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Celtic may be in the market to add another centre-forward to their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of next month.

It is fair to say that Adam Idah has not had the best start to the Scottish Premiership season as the main number nine for Brendan Rodgers, particularly given his performance against St Mirren.

The Ireland international, as shown in the graphic above, missed three ‘big chances’ and lost the majority of his duels in the 1-0 win on the opening day.

Idah then failed to deliver a goal or an assist in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen in the second match of the league season, despite starting up front once again.

The Ireland international is still looking to prove that he has what it takes to be starting number nine for Celtic this season, after being in and out of the team at points last term.

With his current struggles in mind, the Scottish giants may view their failed pursuit of Danish forward Mathias Kvistgaarden as a bit of a blunder in hindsight.

Celtic's Mathias Kvistgaarden blunder

Back in the summer of 2023, Celtic were reportedly interested in the then-21-year-old number nine from Brondby to bolster Rodgers’ options at the top end of the pitch in his first window back at the club.

They did not heavily pursue a move for him in that window, though, but were reportedly in talks with the Danish outfit in January 2024 to discuss a deal for him.

Celtic were tentatively linked with Kvistgaarden again in the summer of that year, before they reportedly made contact with Brondby once again to talk about a move for the versatile forward in January of the current year.

Despite all of those links and supposed talks, it was eventually Norwich City that landed the striker this summer for a fee of £6.9m, after they activated a little-known release clause, despite a fee of £12m having been mooted.

The post from talent scout Jacek Kulig, from before the end of last season, shows that Kvistgaarden steadily improved throughout his time with Brondby, developing into a sublime goalscorer.

24/25 Superliga	Mathias Kvistgaarden
Appearances	29
Goals	17
Minutes per goal	119
Conversion rate	22%
Big chances created	5
Assists	5
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international delivered 23 goals and assists in 29 league appearances for his former club in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he can make a consistent impact in the final third.

Whilst it remains to be seen how well he will do for Norwich, Idah’s former club, in the Championship, he does seem to be the kind of ruthless and prolific striker that the Hoops are currently lacking.

This is why missing out on a deal for him after three or four transfer windows of reportedly serious interest in him could be viewed as a blunder by the club.

Celtic, though, could avenge their howler with Kvistgaarden by winning the race to sign another reported transfer target from Brondby, Clement Bischoff.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The Hoops have been touted with an interest in the £6m-rated winger this summer, and they should not allow him to slip through their fingers like they did with the now-Norwich star.

Why Celtic should sign Clement Bischoff

Bischoff is an incredibly exciting young talent whom the Premiership champions should be looking to bring to Parkhead before the end of the window, if the initial report on their interest was accurate.

As explained, Celtic were interested in Kvistgaarden for multiple years and transfer windows and were unable to get a deal over the line before he exploded in the 2024/25 campaign and then went elsewhere, to the Canaries.

Bischoff has not quite had the explosive season that his former teammate had last year, yet, which is why this could be the perfect time for the Hoops to snap him up.

If they wait, as they did with Kvistgaarden after their interest in 2023 and 2024, then the Danish winger could have his breakout year this season and then become unattainable due to interest from Europe’s top leagues, or high-spending teams in the Championship like Norwich.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described him as an “explosive” and “flamboyant” star with pace and technical ability, which suggests that he has the potential to be a fan favourite at Parkhead as a forward who can get supporters off their seats with his direct play.

His form at the start of the current campaign suggests that he is starting to turn his exciting potential into consistently impressive displays, which makes him an even more attractive target for Celtic.

Clement Bischoff (Brondby)	24/25	25/26
Appearances	39	8
Key passes	51	24
Big chances created	10	5
Key passes per 90	2.0	3.8
Assists	5	2
Goals	2	1
Successful dribbles per 90	1.9	2.0
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Bischoff is already showing signs of huge progression early on in the current campaign, with already half as many ‘big chances’ created as he managed in the whole of last season.

These statistics, aided by his move from left wing-back to left wing, show that he is on course to deliver far more at the top end of the pitch, in terms of goals, key passes, ‘big chances’ created, and dribbles.

