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Manchester United are believed to be interested in Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund who is set to change his agent ahead of the summer transfer window.

Have United for the striker for the future?

Going into the summer transfer window, it is believed the Red Devils will be setting their focus on finding themselves a new number nine.

And one of the players who could potentially be an option over the coming months is the young Danish striker, Hojlund, according to reports in Denmark (via SportWitness).

The striker only made the move to the Serie A side in the previous summer transfer window but it seems as if they may come under pressure to sell him.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the 20-year-old could be putting plans in place to potentially aid a possible move away from Atalanta in the summer:

(1:20) "From what I understand, many clubs around Europe are following him with Atalanta, with the Danish national team, clubs from England clubs from Germany. So there is a lot of movement around Rasmus Hojlund."

"I'm told and this is important information, that Rasmus Hojlund is set to pick a new agent in the next days/weeks ahead of the summer transfer window and we know how important are agents to decide about the next move."

Should Hojlund be a target this summer?

United's biggest issue this season has been their lack of goals coming from an out-and-out striker with a heavy reliance put on the shoulders of Marcus Rashford.

This has led to reports suggesting the club are going into the summer with an interest in the likes of Harry Kane who has shown consistent returns in the Premier League over his career.

Given United have been linked to players of Kane's calibre, it would be interesting to see whether Hojlund may be seen as too big of a risk to take at this stage in his career.

The 20-year-old has not even completed one season yet in one of Europe's big five leagues, but he is showing a lot of promise.

Hojlund has made 23 appearances in Serie A this season with 14 of those coming from the starting XI and his returns have been on the up since the turn of the year (via Transfermarkt).

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The Danish striker has returned seven goals in the league thus far but six of those have come since the turn of the year in the space of 12 games.

Reports suggest his recent form in Italy has garnered him interest from other Premier League sides with both Arsenal and Newcastle United also believed to have him on their radars.

Hojlund has also carried his impressive form into the international break where he has netted five goals in their two games against Finland and Kazakhstan.

And this has seen the Danish press grow increasingly excited for the potential player their national side could have for the future with the outlet B.T. hailing him as "magic".

Everton now seem to be closing on their first signing of the January transfer window…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who took to Twitter to issue an update on Frank Lampard’s pursuit of Arnaut Danjuma as the Toffees are in talks to sign the Villarreal sensation.

With the numerous clubs that had reportedly shown an interest in the Dutchman, this claim from the Italian journalist will be a welcome one for Evertonians who are yet to see their team make any steps into the market.

Romano wrote:

“Crucial hours for Danjuma’s future. He will make a decision very soon, Everton are in advanced position and working on clubs side with Villarreal to get it done.

“There are other clubs in the race, up to Danjuma — Everton have medical tests booked”.

The Spanish club hope to recover the bulk of the €20m (£18m) they spent to acquire him, but may have to wait for that payment.

“Pure magic” to Goodison

With all the unrest surrounding the club, it seems strange to see a glimmer of hope emerge from the misery.

Sitting joint-bottom of the table and in the midst of an ongoing feud between the fans and the board of directors, Everton is a club fragmented.

But, the addition of such a maverick presence like Danjuma could be the catalyst to repair these connections, hoping to bring back that winning feeling to Goodison Park that will allow him to thrive.

The 25-year-old has been described as able to “conjure moments of pure magic out of absolutely nothing” by journalist Casey Evans, which is something that could finally get fans excited about returning to their home ground once more.

This is a statement supported by his last season in England, where he tore up the Championship for AFC Bournemouth.

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Whilst scoring 15 and assisting seven, the trickster would also record 1.5 key passes per game as well as a 46% dribble success rate, as he was named in the division’s Team of the Season.

With this, he would earn his big move to Villarreal, where he translated that form into success in Spain. He would score a further 16 and assist four in all competitions on his way to a Champions League semi-final too.

With pedigree and ability beyond most in the Everton dressing room, Danjuma’s potential signing comes as a huge but welcome surprise.

