Wrexham earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw as an inspired Arthur Okonkwo helped his side withstand an Ipswich Town onslaught at Portman Road. Phil Parkinson's men mustered just two shots to the home team's 18 and were greatly indebted to Okonkwo's brilliance in goal. While many will be concerned about their attack, their defence held steadfast once more in the Championship.
Wrexham cling on for draw
Wrexham came into the fixture off the back of a five-match unbeaten run but it was the hosts who looked the most likely to break the deadlock. The Tractor Boys, who have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four games, would have been comfortably ahead at the break had it not been for Okonkwo having a blinder. The Red Dragons' keeper did very well to keep out efforts from Sindre Egeli, Leif Davis, and Jaden Philogene as the visitors weathered a first-half storm.
After producing an Expected Goals tally of just 0.02 in the opening 45 minutes, Wrexham fans urged their team on when the contest resumed, but instead, Ipswich's onslaught continued, as shot after shot rained down on Okonkwo.
The Welsh outfit, who were without top scorer Kieffer Moore due to injury, were defending gamely but were toothless in attack throughout the encounter. But in the end, Wrexham held on for a valuable point that sees them drop to 14th in the table, six places behind Ipswich, and just three points off the play-offs.
AdvertisementGettyThe MVP
Had it not been for Ipswich's wayward finishing and the superb Okonkwo, this could have been a demoralising defeat for Wrexham in Suffolk. The former Arsenal stopper started the season as the club's second choice, behind Danny Ward, but now he is becoming one of their most important players.
The big loser
This will feel like a big missed opportunity for Ipswich, who are desperate to secure an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation earlier this year. They had 63 per cent possession and eight shots on target but didn't do enough to get the win their performance, arguably, deserved.
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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl certainly likes a challenge. To go from the situation at Sheffield Wednesday to taking on a team that had a disastrous spell under Russell Martin takes some guts.
The Light Blues had a dismal start to the season under their former manager, who won one match in the Scottish Premiership, but things are already starting to turn around.
Rangers won five of the 17 matches that Martin was in the dugout for before they decided to part ways with him last month after a 1-1 draw with Falkirk in the Premiership.
Rohl has provided the Gers with an instant lift in the league. He has won all three of his matches in the top-flight, most recently with a 3-0 win over Dundee before the international break.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss has, though, lost both of his Europa League games in charge, to Brann and Roma, which is a reminder that there is plenty of work that needs to be done.
Too many of the summer signings made by Martin and Kevin Thelwell have either flopped or have been too inconsistent, and there may be some decisions to make in January.
The summer signings who should be let go by Rangers in January
The new owners provided Thelwell with the backing to build a squad with the intention of competing for trophies in the 2025/26 campaign, but it did not go to plan under the previous coaching staff.
As you can see in the graphic above, the likes of Youssef Chermiti, Bojan Miovski, Joe Rothwell, and Mikey Moore came through the door to bolster the club’s options across the pitch.
Rothwell is one player whose future may be in doubt heading into January. At the age of 30, he was surely brought in to make an instant impact, but the central midfielder has only featured in two of Rohl’s six games and failed to make the matchday squad in the last two, per Sofascore.
Emmanuel Fernandez is another summer signing who may be on the move in January, as the young centre-back has only made three appearances in all competitions. A loan move away from Ibrox to play regular game time could be the best decision for his short-term future, if he is not going to get increased game time at Ibrox.
The former Peterborough man may not be the only centre-back who departs Glasgow when the January transfer window opens, though, as the manager should also send Nasser Djiga back to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Dundee
8
Roma
90
Celtic
102
Hibernian
90
Kilmarnock
0
Brann
76
Dundee United
0
Falkirk
90
Sturm Graz
0
Livingston
0
As you can see in the table above, the Burkina Faso international has been in and out of the team in recent months, under Martin, Stevie Smith, and Rohl, without being able to nail down a place in the starting XI.