This is why it is so important that the Hoops make a serious move for him in the current transfer window, because if he continues to improve at his current rate, then he may be beyond the club’s reach this time next year.

Therefore, Celtic can avenge their blunder with Brondby’s last superstar, Kvistgaarden, by paying the £6m fee that it may take to snap Bischoff up before September’s deadline to bolster Rodgers’ squad.

Celtic could land big Idah upgrade in swoop for "magnificent" £7m striker

Celtic may find a big upgrade on Adam Idah by swooping to sign this £7m-rated forward.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 14, 2025

Durban’s Super Giants (DSG), last season’s SA20 losing finalists, have been eliminated from playoff contention after a sixth loss and all-round disappointing campaign. They sit at the bottom of the points table, with one game left to play, and have only won one of nine matches so far (two were no results). Captain Keshav Maharaj put their woes down to “losing every powerplay whether batting or bowling,” and their lack of early run-scoring was glaring.In the seven matches in which they batted, DSG only scored more than 50 runs in the powerplay once (and that was the game they won, three weeks ago) and went wicketless twice. They rotated through four opening batters – Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Brandon King and Quinton de Kock – in different combinations to collect the least number of runs among the six teams. In their nine matches, DSG’s top two individually scored 230 runs at an average of 16.42. For comparison, their opposition on Monday, table-topping Paarl Royals have used the same two openers – Joe Root and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and top the run charts with a combined tally of 580 at 44.61 including five half-centuries.The most obvious error DSG made was starting with de Kock at No. 4, despite his success as opener at international level, because they hoped to preserve a left-right combination. “At the start of the competition, there was a sort of method to the madness with regards to Quinny batting at four and after five games we realised that it wasn’t really working out and we needed starts and then pushed Quinny up,” Maharaj said at the post-match press conference. “He showed glimpses of what he can do, but probably didn’t have the support around him to get those totals that we would have liked in the powerplay and to bat through.”De Kock made one fifty in four innings at No. 4, and then a 30-ball 43 against Royals last week but had no other scores of note through the SA20. The same is true for another of DSG’s marquee players, middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has struggled all tournament. Klaasen scored 122 runs in seven innings and 66 of these runs came in one knock.Quinton de Kock was trialled as a No. 4 batter and it didn’t work for DSG•SA20

Overall, DSG topped 200 in their first match but have not gone past 150 in any of their games and had two scores below 120 which ultimately was not good enough to get them more wins in this tournament. And while most of their issues are in the batting line-up, the bowlers do not escape scrutiny. “We didn’t take enough wickets in the powerplay and in doing so we didn’t stem the flow of runs,” Maharaj said. “We were quite expensive in most of the powerplays and once you lose the powerplay it’s very difficult in the game of T20 cricket regardless of how well you bowl in that middle [period].”In total, DSG bowled eight powerplays (one in a match that was a no-result) and never took more than two wickets or conceded less than 41 runs, which is a shade under seven an over. Their difficulties may have stemmed from what seemed to be the absence of a leader for the pace attack in particular. Their two leading wicket-takers were wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who is fourth on the wicket-takers’ list with 10, followed by left-arm spinner Maharaj, with seven. Their leading seamer was Chris Woakes, who has taken five wickets in as many games. Naveen-ul-Haq and Junior Dala both have four wickets but while Naveen has played seven matches, Dala has only played five and Dwaine Pretorius, the allrounder who, on paper, could have been a key part of the squad only played twice.Ultimately, the unsettled nature of DSG’s XI may have contributed to their string of poor results and leaves their team management with plenty to ponder. Lance Klusener has been head coach throughout the SA20 and Maharaj has captained them for the last two seasons. Last season, he masterminded a turnaround that saw them go from second last on the table to the final and though they have now u-turned on that, Maharaj seems to still want to be the man in charge.”I love captaincy. It helps me think clearly at times, especially on the field and keeps me a little bit calmer than I normally am,” he said. “The one thing that I really try and get is the camaraderie amongst my team-mates. It is a short competition and that’s something that I feel I do really well: understanding my players and trying to get the best out of them. Sometimes it’s hard, it doesn’t transfer onto the field and I feel like it’s one of those seasons. Having said that, I’ve enjoyed it very much. I’m very proud of my team so far. We’ve still got a game to go. There’s a lot of pride to play for, a lot of meaning for this badge and for the owners that have invested in us, so we’re not just giving up.”DSG play their last game at the Wanderers, against Joburg Super Kings, on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has undergone surgery after a bicycle crash, leaving him a major doubt for their Champions League opener.

