Rangers eased to a straightforward win in the Premiership on Sunday as St Mirren were put to the sword without too much trouble, although there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Philippe Clement is still undefeated as manager, yet with the festive season closing in, performances will need to be raised if they wish to go through this period unscathed.

One of the most pleasing aspects of his tenure so far is the development of Ross McCausland, and it proves one thing is clear, the Belgian will be looking to give youth prospects a chance.

Clement's 80-touch Rangers magician was better than Sima vs St Mirren

The attacking midfielder produced a fantastic display for the Gers on Sunday.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 3, 2023

This could be good news for Zak Lovelace, who is set to be the next big thing at Ibrox.

Zak Lovelace’s career statistics

The 17-year-old has already made an impression at both youth and senior level for the Light Blues and his progress certainly earmarks him for a future role in the starting XI.

For the B team during the 2022/23 campaign, Lovelace scored 18 goals and registered 12 assists, demonstrating his vast attacking talents while operating either as a winger or a centre-forward.

The former Millwall gem has even made four appearances for the first team and was given his maiden start by Steven Davis back in October. While that game ended in frustration as he had to come off due to an injury, the future is bright for the Englishman.

Clement may be able to unearth Lovelace 2.0 as there is another teenage gem who is showing great promise in the academy – Josh Gentles.

Josh Gentles’ youth statistics

Gentles has shown a keen eye for goal, evidenced by the fact he scored in his only appearance in the Challenge Cup this term, along with bagging a hat-trick against Partick Thistle during the recent Glasgow Cup tie and B team manager David McCallum had plenty of praise for the youngster.

He said: “He [Gentles] has got that knack in and around the penalty area, and he finds himself in the right positions more often than not. But you need to have the ability and composure to finish it off, and he’s doing that.

“It’s a good moment for him just now with the B Team, but he has to keep doing it between the two squads.”

Gentles also scored twice for the U18 side against Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup and if he keeps finding the back of the net, Clement will surely take notice.

Lovelace proved last season that scoring on a regular basis for the B side is key for progression to the senior team and Gentles isn’t far behind the Englishman.

The 16-year-old even received a call-up to the Wales U17 squad for their European Championship qualifying campaign and has made three appearances in total for that age group.

The academy is producing plenty of fine talent and with the likes of McCausland and Leon King proving that if you are good enough, the chances will be there.

Clement appears to be a coach who will place his trust in players he deems good enough, regardless of age, and this will give every young talent at the club plenty of confidence, Gentles included.

da aposte e ganhe： Glasgow Rangers will head into the busy festive spell over Christmas and New Year full of confidence having claimed the first trophy of the campaign.

da bet7： Philippe Clement led his team to their first League Cup trophy since 2011 following a 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Hampden over the weekend and this will hopefully be a catalyst for plenty more success to come.

Related Rangers titan was their "best player" alongside Balogun in League Cup final

Rangers won their 28th League Cup after defeating Aberdeen at Hampden

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Dec 18, 2023

The victory shouldn’t deter the boss from delving into the January transfer window and making a few new signings, however, as some areas of his squad remain weak.

Rangers transfer news – Centre-back hunt

With the winter window fast approaching, there have already been some names being mentioned with a January move to Rangers.

According to 90min, the Light Blues have shown interest in Everton defender Ben Godfrey in the previous few weeks, while Mason Holgate, another Goodison Park centre-back, is also being touted for a move north of the border.

Clement is also looking closer to home for talent, as current Motherwell youngster Lennon Miller appears to be on his radar and signing Scottish players will be useful due to the home-grown quota rules for European competition.

The Belgian is clearly eyeing a few players, and it remains to be seen how much of a budget he will have to spend when January comes around.

Nathaniel Adjei is another player who has been linked with a move to the Light Blues and out of all the rumours so far, this is perhaps the most exciting one.

Celtic have also shown interest in the Hammarby defender, and it could mean a tussle between the two rivals to see who manages to sign the talented player.

His price tag may be a deterrent, however, as the Swedish outfit reportedly value him at between £3m-£4m and this may just be out of Clement’s budget next month.

If he manages to move on some deadwood, then this could change, but the right offer will need to arrive for players who he deems not the right fit for his squad.

Signing Adjei would prove to be a shrewd investment, especially as he could become a long-term replacement for Leon Balogun.

