Arsenal are now showing strong interest in a “flamboyant” forward that one of their big PL rivals bid for in the January transfer window, according to a report.
Gunners eyeing a forward
The Gunners are still faring well in their pursuit of the Premier League title, winning their last three games to keep the pressure on Liverpool, but there is a real risk that injuries could derail their season.
Kai Havertz recently became the latest forward to be sidelined, with the German ruled out for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury, joining Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus on the treatment table.
Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard have been called upon in the absence of some of Mikel Arteta’s key players, but the manager may want to bring in additional depth to ensure a similar situation doesn’t arise next season.
Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates
There have been widespread reports about Arsenal’s pursuit of a striker, with the likes of Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres on the shortlist, but Arteta may also look to bring in a new winger in the summer.
According to reports from Spain, one target they have in mind is Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez, with the Gunners said to be showing a strong interest in the left-winger.
Hernandez is set to be available on the cheap this summer as there is a €20m (£17m) release clause in his contract, but there may be competition for his signature, with Premier League rivals Chelsea also being named as potential suitors.
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The Blues have been eyeing the 22-year-old for a while, submitting a £8.5m offer in the January transfer window, so it is clear their interest is serious.
However, Arsenal have also entered the picture, with Arteta believing the 22-year-old would fit perfectly into his system.
West Ham United (h)
February 22nd
Nottingham Forest (a)
February 26th
Manchester United (a)
March 9th
Chelsea (h)
March 16th
Fulham (h)
April 1st
Hernandez impressing in Spain
The Spaniard has been a key player for Deportivo this season, and he has regularly been in and amongst the goals, scoring nine in the second tier while also providing three assists.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has provided an overview of the Deportivo star’s abilities, describing him as a “flamboyant winger” who also has pace and impressive dribbling abilities at his disposal.
The only concern about signing the winger will be the fact he is yet to prove himself in a major league, currently plying his trade in La Liga 2.
However, given that a deal would set Arsenal back just £17m, it could well be a risk worth taking, and the Gunners should be in a strong position to win the race for Hernandez, as Chelsea’s recent form leaves them at risk of missing out on the Champions League.
Tottenham Hotspur went into last night’s game against Manchester City hoping to win their fourth Premier League game on the bounce.
Unfortunately, a goal from Erling Haaland in the first half made sure that didn’t happen.
However, while they left the match empty-handed, Ange Postecoglou’s side weren’t dreadful, and had they been a little more clinical in the final third, they could’ve easily picked up at least a point.
That does suggest that their attacking options on the night were a little lacklustre, though, which was the case, and therefore, the manager should look to take Mathys Tel out of the team for the next game.
Why Tel should be dropped
So, before the pitchforks come out, we are not saying that Tel is a bad player or someone that won’t develop into a serious world-beater for Spurs, as based on his performances for Bayern Munich last season, when he produced 16 goal involvements in 1406 minutes, he looks like he will be.
Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel
However, it’s also true that since moving to North London, the young Frenchman has struggled to make an impact.
For example, he’s now made five appearances for the Lilywhites, four of which have been starts, yet he’s only found the back of the net once, which ended up being a consolation goal against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
Moreover, his actual performances have not been convincing either, with yesterday’s clash with City another example of that, as demonstrated by his statistics.
In 66 minutes of action, the 19-year-old prospect amassed an expected goal figure of 0.04, took a single shot on target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, took 13 touches, completed four passes, lost six of seven duels, committed a foul and was dribbled past once.
Minutes
66′
Expected Goals
0.04
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.00
Shots on Target
1
Shots off Target
0
Shots Blocked
0
Dribbles (Successful)
2 (0)
Dribbled Past
1
Touches
13
Duels (Won)
7(1)
Fouls
1
Crosses (Accurate)
0 (0)
Long Balls (Accurate)
0 (0)
Completed Passes
4
In short, it was another display in which he failed to add anything to the team, so with a must-win tie against AZ Alkmaar coming up, it might be time for Postecoglou to drop Tel and turn to another of his up-and-coming forwards instead.
Chalkboard
The Spurs gem who should replace Tel
With Dominic Solnanke still out recovering from his knee injury, the centre-forward options Postecoglou can turn to at the moment are rather limited, especially when it comes to the Europa League knockout phases, the club have already announced their squad.
