Celtic sold an Idah upgrade who could be his country's "best ever striker"

It is fair to say that Celtic’s actions on deadline day at the end of the summer transfer window did not go down very well amongst a large section of the fanbase.

Such was the reaction to the club’s work on deadline day, the Scottish Premiership champions felt they needed to release a statement explaining their processes and why they failed to bring in any strikers before the window slammed shut.

One interesting line to pick out from the statement is the following: “The Club plans our recruitment and player trading strategy responsibly and consistently, ensuring the squad can be strengthened for the short, medium and long term, while also seeking to ensure the development and progression of our Academy players. Our objective is to create Champions League players.”

This is an interesting line to pick out because the Hoops opted to cash in on Adam Idah on deadline day, despite the fact that they had failed to sign a high-calibre number nine to that point.

Celtic then had to dip into the free agent market to sign Kelechi Iheanacho the day after deadline day because they were unable to sign a replacement for Idah before the window closed.

These decisions have left the Hoops in a position where their squad looks much weaker in the short-term than it did at this point last summer, which brings the aforementioned part of the statement into question.

Why Celtic have a problem in the number nine position

Celtic have sold Idah and Kyogo Furuhashi in 2025, raking in up to £17m in the process, but have only spent £1.5m on striker signings in that time.

Shin Yamada was brought in from Kawasaki Frontale for a fee of £1.5m this summer as the only senior striker who was not signed on a free transfer by the club in 2025.

The Japanese centre-forward scored two goals in 21 matches in the J1 League in 2025 before his move to Celtic, which shows that the club did not sign a player who was in form and ready to hit the ground running.

That has proven to be the case. Yamada has failed to score in five appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions so far this season, per Sofascore.

League football in 2025

Iheanacho

Yamada

Kenny

Appearances

16

23

10

Goals

2

2

2

Big chances missed

2

10

3

Big chances created

0

2

1

Assists

2

1

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, all three of Celtic’s natural number nine options have struggled for league goals in 2025, as all of them have failed to score more than two goals and missed more ‘big chances’ than they have scored goals.

These statistics show that the Hoops have a clear problem in the centre-forward position in the short-term, at least, after they allowed Kyogo and Idah to depart without replacing them with ‘Champions League players’.

Kenny, who scored his first goal for the club against Aberdeen, has shown promise with two goals in ten appearances and one start in the Premiership to date, but he was an unused substitute in both games against Kairat, which suggests that Brendan Rodgers does not fully trust him yet.

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Looking back, therefore, Celtic may regret their decision to sell Hyeon-gyu Oh to Genk in the summer of 2024, because his current form suggests that he would have been an upgrade on Idah and could have solved their attacking woes at Parkhead.

Why Celtic should have kept Hyeon-gyu Oh

Rodgers sanctioned a deal to sell the number nine to Genk for a fee of £2.3m in order to facilitate the permanent signing of Idah from Norwich City for £9.5m.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Ireland international was unable to replicate his prolific loan spell during his time as a permanent player at Parkhead, which led to him being sold to Swansea for a deal that could reach £7m.

That immediately suggests that Rodgers and Celtic made the wrong call to sign Idah on a permanent deal, particularly for the finances involved, because they were then willing to take a loss on him after just 12 months.

Oh’s form since moving on from the Hoops last summer only adds further evidence to that case, as he has been a huge success in Belgium with Genk, and caught the eye for his country.

The 24-year-old marksman delivered a goal and an assist for South Korea in a 2-2 draw with Mexico during the international break. That led to Korean football account Fighting Stripes Football claiming that Oh “has the potential to be Korea’s best ever striker” because of his technical qualities and his top-class mentality.

It is now down to the striker to go on and fulfill that potential, but a goal and an assist against a very respectable footballing nation in Mexico is a good way to start.

Oh’s form in Belgium for Genk also shows that the striker has been on fire since his move away from Celtic, and that he could have been an upgrade on Idah if the Hoops had kept him in Glasgow.

24/25 season per 90

Oh (Pro League)

Idah (Premiership)

xG

1.03

0.71

xG on target

1.31

0.86

Goals

1.33

0.68

Shots on target

3.10

1.90

xA

0.18

0.14

Assists

0.30

0.00

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the South Korea international delivered more goals, more shots on target, more xA, and more assists per 90 than Idah at league level in the 2024/25 campaign.

