Category Uncategorized

Celtic are in the race to sign an "incredible" attacker this summer, according to a new report.

Celtic transfer rumours

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers are currently involved in an extremely tight Scottish Premiership title race with rivals Rangers, while they also find themselves in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

There is still plenty to play for on the pitch, but away from the field, those at Parkhead appear to be making preparations ahead of the transfer window.

Related Mark Guidi shares exciting Celtic transfer update he's been "told"

The Hoops are “back in the market”.

Posts ByCharlie Smith

Recent reports have suggested that Celtic are looking to sign at least three players ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, with a new goalkeeper, winger and striker being prioritised.

A few specific targets have been mentioned, such as Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and loanee Adam Idah making his move permanent. A new target has now emerged, though, one who has enjoyed a remarkable season in front of goal.

Celtic in Sammie Szmodics transfer race

According to Football Insider, Celtic are now in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szmodics.

The Hoops are thought to be battling Premier League outfit Brentford and a number of other unnamed top-flight clubs in England for the attacking midfielder, who recently made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland.

The 28-year-old has scored a whopping 27 goals in all competitions in 2023/24 and is the top scorer in the Championship. It is added that ‘Szmodics has been fielded as an attacking midfielder and a centre-forward this season and could provide great versatility if he moves to the Glasgow giants’.

Szmodics appears to be at the peak of his powers at Ewood Park, so a move to Parkhead could be a shrewd one by Hoops officials, especially if current attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley departs, as has been speculated.

Szmodics' best performances this season

WhoScored rating

Norwich City 1-3 Blackburn Rovers

9.17/10

Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Middlesbrough

9.05/10

Blackburn Rovers 4-2 Birmingham City

8.94/10

Queens Park Rangers 0-4 Blackburn Rovers

8.09/10

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Plymouth Argyle

7.96/10

He could therefore slot straight into the Celtic setup, with Szmodics a player who has been called “incredible” by former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.

"The development of Sammie is great to see. He's a team player, he's a goalscorer. He's very good in doing all the things we want, then of course scoring that amount of goals and also even getting assists.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"And still the good thing is, he can miss a chance and it doesn't matter, he can go on. Great character and great to see him getting the ball with him at home.

"After Christmas last season, I think he's been really good for Rovers and after the summer holiday, he's been extremely good. He's also added those goals.

"We always know he can score goals but he's not used to playing a lot of games at this level first of all, he played with Peterborough but not a lot. The way he's scoring goals, the confidence he's playing with and the role he takes as one of the senior players is quite incredible."

Manchester United could be set to lose one of their first-team stars next summer, with a fresh report revealing that he’s set to receive an offer alongside Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes – Saudi Arabia links

According to reports, Fernandes has emerged as a target for some of the biggest clubs in the Saudi Pro League who are keeping close tabs on his situation, with the same outlet claiming that his admirers are willing to offer up to £87m to prise him away from Old Trafford at the end of the season.

The Red Devils midfielder’s entourage are expected to hold talks with representatives from the wealthy division to discuss what a potential switch would look like upon the conclusion of the current campaign, but if the following update is to be believed, he might not be the only senior squad member heading for the exit door.

At the start of the season in the Premier League, Harry Maguire looked to have fallen significantly down the pecking order, but having started the past five consecutive games in the top-flight (Transfermarkt – Maguire statistics), Erik ten Hag appears to have handed the centre-back another lifeline.

West Ham United were heavily linked with a move for England’s international over the summer, whilst Everton also had a proposal rejected, and despite a deal failing to come to fruition for either club before the previous deadline, the 30-year-old is now attracting interest from a new potential suitor in the Serie A.

Juventus plotting swoop for Harry Maguire

According to JMania (via Sport Witness), Juventus are considering tabling a bid for Maguire next summer. The Allianz Stadium outfit are preparing a “monstrous offer” thought to be in the region of €30m (£26m) for their target, but with no further information available, it remains to be seen whether these claims are completely accurate.

Maguire has become "undroppable" under Ten Hag

Standing at 6 foot 4, Maguire is able to provide a real physical presence with his height at the heart of the defensive backline, and since being brought back into the team, he’s more than proved why he deserves to keep his place in the starting line-up at Man United.

The Sheffield-born talent is currently averaging 3.1 clearances and the same amount of aerial wins per game in the Premier League (WhoScored – Maguire statistics), but he’s also capable of posing a threat to the opposition when it comes to the action in the final third.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Sponsored by Puma, Ten Hag’s colossus has clocked up 54 goal contributions (29 goals and 25 assists) since the start of his career, so not only is he effective in his own position, but he can even help the side be successful at the top end of the pitch.

