Liverpool have been warned they are in the midst of a "mini-crisis" and are "too open" following their 2-1 loss against Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge. This was Arne Slot's side's third defeat on the trot across all competitions as the English champions have started to crumble after starting the 2025-26 campaign on a dream note.
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Mesmo com a derrota do Corinthians por 1 a 0 para o Athletico-PR, na tarde deste sábado (25), o técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo, do Timão, enxerga evolução da equipe após o dias sem jogos por conta das datas Fifa, para os compromissos entre seleções internacionais, que aconteceram entre 12 e 20 de junho.
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Antes de perder para o Furacão, a equipe alvinegra havia vencido o Santos, na última quarta-feira (21), na Vila Belmiro, e o triunfo diante do Peixe foi considerado por Luxa na avaliação.
+ Defesa vai mal, e Caetano é o pior em derrota do Corinthians pelo Brasileirão
– Vou analisar os 10 dias que tivemos. Fomos muito bem. Se pegar a competição como um todo e pegar dois jogos fora de casa, se conseguir três pontos, conseguir seis é ótimo. Crescimento visível da equipe. Quem não quiser enxergar eu não posso fazer nada. Na parte técnica, física e emocional. Não ganhar aqui não é um privilégio do Corinthians. Outras equipes vieram aqui e tiveram trabalho – disse Luxa em entrevista coletiva ainda em Curitiba.
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Já eliminado da Libertadores, ainda na fase de grupos, o próximo compromisso corintiano é justamente pela competição continental, nesta quarta-feira (29), contra o Liverpool, do Uruguai, na Neo Química Arena. A equipe uruguaia também está desclassificada, mas o confronto definirá quem ficará na terceira colocação do grupo E, e, consequentemente, alcançar uma vaga nos playoffs da Copa Sul-Americana.
No entanto, mesmo com a possibilidade de seguir disputando um torneio internacional nesta temporada, Luxemburgo sinalizou que deve entregar o Liverpool com uma escalação alternativa. Ele quer ter tempo para trabalhar com o time considerado titular visando o confronto diante do Bragantino, no próximo domingo (2), e, assim, dar ritmo à equipe que enfrentará o América-MG, no próximo dia 5 de julho, pela ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil.
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+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF
– Sul-Americana, vamos analisar com calma. Tenho que ver a equipe que vou jogar. Eu não mando do Corinthians, tenho que conversar com o presidente, com a diretoria. A minha ideia é ter uma semana para os jogadores se preparem para o jogo contra o Bragantino. Colocar um time para jogar contra o Bragantino e outro, com jogadores que não estão trabalhando, para trabalhar. Até pensando na Copa do Brasil, para ter uma semana cheia e chegar com ritmo de jogo melhor – destacou Vanderlei.
Mesmo com os reservas, o Corinthians conseguirá uma vaga na Sul-Americana se, pelo menos, empatar com os uruguaios em casa neste meio de semana.
Nottingham Forest are ready to tackle the 2025/26 season, having qualified for the Europa League after an exemplary effort under Nuno Espirito Santo’s wing last year.
But there’s a sense that Forest’s term was more than just a flash in the pan; rather, it is the foundation of a period of sustained success that will keep the club not just away from relegation battles each year but in contention to challenge out on the continent and compete for domestic silverware.
The Tricky Trees will have to engage in a new balancing act as they look to challenge for another European title, which makes the hopes of matching or even bettering last year’s remarkable seventh-place finish all the more difficult, but it’s hardly outside the realm of possibility.
Because who can say that Evangelos Marinakis has been resting on his laurels? Tottenham Hotspur’s illegal approach for Morgan Gibbs-White has been fended off, and the recruitment team are now gearing up to put the final flourishes on a terrific transfer window.
Nott'm Forest's late window plans
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed that a £30m package has been agreed for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, with the England U21 international efficient both in deeper and more advanced midfield roles.
The 22-year-old is considered a technically gifted player with an eye for goal, an ability to split defences with his passing and impressive off-the-ball movements, the last of which will see him thrive in Nuno’s counter-attacking system.
Such midfield qualities would certainly help the likes of Omari Hutchinson, who is set to move to the City Ground from Ipswich Town, and new striker Arnaud Kalimuendo, with a £26m agreement in place with the 23-year-old’s French employers, Rennes. The versatile forward scored 18 goals across 34 matches last year.