Leon Balogun’s season in numbers

The 35-year-old defender rejoined the club he had spent two successful years at between 2020 and 2022 during the summer transfer window, linking up once again with Michael Beale.

The Nigerian was only supposed to be used as cover for the likes of Connor Goldson, John Souttar and Ben Davies and this was evidenced by the fact he started just two matches under Beale during the early stages of the season.

He was even left out of the Europa League group stage squad list and many wondered why he had actually been brought back in the first place.

Following his sacking and the appointment of the former Club Brugge head coach, Balogun has looked reinvigorated at the heart of the defence.

The former Wigan Athletic defender has started eight of Clement’s ten domestic matches thus far and has been in excellent form.

Balogun has won a remarkable 73% of his total duels across his league appearances this term while succeeding with 75% of his dribble attempts, proving he has been effective not only in one-on-one duels, but also in advancing the ball out from the defence.

While he has been effective under the 49-year-old, Balogun signed just a one-year deal during the summer, and it looks as though he will depart the club for the second time next year.

With this in mind, a move for Adjei certainly makes a lot of sense and the youngster ticks a lot of boxes.

Nathaniel Adjei’s career statistics

The 21-year-old has already made 31 appearances during his senior career having made his bow during the 2022 Allsvenskan season and the 2023 campaign proved to be his breakthrough year.

Adjei scored once across 21 games and started 16 of those as he gained crucial experience in the top flight.

The 6 foot 3 titan was also impressive when compared to his current teammates as he ranked fifth across the squad for accurate passes per game (40.8) along with ranking third for accurate long balls (3.5) and clearances per game (2.7), showcasing his impressive talent.

Like Balogun, the young Ghanaian is also a physical presence, and he won four total duels per game in the Swedish top flight – a success rate of 61% – and he isn’t scared of moving the ball forward as often as possible, evidenced by the fact he succeeded with 82% of his attempted dribbles during the 2023 season.

These are excellent statistics, especially for someone so young and inexperienced, and he appears to have all the necessary physical attributes to succeed in Scottish football.

Indeed, Kai Watson – who runs the popular and informative Rangers Journal – dubbed the centre-back as a “physical monster” when analysing his season for Hammarby back in November.

Adjei has two caps for the Ghana U23 side, yet with the African Cup of Nations taking place in the Ivory Coast next month, might his solid performances in Scandinavia have alerted the senior side to a potential call up?

A move to a top European club would certainly accelerate his stature among his compatriots and this might lead to a debut cap sooner rather than later.

Last 5 African players to be signed by Rangers

Player

Year joined

Cyriel Dessers

2023

Abdallah Sima

2023

Leon Balogun

2023

Amad Diallo

2022

Fashion Sakala

2021

Via Transfermarkt

Rangers have had success in the Scandinavian market previously, with Alfredo Morelos joining from HJK Helsinki in 2017 and becoming a cult hero at Ibrox.

The Gers currently have the best defence in the Premiership this term, but that doesn’t mean that Clement will be resting on his laurels.

Balogun is 35, while Connor Goldson (31) and Ben Davies (28) are hardly spring chickens and, before long, this area of the team will need to be rejigged.

Making a concrete move for Adjei next month could be the final chance for the Light Blues to strike, especially if he is picked to play for Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations.

He might cost between £3m-£4m, but this could turn into a wonderful investment for the future.

Chelsea are enduring another miserable season after a somewhat promising pre-season that was followed up by an even better opening day draw with now league leaders Liverpool.

However, with 16 games gone, the blue side of west London find themselves down in 12th place in the Premier League, and despite thumping Tottenham Hotspur, drawing with Manchester City, and almost beating Arsenal, they are now closer to relegation than Champions League qualification.

Mauricio Pochettino needs to figure out a way to get his young team firing, and as absurd as it sounds, he indicated that the club needed more attacking reinforcements this January, something Todd Boehly and co seem to agree on.

Chelsea could move on from injury-prone James with £35m "monster" in January

The Dutchman could solve Chelsea’s right-back problem.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 13, 2023

The latest player linked with a move to Stamford Bridge is already starting to make a name for himself and could be the club's next Eden Hazard – Roony Bardghji.

