da stake casino： Much of the talk at Manchester United is currently centred on the goalkeeping ranks – amid reports that Andre Onana could be on his way this summer – although Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle United also showcased the Red Devils’ woes in an attacking sense too.

da 888： As that 4-1 thrashing highlighted, Ruben Amorim’s side are simply starved of quality at the top end of the pitch, with the visitors looking particularly lifeless following the loss of Joshua Zirkzee to injury, alongside the withdrawal of goalscorer, Alejandro Garnacho.

Substitute Rasmus Hojlund, for instance, has still scored just three Premier League goals this season, while the returning Mason Mount has just one goal and one assist to his name in 36 games for United in total.

Having relied on the talents of Amad Diallo during Amorim’s early tenure – with the Ivorian registering 12 goal involvements in 20 games under the Portuguese coach – the Old Trafford side having looked particularly short of ideas since the 22-year-old’s cruel injury blow.

In all, United have scored just 38 goals in 32 league games this season, while the recent Manchester derby marked the 12th time that they have failed to score in a top-flight fixture in 2024/25.

At least one new forward is then the priority this summer – will Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, be among those to arrive?

Latest on Man Utd's pursuit of Cunha

Tensions are brewing at Molineux regarding the future of their standout Brazilian, with Cunha – who only recently returned from a four-game suspension – having irked the Wolves fanbase following a subsequently deleted Instagram post, in which the 25-year-old stated that he “will follow my dreams, not yours”.

That hint regarding a potential exit has come after the former Atletico Madrid man previously outlined his desire to “take the next step” in his career, with the 14-goal hero signing a new contract back in January which includes a £62.5m release clause.

As reported last week, United could be among the clubs to trigger that clause this summer, with The Athletic outlining that Cunha is among those being considered to play in one of the two number ten berths under Amorim.

The in-demand talent – who is also courting attention from the likes of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest – notably scored and assisted against United on Boxing Day, having now racked up 39 goal involvements in just 76 Premier League outings to date.

It is clear then why Cunha would represent an attractive addition, even amid his recent disciplinary issues, albeit with there likely to be question marks over how the Red Devils would fund a move, with Amorim outlining that the club will have to sell before they can buy this summer.

The Man Utd flop who could help fund Cunha move

Reports have claimed that there could be more than ten first-team departures at the Theatre of Dreams ahead of next season, with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof approaching the end of their contracts, while both Tom Heaton and Jonny Evans could be in line for retirement.

There will also be a desire to cash in on those who aren’t currently making an impact under Amorim, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony all in need of a permanent new home amid their respective loan moves.

In the case of the latter man, the Brazilian is one of those that INEOS certainly need to send packing after three dismal years in Manchester, with the former Ajax starlet having registered just 12 goals and only five assists in 96 games following his £86m arrival.

Antony’s Man Utd record vs selected wingers (past and present)

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

Total G/A

Antony

96

12

5

17

Amad

57

12

10

22

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

135

25

20

45

Dan James

74

9

9

18

Angel Di Maria

34

4

12

16

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

63

13

11

24

Memphis Depay

53

7

6

13

Stats via Transfermarkt

That grim record represents just what a costly mistake the 24-year-old has proven to be, with club legend Gary Neville describing him as “frustrating at times”, having only shown flashes of what he can do.

In truth, you can almost count on one hand the real high points that Antony has enjoyed in a United shirt, be it his crucial late equaliser in the eventual 4-3 win over Liverpool last season, or his long range stunners against both Barcelona and Real Betis in the Europa League in 2022/23.

That record against LaLiga sides perhaps illustrates why he has now found his feet while turning out for Betis in recent months, with the polarising left-footer looking like a man reborn with eight goals and assists in just 15 games for the Seville outfit.

Such performances are a positive in the sense that it should generate a market for Antony this summer, with the club desperately needing to shift their expensive flop off the wage bill, amid his reported salary of £105k-per-week.

That wage appears even more unjustified when considering that he earns more than what his compatriot, Cunha, is collecting at Molineux, with the Old Gold star taking home £90k-per-week, despite his stellar impact at Premier League level.