He could truly be the one to return the feel-good factor to Goodison Park, with his magic ability in the final third, and hopefully be the saviour to drag them out of another relegation battle.

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed that Patrick Roberts could travel with the squad for the Championship fixture against Luton Town on Saturday after injury.

The Lowdown: Knock in training

Speaking to the media after his team’s 4-2 defeat against Burnley at the Stadium of Light last weekend, Mowbray confirmed that the 25-year-old had ‘picked up a knock in training’, meaning that he had to sit out the game.

The Black Cats boss added that he would have to see how the week develops before deciding whether to bring Roberts back into the squad for the trip to Kenilworth Road.

The Latest: Could travel

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match at the weekend, Mowbray has stated that both Roberts and Ellis Simms could travel with the Sunderland squad and play a part against Luton, after stepping up their recoveries from injury.

The 58-year-old said: “We hope Ellis will be back. He has felt it a bit on occasion, but he’s trained all week. When he does come back will be a huge boost for us.

“Patrick trained on Thursday and came through well. If there’s no reaction on his hamstring, he’ll travel for the game. It seemed more fatigue-based than an injury, but you always have to be careful with a hamstring issue. Burnley was too soon to risk him.”

The Verdict: Big boost for Sunderland

To have Roberts back in the squad along with Simms would be a big boost for Sunderland.

The former Manchester City winger had started the Black Cats’ previous eight games in the league before the defeat to Burnley, picking up two goals and one assist (Transfermarkt) as he established himself as a key player under Mowbray.

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Roberts currently ranks as Sunderland’s fifth-best performer in the Championship, ranking highly among his team-mates for average shots and key passes per match, while nobody at the club dribbles more than him per outing (WhoScored).

Adding him and Simms to the attack should give the Wearsiders a huge goal threat against Luton on Saturday, with the duo having netted five league goals between them so far this term.

Manchester United’s £200m spending spree over the summer window was a huge statement by INEOS in an attempt to help lead the club back up the Premier League.

The vast majority of the funds were invested into the Red Devils’ forward line, which has handed Ruben Amorim a deadly trio within the final third of the pitch.

Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha were all added to the first-team ranks, with the former of the trio currently sitting as the club’s top goalscorer.

However, other areas of the pitch are also in need of investment in the near future to help Amorim in his quest for success during his tenure in charge at Old Trafford.

The midfield department looks set to be the next area to be improved in the coming months, with additions expected to be made during the upcoming January window.

Man United looking to sign £100m + midfielder

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been just one side tipped with an interest in securing a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes ahead of January.

It has been reported that the player himself would be open to a move to Old Trafford this winter, leading to a £44m price tag being mooted for his signature.

However, no contact has yet been made between the two Premier League clubs, but that’s not to say a move could transpire in the weeks leading up to the window.

He’s not alone in being identified as a potential option for the Red Devils, with Real Madrid star Federico Valverde another star currently in the hierarchy’s sights.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are planning to make a club-record £105m bid for the Uruguayan’s signature in the upcoming window amid his struggles at the Bernabeu.

The report claims that he’s been in the middle of a dispute with current boss Xabi Alonso, and could be allowed to depart the LaLiga giants despite making 23 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26.

How Fede Valverde compares to Elliot Anderson

In United’s attempts to improve the options at the heart of the side, one name has constantly been on the tongue of a huge number of supporters – Elliot Anderson.

The Nottingham Forest star has endured quite the rise over the last 18 months, after he joined the Reds in a £35m deal from boyhood club Newcastle United in the summer of 2024.

He’s since racked up a total of 57 appearances for his current side, achieving a total of 10 combined goals and assists during that time – including a superb strike against Tottenham Hotspur last season.

The 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength in recent months, featuring in every minute of Forest’s Premier League campaign to date – leading to a consistent run in the England national team.

Such a feat is a huge credit to the player, but it’s only driven his price tag up further in recent months, with Sean Dyche’s side now valuing the youngster at around the £100m mark.

However, the aforementioned fee may be a risk given his short period of success at the City Ground, which could lead to a move for Valverde instead this January.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the Uruguayan international has managed to outperform Anderson in key areas – which could make him a better option this window.