Chelsea transfer news – Roony Bardghji

According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea are looking for a new attacker in 2024 and have created a five-man shortlist, including the incredibly talented FC Copenhagen youngster.

According to Football Insider, Brighton & Hove Albion were quoted around £30m when they were showing interest in the 18-year-old dynamo last month, and while that is undoubtedly a lot of money for someone so young, his insanely high potential likely justifies it to the Danish side.

Often referred to as the 'Swedish Messi' by fans and described as a "10/10 " talent by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, he has already scored ten goals in 15 starts for Copenhagen this season, and there is no reason to think he won't just keep getting better.

If Chelsea were to get their hands on the tricky winger, the comparisons to Hazard would be unavoidable, and with how highly thought of he is, likely justified.

Roony Bardghji could be Chelsea’s next Hazard

Being compared to a player such as Hazard at 18 years old can be both a blessing and a curse.

It can help you grow in prominence as fans are intrigued to see whether you can really live up to the moniker, but it can also drag you down as you fail to get out of the monumental shadow cast over you everywhere you go.

However, the "outrageous talent" that Bardghji is, as described by Jacek Kulig, means that he has a real chance of living up to the comparison and terrifying Premier League defences for the next decade should he move to Chelsea.

His performance against Manchester United in the Champions League this season has already proven he is unfazed by the big occasion, and the fact that he scored the winning goal before his 18th birthday should be all the convincing the Blues need.

Ultimately, while there is usually a considerable risk in signing younger players from leagues outside Europe's top five, the "world-class" Bardghji, as dubbed by Jacek Kulig, genuinely seems to match up to the hype.

The Blues did snap up Hazard as a relative youngster from Lille back in 2012 – the now-retired ace joining at the age of just 21 on a £32m deal – with such a gamble more than paying off, as the wing wizard went on to rack up 110 goals and 92 assists in 352 games in all competitions for the club.

Not that Bardghji will necessarily reach such heights, yet if the fee really is as low as £30m, Chelsea simply must sign the "crazy talent" – as hailed by Kulig – otherwise someone else will.

da mrbet： Celtic are expected to sell one of their summer signings in January, with a reliable journalist hinting that he’s no longer part of the club’s long-term project.

Celtic players out of contract

da bet7k： The Hoops sanctioned the departures of ten players in total during the previous transfer window, with seven of those being on a permanent basis, while the remaining three were sent out on loan for the rest of the season in order to increase their experience and game time.

The Parkhead side also have Greg Taylor, David Turnbull, Joe Hart and Scott Bain who will have all reached the expiration of their deals at the end of the current campaign, so they are a few who could additionally be heading for the exit door (Celtic contracts).

Related Celtic's £25m "magician" watched live in action by Premier League scouts

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Posts ByChloe Chadwick Dec 16, 2023

Over the summer, Gustaf Lagerbielke joined the club from Elfsborg, but it’s fair to say that the centre-back has been suffering from a severe lack of game time since he arrived, having made just four starts and one substitute appearance this season in the Scottish Premiership (WhoScored – Lagerbielke statistics).

When asked about the Sweden international potentially leaving the club during a recent interview, Brendan Rodgers responded: “Well, we shall see. Gus came in and scored the winning goal during the week, so yeah I think what will take place in January will sort itself out.”

Lagerbielke on the chopping block

Speaking to Go Radio, Mark Guidi claimed that Celtic may let go of Lagerbielke in January after chiefs internally decided that he isn’t at the level required of him.

As quoted by 67 Hail Hail, he said: “Some of the players who aren’t getting a game aren’t good enough. I think we all could say six or seven players who Celtic could get rid of that are probably about £100k-a-week.

"It was felt inside Celtic Park, by the people who matter and know their football, that Lagerbielke isn’t up to it. They will probably look for offers for him next month.”

Celtic must get rid of "dreadful" Lagerbielke

In the Scottish Premiership, Lagerbielke has only played 377 minutes of football out of 1,620 in total since the start of the season which shows just how out of favour and low down in the pecking order he is, so Rodgers would be making completely the right decision to sell him in January.

Standing at 6 foot 4, Stockholm’s native currently pockets £14k-per-week, and while that doesn’t make him one of the highest earners on the books, he is receiving more than the likes of Luis Palma, which shouldn’t be the case considering how much more effective he’s been since joining (Celtic salaries).