• Enrique suffered broken collarbone in cycling accident
• Faces race against time for Champions League opener
• Rafel Pol steps in to lead PSG training

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the PSG coach has undergone successful surgery after suffering a broken collarbone in a cycling accident. The 55-year-old Spaniard, who guided the Parisians to their first-ever Champions League crown as part of a 2024-25 treble, crashed during a bike ride in Spain and was taken to hospital. The Ligue 1 giants confirmed the news and offered full support to their manager, but his recovery timeline remains uncertain. He is now considered a serious doubt for PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Lens on Sunday and their Champions League opener against Atalanta on September 17.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The setback arrives at a critical moment for PSG, who are under pressure to build on last season’s historic treble. Les Parisiens have won all three matches in Ligue 1 this season and are preparing for the Champions League to get underway, but the absence of their coach on the touchline could still prove disruptive. Assistant coach Rafel Pol has already stepped in to lead training and will front the press conference ahead of the Lens clash.

• TELL ME MORE…

  The Asturian coach is widely regarded as one of Europe’s elite tacticians, having previously managed Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Since joining PSG in 2023, he has reshaped the squad and delivered unprecedented success with a Ligue 1 title, domestic cup victories, and their long-awaited Champions League triumph in 2025.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Enrique’s recovery will continue in Spain, with PSG monitoring his progress closely. While there is no official return date, the club are preparing for several games under interim leadership if necessary. Pol will remain in charge until the coach is declared fit to return, with Enrique’s presence for the Atalanta clash still highly doubtful.

كشفت تقارير صحفية موقف رحيل الدولي الفرنسي إبراهيما كوناتي عن صفوف ليفربول بعد إصابة جيوفاني ليوني بقطع في الرباط الصليبي.

وسقط ليوني على أرض الملعب بشكل غريب بعد تدخل على خط التماس في وقت متأخر من اللقاء، وقد احتاج لمساعدة الطاقم الطبي لمغادرة الملعب.

وكان رومانو قد أوضح أن إصابة ليوني هي تمزق في الرباط الصليبي وسيغيب عن أغلب فترات الموسم بعد الإصابة التي تعرض لها أمام ساوثهامبتون في كأس كاراباو.

وانتشرت أنباء عديدة في الصحافة الإسبانية أن المدافع الدولي الفرنسي إبراهيما كوناتي قد أعطى لريال مدريد الضوء الأخضر للرحيل إليهم خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

ورفض كوناتي تجديد عقده مع ليفربول حتى الآن بسبب مطالبه المالية، إلا أنه لم يصرح برغبته في الرحيل وأن الأمر بيد الإدارة.

اقرأ أيضًا | ليوني يوجه رسالة لجماهير ليفربول بعد إصابته بالرباط الصليبي

وبما أن عقده الحالي من المقرر أن ينتهي في الصيف المقبل 2026، فيمكنه توقيع على أي عقد يقدم له خلال 98 يومًا فقط.

ووفقًا لصحيفة “ذا أثلتيك” البريطانية، فإن كل الأنباء التي تناولتها الصحافة الإسبانية غير صحيحة وأن كوناتي لم يتحدث مع ريال مدريد حتى الآن.

إدارة ليفربول ستأخذ مفاوضات تجديد عقد كوناتي بجدية بسبب إصابة ليوني الطويلة، الصحيفة البريطانية أوضحت أنه حتى لو تم التعاقد مع مارك جويهي، مدافع كريستال بالاس في يناير المقبل فإنه يعتزم تجديد عقد كوناتي حتى لا يتكرر سيناريو أرنولد.