However, given Tel’s ineffectiveness in recent games, he has to do something.
Fortunately, there is a youngster who seriously impressed last time out in the competition who can join the main squad whenever thanks to the rules around U21 players: Dane Scarlett.
The academy gem returned from his lacklustre loan spell with Oxford United in December, and instead of going straight back into the youth set-up or going back out on loan, he was given a chance to play in the first team in the game against Elfsborg, where he shone.
The outrageous talent came on in the 66th minute, and instead of simply trying to find his feet, staying under the radar and avoiding any potential mistakes, the 20-year-old took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Just four minutes after coming on, the promising prospect positioned himself between two defenders and nodded home his first senior goal for the club.
Then, 14 minutes later, the Hillingdon-born dynamo, who Jacek Kulig described as being “born to score goals,” turned provider, as he was involved in a slick passing move that saw him pick up an assist from fellow academy graduate Oyindamola Ajayi.
It’s not just in Europe where he has impressed, though, as in a short 16-minute cameo against Ipswich Town over the weekend, he picked up another assist, bringing his tally for the Lilywhites this season to one goal and two assists in three appearances, totalling 51 minutes.
In other words, the youngster is averaging a goal involvement every game or every 17 minutes, and while that number will increase with more starts under his belt, it remains incredibly encouraging.
Ultimately, Tel is struggling to make an impact at the moment, and with few other options, it might be time for Postecoglou to hand Scarlett a start, as he has most certainly made an impact thus far.
Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must bench Spurs star after 4/10 display
Tottenham Hotspur fell to a 1-0 defeat against Manchester City in North London last night.
Like a thief in the night, Chelsea and Todd Boehly have pounced, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano announcing in the early hours of Friday morning that the Blues have struck an early deal for the signing of Sporting CP starlet, Geovany Quenda.
That swift capture has, quite literally, come as a bolt from the blue, with it having looked for all the world as if the 17-year-old sensation would be making a move to Manchester United this summer, reuniting with his former boss and compatriot, Ruben Amorim.
Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein had reported during the January transfer window that the Red Devils were targeting a summer swoop for the teenager, with Amorim having handed the youngster his first-team debut earlier this season.
As it is, the versatile winger is set to make the move to Stamford Bridge rather than Old Trafford in 2026, with the west Londoners – who are believed to be forking out as much as €50m (£42m) – set to loan Quenda back to his current side for the 2025/26 campaign.
While the Blues will then have to wait a while to see their new man in action, such a deal represents yet another exciting acquisition in the Boehly era.
Why Chelsea have signed Geovany Quenda
The Portuguese starlet is a winger by trade, although had forced his way into Amorim’s side in a right wing-back berth, showcasing a tactical flexibility that will be invaluable to Enzo Maresca and Co.
Not set to turn 18 until next month, the raw talent appears to have the world at his feet, having already chalked up two goals and eight assists in just 43 appearances for the Lisbon side.
Described as a “highly unpredictable” winger by data analyst Ben Mattinson, the Sporting youth product’s strengths lie in his ball carrying and dribbling prowess, shown by the fact that he ranks among the top 16% of his Champions League peers for progressive carries, as well as in the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90.
Sporting CP's GeovanyQuendain action
While yet to make an appearance, Quenda has already been called up to the senior Portugal side this season, with national team boss Roberto Martinez stating that he has a “quality that is not normal at 17 years old”.
All the signs point to Chelsea having potentially hit the jackpot with such a signing, with the teen wizard set to provide further competition to an attacking department that already boasts Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto.
That said, Quenda may not be the biggest star who is set to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the near future, with Boehly having already made a handful of statement long-term signings in the recent past.
Chelsea already have a bigger talent than Quenda
Supporters may cry for further depth and quality in the defensive ranks, not least with first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez having made five errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this season, yet the priority for Boehly appears to be to continue raiding the globe for the best and brightest attacking stars.
In The Pipeline
Indeed, the signing of Quenda has not just come as a surprise due to its timing, with there a question to be asked of whether the club are actually in need of another teenage winger, having already moved to sign Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian.
Estevao, in particular, could represent an even bigger star than the Sporting ace on the flanks, with the 17-year-old Brazilian lauded as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by Mattinson.
Also hailed as a “world-class talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Palmeiras superstar was signed by the Blues back in May 2024 on an initial £29m deal, albeit having had to wait until he turns 18 to move to England ahead of next season.
