All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers Premiership title hopes went up in flames on Boxing Day as they suffered their fourth league defeat of the season against St Mirren, conceding a late goal to lose 2-1.

If the pressure on Philippe Clement was easing up after several weeks of solid performances, then this defeat puts him right back at square one. Matches against Motherwell and Celtic are coming up over the next six days and more dropped points could see his position become untenable.

While thoughts are on these games, surely one eye is focused on the upcoming January transfer window, which gives the Ibrox side a chance to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Much will depend on how much of a budget the manager will be handed once the winter window opens next week, and he might have to sell a couple of players in order to raise significant funds.

This could see several players leave Ibrox, with one current first team player already attracting interest ahead of January – Cyriel Dessers.

Why Rangers should finally sell Cyriel Dessers

Unfortunately, Rangers are now in a position where they have to sell players before thinking of making signings, such is the nature of their finances.

Hopefully, Clement is ruthless and moves on those who are either taking up a place in the squad that isn’t warranted, or earning a lavish wage which is not representative of their performances on the field.

This could see a host of players depart the club next month, but it is Dessers who is the one attracting the most attention as of late.

Before Christmas, news emerged from France that Saint-Étienne were showing a keen interest in the striker ahead of making a potential move for the player once the window finally opens.

This wasn’t the first time that the Nigerian international had drawn interest from elsewhere. During the summer transfer window, Cagliari were hoping to bring the forward to Serie A, but no move ever materialised.

Things might have been different if Clement had more centre-forwards in his squad, but with Danilo still recovering from a knee injury and Hamza Igamane still settling in at Ibrox, it was perhaps too risky to sell Dessers.

January could be the ideal time for the club to recoup what they paid for him 18 months ago, especially as he hasn’t been the first choice over the previous few weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Across 28 games in all competitions for the Gers, Dessers has found the back of the net on 12 occasions, yet he has scored just three league goals since the start of September.

Recently, Danilo and Igamane have taken turns being deployed as the lone striker in Clement’s 4-2-3-1 system, meaning Dessers has had to settle for a place on the bench.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

16

6

Assists

4

2

Big chances missed

27

6

Big chances created

8

2

Shots per game

2.9

1.7

Additionally, the striker is also earning £27k-per-week, which places him among the highest earners at the club.

All of these factors should be taken into consideration with regard to his future. Is he contributing enough considering his high wage? The answer is no. Therefore, if a decent bid arrives, then the Light Blues should accept it.

This could free up funds for Clement to move for a player they have been linked with lately who is currently shining in South Africa…

Rangers' search for a striker

As reported by South African news outlet SNL24 (via the Scottish Sun), the Light Blues have been keeping a close eye on striker Iqraam Rayners, who currently plays for Mamelodi Sundowns.

“There has been an enquiry about Iqraam (Rayners) from Rangers of Scotland,” a source told SNL24.

“I don’t think there has been an offer from them at this stage. What I know is they have shown interest and they continue monitoring him.”

There is no information on how much Rangers would have to pay to bring the South African to Glasgow, but it appears he is doing everything right in order to earn a big move abroad.

If a move for Rayners is concrete, this could see Dessers finally packing in what would be a popular move among the supporters. That’s for sure.

How Iqraam Rayners compares to Cyriel Dessers

Rayners may be the same age as Dessers, but he is currently in the form of his life for his club side.

Across just 17 matches in all competitions, he has scored 13 goals while chipping in with an assist, a wonderful strike rate in front of goal, that’s for sure.

Indeed, throughout the entirety of 2024, he has notched 24 goals for two clubs, which has led writer Joshua Henricks to hail the player as “impressive” due to his goalscoring ability.

Domestically, Rayners averages 1.7 shots per game, has created one big chance while succeeding with 75% of his dribble attempts. Crucially, he has missed only one big chance, indicating that he is more clinical in front of goal than Dessers, who tends to miss a large number of chances.

The 29-year-old has also shone for his country throughout 2024, scoring four goals in ten games for South Africa, with two coming during qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations as the nation avoided defeat in their group.

This proves that he is able to star on the international stage, suggesting he may not be fazed by moving to Ibrox in January.

