Celtic ran out in front of their own supporters at Parkhead for the first time since they won the Scottish Premiership title when they faced Hibernian on Saturday.

The Hoops clinched the league title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United away from home at the end of last month, before they travelled across Glasgow to play out a 1-1 draw with their rivals last weekend.

It did, however, look as though Hibs were going to spoil the party when they took the lead at Celtic Park thanks to an opening goal from Martin Boyle in the 25th minute.

The Premiership champions, though, bounced back and led before the break after goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah turned the game around, before Reo Hatate added a third in the second 45.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, who has suffered with hamstring injuries this season, was given the weekend off by Brendan Rodgers, in order to manage his minutes in the final few weeks of the season.

That opened up a position at the heart of the defence and the Northern Irish head coach opted to go with Auston Trusty next to Liam Scales.

Scales and Trusty's performances for Celtic this season

The Hoops reportedly paid a fee of £5m to sign Trusty from English side Sheffield United in the summer transfer window last year to bolster their left-sided centre-back options.

The USA international and Scales have competed for the starting berth next to Carter-Vickers at centre-back, but they have also had to play alongside each other at times when the former Spurs man has been unavailable, like on Saturday.

Although Celtic won the match comfortably in the end, Trusty, who lost 100% of his ground duels, had a moment to forget when his poor attempted clearance dropped straight to Boyle to find the back of the net.

Unfortunately, errors have been too common for the former Arsenal defender in the Premiership this season since his £5m move to Parkhead, particularly in comparison to Scales and Carter-Vickers.

Appearances

29

25

21

Error led to shot

1

1

4

Error led to goal

0

0

1

Penalties committed

0

1

0

Dribbled past

3x

5x

11x

As you can see in the table above, Trusty has made more errors that have led to shots, more errors that have led to goals, and been dribbled past more times, despite playing fewer matches than the other two centre-backs.

This also shows that Scales, who was unlucky to give a penalty away at Ross County, has been more reliable than the American dud in the Premiership.

This is despite the former Aberdeen loanee being worth just £3m, as per Transfermarkt, which is £2m less than the fee the club paid Sheffield United for the other left-footed defender.

The Ireland international has not made as many errors as the former Premier League flop and that may be why Rodgers has preferred him over Trusty alongside Carter-Vickers in recent weeks.

However, the Celtic boss did still opt to select Trusty on the right side of the defence over Maik Nawrocki, a naturally right-footed player, and the Hoops must ruthlessly ditch the Polish centre-back this summer as a result of his lack of minutes on the pitch this season.

Why Celtic should cash in on Maik Nawrocki

The 24-year-old defender, whose Transfermarkt value is just £1.7m, was an unused substitute once again against Hibernian, as he failed to add to his paltry two appearances in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign.

When questioned about Nawrocki’s lack of game time in March, Rodgers explained that it was because he prefers to have left-footed players on the left. He said: “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty, because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.”

However, Carter-Vickers was unavailable against Hibernian and the manager still opted for Trusty on the right side, despite him being a naturally left-footed player who has the same problems that Nawrocki has playing out on his weaker side.

Chalkboard

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

This suggests that the former Legia Warsaw star’s lack of game time goes beyond Rodgers’ concerns about which side of the centre-back pairing he plays, as he was unwilling to give him minutes against Hibernian with no other right-footed centre-backs available and the title already wrapped up.

The most frustrating part of this for Nawrocki, however, may be that this has come after his impressive performances in the Premiership in his two outings in March.

All the way back in January of last year, Nawrocki told reporters that he was prepared for his moment to shine in a Celtic shirt, and that moment eventually came in March of this year when Trusty and Scales were injured and he was named in the XI 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

As you can see in the table above, the Polish star took his chances to impress with dominant and reliable defensive displays in those two matches, which led to pundit Chris Sutton hailing him as “fantastic”.

However, Nawrocki has been an unused substitute for four matches, missed out on the matchday squad twice, and not played a single minute of football since the win and clean sheet against Hearts.

As aforementioned, his Transfermarkt value now stands at just £1.7m. This means that he is worth less than Scales (£3m) and Trusty (bought for £5m), whilst also being the least used centre-back option, with just two league outings.

Therefore, Celtic must brutally axe the 24-year-old outcast from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window because he is a depreciating asset who is not getting enough minutes on the pitch.

