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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.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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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.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has won plenty of admirers around north London after what was a high-stakes, ambitious first transfer window at his new club.

Mikel Arteta was backed with the signing of a new back-up keeper, two centre-backs, two proven centre-midfielders, a winger, a star number 10 and a prolific striker who scored 97 goals over 102 appearances at his last club.

We are, of course, talking about Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres — who cost the Gunners a combined fee of over £250 million.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

While Arsenal haven’t got off to a perfect Premier League start, losing their first game of the season against fellow serial spenders Liverpool last weekend, Berta’s contingent of new arrivals is at least expected to help compete with Arne Slot’s champions till the bitter end.

Arteta didn’t have it all his own way when it comes to recruitment, and Berta was key to this.

The Athletic reported earlier this week that Berta helped to convince Arteta and other members of the Arsenal hierarchy to move for Gyokeres instead of Benjamin Sesko, owing to the 53-year-old’s growing influence behind-closed-doors.

Berta was also hesitant to pay Joan Garcia’s £21 million release clause, despite him being a top target for Arteta personally — resulting in Arsenal signing Kepa instead for just £5 million as the former moved to Barcelona instead.

The Italian is a fascinating figurehead and has already made a significant mark at Arsenal, despite being there for just six months, with Berta also now looking to expand his own team of recruitment officials (The Athletic).

Berta was seriously praised for his handling of what was a difficult deal for Gyokeres too, and one which may well be crucial as Arsenal seek to end their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title.

Berta’s reputation as a transfer guru has only intensified, and according to The Athletic’s James McNicholas, he’s even earned a nickname.

What insiders call Andrea Berta in scathing Arsenal nickname

According to the outlet, there is criticism surrounding Berta by some people, who narrow his skills as a sporting director solely down to transfers — without taking into account other responsibilities of the role.

McNicholas reports that insiders have nicknamed Berta a “club agent” in a subtle dig towards him, but for the time being at Arsenal, is that really such a bad thing?

The former Atlético Madrid chief has done precisely what critics and supporters alike expected of him, and when the north Londoners needed it most following their disappointment of a 24/25 campaign.

Arteta, meanwhile, was impressed almost immediately after meeting Berta — even if the pair weren’t always in total agreement on transfers this summer.

Weah has been inconsistent under Mauricio Pochettino, but the move to Marseille meant to create opportunities

Tim Weah did everything right. He started his run from deep, drew an extra man away from the ball. As Mason Greenwood surged through the middle, Weah peeled off to the right – creating the narrowest of passing lanes for his teammate. Greenwood obliged.

The pass was weighted nicely, the finish was even better – Weah smashing Thibaut Courtois with such ferocity that the Belgian goalkeeper couldn't react. 

Weah's only fault, in fact, was a brief slip on the Santiago Bernabeu turf as he careened off in celebration. But even that had a certain charm to it. The goal seemed significant – and it significant. It gave Marseille an unlikely 1-0 lead against European giants Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday (a result that would harshly be overturned due to a dubious refereeing decision).

But it also made Weah the first American to score at the Bernabeu – and just might have ignited a season that had sputtered to start. The U.S. international's story has been interesting of late. Weah was rather frozen out, even misused at Juventus. He followed that by impressing only in brief moments for the USMNT.

And now, with one goal and a starring performance to boot, Weah has shown a glimpse of what could yet happen, an opportunity for a talent once full of promise to realize his potential. 

• Getty
  

  Leaving Juventus

  Weah probably had to leave Juventus. There was honor, it seemed, in fighting for his spot, and trying to crack into the XI at his preferred position. But the couldn't offer it. What didn't help is that Weah might not have even known himself.

  Originally, he was a winger. Then we were told he could play through the middle. For long stretches, Max Allegri used him as a fullback. Piece it all together, and Weah played in four different positions last season, and wasn't markedly effective in any of them.

  Sure, there is something to be said for finding a role – and being entrusted with plugging gaps that others could not. But Weah wasn't a guaranteed starter. He needed to go somewhere that would let him do just that. Enter Roberto de Zerbi's Marseille. The French side had become an island of misfits of sorts, picking up scraps from all over Europe to form a solid side.