As Antony has shown in Spain, there does appear to be a player in there somewhere – albeit, just not a Manchester United one.

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da stake casino： West Bromwich Albion decided to part ways with manager Tony Mowbray after his side were heavily beaten 3-1 by relegation-threatened Derby County on Easter Monday in the Championship.

da bwin： That result made it five losses in six matches for the experienced boss, whose only win came against Watford, and the club decided that it was time to make a decision.

Mowbray joined the club in January after Spaniard Carlos Corberan was snapped up by LaLiga outfit Valencia, which came as a big blow to the Baggies as he had been a terrific appointment for the club.

Why losing Carlos Corberan was a big blow for West Brom

West Brom appointed Corberan in October 2022, after he was let go by Olympiacos after 11 matches, and it was a bit of a gamble by the club, as he had only managed 113 senior games by that point.

The Spanish tactician spent time at Leeds United as their U21 manager and then as an assistant in the first-team to Marcelo Bielsa, learning his trade before going to Huddersfield and leading them to the play-off final in the 2021/22 campaign.

West Brom’s gamble paid off, though, as Corberan went on to earn 1.59 points per game across 107 matches in charge of the club before his move to Valencia in January.

That included a fifth-placed finish and a play-off semi-final, losing to the eventual winners Southampton, in the 2023/24 campaign, despite – as per Transfermarkt – £0 spent on permanent signings in the summer of 2023.

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He worked wonders on an incredibly restrictive budget, as further evidenced by Mowbray’s struggles after replacing him, and they could repeat their Corberan gamble with their new interest in a Premier League coach.

West Brom eyeing up Corberan 2.0

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, West Brom are targeting a swoop for Tottenham Hotspur first-team coach Ryan Mason to come in and replace Tony Mowbray, which may be a surprise move given his lack of first-team experience.

The 33-year-old former midfielder has been an assistant manager at Spurs in the Premier League since the summer of 2023, but has also had spells as a manager at academy level, as the head of academy coaching, and as a technical coach at first-team level during his time with the club.

He has managed 12 Premier League matches for Tottenham’s first-team as an interim, across two spells, and won six of those games, winning 1.58 points per game, and that is why he is a surprise candidate for a job at the top end of the Championship.

Ryan Mason’s Premier League managerial career

Opponent

Result

Southampton (H)

2-1 win

Sheffield United (H)

4-0 win

Leeds United (A)

3-1 loss

Wolves (H)

2-0 win

Aston Villa (H)

2-1 loss

Leicester City (A)

4-2 win

Manchester United (H)

2-2 draw

Liverpool (A)

4-3 loss

Crystal Palace (H)

1-0 win

Aston Villa (A)

2-1 loss

Brentford (H)

3-1 loss

Leeds United (A)

4-1 win

Stats via Sofascore

Mason, who preferred a 3-4-3 formation, only has limited experience as the main man in a first-team set-up, which would make him a big gamble as an appointment for West Brom.

However, it also makes him an exciting appointment because he is a bit unknown, but still has a great coaching pedigree at youth and senior level with a big Premier League club, which was also the case for Corberan with Leeds.

This means that Mason would be a gamble similar to the one they made with the Spanish boss, who had only had a spell with Huddersfield, given his short tenure at Olympiacos, to judge him on in senior management.

It is not a safe appointment or one with much of a guarantee of success, due to his lack of experience, but it is one that could pay off in the same way that Corberan’s did.

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da dobrowin： Can Celtic start to rebuild some momentum ahead of the Scottish Cup Final?

da aposte e ganhe： On Sunday, the Hoops fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with fierce rivals Rangers at Ibrox, with Adam Idah equalising shortly after half time, before Daizen Maeda squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to snatch victory right at the death.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have therefore won only one of the five Glasgow derbies played this season, excluding penalty shootout victories, but it matters not, given that the Celts were crowned champions a week earlier, still a whopping 17 points clear at the top.

Nevertheless, Rodgers will still want to see his side get back to winning ways when third-placed Hibs visit Parkhead on Saturday, with the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen to come at Hampden a fortnight later.

