All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United won the Championship title with a whopping 100-point haul in the 2024/25 campaign to earn promotion back up to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke will now be aiming to guide the team clear of relegation, knowing that the last six teams promoted from the second tier have all been relegated at the first time of asking.

The Whites scored 95 goals in their 46 matches in the Championship, and they did so without a natural number ten type magician in the squad, as they had in the past with Pablo Hernandez, and as Farke had in the past with Emiliano Buendia.

Instead, old-school wingers like Manor Solomon and Dan James provided quality in the final third, whilst Brenden Aaronson was the main number ten and ended the season with just two assists in 43 league starts.

Bristol City (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

Bristol City (H)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the USA international did not deliver a single goal contribution in his ten appearances against the other teams in the top six, as he struggled badly against the better teams in the division.

Why Leeds needs to sign their next Pablo Hernandez

Aaronson’s lacklustre form in front of goal, despite being a regular starter in a dominant team, suggests that he will not be good enough to make the step up to the Premier League next season.

That thought is, of course, backed up by the fact that he only managed one goal in 36 games in the top-flight during his first year in England in the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that he has already failed to make the step up to that level.

Therefore, Leeds need to acquire a new number ten option to score and create goals in the Premier League, and they should target a traditional playmaker in the Pablo Hernandez mould to improve their options in the middle of the park.

The Spaniard delivered 36 goals and 41 assists in 175 appearances for the West Yorkshire outfit in all competitions, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on a regular basis whilst playing on the wing or as an attacking midfielder.

Hernandez was a joy to watch during his time at Elland Road, as shown by some of the fantastic goals in the clips above, and Leeds do not have a similar kind of player in their current squad.

That is why the Whites should make signing their next version of the Spanish maestro a priority between now and the end of the summer transfer window ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Leeds have interest in Championship playmaker

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are ‘believed’ to have a genuine interest in Sheffield United attacking midfielder Gustavo Hamer this summer.

The report claims that the Championship champions are one of the teams eyeing up the Dutch playmaker, although it reveals that he has fallen down the shortlist and is not the number one priority at this moment in time.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the Whites were interested in a deal to sign the Blades star in the summer transfer window in 2024, and that they had an offer of £13m turned down by their rivals.

Given that he is not at the top of their wishlist for number tens, it remains to be seen if Leeds will snap the 28-year-old star up before the window slams shut at the start of September.

He is reportedly valued at a fee of around £18m by Sheffield United, but this latest report by the Yorkshire Evening Post does not reveal if they would be willing to pay that much for the midfielder.

Why Leeds should sign Gustavo Hamer

The Whites should press ahead with a swoop for the Championship star, despite him not being one of their top targets in that position, because he could be their next Pablo Hernandez.

Like the Spaniard, Hamer is a diminutive playmaker who can play out wide or in the middle as a number ten, having played off the left 33 times for Sheffield United this season.

The Dutch star, who was hailed as “outstanding” by former boss Chris Wilder, has showcased his quality in the Premier League and in the Championship with the Blades in the last two campaigns.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the former Coventry City magician scored nine goals, created 11 ‘big chances’, and delivered seven assists in the Championship, which shows that he provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Hamer’s performances for Sheffield United in the Premier League in the previous season, despite their relegation from the division, suggest that the potential is there for him to be a great addition for the Whites.

Goals

4

Top 16%

xG

2.98

Top 24%

xA

4.55

Top 12%

Assists

6

Top 10%

Chances created

70

Top 3%

Crosses completed

33

Top 5%

Dribbles completed

28

Top 13%

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman ranked highly among his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a midfield position, as he was directly involved in ten goals in the top-flight.

This shows that he does have the ability to make an impact in front of goal in the Premier League. Whereas, as aforementioned, Aaronson flopped in his last season at that level.

Therefore, Hamer could arrive at Elland Road this summer as a long-term successor to Pablo Hernandez in West Yorkshire, as he is a natural playmaker who has shown that he can make a difference in the final third with goals and assists at an impressive rate.