  Weah, forced out of the picture at Juve and all, seemed to fit that mold. Thus far, it has been an overwhelming success.

  "It's super intense," Weah said. "I mean, just the group alone, we get into so many fights together, in trainings, in the locker rooms, that people think we're crazy at times. But it's just because everyone is so passionate."

  And perhaps Weah needed that. There was a sense of a footballer going through the motions at Juve. Weah was 25, the memories of the much-hyped kid at PSG fading away. 

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• Getty
  

  USMNT chances (at first)

  Still, there were a few skeptics. Seven career goals for Juve didn't exactly inspire confidence. And even if Marseille wonderfully recreated George Weah's photoshoot from when Tim's father was at the club in 2000, he still had a point to prove.

  Weah had been left at home as Juventus traveled to the United States for the Club World Cup. A Premier League move to Nottingham Forest was reportedly available. Weah turned it down. Meanwhile, his agent and Juve clashed in the media, with allegations of dishonesty about the player's future slung on both sides. 

  But the early signs with Marseille were good. Fans met Weah at the airport, and recreated the chant they used to bellow for his father 25 years before. The opportunity to play Champions League football was a draw. That meant high-profile games, but also extra minutes to go around.

  And even if De Zerbi had developed a reputation as a difficult character, his tactical acumen simply could not be questioned.

  "He's a players coach. He was one of the main reasons I came to the club," Weah said.

• Imagn
  

  Struggling to impress Pochettino

  The USMNT, though, was different. Mauricio Pochettino, appointed in September 2024, was handed less than two years to prepare the team for a home World Cup. The early returns were good, as he played it mostly safe with his squad. Weah was among the selections, and a wonderful goal against Jamaica – after a tactical switch saw him moved to the left wing – showed promise. 

  But he also played both fixtures as the U.S. lost to first Panama, and then Canada in the Nations League finals – and was remarkably ineffective in 180 minutes of play. A Gold Cup omission – brought about by conflicts in his Juve future and the Club World Cup – delayed any sort of renaissance that might have been on the cards.

  It was also immensely frustrating, Weah admitted.

  "Being back after not being with them in the summer is just an amazing feeling," he said of the recent USMNT camp. "And you know, anytime I'm here, I try to keep that vibe. I'm trying to keep the positivity in there."

  Backing that up with performances on the pitch, though, wasn't so simple. The USMNT as a whole struggled against South Korea earlier this month, outcoached and outplayed by a superior side. And Weah could do little to affect the outcome. He managed just 62 minutes before leaving with a hamstring issue. Weah didn't appear in the next game, a 2-0 win over Japan. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  A new era?

  It all leaves his USMNT future slightly uncertain. Sure, Weah will certainly get more chances to impress under Pochettino (he has only played three games for the manager, who has admitted that he will now look to fine tune his squads for the World Cup). But now, the real competition begins.

  If Pochettino is to stick with the 3-4-3 formation that was successful against Japan, it might require a different approach from Weah. After all, he is a winger, and that formation, quite simply, doesn't utilize them. Perhaps, then, he could be used as a wing back. It's a position, ironically, that he was rather misused at during his time at Juve. 

  Pochettino, in fact, admitted that he was somewhat frustrated to see Weah play at that spot.

  "He's a player that can be very aggressive in an offensive way," he said. "But we need to create the habit again, because he loses this habit a little bit when he plays fullback. It's another focus in your game, another demand. And then you need to change in few days and to transform that player whose main mindset is defensive into an offensive player."

  Versatility, for the USMNT, might be a good thing.

كشف الإعلامي خالد الغندور، تفاصيل جديدة بشأن المدير الفني المنتظر للنادي الأهلي، وكواليس اتفاق محمود الخطيب رئيس القلعة الحمراء مع سيد عبد الحفيظ بعد الاستقرار على عودة الأخير للعمل بالنادي.

