All posts by z3u9t.icu

Ipswich Town have had a torrid start to life in the Championship following last season’s Premier League relegation. Kieran McKenna’s side currently sit 18th in the Championship and were knocked out of the first round of the League Cup following the loss of a number of star players.

Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap both secured their Premier League futures with moves to Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, respectively. So far this window, Ipswich have actually made a profit of over £50 million.

They have brought in some players such as Kasey McAteer and Azor Matusiwa on permanent deals, Ashley Young on a free transfer and Chuba Akpom on loan. However, these signings are yet to bring McKenna’s side a win.

While there is still time left in the transfer window, Ipswich are pushing to bring in another signing to help reinforce them defensively.

Ipswich close to finalising Furlong

Ipswich Town are close to signing a deal with West Bromwich Albion for Darnell Furlong. The deal for the defender will initially cost the Tractor Boys £3.5 million.

The agreement also includes a unique clause that means Ipswich will be required to pay West Brom a further £500,000 if they secure promotion. However, given their start to the season, this clause currently looks unlikely to be achieved. West Brom are set to make an impressive profit on Furlong as he only cost them just over £1.4 million when he joined from QPR back in 2019.

Ipswich have recently worked with Furlongs agency, New Era Global Sports Management Limited, as they represent Corbin Mthunzi, who joined their academy from Brighton in April.

"One of the best full-backs of the Championship"

With Furlong, Ipswich will have a capable defender on their hands who ranked highly among his peers in the second tier last season. In the 2024/25 campaign, Furlong ranked in the top 3% of players for both aerial duels and ground duels won.

A unique area in which Furlong shines is winning fouls. Furlong won 72 free kicks last season, putting him in the top 3% of similar players. These fouls were often won in his own defensive third and are the result of his nous when dealing with pressing opposition players.

These achievements are part of the reason that Furlong has left positive impressions on coaches he’s worked with in the past. Valencia boss Carlos Corberen, who managed Furlong for two years as West Brom boss, was full of praise for the full-back when he was his manager:

Based on these defensive stats and his former manager’s praise for him, Ipswich might be about to recruit the catalyst that can kick-start their season and get them climbing up the table.

Arsenal have been working on a plan to make another major summer signing, with Andrea Berta still looking to back Mikel Arteta in the market.

The Gunners got off to a solid start in their opening Premier League game of the season, holding off a largely dominant Man United side at Old Trafford through their famed robustness defensively.

Riccardo Calafiori’s header from a corner inside the first 15 minutes was enough for Arteta to clinch all three points up north, with Arsenal shutting out a Ruben Amorim side who just couldn’t find a way through their backline, despite pressing hard.

Away from the pitch, there is still some time remaining for the title hopefuls to reinforce the squad before deadline day on September 1.

Arsenal are prioritising player sales right now after a summer of serious spending already – totalling over £200 million – but there is still the possibility they could add another wide player depending on outgoings.

Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior could all leave Arsenal in the next 13 days, while a departure for Leandro Trossard is still on the table amid serious interest from elsewhere in the Belgian.

Trossard has entered the final year of his contract, and Arsenal will likely want to sell now rather than let the winger leave for nothing in 2026.

If he does manage to secure an exit from the Emirates Stadium in the coming days, Arsenal could move to sign a left-winger to replace him (Ben Jacobs).

With Eberechi Eze on the verge of a move to north London rivals Tottenham, Berta signing another wide player instead seems like the most likely scenario right now, and Real Madrid star Rodrygo has been on their radar all summer.

Man City have also been eyeing the Brazil international as a potential replacement for Savinho, who’s also held talks to join Tottenham, but they may still be joined by Arsenal in the race for his signature.

Arsenal plan to sign Rodrygo on loan with option to buy

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal’s plan would be to sign Rodrygo on loan with an option to buy, and it’s something that Berta has been working on this window.

However, that plan has been put on hold for now, until they make a decision over Trossard’s future or find a buyer for the 30-year-old.

If something develops regarding Trossard, this could well be something they revisit, but the £207,000-per-week star is also attracting late summer interest from City, PSG and Al-Nassr.

Rodrygo’s priority is to stay in Europe, but Arsenal’s move may depend on any developments regarding Savinho’s move to Tottenham, as Pep Guardiola’s side are planning to bid a whopping £86m (including add-ons) for the 24-year-old if their winger does make the move to Spurs.

He would be the cherry on top of what has already been an excellent window for Arsenal.