Since he’s returned to the team, Maguire has been described as an “undroppable” player by journalist Josh Bunting for the leadership qualities and the determination that he’s shown, so whilst a summer exit initially seemed likely, it might be a good idea to keep him in the building beyond next summer.

Arsenal are reportedly still in the race to sign Ajax ace Mohammed Kudus, as Mikel Arteta looks to add more midfield reinforcements this summer.

The Spaniard, along with Edu, has recruited strongly this window, adding the likes of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice to bolster the middle of the park ahead of the highly anticipated 2023/24 campaign.

Despite spending over £200m, the spending is not expected to stop yet, with a long way still to go in the transfer period.

Could Arsenal sign Mohammed Kudus?

As reported by the Independent writer Miguel Delaney on Wednesday, Arsenal remain contenders to sign Kudus, with fierce competition noted.

The report claims that rivals Chelsea are leading the pursuit for the midfielder, for a fee in the region of £40m.

The believed viewpoint is that the Blues would be able to ‘price Arsenal out of any prospective deal’ for the 22-year-old, taking into consideration the Gunners’ spending spree early into the window.

How good is Mohammed Kudus?

Lauded as the “complete midfielder” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Ghanaian prevailed as one of the best performing attacking midfielders in Europe.

As per FBref, over the past year, the Ajax sensation averaged 4.57 successful take-ons and 0.58 expected non-penalty goals per 90, ranking him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders in leagues equivalent to the Eredivisie.

For Arsenal, signing a player in the calibre of Kudus could be an additional show of the club's ambition on the back of their title-challenging 2022/23 campaign.

The Gunners fell short to the magnificent treble-winning Manchester City side due to their sheer quality and the lack of depth in Arteta’s side, an area that must be addressed ahead of next season.

In adding the likes of Rice and Havertz, the Spaniard has recruited quality as well as adding to the numbers, however the north Londoners will face a transitioning period following the departure of a first team regular.

After seven years at the Emirates, Granit Xhaka bid farewell to life in the Premier League to embark on a new challenge with Bayer Leverkusen, leaving Arsenal without the brilliance of the Swiss.

The 30-year-old had a controversial stay in London – having memorably been stripped of the captaincy in 2019 – however his role in the Gunners’ rise in form showed just how integral his presence really was.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Transitioned to a more advanced number eight role, the former Arsenal captain was freed of his recklessness in deep midfield to flourish as the perfect ball-playing midfielder while maintaining his combative nature, notably scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in the league last season.

A similar task could be taken up by Kudus, who excelled in the final third last term, as highlighted by his 11 goals and three assists in Eredivisie.

Alongside his advanced strengths, the midfielder won 52% of his total duels, averaging 5.6 duel wins per game for Ajax in the league campaign, showcasing his ability to multitask in pivotal areas.

Arteta could land the perfect replacement for Xhaka, in a player with a host of potential and versatility, however with the Ghana international in demand this summer, the Gunners will have to ramp up their pursuit to out-gun the likes of Chelsea.

Arsenal have enjoyed an unprecedented season, which although has faltered in recent weeks, could very well still culminate in the capture of the Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta has worked wonders to evolve what was a side that could barely achieve a top-four spot into true competitors for the unflappable Manchester City, and to fall at this final hurdle would be a heartbreaking experience, although one the Gunners can remain proud of.

At last, they seem to have returned to the pinnacle of English football, and the Spaniard will seek to keep them there for as long as possible.

Such steady growth into their current state was curated over years of careful planning, which saw big names pushed to the exit door in favour of a new model of player. The 41-year-old was not afraid to cull previous fan favourites if they did not subscribe to his ideals.

However, he was just as likely to outline a ruthlessness with those who were also deemed to be lacking the requisite quality to perform at the top level that he foresaw his side at.

The likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and David Luiz were all casualties of their dwindling abilities. Now, in this coming summer, the same could be set to happen to Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

How has Ainsley Maitland-Niles played out on loan?

It feels like the 25-year-old has always had something a bit special, but never quite seemed to pin down exactly the kind of footballer he wanted to be. At times an attacking midfielder, then shifted deeper, even the wing was his home for many years which gave credence to the occasion stint at wing-back too.

This London-born trickster is the epitome of the phrase: jack of all trades, master of none.