Though McAtee and Hutchinson have already taken their first steps in the Premier League, Forest hope to add to their ranks a more established player within the England game, one who could lead and orchestrate from the middle.
Forest open talks for new midfielder
According to Sky Sports News, Nottingham Forest have opened talks with Juventus as they look to sign Douglas Luiz before the end of the month.
The former Aston Villa midfielder has struggled to perform in Italy, though injuries have not helped, and the Old Lady are understood to be open to cashing in if their £34m valuation is met. How such a package would be structured is unknown.
It’s been confirmed that two Premier League outfits have submitted formal offers for the 27-year-old, though whether this is Forest or one (or more) of their rivals is uncertain at this stage.
Why Forest want Douglas Luiz
Luiz might have flattered to deceive across his year in Italy, but none can argue he hasn’t proven himself and then some in the Premier League before.
Indeed, Luiz has been described by ESPN Brazil’s Leonardo Bertozzi in the past as being a “world-class” player, so landing him certainly signals a statement of intent.
Last year, the Brazil international left plenty to be desired in Turin, but his efforts with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa the year before even led The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell to hail him as “one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders.”
Matches (starts)
35 (35)
19 (3)
Goals
9
0
Assists
5
0
Touches*
70.1
27.3
Pass completion
89%
90%
Big chances created
10
3
Key passes*
1.5
0.8
Dribbles*
0.7
0.6
Ball recoveries*
5.5
1.6
Tackles*
1.7
0.9
Duels (won)*
4.2 (51%)
1.9 (55%)
An all-action midfielder who covers plenty of ground, Luiz would be the perfect centrepiece to complete this Forest project, charging the engine room with energy and steel and style, all wrapped together with the completeness that the manager demands.
In this way, he could be the perfect proven partner for a talented up-and-comer such as McAtee.
Hailed by Pep Guardiola for his “special talent”, the English midfielder’s likeness to Luiz would aid both his personal development and his synergy with the South American in the centre. After all, data-driven site FBref record McAtee to rank among the top 1% of attacking midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and the top 6% for tackles won per 90.
Luiz, however, typically sits deeper, with 103 of his 204 outings in an Aston Villa shirt coming from the deep-lying midfield spot. His progressive passing and combative defending make for compelling viewing, and it’s the efficiency of his blend of qualities that has seen Espirito Santo work with Marinakis’ web of recruitment officers to push ahead with a deal.
Though Gibbs-White’s continuing presence in the City Ground senior squad has eased the need for midfield reinforcements, that aforementioned emphasis on competing across multiple fronts this term while avoiding a regression that would pull the team toward the lower levels of the Premier League suggests that this double deal is necessary to ensure the team go from strength to strength.
Luiz was an essential part of Villa Park’s rise into Europe, and though he was forced to leave the club before tasting the fruits of his labours due to PSR concerns, he could now return to English shores and guide Forest as they make their way into the Europa League.
McAtee has the opportunity to contribute too, and with a mentor and partner like Luiz beside him, this club might just find that the best days are still ahead.
Their own Wissa: Nottingham Forest agree deal to sign "prolific" star
The incredible goalscorer would be an unbelievable signing for Forest this summer…
ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2025
تمكن فريق باريس سان جيرمان من تسجيل هدف قاتل أمام خصمه برشلونة في مباراتهما الجارية حاليًا في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2025/26.
ويستضيف ملعب “مونتجويك” مباراة برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان في الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري من البطولة.
ونجح باريس سان جيرمان في تسجيل هدف ثاني قاتل في الدقيقة 90 من عمر المباراة الجارية في الوقت الحالي.
جاء هدف باريس سان جيرمان عن طريق جونزالو راموس، بعد تمريرة من المتألق أشرف حكيمي، لتصل إلى زميله الذي سددها في شباك تشيزني، معلنًا عن تقدم قاتل للفريق الفرنسي.
⚽️🔥 غونسالو راموس يُسجّل هدف التقدم لباريس سان جيرمان بعد تمريرة رائعة من أشرف حكيمي#دوري_أبطال_أوروبا | #برشلونه_باريس #UCL | #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/W7TOuM7yUJ — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 1, 2025
It’s almost time for Arsenal to return home ahead of, what supporters hope will be, an historic season.
