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Perfection and the England men's national team never were natural bedfellows, but Thomas Tuchel has changed the narrative around the Three Lions by propelling them to a literally flawless World Cup qualifying campaign. England completed their perfect run of results by rounding off their journey to North America in 2026 with a 2-0 victory away in Albania, an eighth successive win without conceding a goal.

England have known for more than a month that they would be going to the World Cup, and to tell the truth they probably knew that as soon as they saw the qualifying draw. Having seen his side destroy Serbia and Latvia 5-0 each on his last two trips abroad, there were just two factors on Tuchel's mind when his squad got to Tirana: Chasing that perfect run of results and chiselling out his starting line up for the World Cup.

The German made sweeping changes to his XI from Thursday's game against Serbia, only handing repeat starts to Harry Kane, Declan Rice, John Stones and Nico O'Reilly. But this was not just about testing out his second string, but trying to nail down his best team.

Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford managed to prove their worth from the bench, coming on to provide the crosses for Kane to score both of England's goals. Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, reiterated his importance to the team with a dominant display even though he looked furious when he was taken off. And one player made a late claim as an usurper in Dean Henderson, who made his first start since the dismal defeat to Senegal in June but fired out a warning to Jordan Pickford with a terrific performance in goal, proving utterly crucial to pulling off that all-important clean sheet.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Air Albania Stadium…

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  WINNER: Thomas Tuchel

  Tuchel might be a gun for hire from an England perspective, and yet he has hit the target with every single one of his shots. The German has only been in the job for 11 months, working with the players for eight of those, but he has sure left his mark on the team. Tuchel is the first England coach to oversee a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign while his team are the first side from any continent to have played at least six games and won them all without conceding a goal.

  The coach decided to experiment by making seven changes to the team that had beaten Serbia, but he was still deadly serious about winning the game and called on his most trusted marksmen from the bench to complete the job. 

  The big question about whether England can beat the best sides in the world will remain unanswered until the World Cup kicks-off, quite possibly until the quarter-finals, and cynics will point to the fact that Fabio Capello had a tremendous record in qualifying for the 2010 tournament, only to disappoint when it mattered.

  But England's hunger to win Sunday's game in the closing stages is proof that Tuchel has stamped his ultra-demanding personality on the team, and it is hard to not be excited about the culture he has built in his short time in charge.

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  LOSER: Eberechi Eze

  Eberechi Eze had earned his place in the starting line-up with his tremendous strike against Serbia after coming off the bench, but his performance against Albania underlined the sense that he is much more effective as a substitute than as a starter. Eze struggled to create much danger in the first half, and when England's best chance of the game fell to him shortly into the second period after a brilliant ball from Bellingham, he completely blew it as couldn't get the ball out of his feet and scuffed it straight at goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.

  Eze was taken off for his Arsenal team-mate Saka shortly after the hour-mark, making it the third consecutive England start in which he has failed to score or provide an assist. Contrast that with him scoring in his last three matches for his country as a substitute, against Serbia and in both games against Latvia.

  Being seen as an effective finisher is no bad thing and it would be no surprise to see Eze have a big impact at the World Cup from the bench. Still, no player likes to be known solely as a super-sub, and Eze passed up a good opportunity here to try and change that reputation.

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  WINNER: Harry Kane

  Kane has a remarkable ability to sail through a match without doing very much at all and then go on to decide it with his killer instinct. This was a textbook example of his knack to have the final say without warning. Before he scored the opening goal, Kane had not had any shots on goal or created any chances for his team-mates. Any other player would have been ripe for substitution.

  But Tuchel knows Kane's ability to find the net as well as anyone and his decision to leave the striker on was vindicated when he knocked in Saka's corner and then glanced in Rashford's wonderful delivery. Kane's brace took him on to nine goals in nine matches under Tuchel, having scored in six of the eight qualifiers.

  Kane's status as England captain and main man was called into question after his hugely disappointing displays at Euro 2024, but Tuchel chose to make the striker the fulcrum of his team and is being handsomely rewarded for doing so. "The work ethic, the attitude is just outstanding," Tuchel said of Kane. "I almost have no words – he is invested in everything we do. He is a leader and it speaks for itself."

  When it comes to scoring in qualifying for World Cups and European Championships, no one can compete with Kane, who has scored 40 goals since 2019. The second-highest scorer in that period is Cristiano Ronaldo on 32.