Rodrygo’s 14 goals and 11 in all competitions for Los Blancos last season tell just half the story, with Jude Bellingham calling him Real’s most gifted and talented player.

Arsenal are now closing in on a deal to sign an “untouchable” attacker, having reached an agreement with his current employers on financial terms, according to a report.

Arteta keen on more new signings in the coming weeks

The Gunners have been busy in the summer transfer window up to this point, and their new signings caught the eye in the final pre-season friendly before the new Premier League campaign, with Martin Zubimendi linking up with Viktor Gyokeres against Athletic Bilbao.

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Gyokeres found the back of the net for the first time in the dominant 3-0 victory against Bilbao, with Zubimendi providing the assist, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping the Swedish striker getting off the mark will give him confidence heading into the new campaign.

However, Arteta has since confirmed that he remains keen on making more additions to his squad, saying: “Let’s see what happens, in terms of where the squad is in the next few weeks. But we are actively looking at options.”

“As well, there are a few players that, maybe, they have to leave as well. So, we will be open to see what happens.”

It is well-known that Arsenal are looking to add one more attacker to their ranks before the transfer window closes, and there has now been a development in their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal plot £44m bid for Eberechi Eze alternative as transfer request made

The north Londoners aren’t done after Viktor Gyokeres.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 9, 2025

According to a report from Football Transfers, the Gunners are now closing in on the signing of Eze, having struck an agreement on personal terms, with a package amounting to £55m deemed to be acceptable by the Eagles.

The north Londoners are set to fork out a £30m initial payment, with talks about the structure of the remaining installments still ongoing, while they also remain in direct contact with the player himself.

The 27-year-old is keen to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, and while Palace are hesitant to sanction a sale, they understand his reasoning behind seeking an exit.

"Untouchable" Eze could take Arsenal's attack to next level

Arteta has already strengthened his attack this summer, bringing in Noni Madueke, but there are signs the Palace star could be a real upgrade on the options the Spaniard currently has at his disposal.

The England international vastly outperformed Madueke in terms of attacking numbers in the Premier League last term, while also chipping in with more goal contributions than Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

Player

PL appearances

Goals

Assists

Eberechi Eze

34

8

8

Martin Odegaard

30

3

8

Noni Madueke

32

7

4

Pundit Rob Earnshaw has waxed lyrical about the attacking midfielder in the past, describing him as “untouchable” during the 2023-24 campaign.

Having also performed remarkably well in the FA Cup last season, scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final and final to lead Palace to glory, Eze is clearly a top player, and it is exciting news that a deal is now progressing.

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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.”

Transfer Focus

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

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.

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

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.

ByDan Emery Jul 23, 2025

Fair to say, West Ham United supporters are not coming into the new season with sky-high optimism.

Last time round, the Hammers finished 14th, only just above the disastrous duo that was Manchester United and Tottenham, while their tally of nine home league defeats was the most they’ve endured since being relegated in 2010/11.

Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui in January, but this did not lead to an upturn in results, winning just five of his 19 matches in charge.

Thus, Potter will be under pressure to make a fast start to this season, but will need some new recruits if he’s to achieve this, potentially with his eye on an attacker reminiscent of a West Ham fans’ favourite of yesteryear.

West Ham's search for a new attacker

So far this summer, in a very unpopular move amongst the Hammers’ support, star winger Mohammed Kudus has departed to join fierce rivals Tottenham for a reported fee of £55m, becoming the first player to make such a move since Scott Parker in 2011.

Meantime, left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf has arrived from Slavia Prague for around £19m, but this has done little to get supporters back on side.

Well, that could change because, according to a report by Jack Johnson for talkSPORT, West Ham have made contact with Leicester City over the possibility of signing Bilal El Khannouss.

They add that Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Monaco also ‘hold a concrete interest’, while adding that the Moroccan international’s contract contains a £22.5m release clause, activated following the Foxes’ relegation to the EFL Championship.

Transfer Focus

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

Loïc Tanzi of L’Équipe claims that El Khannouss has no intention of playing in England’s second-tier, prioritising a return to the Premier League, so could he soon swap the East Midlands for the East End of London?

How Bilal El Khannouss would improve West Ham

After arriving from Genk for £21m last summer, El Khannouss managed to impress during his debut campaign in the Premier League, despite plying his trade in a generally hopeless Leicester side, who infamously failed to score in nine successive home league matches, an unwanted new top division record.