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

The 49ers mean business this summer…

1 ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

It is now down to the club to decide who their number one target is for the number ten position, but these statistics suggest that the Blades star would be an excellent choice.

Chelsea have certainly ruffled the feathers of England’s top clubs over recent seasons, with their outlandish spending and recruitment capturing the headlines.

Huge money being spent in the modern game is no surprise, but very few have matched the Blues’ levels of around £1.3b in the last three years alone, which would surely raise questions about their PSR standing, right?

Well, actually no, as Enzo Maresca’s side currently sit in the best position out of any side in the Premier League at present, sitting £300m in the green, after sales of their women’s team and other assets in and around Stamford Bridge.

There’s no denying the loopholes surrounding the current regulations are there for all to see, but no team has quite taken advantage quite like the Blues – enabling them to continue their heavy spending this summer.

With three deals completed since the window opened less than 10 days ago, that would make a solid summer market for many teams in the division – but not Chelsea – with plenty more names still in the mix for a move to the Bridge this summer.

Chelsea’s pursuit to make more signings this summer

After a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League, many sides would be content with limited business, but not Maresca’s men, leading to various areas of the pitch subject to investment this summer.

Hugo Ekitiké has been a name mentioned within the attacking department, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Fermin Lopez targeted and reinforcements in the middle of the park.

However, the backline hasn’t been forgotten about, with centre-back Ousmane Diomande once again on their radar after previous interest this summer, according to O Jogo via CaughtOffside.

The report claimed that the 21-year-old is seen as an immediate and long-term acquisition at the heart of the backline, but face tough competition from Arsenal for his signature.

It also states that the Sporting CP youngster also has a €80m (£67m) release clause in his deal, but doesn’t mention if they would be open to negotiating a deal for a cheaper price.

Why Diomande would be a better signing than Guehi for Chelsea

Marc Guehi is a centre-back who has been a leading option in the Premier League, leading to multiple England call-ups, even featuring in the Euros final back in 2024.

The 24-year-old has also enjoyed a season to remember for Crystal Palace, leading the Eagles to their first major trophy in their history, beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley – securing Europa League football for 2025/26.

He could’ve been plying his trade at Stamford Bridge to this day, but they prematurely offloaded him to the Eagles back in 2021 for a fee in the region of £18m.

However, the Blues have been firmly in the race to land him this summer, leading to continuous rumours over the England international’s future, especially considering he’s set to enter his final 12 months of his current deal.

Despite the interest in the Cobham academy graduate, they should look to steer clear of a reunion and prioritise a move for Diomande, who’s been labelled a “hybrid” of Arsenal centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba by analyst Ben Mattinson.

The pair have often been the leading pair in England’s top flight over recent seasons, helping the Gunners concede just 34 times in 38 matches – the lowest in the division – highlighting how big of a compliment Diomande has received from Mattinson.

When comparing his stats to those of Guehi, he’s outperformed him in key areas, including passes completed and progressive passes made – handing Maresca an added ball-playing option from the back.

Games played

31

34

Pass accuracy

94%

83%

% of tackles won

79%

66%

Interceptions made

1.2

0.8

Recoveries made

5.1

4.2

Aerials won

67%

54%

Progressive passes

3.9

2.9

He’s also managed to dominate defensively, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst making more interceptions – potentially bolstering the defensive department and replicating the success of local rivals Arsenal in such a department.

Whilst a reunion with the Englishman would be a dream for numerous supporters, the club desperately need to look past Guehi in favour of a move for Diomande.

The Ivorian is a younger prospect with a much higher ceiling, potentially blossoming into one of Europe’s leading stars over the next couple of years should he make the jump to West London.

Better than Sarr: Chelsea in contact for "one of the best young talents"

Chelsea are looking to improve their defence this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 10, 2025

Aiming to make an instant statement, the 49ers have reportedly entered the race to sign an England international who Russell Martin is a fan of in a deal that could be worth £25m for Rangers this summer.