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• Getty
  

  WINNER: Dean Henderson

  While Tuchel has tried to show that no player is undroppable, Declan Rice, Kane and Jordan Pickford are practically assured of their place in the starting line-up when England kick off their World Cup campaign next June. Henderson, then, has the misfortune to be vying for one of those spots, competing with a player who has been England's No.1 since the 2018 World Cup and has proven to be a formidable force in penalty shootouts. 

  But the Crystal Palace goalkeeper did make the most of a rare starting opportunity, delivering a flawless display between the sticks. Henderson made a top-draw save to thwart Albania's main dangerman Arber Hoxha before making a bold yet correct move to charge out of his area and swipe the ball from the feet of Qazim Laci. He would almost certainly have been sent off had he got there a second late, but his timing was spot on and he made sure England kept that coveted eighth consecutive clean sheet in qualifying.

  "I didn't want to be the one that stepped in and conceded," he said. "Jordan has been excellent. He has had the shirt for a long time now, he has been putting in good performances, which makes it hard to break through." That might be true, but at least Henderson has demonstrated to Tuchel that he is his man should he start to ever question Pickford.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been blessed over recent years to witness some incredible talents wearing their shirt – none more so than attacking midfielder Dele.

The Englishman joined in a deal worth a reported £5m from MK Dons back in 2015, arriving in North London as a baby-faced 19-year-old, with many supporters expecting him to link up with the youth setup.

However, he was catapulted into the senior ranks, becoming a key member of their Premier League squad, racking up a total of 146 appearances in his first three years at White Hart Lane.

Dele ended up spending seven years with the Lilywhites, scoring 67 times and registering 55 assists – even winning the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award back to back.

Whilst he’s faced struggles off the field since his departure three years ago, the Spurs hierarchy have also struggled to replace him – leading to Thomas Frank completing a big-money deal for one star this summer.

How Xavi Simons compares to other PL CAMs in 2025/26

During the summer transfer window, Spurs were desperate for a new attacking midfielder, especially after James Maddison suffered an ACL injury against Newcastle United in pre-season.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were just two of the options identified by Frank, but the former signed a new deal at Nottingham Forest, whilst the latter joined North London rivals, Arsenal.

As a result, the hierarchy completed a £52m transfer for Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, but such a deal has been a disaster for everyone involved just a couple of months on.

The Dutch international has featured 14 times across all competitions to date, but has failed to score a single goal, whilst also only laying on two assists for his teammates.

His underlying stats also highlight his lack of positive impact in England’s top-flight, with Simons only creating an average of 1.01 chances per 90 – a dismal tally for an attacking midfielder.

As a result, such a tally ranks him in the bottom 25% of all other midfielders in the league, with right-back Pedro Porro creating more chances in the same time period.

At just 22, he has plenty of time to transform his career under Frank, but he will certainly need to do so quickly – especially considering the form of one other player in recent months.

The Spurs star who could become the next Dele

The number ten position at Spurs has been one that no player has truly nailed down since Dele’s departure, with Simons having a long way to go until he gets anywhere near the levels produced by the Englishman.

However, some slack will certainly need to be cut for the Dutchman, with the youngster needing time to adapt to a whole new country, culture and style of football in North London.

His tally of 19 combined goals and assists in the Bundesliga showcases that there’s a talented player in there, but ultimately, it’s going to take time before he reaches his full potential.

The Lilywhites hierarchy may have been better off waiting for another youth talent to emerge from their ranks and staking a claim for a regular starting role in the first-team setup.

Luca Williams-Barnett is no doubt a player who is on the lips of all the supporters, with the 17-year-old already registering 12 combined goals and assists in just eight games for the U21 side.

However, the club might already have their next Dele in the form of attacking midfielder Tyrese Hall, with the 20-year-old star already making huge waves in the professional game.

Like Williams-Barnett, he hugely impressed at U21 level last campaign, subsequently securing a season-long loan to join League Two side Notts County for the 2025/26 campaign.

Such a spell is his first taste of senior football, but Hall is taking to it like a duck to water, as seen by his phenomenal tally of six goals in his first 16 appearances for the Magpies.

His latest effort against Cheltenham Town proved to be the winner for Martin Paterson’s men, leading to coach Harry Brooks claiming he has the “exact profile Spurs lack” under Frank.