Having graduated from the club's prestigious Hale End academy in 2014, a whopping 11 years after he had first joined the club as a youngster, the £35k-per-week nomad has only mustered 132 total appearances for the north London outfit, scoring three and assisting eight.

Such a lack of mastery in a sole position has often led Maitland-Niles to be snubbed in favour of a bigger name, who has shone in one specific position all their careers. As such, he has endured four different loan spells throughout his career, three of which have come since Arteta's arrival.

That is certainly a damning indication of the midfielder's standing within the new manager's squad. It even led to a strange deadline day social media fiasco back in 2021, in which the 5 foot 10 star was refused a move to join Everton on loan only for him to post online pleading with the club to release him.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

This led talkSPORT's Simon Jordon to launch into a scathing rant on the conduct of the wantaway ace: "They need to understand that they are the sum of a part and that part is a football club who they’re employees of and they need to do as they’re told.

"Why isn’t he in Arsenal’s team? Because the team stinks right now, so he has to look at himself as the reason why he isn’t in Arsenal’s team. His performances last year at West Brom didn’t pull up any trees, and secondly you are a professional footballer."

With a relationship not to be desired with the head coach, and an average 6.81 rating during his time on loan at rock-bottom Southampton, this summer should mark the end of a stuttering career in the captial for the boyhood Gooner.

Southampton striker Che Adams won’t be ‘allowed to leave’ the St. Mary’s Stadium before the deadline on Tuesday night, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Everton’s interest

The Scottish international has now entered the final 18 months of his contract on the south coast, and having not yet put pen to paper on fresh terms, has been linked with an exit this month.

Premier League rivals Everton are the club to have recently been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, with rumours suggesting that Nathan Jones’ side would sanction a sale should they find a suitable replacement, though it appears that is no longer the case.

The Latest: Crook’s update

Taking to Twitter, Crook revealed that Southampton aren’t in fact thinking about letting Adams go, with the player set to remain in red and white for the foreseeable future.

“Told there is no truth in claims Che Adams will be allowed to leave #SaintsFC this month. Not even under consideration.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

Adams was previously dubbed a ‘phenomenon’ by former Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, and making the decision to keep hold of him for at least the rest of the season is the right one.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Leicester-born talent has posted ten goal contributions in 24 appearances across all competitions so far this campaign and makes a brilliant target man, averaging 2.5 aerial wins per league game.

Adams will have a significant role to play in trying to help his side escape relegation over the next few months, but should the club drop down to the second tier, they may have no choice but to cash in on some of their most prized assets later in the summer.

The Daily Record recently reported that five Glasgow Rangers players will be allowed to move on from Ibrox before the end of the January transfer window.

Kieran Dowell, Clinton Nsiala, Nedim Bajrami, Danilo, and Rabbi Matondo are all free to leave in the coming weeks on permanent deals, whilst Lyall Cameron could be sent out on loan for the rest of the season.

It is not a surprise to learn that Danny Rohl wants to move on from Dowell, for example, because he has not played a single minute of competitive football since August, having been given a chance by Russell Martin at the start of the campaign.

Rangers in talks to sell flop

On top of Dowell and the other four players mentioned in that Daily Record article earlier this month, another Light Blues flop is on his way out of the club.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

According to Joshua Barrie, Glasgow Rangers are “in talks” with Argentinian outfit Huracan over a deal that would see Oscar Cortes make the move to South America.

The winger, signed by Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen, is currently on loan with Sporting Gijon in Spain, but this move would see that loan cut short so that he can move to Argentina.

Barrie claims that the two clubs are currently in talks over a deal that would be a loan with an option or obligation to buy, which means that they are looking to sell the Colombian forward.

However, it remains to be seen how much money Hurucan are willing to pay at the end of the loan to make the deal permanent in the summer transfer window.

Why Cortes has been a bigger flop than Dowell

With Cortes seemingly now on his way to leaving the club on a permanent basis, it is hard to say anything other than that he has been an even bigger flop than Dowell.

The English midfielder has not been a success at Ibrox. Since signing on a free transfer from Norwich in 2023, he has contributed with two goals and three assists in 38 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

He has not offered anywhere near enough quality in the final third, hence why he has found himself on the fringes ahead of a January exit, but it must also be recognised that the ex-Canaries star joined on a free.

Cortes, however, was signed for a whopping fee of £4.5m from Lens in the summer of 2025, after an obligation to buy was put in his loan deal in 2024.