Off the park, attention has already turned towards plans for the summer transfer window, so do Celtic have a player from within the Premiership in their sights?

Latest on Celtic's summer transfer search

According to a report by Stephen McGowan of the Herald, Celtic are ‘considering’ a move to sign Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan on a free transfer, with his contract at Pittodrie set to expire this summer.

Given that Kasper Schmeichel is currently sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Viljami Sinisalo has started Celtic’s last six matches in goal, earning decent reviews, with Graeme McGarry of the National outlining that the 23-year-old has taken ‘it all in his stride’.

It’s unclear where Doohan would fit into the pecking order, but his potential arrival could see current third-choice Scott Bain depart, having not featured since a two-minute cameo on the final day of last season.

Doohan, for his part, is currently second-choice at Aberdeen, behind Dimitar Mitov, albeit he has made 18 appearances this season, described as “brilliant” by Dons captain Graeme Shinnie, following Celtic’s hard-fought 1-0 win at Pittodrie in December.

So now, could the 27-year-old, who was previously on Celtic’s books between 2013 and 2022 without ever making a senior appearance, be set to return to Glasgow’s East End?

Celtic's best value-for-money signings from within the Premiership

It’s hardly the most inventive or ingenious strategy, but Celtic have often sign the best players from within the Scottish Premiership, not only strengthening themselves, but simultaneously weakening their rivals in the process.

Here is a selection of the most recent examples.

Celtic signings from within the SPFL (2015-present)

Players

Selling club

Fee

Celtic appearances

Luke McCowan

Dundee

£1m

37*

Benjamin Siegrist

Dundee United

Free

2

David Turnbull

Motherwell

£3.25m

134

Greg Taylor

Kilmarnock

£2.2m

213*

Scott Bain

Dundee

Free

78*

Jonny Hayes

Aberdeen

£1m

68

Lewis Morgan

St Mirren

£300k

31

Jack Hendry

Dundee

£1.5m

27

Nadir Çiftçi

Dundee United

£1.5m

26

Scott Allan

Hibernian

£275k

17

Ryan Christie

Inverness CT

£500k

151

Gary Mackay-Steven

Dundee United

£250k

62

Stuart Armstrong

Dundee United

£2.5m

144

*indicates that the player is still at the club

All statistics and information courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table proves, Celtic’s domestic signings over the last decade have been pretty hit-and-miss; Greg Taylor, Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong all made a big impression, while others, looking at you Benjamin Siegrist, contributed very little at all.

The Hoops’ most recent signing from within the Premiership is Luke McCowan, who arrived from Dundee on deadline day last summer for a reported £1m, and has impressed during his first season in Glasgow.

To date, the 27-year-old has scored six goals and registered seven assists in hoops, with Rodgers describing the midfielder as “absolutely brilliant”, adding that he’s probably “been unfortunate not to play more” throughout the season.

Thus, McCowan proves that value can be found within the Premiership, which is certainly something for Celtic to think about ahead of the summer.

Doohan, for his part, has gained plenty of experience since departing Celtic after seven years at the club as a youngster, making 80 appearances for Ayr United, 60 for Tranmere Rovers, 20 for Aberdeen and 19 in the colours of Forest Green Rovers.

In this season’s Premiership, Doohan has registered a 54.4% save percentage, saving 33 of the 59 shots on target he has faced, keeping only two clean sheets in 14 starts but, should he move to Celtic, that ratio would surely be significantly higher.

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da premier bet： Glasgow Rangers had little to play for but pride and bragging rights when they faced Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

da dobrowin： Their city rivals had already wrapped up the league title last weekend, resigning the Gers to another second-placed finish, but Barry Ferguson’s men restored some pride with a 1-1 draw in front of their home fans.

Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the opening 45 with a tidy finish just before the half-time break, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot after Liam Scales failed to complete a tackle on him, before Adam Idah’s second-half equaliser.

The Nigerian forward held the corner flag aloft and basked in the joy of the home support, able to celebrate in view of away supporters, finally, in an Old Firm clash.

