All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Aston Villa’s first Champions League game since 1982/83 saw them put in a very dominant performance away to Swiss champions Young Boys. The Villans earned a commanding 3-0 victory in Switzerland, thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana.

Statistically, the Villans dominated the game, too. According to Sofascore, they had far more possession compared to the Swiss outfit after weathering an early storm and adapting to the plastic pitch, a tough surface to play on.

In total, Unai Emery’s side had 53% of the ball, compared to Young Boys’ 47%. Not only that, they had 20 shots to the Swiss champions’ 12 and registered seven on target, two more than their opponent.

Passes

363

405

Possession

47%

53%

Shots

12

20

Shots on target

5

7

Expected goals (xG)

0.59

2.13

It was unsurprisingly a dominant performance from the former European Cup winners, as they slotted seamlessly back into the biggest club competition in the continent.

The visitors can certainly be happy with their night’s work, although there was still a lot to do for goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, who put in an impressive showing against the Swiss outfit.

Emi Martinez’s stats vs Young Boys

Despite a good night’s work from his teammates, notably the three goalscorers, Martinez was tested fairly regularly and had to put in some crucial saves, particularly in the first half, in order to keep the score at 0-0. There were certainly some hairy moments for the Villans.

The Argentine World Cup winner had 54 touches of the ball and was forced into making five saves. Three of those stops came from shots inside the penalty box. The goalkeeper also completed 28 from 41 attempted passes.

It was a performance that earned Martinez a deserved 8/10 ranking from Goal journalist Richard Mills. The journalist was complimentary of his performance, explaining that the Villa number 23 was on hand to get “his team out of a couple of dangerous situations”.

The surface did not make it an easy pitch to play on for any goalkeeper, but Martinez made light worm of it. He negated a ball that could skid on unpredictably and ultimately managed to keep a clean sheet in Switzerland.

Whilst the former Arsenal goalkeeper had a good night, the same cannot be said for one Villa player, Lamar Bogarde, who had a tough evening and was substituted at half-time.

Lamar Bogarde’s stats vs Young Boys

After making two consecutive Premier League starts at right-back in the absence of the injured Matty Cash, it was a baptism of fire for 20-year-old Bogarde on Tuesday evening.

Whilst he did not make any calamitous mistakes, the youngster struggled to make an impact on the game and was subsequently replaced at the break by the more experienced Diego Carlos.

He had just 18 touches of the ball, 39 fewer than Martinez, completed eight from nine passes, and lost the ball three times. Boagrde also won just 50% of his ground duels in Switzerland, three from six in total.

His performance earned him a 6/10 rating from the aforementioned Mills, who noted that, whilst the youngster didn’t necessarily do anything wrong, “a couple of threatening Young Boys attacks happened on his side of the pitch”, suggesting they exploited his side.

Indeed, if Emery was to drop the youngster this weekend for the game against Wolves at Villa Park, there are two options as to who could replace him. The most obvious option is Carlos, who came on to replace him on Tuesday, but he could also turn to 18-year-old Serbian defender Kosta Nedeljkovic, who featured in their first three Premier League games of the season and stood out against Arsenal.

It remains to be seen which route the Spaniard chooses to go down, including showing faith in Bogarde and keeping him in the side. However, he will certainly be hoping his side can continue to build on an impressive win in their first Champions League game since 1982/83.

100% dribbles, 95% passing: 8/10 Aston Villa star stole the show in the UCL

He got himself on the scoresheet tonight

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 17, 2024

Leeds United, despite dominating the possession at a weighty 71.3% and bettering Burnley in terms of shots, still fell to their first defeat of the Championship season last time out.

Scott Parker’s Clarets managed to get the better of Daniel Farke’s wasteful Whites courtesy of a counter-attack goal by Luca Koleosho, with the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers target’s strike the difference on the day, as the likes of Mateo Joseph and Wilfried Gnonto fluffed their own opportunities for the hosts.

The manner of the defeat will sting for Farke and Co, but it’s unlikely that wholesale changes will be needed moving forward, with players such as Junior Firpo in particular having a standout start to the campaign regardless of this narrow 1-0 loss.