Having landed back in England following their Asian tour, the Gunners will face Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao in friendlies in North London this week, ahead of their league opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford a week on Sunday.
Off the pitch, so far this summer, as Mikel Arteta’s team target the Premier League title, they’ve already made six summer signings, the most they’ve recruited in a single July for 28 years, but will another soon follow?
Arsenal well stocked at the back
While question marks remain in the final third, Arsenal are certainly covered when it comes to defensive options.
Cristhian Mosquera has arrived from Valencia for a reported fee of £13m, set to be the understudy to William Saliba as the right-sided centre-back, with Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jakub Kiwior very much ensuring the left side is covered too.
Now, though, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal “have made initial contact” to sign 20-year-old defender Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennais.
Romano adds that the Gunners may wait until next summer to make a move, although they could accelerate their interest ‘in case of exits’, with Ahad Shaukat of Caught Offside noting that there is plenty of interest in Kiwior.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
This means that the Poland international’s future could dictate whether the club swoop for Jacquet this summer, or wait to snap him up next year.
Arsenal have a rich tradition when it comes to French players: Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, to name just a few, so could Jacquet become the latest to call North London home?
What Jérémy Jacquet would bring to Arsenal
Jaquet, who came through Rennes youth academy, has actually made just 12 senior appearances for les Rouge et Noirs, spending 12 months on loan at Clermont Foot, featuring six times in Ligue 1 and 17 times in Ligue 2 for les Lanciers, before being recalled in January.
His performances have earned rave reviews, with Ben Mattinson labelling him a “Rolls-Royce” who will be the world’s “next highly coveted” centre-back.
Mattinson praises his “composure” and duel-winning ability, believing that he is “physically imposing” and able to “defend big spaces effectively”, concluding that he will be playing at a very high level in the not-too-distant future.
Meantime, podcaster Phil Costa adds that Jacquet is “one of the best defensive prospects” on the planet, impressed by his ability to take “a lot of responsibility” in possession.
Jacquet was born in Bondy, a northeastern suburb of Paris, a commune with just a population of little over 50,000, but a certain William Saliba was also born there, which is quite a coincidence, so let’s see how the duo compare.
Jérémy Jacquet vs William Saliba (before signing for Arsenal) comparison
Statistics
Jacquet
Saliba
Age
20
18
Senior appearances
36
19
Senior minutes
2,732
1,577
Ligue 1 appearances
18
16
France U21 caps
2
Zero
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table documents, despite being very inexperienced, Jacquet actually has more experience right now than Saliba did when Arsenal signed him for a reported fee of £27m from Saint-Étienne in 2019.
However, it was three years until Saliba finally made his debut for the club at Selhurst Park, loaned back to Saint-Étienne before also spending time at Nice and Olympique de Marseille, so Jacquet could be in line to do something similar, should he put pen to paper in North London.
With Saliba, Arsenal took their time and played the long game, which has very much paid off, given that the French international might just be the best centre-back in the world, according to Sam Tighe of ESPN.
So, could Jacquet enjoy a similar career trajectory?
Well, all available evidence suggests he could do just that.
Odegaard 2.0: Arsenal given chance to sign "messi-esque" Eze alternative
The dynamic star would be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s squad.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 2, 2025
Celtic have not made a big splash in the summer transfer window as of yet, with over a month left to go before it slams shut, as they have not spent more than £2m on a single player.
The £2m that they shelled out for versatile midfielder Benjamin Nygren is the most money that they have spent on a single signing so far, which means that there could be bigger deals to come in the next few weeks.
Brendan Rodgers recently made it very clear that the Hoops need to “improve the squad” further if they want to be ambitious and progress as a club.
This means that the Scottish Premiership champions may have to look at higher-profile signings before the end of the window, in an attempt to replicate the success they had with Arne Engels last summer.
Celtic hit the jackpot with Arne Engels
Celtic reportedly smashed their club-record transfer fee to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga side Augsburg for £11m, which was an ambitious move that paid off on the pitch.