Russell Martin: Rangers need "new energy"

Beating out the likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti, Martin quickly became Rangers’ top candidate before they decided to offer the former Southampton boss the job and end their managerial search. His first job since Premier League failure at St Mary’s, Martin will be desperate to see his time in Scotland go to plan and end in the ultimate success story.

Martin picks out "very interesting" 13-goal striker as key target for Rangers

He could be ideal for the Scottish Premiership giants.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 9, 2025

The new manager is well aware of the extent of the task at hand too, having told reporters after putting pen to paper to confirm his arrival: “The club needs new energy, it needs a fresh start. It’s been a tough time for the club and Rangers fans over the last however many years.”I think this will bring some fresh energy, it will bring some stability and it will hopefully bring a really exciting team on the pitch.

“That’s the end product and that’s what we all want, a team that wins and wins in a certain way and with a culture and environment that we all feel really aligned with and proud of.”

With new owners to match a new manager, Rangers have a huge summer ahead. The task at hand will be to bridge the gap on Scottish Premiership champions and Old Firm rivals Celtic, but whether that will happen in the space of a year is the big question.

To do that, the 49ers are reportedly aiming to back the Gers in the transfer window with some much-needed additions, which could yet include the likes of Conor Coady and one other Premier League ace that Martin knows well.

Rangers now battling to sign Ramsdale

According to Sports Boom, the 49ers have now entered the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale for Rangers this summer. Martin is reportedly a fan of the shot-stopper following their work together at Southampton and could now get the chance to reunite with the England international if those at Ibrox make their move.

The deal won’t come cheap, however. Ramsdale reportedly has a relegation release clause worth £25m this summer and has attracted interest from the likes of West Ham United as a result. Whether Martin’s admiration will make the difference for Rangers remains to be seen.

The former Southampton boss was never shy with his praise for the goalkeeper during his time at St Mary’s, telling reporters following a rare victory against Everton: “For me, he’s a complete goalkeeper that we’re really lucky to have and we have to enjoy it.

“He has such high standards and I’m pleased for him. He keeps a clean sheet and I think he has an appreciation of what we’re trying to be. He’s just desperate to help us and he has done.”

Following Jack Butland’s difficult campaign too, Ramsdale’s arrival would undoubtedly hand Rangers a major upgrade in the goalkeeping department ahead of a crucial season.

Celtic have designs on breaking the glass ceiling in the Champions League next term and could now launch a move for a powerful enforcer to help their bid, according to a report.

Celtic's summer window and where they need to strengthen

The Bhoys are currently taking stock before deciding where to prioritise in the market safe in the knowledge that Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan will arrive on free transfers from Arsenal and Aberdeen, respectively.

While the homecoming of the former will be widely celebrated by supporters, Chris Sutton believes time is ticking for Celtic and indicated three bodies are needed to supplement the reigning Scottish champions’ squad between now and the Champions League qualifiers.

He explained: “In an ideal world you’d have two or three new faces reporting for the first day of pre-season, giving them time to bed in ahead of the new campaign and the crucial Champions League qualifiers.

“The transfer market doesn’t always work that way but they will need to move quickly to bring in at the very least three new players.”

Adding another attacking option appears to be their main priority at the moment, and the notion of a sensational Celtic reunion with Kyogo Furuhashi is alive as he is set to be left out of Rennes’ pre-season plans by Habib Beye.

Celtic braced for lowball £8.5m bid as Spurs could hijack forward deal

The Bhoys are fielding interest for star players…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 7, 2025

Peterborough United’s Harley Mills has been approached by the Bhoys and could add some support behind Tierney at left-back, though the two positions mentioned aren’t the only areas Rodgers may look to bolster during the window.

Taking things up a notch, Celtic have now made contact to sign a midfielder who could add some bite in the engine room if recent developments were to escalate.

Celtic make contact to sign Demir Tiknaz

Per A Bola, Celtic have initiated contact over a potential deal for Turkish defensive midfielder Demir Tiknaz, who spent the campaign gone on loan at Rio Ave from parent club Besiktas.