A dazzling left-footer, in a similar mould to Quenda, the young diamond has already scored 20 goals and provided ten assists in just 58 first-team games for his current side, making the transition to life at senior level with ease.
Already in 2025, Estevao has scored five goals from just 12 league games, while creating two big chances and averaging 2.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.
Quenda, for instance, has one goal and four assists in the league in 2024/25, while creating nine big chances and averaging just 1.9 key passes per game, albeit having played 25 times.
Stat (per 90)
Quenda
Estevao
Non-penalty goals
0.00
0.43
Assists
0.12
0.39
Shot-creating actions
3.25
5.97
Pass completion
74.8%
77.2%
Progressive passes
4.24
3.95
Progressive carries
3.12
6.22
Successful take-ons
1.50
3.61
Touches in opposition box
2.62
6.70
Progressive passes received
5.49
12.49
As evidenced by the table above, it is Estevao who comes out on top across a string of attacking metrics across the last 365 days, with excitement brewing over finally seeing him in action when next season rolls around.
As such, with Maresca already boasting a string of right-sided forwards in the form of Madueke, Neto and Palmer – and with Paez and Estevao soon to join the mix – the decision to also fork out for Quenda could be seen as overdoing it, with investment needed elsewhere in the squad.
On the flip side, having such an array of attacking stars to call upon truly is exciting, with the question now as to whether this youth-centric transfer approach will yield tangible success on the pitch.
Chelsea ready £67m bid for Premier League star who's keen on joining Maresca
The west Londoners are already preparing a serious assault.
Looking to take full advantage of his contract situation, Leeds United have now commenced “work” on their move to sign an “outstanding” defensive reinforcement for Daniel Farke this summer.
Leeds transfer news
The Whites have their sights set on Championship promotion but they, more than most, will be well aware just how quickly things can change in England’s second division. With 11 games left and five points between themselves at the top of the league and Burnley in third, those at Elland Road will be desperate to get over the line as soon as possible.
Once potentially over the line, they can turn their attention to the transfer window, where they may have to enjoy their most important summer yet under the 49ers if back in the Premier League.
Leeds have watched on as Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City have all paid the price for their recruitment decisions this season and will not want to make the same mistakes.
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With that in mind, the Whites have reportedly already got one target in mind. Transfer reporter Graeme Bailey told Sunderland AFC News that Leeds have commenced “work” on signing Dennis Cirkin from Sunderland this summer.
Bailey said: “Keep a close eye on Cirkin. I am told a lot of Premier League clubs have been doing work on him. Chelsea, Tottenham, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Everton and Leeds – he is an outstanding prospect.”
The left-back has just over a year left on his current Black Cats deal and whilst Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has revealed that talks over a new contract are underway, the parties are yet to reach a resolution.
"Outstanding" Cirkin could replace Firpo
By signing Cirkin, Leeds could solve an issue of their own. As things stand, the Yorkshire club are set to lose key defender Junior Firpo on a free deal at the end of the season once his current contract expires. An experienced left-back and Farke’s outright starter, failing to replace Firpo would be a frustrating way to begin any potential Premier League return.
Cirkin, however, is more than capable of easing that blow and stepping up to the Premier League whilst doing so.
Starts
27
21
Assists
2
8
Tackles Won
46
23
Ball Recoveries
92
73
Although a more defensive option compared to Firpo, whose output speaks for itself, that may not be a bad thing if Leeds find themselves in the Premier League next season.
As Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich have found out the hard way this season, promoted teams simply cannot walk into the Premier League and instantly step onto the front foot – they need to be far more robust than that. Cirkin, as highlighted by the number of times he has won possession back for Sunderland this season, would have no trouble adapting to that style.
Celtic are on course to enjoy another brilliant season under Brendan Rodgers as they close in on their second domestic treble in three seasons.
The Hoops have already won the League Cup, are 13 points clear in the Scottish Premiership table, and have a semi-final in the SFA Cup to look forward to.
Rodgers’ side won the Premiership title and the SFA Cup in the 2023/24 campaign, but missed out on the League Cup, and are now on course to claim all three trophies.
Celtic’s huge success, including their run to the play-off stage of the Champions League, can be attributed to the performances of their star players this season.