Oh scored nine goals from 6.95 xG in 684 minutes of football for Genk in the Pro League, per Sofascore, which shows that he was incredibly clinical in front of goal and more than made the most of the minutes that he got on the pitch.

Such was the impressive nature of his performances for Genk, Stuttgart were reportedly set to clinch a £24m deal for the striker, before they backed out of a move after the medical brought up a red flag over an old ACL injury.

Whilst the move did not go through, the fact that Stuttgart were willing to pay £24m for a player who was let go by Celtic for £2.3m last year shows that the club made a mistake when they cashed in on him in 2024.

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Therefore, Celtic messed up by selling Oh last year because he could have offered more to the team than Idah and been the striker that Rodgers is now sorely lacking.

خاص | 3 أسباب وراء رفض الزمالك عودة طارق حامد

يبدو أن ملف عودة طارق حامد إلى الزمالك لن يرى النور رغم طرح اسمه في الأسابيع الأخيرة، حيث لا يرتبط بأي نادٍ منذ رحيله عن ضمك السعودي.

وعلم بطولات أن إدارة الزمالك درست الموقف بالفعل، لكن لم يتم الحسم والموافقة لعدة عوامل مهمة يضعها المدير الرياضي، جون إدوارد، في الحسبان.

اقرأ أيضًا | ممدوح عباس: دمي ودموعي وابتساماتي.. الزمالك سيستعيد أرض أكتوبر

وجاء في مقدمة الأسباب تقدم طارق حامد في السن، إذ ترى الإدارة أن المرحلة الحالية تتطلب ضخ دماء جديدة تناسب مشروع إعادة بناء الفريق الأبيض.

كما أبدى مسؤولو الزمالك مخاوف من الإصابات المتكررة التي عانى منها اللاعب مؤخرًا خلال تجربته في الدوري السعودي مع نادي ضمك.

وأشار إلى أن ابتعاد طارق حامد عن المشاركة منذ انتهاء عقده في السعودية جعل مسؤولي الزمالك غير مقتنعين بجاهزيته الفنية والبدنية.

ويرى المدير الرياضي بالنادي أن الفريق في مرحلة تجديد شامل تعتمد على العناصر الشابة القادرة على التطور والمنافسة على المدى الطويل.

واختتم أن هذه الأسباب كانت أيضًا وراء رفض ضم اللاعب في بداية الموسم رغم توفر الفرصة حينها، لتواصل الإدارة سياستها الواضحة نحو التجديد والاعتماد على المستقبل.

Reforço do Corinthians, Rojas demora menos tempo para marcar um gol do que Róger Guedes

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo não sendo atacante de ofício, Matías Rojas vem impressionando na atual temporada com o número de gols marcados para a função que exerce. Meia pela direita, o novo reforço do Corinthians já marcou dez gols em 20 jogos na temporada, tanto pelo Racing quanto na seleção paraguaia.

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+ Cantillo na lista! Confira 30 jogadores que ainda não fizeram sete jogos no Brasileirão e podem trocar de clube

Com 1424 minutos disputados em 2023, Rojas demora 142 minutos para marcar um gol, e sua média de gols por minutos em campo é acima de Róger Guedes, artilheiro do Corinthians na temporada com 19 gols em 3303 minutos disputados. O camisa 10 do Timão demora 173 minutos para marcar um gol.

Rojas não está tão atrás de Tiquinho Soares, artilheiro do Brasileirão. A média de gols por minuto do centroavante botafoguense é de um gol a cada 127,5 minutos.

continua após a publicidade

No gráfico abaixo, você confere a média de gols por minuto em campo de Rojas e os principais artilheiros do Brasileirão.

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O torcedor corintiano terá a oportunidade de ver Matías Rojas estreando pelo Corinthians neste sábado (15). O paraguaio deve ser titular no meio-campo do Timão contra o América-MG, ao lado de Renato Augusto. O Coelho venceu o primeiro jogo das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil por 1 a 0.