According to journalist Josh Bunting, Lagerbielke has displayed some “dreadful” defending when he has been offered the rare opportunity to play, so having failed to showcase what he’s capable of, letting him move onto pastures new while they can still get some money back for him is completely the correct decision.

Rangers have got things back on track with the Scottish Premiership title very much in their sights, with two games in hand on the leaders and just five points between them and the summit.

With that being said, the January transfer window is almost upon us. The likes of Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Jose Cifuentes have all settled in pretty nicely at Ibrox, with their impact already evident this season, so the Gers board surely might not have any issues with getting their wallet out next month if they feel the need to.

Football FanCast has taken a look at their previous ten January signings and how they have fared since signing on in Glasgow…

Nicolas Raskin – 31st January 2023

From Standard Liege – Undisclosed

Nicolas Raskin has already made 30 appearances since joining Rangers back in January 2023. During that time, he's scored one goal and laid on three assists, and he's still only 22 years of age.

However, one issue that is already plaguing his time at Rangers this season is injuries, with 20 games already being missed this term.

But the early signs are certainly promising – and there's plenty of development still to be had.

Todd Cantwell – 23rd January 2023

From Norwich City – Undisclosed

Todd Cantwell joined Rangers back in January 2023 for an undisclosed fee after making a name for himself at Norwich City.

Making the transition to Scottish football has been pretty seamless for Cantwell. He perhaps hasn't contributed as much as he would have hoped, but seven goals and nine assists in 41 games is still a very respectable return.

This season, Cantwell has featured in five different positions, which has made it hard for him to find proper form, but he still has one goal and four assists to his name as a regular in the Gers side.

Aaron Ramsey – 31st January 2022

From Juventus – Loan

Aaron Ramsey joined Rangers on loan after failing to adjust to the demands of Italian football with Juventus.

But the move didn't really end up working out for him. He ended up winning the Scottish Cup with the Gers, but also faced the heartbreak of missing the crucial penalty in the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Since leaving Ibrox, he left Juventus on a free, joined OGC Nice for the 2022/23 season and then joined boyhood club Cardiff City, where he seems to have rediscovered his form with three goals in six games.

Mateusz Zukowski – 31st January 2022

From Lechia Gdansk – Undisclosed

Some Rangers fans may not even remember Mateusz Zukowski. That's how invisible he was during his time at Ibrox.

After joining back in January 2022, he only made one appearance for the Gers and spent the following season on loan at Lech Poznan.

Now, he finds himself not even at Rangers, after sealing an exit back in July after leaving on a free transfer.

Amad Diallo – 28th January 2022

From Manchester United – Loan

Amad Diallo joined Rangers on loan with plenty of hype behind him and the hope of really kicking on in what was one of his first true challenges in professional football.

However, he struggled to make an impact under Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He netted three goals for Rangers and rounded off his spell with a Scottish Cup winners' medal, but never hit the heights expected.

Since leaving Rangers, he is yet to have been given a further chance at Manchester United, despite setting things alight in the English Championship last season at Sunderland during his loan spell. Although, he is currently suffering from a knee injury which has hampered his chances.

James Sands – 5th January 2022

From New York City FC – Loan

Rangers allowed the midfielder to return to his parent club early ahead of the start of the new MLS season, despite Sands penning an 18-month loan.

The United States international made 41 appearances for the Gers, including matches in the Europa League and Champions League. He featured in the heartbreaking defeat in Seville to Frankfurt while he also helped the Ibrox men lift the Scottish Cup.

He still finds himself in the Big Apple playing for New York City to this day.

Scott Wright – 1st February 2021

From Aberdeen – £200k

Scott Wright made the move from Aberdeen back in January 2021 after an impressive 79 appearances at Aberdeen.

Since arriving at Ibrox, he's been one of those players that has been a bit hit-and-miss. In 95 appearances to date, he has scored seven goals and laid on 11 assists, which isn't an amazing return for a winger.

To this day, he's still at Rangers, but has only 435 minutes to his name so far this season.

Jack Simpson – 1st February 2021

From Bournemouth – Undisclosed

Jack Simpson had joined the Ibrox club from Bournemouth in February 2021 but failed to nail down a spot in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's squad.

Simpson played just 14 times for Rangers in his short stint in Glasgow before returning to England.