Several members of the squad have stepped up to be reliable performers for the Scottish giants, after last season’s Player of the Year Matt O’Riley completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
There is now a fight on to secure the Player of the Year award at Parkhead in the current campaign, and winger Daizen Maeda has certainly put his hat in the ring.
Why Daizen Maeda has been important for Celtic
Celtic needed players to step up in front of goal after O’Riley, who scored 18 league goals last season, left in the summer and Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored 27 goals since the start of last term, moved to Rennes in January.
Maeda has answered the call. The 27-year-old forward has racked up a staggering return of 28 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, including 13 strikes in 27 matches in the Premiership.
His form in front of goal for Celtic this season is particularly impressive when you consider that he had only scored 29 goals in 102 competitive matches for the club in the previous two-and-a-half-seasons at Parkhead.
Maeda’s goalscoring exploits have catapulted him to the top of the Premiership goalscoring charts, joint with Dundee United’s Sam Dalby, and ahead of all of his Celtic teammates, which illustrates how importan he has been to the club as a consistent goalscoring threat.
Daizen Maeda
13
0.58
Sam Dalby
13
0.55
Simon Murray
12
0.45
Cyriel Dessers
11
0.66
Vaclav Cerny
11
0.47
Kyogo Furuhashi
10
0.68
Nicolas Kuhn
10
0.59
Hamza Igamane
10
0.6
Arne Engels
9
0.51
Martin Boyle
9
0.42
As you can see in the table above, though, current Hoops teammate Nicolas Kuhn has a slightly better record in front of goal, with 0.59 goals per 90 in the division.
This shows that Maeda, who scored a hat-trick against Raith Rovers earlier this year, is not the only player in the team who can score goals on a regular basis.
Why Nicolas Kuhn is a Player of the Year contender
Like the Japanese forward, Kuhn has provided a constant threat at the top end of the pitch for the Scottish giants across all competitions this season.
Celtic's Nicolas GerritKuhncelebrates scoring their third goal with Adam Idah
However, the former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig starlet has offered more to the team as a creator, with 13 assists to go along with his 18 goals this term.
The left-footed magician, who scored twice against his former club earlier this season, has been a difference-maker for the Hoops with his ability to score and create goals from a right wing position.
Kuhn played a significant role in the club’s run to the play-offs of the Champions League with a return of three goals and five ‘big chances’ created in ten appearances in the competition.
The German wizard, therefore, is another star who should be in contention to be named Celtic’s Player of the Year, alongside Maeda, as he has made a huge impact across all competitions this season as an attacking force.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, Kuhn and Maeda should step aside to allow a defensive player to win the award, as summer signing Kasper Schmeichel has been exceptional for Celtic this season.
Why Kasper Schmeichel has been Celtic's Player of the Year
Whilst there are still a couple of months left of the season to go, the Denmark international has been the standout star for the club this season with his quality and consistency between the sticks.
Eyebrows may have been raised when Celtic decided to replace Joe Hart, who retired last summer, with a 37-year-old goalkeeper – who turned 38 in November – but it has turned out to be an unbelievable piece of business.
Schmeichel had big gloves to fill at Parkhead and has, actually, turned out to be an upgrade on the retired former England international, based on his performances this season.
Hart conceded 0.32 more goals than expected, based on the xG of the shots against him, and had a save success rate of 61% in his six outings in the Champions League last term, whilst the Danish titan prevented 0.55 more goals than expected and saved 70% of the shots against him in ten European games this year.
This suggests that Schmeichel, who was dubbed “amazing” by pundit Micah Richards, has played an important role in Celtic’s improved performance on the European stage, by saving his side instead of underperforming as a shot-stopper.
Appearances
37
30
Clean sheets
14
19
Saves
61
68
Save success rate
68%
77%
Goals prevented
-0.07
+1.08
Pass accuracy
88%
94%
Long pass accuracy
41%
69%
As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international has also proven himself to be a big upgrade on Hart in domestic football in the Premiership, with more saves, more clean sheets, and significantly better shot-stopping and passing statistics.
This suggests that Celtic improved their squad by swooping to sign the veteran shot-stopper on a free transfer from Anderlecht last summer after Hart retired.
These statistics, from his performances in the Champions League and the Premiership, also show why he deserves to be the Player of the Year ahead of the likes of Kuhn and Maeda.