Wolves presumably sent Djiga to Ibrox to play regular football and develop as a player, but he has not done enough with his chances on the pitch to prove that the manager should make him a first-choice option.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The Premier League loanee has failed to convince with his performances for the Light Blues, and Rohl could end his Ibrox career by unleashing James Tavernier in a rarely-seen role on a regular basis.
Why Rangers should part ways with Nasser Djiga in January
The Light Blues should look to cancel Djiga’s loan deal in the January transfer window because he has not been a reliable performer for the Scottish giants so far this season.
Heart & Hand podcast creator David Edgar described him as “rotten” and Four Lads Had A Dream claimed that he “genuinely looks lost” during the loss to Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup earlier this month.
Back in August, Rangers icon Ally McCoist said that Djiga broke “every rule as a centre-back in the planet” when he failed to usher the ball back to Jack Butland against Club Brugge in a Champions League qualifier, which turned out to be a costly mistake.
This shows that fan media and pundits alike have been left unconvinced by his showings at centre-back on the pitch, whilst his lack of consistent game time suggests that his multiple managers have also been unconvinced.
Whilst the January transfer window could be utilised to sign a new centre-back to replace Djiga, Rohl could end the defender’s Ibrox career by playing Tavernier as a centre-back.
With Max Aarons at the club on loan from Bournemouth, Rangers have another right-back option who can fill in and allow the captain to play as a right-sided centre-back, which would negate any need for Djiga to continue his loan beyond January.
Right-back
502
132 + 139
Right midfield
10
2 + 3
Centre-back
7
0 + 2
Defensive midfield
3
0 + 1
As you can see in the table above, Tavernier has rarely played at centre-back for the Gers, with just seven appearances, but he does have some experience in that role.
The English full-back played as a right-sided centre-back in the 3-1 win over Kilmarnock and the 2-0 defeat to Roma, although both of those outings were as part of a back four.
It would be interesting to see how he fares as a right-sided centre-back in a back four for Rangers under Rohl, as he has won 52% of his aerial duels in the Premiership this season, per Sofascore, which suggests that he could hold his own in aerial battles in the heart of the defence.
Unleashing the captain in that new role in a back four, with John Souttar and Derek Cornelius also available for selection, would allow the manager to ruthlessly ditch Djiga and end his underwhelming loan in January.
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ByTom Cunningham Nov 12, 2025
Now, though, it is down to the German head coach to decide whether or not to experiment with this tactical change in order to end Djiga’s time with the Gers.
Spirit’s pace attack of Jamie Overton, Dan Worrall, Luke Wood and Richard Gleeson hunted brilliantly as a pack
ECB Media14-Aug-2025London Spirit held off the charge of Trent Rockets under lights at Lord’s to register their second win and throw The Hundred men’s competition wide open.The win takes them into a five-way tie at the top, while for Rockets, their hopes of peeling off a third consecutive run-chase to go outright top were dashed as Spirit held their nerve to clinch it by 21 runs.Despite the final winning margin, at the midway point of the Rockets’ chase the game was beautifully poised. Tom Banton and Joe Root had carved out 69 for the first wicket, with Banton having just launched Dan Worrall for an 89-metre six.But when Jamie Overton removed Banton in eccentric fashion, the opener angling a dab onto his own stumps to depart for 46, Spirit got to work. The next set, delivered by Worrall, swung the game decisively – David Willey and then Rehan Ahmed falling in the space of three balls, the latter clean-bowled by a beautiful away cutter.Five balls later, when Root mistimed his sweep shot against Liam Dawson to fall for 27, the Rockets had lost four wickets in 14 deliveries, all but ending their chances of hauling in a record chase at Lord’s in the Hundred. Some muscular hitting from Marcus Stoinis at the death was too little too late.Spirit’s pace attack of Overton, Worrall, Luke Wood and Richard Gleeson, who sent down this year’s fastest tournament delivery to date – a 94.1mph yorker – hunted brilliantly as a pack.With the bat, Jamie Smith was the star man for Spirit. Promoted to open he was irresistible, going to his half-century in 32 balls and sharing a 73-run partnership with Kane Williamson, the pair laying the platform for Ashton Turner to pump a quickfire 16-ball 30 at the death.Meerkat Match Hero Smith said: “It’s been difficult at times at home for us, so to come out here and get a win here in front of a fantastic crowd is really important and steps us on for the next few games we’ve got coming up here.”Our seamers took the pace off, and we used the ground dimensions really nicely, and most importantly we kept taking wickets, which stemmed the flow for them.”It’s nice to get some runs, especially on a new ground and playing for a new team. It’s good to start well, and we’ve got a quality team. I just need to keep building the relationships with the guys at the top of the order, David Warner and Kane Williamson, and the players we’ve got throughout.”