With Hamza Igamane making the move to Scotland from Africa earlier this year and adapting fairly well, hopes are high that Rayners, who has more experience than the young Rangers striker, could follow suit.

Once again, finances could be the crux of any potential deal. If interest in Dessers is genuine, then securing a decent fee for the 29-year-old could certainly aid in Clement’s future transfer plans.

Will Rayners be included in this? Only time will tell, but the South African has proven his talents in front of goal throughout the calendar year.

Not just Bajrami: Clement must drop Rangers man who lost 11 duels

Rangers suffered defeat to St Mirren on Boxing Day

1 ByRoss Kilvington Dec 27, 2024

A £25m player who possesses attacking “flair” has a verbal agreement with Aston Villa over a move in the current transfer window, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Aston Villa transfer news

There are plenty of incoming and outgoing rumours surrounding the Villans currently, with Jaden Philogene linked with a move away from the club in January. The 22-year-old has only managed two starts in the Premier League so far this season and talks are underway over a possible exit in the coming weeks.

Dewa United wide man Taisei Marukawa is a reported new signing for Villa, giving Unai Emery additional depth in attacking areas for the second half of the Premier League season.

Elsewhere, Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn is another player who has been backed to seal a move to Vila Park in the near future, having become one of the most dangerous players in the Scottish Premiership. He has nine goals and six assists in the league for the Hoops this season, with his ability to thrive on the right-hand side and cut inside so difficult to defend against.

One high-profile rumoured transfer target for the Villans is Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Asensio, who similarly adopts the same position as Kuhn. Whether the Midlands outfit are able to entice him to the club remains to be seen, though.

Aston Villa have verbal agreement with £25m ace

According to Jacobs on X, Aston Villa have a verbal agreement in place with Borussia Dortmund attacker Donyell Malen. However, the club are yet to strike a deal with the Bundesliga giants, who want £25m for the Dutch forward.

Malen has the potential to be such an eye-catching signing for Villa, so this update is hugely encouraging, as Emery searches for more attacking firepower in the final third.

The Dutchman has 59 goal contributions (39 goals and 20 assists) in 131 appearances for Dortmund, which outlines his end product, not to mention netting nine times in 41 caps for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, former Dortmund boss Marco Rose also once lauded his ability back in 2021, saying:

“We’ve always said that we’re convinced of his abilities, but it was always clear to us that he needs time to adapt. He has done that very well in the last few weeks. He’s playing with a lot more confidence, asking for the ball more, demonstrating his flair and chipping in in front of goal. Now we have to work to make sure he can keep it up.”

Borussia Dortmund

131

39

20

PSV Eindhoven

116

55

24

Arsenal Under-21s

24

7

2

PSV Eindhoven Under-21s

22

13

3

Arsenal Under-18s

21

11

4

At 25, Malen appears to be in a sweet spot in his career, possessing lots of experience but also being young enough to improve further, so Villa could be signing a player with another five or six years in him at the top level, at least.

What Arsenal could do with right now is a player of Santi Cazorla’s ability. The Gunners have toiled over the previous few months, struggling to make up the ground on runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, while they were defeated on penalties by Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.

In a season where Manchester City have seen a massive drop-off in performance, winning only 10 of their first 21 Premier League matches, Mikel Arteta should have taken inspiration from this.

Unfortunately, it looks as though they could finish the season trophyless once again. Injury issues have played their part, but the north Londoners haven’t looked like the fluent side that ran City so close over the previous two seasons.

£48m champ, £33m steal: 5 players Arsenal must consider signing this month

The Gunners may look to bring in reinforcements this month to strengthen their Premier League title bid.

ByDominic Lund Jan 6, 2025

The lack of a true out-and-out striker is harming their cause, with Kai Havertz often slotting into the lone centre-forward role. Will the transfer window see another attacker join the club?

The German has scored 12 goals, but it is clear he needs more support. Imagine a peak Cazorla linking up with the former Chelsea star in the current Arsenal side.