وقال خالد الغندور في تصريحات عبر برنامج “الحريفة” على إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “أريد أن أتحدث عن ملف المدير الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي، النادي بدأ إعلاميًا يطرح اسم مدرب دنماركي سبق له تدريب فريق ميتلاند، ويمتلك خبرة تصل إلى 20 عامًا، حقق بطولة الدوري الدنماركي مع ميتلاند، كما درب إمام عاشور في تلك الفترة، ثم حصل على بطولة الكأس، لكن طوال مسيرته لم يحقق العديد من البطولات، باستثناء بطولة دوري الدرجة الثانية في الدنمارك”.

وتابع: “فجأة وجدنا أن هذا المدرب انتقل إلى تدريب فريق بولندي، ثم قيل إنه ليس المقصود، ومع ذلك، ما زال هناك حديث عن أن المدير الفني القادم دنماركي، خاصة في ظل وجود أسامة هلال، مدير التعاقدات، في الدنمارك حاليًا”.

وأضاف: “المدير الفني الذي يُتوقع الإعلان عنه بعد مباراة القمة، يوم الأربعاء المُقبل، هو جيس ثوروب، وُلد في 21 فبراير 1970، ويبلغ من العمر 55 عامًا، بدأ مسيرته التدريبية مع منتخب الدنمارك تحت 21 عامًا، ثم تولى تدريب نادي إيسبيرغ من 2013 حتى 2014، قبل أن ينتقل لتدريب ميتلاند ويحقق معهم لقب الدوري موسم 2014-2015”.

وأردف: “بعدها تولى تدريب جينت البلجيكي من 2018 حتى 2020، ثم درب جينك لفترة قصيرة جدًا في 2020، بعدها أصبح مدربًا لفريق كوبنهاجن من 2020 حتى 2022، كما درب لفترة وجيزة فريق هيرتا برلين الألماني، ومنذ ذلك الوقت لم يتولَّ تدريب أي فريق آخر”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير: أزمة كبيرة تواجه الأهلي.. وثلاثي الزمالك “الأخطر” في القمة

وواصل: “في مسيرته التدريبية، خاض 512 مباراة، فاز في 265 منها، وتعادل في 113، وخسر 134، بنسبة فوز تبلغ حوالي 52%. هذا هو المدرب الذي سيُعلن عن توليه تدريب الأهلي، وسيأتي برفقة خمسة مساعدين”.

وأشار: “المدرب سيحصل مع جهازه المعاون على راتب يصل إلى 230 ألف دولار، أي ما يعادل تقريبًا 11 مليون جنيه مصري، هو ليس صاحب سيرة ذاتية كبيرة للغاية، لكنه أيضًا ليس ضعيفًا، مدرب عادي، وليس كما توقع البعض أن يأتي اسم مثل برونو لاج”.

وأضاف الغندور: “في الجهاز المعاون سيكون الكابتن عادل مصطفى موجودًا، بينما سيتولى وليد صلاح الدين منصب مدير الكرة، أما عماد النحاس فيتم الآن البحث عن دور مناسب له داخل النادي بعد مباراة القمة”.

واستطرد: “معلوماتي أن الكابتن سيد عبد الحفيظ جلس مع الكابتن محمود الخطيب، وتم الاتفاق على أن يكون عبد الحفيظ هو المشرف العام على فريق الكرة، الخطيب سيبتعد عن هذا الملف تمامًا، خصوصًا إذا قرر خوض الانتخابات المقبلة”.

واختتم: “قد يفكر سيد عبد الحفيظ في إلغاء لجنة التخطيط التي يترأسها الكابتن مختار مختار، على أن تكون له صلاحيات كاملة في إدارة قطاع الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، إلى جانب وجود وليد صلاح الدين كمدير للكرة، والكابتن محمد يوسف أيضًا في المنظومة”.