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Rodgers has shown that he is not ready to trust Nawrocki ahead of Scales or Trusty and it is now down to the board to find a team that is willing to snap him up so they can recoup some money for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Manchester United’s forward line has been massively underwhelming throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly Premier League standing.

The Red Devils have only registered 42 goals in their 37 league outings to date, an average of just 1.1 per 90, highlighting the need for investment in such a department over the summer.

Ruben Amorim will want to make key changes to his squad during the off-season to try and right the wrongs of the current campaign and be a success at Old Trafford.

With the summer window right around the corner, work has already been done by the hierarchy to back the manager and hand him the tools he requires to change the fortunes at the club.

However, it’s crucial that the manager makes the right additions to the squad, with quality over quantity needed if they are to return to their former glory in the near future.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Viktor Gyokeres has been a constant target for United over the last couple of months after Amorim’s arrival, understandably so given their time together at Sporting CP.

The Swede has registered 53 goals in 51 games throughout the current campaign, leading to rumours of a £60m switch to Old Trafford, with Arsenal also in the race for his signature.

However, the club have targeted alternatives over the last couple of weeks, leading to further links with Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, according to journalist Laurie Whitwell.

His report states that the Red Devils are set to hold face-to-face talks with the striker over a move to the club after his impressive debut Premier League campaign, which has seen him net 12 times in 36 outings.

It also claims that Amorim’s side are leading the race for his signature and are willing to trigger the £30m release clause that has become active after the Tractor Boys’ relegation was confirmed.

Why United’s £30m target could be their next Rooney

Wayne Rooney will forever be a club icon at United, given their success he endured at the club over a sustained spell, breaking a whole host of impressive records.

The Englishman joined the Red Devils in a £30m deal from Everton back in 2004, with little to no fans expecting the forward to have the impact he did at Old Trafford.

He registered a staggering 253 goals in his 559 appearances, the most of any player in the club’s history, highlighting the impact he made during his spell in the North West.

Rooney also won 12 major honours during his spell at the club, including five league triumphs, something which now appears to be a distant memory given the recent slump at the Theatre of Dreams.

However, this summer, Amorim could land his own version of Rooney in a deal for Delap, following suit by joining for £30m from a smaller Premier League outfit.

The comparisons could also be made with their respective playstyles, with the Ipswich star having similar ball-striking abilities and a battering ram-like presence in forward areas.

His stats from this campaign are evidence of how much of an impressive addition he would be for the Red Devils, offering a cheaper alternative to a deal for Gyokeres.

Most goals scored by U23 STs in Europe’s top-five leagues (2024/25)

Player

Club

Games

Goals

Arnaud Kalimuendo

Stade Rennais

33

17

Hugo Ekitiké

Eintracht Frankfurt

33

15

Emanuel Emegha

Strasbourg

27

14

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

33

13

Mika Biereth

Monaco

16

13

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

36

12

Thierno Barry

Villarreal

34

11

Joao Pedro

Brighton

27

10

Stats via Transfermarkt

Delap, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed 1.4 take-ons per 90, along with 1.6 carries into the final third – offering the side a needed all-round presence in attacking areas.

He’s also won 1.9 aerials per 90, along with a 45% shot-on-target accuracy, handing the side the added aerial and clinical threat they’ve been lacking throughout 2024/25.

His £30m clause could prove to be a potential bargain should Amorim sign him this summer, offering a cheaper but just as impressive option in attacking areas.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Rooney at Old Trafford, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could push the side back towards their former glory.

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Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing an “amazing” defender, who is likely to be tempted by a move away from his current club in the summer, according to Graeme Bailey.

Tottenham eyeing defender amid Romero uncertainty

Tottenham have fallen way short of expectations in the Premier League this season, with Ange Postecoglou’s side on course for a 17th-place finish, so it is little wonder that one of their key players has little interest in sticking around beyond the summer.

Back in April, it was revealed that Cristian Romero is now pushing to leave Spurs, with Daniel Levy cancelling talks over a new contract, which means the chairman could be tasked with bringing in a replacement at the end of the season.

AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is among the more ambitious targets, with the Lilywhites recently being linked with a £50m swoop for the Spaniard, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, while they remain keen on signing Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi after making a £70m bid in January.

Huijsen and Guehi have established themselves among the Premier League’s best defenders with their performances this season, but there have also been suggestions that Spurs could make a move for more of an unproven quantity.