Whilst forward players can blow hot and cold for several matches and then be lauded when they do grab a goal or an assist, goalkeepers can go under the radar by being consistently solid without making the headlines.
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Schmeichel, as evidenced by his statistics, has been an incredibly reliable and consistent performer on the domestic and European stage, with both his shot-stopping and his distribution, which has provided a solid platform for the likes of Maeda and Kuhn to go and express themselves.
Therefore, the 38-year-old colossus has been Celtic’s Player of the Year because of how well he has replaced Hart, because of his performances on the pitch, and because of his importance to the spine of the team.
Celtic bounced back from their disappointing defeat to their local rivals before the international break with a 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
The Hoops ran out comfortable winners, scoring all three of their goals in the first half, and it was a much-needed victory after they had two weeks to mull over their loss to Rangers in front of their home supporters last time out.
An 88th-minute winner from Hamza Igamane secured a 3-2 win for the Gers when they came across Glasgow to face Brendan Rodgers’ side, who had brought it back to 2-2 from 2-0 down.
Celtic had to bounce back from that disappointing performance and result, and that is exactly what they did by claiming all three points against the Jam Tarts in emphatic fashion.
The Scottish giants, who were without first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, helped Viljami Sinisalo to keep his first clean sheet in the league, whilst the attacking players did their job at the other end.
Daizen Maeda added two more goals to his season tally, either side of a strike from Jota, as the Japan international put in yet another brilliant performance.
Daizen Maeda's goalscoring form this season
The 27-year-old dynamo scored his 29th and 30th goals of the campaign in all competitions for Celtic to set the Hoops on their way to the win against Hearts, whilst he also scored one of the two goals in the 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the break.
Maeda has scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in 43 appearances for the Bhoys, including 15 goals in 28 outings in the Premiership so far.
The Celtic number 38 scored two goals from three shots against Hearts, showcasing his clinical edge in front of goal, and he has been the most effective finisher in the squad this season at Premiership level.
Kyogo Furuhashi
14.14
10
-4.14
Daizen Maeda
13.02
15
+1.98
Adam Idah
10.28
8
-2.28
Nicolas Kuhn
9.43
10
+0.57
Arne Engels
8.76
9
+0.24
As you can see in the table above, he is the only player in the top five in the squad for xG to have outperformed his expected tally by more than one goal, with 15 strikes from 13.02 xG.
Maeda’s performance against Hearts was crucial, because he scored two of the three goals, but he was far from the only top performer on the pitch for the Scottish giants, as central defender Maik Nawrocki was just as good as him.
Why Maik Nawrocki was as good as Daizen Maeda
The Polish central defender was given the nod next to Cameron Carter-Vickers, despite Auston Trusty being back available, and repaid Rodgers’ faith in him with a sensational display at centre-back.
Nawrocki mixed incredible composure in possession with resolute defensive work to provide Celtic with a platform to build out from the back on, whilst also giving Sinisalo little to do on his Premiership debut – facing just two shots on target.
The former Legia Warsaw star completed a whopping 98% of his attempted passes (123/125), losing possession twice from 144 touches, which speaks to how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.
Clearances
3
10
Blocks
0
3
Tackle
1
1
Dribbled past
0x
0x
Ground duels won
1/6
1/2
Aerial duels won
2/3
7/7
Touches
139
144
Possession lost
3x
2x
As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki was even better than experienced central defender Carter-Vickers in and out of possession throughout the game, thanks to his defensive and passing contributions.
The 24-year-old star won 89% of his duels in the game to prevent Elton Kabangu and James Wilson from causing Sinisalo too many problems, whilst also allowing Celtic to dominate the game by consistently cutting out opposition attacks.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He was, therefore, just as good as Maeda against Hearts because the centre-back was equally as crucial to the result with his imperious defensive work in the backline, outperforming Carter-Vickers and keeping the away side at bay for the vast majority of the match.
Maik Nawrocki has revived his Celtic career
Prior to the clash with Rangers before the international break, Nawrocki had not played a single minute of action in the Premiership this season and had not started a single match in all competitions.
The central defender, who joined the club from Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2023, has been behind Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Liam Scales, and Stephen Welsh – before his exit in January – in the pecking order in his position throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
Given his lack of minutes and how far down the pecking order he was, it appeared as though Nawrocki was headed for an exit from Parkhead in the summer transfer window, but an opportunity arose when injuries to Scales and Trusty provided him with his first league appearance of the season against Rangers.