Firpo's resurgence at Leeds

The former Barcelona man continues to look like a resurgent figure in the Leeds first team, having once found his footing at Elland Road to be on shaky foundations, after a dismal time of things in the Premier League, having been relegated with the side in the 2022/23 campaign.

Since dropping down to the Championship, however, the Dominican Republic international has shone brightly, with his creativity from down the left a massive plus.

Last campaign, alongside the skills of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville to name a few, Firpo would pick up an impressive seven assists from 27 regular season contests, alongside also helping himself to six clean sheets.

His willingness to burst forward and create openings has helped the Whites out during the infancy of this fresh season too, with Firpo galloping forward to assist Joel Piroe’s late strike against Hull City, which helped his side close out August with a comfortable 2-0 victory before Burnley soured the mood in West Yorkshire.

The rejuvenated Leeds number three did try and unlock the Clarets in a similar manner but was met by a resilient Burnley defence, as the 28-year-old trudged off the pitch with only one key pass next to his name come full-time.

There will be concerns about Firpo’s future around Elland Road now, with his contract up next June, and he already has clubs circling for his services.

Firpo's future at Leeds

There will be some grave concerns in the air as Firpo might well exit West Yorkshire for £0 if everything isn’t resolved shortly, with TEAMTalk revealing that one of his former employers in Real Betis is keen to win his services for zilch.

With his deal at Leeds entering into its final six months in January, he could well agree a pre-contract agreement with another side and then leave on a free transfer in the summer, which would be a nightmare situation for Farke and Co.

Year

Value

2024

£1.9m

2023

£2.7m

2022

£3m

2021

£12.8m

Sourced by Football Transfers

Although his value has fallen year on year he’s been at Leeds, with his valuation now standing at a low £1.9m compared to his original £12.8m fee, it would still be a sad state of affairs for the Whites if Firpo was to just leave for nothing.

His value could also increase over the next couple of months if he can keep up his electric displays in attack, which might – in tow – lead to his side tasting promotion.

Labelled as “immense” in the past by Leeds content creator Conor McGilligan, it would be a devastating end to his time in West Yorkshire if another club did poach him for £0 and an almighty blunder, given his impressive performances in the Championsnhip.

Before any of that happens, however, Firpo will no doubt just be keen to kick on and help his side in their aim to win promotion, as bottom of the table Cardiff City await Farke’s men next as the perfect way to bounce back, after the demoralising defeat to Burnley.

One of the worst players in Leeds' history is now struggling in Japan

This major Leeds United flop has continued to struggle even after leaving Elland Road behind.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 15, 2024

Liverpool’s transfer business throughout the summer was underwhelming, to say the least, as Arne Slot waited until the last minute to sign goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and winger Federico Chiesa just before the window shut.

It is clear that Slot signed Chiesa as a long-term heir to Mohamed Salah, who turned 32 in the summer, yet the former Juventus man has endured a tough time of it in the previous few years.

Federico Cheisa’s Juventus statistics

The winger was a key part of the Italian side which won Euro 2020, scoring twice during the tournament.

In the subsequent three years following the tournament, the Italian has missed 80 matches due to a succession of injury problems during his spell with Juventus.

Despite this, the 26-year-old has managed to score 18 times for the Old Lady, while also chipping in with 13 assists, showing that he can be effective when the winger is fit and healthy.

Unfortunately, these injuries have made consistency a problem, something which Salah has exuded during his time at Anfield.

Indeed, the Egyptian star has registered a stunning 303 goal contributions – 213 goals and 90 assists – across 351 matches for Liverpool, a figure which Slot will surely find difficult to replace once Salah does leave Merseyside.

Is Chiesa the answer? Judging by his recent record, perhaps not. Might the Dutchman have signed a far greater alternative this summer instead? As Pedro Neto was linked with a move to the club.

Liverpool missed out on dream Chiesa alternative this summer

At the start of the month, rumours were rife that Liverpool were keen on signing Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers before the window closed.

