All posts by n8rngtd.top

Recent history suggests that Leeds United are going to find it incredibly difficult to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League next season.

The last six teams to have been promoted from the Championship have been relegated in their first season back in the top-flight in the last two campaigns, including Southampton, Leicester, Ipswich, Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton.

This illustrates the huge gap in quality between the two divisions and shows that the Whites will not find the step up easy, despite their 100-point haul in the second tier.

Daniel Farke, of course, already has experience of how difficult it can be, as his Norwich City side were relegated in the 2019/20 campaign, after they had won the Championship title the previous season.

However, his Canaries team went up alongside Aston Villa and Sheffield United, and both of those teams avoided the drop in their first year back in the Premier League.

There were many reasons that those sides stayed up and Farke’s Norwich outfit did not, but a key player in Villa’s success since their promotion has been all-action midfielder John McGinn.

Why Leeds United need a player like John McGinn

Without meaning to state the obvious, the Premier League is an incredibly high-quality division that requires a high level of both technical quality and athleticism in order for players and teams to shine.

It is not enough to just be technically sound, if you do not have the athleticism to match it, and it is not enough to just have physical qualities, as you need to be technically good enough to compete.

McGinn has been a key player for Villa since earning promotion with the club in 2019 because he has the physical and technical qualities required to be a star in the middle of the park, racking up 203 appearances in the Premier League to date.

The Scotland international has provided a threat at the top end of the pitch for the Villans, with a return of 17 goals and 25 assists in those 203 outings, which shows that he can make a decent impact in the final third from a central midfield position.

McGinn can also compete out of possession with his peers in the top-flight. In the 2024/25 campaign, for example, he averaged 1.5 tackles and interceptions per game and won 4.1 duels per match in midfield.

Leeds need their own version of the Scottish star because they need players who can compete technically and physically in the Premier League, and they are reportedly eyeing a gem who could be Farke’s own version of the Villa ace.

Leeds in talks to sign Ligue 1 star

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Leeds United are in talks to sign Strasbourg central midfielder Habib Diarra to bolster their options in the middle of the park.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Italian reporter stated: “They are in negotiations for the player. He’s really appreciated.

Transfer Focus

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

“Diarra is one of the most appreciated options internally, but it’s not an easy deal because of the valuation, so it’s still complicated to make it happen. But Leeds are trying.”

It was previously reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post that the Championship champions have already had an offer of £22m rejected by the French side for the midfielder, and it remains to be seen exactly how much it will take to secure his signature this summer.

Leeds are in talks, per Romano’s latest update, though, and they will now be hoping to strike an agreement with Strasbourg in the weeks to come.

Why Leeds should sign Habib Diarra

The Whites should be pushing to get a deal over the line for the 21-year-old central midfielder because he has the potential to be Farke’s own version of John McGinn.

Per FBref, the Aston Villa star is the most comparable player to Diarra in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions out of all attacking midfielders, based on their respective statistics over the past 365 days.

As you can see in the chart above, McGinn and Diarra excel in similar areas of the game, particularly in possession, and this means that the Senegal international could come in and have a similar impact at Elland Road as the Scottish dynamo has had at Villa Park.

The Leeds target has been a regular for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 in recent seasons, which means that he has already proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues. Whereas, the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Ao Tanaka have all yet to establish themselves as top-flight players.

Diarra, who scored against England for Senegal in June, caught the eye with his impressive performances in and out of possession in the French top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, the right-footed dynamo has similar attributes to McGinn in the middle of the park, as he can deliver goals and assists whilst also winning duels and being efficient as a tackler.

The 21-year-old star, who was described as a “complete” midfielder by analyst Ben Mattinson, can combine solid defensive work off the ball with the potential to be a difference-maker in the final third with his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Diarra could, therefore, be Farke’s own version of McGinn at Elland Road, and be a Premier League-ready talent for the Whites to put in their starting XI on day one in August.

As aforementioned, Leeds need players who can combine physical and technical qualities if they want to avoid an instant relegation, and signing the Strasbourg star would mean that they have one more of them in the door.

Leeds open talks with agent of "talented" Champions League level star

The 49ers mean business this summer…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 27, 2025

It is practically indisputable that Arsenal are in the market for a new striker this summer, and Mikel Arteta’s side have now been handed the chance to get one over on arch rivals Tottenham by signing a key target of Thomas Frank’s side.

