Celtic’s busy transfer activity continues.

Japanese striker Shin Yamada is set to arrive in Glasgow this week, ahead of finalising a £1.2m move from Asian Champions League finalists Kawasaki Frontale.

He becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer so far, after Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura; the latter has also arrived from the J League.

However, following Wednesday’s friendly victory over Sporting CP in the Algarve, while acknowledging that Yamada is on his way, Brendan Rodgers stated that he wants “to add [more] to our front line”, so could his number one target soon follow?

Celtic targeting more firepower

In that same aforementioned interview following the mid-week win at Estádio Algarve, Rodgers stated “we’ve lost a lot of goals” and he’s not wrong, as the table below outlines.

Celtic’s top-scorer of Brendan Rodgers’ second spell
Players	Goals (23/24 & 24/25)	Are they still at Celtic?
Daizen Maeda	43	Yes
Kyōgo Furuhashi	31	No
Adam Idah	29	Yes
Nicolas Kühn	24	No
Matt O’Riley	19	No
Reo Hatate	14	Yes
Callum McGregor	12	Yes
Arne Engels	10	Yes
Luis Palma	10	Yes*
*is expected to depart
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, three of Celtic’s top five scorers from across the last two seasons combined have departed, after Nicolas Kühn was sold to Como for a reported fee of £16.4m earlier this month.

Meantime, Luis Palma, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Olympiacos, but did score ten times the year before, could be on his way to Lech Poznań, with the Ekstraklasa champions looking to take the Honduran international on loan with a £4m option to buy included, according to journalist Sebastian Staszewski.

Thus, new wingers have to be a priority, hence why Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports believes Celtic remain interested in signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Speaking on Off The Underside earlier this week, he stated that the Hoops have “been monitoring [Balikwisha] for quite a while” and are currently “weighing up” whether or not to pay the £5m it would require to sign him, adding that the Belgian “would like to join Celtic”.

Transfer Focus

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

Suffice to say, Celtic have a long-standing interest in the Royal Antwerp winger, with Sacha Tavolieri of RMC Sport reporting as long ago as 10 June that the Hoops were “in the race” to sign him and that “discussions regarding personal terms” had already begun.

So, will the Scottish Premiership champions, finally, land their man?

How Michel-Ange Balikwisha would improve Celtic

Since joining Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2021, Balikwisha has made 141 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals and registering 17 assists.

He was a key figure in the Antwerp side that won the Jupiler Pro League two years ago, scoring ten times that season, claiming the club’s first top-flight title since 1957.

During that same year, Balikwisha scored in the Coupe de Belgique Final victory over Mechelen and the Belgische Supercup as they defeated the same opposition a few months later, also netting the clincher in the Champions League play-off round victory over AEK Athens, before also scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk at Bosuilstadion during the group phase.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout praises his “pace, dribbling and finishing”, describing these as his primary attributes, while analyst Ben Mattinson labels him “two-footed”​​​​​​​ and “capable of beating a defender”.

Now though, with only one year remaining on his contract, and with Antwerp having failed to qualify for European competition, they are surely looking to cash in while they still can.

The question still remains however: is he a bigger talent than Yamada? Well, let’s assess their respective career statistics to answer that question.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha vs Shin Yamada career statistics
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Competitions	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Jupiler Pro League	146	33	16
UEFA Champions League	5	1	0
UEFA Europa League	7	10	0
UEFA competition qualifiers	10	2	5
Belgian Cup & SuperCup	13	3	1
Total	181	38	21
Shin Yamada
Competitions	Appearances	Goals	Assists
J League	85	25	5
AFC Champions League	17	2	4
Emperor’s Cup	11	9	0
J League Cup & SuperCup	12	1	0
Total	121	37	9
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, even though Yamada is a year older, Balikwisha boasts the greater high-level experience.

The Belgian has played in the Champions League, making 22 appearances in UEFA competitions for Standard Liège and current employers Antwerp all told, while scoring one more career goal in total.

Also, for comparison, according to Global Football Rankings, the Belgian top-flight is the eighth-strongest league in the world, with the J League down in 23rd, still 20 places higher than the Premiership, it must be said.

This is not to denigrate Yamada, nor suggest he won’t be a good signing, but Balikwisha, unlike the striker, has proven himself at a higher level, so would surely be worth paying the £5m fee, especially given the wide-attacker is such a position of urgent need.

Bad news for Idah: Celtic set to complete another "fantastic" signing

As Brendan Rodgers looks to add more firepower to his team, Celtic are set to sign a “natural finisher”, potentially as an Adam Idah upgrade

1

By
Ben Gray

Jul 17, 2025

Chelsea continue to be more active than most in the summer transfer window, as we’ve come to expect from them.

Already, the newly-crowned champions of the world have signed eight new first-team players, most notably signing João Pedro, who scored twice in the Club World Cup semi-finals against former side Fluminense, before also finding the target against PSG in the final itself.

Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Estêvão Willian have all also arrived to bolster Enzo Maresca’s attacking options, but are the Blues’ recruitment staff now turning their attention to the defensive end of the pitch?

Chelsea targeting new defenders

As has been widely reported, including by David Ornstein of The Athletic, Chelsea are ‘closing in’ on the signing of Jorrell Hato from Ajax, who will cost around £35m.

Matt Law of the Telegraph notes that the 19-year-old’s arrival will ‘ease some of the burden’ on the Blues’ current first-choice left-back Marc Cucurella, albeit he is also capable of playing centre-back too, having started all five of the Netherlands’ fixtures at this summer’s U21 Euros in that position.

Central defence is certainly a position of need for Chelsea, with none of Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levin Colwill nor the injury-prone Wesley Fofana able to establish themselves as the undisputed first choice.

Thus, according to a report by Tutto Mercato, Chelsea are ‘preparing an initial offer’ to Atalanta, as they seek to sign Giorgio Scalvini, claiming he is valued at €60m (around £51m) by la Dea.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Now might be a good time to leave Bergamo, given that legendary manager Gian Piero Gasperini has departed for Roma, while star attacker Ademola Lookman is on his way to Inter, with top-scorer Mateo Retegui having already been sold to Al-Qadsiah.

Thus, James Richardson of the Totally Football Show is forecasting a difficult campaign for the Bergamasque, now led by Ivan Jurić, who Carl Anka asserts might be the worst Premier League manager of all time.

So, could Scalvini soon swap Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia for Stamford Bridge?

How Giorgio Scalvini would improve Chelsea

Scalvini joined Atalanta as a 12-year-old, accumulating 107 appearances for la Dea, despite suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear in June 2024, on the eve of the European Championships, which saw him heartbreakingly miss the tournament in Germany.

When he has been on the pitch though, the 21-year-old has earned rave reviews, including from analyst Ben Mattinson, who describes him as “aggressive”, given that he is able to push into midfield and use his outstanding “ball-winning” ability.

Meantime, Akhilesh Ashok of Total Football Analysis believes he is the perfect ‘modern-day central defender’ as he is ‘elegant and technically sound’, also praising his ability to ‘read the game and intercept’ forward passes.

Dharnish Iqbal of Breaking the Lines agrees, impressed by the fact that Scalvini often ‘seizes control of the ball’ by virtue of winning plenty of duels.

So, let’s analyse how he compares to potential future teammate Hato.

Giorgio Scalvini 2023/24 vs Jorrel Hato 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Scalvini

Hato

Tackles

2.2

2.2

Blocks

1.4

1.2

Interceptions

2.1

0.9

Clearances

2.62

2.30

Ball recoveries

6.07

4.69

Pass completion %

80.7%

88.8%

Progressive passes

4.14

3.95

% of ground duels won

57.4%

50.7%

% of aerial duels won

65.9%

55.4%

Statistics courtesy of FBref.com and SofaScore

As the table documents, Scalvini comes out on top when compared to Hato for all defensive metrics included, when using data from the 2023/24 campaign, given that the Italian missed the vast majority of the most recent season due to injury.

This is not to denigrate Hato, who Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes is a “magnificent talent”, while Domagoj Kostanjšak of Total Football Analysis agrees, but notes that the 19-year-old still has a few weaknesses that need to be ‘ironed out and improved upon’.

How much Hato will play at Chelsea next season is also a question mark considering, as outlined by Ahmed Walid of the Athletic, current left-back Cucurella has established himself as one of the club’s most pivotal players.

At centre-back however, as referenced earlier, both positions remain up for grabs, so Scalvini could come in and make an immediate impact, and the Italian certainly boasts the talent to elevate the Blues to the next level.

Related Chelsea to bid for £192k-a-week star who Bayern have phoned "several" times

BlueCo remain busy in the market.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 29, 2025

استقر يانيك فيريرا، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، على ظهير القلعة البيضاء الأيمن في مباراة الأهلي بالدوري المصري.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع الزمالك، ضمن منافسات الجولة التاسعة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز، على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

طالع | معلق مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في الدوري المصري

واستقر فيريرا على عودة عمر جابر لقيادة الجبهة اليمنى في مباراة الأهلي، بعد أن تعافى من إصابته ومشاركته في جزء من مباراة الجونة.

وشارك عمر جابر في مباراة الجونة والزمالك، بعدما تعافى من الإصابة بالتواء في كاحل القدم اليمنى، تعرض لها أمام الإسماعيلي.

وقبل المباراة يتصدر الزمالك جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز برصيد 17 نقطة، بينما الأهلي في المركز السابع برصيد 12 نقطة.