According to Bailey, in a report for EFL Analysis, Tottenham are now keen on signing Sutton United defender Jack Taylor, having conducted checks on the 20-year-old this season, alongside a whole host of other clubs.

Teams from across the EFL pyramid are interested in signing Taylor, including Bristol City, Millwall and Portsmouth, with West Ham United and Brentford likely to be the main rival suitors from within the Premier League.

The centre-back is set to enter the final year of his contract, and he is expected to be tempted by a move elsewhere this summer, despite Sutton’s eagerness to tie him down to a new deal.

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"Amazing" Taylor impressing at Sutton

Given that the defender played in the fifth tier in the 2024-25 campaign, he is unlikely to be capable of making the step-up to the Premier League in the near future, but there are some signs he could be a solid long-term addition to the squad.

Sutton manager Steve Morison expressed his disappointment when the youngster suffered a season-ending injury back in March, saying: “That’s probably his season done. We’re at the backend of the season now so anything over a couple of weeks; you’re not going to get them back, but he’s pulled his groin and it’s gutting because he’s been amazing.”

That said, Tottenham should also look to bring in a ready-made replacement for Romero alongside Taylor, given his inexperience, and there are a number of potential options on the shortlist.

Player	Current club	Potential cost
Dean Huijsen	AFC Bournemouth	£50m
Marc Guehi	Crystal Palace	£60m
Eric Garcia	Barcelona	£17m
Isak Hien	Atalanta	£26m
Piero Hincapie	Bayer Leverkusen	£60m

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.

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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.

Crystal Palace now have Europa League football to look forward to next season, and already the club are planning for the summer as they eye up a move to sign a “superb” Bundesliga midfielder, according to a recent report.

Wharton’s Crystal Palace future in doubt despite FA Cup win

Adam Wharton has been a standout performer since his arrival in SE25, and his performances have caught the attention of teams at home and abroad. Despite missing a large chunk of this season through a groin injury, Wharton has played 20 times in the Premier League and was a huge part of the Eagles’ FA Cup glory.

Heading into the summer transfer window, he is now very much a wanted man, as teams start to circle with significant interest. Last week, it was reported that Man United boss Ruben Amorim is personally driving the Red Devils’ move to sign Wharton. It’s claimed that United are in the strongest position to sign the Englishman this summer, but they are not the only team chasing the midfielder.

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Newcastle United have also been heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old, while Arsenal are said to have joined the race to sign Wharton, as they plan to close the gap at the top of the table.

Liverpool are also interested in Wharton, and it’s been reported that they are planning to make a £60 million bid to sign the Palace man. However, given the Eagles have qualified for the Europa League, their stance has tightened, and it’s been claimed they wouldn’t consider any bid less than £80 million.

Crystal Palace eyeing move to sign "superb" £15m+ midfielder

And while the hope will of course be to convince the England starlet to stay put, according to Sky Germany, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Nadiem Amiri from Bundesliga side Mainz 05, making plans to buff up their midfield ranks just in case.

Sky Germany report that Amiri’s exit from Mainz is a possibility this summer, as Palace, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing the midfielder, as well as teams in Serie A.

The 28-year-old was asked about his future after Mainz’s final game of the season over the weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, which they drew 2-2, and the German didn’t give much away: “Go on holiday now; then we’ll see.”

Apps

30

Goals

7

Expected goals

5.47

Assists

5

Shots per game

2.1

Key passes per game

2.1

Interceptions per game

0.5

Tackles per game

1.7

Amiri, who has been dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, doesn’t have a release clause in his contract, with this report claiming he could cost between 18 and 20 million euros, which is roughly £15-16 million.

The midfielder, who can operate as a number ten or more defensively, is under contract until 2028, and the fact that Mainz have qualified for Europe next season will toughen their stance, given Amiri has been an important player this season with seven goals and five assists in 30 Bundesliga games.

Chelsea’s eventful summer window so far has produced plenty of different stories emerging from behind-the-scenes, with Enzo Maresca still looking to bolster his squad further and preferably in time for the Club World Cup later this month.

BlueCo have just two more days to register new players before the competition begins, and with £97 million worth of prize money on the line, it is little surprise that Stamford Bridge chiefs want to take it seriously.