The obligation to buy meant that the Gers had to pay £4.5m for a player who had only scored one goal and provided one assist in 16 Scottish Premiership games in 18 months for the club, per Sofascore.

Rangers defender Richard Foster said that Cortes “looked miles off it” when given an opportunity shortly before the loan deal had to be made permanent, and interim boss Barry Ferguson suggested that he needed to up his levels in training to get more game time.

After signing permanently, despite his struggles across his 18-month loan stint, the winger was sent out on loan to Sporting Gijon for the 2025/26 campaign, but he has failed to deliver a goal or an assist in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Rangers career

Dowell

Cortes

Fee

£0

£4.5m

Appearances

38

19

Goals

2

1

Big chances created

4

1

Assists

3

1

Game stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Cortes and Dowell both look set to permanently end their Rangers careers with fairly dismal statistics, given that they are both attacking players.

Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer analysis Unpack big-money signings, failed transfers and what they reveal about club strategy; subscribe to the newsletter for clear, focused analysis of transfer fees, player performance and market implications to stay informed.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It is the Colombian, however, who looks like the bigger flop and worst signing out of the pair, because he has not offered as much on the pitch, whilst costing a significant fee, rather than joining on a free transfer.

Rangers have only signed eight players for more than £4.5m in their history, including the likes of Ryan Kent, Youssef Chermiti, and Tore Andre Flo, which illustrates how costly the Cortes deal was.

With that in mind, albeit without knowing how much money they could recoup for his services as part of the option to make this potential loan permanent, the 22-year-old dud may have to go down as one of their biggest ever flops.

Related Rohl can bin Aasgaard by signing £5m gem who'd be a "huge coup" for Rangers

Danny Rohl could drop Thelo Aasgaard from the team with a Rangers swoop for this reported target.

Posts ByDan Emery

The money they paid to sign him, the lack of output on the pitch, and the failed loan before a permanent exit from Ibrox all point to him going down as a huge flop.

Glasgow Rangers made their way through to the play-off round of Champions League qualifiers with a 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen on aggregate.

The Light Blues traveled away from Ibrox to play the second leg in Czechia on Tuesday night and lost 2-1, but it did not matter in the end thanks to their 3-0 win in Glasgow last week.

Russell Martin will not be happy with the nature of his team’s performance in this match, despite it not mattering overall in the tie, because there were several players who did not play to the best of their ability.

Djeidi Gassama made a lightning fast start to life at Ibrox with four goals in his first five matches, but it is fair to say that this was a step down from what supporters have already gotten used to from the winger.

Djeidi Gassama's performance against Viktoria Plzen

The overall team performance did not help the French forward, it must be said, but the former Sheffield Wednesday man failed to make a positive impact on the match.

In 87 minutes on the pitch, Gassama did not register a single shot on target or create any chances for his teammates, which shows that he offered very little, if anything, in the final third.

However, the 21-year-old talent did win four of his nine duels and completed two of his three attempted dribbles, as per Sofascore. He competed and tried to put himself around for the team, albeit it was coupled with ineffective play in the important part of the pitch.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Expand Collapse

Whilst Gassama was not at his bes in the final third in a fairly disappointing display, Mohamed Diomande was even worse than him in the middle of the park.

Why Russell Martin must drop Mohamed Diomande

Looking past the League Cup clash with Alloa at the weekend, Martin must ruthlessly drop the Ivorian midfielder from the side to face Club Brugge next Tuesday in the play-off round.

Diomande, who was handed a 4/10 player rating – lower than Gassama’s 5/10 – by IbroxNews, struggled with the physicality and intensity of the match in the middle of the park.

Viktoria Plzen’s players found it far too easy to get the better of him, which helped the home side to assert their dominance on the game, by winning five of their six duels against him, per Sofascore.

Vs Viktoria Plzen

Mohamed Diomande

Minutes

68

Pass accuracy

90%

Ground duels won

1/5

Aerial duels won

0/1

Tackles + interceptions

1

Dribbled past

2x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Diomande lost 83% of his duels across his 68 minutes on the park, and was dribbled past more times than he made defensive interventions.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

These statistics show that he was a lightweight out of possession in midfield, whilst Lyall Cameron won three of his five duels and Nicolas Raskin won four of his seven battles, and that is why he was even worse than Gassama, who at least put himself about for the team and showed his strength on and off the ball.

Diomande was the weak link in the middle of the park next to his midfield partners, which is why Martin must consider ruthlessly ditching him from the XI when Club Brugge come to Ibrox, as Joe Rothwell is waiting in the wings to take his place next to Cameron and Raskin.