Arsenal make contact to sign trophy-laden £400k-per-week ex-Man City star

He’d be quite the addition to Arteta’s dressing room.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 17, 2025

New sporting director Andrea Berta is currently busy attempting to negotiate agreeable terms on a deal for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, but find themselves some way off the Bundesliga side’s asking price of around £68-85 million, according to Sky Germany’s (Florian Plettenberg).

Arsenal negotiations for Sesko have been ongoing since late May, but if a deal cannot be struck for the Slovenia international, Berta does have other reported striker targets on his shortlist.

Arsenal have also worked on a deal for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, who is currently keen on a move to north London and open to joining other high-profile Premier League suitors like Man United.

“Viktor Gyökeres prefers a move to the Premier League, and would welcome an Arsenal bid,” reported Ben Jacobs on X recently.

“Arsenal still deciding between Benjamin Sesko and Gyökeres. Andrea Berta simultaneously advancing both deals. Gyökeres would be open to Manchester United. There has been no formal rejection, but a deal to date has also never been at an advanced stage, despite suggestions.

“United have not made any formal approach to Sporting. Swedish striker one of several striker options discussed. Gyökeres believes he’ll still be allowed to leave Sporting for €70m. Arsenal have always been one to watch, but it will depend on Berta now because he is also in ongoing talks for Sesko at the same time, with a bid for one of the two targets expected soon.”

Either centre-forward would be an upgrade on Arteta’s current options. Sesko is fresh off a career-best Bundesliga campaign at Leipzig, while Gyokeres has just guided Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years after scoring 54 goals in all competitions.

However, Arsenal now also have a new left-field option.

Arsenal offered Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat

According to website Just Arsenal, Dynamo Kyiv striker Vladyslav Vanat has been put forward to Arteta’s side.

Vanat scored 21 goals in all competitions last season, helping Kyiv to lift the Ukranian Premier League title whilst ending the season unbeaten. He also finished 2024/2025 as the division’s top scorer with 17, and this has attracted some attention from England.

It is now believed that Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Vanat, who has a reported £17 million release clause in his contract. Arteta doesn’t view the 23-year-old’s signing as an urgent need right now, but is fully aware of Vanat’s quality, so it’s apparently a situation they could revisit later in the window.

However, if they do decide they want him, Arsenal will need to be wary of rival interest. Manchester United, Leeds United, Everton, and Tottenham are all keen on Vanat, with the latter even viewing him as a “priority signing” for new manager Frank.

Since being named manager in 2019, Mikel Arteta has got an awful lot right at Arsenal.

He helped to turn a defensively disastrous team into the most secure in the Premier League, rooted out those who weren’t aligned with the culture he was trying to create, and, most importantly, transformed the team into genuine title contenders.

One of the ways he was able to do the latter was by bringing in the right players, and when it comes to his best signing, it’s hard to look past Declan Rice.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to a player who could be another Rice.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other stars who have been touted for a move to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, like Martin Zubimendi and Rodrygo.

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 been heavily linked with a move to the club since Sami Mokbel claimed he was set to join in a report in January, and now, in the face of rumours suggesting he could move to Real Madrid, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed that he is set to sign for the Gunners.

On the other hand, it feels like we are a long way off from finding out where Rodrygo will end up at the end of summer, although, with a price tag of around £84m, there is every chance he ends up moving to the Emirates.

That said, while the Brazilian would be an excellent attacking addition to the team, it would be hard to describe his potential move as being Rice-esque, which is not the same for Marc Guehi.

Yes, according to a recent report from James McNicholas of The Athletic, Arsenal are interested in the Crystal Palace star this summer.

In fact, the report claims that the England international is now ‘high on their list’ of defensive targets, and the fact he’s about to enter the final year of his deal at Selhurst Park only makes him a more appealing option.

A potential price for the 24-year-old is not mentioned in the report, but according to other stories from this month, the fact he’s nearing the end of his current contract means he could be available for around £50m, which could be good value for money, especially as his move would be somewhat reminiscent of Rice’s.

Why Guehi's move would be Rice-esque

So, the first thing to say is that, yes, Rice and Guehi play in very different positions and most certainly have very different playstyles, but we aren’t making the argument that the latter would be just like the former at Arsenal.

Instead, the potential transfer of the Crystal Palace star would mirror that of the former West Ham United captain, and there are a few reasons why.

Firstly, it would be another example of Arteta not just signing an England international but arguably one of the most essential players in the Three Lions squad.