South Africa were being turned inside out by India’s spinners but they found a way through to level the series

Ashish Pant10-Nov-2024Tristan Stubbs admitted that he was “proper nervous” and just tried to control his breathing as he struck an unbeaten 47 off 41 balls to shepherd a tricky chase and take South Africa over the line by three wickets in the second T20I against India.”I was just trying to breathe,” he said with a smile after the game. “It’s my favourite place to play cricket and I was nervous, proper nervous, so I was just trying to control my breathing.”Stubbs grew up in Knysna, a small town about 260 kilometres up the road from Gqeberha and has played all his domestic and franchise cricket at St George’s Park. This knock was even more special for Stubbs as it was his mum’s birthday and he had plenty of his family and friends in the crowd who had driven down to the ground to celebrate.”Normally there’s a whole bunch of them [his friends and family], probably I reckon 30 to 35 of them,” Stubbs said. “They come through normally once a year for the SA20 and they’ve made a trip now. It’s my mom’s birthday too, so it’s sort of a celebration.”Before I met the team I went and said hello to everyone at the house that they’re staying at. So yeah, it’s been a really good day.”Coming into bat at 33 for 2 in the sixth over with South Africa chasing 125, Stubbs saw his side slip to 66 for 6 in the 13th. That soon became 86 for 7 in the 16th, but he got vital support from Gerald Coetzee with whom he shared an unbroken 42-run stand for the eighth wicket off just 20 balls.”Fortunately, the run rate never got away from us,” Stubbs said about the chase. “Once we lost the wickets, I had 30 in mind off the last three and then G [Coetzee] really came and played an innings to help that out and then, fortunately, we got over the line.”He walked in and he said straight away we can win this. I believed it all the time. We were always two hits away from being back to run-a-ball and then we had the crowd behind, which was just amazing.”Stubbs was caught right in the midst of an intense Varun Chakravarthy spell, who ran through South Africa’s middle order with a career-best 5 for 17. Ravi Bishnoi also kept things tight at the other end, but Stubbs bided his time before taking on the fast bowlers at the death. He later admitted the South Africa batters were out-skilled by the two spinners on a surface that was “typically staying low” but was pleased to stay till the end to take his side home.’They got the better of us in the middle there by just outskilling us,’ Stubbs said of India’s spinners•AFP/Getty Images”They both [Chakravarthy and Bishnoi] were doing just enough to beat you on either side,” he said. “It wasn’t easy to come in and just rotate even, let alone take them on. They are two of the best spinners in the world so when they are on, it’s really tough and they got the better of us in the middle there by just outskilling us.”So yeah, it was really nice to get the team over the line and be there not out at the end. I think as someone who bats in the middle, that’s your whole goal when chasing, get the team over the line but do it by being not out at the end.”It’s been quite the breakthrough year for Stubbs. In February, he became just the 11th batter to score a first-class triple-century in South Africa while in the last month and a bit, he’s racked up his Test and ODI centuries. Stubbs also played a key role in Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s second-successive SA20 title while he finished the IPL 2024 as Delhi Capitals’ second-highest run-getter with a terrific strike rate of 190.90.What’s brought about this maturity in Stubbs’ game?”I don’t actually know how to answer that. It’s just been nice,” he said. “I really enjoy the longer format because you can spend more time in the middle without feeling like you need to play a big ball and I really enjoy the graft of batting long.”I think the longer form cricket just naturally helps your T20 game and the batsmanship and spending time in the middle and not having to make a play really helps the rest of the formats. So I think that’s been the biggest thing.”

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot proved everyone wrong when he successfully replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield one year ago and guided the Reds to the Premier League title.

The 2025/26 campaign will present new challenges, with all at Liverpool, both as a club and a city, mourning the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, but Anfield have proved time and time again their ability to come together and embrace the support of their fanbase, and vice versa.

Sporting director Richard Hughes is currently faced with an imminent approach from Barcelona for versatile forward Luis Diaz, 28, having rejected the La Liga champions’ advances last month.

But La Blaugrana have not been deterred, and having missed out on top target Nico Williams after the winger signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao, efforts have been redoubled, Diaz moving ahead of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on the list.

With Diaz having spent so much of the recent campaign filling in as Liverpool’s central striker, his sale would call for a new centre-forward, as has been a Reds priority for several months.

Especially with Darwin Nunez in the process of signing for Napoli.

The latest on Darwin Nunez to Napoli

Nunez joined Liverpool in 2022, arriving from SL Benfica in a deal billed as a club record at £85m. However, the Uruguayan’s struggles in England have seen a series of clauses left hanging, with the actual fee coming in at £71m.