Yorkshire dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on a four-wicket Vitality County Championship victory over Division Two pacesetters Sussex at Scarborough during the fourth morning to boost their hopes of promotion.Resuming on 28 for 2 from 10 overs in pursuit of 103, the home side clinched a 21-point haul in exactly an hour’s play despite losing four wickets to offspinner Jack Carson.Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 40 as Yorkshire claimed their third successive Championship victory dating back to June, consigning the league leaders to only a second defeat in 10 matches this season. The excellent Carson claimed his four consolatory wickets to finish with a career-best 9 for 120 in the match.Yorkshire started this fixture in third, 27 points behind Sussex, but are now only nine adrift with four rounds remaining.The White Rose county have won three Championship matches in a row for the first time since the early stages of 2021 when they beat Kent and Sussex away and Northamptonshire at Headingley.Upon clinching victory, Yorkshire moved to second in the in-play Division Two table – but dropped back to third after Middlesex beat Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.Yorkshire and Middlesex face each other at Headingley from Thursday. Sussex, meanwhile, host Derbyshire at Hove next as they look to bounce back from a first defeat since May.Lyth set the tone in the day’s third over when he took back-to-back boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat’s left-arm seam – one flicked to fine-leg and the other cut through backward point.He then pulled Carson over midwicket and cut Ollie Robinson over backward point for sixes in the following two overs, taking the score to 59 for 2. The writing was on the wall for Sussex.They actually started the day minus three on the over rate, with counties deducted a point for each over they are behind the rate.So it was no surprise to see Carson employed early by captain John Simpson in a bid to speed things up. Realistically, improving that was their main target for the day, and they achieved it.Although Lyth led the way, he was importantly helped out by nightwatcher Dan Moriarty, who contributed 17 to a third-wicket partnership of 51. They came together at 18 for 2 late on day three and extinguished Sussex’s slim hopes of a turnaround.Moriarty, Yorkshire’s regular No. 11, was lbw to Carson – 69 for 3 – before the same bowler had Lyth caught behind down leg at the second attempt by Simpson with a further seven runs added to the total.Carson also trapped James Wharton lbw to bring Jonny Bairstow to the crease with only eight to win, and he holed out to deep midwicket for a two-ball duck. Yorkshire captain Jonny Tattersall hit the winning runs.

Celtic will be looking to continue their Scottish Premiership dominance under Brendan Rodgers in 2025/26 after lifting their fourth consecutive title last season.

The Hoops have already acted in the transfer market to bolster their squad, with Kieran Tierney returning from Arsenal on a free transfer.

Tierney spent years at the Emirates after Celtic sold the left-back for £25m, and still 28 years of age, will be looking to add to his multiple Hoops honours at Parkhead.

Hoops bring in £56m: AI predicts 5 players Celtic will sell this summer

It could be another busy window for at Parkhead.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 21, 2025

Should he remain fit, Tierney looks set to start at left-back under Rodgers in Celtic’s Scottish Premiership opener at home to St Mirren. Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted Tierney and the ten other starters for Celtic in 25/26.

AI predicts Celtic’s 2025/26 starting line-up 1 GK: Kasper Schmeichel

Starting in goal, Kasper Schmeichel was a regular in his first Parkhead season and has been backed to keep his place in the side.

Games

49

Clean sheets

24

Goals conceded

47

Under contract until 2026, Grok says Schmeichel ‘remains a reliable presence’, with Viljami Sinisalo a ‘long-term successor’ in Glasgow.

2 RB: Alistair Johnston

Grok has described Alistair Johnston as a ‘consistent performer, offering defensive solidity and attacking support’, and have backed him to continue to star at right-back.

The Canada international had his best season in the attacking third in 24/25, with four goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

3 CB: Cameron Carter-Vickers

Despite being linked with a big-money move away from Celtic Park, Cameron Carter-Vickers is predicted to remain with the Hoops and feature at centre-back.

Labelled as ‘indispensable for his composure and physicality’, Carter-Vickers is under contract until 2029, so there’s no pressure to sell.

4 CB: Veljko Milosavljevic

A new predicted centre-back signing is Veljko Milosavljevic, who has been linked with a move to Glasgow this summer.

Valued at more than £8m by Red Star Belgrade, the teenager’s ‘potential makes him a long-term partner for Carter-Vickers’, with Liam Scales seen as backup.