Leeds United are preparing for life back in the Premier League and are looking to make a mark in the transfer window.
Chairman Paraag Marathe said at the end of the Championship title-winning season that the Whites will spend as much as they are allowed to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad.
49ers chairman Paraag Marathe.
As to be expected for a newly promoted side, there have already been a plethora of players linked with moves to Elland Road, with Leeds looking at additions all over the pitch to give them the best possible chance of survival.
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But who do AI think Leeds will sign ahead of the 2025/26 season? Grok, the AI tool on X, gave us five players it thinks will be brought to Yorkshire by the 49ers Enterprises.
AI predicts 5 players Leeds will sign this summer 5 Nick Pope Newcastle (£30m)
Starting in goal, Leeds have been on the search for a new goalkeeper to replace Illan Meslier after he was dropped by Farke for the Championship run-in.
Meslier may well exit Elland Road if a suitable offer arrives, leaving Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns as back up options to a new first choice keeper. AI thinks the new number one will be Nick Pope, with the Newcastle United ace potentially leaving St James’ Park this summer.
The Magpies have been heavily linked with James Trafford of Burnley, and with Leeds keen to sign Pope, AI feels a transfer could be on the cards for up to £30m.
4 Nico Elvedi Borussia Monchengladbach (£20m)
A centre-back who was being linked with a move to Leeds before they won promotion was Borussia Monchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi.
A Switzerland international, Elvedi has now been with the Bundesliga side for 10 years and worked with Farke during his brief stint as Monchengladbach boss.
Games
34
Goals
3
Yellow cards
2
Minutes played
3,007
A central defender to rival Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, AI states that a deal for Elvedi could be worth £20m.
3 Christantus Uche Getafe (£15m)
Versatile attacking midfielder Christantus Uche has been catching the eye in La Liga with Getafe and is the next arrival AI think Leeds will make this summer.
The Whites have their eye on the Nigeria international, who can play in a mixture of midfield and attacking roles. AI say that ‘versatility and potential fit Farke’s preference for players who buy into the club’s project, likely costing £10-15m.’
2 Igor Paixao Feyenoord (£25m)
A new winger is also on the cards for Leeds ahead of the 25/26 season, as it remains to be seen whether or not Manor Solomon will return to Yorkshire from Tottenham following a successful loan spell.
Igor Paixao of Feyenoord, a right-footed winger who plays on the left, has also been mooted as a target for the Whites after scoring 18 goals and registering 19 assists in 24/25. Despite reports suggesting a €40m (£34m) asking price, AI thinks a deal may only cost £25m.
1 Davie Selke Hamburg (Free)
Finally, a new striker to rival Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford is wanted by Leeds, and a host of names have been linked, including some that won’t command a transfer fee.
Davie Selke fits the bill of being mentioned as a target, and he’s set to be available on a free transfer with his Hamburg contract set to expire. The 30-year-old scored 22 goals in 31 appearances last season and stands at 6ft 4.
AI say his ‘physicality and goal-scoring record in the 2. Bundesliga make him a cost-effective option’, with Leeds recently making contact to sign Selke.
Already focused on the summer transfer window, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly leading their charge to sign a Serie A midfielder in the coming months.