Hall has already caught the eye at Meadow Lane for his superb dribbling ability, which has seen him complete 53% of his take-on attempts, subsequently leading to 1.9 chances created per 90.

The comparison to Dele may be a huge one, but it’s certainly one that could come to fruition if Hall does manage to stay on his current trajectory on loan with the Magpies.

Dele made his name for his time at MK Dons in the EFL, with the Spurs youngster also doing the exact same thing a decade later – so don’t be surprised if Hall is a player taking North London by storm in the near future.

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Ethan Lamb

Nov 12, 2025

The New York Yankees should be spending more of their money, according to one MLB insider.

ESPN reporter Jeff Passan joined and ripped the Yankees' lack of spending this offseason.

"If the (luxury tax) penalties are so tough, then why are the Dodgers and Mets doing it? The Mets have been the past two years, and they’ve shown a willingness to go there," Passan said. "And at the end of the day, these are the New York freaking Yankees. If a luxury tax threshold is impeding them, that says more about where they are than it does the luxury tax itself. When have the Yankees ever played third fiddle in baseball? That’s where they’re right now when it comes to spending."

The Yankees signed Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal this offseason, while also adding Cody Bellinger at $25 million per year and giving Paul Goldschmidt a one-year, $12.5 million contract. While those additions were pricey, they have sat and watched the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets blow past them with spending.

The Yankees are heading into the 2025 season projected to have baseball's fourth-highest payroll at around $273 million.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently said, "It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing." He made those comments despite running a franchise worth $7 billion.

Passan clearly thinks the Yankees could and should do more.

Chelsea have already wasted no time in addressing one of their biggest issues of the 2024/25 campaign, helping Enzo Maresca in his quest to take the club back to their glory days.

The Italian has already landed the signature of striker Liam Delap, joining the club in a £30m deal from relegated Ipswich Town after triggering his relegation clause.

Hugo Ekitiké is another name that has been on Chelsea’s shortlist over the last couple of months, as the club look to add key depth to the centre-forward role ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

The Frenchman has caught the eye in the Bundesliga this campaign, scoring 15 times in his 33 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt, leading to rumours around his long-term future.

However, he isn’t the only other forward being considered by the hierachy this window, with multiple other targets already on their radar ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for a new attackers this summer

Delap is understandably a player who will improve the options at the manager’s disposal, but, it appears as though Chelsea are also further looking to bolster the front line.

Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Emanuel Emegha are just three players who have been touted with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer in recent weeks.

However, they’ve turned their attention to another target in the former target, Samu Omorodion, reigniting interest in the Spanish forward, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

The journalist claims that the Blues have made a bid for the 21-year-old, who’s scored 25 goals across all competitions this season, with his valuation undoubtedly rising as a result.

He currently has a £84m release clause within his deal at Porto, but the report doesn’t make it clear how much Maresca’s side have offered, despite looking at a potential move for the forward in the coming months.

Why Chelsea’s £84m target would be perfect with Kudus

Despite the interest in new strikers this summer, wingers have also been high up on Maresca’s list at the Bridge – looking to add further depth to the club’s already potent front line.

Mohammed Kudus is the latest name in their sights, with the Ghanian set to leave West Ham United this summer after being offered to the West London outfit as of late.

It’s been reported that the 24-year-old currently has an £85m release clause in his current deal until the middle of July, but it’s likely that Graham Potter’s side would part ways with him for a lower fee.

He could potentially link up with Samu at the Bridge should the pair both make the switch to join the club, handing the manager the added quality he’s desired as of late.

When delving into their respective stats from the current campaign, the Porto talent has managed to thrive in numerous key areas – with the Spaniard having the ability to link up with Kudus and take the club to new heights.

The 21-year-old, who’s been labelled “unstoppable” by one analyst, has scored 19 goals this season – a tally that would’ve been the highest in the Blues squad, potentially thriving with Kudus, given the 25-year-old’s tally of 1.1 chances created per 90.

He’s also managed to win 52% of the aerials he’s entered – handing Maresca an all-round option within the final third at the Bridge, able to make the most of the Ghanian’s threat in attacking areas whoch has seen him complete 26% of crosses in 2024/25.

Samu has also managed nearly a goal per game this campaign, with his talent in the final third undoubtedly handing the side the added goal threat they’ve craved in recent months.