5 LB: Kieran Tierney

Already signed, sealed and delivered, Kieran Tierney has been backed to start at left-back, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Grok has labelled a deal as a ‘major coup’, with Tierney ‘bringing quality and leadership’. It is added that ‘his injury history necessitates a backup, but he’s the clear starter when fit’.

6 CM: Callum McGregor (c)

Hoops legend Callum McGregor is showing no signs of slowing down and will be looking to add to his tally of 24 major honours with the club.

Games

518

Goals

74

Assists

80

Minutes played

41,068

Trophies won

24

‘Excelling as an attacking No. 8’, Grok adds that McGregor’s ‘versatility and leadership are unmatched’ at Parkhead.

7 CM: Reo Hatate

A regular alongside McGregor in recent years has been Reo Hatate. The Japan international has proven to be a bargain at just £1.4m, making more than 140 appearances in green and white.

He has chipped in with 55 goal contributions during that time, and his ’dynamism and ability to evade pressure make him a key midfielder’.

8 CM: Arne Engels

Finishing off the midfield is record signing Arne Engels, who enjoyed a fine first campaign in Glasgow.

Scoring 10 goals and registering 13 assists, Grok says the Belgium international ‘settled well, offering energy and creativity’.

9 RW: Mathias Kvistgaarden

Celtic have pursued versatile forward Mathias Kvistgaarden for some time now, and Grok thinks the Brondby attacker could be a Hoops player in 25/26.

Capable of playing as a winger or striker, Kvistgaarden is predicted to start on the right with Nicolas Kuhn potentially leaving for RB Leipzig. Grok adds James Forrest will be a veteran backup once more.

10 ST: Evan Ferguson

Once rated at £100m, Celtic have also been predicted to win the race to sign Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Irishman’s ‘physicality and goal-scoring instinct make him an upgrade over Adam Idah’, according to Grok, and it would certainly be an eye-catching deal if it goes through.

Manchester United’s front line is in desperate need of an overhaul this summer, with such a department massively holding them back from any success under Ruben Amorim.

The side only managed to net 44 times in their 38 Premier League outings last campaign, with no player in the first-team squad managing to register double figures.

Departures are to be expected in such an area, with academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho one player likely to be sacrificed in the coming months, after hitting out at his lack of action in the Europa League final.

Rasmus Hojlund could be another to leave the Red Devils during the off-season, with any sales massively helping Amorim in his quest to land new stars at Old Trafford.

As a result of the pending futures of the aforementioned players, targets have already been drawn up, with the hierarchy appearing to be making moves in the transfer market.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

The 3-4-2-1 formation utilised by Amorim at United requires specific players to be signed if they are to fit into the current system and be a success at the Theatre of Dreams.

A striker has been one of the main priorities in recent weeks, with the likes of Dušan Vlahović, Victor Osimhen and Hugo Ekitiké all firmly remaining on the club’s radar.

However, a new twist has emerged, with Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres still seen as their number one target for the position, according to TEAMtalk.

They claim that the Red Devils remain confident of a deal to land the 54-goal forward despite the Swede claiming that he’s only interested in a move to join fellow English side Arsenal.

It also states that the board at United believe his previous spell under Amorim in Portugal could play a huge factor in the deal, with the attacker wanting a move to England this window.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s answer to Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé is a forward who has constantly tormented backlines across Europe in recent years, cementing himself as one of the best attackers in world football.

The 26-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer from PSG, after enjoying a six-year spell in Paris, which saw him net 235 goals in his 264 appearances.

His move to Spain has seen him continue his tremendous run in front of goal, registering 43 efforts in his 56 outings for the LaLiga giants, forming a deadly partnership with Vinícius Júnior.

Every team across the continent must wish they had a version of the forward, with his form in front of goal something which is extremely hard to find in the modern game.

However, United could be about to land their own version of the superstar, in the form of Gyokeres, with the Swedish international a force to be reckoned with in front of goal.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to Mbappé by FBref, managing to match or better the Madrid talisman in numerous key areas, highlighting how much of a sensational signing he would be for the Red Devils.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “the best striker in Europe” by The Athletic, has outscored Mbappé, whilst averaging a better goal per shot on target rate – handing Amorim the clinical edge he’s been lacking as of late.