The table below outlines the Moroccan’s importance to the Foxes last season.

Minutes

2,182

7th

Appearances

32

4th

Goals

2

5th

Assists

3

3rd

Shots

30

4th

Goals – xG

+0.7

4th

Progressive passes

128

1st

Key passes

42

1st

Passes into the box

31

1st

Shot-creating actions

78

1st

Successful take-ons

34

2nd

Take-on success %

56.7%

2nd*

Progressive carries

73

2nd

Carries into the final third

45

1st

*minimum 13 attempted.

As the table outlines, El Khannouss was very much Leicester’s creator in chief last season, ranked first for a variety of passing, chances created and dribbling statistics.

Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines notes that he ‘boasts the vision to spot impossible passes’, adding that he ‘oozes composure’ and is capable of a match-winning moment at any time, asserting that it’s only a matter of time before he is plying his trade for one of ‘Europe’s biggest outfits’. Writing on X, Mattinson has described him as “a player made for the big stage”.

Well, that last part sounds just like arguably West Ham’s greatest player of the modern era, does it not?

When Dimitri Payet joined the Hammers from Olympique de Marseille for just £11m in the summer of 2015, no one could’ve forecast what would happen next.

In 60 appearances in claret and blue, the France international scored 15 goals and registered 22 assists, with Josh Fordham of talkSPORT asserting that he is ‘easily the most talented player’ of the club’s modern history.

Meantime, Roshane Thomas of The Athletic outlines how the “world-class” Payet “entertained supporters” with countless jaw-dropping moments, before forcing through an acrimonious return to Marseille just 18 months after arriving.

So, could El Khannouss be the next Payet? Let’s compare the pair to find out.

Goals

2

9

Assists

3

12

Shots per 90

0.9

2.3

Big chances created

8

16

Key passes per 90

1.3

4

Successful dribbles per 90

1.1

2.2

Dribble success %

59.6%

57%

Average SofaScore rating

6.91

7.68

Of course, Payet’s statistics are more impressive, but this should not come as much of a surprise, given that, as noted by Harry Sherlock of Goal, he was one of the best players in the Premier League in the 2015/16 season, so much so that he was on the Ballon d’Or nominees list.

El Khannouss is certainly yet to hit those heights, but his numbers are comparable, especially when it comes to chances created and dribbling, so he too has the potential to light up the London Stadium.

He’d be amazing with Bowen: West Ham in contact for "sensational" £34m star

West Ham are looking to add goals to their side this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 17, 2025

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the signings of both Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres and Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, but there is another target who sporting director Andrea Berta is also making significant moves for.

£140m signings start alongside Zubimendi: AI predicts Arsenal's 2025/26 line-up

It could be a productive transfer market for the Gunners.

4 ByCharlie Smith Jun 28, 2025

Mikel Arteta, following Noni Madueke’s £50 million move from Chelsea, is reliably reported to be closing in on both Gyokeres and Mosquera too.

In what is a huge boost for the Gunners boss, Arsenal have reached a full agreement to sign Mosquera for a total package of around £17 million, including add-ons, and the versatile centre-back is due for a medical this week (Fabrizio Romano).

The Spaniard appears set to replace Takehiro Tomiyasu, after Arsenal mutually agreed to terminate the latter’s contract, with Arteta also believed to be closing in on Gyokeres.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£75m

A prolific striker has long been viewed by some as the final missing piece of Arsenal’s jigsaw which could transform them into Premier League title winners once again, following an agonising two-decade-long-plus wait.

After deciding not to pursue RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Gyokeres emerged as their priority centre-forward target following a stellar second season at Sporting – where he bagged an incredible 54 goals in all competitions and spearheaded Rui Borges’ side to a domestic double.

Arsenal have been in talks with Sporting over a deal for Gyokeres, and it’s taken some time to find middle ground over the final fee after agreeing personal terms with the Sweden international last week (David Ornstein).

However, according to some reliable media sources, like Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg and The Athletic, Arsenal’s move for Gyokeres is now considered a “done deal” – with an agreement in principle now reached on a total £64 million deal including add-ons.

After Gyokeres and Mosquera, Arsenal are reportedly turning their attention towards £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze – who’s been repeatedly linked in the last fortnight.

Eberechi Eze loosely agrees personal terms to join Arsenal

Eze’s representatives have apparently held positive talks with Arsenal, but formal club-to-club negotiations are yet to open with Palace over a potential deal for the England international.