IPL 2025 Orange and Purple Cap leaderboards: Pooran, Sai Sudharsan cross 300-run mark

Here’s how things look on the run-scorers’ and wicket-takers’ tables after Saturday’s double-header in IPL 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-20251:36

‘Not long before Sudharsan is an India regular’

Orange Cap leaderboardThe top three on the run-scorers’ table after Friday are the top three on the run-scorers’ table after Saturday, but it’s not quite the same. Nicholas Pooran, still the No. 1, has gone past the 300-run mark after his latest hit: 61 in 34 balls against GT. He is at 349 runs now.Yesterday’s No. 2, B Sai Sudharsan, remains today’s No. 2, but breached the 300-run mark even before Pooran with his 37-ball 56. So, for a while on Saturday afternoon, we had a new No. 1 as Sai Sudharsan went past Pooran before Pooran snatched the cap back. Sai Sudharsan is at 329 runs, just 20 behind Pooran.Mitchell Marsh, unfortunately, didn’t get a go against GT since his daughter is unwell, but remains in third spot with 265 runs.What’s happening beyond the top three is equally engrossing. Six other batters are now over the 200 mark: Shreyas Iyer (250 runs), Jos Buttler (218), Travis Head (214), Shubman Gill (208), Ajinkya Rahane (204) and Aiden Markram (202). And Abhishek Sharma, after his 55-ball 141 against PBKS, is suddenly at 192 runs.Purple Cap leaderboardShardul Thakur added two wickets to his kitty on Saturday, and that has brought him right back into the top three, at No. 2, with 11 wickets, just one behind the leader, Noor Ahmad.Where Thakur made the most of his opportunity, Mohammed Siraj and R Sai Kishore couldn’t, going wicketless against LSG and staying on 10 wickets, the same as Hardik Pandya, Prasidh Krishna and Khaleel Ahmed.Highest batting strike ratesBest bowling economy ratesMost sixesBest bowling figures in a match

Sophie Devine to miss ODIs and T20Is against Sri Lanka

She had taken a break from domestic cricket and withdrawn from the WPL previously to “prioritise her well-being”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2025

Sophie Devine skipped the WPL too•BCCI

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine will not be available for their ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka as she continues to “prioritise her well-being.” She had earlier pulled out of the Women’s Super Smash midway and also opted out of the WPL for the same reason after “receiving professional advice.””We are fully supportive of Sophie’s decision to not take part in the upcoming series,” Liz Green, New Zealand Cricket’s Head of Women’s High Performance, said in a statement on Monday. “Player well-being is our highest priority and it’s important Sophie feels fit and well before returning to professional cricket.”Since winning the T20 World Cup with New Zealand in October 2024, Devine, 35, had been part of the ODIs against India, played in the WBBL for Perth Scorchers, and also played the ODI series against Australia in late December. She was last seen in action in the Super Smash, where she picked up 5 for 13 against Canterbury on January 24. Her team, Wellington, went on to win the domestic T20 title with Amelia Kerr putting on a stellar show with bat and ball.New Zealand are set to play three ODIs against Sri Lanka, starting March 4 at home, followed by three T20Is that begin on March 14. A full squad is set to be announced later this month. They are also scheduled to face Australia for three T20Is in a series that starts on March 21. These are New Zealand’s first T20I assignments since their T20 World Cup triumph where Devine led them to a maiden title.

Dream for Ekitike: Chelsea showing interest in "pocket rocket"

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is desperate to bolster his attacking options this summer, and Hugo Ekitike is a major target.

The Blues face competition from Manchester United, however, as the Red Devils have entered the race for the young Frenchman.

Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike

This could put Maresca on high alert, and he will do everything he can to try to lure the Eintracht Frankfurt striker to Stamford Bridge.

He isn’t the only transfer target to emerge from the Bundesliga, as news has emerged about their potential interest in a current RB Leipzig starlet.

Chelsea could target Bundesliga sensation

If a move for Ekitike does go through, Maresca will be keen on linking up with players who will be able to provide him with plenty of chances in the final third.

Of course, Cole Palmer will be ideal for him, but how about having a talent like Xavi Simons available?

Writer Bobby Vincent stated during a Q and A for football.london could perhaps be a target.