The winger was valued at £60m and this looked like a figure out of what Slot was willing to spend. Neto joined Chelsea instead a few weeks ago, and it looks like an opportunity missed by the club.

The Portuguese gem was hailed as a “pace monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, with this trait allowing him to regularly beat his opposition man with ease, creating chances galore for his teammates.

Indeed, last season in the Premier League, Neto may have only scored two goals in 20 matches for the Old Gold, but he managed to register nine assists, create seven big chances while averaging 1.9 key passes and 1.9 successful dribbles per game, indicating that his lack of goals wouldn’t have been a problem given his other skills.

Goals

2

Assists

9

Key passes per game

1.9

Shots on target per game

0.6

Successful dribbles per game

1.9

Total duels won per game

3.5

Big chances created

7

When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Neto ranked in the top 1% for assists (0.61) and in the top 6% for progressive carries (5.78) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

Plenty of evidence to suggest the former Wolves star would have been a solid acquisition for Slot ahead of the current season, especially given his success in the Premier League already, unlike Chiesa.

With Neto also potentially better suited to filling Salah's shoes on the right flank, as a natural left-footer, will Slot regret not making a more concrete move for the winger? Only time will tell.

Liverpool hit gold on Klopp signing worth nearly 5x more than Chiesa

He’s had his detractors but he sure is the real deal…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 28, 2024

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has weighed in with an update on Arsenal's plans for the final few days of this summer window, following their now confirmed deal for midfielder Mikel Merino.

Arsenal announce £32 million Merino signing after weeks of talks

Earlier this week, news that Arsenal fans have been waiting a long time for was finally dropped after weeks of talks.

Fabrizio Romano: £276k-per-week star who Arsenal want could make late move

He’s been dubbed a “surprise” potential transfer.

4 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 28, 2024

Indeed, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta finally got his hands on Merino, with Arsenal officially completing a £32 million move for the Spain international midfielder. His arrival at the Emirates Stadium is set to seriously reinforce Arteta's left-side of midfield, as Merino's towering 6 foot 2 presence and reputation for winning duels provides Arsenal with more tenacity.

The former Newcastle United ace will don the number 23 shirt and could even make his Premier League debut this weekend against Brighton, with sporting director Edu Gaspar saying that Merino's physicality and athleticism will be a huge asset.

“We are so happy to have completed the transfer of Mikel Merino," said Edu to Arsenal's official website.

Appearances

247

Goals

27

Assists

30

Yellow cards

56

Red cards

2

Minutes played

19,449

Transfermarkt

"This has been another great team effort from many people at the club to finalise the transfer of a player who attracted interest from a number of clubs over the summer.

“Mikel was a key target for us this summer, and we identified him as a player who can fit perfectly into our squad and profile to improve us, as we aim to build on our strong performances of last season. With Mikel’s arrival, he brings us an added high quality of experience, physicality and athleticism as we look forward to this season ahead. We welcome Mikel and his family to the club, and look forward to seeing him play in the Arsenal shirt.”

After the 28-year-old put pen to paper on a long-term contract at Arsenal, the general consensus is that Arteta and Edu may not be done there, as we fast approach summer transfer deadline day.

Arsenal have been linked with a late move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, among others, as they consider upgrading their attacking options ahead of a long and challenging title race with Man City.

Arsenal looking at "last-minute" chance to sign new forward

This has now been backed up by respected transfer reporter Romano, who says that Arsenal are indeed looking at a "last-minute opportunity" to sign a new forward before the window closes.

“I think it’s not going to be a super big name. I don’t expect Arsenal to go for a central striker," said the journalist on Men in Blazers (via TBR).

"There was some fear around the injury of Gabriel Jesus, but I’m told it’s quite positive. The idea of Arsenal is to sign a winger rather than a number nine, looking at a last-minute opportunity on the market."

Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot over a potential move this summer to the Old Trafford side.

What’s the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Man United?

According to The Athletic, the Red Devils have begun talks with the representatives of the Frenchman in order to lure him to the Premier League this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of June.

The Serie A side want to keep him for another season and could be set to offer him a one-year extension to his deal, yet United will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last summer, where, despite reaching an agreement with Juventus, they failed to agree personal terms with the player.