Intriguingly, the Primeira Liga side are expected to trigger a release clause option to sign the Istanbul-born man for £4.2 million. Then, they will aim to double their money with a quickfire sale at around the £8.4 million mark.

Demir Tiknaz at Rio Ave in 2024/25 – why do Celtic want to sign him? (Fotmob)

Tackles won

37

Pass completion

85.9%

Duels won

121

Chances created

16

Aerial duels won

25

Standing at 6 foot 4 he is currently on duty with the Turkish national team and would add some much-needed steel into an engine room made up primarily of technicians.

Callum McGregor isn’t getting any younger and the lack of a deeper like-for-like alternative to the Bhoys’ club captain could now be resolved if negotiations were to accelerate.

Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille are also keen on Tiknaz and will provide stiff competition for his signature, though the carrot of Champions League football at Celtic is something worth dangling for intended targets.

Crystal Palace have now opened talks to sign a Champions League player on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Eagles have lofty ambitions after FA Cup triumph

Oliver Glasner is expected to remain at Selhurst Park beyond the end of the campaign, despite no doubt catching the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs by leading Palace to FA Cup glory, and Steve Parish has now insisted the board must match their manager’s ambition.

The Palace chairman said: “He (Glasner) will stay here, for some period of time,”

“Of course we want him to stay but things happen in football, clubs evolve and move on and I’d love him to stay but the club has to develop and show the ambition in terms of the things we have to do to move it forward for people to feel part of something. If that all aligns maybe it will.”

With the summer transfer window now fast approaching, the Eagles have started to identify some ambitious transfer targets too, with Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee Kang-In and Lyon star Rayan Cherki entering the frame in recent days.

There has now been a new update on a defender Crystal Palace are keen on in a report from The Sun, which states they have now opened talks over a deal for Atletico Madrid’s Reinildo Mandava, who is set to leave the Spanish club for free this summer.

Mandava’s contract is set to expire this summer, and he is attracting a lot of attention from the Premier League, with Everton and Fulham also being named as potential suitors, although they are seemingly yet to make any formal moves.

Crystal Palace now keen to sign £20m maestro; could join in Guehi swap deal

Palace have set their sights on a midfielder, who could join as part of a swap deal for Marc Guehi.

ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025

It appears as though the Eagles are more advanced than their Premier League rivals in their pursuit of the Atletico ace, having already entered discussions to sign the 31-year-old, with Glasner keen to wrap up a lot of his transfer business early this summer.

"True gladiator" Mandava could be shrewd signing

The report states the Atletico defender is being targeted to provide competition for Tyrick Mitchell at left-back, and there are certainly indications he would be able to do exactly that, given his experience at the top level.

The left-back has made 25 appearances in the Champions League, while also featuring regularly for Atletico in La Liga over the past four seasons, indicating he could be a solid back-up option for Mitchell at the very least.

Average per 90

Tyrick Mitchell

Reinildo Mandava

Assists

0.15

0

Tackles

2.65

2.13

Blocks

1.98

0.96

Clearances

3.14

2.82

Lauded as a “true gladiator” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Mandava is an experienced defender, who could provide depth heading into a congested 2024-25 campaign, given qualification for the Europa League, but Mitchell has proven himself as more of a well-rounded full-back over the past year.

Nottingham Forest are “ready” to make their move for an England international in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer claim.

Damaging draw for Nottingham Forest as Marinakis takes centre stage

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side suffered a poor afternoon at the office on Sunday, drawing 2-2 at home to already-relegated Leicester City in the Premier League, affecting their Champions League qualification hopes badly.

Amid the disappointment, Forest continue to be linked with potential additions in the summer window, but the quality of their signings is likely to be affected by which European competition they qualify for next season, something owner Evangelos Marinakis is all too aware of.

Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah has been linked with a move to the City Ground at the end of the season, with the 22-year-old struggling for regular playing time this season, and unlikely to oust Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate any time soon. He could be an exciting young option with a bright future in the game.

Forest are also believed to be considering a move for Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee, with the Englishman in a similar situation to Quansah, in terms of not being a key starter for one of the biggest teams in the country.