He has obvious qualities: Nunez is tenacious, a maverick and, on occasion, jaw-droppingly ambitious in the final third. However, the 25-year-old has only scored 25 Premier League goals across his three terms, with just seven goals across all competitions coming last season under Slot’s wing.

Moreover, Slot remarked earlier in 2025 that he “can’t accept” the Uruguayan’s work rate, typically a staple, after a string of disappointing appearances.

Napoli, thus, projected confidence when sauntering over to make their move, but negotiations have since left a gap between the respective clubs’ valuation of the striker.

A fee is still to be agreed, but if and when this does happen – Nunez also has admirers in the Saudi Pro League – a replacement will be needed.

Liverpool in the race for new centre-forward

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Liverpool and Manchester United have registered their interest in Almeria striker Luis Suarez this summer.

This is not the famed Suarez of old, but his namesake, a 27-year-old Colombian, who has been priced at €25m (£21m) after his prolific campaign in Spain’s second division.

The one-time Watford prospect is also on Sporting Lisbon’s transfer list as they prepare to sell Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal, and it’s for this reason that the Liga Portugal’s two-in-a-row champions are felt to have the advantage in the race as things stand.

Why Liverpool want Luis Suarez

Suarez isn’t the youngest number nine on the block, but he’s certainly shown that he knows where the back of the net is, having scored 41 goals and provided 13 assists across 79 fixtures for Almeria.

And a good haul of that came last term, in the Segunda Division. Indeed, Suarez scored 31 goals across 43 matches in all competitions, albeit with 27 goals arriving in Spain’s second tier.

Although saying that, Suarez’s hat-trick over Sevilla in the Copa del Rey emphasised his natural prolificness, something which could serve Liverpool well over the season to come.

His completeness and physicality could even see him prove to be Liverpool’s own version of Gyokeres, who indeed looks set to sign for Arsenal in a deal worth less than Sporting’s original £68m asking price.

Gyokeres is one of the most dangerous goalscorers in Europe, having scored 97 goals across 102 matches in two years with Sporting. His physicality and powerful performances are rare attributes, applied as well as they are, but Liverpool could sign someone similar in Almeria’s frontman, who has been praised for his “crazy” quality by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Sporting have identified the Colombian as the perfect replacement, after all, with Gyokeres also 27 years old.

Suarez has his similarities; he’s prolific, but he’s also a veritable machine when it comes to ball-striking. As you can see below, Suarez is one of the most relentless shooters in the trade, hitting the target more times than Mohamed Salah, behind only Gyokeres and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.

Suarez played the 2024/25 campaign in Spain’s Segunda division, but he’s an experienced and well-oiled player whose goalscoring ability was well received by an Almeria side who finished the term with the highest goal tally in the division (72).

Though Suarez is, of course, not on Gyokeres’ level, Liverpool could bolster their ranks with a shrewd attacking option this summer, one whose clinical nature has been underscored over the past year.

League Stats 24/25 – Luis Suarez vs Viktor Gyokeres
Stats (* per game)	Suarez	Gyokeres
Matches (starts)	41 (41)	33 (31)
Goals	27	39
Assists	8	7
Shots (on target)*	4.1 (1.6)	4.2 (2.4)
Big chances missed	27	23
Pass completion	74%	73%
Big chances created	10	11
Key passes*	1.4	1.9
Dribbles*	1.2	1.8
Ball recoveries*	2.0	2.3
Duels won*	4.5	5.5
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see from the collated statistics above, Suarez’s sucess in duel, partnered with his dribbling ability and natural creativity, provide him with the dynamism and roundedness that aligns with Sweden striker Gyokeres’ own skill set.

The hunt for a player of Hugo Ekitike or Victor Osimhen’s standing continues, but if Liverpool and enrich their ranks with this shrewd signing, Slot will likely find that the price tag is repaid on the pitch.