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Striker Liam Delap has already been signed from Ipswich for around £30 million, the value of his release clause, and he’s set to snub a spot in Lee Carsley’s England Under-21 squad for the Euros so he can feature at the CWC for Chelsea.

“I am definitely not disappointed,” said Carsley on Delap not leading the line for England.

“I am delighted for Liam and his family. I think it is a brilliant thing for an English centre-forward to play in the Premier League at such a prestigious club like Chelsea. Hopefully he will do really well there and push for the senior team. We will move on, we moved on quite quickly.

“I think we have always known that two or three of the players could move to clubs that were playing in the Club World Cup and we have been preparing for this for a while.”

In terms of who could join Delap in time for the CWC, Chelsea have a number of different plates spinning.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké continues to among Chelsea’s top priorities, while new talks have been held over a move for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato this week (Simon Phillips). Chelsea also have a number of rumoured top targets for the wing, including Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.

AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, remains high on the agenda as well.

Chelsea opened talks with Milan over signing Maignan, and the France international is believed to be equally keen on a move to Stamford Bridge. However, as Milan demand around £25 million to sell their captain, with Chelsea only wanting to pay £10 million (Sky Sports), they are looking to find common ground on his price tag.

Chelsea could force Robert Sanchez out if they sign Mike Maignan

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, if they do seal a deal for the 29-year-old, it could spell trouble for Robert Sanchez in particular.

The mainstay keeper started 32 Premier League matches under Maresca last term, but it is believed Maignan’s potential arrival could push Sanchez out of the Chelsea exit door, alongside fellow shot-stopper Djordje Petrovic.

Chelsea’s extensive backlog of keepers, which still includes £150,000-per-week outcast Kepa Arrizabalaga, needs to be trimmed.

Maignan is a truly “elite” keeper, as described by Liverpool star Alisson, so he’s definitely worth having for a cut-price fee, but it is a given that Chelsea will have to find new homes for half of the shot-stoppers in their squad as well.

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.

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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.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has left Liverpool. In fairness, FSG have done very well indeed here, banking around £10m to allow the right-back to join Real Madrid early, so that he can play under Xabi Alonso in next month’s Club World Cup.

It was tired saga, an indisputable stain on Liverpool’s incredible Premier League triumph. Ah well, it will come out in the wash. Now that the whole ordeal is over, we can turn toward the exciting incomings heading Anfield’s way.

Jeremie Frimpong has completed his medical, and his transfer to Anfield will be announced imminently, while deals for Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez are in the pipeline. Liverpool also want a new number nine.

However, this can’t all happen without a few exits. Let’s take a look at who might be leaving Arne Slot’s Reds this summer.

Who could be leaving Liverpool

Alexander-Arnold wasn’t the only one in tears as Liverpool lifted the Premier League title after their season-closing draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Harvey Elliott cut a poignant figure, for the young playmaker has been limited to a bit-part role this season and looks like he may leave. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are mooted names, with Liverpool demanding £50m.

With Frimpong inbound, Kostas Tsimikas’ five-year stay at the club may be at an end. Andy Robertson, 31, has been on the decline, but he wants to stay and challenge Kerkez for a place, and there won’t be room for three.

Darwin Nunez is perhaps the most nailed-on for a departure. Liverpool want a striker, but can’t move forward without the sale of their club-record man, whose well-documented struggles in England have left him with just seven goals from 47 matches across all competitions this term.

It’s been frustrating to watch the Uruguayan struggle, especially since those early hopes he would emulate his countryman Luis Suarez and become a superstar at Liverpool.

Elsewhere, curious reports of Bayern Munich’s interest in Cody Gakpo have also surfaced this week, but it seems unlikely FSG would allow the left-sided forward, behind only Mohamed Salah in Liverpool’s scoring charts this season, to leave.

Liverpool summer transfer window in 2020

However, Luis Diaz is also being targeted by suitors and may well be set for an exit in the coming months.

FSG expecting bid for key player

According to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are expecting to hear from Saudi officials in the coming weeks, with Al Nassr – who are requesting funding to make an offer – identifying Diaz as their top target.

Jacobs believes Diaz is likely to cost in excess of €85m (£72m) if he’s to leave Anfield this summer, with his potential exit certainly not a formality.

Barcelona also have a long-standing interest in the 28-year-old, with La Blaugrana in particular publicly revealing their admiration for the player as they weigh up a bid.