Emery focused on Tottenham game
Whilst the Villans continue to build their summer plan around the action on the pitch, Unai Emery’s focus has not changed. Champions League qualification is still a possibility for his side, who have Europa League finalists Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to play as they wait for a potential slip up from those above them in the Premier League.
Emery will be well aware of just what’s at stake in the next couple weeks and reiterated the need for focus ahead of this weekend’s Tottenham game, telling reporters: “I am wishing to play. I don’t want holidays because we’re in a very good moment after a long season, but now we’re very, very motivated.
“Very excited to play at Villa Park tomorrow, for our objectives we have in front of us to play again in Europe. It’s not in our hands but we can have some options to play Champions League again. And focusing on Tottenham because I know the most difficult way we can have is our own way, playing against Tottenham tomorrow and how we can beat them.”
Aston Villa register formal interest in signing "dominant" contract rebel
Monchi and Aston Villa could make their move…
ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025
Aston Villa won’t need reminding what Champions League football can offer, either. They experienced moments that those at Villa Park will forever savour this season, with victory over Bayern Munich a particular standout. Now, however, they’ll be desperate to ensure that their place among Europe’s elite is not just a one off blip and, instead, a consistent feature of the competition.
Meanwhile, away from the action, Monchi is already thinking about the targets that could arrive with or without Champions League qualification.
Monchi leading Payero charge
According to reports in Italy, as relayed by Sport Witness, Monchi is now leading Aston Villa’s charge to sign Martin Payero from Udinese this summer. The sporting director is reportedly a huge admirer of the midfielder, which could yet see the Villans push on and secure his signature in the coming months. In terms of depth, there’s no doubt that the Argentine has plenty to offer.
Minutes
1,381
2,997
Progressive Passes
3.33
7.03
Progressive Carries
2.16
1.17
Ball Recoveries
4.90
4.35
When assessing the numbers, it’s clear that Payero wouldn’t be able to offer the same quality in possession as Tielemans, but he would be able to complete the legwork that the Belgian arguably struggles with. And that could create quite the midfield combination for Emery.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the midfielder enjoys a foray into English football, either, having previously been at Middlesbrough. It was there that he earned the praise of former manager Neil Warnock.
Martin Pareyo for Udinese.
The former manager told reporters when he unveiled the midfielder in 2021: “Martin will be a great addition to the squad. I think he will be an exciting signing, we’re delighted to get everything done, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”
A forward who was once valued at nine figures has held talks over a summer move to Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca’s side rumoured to be laying groundwork over transfers ahead of the first window on June 1.
Chelsea target quick transfer deals before Club World Cup
The Blues will be taking part in this year’s edition of the Club World Cup, and it has been reported that Chelsea could stand to receive a hefty financial windfall if they perform well in the competition.
Fabrizio Romano: Chelsea now want to sign £50m star "by the end of May"
The reliable journalist says BlueCo want a deal done as soon as possible.
ByEmilio Galantini May 10, 2025
BlueCo are therefore taking the CWC seriously, and they’ll have a limited window to do business and officially sign players before the tournament kicks off. From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea will be able to acquire squad upgrades ahead of the CWC, before the window then reopens from June 16 to September 1.
2. Arsenal
68
3. Newcastle United
66
4. Man City
65
5. Chelsea
63
6. Aston Villa
63
7. Nottingham Forest
62
Reports suggest the west Londoners are fully intent on completing deals in that period, with Fabrizio Romano recently stating that Chelsea want to seal a move for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen “by the end of May”.
Chelsea are involved in an airtight battle to finish in the top five and confirm their spot in the Champions League draw for next season, and the result of this race will have a knock-on effect when it comes to their transfer plans, as confirmed by Maresca.
However, in the meantime, Chelsea remain busy with their recruitment plans as they also aim to bring in new forwards. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy wish to acquire both a new winger and a striker for Maresca, as per journalist Simon Phillips and other reliable sources, and they’re now being linked with soon-to-be out-of-contract Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane.