Nottingham Forest "ready" to sign Loftus-Cheek

According to MilanLive [via Sport Witness], Nottingham Forest are “ready” to move for AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer, and could pay just £17m for his services.

The 29-year-old could leave the Serie A giants at the end of the season, following an injury-plagued campaign, though Fulham and West Ham are also mentioned as possible destinations. Meanwhile, Roma’s “excellent” relationship with Milan could give them the edge in the race to snap him up.

Loftus-Cheek could be an interesting option for Forest this summer, with the former Chelsea man a 10-cap England international who appeared for the Three Lions at the 2018 World Cup, playing four times. He is one of the best dribblers in his position in Europe, ranking in the 92nd percentile for progressive carries by central midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues.

The midfielder has now racked up 66 appearances in a Milan shirt, scoring 10 goals – it would be more if it weren’t for injury problems – and Owen Hargreaves has spoken of his admiration for him.

Nottingham Forest pursuing £29.7 million ace who may be available in summer

The Tricky Trees could land an exciting target.

BySean Markus Clifford May 10, 2025

Loftus-Cheek only has two years remaining on his current Milan deal, so they seem happy to cash in this summer, and he would be a shrewd addition for Forest, adding experience and physicality in the middle of the park, and not at an extortionate price.

Manchester United’s Premier League campaign is all but over as they cannot be relegated, and they cannot push on to finish in any of the European positions.

The Red Devils, who were beaten 4-3 by Brentford on Sunday, are now 15th in the table and only have the Europa League to play for before the end of the season.

It has not been good enough for Ruben Amorim’s side on the domestic front, which could lead to some business in the summer transfer window to improve the squad.

In fact, United have already been linked with potential targets to bolster the team, including one player who currently plays in the Championship.

Man Utd target Championship star for summer move

According to The Boot Room, Manchester United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Sunderland central midfielder Jobe Bellingham ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that both the Red Devils and fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace are both eager to sign the England U21 talent in the summer window.

Transfer Focus

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

It also reveals that Borussia Dortmund are eyeing up the English midfield star and that Sunderland have set a valuation of £20m for the promising youngster.

Manchester United should now push to win the race for his signature in the summer window because he is an exciting prospect who has shades of Paul Pogba.

Jobe Bellingham has shades of Paul Pogba

The 19-year-old starlet is yet to prove himself in the Premier League, having only played in the Championship for the Black Cats so far, but he has already shown plenty of promising signs.

Analyst Ben Mattinson once stated that Jobe “carries the ball with such elegance” and that the teenage gem is a “top athlete” and “box-crasher”. Remind you of anyone?

Ryan Giggs once said that Paul Pogba was physically “immense” and that the France international had “everything” in his locker to succeed, as the midfield maestro offered a physical presence to go along with his technical qualities.

Jobe, who stands at 6 foot 2, has shades of the former United star about him as he mixes physical and technical attributes to offer an all-round presence in the middle of the park.

Appearances

40

xG

3.14

Goals

4

Big chances created

4

Assists

3

Duels won per game

5.9

Duel success rate

52%

As you can see in the table above, the £20m-rated dynamo has provided a threat at the top end of the pitch whilst also winning almost six duels per game, and winning the majority of his physical battles, despite being just 19.

The Sunderland star, who was described as a “freak of nature” by teammate Dan Neil due to his physicality, has already shown that he can compete physically against senior professionals, which suggests that he could deal with the step up in intensity that comes with a move to the Premier League.

Like Pogba, Jobe could offer physicality, goals, assists, and drive in midfield for Manchester United and Amorim, whilst also having plenty of time left to develop and improve as a player at the age of 19.

He's more prolific than Cunha & Mbeumo: Man Utd in talks for £60m "monster"

Manchester United are in regular contact over a deal to sign a £60m star who has outscored Mbeumo and Cunha.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Whilst he may not be an instant success at Old Trafford, due to his age and room to grow, the English youth prospect could be a future star in Manchester due to the technical and physical qualities that he possesses.