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

46

34

Shot on target accuracy

52%

49%

Goal per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Key passes completed

2

1.5

Take-on success

46%

44%

Carries into opposition box

3.1

2.9

Aerials won

51%

40%

He’s also completed more of the take-ons he’s attempted whilst registering more carries into the opposition box, having the ability to create an attacking opportunity out of nothing.

Gyokeres’ dominance is also reflected in his higher percentage of aerials won, with his ability in the air offering the side the needed focal point they’ve often lacked.

Given the interest from elsewhere this summer, the hierarchy must work quickly to secure the Sporting CP star’s signature, with the forward a talented all-round option.

His comparisons to Mbappé highlight the threat he carries, with the 27-year-old having the skillset to end their long-standing pursuit of a new talisman at Old Trafford.

More exciting than Mbeumo: Man Utd in talks to sign "very special" talent

Manchester United could be about to land a star who could thrive under Ruben Amorim.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 18, 2025

Aston Villa could well be hitting their stride in the Premier League at the best possible time, with both Chelsea and Nottingham Forest showing recent weaknesses in their game.

Unai Emery’s men are now only outside the lucrative five Champions League spots in the division on goal difference as Enzo Maresca’s Blues nervously try to hold onto that final position, with a mightily impressive five wins from Villa’s last six Premier League games keeping their European dreams alive.

The added quality to the squad in the form of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford in January has certainly boosted their chances of clinching Champions League football again.

This summer’s transfer window will further allow the West Midlands giants opportunities to bring in even more depth, with one rumoured face on the Villa Park shopping list perhaps going down as their next Jhon Duran if he joins.

How Jhon Duran is performing in Saudi

The breathless Colombian would only go on to feature for the Villans 78 times, but he is still remembered in a fond light to this day for how impactful he could be off the bench when his team needed a moment of magic.

Indeed, before an insane £71m move to Al Nassr came to be in January, the sensational South American would fire home a sizeable 12 goals during the first part of 2024/25.

On the surface, this is already an imposing goal total worthy of praise, but staggeringly seven of those strikes would come about in Premier League action despite Duran only making four starts overall.

Since heading to the Middle East, the forward has been on fire, scoring 11 goals in 16 games for his new employers who sit third in the Saudi Pro League.

In truth, losing the young forward hasn’t hit Villa that hard, but NSWE definitely wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to win themselves a new version of the relentless 21-year-old this summer.

Aston Villa could sign their new Duran

Emery will likely be keen to utilise all of his talented squad again next campaign, particularly if Champions League football returns to Villa Park and congests the fixture list.

Therefore, adding in a new winger in Malick Fofana as a further option in attack could be an inspired pick-up, with Caught Offside recently revealing that the Premier League titans could sign the promising 20-year-old from Olympique Lyonnais for around the £42m mark.

Just taking in a few clips of Fofana’s excellence for Lyon this season displays how he’s on the same wavelength as the now departed Duran, with both attackers in question boundless in their drive and energy when galloping forward, before being equally unafraid to unleash a vicious shot at an opposition goalkeeper.

It’s resulted in Fofana – who is also on the radar of Liverpool and Arsenal – picking up a substantial 11 goals and five assists from 40 appearances down the Lyon left flank across 2024/25, despite also being resigned to a regular spot on Paulo Fonseca’s bench much like the 22-year-old striker had to put up with under Emery.

Fofana at Lyon vs Duran at Villa in 2024/25

Stat

Fofana

Duran

Games played

40

29

Games started

22

7

Minutes played

2199

1043

Goals scored

11

12

Assists

5

0

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the numbers, whilst Fofana does have the advantage of starting 15 more games this season than Duran managed at Villa, the former has still been used rather sparingly in the French top division, with the Belgian only averaging 54 minutes of action per Ligue 1 clash.

But, the “magnificent” left-footed menace – as he has been labelled by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has still left his mark on a considerable number of contests all the same, seen in that growing total of 11 goals and five assists across a wide range of contests for Lyon.