Nawrocki, despite the result, put in a phenomenal display with seven clearances, four interceptions, one tackle, and seven of ten duels won in the match, without being dribbled past a single time.
Rodgers backed the 24-year-old colossus to replicate that display, despite Trusty being available again, and that is exactly what he did against Hearts, putting in another dominant showing alongside Carter-Vickers.
The shirt should now be Nawrocki’s to lose between now and the end of the season. If he can continue to put in performances like he has done in the previous two matches then it will be incredibly difficult for the manager to drop him out of the starting XI.
A strong end to the campaign could then set him up for a big season at Parkhead in the 2025/26 campaign, as the central defender could go into it as a first-choice option.
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Therefore, Nawrocki’s last two performances have revived his Celtic career, which appeared to be over before the Rangers game, and it is now down to him to make the most of the opportunities that should, now, come his way in the remaining weeks of the season.
Glasgow Rangers need a huge summer to ensure that they can bounce back and be competitive in Scotland in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.
There is no way to describe their current domestic campaign as anything other than disappointing, as they are on course to end the year without any trophies to show for their efforts.
The board made the decision to part ways with Philippe Clement and replaced him with the interim appointment of Barry Ferguson until the end of the season.
Rangers have lost two of their last four Scottish Premiership matches under the former Scotland international, who has not done much to suggest that he deserves the job on a permanent basis – beyond beating Fenerbahce on penalties after a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox.
A deal with US investors Andrew Cavenagh and San Francisco 49ers Paraag Marathe has reportedly been agreed in principle ahead of a takeover this summer, which means that there could be plenty of change on and off the pitch ahead of next season.
There could be turnover in the playing staff, as Rangers look to build a team that can compete for the title, but one player who should remain at Ibrox is central midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
Why Rangers must keep hold of Nicolas Raskin
TEAMtalk reported earlier this year that several teams are keeping tabs on the Belgium international ahead of the summer transfer window, having been impressed by his form this season.
The outlet claimed that English sides Aston Villa, who are in the Champions League this term, and Leeds United are both keen on the former Standard Liege star, who is said to be valued at £20m by the Gers.
When the takeover is finalised, Rangers must do everything in their power to fend off interest from down south to convince the Belgian dynamo to remain at Ibrox, because he is a key player for the team moving forward.
Raskin has delivered consistently impressive performances in the middle of the park as a box-to-box midfield player, starring for both Clement and Ferguson in the Premiership this term.
Appearances
28
Big chances created
6
Assists
6
Pass accuracy
88%
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.6
Ground duel success rate
58%
Aerial duel success rate
59%
As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star, who was signed by Michael Beale at the start of 2023, has been a defensive monster for the Gers, winning the majority of his duels and almost making four tackles and interceptions per game.
The Belgian talent has also provided quality in possession, assisting six goals, and been a metronomic figure on the ball with his high pass success rate.
Despite all of this, Raskin is not one of the very top earners at Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, placing tenth on the wage bill at £19k-per-week.
The top ten earners at Rangers
The former Pro League starlet only just makes the top ten, earning £2k less per week than Ianis Hagi in ninth and £11k less per week than captain James Tavernier at the top of the wage bill.
This is despite Raskin being more integral to the Rangers team in the Premiership than many of the players who currently earn more than him at Ibrox.
James Tavernier
£30k
25
Vaclav Cerny
£27k
26
Cyriel Dessers
£27k
19
Danilo
£26k
6
Jack Butland
£25k
26
Rabbi Matondo
£23k
2
Dujon Sterling
£22k
11
Tom Lawrence
£22k
8
Ianis Hagi
£21k
16
Nicolas Raskin
£19k
24
As you can see in the table above, only three of the nine players above Raskin on the wage bill have started more games than him in the Premiership – one being a goalkeeper, one being the captain, and the other being a loanee.
Wage Burners
Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.
The new ownership should look to ruthlessly ditch some of the duds who are among the top earners at the club despite not contributing much on the pitch, and that is why Rangers must move on from Danilo this summer.