It was his 17th goal of the season in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, which is a respectable return but does not tell the full story of his campaign.

Why Rangers could sell Cyriel Dessers

With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Rangers will have some big decisions to make on the players currently in the squad, as they have now failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons.

The Light Blues have to find a way to improve and close the gap to Celtic in the league in order to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and Dessers is one star who could be a candidate to move on from Ibrox.

During the Sky Sports commentary of the 1-1 draw with Celtic, former Gers midfielder Scott Arfield noted that Dessers is “on his heels” too often when the ball comes forward, which limits how effective the team can be in transition when passes are played down the sides of the defenders.

Cyriel Dessers (Premiereship)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

35

32

Goals

16

14

Assists

4

2

Pass accuracy

70%

73%

Duels won per game

2.3

1.9

Ground duel success rate

29%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

32%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers striker struggles with the physical side of the game, losing the majority of his duels without winning many per game, and is not particularly reliable as a passer.

Dessers has also missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership and European competitions combined since the start of last season, which shows that the striker is very wasteful in front of goal to go along with his struggles out of possession.

The 30-year-old forward could, therefore, be sold if the new Rangers manager does not want him to be his first-choice striker, and that could be the case if the latest report is to be believed.

The latest on the Rangers manager search

According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the leading candidate to take the permanent Rangers job as manager this summer.

The report claims that the English head coach is now the ‘favourite’ to land the role for the second time in his career, having left the club back in 2021.

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It states that the former Aston Villa boss, who is currently out of work, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Rangers manager ahead of Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig tactician.

Football Insider reveals that the 49ers are expected to play a key role in the appointment and that the 4-3-3 favoured boss is currently at the top of their list of targets for the job.

If the iconic Liverpool midfielder does become the Gers manager for the second time, this could be bad news for Dessers and his future at Ibrox beyond this season.

Why Gerrard's appointment would be bad news for Dessers

The English boss returning for a second go at Ibrox would be bad news for the Nigeria international because of the kind of striker he liked in his first spell at the club.

Only Connor Goldson (182) and James Tavernier (178) made more appearances for Rangers as outfield players under his management than Alfredo Morelos (158), which illustrates how important the Colombian star was for him in Glasgow.

Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, won the league title for the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign with the Colombia international as his main man up front.

Morelos, once described as a “real battering-ram” by ex-coach Scot Page, scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 29 Premiership outings, but it was also the physicality in his performances that made him so influential for the Scottish giants.

Alfredo Morelos (Premiership)

20/21

21/22

Appearances

29

26

Goals

12

11

Assists

4

7

Pass accuracy

80%

80%

Duels won per game

3.7

4.1

Ground duel success rate

42%

41%

Aerial duel success rate

36%

48%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the powerful forward provided a physical presence in the number nine role for Gerrard, winning more duels and winning a higher percentage of his duels than Dessers has in his two seasons at Ibrox.

The current Rangers striker does not have the pace, the raw strength, or the mobility that Morelos consistently displayed under the English boss during that successful period in the club’s history, as evidenced by his struggles in the Premiership this season.

Dessers’ wasteful finishing in all competitions is another reason why Gerrard may not want the Nigerian number nine to lead the line for his team next season, should he be appointed as Ferguson’s successor this summer.

Therefore, the ex-Serie A marksman may not want the legendary former midfielder to get the job because it could spell the end of his career at Ibrox if he wants a forward who is similar to Morelos at Ibrox.

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It is now down to the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell to convince Gerrard to take the job, if he is their favoured candidate, to bring glory back to the club next season and beyond.

da spicy bet： Leeds United’s forward line has led them to huge success in the Championship throughout the 2024/25 campaign, helping Daniel Farke’s side claim the league title.

da 888casino： The Whites registered a staggering tally of 95 goals in their 46 league outings, an average of 2.1 per game – by far and away the highest tally in the division.

Striker Joel Piroe claimed the Golden Boot last time around, netting 19 times in his 46 appearances, finishing one goal ahead of Norwich City talisman Borja Sainz.