For example, at the European Championships last summer, the former Chelsea gem started and played in every single game bar the quarter-finals due to a suspension and didn’t put a foot wrong throughout, notably now renowned as “England’s best centre-back” following his immense form.

Likewise, in the final international tournament before his move to the Emirates, the 2022 World Cup, the Gunners midfield monster played in and started every game right up until France knocked the team out.

The second similarity is that the North Londoners would once again be signing not just a star player from another London-based Premier League team but their captain.

Finally, as Rice had before his move, the “world-class” Eagles star, as dubbed by one Palace content creator, would be moving to the Premier League runners-up with an abundance of experience for someone his age.

For example, despite being only 24, the Abidjan-born “tank,” as dubbed by former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik, has made 23 senior appearances for England, 155 for Palace, 59 for Swansea and two for the Blues.

Ultimately, while a new centre-back isn’t exactly a top priority at the moment, Arsenal would do well to sign Guehi this summer.

Arsenal targeting £80m "nightmare" who'd be more exciting than Zubimendi

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Martin Zubimendi.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 10, 2025

Leeds United are now very hopeful they will be able to lure “one of the most underrated defenders in Europe” to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.

Leeds looking to improve their defence

Leeds will know all too well the importance of having a strong defence in the Premier League, having suffered relegation to the Championship after shipping the most goals in the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign, and they have now set out to bolster their options at the back.

Indeed, the Whites have identified a number of defensive targets, while they have also set out to bring in a new goalkeeper, given that Illan Meslier infamously made a number of high-profile errors last season.

The likes of Pope, O’Shea and Tanganga have experience in the Premier League, which could be of key significance when it comes to avoiding the drop next season, but Daniel Farke has also set his sights on adding a Serie A defender to his ranks.

That is according to a report from The Yorkshire Evening Post, which states Leeds are now very hopeful of signing Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, given that Premier League football is set to be on offer at Elland Road.

Farke already has a number of options at centre-back, but departures are said to be inevitable, with Max Wober deemed the most likely to leave, although cashing in on Pascal Struijk could be an attractive proposition from a PSR point of view.

Previous reports have revealed Udinese would be looking to receive a fee of around £17m for Bijol, which should be affordable for a club that is now back in the Premier League.

£50,000-a-week Leeds star unhappy with offer as new contract talks stall

Leeds are now looking to tie down one of their key players from the 2024/25 season, but talks are stalling.

1

By
Brett Worthington

Jun 9, 2025

Bijol could be among Europe's most "underrated" defenders

It would be fair to say journalist Bence Bocsak doesn’t believe the Udinese defender gets the respect he deserves, given his talent, having described the Leeds target as “one of the most underrated defenders in Europe” after impressing at Euro 2024.

The Slovenian is aerially dominant, placing in the 93rd percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs, while he has previously proven himself to be a threat in the opposition area on occasion.

The 6-foot-3 colossus could be a solid signing for Leeds this summer, and £17m feels like a fair fee, given that Bijol has impressed at international level, while also remaining a key player for Udinese throughout the 2024-25 campaign, making 37 appearances in all competitions.

With Champions League qualification secured, Newcastle United are now reportedly readying a double swoop worth over £100m to sign two impressive additions this summer.

Newcastle seal Champions League qualification

It wasn’t done the easy way, but Newcastle secured their place in next season’s Champions League on the final day of the season despite losing against Everton. In the end, it was Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa which helped the Magpies avoid the worst-case scenario. Eddie Howe won’t care how his side did it, however. All he will be thinking about is the chance to step into the dugout among Europe’s elite for the second time in three seasons.

Having more than played his part as club captain this season, Bruno Guimaraes expressed his delight after earning a place back in the Champions League on the final day. The Brazilian told reporters: “Feel very well, feel unbelievable. I think for me, it has been an unbelievable year. First year as a captain, played 38 of 38 games in the Premier League. I’m very, very happy.

“Winning a trophy for this club. What a season. I will always remember this one. I’m very, very happy and proud of our team, of myself, of these fans. Next season, we go back again. We never stop. We’ve won a cup, but we want more.”

After struggling to maintain their form last season, the current campaign couldn’t have gone much better for those at St James’ Park. As Guimaraes reiterated, however, they’ll be keen to ensure that this is just the start.