With a potential hole in the squad also needing to be filled down the left if Rashford departs, adding in Fofana does feel like a logical signing to soon make on Villa’s end, with the one-time senior Belgium international also capable of being the club’s next super sub.

Related Their new Grealish: Aston Villa plotting £50m move for "phenomenal" talent

Aston Villa are chasing a current Premier League midfielder

Posts 2 ByRoss Kilvington May 12, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero is being repeatedly linked with an exit this summer, but he could be joined by an “underrated” Spurs teammate.

Cristian Romero attracting Atlético Madrid interest

The Lilywhites face a very real prospect of losing Romero once the transfer window reopens, as reports are suggesting that the Argentine wants to move on for a fresh challenge amid interest from Atlético Madrid.

Contact made: Tottenham targeting "exciting" manager likened to Pochettino

Spurs have reportedly approached his circle.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 2, 2025

As per some media sources, Romero is “pushing” to leave Tottenham, with chairman Daniel Levy postponing talks over a new contract for the 26-year-old as a result (The Boot Room). Meanwhile, others claim that Atlético boss Diego Simeone has reached out to the £165,000-per-week defender in an attempt to entice him with a move to La Liga (Uriel Lugt).

Sky Sports have also backed these reports that interest in Romero from Atlético is there, so the prospect of him departing N17 is seemingly looking more and more possible by the day.

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

Tottenham are out of both domestic cups and sitting 14th in the Premier League table after 15 top-flight defeats, with a good run in the Europa League coming as their only chance to win silverware and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Atlético undoubtedly provides the pull of regular European football and the chance to compete for major honours, and the same can certainly be said of their cross-city rivals, with Real Madrid also considering a summer move for Romero.

The former Atalanta star’s exit would be a blow for manager Ange Postecoglou, if he is even in the job by next season, but Romero isn’t the only Spurs player attracting real interest heading into an important summer window.

Tottenham open to selling Richarlison as three clubs plan bid

Injury-ridden striker Richarlison is among the players who could quit Tottenham with Romero, according to journalist Jorge Nicola.

As per the reporter, speaking on his YouTube channel, rumours are surrounding Brazilian Serie A trio Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo are all plotting a bid for Richarlison, who cost Levy £60 million to sign from Everton in 2022.

However, the cost of an operation could prohibit these sides from moving, even if Nicola states that Tottenham are considering the permanent sale of Richarlison from July.

“In the last few hours, speculation has been that Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo are preparing a proposal to buy the player in the middle of the year,” said Nicola.

“The big news on this subject is that Tottenham, very bothered by the center forward’s series of injuries, is considering negotiating him permanently starting in July.

“I can rule out Palmeiras being interested in Richarlison. When Verdão spends 155 million reais to buy Vitor Roque, they stop looking for the player,” he added.

“Even if Tottenham admits a loss and loses, for example €18m, Richardson would still cost €40m. This number is completely out of line with the reality of any football club in Brazil, not to mention Pombo’s salary. Richarlison earns around R$3,900,000 at Tottenham, much higher than the salary of any active player in the country.”

The 27-year-old, called “underrated” by pundit Micah Richards, enjoyed a terrific purple patch of goalscoring form under Postecoglou midway through last season. However, fitness issues have caused him to miss the vast majority of 2024/2025.

After a frustrating campaign, don’t be surprised to see Richarlison follow Romero out the door.

Last year, he failed to defend 28 in the last over. This time, he denied Dhoni a fairytale finish