Engels ended his first season at Parkhead with a return of ten goals and 13 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which shows that he offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
Although you could also put it down to the change in format, the Belgian star also helped Celtic to get past the group/league phase of the Champions League for the first time since the 2012/13 campaign, as they lost to Bayern Munich in the play-off stage.
Engels produced one goal and three assists in ten games in the competition, and Celtic could find a similarly effective midfield star by signing Salvatore Esposito.
Why Celtic should sign Salvatore Esposito
The Hoops have been linked with an interest in the Spezia star, who is valued at around £5m by the Italian side, and he could arrive as their next Engels-esque deal.
Although he would not be as expensive, a fee of £5m would still be more than double what Celtic have paid for any other player this summer, and he would come in as a potentially game-changing signing.
Esposito, who has been hailed as “elegant” and an “orchestrator” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, caught the eye with his brilliant performances in the Serie B for Spezia last term.
His form in the second division in Italy suggests that the potential is there for the 24-year-old star to have a similar impact to Engels at Parkhead.
Appearances
34
34
Goals
9
7
Big chances created
11
18
Assists
6
9
Duels won per game
2.5
7.3
Ground duel success rate
49%
68%
Aerial duel success rate
49%
51%
As you can see in the table above, their respective performances at league level last term even suggest that Esposito could offer more to the team as a creator and in terms of what he can offer out of possession, by creating more high-quality chances and winning more duels with greater efficiency.
Therefore, the Italy international could have a significant impact on the team if he is able to translate these performances over to Scottish football and the Champions League, potentially pushing Celtic on to reach the next level on the European stage, by being a fantastic box-to-box midfield presence.
Celtic have won the Premiership title in each of the last four years, which means that the Champions League is where they should be targeting progress, and Esposito’s form in comparison to Engels suggests that he can help them to push on once more.
Scott Brown repeat: Celtic are long-term admirers of "ridiculous" £5m star
Celtic could repeat their Scott Brown masterclass by signing this reported transfer target.
ByDan Emery Jul 25, 2025
Therefore, the Hoops should consider pushing the boat out to splash £5m on a new midfield signing to play alongside the likes of Engels and Reo Hatate next season.
It’s not hard to work out that Arsenal’s most significant area of need this summer is up top.
While Mikel Arteta’s squad could certainly do with more options out wide and even in midfield, adding a new striker to the side could be the difference between finally getting over the line or ending another campaign without major silverware next season.
After all, the North Londoners produced the best defence in the Premier League this year but only the third-best attack, which helps to explain the abundance of links to top-quality strikers that have been impossible to ignore in recent weeks and months.
One of those goalscorers heavily touted for a move to the Emirates has been Viktor Gyokeres, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club could now be looking at someone else, someone who’d be an even better signing.
Arsenal's striker search
Given Arsenal’s aforementioned lack of goals this season, it’s not been a surprise to see the club linked with a plethora of potentially game-changing strikers this summer, like Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former could be available for around £68m and racked up a tally of 27 goal involvements in 45 games this season, while the latter might cost £40m and produced 17 goals and 14 assists in 54 games for Aston Villa.
On the other hand, it’s not entirely clear how much Gyokeres could cost the North Londoners, as following his falling out with the Sporting CP board over a supposed gentleman’s agreement, reports have emerged claiming he could cost as much, if not more than £68m.
The uncertainty around the Swedish international could make signing him particularly complicated this summer, and while that’s not ideal, fans shouldn’t worry too much, as it now appears as if the North Londoners are looking at another free-scoring forward, someone who’d be a better signing than former Coventry City star, Hugo Ekitiké.
Yes, according to a recent report from the German publication BILD, Arsenal are now interested in the Eintracht Frankfurt star.
The report has revealed that the Frenchman is now a serious option for the Gunners and that should Gyokeres or Sesko prove too expensive or difficult to sign, their interest in the 23-year-old will only grow.
However, there is one problem: the German outfit want €100m for their star attacker, which is around £85m.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Ekitike’s ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, even if he ends up costing more than Gyokeres, as we reckon he’d be the better signing regardless.
Why Ekitiké would be a better signing than Gyokeres
Now, it’s easy to understand why Arsenal might want to sign Gyokeres this summer, as his form at Sporting has been nothing short of miraculous over the last two years.