The Spaniard became a cult icon at the Gunners during his five-season spell with the club, scoring 29 goals and registering 44 assists. His positional flexibility allowed him to star in several positions for Arsenal, including as a number ten, out wide, and in a deeper role under Arsène Wenger during his latter seasons.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2016/17

11

2

3

2015/16

21

0

5

2014/15

53

8

15

2013/14

46

7

9

2012/13

49

12

13

Via Transfermarkt

If Arteta could call upon someone with his ability right now, some of his problems might disappear.

As such, we have taken an in-depth look at players who are playing right now whose playing style is comparable to Cazorla’s.

A couple of hidden gems, a youngster making his mark in the Premier League and someone who has won the Champions League and six league titles all feature…

1 Bernardo Silva Manchester City

The first player who certainly fits the style of Cazorla is Bernardo Silva, who has achieved so much since joining Manchester City in the summer of 2017.

The Portuguese star has become one of the key players for City during their dominance under Pep Guardiola. Indeed, across 383 games for the Etihad side, Silva has registered 139 goal contributions – 69 goals and 70 assists – while operating in positions that made Cazorla such a threat during his spell with the Gunners.

This season, Silva has created eight big chances in the Premier League while averaging 1.8 key passes and succeeding with one dribble per game – all attributes in which Cazorla excelled.

The 30-year-old has tended to drift out to the right wing throughout the season, as evidenced by his heat map on Sofascore, which is a position Cazorla excelled in.

A move to Arsenal isn’t exactly on the cards anytime soon, but there is no doubt Silva could act like Cazorla 2.0 for the club should the chance ever crop up to join Arteta’s side.

2 Pablo Torre Barcelona

If Silva is someone who won’t be wearing the Arsenal colours during his career, Pablo Torre is still young enough for Arteta to take a further look into his potential.

The 21-year-old moved to Barcelona in 2022 following an impressive spell at Racing Santander, but it took a few years for him to finally make an impact for the Catalan side.

This season, Torre has scored four times while grabbing three assists in just 10 matches, enhancing his reputation with every passing game.

Like Cazorla, Torre doesn’t bully the opposition with his physique, rather his intelligence and vision when on the ball.

He is certainly more at home in a more advanced role, particularly shining in the No 10 position – an area on the pitch where Cazorla was arguably at his best for Arsenal.

During the 2014/15 season, the Spaniard operated behind the striker on 15 occasions, registering seven goal contributions in the process.

When compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues via FBref, Torre ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes (7.36) and in the top 7% for pass completion percentage (83.1%) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

Not only does the youngster often look to pass the ball into the final third during games, but he is also content with circulating possession, enabling Barcelona to build attack after attack.

These sorts of traits were commonplace during Cazorla’s time at Arsenal, and if the 21-year-old is ever keen on leaving the La Liga giants, Arteta could do worse than bring him to north London.

5 players who could leave Arsenal this January

A number of players could be on the move this winter…

ByDominic Lund Jan 17, 2025 3 Harvey Elliott Liverpool

Perhaps not an obvious name when thinking about players who are similar to Cazorla, but Harvey Elliott fits the ball in more ways than one.

The 21-year-old hasn’t quite secured as much game time as expected under Arne Slot this season at Liverpool, making just 10 appearances across all competitions.

During his time on the pitch, he has played as a No 10, a right-winger and a central midfielder – all positions where Cazorla operated during his time at Arsenal.

Among his peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Elliott shines across a range of metrics that also made Cazorla stand out. Indeed, he ranks in the top 1% for shot-creating actions (5.59) and assists (0.67) per 90, while also ranking in the top 6% for progressive passes (8.13) and the top 5% for progressive carries (2.68) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

These statistics earmark him as a player who could offer similar qualities to Cazorla.

Judging by his lack of game time under Slot, could he potentially be available for a move away from Anfield in the coming months? If so, Arteta should perhaps be looking to bring him to the Gunners, especially as Elliott will want to continue his development in the Premier League.

4 David Pereira da Costa Lens

Like Torre, David Pereira da Costa is certainly a hidden gem when looking at those who demonstrate similar qualities to Cazorla during his spell in north London.

The 24-year-old has been impressive for Lens during his career so far, already racking up a total of 122 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, registering 23 goal contributions in the process.

Pereira da Costa has mainly operated as an attacking midfielder throughout his career, so he isn’t offering as much flexibility as Cazorla did at the Gunners, but his ability in this position means he could be a player following in the Spaniard’s footsteps.