Ashish Pant19-May-20243:23

Moody on Dayal: He’s now remembered for one significant over

Cast your mind to April 9, 2023. Yash Dayal is bowling the final over of Gujarat Titans’ league game against Kolkata Knight Riders. He has 28 runs to defend but is carted for five sixes in a row by Rinku Singh as GT lose the game by three wickets. Dayal is heartbroken. The image of him on his haunches, covering his eyes with a towel is splashed around the internet for the next few days. Dayal does not get a game for more than a month and is then released into the auction pool where he is picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.Fast forward to May 18, 2024. Dayal, who has had a good run in IPL 2024, is tasked with perhaps the most important over of his short IPL career. His team’s playoff hopes hinge on these six balls. He has 16 runs to defend for RCB to advance and is bowling to one of the greatest finishers in IPL history in MS Dhoni. The first ball he bowls is a full toss on Dhoni’s pads which he duly clatters out of the stadium for a 110m six.Dayal’s subconscious mind immediately takes him one year back to that difficult evening in Ahmedabad. The nerves start to jangle. Is history repeating itself? With CSK requiring 11 off five to qualify, Dayal takes a moment for himself. This is his shot at redemption, a way to show that he belongs. He runs in and delivers a back-of-the-hand slower ball on a length around off stump. Dhoni swings across the line but is deceived by the lack of pace and the big top edge carries to deep-backward square leg.Related

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Pandemonium sets in the Bengaluru stands. The RCB fans are ecstatic, the CSK fans stunned.But Dayal knows the job isn’t done. Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja are more than capable of getting 11 off four. Dayal, though, remains unflappable. He lands four slower balls on the spot for 0, 1, 0, 0 as RCB complete the most stunning turnarounds to qualify for the playoffs. Virat Kohli is nearly in tears, Faf du Plessis doesn’t know what to do, and the RCB fielders are haring around the Chinnaswamy Stadium. And amid all that, Dayal stands tall with a beaming smile and a final-over redemption story for the ages.”After what happened to me last time [against KKR in 2023], there was nervousness,” Dayal said after the game. “When I got hit off that first ball, I subconsciously went back to that place. But I have done well in the past, I have done well after that, so all that was running through my mind was to deliver a good ball. I didn’t want to look at the scoreboard or the result. I just wanted to bowl well. I was confident with my execution.”But Dayal wasn’t even supposed to bowl the last over. “I was supposed to bowl the second last over,” he said. “Suddenly DK [Dinesh Karthik] and Faf talked to each other, and it was decided that Lockie [Ferguson] bowls the 19th and me the last. I was fine with anything.”Perhaps it was meant to be for Dayal.Yash Dayal bowled a superb final over, conceding only seven•AFP/Getty ImagesIt was a performance worthy of a match that had so much at stake. RCB-CSK clashes, in general, have that extra bit of spice to them and the air of anticipation around this one was palpable hours before the start of the game. The games at the Chinnaswamy generally have a sea of red dominating the stands, with the aar-cee-bee chants taking the decibel level through the roof. But not when CSK are in town. There were as many yellow shirts in the stands as red. At any point that the RCB-RCB chants went up, they were quickly drowned by the CSK-CSK shouts. If Kohli was welcomed with wild frenzy, there was bedlam in Bengaluru when Dhoni walked out.Sent into bat, RCB started like a train, then saw their momentum stymied by rain before a middle-order revival and a strong finish took them to 218. The equation was simple. To qualify for the playoffs, RCB needed to restrict CSK under 201. Glenn Maxwell prised out Ruturaj Gaikwad for a first-ball duck, Daryl Mitchell fell cheaply to Dayal, and when Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube fell in quick succession, it seemed like RCB were destined to make it to the playoffs.Jadeja and Dhoni, though, had other plans.They got together with CSK needing 72 off 30 to qualify. By the end of the 18th over, they needed 35 off 12. Then Ferguson went for 18, and with 17 required in the final over, the game once again was in balance.As Dayal stood at the top of his mark, all he wished for was to “deliver two balls well”. He hadn’t had the best of days up to that point, going for 35 off his first three overs. The execution with the first ball of the 20th went awry too, but he came back splendidly bowling the next five on the spot to take RCB into the playoffs. The redemption arc was complete.But after the game, Dayal had to face the banter for conceding a six off the first ball.”The best thing that happened today was Dhoni hitting a six outside the ground… we got a new ball which was much better to bowl with,” Karthik said in a video tweeted by RCB. “Yash, that was good bowling. If you have a doubt, always bowl a hip-high full toss on leg stump. It is a good mantra to follow when the ball is wet.”For the longest time, Dayal’s name has been associated with the bowler who failed to defend 28 in the final over. From Saturday, perhaps, he might be known as the one who denied Dhoni a fairytale finish.