“As for Xavi Simons, I’ve heard his name mentioned a couple of times this summer as a potential option but nothing absolutely concrete yet,” said Vincent.

“He is someone who has cropped up in the past as well, so there is definite interest there.”

The Dutchman is still only 22 years of age and would make an ideal long-term option for Maresca, especially as he could work wonders with Ekitike.

Why Chelsea must sign Xavi Simons

Last season in the Premier League, Palmer created 24 big chances. Next on the list were Enzo Fernández with 13 and Pedro Neto with 11. These were the only players with over ten big chances created.

By signing Simons, Maresca would be getting a player who will be able to generate plenty of opportunities for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt this season.

Xavi Simons celebrates

Indeed, across 25 domestic matches last season, the youngster created 12 big chances, while also averaging two key passes per game and recording seven assists for Leipzig, which speaks to the kind of quality that he could provide the French striker with in front of goal.

Xavi Simons’ statistics last season

Metric

Bundesliga

Champions League

Goals

10

0

Assists

7

0

Big chances created

12

4

Key passes per game

2

1.4

Successful dribbles per game

1.3

1.4

Via Sofascore

It is no wonder he has been hailed as a “fantastic talent” in the past by talent scout Jacek Kulig. Now, Simons is finally delivering on his massive potential.

While Leipzig may have underwhelmed in the Champions League last season, Simons, who has been hailed as a “pocket rocket” by analyst Raj Chohan, shone from an individual perspective.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in the tournament, the 22-year-old ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and total shots per 90 (2.69) while also ranking in the top 9% for successful take-ons (1.88) and in the top 12% for touches in the opposition penalty area (3.49) per 90.

This set of statistics proves that Simons is among one of the finest attacking midfielders on the continent when it comes to creating chances, which is why he would be a dream signing alongside Ekitike as they could link up in the final third with the Dutchman creating chances for the striker to tuck away.

It could be a dream duo for the club next season, and if the club go far in the Club World Cup, there will be money to spend.

Chelsea can sign a bigger talent than Ekitike with move for £65m "maverick"

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Man City register interest to sign £205k-p/w PSG star who Pep called "top"

Manchester City may have one eye on the Club World Cup this summer, though they are refusing to relent in their pursuit of additions and could now be in a position to land one of PSG’s leading stars.

Man City's changing dynamics this summer

The end of a trophyless campaign for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appears to have only fueled his desire to ensure his side doesn’t end up empty-handed next time out.

Fortunately, the Club World Cup will offer a quickfire chance to atone for a year without silverware alongside a bounty of nearly £100 million for the eventual winners of the competition.

Of course, Manchester City are hardly struggling for cash. Still, a sizeable extra windfall would allow more room for manoeuvre in their quest to rejuvenate a squad that will see some experienced figures depart over the summer.

Kevin De Bruyne appears to be on his way to Napoli and bows out as possibly the Citizens’ greatest ever player, leaving a void to be filled not only in the engine room but in terms of leadership.

Jack Grealish could be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur after becoming a spare part. Although his influence has waned in recent times, there is no doubt that his experience has helped to set a culture of success inside the Manchester City dressing room.

Hugo Viana makes £40m+ Man City offer to sign Brazilian ahead of Man Utd

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AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri could arrive to work under Guardiola. Nevertheless, their prospective moves don’t undermine the need for stars capable of producing match-winning moments to arrive, no matter where they may feature on the pitch.

Man City eye surprise Gianluigi Donnarumma move

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City have made contact over a move for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma if number one Ederson is sold this summer.

The Brazil international is attracting interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and could be allowed to leave for just over £25 million if appropriate offers come in.

Gianluigi Donnarumma in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

40

Clean sheets

12

Goals conceded

39

On the other hand, former AC Milan star Donnarumma is in the middle of a contract wrangle with Paris Saint-Germain and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Juventus, with City also registering their interest.

Intriguingly, he has been labelled a “top goalkeeper” by Guardiola back in 2017 and won’t have done himself any harm after picking up the Champions League trophy last weekend.

Speaking about his future at the French giants, Donnarumma stated: “New deal or leaving? We will see what happens… I don’t know.

‘It’s time to enjoy this magic season now. I will go on holiday and then we will see.”