Last season in Ligue 1, Pereira da Costa ranked in the top 24% for passes into the final third (3.07), the top 21% for touches in the defensive third (7.41) and in the top 14% for goals and assists (0.36) per 90.

This indicates that the midfielder not only looks to create chances in the final third for his team with his impressive passing ability, but he isn’t shy in dropping deeper to get the ball in his own half before moving it on.

During the latter years of his spell at Arsenal, Cazorla went from a player who influenced the game from out wide or just behind the striker, to someone who could use his talents at the heart of the midfield, utilising his impressive vision to pick a pass.

The Lens star is certainly an unheralded player in the French top flight, and he might just be someone that Arteta should be keeping his eye on over the next few months.

5 Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal

Ethan Nwaneri is one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the Hale End academy in recent years, arguably since Bukayo Saka made his debut over five years ago.

He became the youngest player to make an appearance in the Premier League when playing against Brentford in 2022 aged just 15 years and 181 days.

The 2023/24 campaign saw the Englishman feature just once, and it was evident that Arteta was keen on managing the hype and expectations surrounding his development.

Due to injury issues among his squad, the manager has now turned to Nwaneri on 18 occasions so far this season, with the 17-year-old even managing to notch five goals in the process.

Despite his tender years, the youngster has displayed plenty of Cazorla-like attributes. Firstly, he has operated in three positions this term: attacking midfielder, right-wing and central midfield – three areas where the Spaniard made such an impact.

Secondly, when he has been called upon in the Premier League, Nwaneri is already performing to a high standard across a range of metrics.

At the time of writing, he has an average pass success rate of 93%, along with succeeding with 70% of his dribble attempts and holding a goal conversion rate of 33% – impressive for someone so young.

If Nwaneri can continue to gain experience across all three of his positions in the coming months, Arteta might just have Cazorla 2.0 already in his first-team squad.

Mikel Arteta's 9 best signings at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has made some wonderful signings during his time in charge of Arsenal.

ByRoss Kilvington Nov 5, 2024

There is a possibility Tottenham Hotspur could sign a highly-rated forward on loan before the end of this January window, following reliably reported “concrete” talks with the player’s representatives.

Tottenham chasing first outfield signing of January window

Weeks after their £12.5 million deal for young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, which was confirmed at the start of January, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is still yet to see a new outfield player come through the door.

Lange threatening to open "surprise" Tottenham talks for once-£84m striker

Spurs are yet to seal an outfield signing this window.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 25, 2025

The Australian has publicly stated their need for help in the form of transfers, but Tottenham’s hierarchy are yet to land a fresh squad upgrade for the under-fire manager despite attempts.

Brentford (away)

February 2nd

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Tottenham did try to sign Randal Kolo Muani from PSG midway through the month, according to reliable media sources, with Juventus eventually beating them in the race for his signature on a season-long loan deal.

Despite their shortage of left-sided centre-back options, even when Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are both fit, Postecoglou’s side are believed to be prioritising a new attacker before deadline day on February 3rd.

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas says “all the focus” at Spurs is on bringing in a new forward, leading to their widely reported interest in Southampton starlet Tyler Dibling.

The versatile 18-year-old has racked up four goals and two assists in all competitions this season, over an impressive 24 appearances, and it is safe to say he is Southampton’s standout rising star right now.

Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claimed last week that Tottenham are the “biggest competitor” for Dibling’s signature, even if RB Leipzig really want to make a deal happen.

Plettenberg has also shared on X that Spurs are in “very concrete” talks with Dibling’s agents as well, and journalist Graeme Bailey’s got more news on their pursuit of the teenager.

Tottenham could sign Tyler Dibling on loan in January

Bailey, writing for The Boot Room, says that Tottenham could now secure a January loan deal for Dibling, on the condition it includes an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

The Englishman has apparently told St. Mary’s officials that he’s got no intention of signing a new deal, putting his long-term future into question, but the Saints are set to demand around £50 million for Dibling to fully leave.

While Spurs cannot afford such a fee this window, they may well look to bring in the England Under-21 international on an initial temporary deal and pay the fee later this year.