And things haven't got much better for him since leaving Glasgow as he ended up joining Cardiff City on a free transfer, but didn't do enough to impress in Wales and now finds himself as a free agent.

Florian Kamberi – 1st February 2020

From Hibernian – Loan

Kamberi attracted criticism from fans of Hibernian over comments he made referring to his temporary switch to Rangers as a "dream move".

And in reality, it was anything but a dream move, as the striker made just nine appearances at Ibrox. He only scored once and produced two assists before returning to Hibernian after Cedric Itten's arrival at the club.

Since then, he has played for four different sides, with Croatian outfit Slaven Belupo his current club.

Ianis Hagi – 31st January 2020

From KRC Genk – Loan

Romanian Ianis Hagi joined Rangers on a loan deal back in January 2020, with a lot of hype behind him as an up-and-coming youngster. And it didn't take long for him to establish himself in Glasgow as he ended up joining permanently just a few months later.

Hagi is now sitting on 99 appearances for the Ibrox club and has a goals & assists return that even father Gheorghe would be proud of, with 16 and 21 respectively. And the most exciting thing for Rangers fans is that he may not have even reached his peak at just 25.

But the attacking midfielder had found game time difficult to come by since returning from a year on the sidelines through injury, and now finds himself out on loan at Spanish side Alaves in La Liga.

Although, there is still the potential for him to gain a permanent place at Ibrox, should he get back up to speed and catch the eye of Philippe Clement, who will no doubt be tracking his progress.

da cassino online： It’s been another characteristically busy summer for Chelsea this year.

da bet7k： As well as making it to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup – the only English side to do so – the Blues have been wheeling and dealing in the transfer market.

The latest star to be announced by the club was striker Joao Pedro, who took the now well-trodden path to Stamford Bridge from Brighton & Hove Albion for around £60m.

However, the West Londoners are far from done there, as a deal has reportedly now been reached to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, and on top of that, a talent who could be the next Cole Palmer has also been linked.

Chelsea target young talents

The ethos at Chelsea over the last few years has been to buy young, up-and-coming talents, which is something they are continuing to do this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

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For example, Gittens, whose final price tag appears to be around £55m, is still just 20 years old, and based on his tally of 12 goals and five assists in 49 games last season, looks set for a bright future.

Likewise, Liam Delap, who joined the club from Ipswich Town for just £30m prior to the CWC last month, is still just 22, and already has a goal and an assist to his name in four appearances for the Blues.

And now, there is another promising gem that is on the club’s radar: Tyler Dibling.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Chelsea are incredibly interested in the Southampton prospect.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that West Londoners have already begun talks with the youngster’s camp and are considering making an offer for him.

However, they aren’t the only ones interested in the 19-year-old, as Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Man Utd, Aston Villa, and RB Leipzig are all keeping an eye on him.

Moreover, the Saints reportedly value their exciting talent at a minimum of £55m.

In all, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Dibling’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be their next Palmer.

Why Dibling could be Palmer 2.0

So, the first thing to say is that we know this is a massive statement, but to be clear, we are not saying that Dibling is like Palmer at the moment, as he is not, and it’s not even close.

However, there are some clear similarities between them and their potential moves, should the Southampton gem move to Chelsea.

For example, he’d be another young, reasonably sought-after English talent moving to Stamford Bridge to test himself with regular football at a massive club.

Moreover, while the Exeter-born dynamo is primarily a right-winger, he has spent plenty of time playing in attacking midfield and has actually played in a multitude of positions.

Similarly, the Blues talismanic attacker tends to play in attacking midfield, but has spent plenty of time off the right, as well as in a number of areas on the pitch.

Finally, while he wasn’t able to have quite the same impact as Palmer did last season, in part because he’s younger and was playing in a terrible team, the teenager has the same determination to make things happen.

For example, FBref placed him in the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for successful take-ons per 90, and in 38 games across all competitions, he scored four goals and provided three assists.

Dibling’s 24/25

Appearances

38

Minutes

2215′

Goals

4

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.18

Minutes per Goal Involvement

316.42′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

It’s not just us either, as Dion Dublin argued that “he plays his game like Cole Palmer” last season, in part due to the way he “rolls players and takes the ball well.”