Valverde, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, with more of his efforts being defined as key passes.

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Such tallies showcase he’s arguably better in possession than Anderson, handing Amorim that added ball-playing presence he craves at the heart of the side.

How Valverde & Anderson compare in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Valverde

Anderson

Games played

13

12

Goals & assists

4

2

Pass accuracy

89%

83%

Key passes

1.6

1.5

Tackles won

62%

51%

Clearances made

2.1

1.1

Take-on success

50%

46%

Carries into final third

1.7

1.4

Aerials won

59%

48%

Stats via FBref

However, the main responsibility of any new addition will be to regain possession, something which the Real Madrid star has demonstrated in abundance this campaign.

He’s bettered Anderson for tackles won to date, whilst also making more clearances per 90 – subsequently offering a better option out of possession than the Englishman.

Other stats, such as a higher take-on success and more aerials won, showcase his all-round dominance over the Forest star – with the board needing to pursue a move for Valverde’s signature.

£105m would be a huge investment from the board, subsequently breaking the club record, but it’s a deal that would emphatically end their hunt for a new midfielder.

There’s no disputing Anderson is a top talent, but it would be rash of the hierarchy to spend such funds on him, especially when a proven talent of Valverde’s calibre is available for just £5m more.

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Fabrizio Romano anticipates Liverpool will spend more money this summer. They’ve spent a fair bit already, but then why not?

Arne Slot surprised a few when he led the Reds to the Premier League title last season, surprised a few when he did it having spent very little in the 2024 summer market, bringing over a £12.5m man in Federico Chiesa, who sat in Mohamed Salah’s shadow all year long.

But that was all. And so now that Liverpool are Premier League champions, having invested nominally over the past two years, they have been granted by FSG a war chest which has been used on a range of thrilling signings.

Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have buttressed the wide banks; Florian Wirtz is a Liverpool player, leaving Bayer Leverkusen along with Frimpong in a deal worth £116m. That’s a British record. Giorgi Mamardashvili, a 24-year-old goalkeeper with lofty ambitions, has completed his move from Valencia too.

And now, Hugo Ekitike is on the cusp of sealing his own move, there or thereabouts completing Liverpool’s frontline.

Hugo Ekitike and what comes next

Ekitike is all but a Liverpool player. Only the official announcement remains. The Eintracht Frankfurt forward is 23, and he is already “one of the best strikers out there”, as analyst Ben Mattinson has put it.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes no doubt feel they have hit the jackpot.

Ekitike will prove a big upgrade on Darwin Nunez, who is expected to leave Liverpool this summer. But more is needed at the front of the ship.

Chiesa may also be on the move after his disappointing debut season, and Luis Diaz is the subject of Bayern Munich’s focused interest. A £58.5m bid was knocked back last week, and the Bundesliga champions plan to return with an improved offer.

Diaz, 28, wants a better contract, but one does not appear to be forthcoming. He has less than two years remaining at Liverpool, so cashing in for a hefty fee might be the track to go down.

And anyway, Liverpool have set their sights on the perfect replacement.

Liverpool in talks with Diaz replacement

Over the past several weeks, Liverpool have emerged as contenders for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, who is slated to leave Xabi Alonso’s side this summer after being informed he had slipped down the pecking order.

And now, according to Foot Mercato, Liverpool have been engaged in recent talks with the player’s camp as they look to complete a stunning transfer, although official contacts with Real Madrid have yet to take place.

The 24-year-old is also wanted by Arsenal and has been priced at £87m by Los Blancos, so there’s a lot to consider on FSG’s part.

Why Liverpool want Rodrygo

Rodrygo is a talented forward, but he’s been limited somewhat at Real Madrid over the past year, rarely playing in his favoured left-sided attacking role and overshadowed by the likes of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

Still, in spite of his going 17 matches in a row without a goal before the 2024/25 season wrapped up, Rodrygo managed to notch 25 goal involvements across the campaign – the same as Diaz – and showcased his slick technical quality, ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for pass completion and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

This completeness of style has even led to FBref’s data-driven algorithms linking Wirtz and former Reds target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia being two of his most comparable players, and if through the lens of these comparisons that we better understand why FSG are so intent on bringing him over to Merseyside.