Why Rangers should sell Danilo
The Light Blues swooped to sign the Brazilian forward from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £6m in an attempt to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
To date, Danilo has racked up 12 goals and nine assists in 42 matches in all competitions, which is far from a horrendous return in front of goal, but he has failed to establish himself as a regular starter at Ibrox.
Part of that has been down to his consistent injury issues. The 26-year-old forward has missed a staggering 53 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
This has hampered his Rangers career so far and played a part in him only starting 11 games in the Premiership during his time at Ibrox, which suggests that the club have not got value for money out of the £6m they paid for his services, as well as his reported £26k-per-week.
His lack of minutes, and contributions, on the pitch in almost two years in Glasgow has led to his market value plummeting by millions over the past 18 months or so.
July 2023
£6m (reported fee)
December 2023
£6m
March 2024
£5.1m
October 2024
£4.3m
December 2024
£3.8m
March 2025 – present
£3.4m
As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian centre-forward is currently worth £2.6m less than the £6m fee that the Gers paid Feyenoord for him back in the summer of 2023.
He is a depreciating asset who is not offering much in return on the pitch for the wages that he is earning at Ibrox, which is why the club must ruthlessly ditch him from the squad in the summer transfer window.
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The Light Blues must explore their options to see if there is any interest in him in an attempt to recoup some of the money that has been drained by the former Ajax starlet.
Ipswich Town have signed a versatile teenager in an out-of-window move, according to a new update.
Ipswich Town looking to summer with Premier League relegation on the cards
The Tractor Boys are on course for an immediate return to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.
Kieran McKenna’s side are currently 14 points away from safety with just six games to go and look destined to drop back to the second tier alongside fellow promoted sides Southampton and Leicester City despite spending big across the 2024/25 season.
Omari Hutchinson
Chelsea
€23.5m
Jacob Greaves
Hull City
€21.5m
Liam Delap
Man City
€17.85m
Jack Clarke
Sunderland
€17.7m
Dara O’Shea
Burnley
€14.2m
Sammie Szmodics
Blackburn Rovers
€10.6m
Arijanet Muric
Burnley
€9.55m
Chiedozie Ogbene
Luton Town
€9.5m
Jens Cajuste
Napoli
Loan
Conor Townsend
West Brom
€590,000
Ben Johnson
West Ham
Free
Kalvin Phillips
Man City
Loan
Jaden Philogene
Aston Villa
€23.7m
Alex Palmer
West Brom
€2.4m
Julio Enciso
Brighton
Loan
Ben Godfrey
Atalanta
Loan
Relegation looks set to result in a busy summer of departures from Portman Road, with Liam Delap attracting interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Approaches have been made by both clubs for Delap, who will be available for £30m if Ipswich go down.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapapplauds fans after the match
Talking about Delap’s future, McKenna said before the 2-2 draw at Chelsea: “It’s not something that’s been discussed loads internally at because everyone’s focus, honestly, has been on Bournemouth, on Wolves, now on Chelsea. But if you ask me, is that a possibility? I think it’s certainly a possibility. Liam’s a young striker. He’s developing really, really well at the football club.
“He’s happy and he’s improving every week and we’re enjoying working with him. I’m sure there’s lots of different possibilities. But Liam’s an Ipswich player. He enjoys being an Ipswich player and that’s where his full focus is.”
A replacement could soon be needed for the star striker, with both Hearts forward Lawrence Shankland and Sheffield United teenager Ryan One both mooted as transfer targets to come in for Delap.
Targeting youth with a move for One shows that Ipswich appear to be looking long-term at potential signings, and they have now agreed a deal to sign another teenage talent.
Ipswich Town sign versatile youngster Corbin Mthunzi
As reported by The East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Town have signed 17-year-old Corbin Mthunzi following a successful trial.
Previously of Brighton & Hove Albion, Mthunzi has penned a two-year professional contract at Portman Road after turning out twice for Ipswich’s U21s last month.
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Mthunzi played as a centre-back in the fixtures against QPR and Chelsea, however, the teenager can also turn out as a midfielder if required.
He’ll now be looking to break into McKenna’s first team plans over the coming years, so Mthunzi’s progress at Portman Road will be one to watch.
Fulham have a good chance of signing an “incredible” midfielder this summer, with it now looking increasingly likely he leaves his club, according to reporter Christian Falk.