Ultimately, he’s clearly not yet at the level of Palmer, but Dibling looks like he could reach that level in the future, and therefore, Chelsea should do what they can to sign him.

Related More exciting than Delap: Chelsea set to submit £34m bid to sign CWC star

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 4, 2025

da fezbet： Aston Villa are now planning to submit a €50m (£43m) offer for an “incredible” Barcelona player, with Unai Emery desperate to secure his signature, according to a report.

Villa set sights on new forward despite PSR concerns

da 888casino： Villa’s PSR issues are well-documented, having recently been one of the clubs fined by UEFA for breaking financial rules, while also being forced to sell their women’s team to their parent company to avoid having to make a big sale this summer.

That is according to football finance expert Stefan Borson, who revealed the Villans are lucky the Premier League are yet to close the loophole: “Had they blocked women’s team sales, then they would have been looking to sell a player for a substantial amount of money in the 30 June window, so they’ll be pleased that they didn’t have to do that.”

Consequently, Emery may have a little more room to manoeuvre in the transfer window, and the manager may be particularly keen to bring in a new forward, having lost Jhon Duran in January, while loanee Marcus Rashford has returned to Manchester United.

Related Aston Villa now set to advance for "top class" £138k-p/w ace loved by Monchi

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Jul 8, 2025

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa are now planning to submit a €50m (£43m) offer for Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, who has been desperately requested by Emery for quite some time.

The manager is convinced that Torres would be a solid addition to his squad, given the forward’s versatility, having showcased his ability to play on both wings and at centre-forward throughout his career so far.

The Villans’ interest comes off the back of a fantastic season for the Spaniard at Barcelona, playing a major role in his side securing the La Liga title, but Barca’s interest in signing the likes of Luis Diaz and Rashford could cause the forward to consider his options.

Torres could be "incredible" signing for Villa

The 25-year-old enjoyed a fantastic 2024-25 campaign, regularly contributing with goals and assists to help Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey, so it is little wonder that Villa are willing to spend big to get a deal over the line.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

La Liga

27

10

6

Copa del Rey

5

6

0

Champions League

11

3

1

Not only that, but the former Manchester City man has proven himself in the Premier League in the past, with Pep Guardiola saying: “He was fantastic all season and an incredible signing for us,”

“He can make incredible runs in behind but maybe we have to start to think about if he can play as a striker because every time he plays in that position he has a sense for goal, a real sense for goal.”

Having lost Rashford, Torres could be an ideal signing for Aston Villa this summer, with the forward’s performances last season proving he could play a major role in helping Emery’s side finally win a major trophy.

da lvbet： Manchester United are desperate to restore themselves as a European superpower next season. Too long has it been since the Red Devils stood atop the Premier League pile and were feared across the continent.

da supremo： But despite the woes of the 2024/25 campaign, Ruben Amorim is determined to piece together a team capable of challenging at the highest level.

Despite the slow start, this can be found through the £62.5m signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.

Cunha isn’t quite a focal frontman; the Brazil forward is mobile and destructive and will enhance every facet of Man United’s attacking play.

However, the search for forwards doesn’t stop there.

The latest on Man Utd's search for forwards

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo remains INEOS’s focus in the summer transfer window, but it’s been revealed that Rasmus Hojlund might not be quite so close to leaving as had previously been expected.

If Hojlund is to stay put, United’s need for an out-and-out frontman will be lessened. But more depth is needed all the same, and could arrive in the form of a Premier League star desperate for a resurgence to match.

Well, according to Spanish reports, United have settled their focus on Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku, having entered negotiations with the Blues for the transfer of the versatile forward, who has been valued at £35m.

With Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all touted for exits in the coming weeks, this might be a shrewd signing for a player who hasn’t enjoyed their finest form at Stamford Bridge but is undoubtedly talented enough to succeed under Amorim’s wing.

Why Man Utd want Christopher Nkunku

Nkunku’s stint at Chelsea has not gone to plan. Having signed for the Blues from RB Leipzig for £52m in June 2023, the Les Bleus star has only started 11 matches in the Premier League, with injuries and issues finding fluency hampering him.

Given that he would be arriving from a Premier League rival and, indeed, considering the type of player he is, Nkunku might even prove to be Amorim’s next version of Cunha, only a month after reeling the Wolves sensation over to Old Trafford.