The next Trippier: Newcastle express interest in "stupidly good" £29m star

Newcastle are looking to add to their depth at right-back

By
Joe Nuttall

May 28, 2025

What that success has done too, is hand PIF the chance to spend big again at long last. With their PSR problems eased, Newcastle could finally hand Howe the reinforcements that he’s been needing, including the addition of two excellent Premier League stars.

Newcastle readying double Mbeumo and Guehi swoop

According to The Telegraph, Newcastle are now readying a double move to sign Bryan Mbuemo and Marc Guehi from Brentford and Crystal Palace. Both deals would make significant statements of the Magpies’ intent and both would cost hefty fees.

Mbeumo will reportedly cost in the region of £50m-60m, whilst Guehi has been valued at as much as £65m by Crystal Palace ahead of the summer transfer window, although the Magpies hope a compromise can be reached with the Eagles for their long-term target.

With PSR problems eased, however, spending may not be an issue for PIF, who could show off their financial power for the first time since initially arriving at St James’ Park.

Signing Guehi would particularly be a long time coming, given that Newcastle were heavily linked with the defender’s signature last summer. His arrival would also allow Howe to move Dan Burn back to left-back and form an impressive partnership between Sven Botman and his potential new arrival.

Meanwhile, Mbeumo needs little introduction these days after scoring 20 goals in all competitions for Brentford and keeping up with the talented Alexander Isak throughout the campaign.

It’s clear that the Brentford star would instantly take Newcastle’s frontline to another level just as Guehi would hand the Magpies the defensive boost that they’ve been searching for since last summer.

Looking ahead towards the summer transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly launched a mega move to sign a Ligue 1 midfielder who could become the perfect partner for Youri Tielemans.

Tielemans receives Team of the Year recognition

Having struggled to nail down a starting place at Villa Park in the early days under Unai Emery, Youri Tielemans was in danger of becoming a nearly man, having been touted for incredible things when he departed Belgium to join Leicester back in 2019. The season of 2024/25 has been the year of the Belgian at the heart of Villa’s midfield, however, and he is now undeniably crucial to Emery’s side.

Emery loves him: Aston Villa chasing a "special" £55m Rashford replacement

Aston Villa may have to replace Rashford this summer.

By
Joe Nuttall

May 21, 2025

The 28-year-old has finally reached the potential that many tipped him to reach many moons ago, and even earned his way into Jamie Carragher’s Team of the Season to recognise that on Monday Night Football.

Emery is well aware of Tielemans’ importance these days too, having told reporters in April: “He’s a guy who can pick up balls and make the team play, but also break up play just as easily. It’s a joy to play with him—and very easy.”

Finding the perfect partner for the former Leicester man hasn’t been quite as easy, though. Amadou Onana initially got off to an impressive start, but injury setbacks remain a concern even though he is undeniably a potential world class player at his best.

Boubacar Kamara has also faced spells on the sidelines throughout his time in the Midlands. The fact is that Tielemans has been the consistent face at the heart of Villa’s side, as they have continued to fight for a place in the Champions League. And they must hand the Belgian a partner with similar consistency.

Aston Villa launch mega Diarra move

One target who could be perfect for that role comes in Ligue 1. According to reporter Mohamed Toubache-Ter, as relayed by Get French Football News, Aston Villa have now launched a mega move to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, who will allow their captain to leave if the right offer arrives this summer.

The 21-year-old, like the majority of his teammates, has enjoyed an impressive season under Liam Rosenior and could now be on the move as a result. Already a leader despite his tender age, Diarra ticks a number of crucial boxes needed to partner Tielemans at the centre of Emery’s strongest side.

Whilst the numbers show just how impressive Tielemans has been in possession this season, they also highlight that Diarra could complete the ball-carrying in Villa’s midfield. Both players, looking at their strengths, would complement each other almost perfectly to hide any clear weaknesses in their respective games.

Analyst Ben Mattinson shared similar praise for the Strasbourg captain, dubbing the Aston Villa target a “strong ball carrier” and a “very complete midfielder” earlier this season.

Liverpool’s season may well be over, but that’s only because Arne Slot’s side have wrapped up the Premier League title with plenty of time to spare.

Anfield’s chief decision-makers are bound to be hard at work right now, perhaps finding their transfer plans accelerated after such dominance in the English top flight.

Of course, that’s not the only reason Liverpool’s season is done and dusted, if we’re being candid. The Merseysiders have no FA Cup or Champions League final to prepare for, having been dumped out of both competitions at premature stages.