However, if Farke’s side are to have any chance of securing Premier League survival next campaign, they will need to invest in the playing squad to bridge the gap between the two divisions.

The centre-forward position in particular has already seen numerous players linked, including multiple players who are already plying their trade in England’s top flight.

The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of a new striker

Richarlison has been one name thrown into the mix to join Leeds this summer, after struggling to nail down a regular starting role at Tottenham Hotspur in recent years.

The Brazilian has started just four league games this campaign, notching four goals for Ange Postecoglou’s men, in what has been a disappointing campaign for Spurs.

Jamie Vardy is another player linked with a switch to Elland Road this summer, after announcing he would be departing Leicester City when his current contract at the King Power expires.

The 38-year-old has spent the last 13 years of his career with the Foxes, registering 199 goals – potentially offering Farke’s side an experienced and Premier League-proven option in attacking areas.

However, despite the links to the aforementioned talents in recent weeks, another player in England’s top-flight has also been touted with a move, but the club would be better off looking elsewhere, given their respective stats.

Why one Leeds target would be a better signing than Beto

Everton striker Beto is one of the latest names on the list of targets for Leeds over the last couple of weeks, as the manager looks to bolster the options at his disposal.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Toffees for £30m in the summer of 2023, has been inconsistent at Goodison Park, often being in and out of the side and sharing the role with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

However, he’s still managed to register eight league goals throughout 2024/25, potentially being a reasonable option for the Whites, should they land him at a competitive price.

Despite the interest in the former Udinese star, Farke should be pursuing a move for fellow target Troy Parrott, with the Irishman undoubtedly a better option.

The 23-year-old, who currently plies his trade for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, has emerged as a target in recent weeks, but he may not come cheap consider some reports suggest the Dutch outfit won’t accept offers below at least £21m.

He’s registered a staggering 20 goals in his 45 appearances across all competitions this campaign, excelling in his first season at his current employers.

However, his impressive figures don’t stop there, massively outperforming Beto with his underlying stats, highlighting why he would be a better option this summer.

How Troy Parrott compares to Beto in 2024/25 so far

Statistics (per 90)

Parrott

Beto

Games played

28

28

Goals & assists

16

8

Progressive carries

1.3

0.7

Goals per shot-on-target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

70%

56%

Shot-creating actions

2.7

1.3

Passes into the final third

0.9

0.4

Stats via FBref

Parrott, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by former boss Ryan Lowe, has also notched a higher goal per shot-on-target rate than the Everton ace – further highlighting his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also completed more passes this season, whilst making more passes into the final third, handing the other attackers at Elland Road the opportunity to bolster their own tallies.

Their interest in his signature has been reiterated in recent weeks, but so far, it’s unclear how much a deal for the Spurs academy graduate would set them back this summer.

However, there’s no denying that the hierarchy should be pursuing a move for his signature over Beto’s, with the 21-year-old having bags of time to continue his development and be a potential star in Yorkshire.

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da bet esporte： In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Gus Poyet has backed Enzo Maresca to get Chelsea challenging for a league title next season.

Blues still on track for Champions League qualification

da bet vitoria： It has been a mixed season for the Blues, with qualification for the Champions League still very much in their grasp, although their task has been made much more difficult after the disappointing 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United last weekend.

If Maresca’s side do manage to get over the line, the campaign is likely to be viewed as a success, although their heavy spending under BlueCo ownership means they should have loftier ambitions in the future.

After a trophy-laden period under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, the west Londoners are yet to win a trophy since the arrival of Todd Boehly, which is something that will need to change in the very near future.

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That is according to former Chelsea man Poyet, who gave his thoughts on Maresca’s first season in charge, in partnership with BetBrain.

The 57-year-old said: “I think for him, Chelsea winning the European competition will be the platform to build on for next season. It’s always important winning a trophy for Chelsea and you cannot lose that.

The Uruguayan also suggested that while it would be a success to win the Europa Conference League, the Blues will need to start competing for major honours next season, saying the manager will know how: “Winning the European competition would be amazing. With all respects to them, two years ago they were young.