£50m could be deemed an extortionate price tag for Dibling, but his quality and serious potential may also make it a solid investment for the future.

“It is the quality he has got,” said BBC pundit Danny Murphy on Dibling this season.

“The belief in himself and the physical power. He just goes past people with ease. He has got a lovely left foot. He is very brave on the ball and his decision-making is good.

“It is difficult to get too over the top with these young players, because he has just come on to the scene, but he is going to be something special. It is great for him getting all these minutes at Southampton. They are giving him the freedom to play and giving him time to learn the game.”

Chelsea have been struggling for output at the top end of the pitch in recent weeks, despite scoring 45 goals in 23 games in the Premier League this season. Much of this output has come from the duo of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, and a cold patch for either one of them has proven an issue for the Blues.

Enzo Maresca’s wingers have had moments this season. For example, Noni Madueke scored a hat-trick against Wolves early in the campaign, and it is clear the Italian values their overall contribution, not just their goals and assists. However, when goals dry up elsewhere, the lack of output in wide areas begins to stand out more, which has seen a poor run of form occur for Chelsea.

Madueke has shown the most intent to provide numbers from wide areas, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in the league, whilst Pedro Neto has only managed one goal and two assists in the league, and Sancho just two goals and four assists.

It is especially apparent that the likes of Neto and Sancho prefer to create for others, which shows in their assist numbers compared to their goal tallies.

However, a left-sided winger who provides more goal threat could be a great route to add goals to this side alongside Jackson and Palmer going forward, and the Blues may have the opportunity to strike this window.

Chelsea's market opportunity this January

According to reports from L’Equipe, Barcola was “surprised, to say the least”, to see PSG bring Napoli winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to the club, considering they already have himself and Desire Doue capable of playing on the left.

This could be seen as a huge opportunity for other clubs, with Barcola having a very good season so far playing off the left, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists in 29 appearances so far.

Having been in such good form, Barcola is unlikely to accept becoming a back-up to PSG’s new £59m plus add-ons signing, which could leave top clubs around Europe on high alert to the situation, including Chelsea, who were previously linked to the Frenchman in prior transfer windows.

Why Chelsea must pursue Bradley Barolca

The other winger Chelsea have been linked with heavily this month, is Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United. The 20-year-old has made 33 appearances already this season in all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing five assists.

Whilst both options would provide a similar direct profile needed in wide areas, Barcola could prove to be better value for money, as both would likely cost upwards of £60m.

While the Frenchman is currently performing to a high standard, in recent months, Garnacho’s form has suffered, and he isn’t quite performing to that level currently, which, of course, presents risk.

Goals

0.59

0.39

Assists

0.20

0.24

xG

0.56

0.43

xAG

0.31

0.19

Progressive Carries

5.87

6.03

Progressive Passes

2.99

1.84

Progressive Passes Received

15.5

13.0

Shots Total

3.00

3.98

Goals/Shot

0.20

0.10

Key Passes

1.64

1.49

Shot-Creating Actions

3.68

3.28

Successful Take-Ons

2.14

1.26

Successful Take-Ons %

32.8%

30.6%

When comparing Barcola to Garnacho this season, you can see the Frenchman is clearly in better form, producing output at a higher frequency, and providing more creative and progressive actions for his team. That said, the United winger does slightly edge the progressive carries metric.

Barcola has been praised by data analyst Raj Chohan, labelling him a “high energy attacker” who repeatedly makes runs off the ball and stretches opposition teams with his dribbling and speed. This is seen in the data, receiving 15.5 progressive passes per 90, constantly making runs as an outlet, looking to beat his man when given the chance and provide output for his team.

Both players could have big impacts on the Chelsea attacking line, bringing more willingness to run in behind and therefore also giving the likes of Palmer more space to operate, but for the cost involved, Barcola – who has been described as “one of the best left wingers in Europe” by analyst Ben Mattinson, is likely the option with less risk attached.

Huge Jackson upgrade: Chelsea eye move for "monster" £67m Delap alternative

Chelsea still appear to be hunting for a new number nine this month, with one name high on their list.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 23, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have now opened talks to sign an £8.5m “goalscorer” who previously starred at Spurs’ stadium.