Related Better signing than Mendy: Rangers line up move to bring £8m star to Ibrox

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal for a star who would be an even better signing than Nobel Mendy.

Posts ByDan Emery

It is now down to Martin to be ruthless with his decision-making by dropping the left-footed flop from the starting line-up for such a huge match against the Belgian outfit.

Manchester United are now ready to sign a “machine” midfielder this summer, with Ruben Amorim eager to bolster his options in the middle of the park, but a move may only be possible on one condition, according to a report.

Man Utd searching for a midfielder

Given that Casemiro’s days as a Man United player could be numbered, Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of potential replacements have been identified.

The likes of Adam Wharton, Hugo Larsson and Joao Gomes are on the shortlist ahead of what is Amorim’s first summer transfer window as United boss, and the manager could have a major rebuilding job on his hands.

A 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City at the weekend is not the worst result on paper, but it leaves the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League table, having fallen way below expectations, with a Europa League triumph their last chance of having a successful season.

Related Man Utd make Liam Delap top transfer target as Chelsea ready summer bid

United and INEOS are looking to beat Chelsea to a rising star.

Posts ByBrett Worthington

Winning the Europa League would, of course, grant qualification to the Champions League next season, which could be crucial for Man United’s summer transfer business.

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now ready to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Amorim eager to bring in a midfield partner for Manuel Ugarte.

Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Lyon (a)

April 10th

Newcastle United (a)

April 13th

Lyon (h)

April 17th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

April 20th

AFC Bournemouth (a)

April 27th

The Atalanta star has a price tag of around £52m, so he will not come cheap, and the Italian club are determined to keep hold of him, given the level of his performances this season.

A deal would be easier to facilitate if Amorim’s side secure qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, given the financial benefits provided.

"Machine" Ederson impressing in the Serie A and Europe

Atalanta are in a very strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and the Brazilian has been one of the first names on the team sheet, making 30 Serie A appearances, during which time he has provided three goals and two assists.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

While the 25-year-old is capable of being a threat on the front foot, he is also solid defensively, winning 100% of his tackles and aerial duels against Arsenal earlier this season, in what Statman Dave branded a “top display”.

It is not the first time the maestro has impressed in Europe in recent memory, with football writer Carlo Garganese branding him a “machine” after his performance against Bayer Leverkusen in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph last season.

As such, Ederson could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point it is vital Amorim brings in a midfielder, despite a recent improvement in Casemiro’s performances, with the 33-year-old midfielder making 11 tackles against Man City.

Newcastle United need to win in the Premier League today. Eddie Howe has to stop the patchy form and use Leicester City’s trip to Tyneside as a springboard for a fresh run of promising form.

St. James’ Park might have tasted an unwelcome defeat by West Ham United three weeks ago, but that result stands as an outlier, with great spirit shown at the start of December to draw 3-3 with imperious Liverpool.

Newcastle: Recent Record vs Leicester

Season

Competition

Result

22/23

Premier League (H)

0-0 draw

22/23

Carabao Cup (H)

2-0 win

22/23

Premier League (A)

3-0 win

21/22

Premier League (H)

2-1 win

21/22

Premier League (A)

4-0 loss

20/21

Premier League (A)

4-2 win

20/21

Premier League (H)

2-1 loss

Stats via Transfermarkt

Luckily, Newcastle boast a pleasing record against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men across the past several seasons, unbeaten in four fixtures across all competitions.

Of course, there are some injuries that Howe is forced to contend with.

Newcastle injury news

Having made four cameos following an injury-ravaged start to the season, Callum Wilson has picked up a hamstring problem and will be out until well into the new year.

The blow is compounded on the other end of the field, with Nick Pope ruled out for about a month with a minor knee ligament problem.

For both to be unavailable throughout the entirety of Newcastle’s busy festive period is concerning, though midfielder Joe Willock and Lewis Miley are making good progress as they target returns from respective injuries, albeit Saturday comes too soon for the pair.

Away from the fitness front, Howe might be wise to ring a few changes anyway, with Tino Livramento perhaps worth moving to the bench for this one, with Kieran Trippier stepping in.

Howe must unleash Kieran Trippier

Livramento has started the past eight Premier League matches in succession for Newcastle, not missing a minute. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old hasn’t always enjoyed the finest performances and has suffered in recent games against Liverpool and Brentford.

While Livramento does have his strengths, the England international has averaged only 0.3 crosses per top-flight game this term, as per Sofascore, with a success rate of 20%.