Liverpool fans are loving life after being crowned Premier League champions and could now be set for another reason to get excited after landing a boost ahead of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool enjoying life at the top of the tree

Truthfully, it is hard for Liverpool fans to have too many gripes at the minute after their side were crowned champions last weekend, trouncing Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Arne Slot and company took it all after enjoying the occasion at Anfield, but they will already have one eye on the summer in order to stay one step ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have both committed their future to the Dutchman’s project. However, the same can’t be said for Real Madrid-linked star Trent Alexander-Arnold. Intriguingly, Liverpool are keeping informed on Barcelona defender Jules Kounde as a potential replacement, which may paint a picture regarding whether their top academy product will stay or leave the club.

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda is also on the radar at Anfield. The Japan international is attracting further interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa in light of his excellent form north of the border.

Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"

Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 1, 2025

FSG have their work cut out in the coming window to ensure that Liverpool stay top of the pile, with the suspicion that a tighter title race will be in store circa 2025/26 once managers have had a chance to rectify squad flaws.

Of course, the Reds’ priority will be padding out each position with enough depth to handle the strain of both domestic and European competitions, and they have now received a boost in the hunt for a classy midfield operator.

Liverpool look to strike deal for Genoa star Morten Frendrup

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are in the hunt to sign Genoa’s Morten Frendrup and have been informed that the Serie A outfit plan to sell the midfielder for around £26 million this summer. Reds officials have turned out to watch the Denmark international several times this season and they have been mightily impressed by his performances, especially from a defensive standpoint.

Morten Frendrup’s Serie A statistics – 2024/25

Successful passes

963

Shots on target

9

Chances created

12

Tackles won

59

Duels won

168

Goals

2

Assists

0

Frendrup himself is ready for a new challenge and has formed part of Liverpool’s mission to find a defensive midfielder for over a year. Nevertheless, they aren’t alone in pursuit of the 24-year-old amid further interest from Italian top-flight clubs Atalanta, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Fiorentina.

Ryan Gravenberch has excelled despite not being a natural number six, something which may have prompted Slot to have a look for alterations on the market.

Strength in numbers will be key if Liverpool have designs on retaining a well-earned title next term, so it won’t come as a surprise to see that they are already proactive in their efforts to land reinforcements.

Celtic clinched their 55th top-flight title when they won the Scottish Premiership with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice Park on Saturday.

An own goal from Ryan Strain put the Hoops ahead before Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah both netted braces to secure a comprehensive victory for the away side, and one that wrapped up the title.

One player who was not involved in the matchday squad for the crowning moment, however, was Maik Nawrocki, who has fallen out of favour despite a couple of impressive outings recently.

Why Maik Nawrocki's time at Celtic might be over

The Polish defender, signed from Legia Warsaw, has only played two games in the Premiership this season, despite being available for every match, and they both came in March in back-to-back games against Rangers and Hearts.

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

Error led to shot/goal

0

0

The rarely-seen star stepped up in those matches, as shown in the table above, with dominant defensive displays, whilst also being reliable in possession.

However, he was then an unused substitute in the next two games and was not named on the bench against Dundee United, with Liam Scales preferred as a starter and Auston Trusty preferred on the bench.

Nawrocki has only played 12 Premiership matches in almost two seasons at Parkhead and that may be why his time at the club could be over heading into the summer window, as the defender may want to go and play regular football.

Chalkboard

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

The 24-year-old ace may not be the only centre-back to move on from Parkhead this year, though, as Celtic must ruthlessly bin Stephen Welsh as well.

Why Celtic should sell Stephen Welsh

Once dubbed “excellent” by Brendan Rodgers, the 25-year-old flop was sent out on loan to Mechelen in Belgium during the January transfer window but he’s done very little to suggest he deserves a future at Parkhead, something the player clearly wants.

Welsh has started 11 matches in the Pro League during the second half of the campaign, and his team are yet to keep a single clean sheet – conceding 25 goals in the process.

Those statistics do not suggest that the Scottish dud is likely to return to Parkhead to challenge for a starting berth next season, given how poor his current team’s defence has been with him in the side as a starter.