Cottagers keen to strengthen in multiple areas
The Cottagers have been inconsistent in recent weeks, which has hampered their European push somewhat, but they are likely to look back on this campaign as a success regardless, given that they are on course for a top-half finish in the Premier League.
However, Marco Silva may fancy his side’s chances of qualifying for Europe next season, should he make the right additions to the squad in the summer transfer window, and targets have been identified in a number of key areas.
Amid doubts over Antonee Robinson’s future, Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu could be brought in to bolster Silva’s options at left-back, while Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters has emerged as an option on the opposite side of the defence.
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Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis and AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze are among the targets in attacking areas, with the west Londoners also keen to strengthen in the engine room, according to BILD reporter Falk.
Speaking to BILD, Falk has now revealed Fulham have a good chance of bringing Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha back to Craven Cottage this summer (via Sport Witness), but there could be competition from their London rivals.
Bayern Munich's JoaoPalhinhalooks dejected as he walks off after receiving a red card
West Ham United are also in the race for Palhinha, who is now looking increasingly likely to leave Bayern at the end of the season, given that he has struggled to force his way into the side since completing a €51m (£44m) move last summer.
Falk believes the Portugal international could be keen on a move back to England, adding: “I think he would consider, if an offer comes in, whether it makes sense for him to perhaps return to the British Isles.”
"Incredible" Palhinha could reignite career at Fulham
The 29-year-old may have struggled to make a name for himself in the Bundesliga, but he put in some top performances during his time at Craven Cottage, with journalist Kyle Bonn once comparing him to Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.
Silva knows he can depend on the 6-foot-3 colossus, given their time working together, and he has continued to impress at times when given the opportunity at Bayern, ranking highly across some key defensive metrics over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
3.70 (97th percentile)
Blocks
1.74 (90th percentile)
Aerials won
1.96 (92nd percentile)
It is promising news that Fulham could stand a good chance of signing Palhinha this summer, and they should be well-positioned to beat West Ham to his signature, given that they have vastly outperformed their London rivals in the Premier League this season.
A reliable reporter has now revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers could sign an unwanted Chelsea player this summer, according to a new report.
Wolves step up transfer plans as they eye a new striker
Vitor Pereira’s arrival at Molineux has been a breath of fresh air for the Midlands side, as he’s helped guide the club away from the relegation zone, and they now look set for a comfortable finish in the Premier League.
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It looks as though Wolves are set to lose talisman Matheus Cunha this summer, as he is closing in on a move to Manchester United. Therefore, a replacement or replacements will need to be found, and the Premier League side are wasting no time in identifying targets.
According to Caught Offside, Wolves have registered their interest in signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Everton, as he is set to leave the Toffees on a free transfer once his contract comes to an end.
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin
But he is not the only forward on their radar, as the Midlands side are also interested in signing Jamie Vardy, once again a player who is set to become a free agent, as he’s confirmed he will be leaving Leicester City after 13 years at the club.
Chelsea’s Joao Felix is another option that is being considered, as he’s been told he can speak to interested clubs. However, the Portugal international would likely cost a large sum of money, despite his struggles in England.
Reliable reporter suggests Wolves could sign Dewsbury-Hall
Felix is not the only Chelsea player the Midlands side are looking at, as according to reporter Ben Jacobs, via Molineux News, Wolves could look to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from the Blues this summer.
Jacobs was speaking on The Wolfpack Podcast about who could be of interest to Wolves heading into the summer, and he revealed that Dewsbury-Hall could be a target.
“I think Wolves and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is going to be one to watch, from what I understand.
“Because Chelsea may be willing to sanction a sale. Dewsbury-Hall may be looking for regular game time, with a view to somehow kind of forcing himself into the England setup. Wolves could be one to watch there. I’m not aware yet of any significant out-and-out attackers who Wolves are specifically looking at.”
Apps
71
Goals
3
Assists
5
Dewsbury-Hall, who has been dubbed “sensational” by former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, only joined Chelsea last summer in a deal worth £30 million. However, the midfielder has hardly kicked a ball at Stamford Bridge, despite being so important for Enzo Maresca with the Foxes, playing just 12 games in the Premier League, with his most minutes coming in the UEFA Conference League.
Given how far down the pecking order Dewsbury-Hall is, he is likely a player who could be moved on by the Blues this summer, as they look to recoup their money and bring in a replacement.