Should Man United sign Rabiot this summer?

Missing out on the Frenchman last summer turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as Casemiro ended up joining the club from Real Madrid and enjoyed a stellar campaign, ending up as their second-best performer in terms of overall rating via Sofascore in the Premier League.

The Brazilian had numerous partners alongside him throughout the season and Erik ten Hag will surely want to bring someone in who could become a mainstay in the midfield, as the likes of Fred and Christian Eriksen filtered in and out of the lineup.

Rabiot, who Gigi Buffon explained has "the strength of Pogba", enjoyed a resurgence during 2022/2023, missing just six league matches for Juventus, and he could certainly offer more going forward than Fred that’s for sure.

The 28-year-old registered 12 goal contributions last term – eight goals and four assists – along with making one key pass per game and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles, giving his team an added threat from the heart of the midfield.

In contrast, Fred managed just four goal contributions – two goals and assists – while making 0.9 key passes and succeeding with just 44% of his attempted dribbles. Indeed, it’s clear Rabiot would be an upgrade going forward.

Even defensively, the 6 foot 2 Frenchman comes out on top across a string of metrics, including winning more tackles (35 to 30), interceptions (26 to 19) while also winning a higher percentage of aerial duels (56.2% to 50%) than Fred, indicating that he would be a shrewd signing, especially on a free transfer.

The £148k-per-week dynamo also shone during the 2022 World Cup for France, scoring during the opening match against Australia while ranking second in the squad for interceptions per game (1.7) and seventh for accurate passes per game (38.8) as France came so close to retaining their title, losing to Argentina in the final.

He was even lauded as being “sensational” by sections of the media during the World Cup and Erik ten Hag could land himself one of the bargains of the transfer window. With Champions League football adorning the Old Trafford pitch next season, it shouldn’t be a hard sell.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has personally held talks with the representatives of Leicester City star James Maddison, according to reports.

Who will Spurs sign this summer?

Maddison is being pushed as a top target for Spurs by sections of the press with some sources even suggesting that the 26-year-old was at the centre of a double bid last week.

The Lilywhites were said to have lodged an offer for both Maddison and his teammate, Harvey Barnes, worth in excess of £50 million which was swiftly rejected by Leicester.

Sky Sports rebuffed this claim, stating while Spurs had a serious interest in both, no formal proposal of any kind had gone in for the duo.

As well as the Foxes playmaker, it is believed that Tottenham are targeting a new goalkeeper, central defender and possible forward additions.

David Raya of Brentford is wanted to replace Hugo Lloris, meanwhile the likes of Man City defender Aymeric Laporte have been tipped with potential moves to Spurs.

Galasary forward Nicolo Zaniolo has emerged as a target in recent days, too, with Postecoglou seemingly looking to strengthen in various areas of the pitch.

Going back to Maddison, a report by Football Transfers has shared some interesting news on Tottenham's chase for the England international.

According to their information, Postecoglou has personally held talks with Maddison's agents recently, and he is thought to have made a really good impression on them,

This has apparently helped to sway Maddison more towards Tottenham than Premier League rivals Newcastle, and the former Norwich City star may be tempted to join.

Despite this, Maddison is yet to have any personal contact with Spurs, but Postecoglou coming across well to the player's camp could be crucial.

How many goals did Maddison score last season?

Maddison starred for Leicester over the course of 2022/2023, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists in the league alone, totalling an impressive 19 attacking contributions (WhoScored).

The Three Lions ace also attempted more shots at goal per 90, completing more key passes and registered their joint-highest rate of successful take-ons in the top flight (WhoScored).

These numbers make one thing crystal clear – he is far too good for the Championship.

Whether it is Newcastle or Spurs, either side may be on to seal a very potent and capable attacking threat in the final third.

Former West Ham and Leicester City star David Connolly has also called Maddison "absolutely magnificent" for his form at the King Power.

Arsenal are expected to launch a bid for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice "very soon", according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest on Declan Rice to Arsenal?