His defending is indeed leaving something to be desired too. After Brentford won 4-2 last weekend, The Northern Echo chalked him down with a 4/10 score, criticising his weak presence on the right flank and embarrassment in being beaten too easily by Kevin Schade for the Bees’ fourth.

Last season, Trippier fizzed in 2.5 crosses per match, and his absence from the starting line-up has clearly had an adverse effect on the Magpies’ creativity, with Newcastle ranked joint-14th for big chances created in 2024/25 (25) after finishing joint-second with 97 last year.

The 34-year-old might be getting on a bit, but he can still inflict damage on a Leicester backline that has shipped 30 goals this season – Wolves and Southampton are the only teams to have conceded more.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Trippier’s ball-playing ability and experience could see him hold the key to unlocking the shaky Leicester defence and ensuring Howe’s side get back on track. Former England manager Gareth Southgate also called him a “soldier” once, hinting at a determined defensive style that might be called into play against the evergreen Jamie Vardy.

After all, he still ranks among the top 8% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Though there are claims that he has been transfer-listed and Newcastle will field January enquiries, it isn’t the new year yet, and United can surely make good use of their captain’s qualities. They certainly need a sprinkle of magic.

Related 0 games in 24/25: Howe can ease Wilson blow by unleashing Newcastle teen

Callum Wilson has picked up a new injury and will be sidelined for several months.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Aston Villa chiefs have told a £17 million striker's camp that they want to sign him before deadline day, with the Midlands club also informing his club of their serious interest.

Villa spend £150m on eight major signings to back Unai Emery

Despite concerns surrounding PSR throughout the transfer window, coming after Villa announced a near-£120 million loss for the 2022/23 season, transfer chief Monchi, NSWE and the wider recruitment team have still garnered funds to strengthen Unai Emery's squad.

Related Agreement reached: Aston Villa lining up PL star who's better than Watkins

Unai Emery could land a Premier League striker this summer…

Posts ByRoss Kilvington

Joao Felix is attracting serious interest from Villa Park as well, so the Premier League side may not even be done just yet, having spent £150 million in total on eight major signings so far with weeks of the window still remaining.

Emery's men most recently announced their bold capture of Belgium international midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton, who joined in a £50 million deal from Goodison Park, with the 22-year-old backing himself to go to the "next level" under Emery.

All of Aston Villa's confirmed summer deals

Player

Fee paid

Amadou Onana

£50 million

Ian Maatsen

£38 million

Jaden Philogene

£18 million

Cameron Archer

£14 million

Samuel Iling-Junior

£12 million

Lewis Dobbin

£10 million

Enzo Barrenechea

£7 million

Ross Barkley

£5 million

via Transfermarkt

"I’ll be playing in the Champions League again and that’s very exciting," said Onana (BBC).

"We also have a manager that’s one of the best in the business and I think he can take my game to the next level. Youri [Tielemans] played a big part in me being here because he told me lots of good stuff about the club."

Villa's qualification for the Champions League brings a more congested fixture list and added pressure to succeed for Emery, so reinforcing the squad with needed upgrades is a necessity before 30th August.

To balance the books concerning PSR, Monchi facilitated some high-profile exits, with Moussa Diaby joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for around £50 million and Douglas Luiz making a move to Serie A giants Juventus.

In total, Villa have brought in around £108 million through player sales, meaning they've registered a net spend of £42 million in what has been a very busy window for them.

Jhon Duran could still leave Villa in the coming weeks as well, so Emery and could will need to source a replacement for the Colombian and bring in a backup for star striker Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa tell Jean-Philippe Mateta's camp they want to sign him

As per Standard Sport journalist Dom Smith, that player could well be Crystal Palace marksman Jean-Philippe Mateta.

It is believed Villa have informed Mateta's camp that they want to sign him for Emery, and they've also told Palace this, coming after he scored 19 goals and registered a further five assists in all competitions last season under Roy Hodgson and then Oliver Glasner.

FootballFanCast General: Subscribe and never miss what matters Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Eagles are trying to tie him down with a new contract, as his current deal expires in 2026. Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Torino are also keeping tabs on Mateta, who is currently representing France at the Olympics in Paris.

The 27-year-old scored France's winner against Argentina in their quarter-final clash on Friday, setting up a semi-final tie, with the prospect of an Olympic medal very much alive.

Reports have claimed the forward could cost around £17 million to prise away from Selhurst Park, but it remains to be seen if this will be enough as Palace attempt to secure his future.