For example, since joining the Portuguese giants in the summer of 2023, the Stockholm-born dynamo has scored 97 goals and provided 28 assists in 102 appearances, which comes out to a frankly absurd average of 1.22 goal involvements per game.
If anything, numbers like that make it hard to believe any other striker in world football would be a better signing for the Gunners this season, but there is one massive caveat when it comes to the Swede’s monster numbers, which is the league he’s been playing in.
While the likes of Sporting, Benfica, and Porto are all considered ‘big’ clubs, the overall level of the Portuguese top flight is relatively poor.
In fact, according to Opta Analyst, it’s the eighth best league in world football, coming in behind the Belgian Pro League and the Championship.
Moreover, according to the same date, 11 of the 18 teams in the competition are League One level or below, which makes it hard to gauge how well Gyokeres would do in the Premier League, especially when he has never played a minute in one of Europe’s top five leagues, despite being 27 years old.
In contrast, Ekitiké has made 52 appearances in Ligue 1 and 47 in the Bundesliga, and this season, he’s been incredibly effective when leading the line.
In 48 appearances, totalling 3644 minutes, the 23-year-old gem, whom journalist Graeme Bailey once dubbed the “next Mbappé,” scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of 1.41 goal involvements per game.
Now, is he seemingly less effective than Gyokeres? Yes, but not only is he putting up great numbers in a top-five European league, but he’s doing so at a relatively young age.
Appearances
48
Minutes
3644′
Goals
22
Assists
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
Minutes per Goal Involvement
107.17
Therefore, Arsenal can feel more assured of the kind of output they can expect from Ekitiké while also anticipating further improvement in the coming years, and this is the main reason he’d be a better signing than the Sporting star.
Better move than Norgaard: Arsenal agree personal terms to sign £17m phenom
The exciting prospect could develop into something special at Arsenal.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 30, 2025
Celtic got their second Fabrizio Romano ‘here we go!’ of the summer transfer window when he provided the latest on their pursuit of Benjamin Nygren on Saturday night.
The Italian journalist has confirmed that the Scottish Premiership champions are on the verge of completing a deal to sign the Sweden international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
Nygren is set to sign for the club on a five-year contract and will link up with his new teammates in pre-season in the coming weeks, ahead of competing for a place on the right wing next season.
The 23-year-old talent scored 15 goals in 30 appearances in the Superliga during the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that the Hoops have landed a bargain with the fee that Romano has reported.
That is because Nygren’s contract with FC Nordsjælland was due to expire at the end of this year, forcing the Danish side to cash in before they lost him for nothing in January.
Whilst this looks set to be a shrewd piece of business, Celtic have shown that they are willing to push the boat out for signings, as shown by their move for Arne Engels last year.
Celtic hit the jackpot with Arne Engels
The Hoops smashed their transfer record to sign the Belgium international from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg in the summer of 2024 for a reported fee of £11m.
It overtook the previous record of £9m that was paid to sign Odsonne Edouard on a permanent deal from Paris Saint-Germain. It showed that the board were ready to seriously back Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market.
Given the money involved in the move, signing Engels for a fee of £11m was a gamble by the Scottish giants, but it is one that paid off big time for them.
xAG
0.25
Top 7%
Assists
0.37
Top 6%
Shot-creating actions
3.11
Top 29%
Key passes
2.24
Top 6%
Percentage of dribblers tackled
71.4%
Top 9%
Tackles made
2.49
Top 28%
Passes blocked
1.12
Top 27%
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian maestro provided plenty of quality in the Champions League, as he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key creative and defensive metrics.
Engels also ended the season with a haul of ten goals and 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions from a central midfield position, which shows that he has been a big threat for the Hoops as both scorer and a creator of goals.
Celtic hit the jackpot with the midfielder because he hit the ground running at Parkhead to become an instant star, and they could repeat that trick with another record purchase this summer.
Celtic learn asking price for Sondre Orjasaeter
According to Norwegian outlet TV Sport 2, as relayed by the Glasgow Times, Celtic will have to splash out a fee of £11m to sign Sondre Orjasaeter from Sarpsborg before the end of the summer transfer window.