It’s thought that Diaz is pushing for a new contract at Anfield, earning just £55k per week and entering the penultimate year of his current deal.

Why Diaz could be another Luis Suarez

While it might seem a good idea to take a big offer for Diaz, he’s regarded as a “world-class” player by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and replacing him effectively, with other areas in need of investment, could be tricky.

Indeed, the Colombian has just enjoyed his finest campaign at Liverpool, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions.

Moreover, his underlying technical data is highly impressive. As per FBref, the skilful star ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top-five leagues this term for goals scored, the top 7% for pass completion, the top 19% for successful take-ons and the top

Selling Diaz while at the top of his game could even mimic the one-time sale of Suarez to Barcelona, the football legend joining Camp Nou in a deal worth £75m back in 2014.

There are differences, of course, but Liverpool would be relinquishing a South American star after a season competing at the peak of the Premier League.

But feelings of indifference toward Diaz are misguided: as Suarez was under Brendan Rodgers, Diaz is one of the finest players in the world in his position, perhaps a little wasteful here and there, but still producing impressive numbers that other players may struggle to replicate.

Highest-scoring LWs in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues (24/25)

#

Player

Apps

Goals

1)

Raphinha

36

18

2)

Bradley Barcola

34

14

3)

Luis Diaz

36

13

4)

Javi Puado

35

12

5)

Vinicius Junior

30

11

Data via Transfermarkt

As you can see, Raphinha and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola were the only left-sided forwards across Europe’s top-five leagues who outscored Diaz this season, and he was indeed the highest scorer in the Premier League.

Suarez scored 82 goals across 133 matches for the Reds. He is, of course, an out-and-out centre-forward, but the principle remains: Liverpool would be skating across thin ice in allowing their fleet-footed maverick to depart with plenty more upheaval taking place down Anfield Road.

It’s a tricky one: Diaz is one of the best wingers in the Premier League, instrumental in winning the thing under Slot’s leadership this season, and having completed his most productive individual season in a Liverpool shirt too.

However, he’s also going to be 30 by the time his current deal expires at the end of the 2026/27 campaign, and suitors seem willing to at least consider paying a handsome figure to take him from Merseyside.

Much to consider, however; is Diaz really such a liability in this team? Is his prowess unfairly darkened by Salah’s ridiculous output, hardly a fair yardstick to compare against any talented winger?

Liverpool might just come to look at their banked sums, should Diaz depart, with a similar ruefulness to when Suarez up and left for riches abroad.

That said, resilience and intensity have led Slot’s Liverpool to success this season, and they should be able to overcome such a setback.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 30, 2025

Securing qualification for the Champions League is a great achievement for Enzo Maresca in his first campaign since taking the reins as Chelsea manager.

The Italian has overcome adversity and numerous spells of criticism in the media, leading the Blues back to the biggest club competition in world football ahead of 2025/26.

Levi Colwill’s second-half strike secured a place in the top five, after Aston Villa and Newcastle United both suffered defeats on the final day against Manchester United and Everton, respectively.

It was a superb display against Nottingham Forest, restricting the hosts to very few opportunities and taking advantage of the chances that fell their way in front of goal.

The showing perfectly sets up the Europa Conference League final next week, but one player failed to produce his best performance at the City Ground despite the win.

Cole Palmer’s stats for Chelsea against Forest

Cole Palmer was Chelsea’s shining light during the opening months of the campaign, but his performance levels have massively dipped despite the club’s Champions League qualification.

The England international has only registered one Premier League goal since the middle of January, subsequently scoring just once in his last 16 outings.

He once again failed to score against the Reds, with the 23-year-old only registering a single effort on goal and unable to complete any dribbles, showcasing his lack of impact in the final third.

Palmer also only completed 17% of his attempted crosses and came out on top of just 33% of duels – often being dominated in the middle of the park by the opposition.

Given his recent run of form, the side have been less reliant upon his talents, with one other first team member now becoming just as, if not more, important to Maresca.

The Chelsea star who’s becoming more important than Palmer

Moises Caicedo once again started for Chelsea in the win against Forest, becoming the first player since Cesar Azpilicueta to start every league game back in 2018/19.

The Ecuadorian may have cost an English record transfer fee, but he’s certainly been worth every penny, that’s if his importance to the side is anything to go by.