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2

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 4, 2025

Stumps Bangladesh won what could be an important toss and made excellent use of the new ball in favourable conditions to take out three early wickets, but half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Saud Shakeel ensured Pakistan ended a truncated first day on an even keel.The fourth-wicket pair put on an enterprising 98 to rescue Pakistan from 16 for 3, and when bad light brought play to a close, the home side were breathing a lot better at 158 for 4. Ayub, playing just his second Test, rode out a difficult early period against the new ball before blossoming to score his maiden half-century. Shakeel, promoted to vice-captaincy, continued his impressive rise in the Pakistan cap by becoming their joint-quickest batter to 1000 Test runs, getting there in his 20th innings to match Saeed Ahmed, who got there in 1959.Both Ayub and, in particular, Shakeel, brought a proactive approach to handling Bangladesh’s seamers, often shuffling out of their crease to disturb their lengths and narrow the extent of movement they were able to generate.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

By stumps, Bangladesh had broken the partnership between the two left-handers, with Hasan Mahmud coaxing Ayub to drive at a ball angled across him that wasn’t quite full enough for the shot. It was his second wicket and similar in conception to his first: relentless good lengths forcing the batter into a risk against a rare, seemingly driveable ball.This was Bangladesh’s only success of a 20-over post-tea session, as Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan to stumps with an unbroken partnership of 44 for the fifth wicket.With their partnerships, Ayub, Shakeel and Rizwan may have exposed one structural shortcoming in Bangladesh’s attack. Unlike Pakistan, who went into this Test match with four frontline seamers, Bangladesh picked three seamers and two spin-bowling allrounders.The offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, introduced at the start of the 14th over with two left-handers at the crease, bore the brunt of a calculated counterattack, conceding 24 in four overs. He didn’t bowl badly, but with no real help for the spinners this early in the contest, Ayub and Shakeel went after him, using their full reach to sweep him clinically off a good length.It took until the 39th over for Bangladesh to call on their second spinner, and Pakistan were just as ruthless against Shakib Al Hasan, with Rizwan sweeping him for back-to-back fours in his first over. Together, the two spinners conceded 36 in six overs.The express quick Nahid Rana, picked ahead of the more experienced Khaled Ahmed, was expensive too; on a pitch that rewarded old-fashioned line and length, Bangladesh used him as an enforcer, and it didn’t quite come off on the day, as he went for 48 in 10 overs.Shoriful Islam celebrates with Hasan Mahmud after getting rid of Babar Azam•PCB

The other two quicks, however, enjoyed a productive day, particularly with the new ball. Shoriful Islam and Mahmud hammered away on a good length in conditions where the ball swung, seamed and occasionally lifted off damp areas on the pitch. Both beat the bat regularly in the early overs, and Bangladesh didn’t have to wait long before the breakthrough came.It came via a wide outswinger from Mahmud, not quite a half-volley, that Abdullah Shafique chased after being kept to just two runs off his first 13 balls. His drive turned into an aerial slice, and Zakir Hasan grabbed it spectacularly, throwing himself full-length to his right at gully.The left-armer Shoriful tested both Ayub and Pakistan captain Shan Masood with his line in the fifth-stump channel, mostly swinging the ball away from the left-handers but getting the odd one to nip in off the pitch. One of these nip-backers sent back Masood, though in contentious circumstances. Masood pushed forward to defend – bat and pad fairly close together – and the ball kissed one or both on its way to keeper Litton Das, who appealed vociferously for caught-behind. Though he wasn’t given out on the field, Bangladesh had their man ruled out on review, with TV umpire Michael Gough ruling that a spike on Ultra-Edge was evidence of ball on bat, though there seemed to be a chance that it had missed the inside edge and brushed the flap of the pad instead.Having had that bit of fortune going their way, Bangladesh had another soon after, when Babar Azam fell for a duck to an innocuous delivery, tickling an off-target inswinger from Shoriful down the leg side, into the left glove of an acrobatically diving Litton.

It is SPFL fixture release day and as Premiership champions, Celtic will have a home game on the opening weekend, 2/3 August.

But, how many new signings will Brendan Rodgers have on board in time for his team’s first pre-season match on 4 July?

Well, Celtic have already added Kieran Tierney to their ranks, re-signing the left-back after he became a free agent, while they’ve also reportedly agreed a fee of £1.7m to land winger Benjamin Nygren in the coming days.

The Hoops are not content with just one attacking signing, however.