Journalist Zach Lowy had remarked that the Frenchman was “unstoppable” during his time with RB Leipzig, and while his time at Stamford Bridge has left plenty to be desired, we can see from the player’s skill set his underlying dynamic ability, which remains intact.

Nkunku vs Cunha (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Nkunku

Cunha

Goals

0.29

0.52

Assists

0.20

0.21

Touches

43.78

54.10

Pass completion

89.5%

71.6%

Progressive passes

2.44

4.99

Shot-creating actions

3.32

4.57

Progressive carries

1.66

3.88

Successful take-ons

0.98

2.11

Ball recoveries

2.83

4.33

Tackles + interceptions

1.86

1.91

Data via FBref

While Cunha clearly outstrips Nkunku, there’s enough on show through the data to illustrate his roundedness. All that’s still required is a return to the goalscoring form that saw 58 goals and 29 assists harvested across his final two campaigns with Leipzig.

He was, and still could be, one of the best in the Premier League, endowed with the wide scope Cunha so remarkably possesses.

Indeed, just take a look at Nkunku’s Bundesliga highlight reel to understand the level of a forward who may yet realise his potential in the Premier League.

Cunha has been singled out for his “absolutely sensational” intelligence and technical quality by pundit Micah Richards in the past, and while his arrival will elevate Amorim’s outfit, adding some further depth and electricity by the way of Nkunku could freshen up the ranks just enough to finally turn the page.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jul 7, 2025

Newcastle United are in the midst of a rocky period under head coach Eddie Howe for the first time in two years, compounded by the heavy weight of expectations from the club's recently acquired Saudi wealth.

The Magpies, while plagued with injuries in recent months, suffered their fifth defeat in six games in December alone and exited both the EFL Cup and the Champions League in the meantime.

The January transfer window cannot come sooner for the manager but with two games remaining before the winter market opens, Howe may need to make some tactical tweaks to ensure Newcastle stop the rot and one player in particular will be champing at the bit to get back into the side.

Sean Longstaff's game in numbers

A boyhood Newcastle United fan, Sean Longstaff has been a mainstay at St. James' Park ever since making his debut for the club under Rafa Benitez back in a 4-0 defeat away at Liverpool on Boxing Day in 2018.

The midfielder has gone on to make 158 senior appearances for the Geordie club in that timeframe across three different managers. However, Saturday's showing away at Luton Town showcased the limitations of Longstaff's game.

Throughout the match, Newcastle registered an xG of 1.5 from a total of 15 shots on Luton's goal. Longstaff must be credited for his helping hand to make some of these goalscoring opportunities, having created three chances during the game and recording an expected assists tally of 0.63, although the Mags failed to find the net once.

However, the 26-year-old struggled in other elements of the game. Having had 72 touches of the ball, Longstaff played merely four passes into the final third and was even dispossessed on one occasion which led to a dangerous chance for the Hatters, as per FotMob. Additionally, he lost 100% of his tackles and 57% of his total duels while also being dribbled past twice.

After the game, Chronicle Live handed Longstaff a match rating of 5/10, which was even lower than Lewis Miley who was replaced in the 38th minute due to tactical reasons, according to Eddie Howe.

In his 158 appearances for Newcastle United, Longstaff has managed to bag ten assists in total, an average of one every 15.8 matches. It was worrying that Howe relied heavily on the Englishman to create opportunities for his attackers on Saturday.

Meanwhile, both Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almiron whipped in a combined total of six crosses at Kenilworth Road, with just one finding a Newcastle player.

Lewis Hall's stats in midfield

The Magpies need to create more opportunities and Howe could have a glaringly obvious solution staring him in the face in the form of 19-year-old Lewis Hall.

The youngster joined on loan during the summer for an initial £28m fee but has seen very little action in a black and white shirt, whilst receiving £7k-per-week from the club. Even amid an injury crisis, Hall has featured for merely 245 minutes for Newcastle, including 81 minutes in the Premier League.

However, what makes Hall truly stand out is his versatility, having played in seven different positions since the beginning of the 2020/21 season when he was with Chelsea.

One of these roles was as a central midfielder and the teenage sensation certainly impressed, scoring seven goals and registering six assists in 18 appearances as a number '8'.