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has recently detailed that Arsenal could get a deal for Rice done "quickly", as he wants to move to the Emirates Stadium, however he does not completely rule out another team winning the race for his signature.

Jacobs has also claimed the Gunners will take a "disciplined" approach in their pursuit of the 24-year-old, with their opening offer set to be worth less than £100m, but "all signs point towards" a move to north London this summer.

Personal terms have reportedly already been agreed, meaning the last remaining obstacle is submitting an acceptable offer to West Ham, and according to a new update from Romano, a bid could soon be on its way.

Taking to Twitter, the transfer expert gave a very positive update on the Gunners' pursuit of the midfielder, saying:"Arsenal will enter into crucial stages of Declan Rice deal next week. Official bid expected very soon after positive talks in the recent days.

"Gunners feel they’re ahead of Bayern as player priority is to continue in England — but timing will be crucial for Arsenal."

Is Rice signing for Arsenal?

A move to the Emirates Stadium would seemingly tick a lot of boxes for the England international, as he has previously made it clear he wants to stay in London, while he is also keen to play in the Champions League and compete for trophies.

Of course, the West Ham captain got his hands on his first piece of major silverware when West Ham won the Europa Conference League last weekend, which also grants them qualification to the Europa League next season.

The fact there will be European football at the London Stadium once again could potentially make the London-born midfielder think twice about leaving, although West Ham chairman David Sullivan has recently confirmed the player has his heart set on leaving.

If, as expected, the £60k-per-week midfielder does move on this summer, Arsenal will be getting a top player if they win the race for his signature, having been hailed as "incredible" by members of the media.

Not only does Rice rank very highly for some key defensive metrics over the past year, including interceptions and clearances per 90, there is also an indication he could be an attacking threat, with Jack Wilshere previously claiming he was the "best finisher" at West Ham.

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz could ‘definitely thrive’ at Stamford Bridge under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, transfer insider Dean Jones has told Football FanCast.

Chelsea news – What’s the latest on Kai Havertz?

Despite scoring ‘that’ famous goal in Portugal to help the Blues win the Champions League in May 2021, life in west London hasn’t gone entirely to plan for Havertz.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star made the £72m switch to England with a lofty reputation and price tag, but he has generally failed to live up to the expectations many had for him.

The last few weeks have seen several transfer rumours linking the German with a move away from the two-time European champions.

Just this week, it was reported in the German publication BILD that Spanish giants Real Madrid were considering the player, as he is a ‘dream player’ for coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also reported that “Chelsea and Kai Havertz are on the same page”, and the Blues hierarchy is “prepared to let him leave.”

However, not everyone is on the same page, and some think that the 6 foot 4 forward can rediscover his form at Stamford Bridge.

What has Dean Jones said about Kai Havertz and Chelsea?

Jones thinks the coaching of Mauricio Pochettino might be just what the Aachen-born dynamo needs to fulfil his massive potential in England and stresses that despite the rumours, Chelsea aren’t exactly desperate to be rid of the player this summer.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said:

“Think of how Pochettino sides have played in the past, someone like Kai Havertz could definitely thrive, and Chelsea aren’t desperate to get rid of him. I think that’s important to point out.

“He was signed in line with being potentially one of the best forwards in the world over the next five, six years. They still believe he can become that in the right system.”

Should Chelsea keep Kai Havertz at Stamford Bridge?

This depends on the figures involved in any potential deal to move the player on.

Should Real Madrid come in and pay the reported fee of £75m, per Evening Standard, the club should probably cut their losses and move on, especially after their increased spending over the last year.

However, if there are no buyers at that price point, it might be best to give Pochettino a chance to try and improve the player, especially since his underlying numbers aren’t that bad.

According to FBref, when compared to other attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, Havertz sits in the top 8% for non-penalty expected goals and the top 9% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area per 90.

Whilst not exceptional, there is clearly a foundation there for the former Tottenham Hotspur manager to work with.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will sit down with the expected new Spurs boss, Ange Postecoglou, to hold talks over where his future lies in north London.

Who is Ange Postecoglou?

The managerial search in N17 is seemingly coming to a close with Daniel Levy believed to have found his man in the Celtic manager Postecoglou.