Celtic chasing a new winger

According to a report by RMC Sport, talks between Celtic and Royal Antwerp are “underway” as the Hoops seek to sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who he claims is ‘keen on the move’ to Scotland.

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Meantime, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider has previously reported that Celtic are ‘well-placed’ to make this deal come to fruition, describing the winger as a ‘long-term target’.

Balikwisha, who is 24 years old, began his senior career at Standard Liège, before joining Royal Antwerp in July 2021, making 141 appearances for the Reds to date, scoring 29 goals and registering 17 assists.

He was a key figure in the Antwerp team that won the domestic treble in 2023, the club’s first Jupiler Pro League title for 66 years, then scoring the goal against AEK Athens that saw them qualify for the Champions League for the very first time, also on target against Shakhtar Donetsk at Bosuilstadion in the tournament’s group stages.

This season though, Antwerp missed out on European qualification altogether, disastrously beaten 2-1 by Royal Charleroi in a European play-off last month, fuelling speculation that he could be on the move, and hence why the club are looking to cash in.

How Michel-Ange Balikwisha would improve Celtic

Celtic are in the market for a new winger this summer, partially due to the fact that Jota will be sidelined for between “six to nine months” after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at Tannadice in April.

So, would Balikwisha be a good replacement? Let’s assess his statistics.

Minutes

1,784

99th

Goals

7

17th

Assists

6

9th

Progressive carries

85

10th

Carries into penalty area

34

9th

Shot-creating actions

69

30th

Goal-creating actions

10

13th

Big chances created

6

40th

Key passes per match

1.5

24th

Average SofaScore rating

7.32

14th

Worth noting that the 2023/24 season was chosen because, similar to Jota, Balikwisha is coming off a long-term injury, requiring knee surgery just over a year ago, before a meniscus injury saw him make just three appearances this season before 9 March.

After that, he did enjoy a run of games, starting each of Antwerp’s final 11 matches to conclude the campaign.

Despite his injury issues, analyst Ben Mattinson labels him an “amazing” talent, describing him as “two-footed” and “capable of beating a defender either way”. That certainly suggests he’d be a great replacement for the injury-stricken Jota.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes he operates best as an “inside forward”, praising his “pace, dribbling and finishing”, which he believes to be his strongest attributes.

Said to be one of the most ‘talented attacking players’ in the Belgian top-flight by Lee Scott of Total Football Analysis, that’s high praise considering Global Football Rankings believes the Jupiler Pro League to be the eighth-strongest division in the world; for context, the Scottish Premiership is all the way down in 43rd.

Given that Balikwisha has just one year remaining on his contract at Antwerp, it would appear as though Celtic will be able to sign him at a cut-price, and he seemingly has all the qualities to thrive in Glasgow’s East End.

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Journalist Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on Aston Villa’s summer transfer plans as the reportedly look to pen a “fantastic” player to a long-term deal.

Aston Villa pushing for summer signings regardless of league finish

It remains to be seen if Unai Emery’s side will clinch a top-five finish in the Premier League this season, getting back into the Champions League in the process, but a busy summer transfer window is expected either way. Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan is a rumoured target for Villa, with the highly-rated 18-year-old being watched by club scouts and their recruitment team even holding talks with him.

Another exciting young player, Lyon winger Malick Fofana, has also been backed to move to Villa Park ahead of the 2025/26 season, as Emery looks to bring in more attacking depth. The 20-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring 11 goals in Ligue 1 and the Europa League combined.

Their moves in the market will of course still be influenced somewhat by their European status, with Ollie Watkins’ winner against Bournremouth this weekend moving the Villans level on points with Chelsea, who were defeated away at Newcastle.

A new striker arguably wouldn’t go amiss for Villa in the summer, with Watkins turning 30 later this year, and Paris Saint-Germain marksman Goncalo Ramos has emerged as a rumoured option. He has found minutes hard to come by for the Champions League finalists, with competition for places incredibly strong, but would surely only join another club in Europe’s elite competition.

Aston Villa keen to sign Rashford to long-term deal

According to Romano for Give Me Sport, Aston Villa like the idea of signing Marcus Rahsford permanently at the end of the season. They are reportedly “very happy” with the Manchester United attacker, adding that Emery considers him an “excellent player and the feeling between coach and player is understood to be very good”.