Now, Football Transfers have an update on the situation, and the outlet states that a player-plus-cash bid isn’t off the table as Arsenal look to agree a deal beneath his release clause.

The news website estimates his clause could be as high as around £70 million, so the north Londoners have looked at offering certain players as makeweights to bring his price down – including Leandro Trossard, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.

Any player going the other way would be in a separate, ‘unofficial’ swap deal for accounting purposes – but Oliver Glasner’s side are said to be “open” to the prospect of accepting this as a potential solution in talks.

What’s more, Football Transfers has also reported that Eze has reached a “broad, informal agreement” on personal terms with Arsenal, so this story could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks as Berta continues making serious statements of intent.

The 27-year-old scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions last season, and Arsenal view Eze as a central playmaker to complement club captain Martin Odegaard.

Despite Hamza Igamane stealing plenty of headlines as of late, it could now reportedly be an alternative Glasgow Rangers player who leaves Ibrox in the coming days.

Latest on Hamza Igamane's potential Rangers exit

For a moment, it looked as though Igamane was destined to become a LOSC Lille player. The French side reportedly set their sights on the impressive Gers forward to replace Jonathan David and even held a decisive meeting to agree personal terms with the Rangers star. Yet, as things stand, talks between the Gers and Lille remain an obstacle in the way of any potential move this summer.

Igamane is now back in Rangers training and set to kick on with any pre-season plans under Russell Martin. Just how long that is the case is the big question. As Sacha Tavolieri reported, the 22-year-old wants to join the Ligue 1 club and has an agreement over personal terms in place. Lille simply must match Rangers’ demands, however.

It must be said that keeping hold of Igamane this summer would be seen as a major victory on the transfer front for all involved at Ibrox. The forward exceeded expectations last season by scoring as many as 16 goals in all competitions and would undoubtedly have a crucial role to play in a new era under Martin if he did stay put.

Meanwhile, as that transfer saga rumbles on, the Gers reportedly face the prospect of losing a different player this summer.

Jose Cifuentes close to leaving Rangers

According to Studio Futbol journalist Cesar Luis Melo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Jose Cifuentes is close to leaving Rangers and could even seal an exit with a new club in the coming days. The central midfielder spent last season on loan at Aris Saloniki, but has returned to Scotland after the Greek club decided against triggering their £4m clause for a permanent deal.

Now back at Ibrox, Cifuentes reportedly attracted the interest of Olympiacos, only for the Greek side to fail in their pursuit and for talks to break down earlier this summer. Just where the midfielder heads to next as a result of those talks breaking down remains to be seen.

Rangers agree deal to sign "fantastic" player as 49ers go into overdrive

The Gers are not messing about this summer…

ByTom Cunningham Jul 10, 2025

It’s been a difficult spell in Scotland for Cifuentes, who initially arrived hoping to make an immediate impact under Michael Beale. Ultimately, that impact never came, however, despite the former manager’s praise.

Beale told reporters when asked about his midfielder: “He is clearly a talented player and the more he plays, the more people will be aware of that. He is a player we brought in with high hopes for and this gives him an opportunity to have a run in the team now.”

Alas, a lot has, of course, changed since Beale was at the club and a new era under Martin is seemingly set to spell the end of Cifuentes’ Rangers career.

Celtic will have to fight hard to keep hold of their best players during the summer transfer window, as teams are already circling around some of their top talents.

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Italian side Como have made an approach to sign Nicolas Kuhn from the Scottish Premiership champions.

The journalist claims that the German winger is “in demand” and that German outfit RB Leipzig are also among the teams interested in a swoop to sign the 25-year-old star before the end of the summer transfer window.

Joseph adds, though, that the Hoops are in a strong position with the forward because he still has four years left to run on his contract at Parkhead.

Whilst losing Kuhn, who produced 13 goals and nine assists in the Premiership this season, would be a blow for the Scottish giants, Celtic must also be wary of losing their exciting young prospects.

The Hoops have been burned in the past by failing to keep hold of promising young players, and Ben Doak is one notable example of a starlet the club surely wished they had managed to keep.

Ben Doak's soaring market value since leaving Celtic

In the summer of 2022, the Scottish winger turned down a contract with the Bhoys and sealed a transfer to Premier League giants Liverpool on a ‘free transfer’.

The Reds had to pay a compensation fee of £600k for the young attacker, who had made two first-team appearances for the Hoops, and that deal has turned out to be a bargain for the English side.