Leroy Sane holds talks over joining Chelsea on free deal
The £244,000-per-week Germany international was closing in on a new deal in Bavaria, but he recently changed representatives, employing super-agent Pini Zahavi.
While Sane remains open to extending his contract, Zahavi has submitted a counter-offer to their initially agreed extension – with his camp now demanding a £10m-per-year salary plus £2.5m in add-ons tied to appearances (Florian Plettenberg).
Bayern are intent on standing firm and have no intention of improving their original proposal, though, leaving the door open for Sane to potentially leave the Allianz Arena despite his excellent form over the second half of 2024/2025.
Sane is thought to be keen on a move to Chelsea as an alternative to remaining at Bayern, with journalist Graeme Bailey sharing another update to The Boot Room.
Bailey reports that Sane’s representatives have held talks over a move to Chelsea, even if he would prefer to stay at Bayern, with his contract ticking down towards expiry on June 30.
Every day that passes and no new deal is agreed, Sane’s return to the Premier League grows more likely, as the player and Vincent Kompany’s side find themselves in a stalemate.
Signing the experienced high-level forward for nothing would be a coup, especially considering he was once valued at £137 million during his time at Man City.
Erling Haaland is the current top striker in the Premier League, with the Man City superstar scoring for fun since moving to England.
The Norway international, should he remain in Manchester, could go on to break all kinds of records, but is he the best centre-forward the Premier League has seen since 1992? He’s got some catching up to do…
Ranking factors Appearances Goals scored Teams played for What others have said about them 20 best strikers in Premier League history: in pictures 20 Les Ferdinand QPR, Newcastle, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester, Bolton
One of the top strikers around when the Premier League was formed in 1992 was Les Ferdinand. A powerful target man who loved a duel in the air, he scored 20 goals in the first ever Premier League campaign for QPR and featured for five more clubs in the top flight.
Best known for his impressive short stint at Newcastle and six-year period with Tottenham, Ferdinand ended with an impressive 149 goals.
Appearances
349
Goals
149
Assists
34
19 Jamie Vardy Leicester
Considering Jamie Vardy has only played for Leicester City in the Premier League, his tally of 144 goals in just under 350 appearances is hugely impressive.
The rapid striker scored in 11 consecutive top-flight games back in 2015/16, helping the Foxes win the title under Claudio Ranieri in what is arguably the greatest underdog story in sporting history.
Appearances
340
Goals
144
Assists
47
Golden Boot
1
Titles
1
18 Teddy Sheringham Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Man Utd, Portsmouth, West Ham,
At the peak of his powers at the end of the 1990s was Teddy Sheringham, who is known best for his time at Tottenham and Man Utd.
Arguably a forward who went under the radar at the time, Sheringham was clinical in front of goal and appeared to get better with age, with Sir Alex Ferguson calling the striker “remarkable” during his time at Old Trafford.
Appearances
418
Goals
146
Assists
76
Golden Boot
1
Titles
3
17 Jermain Defoe West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bournemouth
Agile, quick and a clinical finisher were some of Jermain Defoe’s main attributes as a striker, with the Englishman enjoying a successful partnership with towering forward Peter Crouch during his career.
Defoe certainly knew where the back of the net was and scored goals in 19 different Premier League campaigns, with a highlight netting five against Wigan in 2009.
Appearances
496
Goals
162
Assists
33
16 Ian Wright Arsenal, West Ham
Despite starting his Premier League career late at the age of 29, Ian Wright made a big impact for Arsenal, hitting double figures in the first six top-flight campaigns.
Wright was even the Gunners’ all-time top scorer for a period of time, and despite being known for his punditry work today, his talents as a striker in the 1990s cannot be forgotten.
Appearances
213
Goals
113
Assists
22
15 Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal
Another Arsenal star in attack in the 1990s and 2000s was Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutch forward was versatile, intelligent and technically brilliant, enjoying a brilliant partnership with Thierry Henry at Highbury under Arsene Wenger.