However, despite his showings, he’s not the player who’s become as important as Palmer, with teammate Marc Cucurella taking that crown given his turnaround at Stamford Bridge.

He struggled to make a real impact last campaign, being branded a waste of money, but he’s transformed his career under Maresca, with his display against Forest highlighting how impressive he’s been.

The Spaniard featured for the entirety of the contest, registering a total of 60 touches and completing 91% of the passes he attempted during the triumph.

Marc Cucurella’s stats for Chelsea against Forest
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	90
Touches	60
Passes completed	29/32 (91%)
Tackles won	3
Fouls won	2
Clearances made	7
Duels won	5
Stats via SofaScore

He also won three tackles – the most of any player on the pitch – making seven clearances in the process, playing a huge part in the Blues’ clean sheet at the City Ground.

Cucurella’s excellent outing didn’t stop there, winning two fouls and coming out on top in five duels, certainly cementing the left-back role as his own.

As a result of his showing in Nottingham, the 26-year-old was handed a 7/10 match rating by the Daily Mail’s Kieran Gill – showcasing his excellent display in helping the side claim a top-five finish.

His progress this campaign has been nothing short of sensational, hopefully building on his showings going into what’s likely to be a massive year for the club in 2025/26.

As for Palmer, the off-season will be crucial if he is to regain his previous levels of performance, possibly holding the cards to any European success for the Blues next campaign.

Fewer touches than Sanchez: Chelsea dud must never play for the club again

Chelsea secured Champions League football after a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 25, 2025

Arsenal chiefs are facing a renewed Real Madrid threat after Los Blancos swooped in to win the race for Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen, with the La Liga giants posing some worry for Gunners transfer chief Andrea Berta and his deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal reach Zubimendi agreement as Huijsen nears Real Madrid move

Earlier this week, it was reliably reported that Arsenal reached an agreement to sign Zubimendi, with Fabrizio Romano even dropping the ‘here we go’ on his switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Berta favourite decides he wants to join Arsenal after £7m salary offer

He has his heart set on a north London switch.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 15, 2025

The Spain international’s signature is believed to be all-but officially sealed, with Berta seemingly wrapping up his first signing as Arsenal’s new sporting director.

Arsenal are poised to lose Jorginho, who’s agreed to join Brazilian side Flamengo after his contract expires, while talks remain ongoing over Thomas Partey’s contract with no guarantee they will shake hands on a renewed deal.

The arrival of Zubimendi is crucial to Mikel Arteta with Arsenal in danger of being left quite short in midfield, and it would come as welcome news after they missed out on a deal for top defensive target Huijsen.

2. Arsenal

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3. Newcastle United

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4. Man City

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5. Chelsea

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6. Aston Villa

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7. Nottingham Forest

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As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal were in pole position with Chelsea to strike a deal for the 20-year-old, but Real Madrid then got involved. The 15-time European champions swooped in to tempt him towards his homeland, and they’re currently putting the finishing touches on a move which will see Huijsen depart Bournemouth for the Bernabeu.

“Real Madrid are in direct meeting with Dean Huijsen’s camp to complete the agreement on the contract,” said Romano on X.

“The agreement on £50m release clause with Bournemouth has been sealed on Wednesday, as reported. Matter of contract details with Huijsen’s camp, then, here we go.”

Arsenal risk Dean Huijsen repeat after Martin Zubimendi update

After Real eventually beat Arsenal to Huijsen’s signature, despite the north Londoners having reportedly made a “formal” offer of their own (Cadena SER), it is now believed that Florentino Perez could still spoil their swoop for Zubimendi as well.

As per a report from Diario AS, Arsenal’s signing of Zubimendi is already “arranged”, but nothing has been signed in terms of contract or legislation, meaning Real are still able to come in and hijack Berta’s deal.

The Spanish newspaper suggests this is highly possible and a “sharp turn” in the situation cannot be ruled out, as per sources “close” to the talks, with Zubimendi agreeing a move to Liverpool last year and changing his mind at the last second.

Until the “world-class” 26-year-old puts pen to paper, there is every chance Real decide to move with a counter-offer to rival Arsenal, and AS describe the race for Zubimendi as remaining “open”, contrary to previous claims.

Arteta will be hoping Real stay out of this one, as their need for a midfielder of Zubimendi’s cannot be understated following Jorginho’s imminent exit and uncertainty surrounding Partey.