Despite the signing of Delap, it’s clear that the manager still wants another body in the attacking department to help push his side to the next level in his quest for Premier League glory.

Whilst Samu would be another hefty investment from the hierarchy, it’s one that would hand the club the added goal threat Maresca has been searching for, potentially creating a deadly partnership with Kudus in the process.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 5, 2025

Leeds United aren’t gripped with dread this summer that a whole host of their star players could be exiting Elland Road.

That was the overwhelming emotion last summer, however, after Daniel Farke’s Whites heartbreakingly lost the Championship playoff final to Southampton. Now, with a title success under their belt, the West Yorkshire giants don’t have that same level of worry to contend with.

Old wounds could soon be reopened by their emergence into the Premier League, though, as the likes of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville potentially line up against their former employers next season for Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United respectively.

Alongside that magic duo, ex-Thorp Arch product Archie Gray could also clash with Leeds, having also shone in glimpses for new side Tottenham Hotspur.

Gray's sad Leeds exit

Amazingly, the versatile 19-year-old has already collected silverware since donning Spurs white, memorably lifting the Europa League recently, which is some feat just one season into his North London adventure.

This would have been one key factor as to why he left his boyhood employers behind after just one mere season in the senior ranks, knowing he could cut it at an elite level already.

There was clearly a hunger to succeed up a level, whilst Farke and Co. were left to battle away again to try and finally get out of the unforgiving Championship.

Still, there is a lack of visible bad blood on Leeds’ end as Gray gave everything across the 2023/24 season for the cause, with the teenage sensation lining up wherever needed and impressing under Farke’s stewardship.

The Whites would have at least been glad to get £30m out of Ange Postecoglou’s men, but there will be a worry that Gray left prematurely, and he will soon become even more of a classy talent for the Lilywhites, away from Elland Road.

History could unfortunately repeat itself too if Leeds were to sell an equally exciting youngster who has shown flashes of his obvious quality during their promotion-winning heroics.

£10m attacker may never play for Leeds again

Whilst Farke was the boss to gift Gray his first tastes of senior action in West Yorkshire, the German might not be prepared to be as charitable up a division when handing equally promising starlets more chances.

That might be why Mateo Joseph is eyeing up the exit door this summer, with a new report from French outlet L’Equipe stating that Liam Rosenior’s RC Strasbourg are keen on adding the raw Spaniard to their camp if he does fancy an exit route out of England.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has also weighed in on the speculation surrounding Joseph by exclusively revealing he is considering his options and is now ready to bid farewell to the Whites, despite looking at home in a Leeds starting lineup on occasion, especially when he bagged this quickfire brace against Chelsea last year.

He also showed off his clinical edge in the Leeds first team last season when sparingly handed minutes by Farke, with a standout tally of three goals and three assists coming his way in league action, despite only being gifted 11 starts.

Much like Gray, this is undoubtedly an impressive season for an academy product who had only experienced youth football before this big leap under the ex-Norwich City boss.

But, with £10m bids reportedly coming Leeds’ way for Joseph’s services from the likes of La Liga outfit Real Betis, Leeds could soon cash in on another of their top youth players before they have fully blossomed.

These added funds might well boost Leeds if they are keen on adding in some star quality for the Premier League, yet in the long term, Joseph could go on to establish himself as a top attacker elsewhere in another regrettable Gray-style repeat.

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Kelan Sarson

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In what would be a bargain deal, Aston Villa are now reportedly in the race to sign a midfield star who has already confirmed his next steps ahead of this summer.

Aston Villa's final UCL push

It all comes down to Sunday for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side travel to square off against a heartbroken Manchester United side who are fresh from their Europa League defeat and simply must compile the Red Devils’ misery. As things stand, they sit outside of the top five on goal difference and must desperately hope to see at least one of Manchester City, Chelsea or Newcastle United slip up.

There’s no denying just how important this weekend’s action is and Emery hasn’t tried to play things down in the build-up. The Spaniard told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “In our hands is only our result on Sunday, how we can respond and how we can perform against Manchester United.

“That’s the only issue I want to focus on with the players. I don’t want to know other results.

“I want only to play our match, only to focus on our match in 90 minutes and try to focus the dressing room on the first half on everything tactically and individually. We will not focus on other results. We must win, we must compete and we must get our result. We must respect Manchester United. That’s the only way I want to focus on Sunday.”