His disappointing form is reflected in his current market value of £700k, as per Transfermarkt, which is even lower than Nawrocki’s valuation of £1.7m, despite him having only played two league games this season.

Welsh’s current contract at Celtic does not expire until the summer of 2027. However, the decision to send him out on loan, coupled with his market valuation and his dismal defensive numbers with Mechelen, suggests that he does not have much of a future at Parkhead.

Therefore, the club must ruthlessly bin the central defender by cashing in on him in the upcoming summer transfer window, and Nawrocki may follow him out of the door if he wants to play regularly next term.

Celtic can bin Idah by signing "absolutely sensational" £10m star

Brendan Rodgers could land an instant upgrade on Adam Idah by signing this star for Celtic.

ByDan Emery Apr 28, 2025

The next seven matches of Ipswich Town’s voyage this season in the Premier League rest on attempting to restore some pride, with survival looking a very distant possibility at this moment in time.

12 points is now the sizeable gap between Wolverhampton Wanderers sat in 17th spot and the Tractor Boys stuck in that last relegation spot in the division in 18th, meaning upcoming games against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle United this April are somewhat free hits.

If the Suffolk underdogs stand any chance at picking up a shock result at Stamford Bridge later today, they will need Liam Delap to be firing on all cylinders, with the ex-Manchester City man also eager to keep up his rich vein of goalscoring form before a likely summer departure.

Delap's goalscoring heroics this season

Even as Ipswich sink closer and closer to the relegation drop, Delap continues to be a blistering goal machine.

Indeed, Delap would initially gift his side the lead against Wolves before Vitor Pereira’s men mounted a comeback, with the 22-year-old also on the scoresheet the match before when Kieran McKenna’s side surprised AFC Bournemouth on their own patch.

These two strikes in quick succession have bumped up the clinical number 19’s goal count in the Premier League to a high 12, with one of those goals even coming about in the reverse fixture when Delap and Co unsettled Enzo Maresca’s visitors in a 2-1 victory.

Even if Delap is at his free-flowing best, Ipswich will know a staunch defensive effort will still be necessary to secure a surprise result in West London, with this defender – who has now become as undroppable as the £30m striker – also needing to be at his imposing peak.

The Ipswich "warrior" now as undroppable as Delap

It has been a deeply frustrating campaign at Portman Road, with terrific attacking displays often let down by porous defensive offerings, seen in Ipswich conceding a steep 65 goals across their 31 games to date.

But, there have been some standout performers at the back regardless of error-strewn performances regularly seeping into their game defensively, with Dara O’Shea one figure that’s managed to cement himself as a first-team regular.

Minutes played

90

90

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

1

Touches

54

71

Accurate passes

17/28 (61%)

41/51 (80%)

Clearances

14

10

Blocked shots

5

2

Interceptions

1

1

Tackles

1

1

Total duels won

5/6

7/12

Looking at the table above, O’Shea has managed to show off his well-rounded game as a defender versus Andoni Iraola’s Cherries and the Old Gold, with the Irishman putting in a far more back-to-basics display on the South Coast when tallying up 14 clearances in the slim away win.

Only losing out on one of his duels from six attempted too, the ex-West Bromwich Albion colossus definitely lived up to his previous “warrior” billing from one of his former managers in Valerien Ismael.

But, he also showed off his composed game against Pereira’s side when assisting the only goal of the afternoon, with his concrete presence in McKenna’s starting XI only growing stronger off the back of these standout showings, even as relegation looms large.

Not missing a single minute of Premier League action that has been available to him this year, the 6 foot 1 powerhouse also has bags of Championship experience under his belt with 70 career games at the level managed, meaning his minutes won’t deplete whatsoever when second-tier football likely returns to Portman Road.

Before that eventuality beckons, however, Ipswich will want to add as many points to their low top-flight tally as they can, starting potentially with a bolt from the blue result at Stamford Bridge.

Move advanced: Ipswich player who McKenna loves close to Portman Road exit

A transfer is thought to be at an advanced stage.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 8, 2025