Doak has only made ten appearances for Liverpool in three years, but played 24 games on loan at Middlesbrough this season and has been capped six times by Scotland.

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt values the 19-year-old winger at a whopping £12m, which is significantly more than the £600k that the Premier League team paid for him in 2022. This means that the Reds got a bargain deal and Celtic were left hard done by, as they did not get good value for his services.

Starts

21

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

xA

4.52

Key passes per game

1.9

Assists

7

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the teenage talent caught the eye with his performances on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship this season, showing off his creativity on the right flank on a regular basis.

Overall, the Hoops will surely rue not being able to convince Doak to stay at Parkhead because he has thrived since leaving Scotland for a minimal fee, and they must now avoid a repeat of that with Johnny Kenny.

English club bid for Johnny Kenny

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, English League One side Bolton Wanderers have made an offer to sign the Irish centre-forward.

The reporter claims that Celtic have turned down a bid worth up to £500k from the third tier outfit for the young marksman, as they value him at more than that.

Transfer Focus

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

Joseph adds that Bolton are expected to come back in with a second offer to land the former Shamrock Rovers number nine before the end of the summer transfer window.

However, the journalist reveals that the Premiership champions are not actively looking to cash in on the 22-year-old striker, although they could sanction a loan move later in the window if the right move comes up.

The Hoops must, now, maintain this stance because they could find themselves on the wrong end of another Doak repeat if they allow Kenny to leave the club for anywhere near the £500k bid that Bolton have made for him.

Why Celtic must not sell Johnny Kenny

The Scottish giants must keep hold of the Irish marksman and either keep him as part of the first-team squad or send him out on loan to a good level for the 2025/26 campaign, because he is a promising young talent.

Although he is a bit older than Doak was when he moved on from Glasgow, at the age of 22, he is still very young for a centre-forward and has shown plenty of promise already.

Kenny spent 2024 on loan at Shamrock Rovers in Ireland and caught the eye in his home country, scoring 13 goals in 29 Premier Division matches for the club.

The young attacker, who was dubbed “brilliant” by Brendan Rodgers, also impressed on the European stage with his contributions in front of goal in the Conference League in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign.

xG

3.78

Top 8%

xG on target

5.56

Top 6%

Goals

5

Top 9%

Shots on target

10

Top 8%

Assists

1

Top 39%

Dribbles completed

7

Top 13%

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic loanee ranked highly among strikers in the competition when it came to scoring goals and testing goalkeepers with high-quality shots, firing in 5.56 xG worth of shots on target.

His form for Shamrock Rovers led to Rodgers making him a part of the Celtic squad for the second half of the season, and Kenny showed that he has something to offer to the team in his limited Premiership minutes.

Kenny only played 159 minutes across eight games in the division for the Hoops, but still managed to score one goal and provide one assist, with his goal coming in the form of a header against Aberdeen, as shown in the clip above.

His statistics for Shamrock Rovers and in limited game time for Celtic show that he has the potential to develop into an effective centre-forward option for Rodgers, because he has scored goals when called upon, which is why cashing in on him for a minimal fee this summer would be a big mistake.

Dream Kyogo replacement: Celtic confident of signing "phenomenal" striker

Celtic are reportedly keen on a deal to sign a striker who would be a dream replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi.

2 ByDan Emery Jun 24, 2025

Kenny could follow in Doak’s footsteps and soar in the value if he continues to improve and grow as a player if the club allow him to leave for a small fee, and that is why they must either keep him or loan him out this summer to ensure that they benefit from his development in the future.

Manchester United’s hunt for a new striker this summer has constantly led them back to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish international firmly on their radar.

Ruben Amorim has previously managed the 27-year-old during his stint in Portugal, which has undoubtedly contributed to the rumours around his move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils would be getting themselves a clinical option if his current goal record is anything to go by, after he registered a total of 54 goals in his 52 club appearances in 2024/25.

However, despite holding talks with the striker’s representatives, he’s currently involved in a dispute with the Liga Portugal side that could scupper any potential reunion with Amorim this summer.

As a result, other targets have been considered, with the manager working tirelessly with the board to secure the additions he needs to turn the current situation around.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Whilst Matheus Cunha has already secured his move to join United, it’s expected that the Brazilian international is set to operate in a number 10 role behind the striker.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been considered for the role, but appear to be backup options given the moves made elsewhere.