“They’re not young anymore, they’ve already played 80 games in the Premier League, so next year there is no excuses. They have to be better and they have to be more competitive? How? Well, the coach knows better than me what he needs.”

Maresca must start competing for major honours

Few would have predicted Maresca winning the Premier League in his first season at Stamford Bridge, and should his side manage to seal a top-five finish, it will be fantastic to return to the Champions League after a two-year absence from the competition.

However, Blues fans have become accustomed to success over the years, having won two Champions Leagues in the Abramovich era, and merely qualifying for Europe’s elite competition shouldn’t become the norm.

Although there may be some concerns about the form in the second half of the season, there has been some cause for optimism of late, with Chelsea securing crucial victories over the likes of Liverpool and Fulham.

Not only that, but BlueCo have already started work on potential summer signings, having identified some exciting targets in a range of different positions, so there is a clear ambition to kick on next season and challenge for the league.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£60m

Nico Williams

Athletic Club

£48m

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

£90m

Dean Huijsen

AFC Bournemouth

£50m

Gregor Kobel

Borussia Dortmund

£47m

da esoccer bet： Celtic have brought the curtain down on another successful campaign at Parkhead and could now be set to let go of one of their long-serving stars, per a report.

Change could be in the wind for Celtic this summer

da lvbet： Brendan Rodgers will feel disappointed that his side weren’t able to see a domestic treble over the line, but a double and tangible progress in the Champions League isn’t to be sniffed at in the grand scheme of things.

Nevertheless, the end to a long campaign has come at a good time for Celtic, who are already beginning to make decisions on the personnel that will prop up their talented squad next term.

Greg Taylor is now out of contract and may depart following an excellent six years of service, while talks are ongoing to resolve Jeffrey Schlupp’s future at Parkhead as his loan spell draws to a close.

Given his parent club Crystal Palace are currently paying him £60,000 per week, it remains to be seen if a deal will be thrashed out to take the Ghana international to Glasgow on a permanent basis.

Looking ahead, Rodgers has urged Celtic to use their Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen as fuel for next season: “Looking at the bigger picture, we won the league title, won the League Cup, sadly we just couldn’t go that next step. It’s been a really good season for us. This will hurt. That’s your motivation, that drives you going into next season.”

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Supporters will hope that extends to their transfer business, and they are already beginning to make tough decisions if recent reports are anything to go by.

Scott Bain set to leave Celtic on free transfer

According to The Herald, Scott Bain is set to be allowed to leave Celtic on a free transfer despite having a year left to run on his contract at Parkhead.

The 33-year-old will now seek first-team football elsewhere after becoming a distant back-up option to Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks.

Scott Bain’s trophy-laden career at Celtic

Appearances

78

Clean sheets

40

Trophies won

7x Scottish Premiership, 5x Scottish Cup, 4x Scottish League Cup

Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan is out of contract and is set to replace Bain at Celtic, which will help their homegrown quota in line with UEFA squad registration rules due to being a club-trained player.

Cutting his deal short may be an abrupt end to former Dundee star Bain’s time in Glasgow, but he has enjoyed some memorable success and filled in admirably when called upon by Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou and current boss Rodgers.

However, he hasn’t played a single minute since a 3-2 victory over St Mirren at the tail end of last campaign, so it makes sense for the former Scotland international to try his luck as a number one elsewhere.

da stake casino： Manchester City now have a genuine chance of signing a £45 million Liverpool target after making an approach about a potential transfer, according to a recent report.

Pep Guardiola threatens to quit Man City over squad size

da spicy bet： The Blues brought an end to the 2024/25 season at the Etihad on Tuesday night, beating AFC Bournemouth 3-1. City now have one final away game against Fulham on Sunday to ensure they are in the Champions League next season, but it is a campaign that Pep Guardiola is going to want to forget fairly soon.

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Given the poor start to the season, City spent big in January to try and better their chances of having a strong second half of the campaign. That didn’t fully go to plan, and now heading into the summer, Guardiola has revealed that he will leave City if the club doesn’t trim the squad down, as he doesn’t want to have players watching in the stands.

Guardiola told Sky Sports, via BBC: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad]. I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad; I will stay.