This means that they would have to make him their joint-record signing alongside Engels by splashing out a fee that they have never paid more than for any other player.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report, however, adds that Dutch giants PSV are currently leading the race to sign the Norway U21 international, and that French side Lille are also eyeing him up, which means that there is plenty of competition for his signature.
It was reported earlier this month that the Hoops had opened talks with Sarpsborg to sign Orjasaeter to bolster their options on the left flank, but there has been no further update on those discussions to date.
They now know that a record fee of £11m will be required to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks, and they could repeat their Engels masterclass by going through with a move.
Why Sondre Orjasaeter could be Arne Engels 2.0
As aforementioned, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Belgian star because he immediately became a key performer in the middle of the park for Rodgers.
At the age of 21, Engels is also still a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, and could yet be sold for a profit in the future.
Orjasaeter is a 21-year-old talent with similar potential, based on his performances for Sarpsborg. He has shown that the quality is there for him to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch, particularly as a creator.
It was confirmed in May that Jota is set to be out for up to nine months with a knee injury, which means that the left-wing spot where the Norwegian star operates is set to be vacant at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Appearances
28
7
Goals
5
1
Big chances missed
5
2
Big chances created
12
7
Key passes per game
1.9
2.0
Assists
5
2
Dribbles completed per game
2.4
2.7
As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter is a player with the quality to fill the hole that has been left by Jota’s injury, as he has been in impressive form for Sarpsborg since the start of the 2024 campaign.
The 21-year-old star, who was described as a “playmaker” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has created 19 ‘big chances’ in his last 35 Eliteserien matches, which shows that the wing wizard is an incredibly creative forward.
For reference, Alistair Johnston’s haul of 15 ‘big chances’ created was the most of any Celtic player in the club’s 38-game Premiership season, suggesting that Orjasaeter could be a standout creative threat for Rodgers next term and beyond.
Celtic have hit gold with star who's now worth £8m more than Balikwisha
Celtic have hit the jackpot with this star who is now worth £8m more than reported target Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
ByDan Emery Jun 21, 2025
That suggests that the potential is there for the Norwegian star to be an Engels repeat for the Hoops as a record £11m signing who could instantly become a key player for the club, whilst still having plenty of years left ahead to develop and improve.
Celtic are enjoying a hard-earned break during the off-season, but they may now have an opportunity to offload one star who has recently made an impact under Brendan Rodgers, according to a report.
Celtic set to alter defensive line this summer
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions are usually slow starters in the window, taking a measured approach before deciding where they need to strengthen ahead of the new campaign. Nevertheless, the world already knows that the complexion of their backline will change significantly once Kieran Tierney arrives at Celtic on a free transfer from Arsenal.
With the Scotland international’s emotional homecoming taking pride of place, his compatriot Greg Taylor could opt to leave Parkhead amid interest from Greek giants PAOK.
Formerly of Kilmarnock, the 27-year-old has a two-year deal on the table that is said to be a significant upgrade on his current terms at Celtic, potentially spelling the end to his extremely successful six years in Glasgow.
It remains to be seen if Taylor will accept a new challenge elsewhere. He is still someone the club want to keep around, though they have already started to seek out potential contingency options.
Rodgers could sign Celtic their new Giakoumakis in 25-goal sensation
As Celtic continue their search for a new forward this summer, should the sign a “technically gifted” striker for free, reminiscent of Giakoumakis?
1 ByBen Gray Jun 6, 2025
Peterborough United’s Harley Mills is a Celtic target and the Bhoys have reportedly made an approach for the youngster, indicating that any incoming figure to replace Taylor may be of a youthful mould.
From the outset, Rodgers appears to have settled options in the middle and on the right-hand side of his backline. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Auston Trusty are established figures and are expected to be around next term.
However, peripheral figures may depart to make room for new blood and Celtic may now have an opportunity to offload one of their fringe stars.
Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki could now exit Parkhead
According to wSzczecinie.pl, Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki could join Pogon Szczecin on loan for the forthcoming campaign despite his growing rapport with supporters due to some encouraging displays of late.
Brought in for £4.3 million back in 2023, the former Legia Warsaw man has struggled for consistent minutes in Glasgow, making only 18 appearances across two seasons in green and white.