In recent days, it’s emerged that the Red Devils have made contact with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential move for forward Hugo Ekitiké, according to Sky Germany.

They claim that the French star, who’s scored 22 times across all competitions this campaign, has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his current deal, with Chelsea and Arsenal also interested.

It also states that Amorim’s men have expressed concrete interest over a move for the 22-year-old, but doesn’t mention if they are willing to pay the clause in his current deal.

Why United’s £84m target could be their own Isak

The Premier League has become a brutal division over recent years, with many sides taking advantage of you if you fall below the required standard of England’s top flight.

Alexander Isak is a player who has been the thorn in many teams’ sides over recent seasons, netting a total of 54 Premier League goals in his last three seasons at Newcastle United.

Such form has led to him being one of the most sought-after talismen in Europe, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a £150m price tag on him amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.

If any side were to pay such a fee, it would make him the most expensive signing in the history of English football, but United could look to steer clear of any move in favour of a switch for Ekitike.

When comparing his stats to those of Isak from the 2024/25 campaign, the Frankfurt ace has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – making the £84m fee appear somewhat of a bargain.

He’s been ranked as a similar player to the Swede by FBref, managing to register more shots on target per 90 – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig labelling the French star as “world-class”.

Ekitike also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Progressive carries

3.3

2.7

Shots on target

1.5

1.3

Shots taken

4

3.1

Pass accuracy

76%

74%

Shot-creating actions

3.5

3

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

If he can transfer his form from the Bundesliga over to England in the coming months, it would be a deal that could be one of the best in the club’s history – allowing him to cement himself in the club’s history forever.

It may be a deal that will cost the club somewhat of a small fortune this summer, but the key is the limit for the youngster, with such a price tag being worth every penny if he can catapult them up the table in 2025/26.

He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Liverpool have now joined Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign an “excellent” £42 million player, according to a new report.

Liverpool chasing teenage defender as Joe Gomez future unclear

There are a number of areas of the team that Arne Slot will want to address this summer, but none may be more important than the defence. That is because Trent Alexander-Arnold has already left, while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk are not getting any younger despite their legendary status.

Milos Kerkez is edging closer to a move to Anfield, and he is likely to replace Robertson straight away, and now the Reds have their eyes on a young central defender who could one day succeed Van Dijk.

Their own Mbappe: Liverpool make £150m star their dream target after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to make another huge move for a player during this summer’s transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 4, 2025

According to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, via Sport Witness, Liverpool have made a concrete offer to sign Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal from Stade Rennais. It isn’t clear how much this offer is worth, but the Reds have obviously seen enough, despite the fact that the teenager hasn’t played for Stade Rennais’ first team, to make an offer. They are not alone in their pursuit, as Newcastle United have met with the player’s agent and are also interested in a deal.

This comes as Premier League bound Burnley are interested in signing Joe Gomez. Liverpool are said to be open to offers for the defender, and this has alerted the Clarets as well as teams such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, Leeds and Sunderland, who are all keeping a close eye on his situation. Gomez is valued at around £25 million by the Premier League champions.

Liverpool join PSG in transfer Zabarnyi race

The Reds’ decision to allow Gomez to leave may be because, according to TBR Football, Liverpool are interested in signing defender Illia Zabarnyi from AFC Bournemouth.

The Cherries have already lost Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid this summer, and Kerkez looks set to move to Anfield, but the departures may not stop there. Zabarnyi was another impressive individual for Bournemouth last season, and while the Cherries don’t want to lose him, that might be easier said than done.

L’Equipe have already reported that Zabarnyi has become a defensive priority for PSG, as Luis Enrique has been left impressed by his defensive capabilities. The French champions have made contact with Bournemouth over a move, as they want the defender in before the Club World Cup.

However, they are not alone, as now Liverpool and Chelsea have also joined the race to sign the defender, who will not be allowed to leave Bournemouth for anything less than €50 million, which is roughly £42 million.

Appearances

36

Clean sheets

8

Interceptions per game

1.1

Tackles per game

1.4

Balls recovered per game

4.4

Clearances per game

5.0

Errors leading to a goal

0

Liverpool are huge admirers of Zabarnyi, who has been dubbed “excellent” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and they are keeping an eye on his situation. The Reds’ move for Zabarnyi may depend on what happens to Gomez, but either way they will have a smooth route to negotiations, as the 47-cap Ukraine star uses the same agency as midfielder Curtis Jones.