’s got culture when he plays, and now he’s got the best role models you can have in some of the players that we have here, like Callum and these guys, to learn from.”

Minutes

9

Passes completed

11/12

Shots

1

Shots on target

1

Chances created

1

Dribbles completed

1/1

Duels won

1/1

Possession lost

1x

As you can see in the table above, McArdle followed up on that praise by delivering an impressive cameo off the bench against Aberdeen, completing 92% of his chances and showing a few nice touches, creating one chance in the process.

After that display, Rodgers praised the teenager once again: “Yes, I liked him when he came on. I like the young players, and any player that you play for Celtic, you have to have personality. And you could see at 17, he comes into the game, he takes the ball, he passes the ball. He’s got a wee edge to him as well that I like.”

The manager was not the only person impressed by McArdle, though, as teammate and experienced midfielder McCowan described him as a “great” player.

This shows that he has gained respect from the manager and at least one of the senior players in the first-team with his performances in training and in Premiership matches, despite being just 17.

McArdle, who scored five goals in 25 Lowland League games this season, could, therefore, be an even bigger talent than Kenny because he has already made more progress than the Irishman did at his age.

Kenny is five years older than the Scottish midfielder and only made his Premiership debut for Celtic at the start of this year, whilst the teenager has played twice in the division already and could establish himself as a regular in the coming years, potentially before he gets to the age the Irish striker is at now.

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To make his breakthrough at such a young age, whilst earning plaudits from Rodgers and McCowan, speaks to his potential and suggests that he could be a future star for the Hoops for many years to come if he continues his progression.