Bergkamp may not have scored as many goals as others, but he was called a “dream” by Henry, “the best” Wright has played with and the definition of a “footballer” by Johan Cruyff and loved to create. (talkSPORT)
Appearances
315
Goals
87
Assists
94
Titles
3
14 Robbie Fowler Liverpool, Leeds, Man City, Blackburn
Robbie Fowler scored an impressive 162 goals during his Premier League career, and was best known for his time at Liverpool, with those at Anfield naming him ‘God’.
His goal record in the 1990s at Anfield was every two games, and despite netting 53 times in the 1993/94 and 1994/95 seasons, never actually won a Golden Boot. In front of goal, Fowler was clinical, with Andy Cole calling the Englishman the “best finisher ever”.
Appearances
379
Goals
163
Assists
39
13 Ruud van Nistelrooy Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson called Ruud van Nistelrooy “the most prolific” striker he had at Man Utd, and his game to goal ratio certainly backs that up.
The Dutch striker arrived at Old Trafford having cored for fun in his native country, and he didn’t take long to adjust to life in the Premier League, scoring 23 league goals in his first campaign. It’s a shame Van Nistelrooy’s time in England only lasted five years, but he certainly won’t be forgotten.
Appearances
150
Goals
95
Assists
14
Golden Boot
1
Titles
1
12 Robin van Persie Arsenal, Man Utd
Another Dutch icon who spent longer in the Premier League was Robin van Persie, who made the controversial move from Arsenal to Man Utd in 2012.
It was a decision that worked out for Van Persie, who won the Premier League title with the Red Devils after missing out with Arsenal, and the forward had one of the best left foots the league has ever seen.
Known for scoring some outrageous goals, Van Persie’s effort against Aston Villa to help seal the title for Man Utd in 2013 was called “goal of the century” by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Appearances
280
Goals
144
Assists
53
Golden Boot
2
Titles
1
11 Luis Suarez Liverpool
Luis Suarez’s stay in England was short but sweet, with the Uruguayan becoming a Liverpool icon in such a brief period of time.
Capable of scoring out of nothing and winning games on his own, Suarez was at Anfield for just three-and-a-half seasons, with his 2013/14 campaign one of the greatest individual seasons in Premier League history.
He netted 31 goals in 33 games that year and almost took the Reds to a title before Barcelona came in and signed Suarez for big money.
Tottenham Hotspur are serious contenders to sign an “unbelievable” Premier League forward this summer, and his club are now willing to listen to offers, according to a report.
Spurs looking to strengthen in attack
Tottenham’s Premier League campaign has been nothing short of a disaster, but bizarrely, they still stand a good chance of making this season one to remember, given that Ange Postecoglou’s side are a two-legged tie with Bodo/Glimt away from the Europa League final.
That said, the underperformance in the Premier League suggests new additions will be needed this summer, and Spurs are particularly keen on strengthening in attacking areas, with AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo among the targets.
The Lilywhites are plotting a move for Semenyo to bolster their wide options, while the same report reveals they are also in the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in recent days.
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Semenyo and Cunha have shone in the Premier League this season, but Tottenham are also interested in signing a player who hasn’t been at his best, with a report from Caught Offside revealing they are now serious contenders to sign Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.
Man City are now willing to cash-in on Grealish this summer, and they will entertain offers of £38m – £43m, meaning they are set to make a huge £50m+ loss on the £100m they paid to sign him from Aston Villa in 2021.
Villa are among the rival suitors for their former player, while Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also named as potential suitors, so there is no shortage of interest from within the Premier League.
"Unbelievable" Grealish needs fresh start
The Englishman has enjoyed a great deal of success during his time at the Etihad Stadium, and he played a major role in City’s treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, picking up five goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
Perhaps most crucially, the former Villa man scored at the Emirates Stadium to help give his side a major advantage over Arsenal in the title race.