From a Manchester City standpoint, that doesn’t sound like a man who has completely ruled out the prospect of playing elsewhere next term. Now, it is over to their recruitment staff to try and tempt the £205,000 per week earner to English shores.

Chelsea: Striker double-deal on with key target set for decision "this week"

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be backed over what is expected to be another eventful summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge, especially after their now-confirmed qualification for the Champions League next season.

Chelsea handed summer transfer boost with Champions League spot confirmed

While Maresca refused to get drawn into any questions about the summer window in his post-match press conference, there is little denying that Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday has seriously boosted the club’s recruitment strategy.

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Chelsea’s finish in the Premier League top five, courtesy of a second-half strike from Cobham academy graduate Levi Colwill against Forest, means BlueCo have been handed a significant potential windfall of around £64 million.

Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

The Blues should earn around £48 million just from finishing fourth in the table, while Chelsea are also guaranteed £15.7 million from qualifying for the Champions League, even if Maresca’s side lose every game and go out in the league phase (Sky Sports).

Chelsea manager EnzoMarescacelebrates after the match

Alongside the financial boost, Chelsea will also have far more player-pull in the market, given they’ll be competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.

In an x-rated celebratory statement, following their Sunday heroics, Maresca sent a message to his critics after Chelsea’s place.

“I didn’t have any doubt about the players. The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s finish to the season.

“They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have the answer to everything. So in English, how you say? F off to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.”

Chelsea could now sign two strikers with Liam Delap set for imminent decision

According to journalist Simon Phillips, their Champions League status now means that Chelsea could sign not one, but two, strikers this summer.

One of their key targets, Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, is set to decide on his next destination “this week”, and Chelsea are firmly in contention for the Englishman after holding talks with his camp (Fabrizio Romano).

However, Maresca’s side are keen on bringing in one of their two potential new centre-forwards before the Club World Cup, so given Delap’s desire to play at the Under-21 Euros with England, this could pose a slight issue.

In terms of other high-profile number nines who could join alongside Delap, it has been reported in the last two days that Chelsea are now “really pushing” for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

Amazing Delap alternative: Everton in the race for "phenomenal" £40m star

Everton have been born again under the wing of David Moyes, and the exciting part is the Scottish coach is only just getting started.

Sure, recent results have been a little patchy, but Everton have come on leaps and bounds since Sean Dyche was replaced in January, just as solid in defence while more at ease in their forward play, working coherently and fluidly. Beto’s firing once again, and the Toffees as a whole have found a long-lost level of attacking intent.

Everton manager DavidMoyes

But there’s only so much that can be done without signings. Indeed, Everton need to invest in the transfer market this summer, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja both slated to leave when their contracts expire next month.

Everton chasing new striker

While Everton would love to get their hands on Liam Delap, the £30m-rated Ipswich striker is giving priority to Manchester United, and it’s a race that Moyes may not win with interest from the Toffees reported just a few weeks ago.

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Instead, The Friedkin Group may head down a shrewder path and target Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson, 20, who has endured a difficult loan spell at West Ham United this season.

The rumoured price was thought to be £40m when he joined the Hammers this winter, but that should be lower now.

According to GIVEMESPORT, the Republic of Ireland international could be one option this summer to complete Moyes’ frontal ranks.

Why Evan Ferguson could flourish at Bramley Moore

Ferguson has only started once in the Premier League for West Ham, and he was hooked at half-time at that. Still, once regarded as a “phenomenal” finishing ability by James Milner, the up-and-comer has merely suffered a blip in a promising rise to the fore.

Football is a fickle game, and it’s important to remember that while players ebb away, they can bounce right back in a warmer climate.

West Ham hasn’t exactly been a breeding ground for positivity this season, but Everton are building something with Moyes at the helm and he could help coax Ferguson back toward the ascendancy that carried him through his maiden years in the Premier League.

His goalscoring prowess won’t go away, and while there are other areas of his game that need work, Moyes could get the best out of him, for sure.

Of course, his one-goal campaign pales in comparison to Delap’s, with the 22-year-old scoring 12 goals from 35 Premier League outings for his relegated side, missing just ten big chances, as per Sofascore.