The impact that Champions League football would have on Villa’s summer business also cannot be overstated. It could instantly put them in a position to attract top talents for the second season on the bounce, which may yet include an England international for a bargain price.

Aston Villa chasing Angel Gomes deal

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Angel Gomes, who has already confirmed that he will be leaving LOSC Lille at the end of his current contract next month.

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The England international said in a statement on Instagram: “After four unforgettable years at LOSC Lille, it’s time for me to say goodbye.

“This club has been more than just a team – it’s been a family, a home, and a place that has shaped me both on and off the pitch. Like any journey, there were ups and downs, highs and lows, but I’m truly grateful to my teammates and the fans for sticking with me throughout.”

Gomes’ time at the French club will be looked back on as a pivotal turning point for his career. From a Manchester United reject, the midfielder transformed into a deep-lying midfielder who is now ready to step back into the Premier League.

Dubbed a “smart” passer by analyst Ben Mattinson, Gomes is set to become one of the best bargains of the summer transfer window wherever he ends it playing for Aston Villa or, indeed, another club.

As good a team as Arsenal are, there has been one key factor in their failure to get over the line in the last few years: a lack of genuine attacking threat across the whole frontline.

Now, nobody can question the incredible talismanic abilities of Bukayo Saka, but it has to be said that down the middle and increasingly off the left, the North Londoners are lacking.

For example, despite them still being second in the Premier League, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Newcastle United have all scored more than them.

So, with that in mind, it’s not a surprise to see the team linked to an array of incredible wingers, including one who has won comparisons to the likes of Vinícius Junior and Lamine Yamal.

Arsenal transfer targets

The last few weeks have seen Arsenal linked with a whole host of incredible stars, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth taking a look at some of their other supposed targets, like Rayan Cherki and Liam Delap.

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The former could be available for around £30m this summer, so that, combined with his ability to play in multiple positions and brilliant haul of 31 goal involvements in 42 games this season, makes signing him feel like a no-brainer.

It’s a similar situation regarding Delap, as even though he’s not been quite as prolific, he’s still been able to amass an impressive tally of 12 goals and two assists in just 34 top-flight games this season, so his £30m release clause also feels too good to pass up on.

However, while both players have an immense amount of potential, Arteta and Co might be after someone already near the pinnacle of his game, someone like Rafael Leão.

Yes, according to a report from Spain last month, Arsenal are one of several teams keen on the AC Milan superstar ahead of the summer transfer window.

However, the North Londoners are not alone in their appreciation for the Portuguse superstar, as a more recent report from Caught Offside has also credited Chelsea with an interest in the winger, who they claim could be available for as little as €75m, which is about £64m.

It would be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Leão’s immense ability, one well worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Yamal and Vinicius in the past.

How Leão compares to Vinicius and Yamal

So, before we get into the other reasons why Arsenal should be going all out to sign Leão this summer, it’s worth addressing these comparisons to Vinicius and Yamal and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, they stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one.

In this instance, they have concluded that the Real Madrid star is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Milan star across all of those competitions, while the Barcelona star has been ranked as the seventh most similar in this season’s Champions League.

The best way to see how these conclusions have been reached is to look at the players’ underlying numbers and find the metrics in which they rank closely.

In the case of Vinicius, those metrics include things like expected passes, goals per shot and shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

For the comparison with Barça’s young superstar, the metrics include things like passing accuracy, expected assists, carries into the final third, key passes, successful take-ons, and more, all per 90.

The fact the 25-year-old shares an ability to take players on and beat them with two of the best players in the game is hardly surprising, as FBref place him in the top 4% of wingers for successful take-ons in Europe’s top five leagues, and The Athletic’s Alex Barker has called him “one of the best dribblers in the world.”

Finally, away from the incredibly flattering and promising comparisons, another reason Arteta should go out and sign the former LOSC Lille star is his output.

So far this season, the Almada-born dynamo has scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 48 appearances, which works out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games – something the Gunners could really do with off the left.

Ultimately, while it wouldn’t be cheap, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Leão once the window opens, as his output and technical mastery could help propel the club to glory.