However, it would probably be a wise decision for the 29-year-old to move on this summer, given that he has fallen down the pecking order considerably, often being limited to appearances as a substitute.
The winger is clearly a talented player, having previously been lauded as “unbelievable” by members of the media, and his ability is underlined by the fact he ranks highly across some key attacking metrics over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Progressive carries
7.55 (99th percentile)
Shot-creating actions
5.35 (90th percentile)
Progressive passes
5.90 (87th percentile)
At 29-years-old, Grealish needs to receive regular minutes on the pitch, so it would make sense to move on this summer, and a move to Tottenham would likely be of interest, should they manage to win the Europa League.
Celtic turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to take on St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup on Sunday.
The Hoops are hoping to win the SFA Cup in order to complete a domestic treble for the second time in the last three seasons, after Ange Postecoglou did so in the 2022/23 campaign, as they have already won the League Cup.
Brendan Rodgers is aiming for a perfect domestic campaign despite losing Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion last summer and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes in January.
The Scottish giants sold their Japanese forward to the French side for a reported fee of £10m earlier this year, but they also managed to bring Jota back to Parkhead in return.
Jota
Celtic reportedly paid a fee of £8m to sign the Portuguese winger, 18 months on from selling him to Al Ittihad for £25m, which essentially meant that the club received Jota and £2m from Rennes, in a roundabout way, for Kyogo.
There may not be too many complaints about the way that things turned out for the Hoops in that window, because the forward has hit the ground running in his second spell at Parkhead.
Why Jota has been a good signing for Celtic
The former Benfica whiz had big expectations on his shoulders upon his arrival in Glasgow in the January transfer window, due to what he had produced in his two seasons under Ange Postecoglou.
As you can see in the graphic above, Jota delivered consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in those two Premiership seasons under the Australian head coach, with 21 goals and 21 assists.
This meant that it was a reasonable expectation for Jota to come in and immediately bolster the squad with instant performances on the pitch when he arrived in January, and the forward has met those expectations.
Appearances (starts)
10 (6)
Goals
4
Big chances missed
1
Big chances created
3
Assists
2
Dribbles completed
10
As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese starlet has already contributed with seven goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in six Premiership starts this year.
This shows that he has provided the instant impact that was expected of him, and rightly so, given his proven quality at that level, which is why he has been an excellent signing for the Hoops.
It was a terrific opportunity for all parties involved to bring Jota back to a club where he knows he can be a star player, and the forward will hopefully continue to impress in the final third in the months and years to come in Glasgow.
Despite all of this, Celtic are now being linked with an interest in a young talent who could go on to become even better than the Portuguese sensation at Parkhead.
The latest on Celtic's interest in Premier League starlet
According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants are one of a number of clubs chasing a deal to sign Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that both Celtic and Rangers are interested in a swoop for the 17-year-old attacker, and that teams across Europe have also made contact with the player about a possible move this summer.
Brendan Rodgers
It states that teams have become aware of his potential availability after the England youth international turned down a professional contract to remain at Selhurst Park.
Football Insider adds that PSG, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid have all sent scouts to watch him in action, whilst there are also Premier League teams looking at the teen sensation.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The outlet reveals that Derry would be open to moving abroad, whether that is to one of those European sides or to Scotland, but it remains to be seen where he will end up next season.
There looks set to be plenty of competition for the 17-year-old talent’s signature this summer, and Celtic must push to win the race for his services, because he could become even better than Jota.
Why Jesse Derry could become even better than Jota
The current Hoops forward came up through the Benfica academy with a return of nine goals and eight assists in 47 matches for the B team, and four goals and eight assists in 17 games in the Youth League.
This shows that the Portuguese dynamo enjoyed an impressive, but not completely outstanding, career at youth level before coming to Scotland to shine under Postecoglou with roughly ten goals and ten assists per season in the Premiership.
Jota
Derry, son of former Palace and QPR defender Shaun, has shown incredible promise at youth level for Palace in recent years, to the point where he looks like an even better prospect than Jota did at Benfica.