Indeed, reports have suggested the Australian has now agreed personal terms with the Premier League club just hours after completing the treble with the Bhoys.

It is now believed that it is only the final details which will need to be ironed out with Celtic to overcome in order to see the 57-year-old become the new manager at Spurs.

However, Postecoglou has a huge task on his hands as the Lilywhites appear to be in need of a major rebuild following a dreadful 2022/23 campaign.

And one of the major issues hanging over the club at the moment is the future of their star player, Harry Kane, who has just one year remaining on his current deal.

With the Australian now looking set to become the new Spurs boss, Fabrizio Romano has told his YouTube channel that Postecoglou will hold behind-the-scenes talks with Kane in an attempt to keep him:

"But what is very clear also is that Daniel Levy is still prepared to fight for Harry Kane. He will try once he will have a new manager, conversations will take place with Postecoglou to convince Harry Kane, to keep Harry Kane at the club. So Tottenham will try again in the next days."

Could Kane leave Spurs?

The England captain's future appears to be at a real crossroads this summer with a number of clubs believed to be interested amid his dwindling contract.

Indeed, it is believed the likes of Manchester United have identified him as a priority signing for the summer window as Erik ten Hag searches for a new striker.

However, interest from abroad has also increased over recent days with reports suggesting Real Madrid will look to Kane as their potential replacement for the departing Karim Benzema.

Two of the world's biggest clubs could, therefore, be on the hunt for Kane's services this summer but it seems Spurs are not willing to potentially lose him without a fight.

But is Postecoglou a big enough name to convince Kane to stay?

The Australian has enjoyed a brilliant spell at Parkhead having won a bag full of trophies over his two years in the job.

However, this potential move to north London would be the 57-year-old's first job in one of Europe's top five leagues which could leave a lot of uncertainty for the England captain.

Kane will turn 30 years old over the coming weeks and whether he is willing to invest his time in this expected rebuild at Spurs under a manager who is not proven at this level is yet to be seen.

Hibernian will have to wait until the outcome of the Scottish Cup final to see if they have secured European football next season.

They finished their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Hearts, yet their arch-rivals finished ahead of them in the Premiership table, and they will need to hope Celtic defeat Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend in order to enter the Europa Conference League at the second qualifying round.

Lee Johnson will be hoping to make improvements to his squad in the summer, although there could be some key players heading out of the exit door. Kevin Nisbet turned down the chance to join Championship side Millwall in January, although Hibs will be braced for further offers as clubs scouted him during their win over St Mirren at the start of the month.

The Easter Road outfit will need to replace him with someone who could score plenty in the Premiership, and former Hibs striker turned pundit Tam McManus believes Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen should be their main target.

He said the club need ‘two new strikers minimum’ in a recent column, before claiming van Veen should be one of them.

Given his excellent campaign, it could be a move worth pursuing.

Could Hibs sign Kevin van Veen this summer?

The 31-year-old still has a contract at the Steelmen until 2024 and Hibs would need to spend in order to lure him to the capital, however, it would be worth the money.

Van Veen scored 29 goals across all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign, and he was even nominated for the PFA Player of the Year while becoming the first Motherwell player in ten years to claim a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

It was a stunning season and his goals could certainly replace Nisbet's if he does depart this summer, with the Scotsman bagging 12 goals from just 19 league appearances, finishing as Hibs' top scorer and Van Veen would be an ideal choice for the club going forward.

The striker underlined his qualities by ranking as the second-best performer in the squad with a Sofascore rating of 7.07/10, while also ranking third for big chances created (three), second for key passes per game (1.1) and first for goals scored (25).

Clearly more than just a goalscorer, Johnson should be doing all he can to make a move before it is too late. Nisbet won't be around forever and sourcing a replacement should be of utmost priority.

The 6 foot 1 gem was lauded by journalist Ben Banks, who claimed that seven goals in four matches a few months ago was “frightening form” and that the striker was “on fire”.

Indeed, for a player outside any of the Old Firm clubs to score 25 league goals is something special and it would be quite the coup should Hibs bring him to the club.