Tottenham and Ange eye new signing before deadline

Things haven’t been going to plan for Ange Postecoglou and his side on the pitch, with Spurs now in real threat of finding themselves in a relegation battle following the latest loss at home to Leicester City.

Prior to that defeat, Postecoglou admitted that his injury-hit squad could do with bolstering before the deadline: “I have daily communication with Johan in particular and he’s trying everything he possibly can to get the help we need. I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious and for me to come here and say something else would be disingenuous. This playing group needs help, there’s no doubt about that.

“We’re sort of playing with fire by not bringing anyone in, but the flip side of that is the club is trying to change that situation.”

So far, goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky is the only winter window addition in north London, but there have been rumours of another attacker arriving.

Tottenham exploring move for £80k-p/w ace they've wanted since Kane left

He could help them turn their season around if Spurs can land him for Postecoglou.

1 ByBen Browning Jan 29, 2025

Names including Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel and Lyon‘s Rayan Cherki have been mooted as attacking targets, and the club are now in talks for a Premier League forward.

Tottenham open Yoane Wissa talks

As per journalist Santi Aouna, Tottenham have opened discussions to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford, who is seen as a concrete target for Spurs before the deadline.

Within his report for Foot Mercato, Aouna states that Tottenham have approached Brentford over a deal and have also been in contact with Wissa and his representatives to express their interest.

Recently, Bees manager Thomas Frank said: “There’s a lot of rumours. For me, he’s a Brentford player, and in my opinion, Wissa is not for sale.”

Frank also hailed Wissa as a “goalscorer” back in 2023 after a 3-0 win over Fulham. “It’s about enjoying the wins that we get. Great goal by Wissa. It’s not as easy as it looked.

“I think they are super players. Wissa, we knew, has always been a goalscorer. He scored seven goals in the first season and seven in the second in the Premier League, for a player that didn’t play much. It’s remarkable. I definitely think he is best as a 9. He’s got that nose for goals.”

The 28-year-old, who cost just £8.5m back in 2021, has been in impressive form this season, averaging a goal every other game in all competitions.

Appearances

24

Goals

12

Assists

2

He has already matched last season’s tally of 12 goals in all competitions in 12 fewer games, so appears to be at the peak of his powers in England and even starred at Tottenham’s stadium back in 2023, scoring and providing an assist in a 3-1 win for Brentford.

It remains to be seen how likely a late January deal is for Wissa, but by the looks of things, it will be one to keep an eye on ahead of the deadline.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has lauded one player after the 5-0 victory over Raith Rovers, hailing him as an asset who possesses plenty of “pace”.

Latest Celtic news

The Hoops cruised to victory in the Scottish Cup on Saturday afternoon, making it into the quarter-finals, also being boosted by Rangers’ shock 1-0 defeat at home to Queen’s Park, further improving their chances of going all the way in the competition this season.

Daizen Maeda scored a hat-trick for Celtic, helping inspire them to a routine victory, and there were also goals for Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun.

Rodgers’ side’s victory means their hopes of winning multiple trophies this season are still very much alive, with the Hoops cruising in the Scottish Premiership, sitting 13 points clear of Rangers at the top of the table.

Scottish League Cup glory has also already been secured, following a penalty shootout triumph over the Gers in the final at Hampden Park, and there is a mouthwatering two-legged Champions League clash with Bayern Munich that starts this week. Celtic are clear underdogs in that tie, but supporters will be dreaming of progress to the last 16.

Celtic praises youngster who "can play"

Speaking to The Glasgow Times, Rodgers praised Celtic youngster Dane Murray, following an encouraging performance from the 6ft 4in centre-back against Raith Rovers:

“Dane would have started our Dundee game. The game that was cancelled, he was due to play in that game. He’s someone I’ve liked. He’s a young player who’s come through the system. A really talented young player, [he] had a challenging time with injury. He’s 6 foot 4, good pace, and can play.”

Granted, the win over Rovers was far from the biggest test that Murray will face in his career, but he did enough to suggest that he is an important figure moving forward.

The 21-year-old was a strong presence at the heart of Celtic’s defence, but he has made just four senior appearances for the club, including a brief cameo in the Champions League, being introduced as a late substitute in the 4-2 defeat away to Aston Villa.