“It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”

Man City to fight Liverpool for Kerkez

While Guardiola wants his City team to be shortened down, the Blues hierarchy may have other ideas, as according to iNews, Man City want to sign Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth.

It was considered that Liverpool were the frontrunners to sign the left-back, as they have already held talks with the player about a move to Anfield, but as of yet they haven’t made a transfer offer. City have made enquiries about signing Kerkez, and they are now viewed as ‘genuine rivals for his signature’.

The fact Liverpool have not made an offer has left the door open for City, who are looking at bringing in a new left-back, as Guardiola wants a specialist player to play in that position. Incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is understood to be a fan of Kerkez.

Milos Kerkez’s Premier League stats

Apps

65

Goals

2

Assists

8

Kerkez, who has been dubbed a “mad man” by teammate Marcus Tavernier, is said to be valued at £45 million by the Cherries, and while he is under contract until the summer of 2028, there is an expectancy they will allow the player to leave as long as their price tag is met.

The 21-year-old has been at Bournemouth since the summer of 2023, and in his two years in the Premier League, he has gained many admirers for his direct, attacking style of play from left-back, a style that would see him flourish in teams such as Man City or Liverpool.

da pinup bet： Negotiations with Bayer Leverkusen are trundling on, but there’s a willingness from each party to see Liverpool sign Florian Wirtz in the coming weeks.

da esoccer bet： To be sure, this is a dizzying deal, but one which will provide Liverpool with a truly elite creative player, hailed by former Leverkusen man Patrick Helmes as “probably the best midfielder in the world.”

The thing is, Wirtz, 22, is pretty good. Sure, this is silly money, but is there honestly a player out there worth forking out a British-record sum for, barring, maybe, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak?

Florian Wirtz in the Bundesliga

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

32 (26)

31 (25)

Goals

11

10

Assists

11

12

Shots (on target)*

2.2 (1.1)

2.5 (1.3)

Pass completion

85%

82%

Big chances created

12

17

Key passes*

2.3

1.8

Dribbles*

2.5

2.6

Ball recoveries*

4.5

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

1.1

1.3

Duels won*

4.4

5.2

Data via Sofascore

Liverpool want bang for their buck, and they’ll get it with Wirtz, whose prowess as an attacking midfielder with elite ball-carrying skills allows him to play across a variety of roles, including out wide or in a more focal attacking berth.

It’s been a while since the Reds have had such a profile. Maybe you’d have to date back to Philippe Coutinho to find a player on Wirtz’s technical level, or somewhere similar.

Liverpool want Coutinho 2.0

Dominik Szoboszlai is an attacking midfielder, but he’s more industrious and workmanlike in his football, only clinching 15 goals and 14 assists from 94 Liverpool appearances since joining from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal.

What Slot wants is Coutinho 2.0, with Liverpool selling the Brazil sensation to Barcelona way back in January 2018 for a £142m fee. Jaw-dropping. That facilitated the transfers of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, effectively creating a base from which Jurgen Klopp achieved his illustrious successes.

Hailed by Klopp as a “world-class” player in his final full season at Anfield, Coutinho played an instrumental role in Liverpool’s meteoric rise, so prolific and influential, a cut above for much of his stay.

However, after his sale, Liverpool’s midfield reverted to a more focused and pragmatic style, albeit growing into something more dynamic over the past few years.

Wirtz has been picked out as the man to take the baton. Liverpool are confident they will seal the signing of the German international, but in football, as with life, you just never know.

That’s why FSG are ensuring they have a contingency plan.

Liverpool hold talks with Wirtz alternative

As per The Athletic’s ever-reliable David Ornstein, Liverpool have held talks with Lyon star Rayan Cherki, performing due diligence on a range of targets in case the bid for Wirtz falls through.

In fact, it’s understood that Slot left his holiday and flew to the south of France to have a face-to-face chat with the French talent, who is also being courted by Manchester City in a £25m deal after their withdrawal from the Wirtz race.

If Liverpool are to pip Man City to the 22-year-old, who will cost in excess of €30m (£25m), they will need to be quick about it, with Pep Guardiola looking to seal the deal in the coming days.