Rodrygo has the natural silkiness of movement that aligns with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kvaratskhelia, who is regarded as one of the game’s pre-eminent current ball carriers. Mattinson had also praised him, saying of the Georgian: “Superstar ability but works like a dog off the ball.”

And then Rodrygo is also blessed with a certain creative flair and incisiveness in front of goal that isn’t too dissimilar to Liverpool’s record signing, who, across the past two campaigns with Leverkusen, has posted 34 goals and 35 assists across all competitions.

Florian Wirtz – Past Five League Seasons

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

31 (25)

10

13

23/24

32 (26)

11

12

22/23

17 (11)

1

6

21/22

24 (22)

7

10

20/21

29 (25)

5

6

Data via Transfermarkt

The Brazil forward provides potent support each year, but his La Liga form left something to be desired last year. As per Sofascore, though, he only missed one big chance, converting six more.

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At his finest, Rodrygo is regarded to be “on a different level”, as said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, in the same way that Wirtz and Kvaratskhelia demand awe when at their rip-roaring best.

Wirtz, indeed, is incredibly sharp in the crucial moments, often making the right decision as he places a weighted pass into a teammate’s pocket of space, or making the perfect shimmy as he skips to the side and unleashes a pinpoint strike on goal.

While Rodrygo has work to do until he reaches that level, which he is capable of, you’d think that at Liverpool on the left, he would have the freedom and renewed confidence to go from strength to strength.

After all, the versatile forward has demonstrated over a number of years his aptitude in the Champions League, so often coming up trumps on Europe’s biggest stage.

With the athleticism of a superstar like Kvaratskhelia and the innate attacking sharpness of Liverpool’s new star recruit, Rodrygo could be exactly what Slot is looking for, and must be signed if Diaz does indeed go.

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Leeds United maintained their place at the top of the Championship table on Saturday when they held Queens Park Rangers to a 2-2 draw at Loftus Road.

Daniel Farke’s side found themselves 2-0 down in the first-half and staring down the barrel of a second successive defeat away from home in the league.

However, an own goal from Morgan Fox just before half-time and a close-range finish from full-back Jayden Bogle just after the break ensured that they came away with a point for their troubles.

The Whites are now only two points above Burnley, who started the gameweek in third place, and their grip on the automatic promotion places is loosening.

Farke may not be best pleased with some of the individual performances that were on display in West London against the R’s, as several of his stars failed to step up and showcase the best of their abilities.

Brenden Aaronson made a loose pass that directly set up Koki Saito for the opening goal before being hauled off, for Wilfried Gnonto, at the break, in what was the latest in a worrying line of disappointing displays from the American.

Brenden Aaronson's disappointing run of form

The attacking midfielder, who was on loan at Union Berlin in the 2023/24 campaign, has gone eight games without a goal or an assist in the Championship, starting all of those matches.

Aaronson has also managed just one goal and zero assists in his last 14 appearances in the second tier, all as a starter, which shows that he has struggled to make much of an impact at the top end of the pitch.

The 24-year-old midfielder has been a consistent starter under Farke, despite his recent struggles in the final third, and it will be interesting to see if his latest error against QPR will change anything in the matches to come.

Leeds are in a race to win automatic promotion to the Premier League and their first-choice attacking midfielder, Aaronson, has consistently struggled against the other five teams in the current top six in the division.

Form against the Championship top six

Brenden Aaronson vs

Goals

Assists

West Brom (A)

0

0

Burnley (H)

0

0

Sunderland (A)

0

0

Sheffield United (H)

0

0

Coventry (H)

0

0

Coventry (A)

0

0

Burnley (A)

0

0

Sunderland (H)

0

0

Sheffield United (A)

0

0

West Brom (H)

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former RB Salzburg star has not produced a single goal or assist to show for his efforts in his ten appearances against the top six sides.