Maik Nawrocki’s Celtic statistics in 2024/25 – Scottish Premiership (Fotmob)
Pass accuracy
95.7%
Successful passes
308
Duels won
17
Tackles won percentage rate
100%
Recoveries
11
Dribbled past
1
Labelled “very highly-rated” by Rodgers after joining the club, there has clearly been a breakdown somewhere along the line that has led to limited appearances for the Bremen-born man.
Injuries haven’t helped his case, though many would argue he has been value for more starts at times throughout the campaign. Either way, a return to his homeland would offer that luxury if he were to stay fit.
In turn, Celtic would surely be expected to secure cover at centre-back, unless Stephen Welsh is re-integrated into the first-team squad upon his return from a loan spell at KV Mechelen.
Manchester City’s Premier League title success at the end of the 2023/24 season feels like a lifetime ago now with their reputation as English football’s dominant force taking a bruising this campaign.
Indeed, Arne Slot showed no fear coming up against Pep Guardiola’s assured outfit during his debut season at the Liverpool helm with top spot secured in style by the Dutchman. Moreover, Newcastle United would reign supreme in the EFL Cup, away from City getting their hands on another honour.
There is still the FA Cup up for grabs for the Citizens – alongside a space inside the Premier League top five – but it’s fair to say it’s been a big reality check for Guardiola and Co regardless. To potentially regain their position as the top dog soon, a handful of new signings could well do the trick this summer.
The latest on Man City's transfer plans
Even though their stature isn’t quite what it used to be, City do still have plenty of spending power when it comes to transfers into the Etihad.
After all, in January alone, Guardiola’s men managed to splash out a whopping £180m on new recruits, with faces being linked to the building now in the form of Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz not coming in on the cheap side either.
Gaining the German’s services looks especially tricky, with anything below £127m deemed as unsatisfactory on Bayer Leverkusen’s end, meaning alternate targets in attack are being lined up.
One of those targets is Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo. According to reports from Spain, it’s stated that City are planning to come forward with a bid for the captivating Brazilian.
Transfer Focus
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It’s noted that City’s ‘strategy is clear’ as they go about launching an offer and engaging in talks with Madrid.
If previous rumours are anything to go by, a more modest – but still excessive – £85m could be seen as acceptable here.
Amazingly, acquiring the sensational South American could see City still win their own answer to Wirtz, with the 24-year-old similar in play style to the £100m+ man according to FBref, despite not lining up as a primary number ten option like the Leverkusen ace.
Why Rodrygo could be Man City's answer to Wirtz
Of course, Rodrygo hasn’t exactly been firing on all cylinders for Madrid as of late, with the 33-time Brazil international letting the last 12 La Liga games pass him by with no goals or assists being picked up.
Yet, he still has an encouraging total of 23 combined goals and assists this season from 50 overall clashes, which included one assist even being notched up against Guardiola’s side in Champions League knockout action back in February.
City will be very familiar of his “world-class” ability – as he was once lauded by revered teammate Luka Modric – away from just this assist, with four strikes also tallied up from nine appearances against his potential new employers.
But, away from his explosiveness in-front of goal being similar to Wirtz’s – who has amassed 16 goals himself in both the Bundesliga and Champions League for Xabi Alonso’s giants this season – both stars in question are capable of being flexible to fit their team’s needs, seen in the many different attacking positions they can slot into at a moment’s notice.
AM
Rodrygo
3
0
1
CF
Rodrygo
82
22
8
RW
Rodrygo
145
43
30
LW
Rodrygo
78
23
16
CM
Rodrygo
0
0
0
SS
Rodrygo
1
0
0
CF
Wirtz
11
4
4
RW
Wirtz
11
4
3
LW
Wirtz
9
2
3
CM
Wirtz
5
0
3
SS
Wirtz
4
3
3
As can be seen glancing at the extensive table above, both players can pop up in a wide array of positions, with Rodrygo’s varied game in particular seeing him accumulate 69 goals and assists combined as a winger across his career to date, away from just lining up as a central option up top.
Whilst Wirtz might well be their more desired target, an opportunity to land Rodrygo – who has openly been lauded as “special” in the past by Carlo Ancelotti – would be too good an opening to reject, especially if he’s a slightly more price-savvy alternative to the in-demand 22-year-old.
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