What Rayan Cherki would bring to Liverpool

Cherki is one of the most talented players in the world, one of the most gifted and skilful. The caveat is that he’s been tagged with a bad-attitude reputation, but his performances across the past year do speak of a new maturity.

With 32 direct goal involvements from 44 matches in all competitions this term, it’s clear Cherki is the real deal, even regarded by data analyst Ben Mattinson as “a Ballon d’Or level talent.”

Located centrally or toward the right wing, the left-footer is a creative menace with the ability to score a goal with standout finesse. Moreover, he appears to have reached a new level in regard to his output.

Rayan Cherki – Career Stats by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

44

12

20

23/24

39

3

9

22/23

39

5

6

21/22

20

2

4

20/21

30

4

4

19/20

13

3

2

Stats via Transfermarkt

Such qualities suggest he would bring a Coutinho-esque style to Slot’s Liverpool, especially when you see the underlying data.

As per FBref, Cherki ranked among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues this season for assists, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, as well as the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

Such metrics suggest Cherki is not only a playmaking wizard but a willing driver of the ball himself. Indeed, his flashy footwork and balletic twirls have foiled many Ligue 1 and Europa League backlines this term, something Coutinho produced at Liverpool.

So then, where are we with all this? Well, it’s improbable Liverpool would hijack Man City’s move for Cherki if indeed they reach an agreement with Leverkusen for Wirtz, and while that should happen, every day without a breakthrough is another day for Merseysiders to fret over that dreaded and sinking possibility.

However, if it were to happen, Liverpool could score an absolute blinder in stealing Cherki from Citizen clutches. Truly, he’s got the X-factor about him that players seldom possess. Wirtz is one of those rare geniuses, and Coutinho, back in his heyday, was another.

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da dobrowin： In what could be the first frustrating blow of Russell Martin’s tenure, one Rangers player who was once full of praise for Philippe Clement may reportedly make an immediate exit under the new manager.

Patrick Stewart welcomes "great" Russell Martin

da apostaganha： The Rangers managerial search is over at long last with Martin now officially appointed. The former Southampton boss arrives following months of speculation, which saw the Gers linked with Steven Gerrard, who would have been returning for a second stint in charge, and Davide Ancelotti, who would have been stepping into his first managerial role.

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In the end, Martin was the man for those at Ibrox and new owners the 49ers in a decision that they’ll hope to see pay dividends in the next 12 months. CEO Patrick Stewart has been among those to hand Martin a warm welcome, telling the official Rangers website: “We conducted a really rigorous process and I’ve been using that word a lot, process, but it is true here.

“The head coach for Rangers or any club is such a pivotal appointment in that they can take a group of individuals and turn them into a winning team, or not.

“It is the most important hire that I think the club makes and Russell came through different stages of the process always as a standout.

“We’ve been very thorough in terms of understanding the style of play and ensuring that is compatible with the style of football that the club wants to play. We need a head coach that is right for the club and Russell shows great leadership, he is a culture architect, so he is somebody we think will come in and really drive standards at Auchenhowie.”

The new manager has far from got an easy task on his hands, however, and reports have already revealed that he could yet be dealt an immediate blow on the transfer front this summer.

Trio of clubs express interest in McCausland

As reported by Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Basel, OH Leuven and FC Cincinnati have all made contact and expressed interest in signing Ross McCausland, who could make an immediate departure under Martin this summer. The 22-year-old is yet to sign a new deal at Ibrox and, therefore, has just two years remaining on his current contract.

Reportedly earning around £5,000-a-week in his current deal at the club, it remains to be seen if McCausland puts pen to paper on new and improved terms in Scotland. The young winger was a fan of former manager Clement and may now not even get the chance to work under a fresh face in Martin if he does depart.

Full of praise for his ex-boss, McCausland told reporters after netting the second goal in Rangers’ 2-0 win over Malmo in September: “There are a lot of things in my game now that he’s brought into my game. To be able to go out into these games and bring these things that I’ve been working makes it all worth it.”