This suggests that the midfield whiz, who has scored eight goals and provided two assists against the other 18 teams, does not have the quality to be a difference-maker against the top teams in the Championship.

Aaronson has not been a reliable figure for Leeds in possession throughout the season, hence his fairly unimpressive return of goals and assists and poor record against the top six, and supporters will be hoping that they do not miss out on promotion as a result of his struggles.

Market Movers

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The Whites should be particularly disappointed with the USA international’s performances in the number ten position this season, because they once sold a player for £840k who has gone on to become even better than Aaronson – Mateusz Bogusz.

Mateusz Bogusz's soaring market value since leaving Leeds

Leeds signed the attacking midfielder from Ruch Chorzow at the start of 2019 and he managed three first-team appearances for the club before his permanent move to LAFC in March 2023.

Reporter Manuel Veth claimed that the MLS outfit agreed a fee of €1m (£840k) to sign the Polish starlet from the Whites, as sporting director Victor Orta decided to part ways with the youngster.

The West Yorkshire outfit must, now, rue that decision to bin him for just £840k during Orta’s tenure at Elland Road because he has shot up in value since his exit from the club.

At the time of writing (16/03/2025), Bogusz is valued at €10m (£8.4m) by Transfermarkt following his move to Mexican side Cruz Azul from LAFC in the January transfer window, which is a staggering increase of 1,090% from the fee Leeds raked in for his services.

The Whites must also regret selling the Poland international because his form for LAFC in 2024 suggests that he would be an upgrade on Aaronson in the current Leeds team.

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Bogusz, who has also racked up one goal and three assists in nine games for Cruz Azul to date, scored 24 goals and provided 19 assists in 90 matches for LAFC, with the majority of those contributions coming in the 2024 campaign.

Stats

Bogusz (2024 MLS)

Aaronson (24/25 Championship)

Appearances

36

38

xG

9.20

9.17

Goals

16

8

Big chances created

9

6

Key passes per game

2.2

1.6

Assists

8

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old attacker was in outstanding form for the American side last year, racking up 24 goal contributions in 36 matches.

Bogusz, who was once described as a “dangerous” player by reporter Greg Beacham, has the quality to offer more as a finisher and a creator for his side from an attacking midfield role in comparison to Aaronson, as evidenced by their respective statistics.

The Polish ace has the ability to significantly outperform his expected tally of goals, whilst the Leeds man has spurned too many chances to score, whilst also creating more high-quality opportunities for his teammates to find the back of the net.

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Therefore, Orta made a mistake when he decided to sell the attacking midfield star for just £840k in 2023, as his value has shot up by more than 1000% in the space of just two years, and his performances suggest that he could even improve Farke’s current team.

Nottingham Forest have received an update on their pursuit of an “absolute jewel”, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey providing the latest information.

Nottingham Forest's superb start

Few would have predicted that Forest would be competing right at the very top of the Premier League table this season, but an impressive victory at Anfield and brilliant recent form means Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are faring extremely well after 11 games.

However, Nuno’s side may need to find an extra gear in the coming weeks, as their fixtures are set to get a lot trickier, with a difficult trip to the Emirates Stadium coming before the end of the month.

Nottingham Forest’s next Premier League fixtures

Date

Arsenal (away)

November 23

Ipswich (home)

November 30

Manchester City (away)

December 4

Manchester United (away)

December 7

Aston Villa (home)

December 14

Chris Wood has been the star man for the Tricky Trees, in light of his fantastic form in front of goal, but Callum Hudson-Odoi has also been extremely impressive, averaging the highest SofaScore match rating in the squad in the Premier League.

As such, it is clear that Nuno is blessed with some fantastic attacking talent, but that hasn’t prevented Forest from being linked with other players, namely Bayern Munich winger Mathys Tel. Earlier this month, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg made it clear that the 19-year-old was a player of interest to Nuno, saying:

However, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now dropped a new update on the reported interest in the youngster in an interview with Nottingham Forest News, with the journalist saying:

“My understanding is there’s not much into that, that was played down to me on the Forest end. I think it’s more the players end trying to generate some interest.”