Per Football Insider, the teenage ace has scored 20 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles at youth level in the current campaign, including nine goals in eight U18 Premier League matches.
As you can see in the clip of one of those 20 goals above, Derry is similar in style to Jota as a left-winger who likes to cut in on his right foot to find the far corner.
The Palace youngster, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has been “tearing things up” at youth level, also scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 17 matches in the 2023/24 campaign.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
This means that the England U19 international has scored 31 goals in 44 games for Palace since the start of last season, which is a far superior youth record in comparison to what Jota did with Benfica’s academy before his move to Celtic, whilst playing in the same position.
This, therefore, suggests that the potential is there for Derry, who is reportedly being looked at by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, to become even better than Jota on the left wing by providing an incredible goalscoring threat by cutting in on his right foot.
Celtic must rue losing "exciting" gem who's now playing like a £100m star
Celtic lost the talented young attacker for a fee of just £230k and now he’s being compared to a £100m talent.
ByDan Emery Apr 15, 2025
That is why Celtic must push to sign the teenage starlet in the summer because he could be an exceptional long-term addition to the squad, as a winger with the qualities to emerge as a first-team star in the future if he can translate his academy form over to senior football to be even better than Jota.
Celtic find themselves on the cusp of another Scottish Premiership crown and could now be set to test the water for a talented winger who their manager is a huge fan of, per reports.
Celtic look to make summer mark with domestic clean sweep on the table
With Rangers lingering in the distance, Celtic are on course for a domestic treble and need a maximum of nine points to claim a fourth Scottish Premiership title in quick succession under Brendan Rodgers.
The Bhoys face St Johnstone this weekend before taking on Kilmarnock in their last pre-split fixture. They also have a chance to progress to the Scottish Cup final against the former as their dreams of a clean sweep remain in motion.
Celticmanager BrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
Looking ahead to the summer, Rodgers has hinted that Daizen Maeda’s Celtic progress could soften his hunt for a new striker, claiming the Japan international could be his number-one choice moving forward.
He stated: “I think he can be (the number-one striker). I think it’s one where to replace, to move him onto the side and take him out of the middle, with all due respect, it’s probably easier for us to get a top winger than it is a top striker.”
Daizen Maeda’s prolific campaign for Celtic – all competitions
Appearances
43
Goals
30
Assists
9
Backed up by the recent rumour mill, Celtic appear to be focusing on movement elsewhere and have identified Augsburg’s Elvis Rexhbecaj as a target to compete with Callum McGregor in the engine room.
On the same token, Liverpool’s Wataru Endo has been mentioned in dispatches at Parkhead. Now, true to his word, Rodgers is ready to revisit a move for a winger who he has had his eye on for a while to help strengthen the Hoops’ forward line.
Celtic ready to pounce for Royal Antwerp's Michel-Ange Balikwisha
According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are ready to relaunch their interest in Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha after sending scouts to the Belgian side’s recent 5-1 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise, where the DR Congo international registered an assist.
Valued at £5 million, Rodgers has had the 23-year-old on his radar for quite some time, even if fitness problems scuppered the potential of a January move to secure his signature.
Celtic gem was "the next Van Dijk" but Postecoglou sold him for just £1m
The former Celtic star was described as “the next Van Dijk” by his former manager.
ByDan Emery Apr 3, 2025
Frustratingly, injury problems have limited Balikwisha to eight appearances this campaign, though he has created five chances and won 11 duels on Jupiler Pro League duty.
Labelled “amazing” by analyst/writer Ben Mattinson, Rodgers has previously taken a personal interest in pushing a deal over the line for Balikwisha, so it won’t come as a major surprise to hear that he is back on Celtic’s recruitment department’s agenda.
Champions League qualifiers are likely to provoke a swift turnaround in Glasgow, and there is every chance the Congolese star could be one of several arrivals ahead of 2025/26.