This isn’t really to the detriment of Slot’s squad, merely a reflection of the unforeseen heights reached this season. Few expected Liverpool to go from strength to strength after Jurgen Klopp left last year, let alone win the league title.

Slot has been stringent in his team rotation, and will need to add depth this summer. Luckily, he’s had an absolute rock of a leader in Virgil van Dijk, unflappable, unmovable.

The importance of Van Dijk to Liverpool

The importance of Van Dijk. It really can’t be overstated how significant a part of Liverpool’s rise and rise he has been. Without this towering Dutchman, Klopp’s dynasty wouldn’t have scaled the mountain between good and greatness.

The art of spending wisely. Sure, Van Dijk cost Liverpool a world-record £75m fee, leaving Southampton on the South Coast in January 2018, but has there ever been a defender in that ballpark, and there are more, who have given their new employers the same bang for their buck?

Van Dijk took the captain’s armband from Jordan Henderson at the end of the 2022/23 season, but he’s been a leader ever since he arrived.

However, that level has been notched up since assuming the new weight of responsibility, for he led the resurgence last year, put Liverpool back in the Champions League and scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup final. Now, he’s skippered his way toward a second Premier League title, with Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher saying, “he’s too good for the highest level” of football.

Tying the 33-year-old down to a new deal was always going to be imperative, and now he joins Mohamed Salah in devoting two more years of his prime to this wonderful club.

Maybe the final two years of his career at the highest level. Maybe, time works its hands onto every world-class player, and there will come a point when Carragher’s effusions no longer ring true.

Maybe Liverpool would be prudent to find and sign a successor this summer.

Liverpool add new centre-back to their shortlist

Liverpool need someone who’s capable of filling Van Dijk’s boots for years to come. Preferably, they would be a left-footed centre-half.

Transfer Focus

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

Dean Huijsen is the talk of the town, but Liverpool might actually be ready to head down a different track and sign Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.

According to DaveOCKOP, 22-year-old Murillo is one of the shortlisted names ahead of the summer window, his blend of meaty athleticism and technical quality making him the perfect option for a team challenging at the top of the European pyramid each year.

However, he wouldn’t come cheap. It was suggested a few months back that Forest will demand £80m for the defender, with Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also considered suitors.

What Murillo would bring to Liverpool

Nuno Espirito Santo has worked wonders at Forest. He’s transformed the club from relegation stragglers to genuine Champions League contenders, with their fate hanging in the balance ahead of the final few matches of the season.

Forest were hit with a points deduction after breaching financial fair play (FFP) rules in the 2022/23 season. The windfall from securing a seat at Europe’s eminent table would ease their worries this summer, but FFP compliance will be a tricky slope to navigate in any case, and Liverpool could take advantage.

Certainly, Murillo still has progress to make in his professional journey, but that’s why Liverpool should act now, adding the Brazilian to a rich backline and allowing him to learn under Van Dijk’s wing before settling into an enhanced role.

Make no mistake, Murillo’s already got enough in his locker to make a marked improvement on Liverpool’s defence. Hailed for his “monstrous” performances by journalist Ryan Taylor, he’s menacing and unflinching in his duties.

The Tricky Trees star isn’t the finished article, but he’s already performing at a level that challenges Van Dijk for his throne.

In fact, he’s been described as being “easily one of the best defenders in the league” by talent scout Jacek Kulig only a few months ago, not all that far away from Liverpool’s main man.

Murillo is energetic and creative too. While defending his goalkeeper serves as his principal aim, the £xxk-per-week talent has also garnered something of a reputation for his powerful surges forward, thus sparking creative opportunities for his forward-placed teammates.

FBref back it all up: across Europe’s top five leagues this season, Murillo ranks among the top 3% of positional peers for blocks and clearances, while also ranking among the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90.

You can see why Liverpool are so interested in striking a deal this summer, with Murillo ticking all the boxes.

6 foot even, he’s not the tallest of centre-back but Murillo uses his aerial prowess so well, and must be brought to Anfield this summer to begin the next chapter in his career, one building toward a point in which he succeeds Van Dijk as Liverpool star man at the back.