There is a potential issue surrounding Financial Fair Play, however, which will “now dictate the next steps” of a potential deal, with the England international’s salary “another important point not to be underestimated” in the update.

Rashford’s loan move to Villa felt like a gamble at the time, following a run of poor form for United, but he has been a big success overall, registering 10 goal contributions in 17 appearances, even if four goals isn’t exactly an earth-shattering return.

The Englishman looks to have a spark back in his game, with Emery praising the impact he has made last month, saying of him: “He is feeling better and he played a fantastic match. We are very happy. If he is happy, we are happy.”

The fact that Emery likes the £300,000-a-week Rashford so much suggests that he should be trusted in wanting to sign him on a permanent deal, even though there is an element of risk there, especially if they cannot negotiate those wages down.

There is always the possibility that the 27-year-old has simply upped his game for a short period, in order to earn a move elsewhere, but he will surely be desperate to prove himself in the long-term at another club, considering his time at United looks over.

Given Celtic’s place in the global football pecking order, they are well-versed when it comes to selling a star player and being able to replace him.

Of course, a lot of the time, the Hoops’ excellent record in the transfer market means they’re able to replace their high-quality departures with signings.

However, Brendan Rodgers is also looking for his current players to step up and perform, with one player in particular having done exactly that this season.

Matt O'Riley impact at Celtic

Matt O’Riley arrived at Celtic from Milton Keynes for a reported fee of £1.5m in January 2022, and the fact he was then sold to Brighton two-and-a-half years later for a club-record £25m gives you a bit of an indication as to how well he performed in Glasgow.

The midfielder made 124 appearances in hoops, scoring 27 goals and registering 35 assists, winning seven major trophies as well as being named the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year before departing.

Ankan Bhowmick of Sports Illustrated labels the Danish international one of Celtic’s ‘best-performing’ players of their successful modern history, while Clive Lindsay of BBC Sport believes he has the quality to go to the very top, saying that his ‘languid running style’ can be ‘deceiving’ given that he’s a ‘quality…all-rounder’.

Given all of this, O’Riley was always going to leave a rather large void at Parkhead, but Celtic haven’t really missed him, thanks to a key player stepping up, but it’s not the player you might be thinking of.

Celtic's current creative focal point

Arne Engels was signed for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg on deadline day, to be O’Riley direct replacement.

However, as outlined by Andrew Newport of the Daily Record, the midfielder has, at times, not quite lived up to expectations so far, with the Belgian himself stating “I don’t care about the price tag… I think I have good numbers and good performances”.

Engels has accumulated ten goals and 12 assists in a Celtic jersey so far, but it is actually Alistair Johnston who has shouldered the creative burden following O’Riley’s exit.

The Canadian international was rewarded with a new contract back in November, with manager Rodgers describing the right-back as “phenomenal”, praising his “desire to improve in everything he does”, adding that “these are the qualities which make a great player”.

Joe Callaghan of the Guardian notes that Johnston has become a “cornerstone” for both club and country, with his performances seeing him included on the long-list for Best FIFA Men’s XI of 2024.

So, let’s analyse how he and O’Riley are similar, despite operating in different positions.

Appearances

29

37

Minutes

2,421

3249

Goals

4

18

Assists

8

13

Chances created

38

91

Big chances created

14

14

Passed attempted

2,023

1986

Through-balls

7

16

Take-on success %

50%

52.11%

Ball recoveries

100

208

Touches per 90

98

78

Of course, due to the obvious aforementioned positional differences, Johnston and O’Riley’s statistics are often somewhat different, although the fact that both created 14 big chances certainly jumps off the page, with the Canadian registering more of those than any other Celtic player this season.

During the most recent international window in March, Canada’s manager Jesse Marsch stated “there are some weeks I watch Alistair and I think… the games are too easy for him… players do need to be challenged.”

So, while Johnston is playing like O’Riley on the park, could he follow the Dane’s path off the pitch by becoming the latest Celtic fan favourite to be sold for an enormous profit?

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