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Manchester United are now leading the race for a “spectacular” Real Madrid star, who could be allowed to leave for £85m this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd keen to strengthen in attack

Man United’s misfiring frontline is one of several reasons for their extremely disappointing Premier League campaign, and they have now set out to rectify the issue in the summer, having identified several top forwards as transfer targets.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Desire Doue is one of the most high-profile stars under consideration, but it remains to be seen how plausible it is to lure the 19-year-old to Old Trafford, given that the French club’s asking price could be in the region of £275m.

A more attainable target could be Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian “very keen” on signing for United in the summer, and the forward’s £62.5m release clause shouldn’t pose too much of an issue.

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Dominic Lund

Apr 30, 2025

The Red Devils are making progress in their pursuit of Cunha, who could be brought in to play in the number 10 role, but a new winger could be brought in alongside the 25-year-old, and they are now leading the race for a Real Madrid star.

According to a report from The Sun, Manchester United are now in pole position to sign Rodrygo, with the Brazilian now ready to leave the Spanish club this summer, should they receive a big-money bid from a Premier League side.

Madrid are looking to receive £85m for the forward, who played an integral role in their dramatic comeback victory against Manchester City in the 2022 Champions League semi-final, scoring two late goals after coming on as a substitute.

Arsenal are also in the race to sign the 24-year-old, but the Red Devils are best-placed to secure his signature.

"Spectacular" Rodrygo impressing in Champions League

Not only did the Brazil international make the difference against Man City en-route to his side’s 2022 Champions League triumph, but he has also continued to impress this season, picking up five goals and two assists in Europe’s elite competition.

The winger hasn’t been quite as prolific in La Liga, however, failing to pick up a single goal contribution since the end of January, despite starting the vast majority of his side’s matches.

That said, the former Santos man is clearly held in very high regard by his manager, having been lauded as “spectacular” by manager Carlo Ancelotti, and his previous exploits indicate that he could be a fantastic signing for Man United in the summer.

However, it could be very hard to tempt Rodrygo into a move to Old Trafford, should Champions League football not be on offer next season, which underlines the need for United to finish the season strongly and win the Europa League.

Celtic were able to celebrate winning their fourth Scottish Premiership title in as many seasons after they thumped Dundee United 5-0 on Saturday.

The Hoops ran riot at Tannadice Park with a performance befitting of champions, with Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn before scoring braces after Ryan Strain’s own goal put the team 1-0 up.

It was a terrific display by Celtic and one that means that they can play Rangers in the Old Firm next weekend without any pressure to pick up a result to win the title, which would have been the case if they had failed to pick up a point against Dundee United.

The Scottish giants may have to play their rivals without Jota, however, as the winger limped off and was spotted in a protective brace during the post-game celebrations.

Idah came off the bench to replace the January signing and got his name on the scoresheet with two early goals in the second half, as he played a big part in the 5-0 win.

However, it has not been the easiest of seasons for the Ireland international since he completed his return to Parkhead on a permanent basis last summer.

Adam Idah's struggles this season

Whilst his brace against Dundee United may have made him undroppable ahead of the clash with Rangers, Idah has failed to nail down a place as a regular starter this season.

Celtic reportedly agreed a deal that could rise to £9.5m, with a guaranteed £8.5m payment, with Norwich City to sign the number nine last summer after he had spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old marksman, however, has yet to live up to that price tag at Parkhead, as he has only started 19 matches in the Premiership and the Champions League combined, coming off the bench on 22 occasions.

Idah took his seasonal tally to ten goals in the Premiership with his brace against Dundee United. However, he has still underperformed against his xG in the top-flight, as shown in the table below.

The Irish marksman has been supplied with a constant stream of high-quality chances to find the back of the net and has failed to make the most of his opportunities in front of goal in the league, as shown by his underperformance of roughly two goals.

His unreliable finishing may be one of the reasons why Brendan Rodgers has been reluctant to rely upon him as a starter week-in-week-out this season, hence why the striker has come off the bench more often than not in the Premiership and the Europa League

Whilst Celtic may not give up on their £9.5m signing just yet, Rodgers could ruthlessly bin Idah from the starting XI next season by swooping for a reported transfer target.

Celtic's interest in Danish centre-forward

Back in February, Football Insider reported that the Scottish giants have started work on a potential swoop for Mathias Kvistgaarden in the summer transfer window.