Nottingham Forest not interested in Tel

As such, it appears as though Forest are uninterested in signing Tel this winter, which may come as disappointing news to some fans, given that he put in some very impressive performances for Bayern in the Bundesliga last season.

Despite his age, the winger appeared in 30 of his side’s 34 Bundesliga games, during which time he managed to chime in with seven goals and five assists, while he has also made a total of 14 appearances in the Champions League.

Managing to secure the Frenchman’s signature on loan would be a real statement of intent for the Tricky Trees, particularly considering how highly he is rated by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who described him as an “absolute jewel”.

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That said, Forest are faring well at the moment without Tel, and if Nuno continues to get the best out of his current group of players, then his side could go on to have a season beyond anyone’s expectations back in August.

Celtic have less than two months left to go in the summer transfer window to make any changes to their squad before it slams shut at the end of August.

The Hoops' main focus at the moment may be about how they can convince Matt O'Riley to stay at Parkhead amid interest from the Premier League.

Journalist Alfie House recently reported that Southampton, who have just been promoted from the Championship, are interested in a deal for the Danish playmaker.

He added that agreeing a transfer fee with the Scottish giants is possible but it could be difficult for them to iron out personal terms with the ex-MK Dons star.

Brendan Rodgers lost Jota and Carl Starfelt last summer and may not want to watch another key performer for the Hoops move on ahead of next season.

On the other side of things, Celtic may also be looking at potential signings to come in and improve their squad before the 2024/25 campaign, as they look to build on their domestic double – lifting the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup – last term.

Celtic's interest in midfielder warrior

Back in April, Football Scotland reported that the Hoops had been offered the chance to sign Cremonese defensive midfielder Charles Pickel.

The report stated that Rodgers wants to bring in a new number six to anchor his side next season and the Serie B star emerged as an option for him to consider.

It revealed that the Bhoys made it known that they want to add a player in that position and agents came back to suggest Pickel as a target, which the Scottish side took onboard.

Football Scotland claimed that English Championship sides Preston North End and Leeds United are also interested in a potential swoop for the 27-year-old star.

However, the outlet stated that the DR Congo international's preference would be to make a move to Scotland to play for Celtic, rather than test his luck in England's second division.

The report did not, though, explain how much Cremonese would demand for the player, who has two years left on his contract, or how much the Bhoys would be willing to spend on a new defensive midfielder.

This means that it remains to be seen how likely a move to Parkhead is for the experienced Serie B anchor before the summer transfer window slams shut.

If the Hoops do decide to press ahead with a deal to sign him, though, then they could bring in a star who could offer more than Tomoki Iwata in the number six role.

Tomoki Iwata's season in numbers

The Japan international did not start the season as an important member of Rodgers' side but eventually worked his way into the team during the second half of the campaign.

12 of his 19 appearances in the Premiership came after the turn of the year and this shows that the Northern Irish boss decided to lean on him to anchor the midfield during the run-in as they fought for the title.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who only started six league games under Ange Postecoglou in the 2022/23 campaign, provided a calming presence on the ball for the Hoops, with the likes of Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Paulo Bernardo, and Matt O'Riley then tasked with making an impact in the final third.

He completed 90% of his attempted passes in the league, completing 30.9 per match on average, and this shows that the Japanese ace rarely gifted possession back to the opposition, allowing the Hoops to dictate the tempo of games.

However, Iwata's lack of progression on the ball and his average defensive work means that there is scope for Celtic to land an upgrade on him.

23/24 Premiership

Tomoki Iwata

Appearances

19

Goals

1

Assists

1

Key passes per game

0.4

Tackles and interceptions per game

1.2

Duel success rate

50%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, he only won 50% of his physical duels across his 19 appearances in the Premiership, which shows that the 27-year-old gem was not a dominant force in the middle of the park.

The Hoops could now land an upgrade on Iwata by swooping to sign Pickel from Italian side Cremonese to anchor their midfield for the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.