Rodgers isn’t the only person to have commented on the sheer size and stature of Murray, with Alan Hutton complementing those attributes recently, saying:

“Me and Charlie (Mulgrew) aren’t exactly small. They were here warming up behind us and I said to him, ‘he is some size physically’. You can see, he is ready and built for it. It’s just about taking your chances. The manager has trust in him.”

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Celtic hit the jackpot by selling the star who is now worth more than Daizen Maeda.

2 ByDan Emery Feb 9, 2025

Murray will know that his chances will likely still remain limited between now and the end of the season, due to more experienced centre-backs featuring in important league and European matches, but the early signs are promising with him, and it will be fascinating to see him mature as a footballer in the coming years.

Arsenal’s victory against Leicester City yesterday was a vital one in terms of their slim hopes of claiming the Premier League title by the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Mikel Merino was the unlikely hero off the substitutes bench, scoring a double after replacing Raheem Sterling who had an afternoon to forget in the East Midlands.

The result puts the Gunners just four points behind Liverpool ahead of their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon – extending their unbeaten run to 15 league matches in the process.

The result was made all the more impressive given the injury crisis currently facing Arteta after Kai Havertz was the latest player to face a spell on the sidelines.

Such a situation needs to see the Spaniard’s senior options in the squad step up to the plate, but one of his regular starters was unable to have a huge positive impact on the result yesterday.

Martin Odegaard’s stats for Arsenal against Leicester

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has so often been the player to provide the goods in the final third for the Gunners in recent years, playing a huge role in their respective title charges.

The Norwegian has struggled to get going this season, only registering five combined goals and assists in his 17 outings, failing to register any contributions in each of his last two matches.

His latest display was evidence that he’s failing to match his high levels of performance, losing the ball 14 times during his 90-minute display and failing to complete any of his attempted crosses.

Odegaard only won 38% of his duels and was dribbled past once in the process, unable to make an impact at either end of the pitch at the King Power Stadium.

The same can’t be said for one player, who appears to be rapidly becoming the manager’s most important player after his showing against the Foxes yesterday.

The player who’s becoming Arteta’s most important player

The recent injury crisis to players within the final third has seen Arteta hand valuable first-team minutes to players who wouldn’t normally claim a starting role.

Sterling was one of the beneficiaries yesterday, but his dismal outing saw him replaced just after the hour, unable to take advantage of the chance handed his way.

However, fellow attacker Ethan Nwaneri was also handed a start in the Premier League, producing an outstanding display, softening the potential blow in Bukayo Saka’s absence.

The 17-year-old stepped up to the plate, registering an assist in the victory, whilst completing six of his seven attempted dribbles – the most of any player on the pitch.

Nwaneri also won 13 ground duels, hitting the woodwork twice, ultimately being desperately unlucky not to add himself to the scoresheet alongside Merino.

It was a display way beyond his tender teenage years, subsequently receiving a 9/10 match rating from the Daily Express’ Sam Smith, the highest of any starting player in Arteta’s side.

Minutes played

90

Touches

62

Assists

1

Dribbles completed

6/7

Ground duels won

13

Times hit the woodwork

2

Shots taken

4

Such a performance has demonstrated his serious qualities, with Arteta simply not able to drop him upon the return to action for multiple first-team players in the near future.

His ability to create carnage is something which Odegaard was unable to do in the win, with his showing demonstrating his importance to the side, arguably making him the club’s most pivotal star at this moment in time.

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Manchester City still have plenty of work to do under Pep Guardiola as the season nears a conclusion, but the 54-year-old already has an eye on potential arrivals at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Manchester City's core of serial winners at a crossroads

Despite emerging as the Premier League title favourites at the beginning of the campaign, City lie 20 points behind leaders Liverpool and won’t be celebrating a record-shattering fifth English top-flight triumph come the close of play.

Enacting a mini-rebuild in January, Pep Guardiola brought in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah to ease the pressure on an underperforming squad containing a core of ageing serial winners that may be ready for a new challenge elsewhere come the summer.