The outlet stated that the Brondby marksman has been a long-term target for the club and that they are now putting the building blocks in place to pursue a deal for him this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Football Insider revealed that Rodgers was unhappy with the club’s failure to replace Kyogo Furuhashi, who signed for Rennes, in the January transfer window and is now pushing for a swoop for Kvistgaarden.

The Celtic board must, now, work hard to get a deal over the line for the Danish ace, who is reportedly valued at around £10m, because he could take Idah’s place in the side.

Why signing Kvistgaarden would be bad news for Idah

Signing a new £10m striker would be bad news for the Ireland international because it could further limit his involvement from the start in the Premiership and the Champions League, particularly if Kvistgaarden can bring his form for Brondby over to Scotland.

Idah has been an unreliable presence at the top end of the pitch, as shown by his xG underperformance in the Premiership, and could find game time even harder to come by if Rodgers lands an upgrade on him in the summer transfer window.

Kvistgaarden has scored 20 goals and provided five assists in 32 matches in all competitions for Brondby so far this season, including two goals in three Europa Conference League qualifiers.

U23 scout Antonio Mango recently described his form as “absolutely sensational” and claimed that he has stepped up on a “weekly basis”, which is something that Idah has been unable to do, hence why he has failed to nail down a regular starting berth.

Kvistgaarden’s form in the Danish Superliga suggests that the potential is there for him to come in as an upgrade on the Irish centre-forward, if he can carry that form over to Glasgow should Celtic sign him in the summer transfer window.

As you can see in the table above, the Danish sensation has scored six more goals in six fewer appearances, whilst also missing fewer ‘big chances’, at league level this term.

These statistics suggest that Kvistgaarden could offer a greater threat in front of goal for the Scottish giants in comparison to Idah, because his conversion rate shows that he is far more clinical with the chances that come his way.

This means that he could score more goals than the former Norwich City man if Celtic can create the high-xG chances that they have been creating for their current number nine this term.

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This is why Rodgers could ruthlessly bin Idah as a starter in the 2025/26 campaign by pushing the club to secure a deal to sign the 23-year-old marksman for £10m in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United have contacted the representatives of an “elite” player ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Man Utd must replace under-fire players

Ruben Amorim will be targeting lots of new signings in various areas of the pitch ahead of next season, bringing in players who can perfectly suit his style of play. There are individuals who simply need to be improved upon if United are to make a big jump up the Premier League table, with an upgrade on Andre Onana required in goal. The Cameroonian has enjoyed good moments in a Red Devils shirt, but he makes too many mistakes to be the long-term option between the sticks.

Similarly, changes are needed down the middle of United’s attack, with neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee looking like they will lead the line competently enough for years to come. Both remain relatively young, in fairness, but a world-class striker would make a huge difference.

Napoli ace Victor Osimhen has been mentioned as an option for Amorim, with the Nigerian expected to leave permanently having spent this season on loan at Galatasaray, while Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui has been backed to come in as an alternative choice.

Man Utd make contact with agents of Joan Garcia

According to Cope [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have made contact with Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s entourage over a summer move to the club, as they look to nail an upgrade on Onana.

The 23-year-old is described as a standout player for his side this season, and there is hope that the Red Devils could sign him for as little as £21m, triggering his release clause in the process. That figure will rise to £25.5m in the final 15 days of the summer transfer window, though.

Meanwhile, Espanyol sporting director Fran Garagarza has admitted that a move away isn’t out of the question, saying: “There’s a lot of noise, but nothing is happening. There’s no firm movement like there was in the previous [summer] window. There may be movements because he’s a top-level goalkeeper, but we’re calm, and most importantly, the kid is very calm.”

Garcia could be just what United are looking for this summer, with the Spaniard an impressive young ‘keeper already proving himself is one of Europe’s top leagues. He has started 32 games in La Liga for Espanyol this season, winning five Man of the Match awards from WhoScored in the process, and analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “elite”.

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His coach, Manolo Gonzalez, has even compared him to Lionel Messi: “Joan Garcia is going to be a global reference, no doubt about it. I really hope so, because he deserves it, both for his ability and for who he is. It’s like when Barcelona had Messi. There were tough matches, and Messi would resolve them. Well, we have that in goal with Joan Garcia.”

All this points towards Garcia being a fantastic addition for United ahead of the 2025/26 season, and given his age, he could be a regular for the next decade if the move is a successful one.