Dream Kerkez alternative: Liverpool plot move for "incredible" £50m star

Liverpool could forget about Milos Kerkez with a summer deal for another left-back.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 7, 2025

Chelsea are now showing “concrete interest” in signing a winger with “electric pace”, and they have entered talks over a summer deal, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Blues keen to bolster attacking options

Several top Premier League clubs are looking to bring in a new striker, and the Blues are no exception, given that Nicolas Jackson has struggled in front of goal for large parts of the season, despite finding the back of the net against Everton on Saturday.

Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap is among the main targets, with the west Londoners leading the race for the Englishman, who is set to be available for £30m this summer, now the Tractor Boys’ relegation from the top flight has been confirmed.

Not only is Enzo Maresca keen to bring in a new striker, but the manager is also looking at bolstering his options out wide, and talks have been opened over a deal for AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, while the same report states Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is also of interest.

Chelsea now have "strong" chance of signing £206k-per-week Barcelona star

Enzo Maresca’s side have thrown their hat in the ring.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 26, 2025

Chelsea are looking at multiple targets from the Serie A, and they are also considering options from the Bundesliga, with Sky Sports reporter Plettenberg taking to X to reveal they have now opened talks for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.

The Blues have expressed a “concrete interest” in signing the winger, as they “believe a talented English player should be playing in his home country”, and talks are ongoing with his management over a potential summer move.

Dortmund are open to offers in the region of €50m – €60m (£43m – £51m), and such is their level of interest, the west Londoners are willing to double Gittens’ salary.

"Electric" Gittens impressing at Dortmund

It has not been the best of seasons for Dortmund, who have fallen short of expectations in the Bundesliga, but the English winger has been a shining light, picking up eight goals and four assists in 29 league matches.

The starlet has also shown some promising signs in the Champions League, scoring four goals in the competition prior to Dortmund’s exit, while picking up one assist.

Not only that, but football scout Ben Mattinson is clearly a fan of the 20-year-old, praising him for his pace, while also claiming he could have more potential than Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.

There are clear signs that Gittens could be destined for the very top, so it is exciting news that Chelsea are making moves to secure his signature.

Celtic are in the market for reinforcements this summer, though may have to sanction a departure once the window opens following an admission from one of Brendan Rodgers’ signings.

Celtic hold Glasgow Derby parity as focus shifts elsewhere

Despite having several regulars out due to injury concerns, Celtic managed to claim a respectable 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox last week to maintain their 17-point advantage at the Scottish Premiership summit.

Brendan Rodgers has already led his side to a fourth successive league title and had little to prove at the home of their trophyless rivals, though he did manage to stop an unwanted scenario of three Glasgow Derby defeats in a row.

Nevertheless, Celtic will now focus on their upcoming Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen before a summer of intrigue could yield movement in both directions at Parkhead.

Per reports, the Bhoys are known admirers of Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter, but it remains to be seen if they will return to the table for him once the window opens.

Western United defender Dylan Leonard has admitted he would love to join Celtic, even if he would likely be a developmental addition for years to come as opposed to a first-team starter.

Leeds celebrate title by eyeing £50k-p/w duo who have dominated for Celtic

The Whites are big admirers…

4

By
Sean Markus Clifford

May 3, 2025

Champions League league phase involvement isn’t guaranteed, with Rodgers’ men having to navigate the final qualifying round. They are yet to know if they will be seeded or not in their quest to secure a place, which means they will need to kickstart their summer business early to allow a bedding-in period for prospective arrivals.

In turn, departures will be needed to supplement new faces, and they may have found a prime candidate to move on after they admitted they would like to leave Parkhead.

Gustaf Lagerbielke makes Celtic exit admission

Speaking about his future, Gustaf Lagerbielke has admitted he wants to leave Celtic for FC Twente permanently after spending the campaign on loan at the Eredivisie outfit.

He stated: “If we make it into Europe, Twente will have more money to spend. The same applies if Twente sells players in the summer. So it’s up to the technical directors of Celtic and Twente to reach an agreement about me.

“I want to play and I feel good in the Netherlands. I can certainly imagine my future being here.”

Signed for £3 million by Rodgers in 2023, Lagerbielke never really got the opportunity to set the heather alight at Parkhead, making only ten appearances in total last season. Labelled “very good” by former teammate Johan Larsson, he has clearly found some sort of footing in Dutch football and may have given Celtic a platform to recoup some of their outlay for his services.

Moves don’t always work out, but his regular involvement with FC Twente should be enough to drum up enough interest even if they choose not to make his deal permanent.

2024/25 Championship table

*Sheff Utd deducted 2 points

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