Kevin De Bruyne has been heavily linked with a move to San Diego FC, while Kyle Walker departed for AC Milan last month and is likely to bring the curtain down on his spell permanently sooner rather than later.

In truth, some of Manchester City’s most-cherished heroes are now beginning to depreciate in value. That isn’t a criticism, but merely a reality as time can become a ruthless commodity if you aren’t careful.

Manchester City players who are aged 30 or over

Ederson

31

Stefan Ortega

32

Scott Carson

39

Nathan Ake

30

John Stones

30

Mateo Kovacic

30

Bernardo Silva

30

Kevin De Bruyne

33

Ilkay Gundogan

34

Kyle Walker (on loan)

34

That isn’t to say their ability to produce magic moments has waned. However, anyone who has watched the Citizens this term can understand that a mix of injury issues and inconsistent form has seeped away at their collective hunger to win another title.

Nothing lasts forever despite the level of sentiment attached to any situation. Still, Manchester City could be involved in a transfer saga that will attract global attention this summer.

Manchester City hold talks over potential Ederson successor

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City have held talks over signing Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as a potential replacement for Ederson, who could be set for a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer.

Last year, the Brazil international came close to sealing a switch to the Middle East and may see the opportunity open up again. In response, the Blues have held ‘initial’ discussions regarding the Swiss-born Portugal international, who has kept 15 clean sheets in 37 appearances this term across all competitions.

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Referencing his one-on-one save to deny Benjamin Sesko during his side’s penalty shootout victory against Slovakia at Euro 2024, Roberto Martinez commended Costa’s ‘incredible’ reflexes to deny the RB Leipzig striker during extra-time.

Nevertheless, Ederson’s monumental contribution during Manchester City’s modern-day history has cemented a legacy few could replicate. During his eight-year spell between the sticks, the reigning English champions have won 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.

Understandably, he may have designs on a money-spinning move before the twilight of his career. Either way, Ederson would be an extremely difficult influence to replace inside the Etihad dressing room.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is pushing the Gunners to replace ex-sporting director Edu Gaspar with his preferred candidate, coming as the man in question receives a seismic offer from Saudi Arabia.

Why Edu left Arsenal as sporting director in blow for Mikel Arteta

Edu was responsible for the club’s record signing of England star Declan Rice, alongside other high-profile deals which have proved fruitful for the north Londoners, but the Brazilian officially resigned from his post in late 2024.

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Working in tandem with Arteta, Edu played a key role in facilitating the club’s transfer deals, and Arsenal have been attempting to cope without his influence ever since. Interim director Jason Ayto’s jumped into the 46-year-old’s stead, with Edu since revealing that he needed a new challenge.

“This was an incredibly hard decision to make,” said Edu after quitting Arsenal.

“Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history. It has been a special journey and I thank Stan, Josh, Tim and Lord Harris for the support they’ve given me.

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

“I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend. Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best.”

Edu has since agreed to join Greek billionaire Evangelos Marinakis’ footballing empire, where he will oversee the running of multiple clubs under his umbrella, including Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, the search for Edu’s long-term heir is believed to remain an ongoing situation at N5.

Ayto could even be considered for the Arsenal role full-time, having worked under Edu as his assistant, while some reports have suggested that Bayer Leverkusen chief Simon Rolfes is on Arsenal’s list of potential director candidates.

Mikel Arteta pushing Arsenal to appoint PSG director Luis Campos

According to Football Transfers, PSG director Luis Campos, who is out of contract this year, is also firmly on the Gunners’ radar as an option.

The big-name transfer chief was linked with the role at Tottenham during José Mourinho’s time in charge of the Lilywhites, and his contract situation at the Parc des Princes has sparked interest from a host of elite sides.

Arsenal are among the clubs pushing to appoint Campos, alongside both Chelsea and Saudi Arabia, with the latter presenting an offer worth around £165 million over the course of 10 years.

The Saudis want Campos to head an ambitious project, where he will oversee the development of an elite youth academy, which will eventually form a club side to compete in the Saudi Pro League.

Meanwhile, it is believed Arteta is personally driving Arsenal’s interest in Campos, as the Spaniard is convinced the chief’s footballing expertise could help to end the club’s two-decade-plus long wait for a title.