But Ferguson has demonstrated his ability before. For Brighton, across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the teenage prodigy scored 12 goals and missed only nine big chances, with his powerful performances at the front of the ship leading to a great fanfare.

Evan Ferguson’s Senior English Career (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25 – West Ham

8

0

0

24/25 – Brighton

15

1

0

23/24 – Brighton

34

6

2

22/23 – Brighton

25

10

3

21/22 – Brighton

4

0

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Such fanfare, actually, that Brighton slapped a £100m price tag on him, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur lurking.

Delap might be the talk of the town right now, but Ferguson has proven himself a big-money talent in the past, with the raw properties to become something special.

Given that Everton could be able to engineer an affordable deal and have Beto firing on all cylinders, this could be an astute piece of business indeed, one which might just bear dividends.

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He's better than Murillo: Liverpool make offer to sign "world-class" star

This summer is a huge one for Liverpool football club if they are to sustain the success they’ve achieved in Arne Slot’s first season at the helm on Merseyside.

The Reds have claimed the Premier League title for just the second time in 2024/25, achieving such a feat with multiple games to spare, highlighting the impressive job done by the Dutchman.

Many supporters undoubtedly had fears for the side after Jürgen Klopp’s departure last summer, but it’s safe to say Slot has rapidly put those worries to bed.

Liverpool manager ArneSlotcelebrates after winning the Premier League

He has the opportunity to create a new era of success for a generation of the fanbase, but it’s crucial that the board backs him in his quest by landing him the targets he wants.

With just a couple of weeks until the transfer window opens, work has already been done behind the scenes to land targets who would drastically improve the options at the manager’s disposal.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders this summer

Whilst boasting the second-best defensive record in the Premier League, Liverpool are still in the market for added reinforcements in such a department.

Bournemouth ace Milos Kerkez has been their number one option to strengthen the left-back department, with the Cherries demanding a fee in the region of £40m for his signature.

Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth

However, the Hungarian might not be the only star to join the Reds from Andoni Iraola’s side in the coming months, with Dean Huijsen on their radar, according to one Spanish report.

It claims that Slot’s side have already made an offer to the 20-year-old’s representatives over a summer switch to Anfield, but face competition from sides such as Real Madrid and Chelsea.

It also states that it remains to be seen whether he will stay in England or move to LaLiga during the off-season, with multiple outfits willing to trigger his £50m release clause in his contract.

Why Liverpool’s £50m target would be better than Murillo

Huijsen isn’t the only defender linked with a switch to join Liverpool in the near future, with Nottingham Forest’s Brazilian star Murillo emerging as another target for Slot’s men.

Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson celebrates scoring their first goal with Nikola Milenkovic andMurillo

The 22-year-old has been a key part of their hunt for a Champions League spot, having a real impact at both ends of the pitch – as seen by his goal against Crystal Palace earlier this week.

He’s a unique option in today’s market, taking pride in his ball-playing ability, always offering a presence in driving out with the ball from the back and playing a diagonal pass to a teammate – but could cost a fee in the region of £80m.

However, despite his eye-catching ability at the City Ground, the hierarchy should still prioritise a move for Bournemouth star Huijsen, with the Spaniard a better option in 2025.

When comparing his stats to those of Murillo this campaign, he’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – handing the manager a perfect partner to Virgil Van Dijk.

Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen

Huijsen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more progressive carries per 90 whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted – showcasing his impressive ability on the ball.

How Huijsen compares to Murillo in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Huijsen

Murillo

Games played

29

34

Goals & assists

4

2

Progressive carries

1.5

0.6

Progressive passes

4.7

3.1

Pass accuracy

83%

78%

% of tackles won

60%

58%

Interceptions made

1.9

0.9

Aerials won

2.6

1.2

Stats via FBref

He’s also won more of the tackles he’s entered to date and made more interceptions, highlighting that he’s a better option than Murillo without the ball – further improving the club’s impressive defensive record.

Given the difference in stats, it should be a no-brainer for the club, not to mention saving themselves £30m if they were to make a move for Huijsen instead of the Forest gem.

Such a saving could allow for added investment into other key areas of the first-team squad, further improving their chances of making it back-to-back triumphs in the Premier League next season.

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1 ByAngus Sinclair May 8, 2025

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