Why Celtic should sign Charles Pickel

Firstly, he is an experienced player who could come in and hit the ground running at the age of 27, rather than arriving as a young prospect who would come in with potential and may take time to develop.

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This means that Pickel could be signed to make an instant impact on the pitch and that is backed up by his impressive form in the Serie B last season.

The potential Hoops addition ranked within the top 41% of midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90 (4.83) and the top 31% for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.11).

Along with that, the DR Congo international also chipped in with three goals and two assists in 27 league appearances for the Italian outfit, which shows that he has the potential to provide more at the top end of the pitch than Iwata – who managed just two goal contributions.

Pickel, who was hailed for his "incredible" offensive work as a defensive midfielder by journalist Emery Kabongo, also caught the eye with his work off the ball.

23/24 season

Charles Pickel (Serie B)

Tomoki Iwata (Premiership)

Appearances

27

19

Pass accuracy

86%

90%

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.6

1.2

Duels won per game

2.9

1.9

Duel success rate

51%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

51%

47%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Serie B battler constantly looked to win possession back for his side by winning duels in the middle of the park.

Pickel could, therefore, provide more to the Hoops than Iwata did out of possesion with his ability to get across the field to make timely challenges, whilst also being more dominant in aerial battles to help from crosses and set-pieces.

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Overall, the 6 foot 1 titan could be an excellent addition to the squad as an upgrade on the Japan international due to his qualities on and off the ball.

Chelsea remain one of the most inconsistent teams in the Premier League this year.

Mauricio Pochettino's side can take a point away from the Etihad or lose 4-2 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers – it's a coin flip every time.

However, while several players seem to oscillate between two extremes in terms of their performances in blue, a few will come out of this season with their stock higher than it was in August.

One of those will be Conor Gallagher, although for as consistent as he's been for the Pensioners, one recent addition earns more than him despite being less than impressive since making his debut.

How much Conor Gallagher makes at Chelsea

Gallagher has been with Chelsea for about 16 years now, joining the club's youth set-up in 2008 at just eight years old. The Epsom-born gem made a notable impact in the club's youth teams, making 92 appearances for the various age groups, scoring 17 goals, providing 13 assists and winning Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year award in May 2019.

With his ability too good to remain in the youth teams, the 6 foot midfielder spent the next three seasons on loan, first with Charlton Athletic, then West Bromwich Albion and finally Crystal Palace, where he made the biggest splash, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 39 games.

In his first full season back at Stamford Bridge, the "game-changer", as former professional Jermaine Jenas dubbed him, played a noteworthy squad role in the team, making 49 appearances across all competitions – even if only 25 were starts.

However, this season, the "heart" of Chelsea, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, has already made 35 appearances – 31 starts – for Pochettino, scored four goals and provided six assists in a team that, as mentioned before, have been terribly inconsistent.

It was Gallagher's goal that won Chelsea the game against Leeds United in the FA Cup last night, and it would be hard to accuse the boyhood Blues fan of not putting a shift in every time he pulls on that shirt.

So, given his performances, effort levels and how much Pochettino plays him, you might expect the Englishman to be one of the club's highest earners, but that's just not the case.

Chelsea's Most Productive Players 2023/24 – Wages

Position

Player

Goals + Assists

Wages

1

Cole Palmer

21

£75k-p/w

2

Raheem Sterling

17

£325k-p/w

3

Nicolas Jackson

13

£65k-p/w

4

Conor Gallagher

10

£50k-p/w

5

Enzo Fernández

9

£180k-p/w

All Stats via Transfermarkt & Wages via Capology

In fact, his £50k-per-week wage doesn't even place him in the top 15 earners at Chelsea, let alone the top five, and what's even more bizarre is that there's a recent signing who earns more than him, despite being utterly underwhelming since joining the club.

How much Robert Sanchez has cost Chelsea

Yes, summer signing Robert Sanchez, a player who was dropped at Brighton & Hove Albion, currently earns more than Gallagher.

The Spaniard is on £60k-per-week in west London, which in and of itself may not seem massively outrageous for a first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League, but there is the issue: it doesn't look like he's first choice anymore.