Nevertheless, at St. James' Park, Hall has been solely used on the left as a full-back and a winger as Howe has yet to try Hall out as a central midfielder. The youngster could be the perfect player to unlock Newcastle's strikers, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, who have scored just once between them in the side's last six matches.

Hall has averaged an assist every three games in the middle of the park which is five times better than Longstaff's record and should be a consideration for Howe ahead of the Magpies' visit from Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.

As soon as promotion to the Premier League was officially confirmed earlier this year, the powers that be at Leeds United knew that they would need to be busy this summer.

The Whites have been fairly quick out of the blocks so far, as they have wrapped up the free transfer signing of Lukas Nmecha and signed Jaka Bijol on a permanent deal from Udinese.

Improving the team’s options at the top end of the pitch is a priority for the Championship champions, and they have already started their efforts to do that by signing Nmecha.

In May, Football Insider claimed that the club have doubts over whether or not Joel Piroe has what it takes to make the step up to the Premier League next season, and that they are not going to build their attack around the Dutchman.

This suggests that the former Swansea star is unlikely to be the first-choice number nine option for Daniel Farke when the new campaign gets underway.

However, the only new centre-forward signing so far has been Nmecha, and he does not appear suited to firing the team to safety as a regular starter next term.

Why Lukas Nmecha may not be a regular starter for Leeds

The Whites have taken a gamble on the former Manchester City academy prospect on a free transfer, after a rough few seasons for the former Germany international.

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Nmecha has only played 24 games in all competitions for Wolfsburg in Germany, scoring five goals in that time.

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old striker has consistently struggled with injury issues over the past four seasons, missing far too many games and not delivering enough quality on the pitch.

These statistics suggest that Nmecha is unlikely to be available to be a regular starter for Farke, nor does he have the goal return to suggest that he can step up to be a regular goalscorer in the Premier League.

Therefore, the German forward may be more suited to being a squad option, who can come off the bench or start the odd game, rather than being the replacement for Piroe as a regular in the XI.

That thought process is further backed up by a new report that claims that the Championship champions are eyeing up another number nine signing.

Leeds make contact to sign Premier League striker

According to iNews writer Mark Douglas, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer before the end of the summer transfer window.

The reporter writes that the Whites have already made initial contact with the former England international to discuss a possible move to Elland Road when his contract at Everton expires at the end of this month.

Transfer Focus

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

Douglas adds, however, that his future at Goodison Park is not set in stone as of yet, as the striker wants to remain at the club, but has yet to agree to an extension on Merseyside.

The journalist reveals that West Ham United and Leeds are both looking to take advantage of his potential availability, as they have both picked up the phone to make contact.

However, neither team have progressed anything beyond that at this point, which may suggest that they are waiting for final confirmation on his future at Everton before taking it any further.

Why Leeds should sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The Whites should push to win the race for the English striker’s services if he becomes available on a free transfer this summer because the forward would come in as an immediate upgrade on Nmecha at Elland Road.

Calvert-Lewin does not have the best injury record out there, having missed 21 games since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but Nmecha has been absent for 16 more matches in the same period, suggesting that the Everton man is likely to be more reliable as an option for Farke.

The Toffees marksman has played 38 games or more in five of the last eight seasons. Meanwhile, Nmecha has only played more than 25 times in three of the last eight seasons, and has only featured in more than 37 matches once in his career, in the 2018/19 season with Preston.

As well as potentially being available more often, Calvert-Lewin could also be an upgrade on the German striker because of the proven Premier League quality that he would provide.

The 28-year-old star has been a staple of the English top-flight over the last eight seasons or so, and has proven that he can score goals at that level.

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has scored goals and created goals more regularly than Nmecha has in the Bundesliga, which suggests that he would offer more to Farke’s team in front of goal next season.

As well as his ability in the final third, the Everton forward also provides physicality up front. Just last year, journalist Connor O’Neill claimed that the “sensational” striker “bullied” Liverpool defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate with his physical play.

Calvert-Lewin won 51% of his aerial battles in the 2024/25 campaign, winning 3.3 per match, which further speaks to his ability to hold his own in contests with Premier League centre-backs, something that will be important to the Whites as they battle relegation.

Overall, Leeds should sign the Toffees frontman because he is a known quantity who would give Farke a reliable, proven, top-flight striker as an upgrade on what he already has.

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