Before injuring his knee against Everton in December, the former Seagulls shot-stopper was having a tough time of it, and while his struggles weren't getting quite the same attention as, say, Andre Onana's, he was still making blunders, as indicated below.

Since his injury, the young Đorđe Petrović has stepped between the sticks, and while he hasn't been perfect, he has looked far more assured in comparison.

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For example, while the Serbian has a marginally worse passing accuracy than the Spaniard, he has a better save percentage and clean sheet percentage despite facing more shots on target per 90, which is ultimately the most important metric for a goalkeeper.

Robert Sanchez vs Đorđe Petrović

Stats per 90

Sanchez

Petrović

Shots on Target Against

4.91

5.71

Save Percentage

70.5%

71.2%

Clean Sheet Percentage

18.8%

22.2%

Passing Accuracy

82.1%

79.2%

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Premier League Season

In all, with his £25m transfer fee and the £1.7m in wages he's already earned, it's hard not to look at that £26.7m as money wasted from Chelsea's point of view, especially after he conceded two sloppy goals in his comeback last night.

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Ultimately, Chelsea are a club with many problems to deal with over the coming years, and it certainly looks as if they have given themselves another one in the "poor" Sanchez, as former Chelsea defender Scott Minto once described him.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is said to be eyeing a move for an exciting new player to bolster the ranks at the Etihad Stadium in 2024, according to reports.

Man City updates: Phillips latest, Kimmich news, Sudakov eyed

As per The Daily Mirror, who have delivered a transfer update on Kalvin Phillips, the England international is reportedly yet to decide whether he will depart the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window. City proposed a loan exit for Phillips during the summer; however, he was determined to fight for his place at the club. Nevertheless, opportunities have continued to be few and far between for the ex-Leeds United man. His agency, CAA Stellar, are now believed to be fielding calls regarding interest in his services amid links to Newcastle United and Everton, among other sides.

In other events that could further complicate Phillips' chances of receiving regular minutes, TEAMtalk have reported some Man City transfer news on Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich, who would be of 'huge interest' to the Sky Blues in the event he becomes available to move. Kimmich indicated he was unsettled at the Bundesliga giants during the summer and his contract only runs until the summer of 2025 at the Allianz Arena, which majorly appeals to Guardiola due to the Germany international's ability to play in both midfield and defence.

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov is claimed to be another Man City transfer target; however, the Citizens will face stiff competition to sign the 21-year-old, who is being courted by Chelsea, Juventus, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and two unnamed clubs in Portugal.

Brighton await Manchester City on October 21st at the Etihad Stadium upon their return from international duty, presenting a first opportunity for the Citizens to recover from their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in north London before the break in the Premier League.

Manchester City's next five fixtures – all competitions

Competition

Opponent

Venue

Premier League

Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

Etihad Stadium

Champions League

Young Boys (A)

Wankdorf Stadium

Premier League

Manchester United (A)

Old Trafford

Premier League

Bournemouth (H)

Etihad Stadium

Champions League

Young Boys (H)

Etihad Stadium

Man City transfer news; Dani Olmo

According to a Man City transfer update from Football Insider, RB Leipzig attacker Dani Olmo is someone who Guardiola is keen on and the Citizens are ready to step up their pursuit of the Spain international next summer if he ends up on the market.

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Arsenal and Chelsea are also hot on his tail; nevertheless, RB Leipzig are reluctant to lose another prize asset following the summer sales of Christopher Nkunku, Josko Gvardiol and Dominik Szoboszlai. Barcelona could also enter the race for Olmo if their financial situation allows for a big-money signing.

Labelled an "incredible" player by Guardiola back in 2019, it is easy to see why the 52-year-old is a big fan of Olmo's work. In 2023/24, the 25-year-old has already netted five goals and laid on one assist in his opening four appearances (Dani Olmo stats – Transfermarkt). Looking forward, Olmo could help to provide an ideal link between City's attack and midfield if he were indeed to arrive at the Etihad Stadium from Germany, making this one to watch.