 

Hosts turn to spin on used surface with England holding aces after victory in first Test

Andrew Miller14-Oct-2024

Brendon McCullum inspects the surface in Multan a day out from the start•Getty Images

Big picture: Rip up the script, and go againThe fans have been out in force in Multan this week, but not, as might be justified, to protest against the failings of a Pakistan team that has now lost six Tests in a row. Instead, they’ve been whirring away at either end of the heavily-watered strip of concrete that doubled as a record-breaking Test wicket during last week’s first Test, willing it to transmogrify into something completely out of character.Desperate times call for desperate measures, but this has been an extraordinary response to last week’s humiliating series opener. To lose by an innings after scoring 556 is akin to being eaten by a shark while sitting at the top of a tree. It’s been an assault on Pakistan’s perception of reality, and an open invitation to paranoia, with the sense that nowhere is safe from an England team that has now transcended the hosts’ conditions to win four away Tests on the bounce.Who knows what awaits after the fans have done their bit, besides a rather lower-scoring contest than was the case over the first five days of this pitch’s existence. The cracks that played their part in reducing Pakistan to 82 for 6 in their second innings are bound to bring the spinners into the game from the outset of this second Test, which could in theory concertina the entire contest and increase Pakistan’s chances of claiming the 20 wickets that so clearly eluded them first-time out.Quite who takes those wickets remains to be seen, however. Of the three seamers who actually acquitted themselves pretty well in miserable conditions last week, both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah have been dropped, while Abrar Ahmed – Pakistan’s first-choice red-ball spinner – will miss this contest after being hospitalised midway through the last. Mir Hamza was named in the squad as a left-arm new-ball option but has been overlooked in favour of three spinners. Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Zahid Mahmood are at least experienced spinning options, but none of them has played a first-class fixture in nine months.And, even if it’s hard to imagine the bowling challenge getting any tougher than it was in that first Test, Pakistan’s pitch policy has had the unintended consequence of strengthening England’s batting. On his return from a serious hamstring tear, there’s no way that Ben Stokes could have been expected to shoulder the seam-bowling loads that Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson carried in that game. Instead, with Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir likely to find plenty to keep them interested, he is able to slot back in as the third seamer, and give an already mighty batting line-up an extra layer of menace at No.6.For England, the primary challenge may be a mental one. Harry Brook and Joe Root went to the wall during their epic 454-run stand in the first Test, with the effort of endurance in Multan’s sweltering heat at least equal to that posed by Pakistan’s attack. Finding the will to start again from scratch, especially on what is nominally the same surface, could be an interesting psychological experiment.That said, there are plenty of hungry batters elsewhere in that England order, including both Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who let huge hundreds slip through their own fingers … and the luckless Ollie Pope, who spanked his second ball to midwicket for 0 after taking one for the team as a stand-in opener. Much as Freddie Flintoff might be doing for failed contestants on Bullseye later this year, he then had to “look at what you could have won” as the prizes were paraded before him.Form guidePakistan LLLLL
England WLWWWIn the spotlight – Shan Masood and Shoaib Bashir It was notable how quickly Shan Masood turned his ire onto his bowlers in the aftermath of Pakistan’s innings defeat. On the one hand, he had a point: England claimed 19 wickets (with Abrar absent) to Pakistan’s seven, and so his assertion that “good teams find a way” had some merit. On the other, that ignored a grievous collapse in standards in Pakistan’s second innings, in which Masood himself was deeply culpable. Notwithstanding an excellent 151 in the first innings (which was also his first century since the tour of England four years ago), he should have been caught twice before popping a dolly to midwicket for 11 on that fateful fourth evening. With his departure, it was clear that the fight had gone out of the side that he has now captained to six consecutive losses. With his predecessor, Babar Azam, carrying the can for the batting on this occasion, Masood may be out of excuses if he can’t inspire a fightback over the coming days.Shoaib Bashir, who turned 21 on Sunday, has a huge future and a pretty impressive recent past, with three five-wicket hauls in ten Tests already, including a matchwinning display against West Indies at Trent Bridge this summer. But the sense that he is a work in progress has been exacerbated by his recent performances, particularly against Sri Lanka at The Oval and in last week’s first Multan Test. He lacked control in the former, then was comprehensively outbowled by his Somerset team-mate Jack Leach in the latter, by seven wickets to one in the final analysis. On a surface that is being tailored towards spin, however, he may find encouragement to deploy a more attacking line outside off, having invariably strayed too straight to the stumps in the first Test – partially, you suspect, as a defensive reflex in deeply inhospitable conditions. Either way, he can be grateful for Pakistan’s policy in this contest, as he would otherwise have been the obvious man to make way for Stokes’ return.Team news: Pakistan name three spinners; Stokes returnsChange was inevitable after Pakistan’s catastrophic loss last week… but perhaps not of this ilk. First the selection committee was upended, with Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed and Azhar Ali joining a panel that has now had 26 members since August 2021. Then the bowling attack was purged, with Abrar ill and Shaheen and Naseem both dropped. Babar makes way in the middle-order after a run of 18 innings without a half-century – it’s over to Kamran Ghulam to fill one of the more sizeable voids imaginable – while the bowling attack will be led by the hard-toiling Aamer Jamal and a trio of spinners. These will include the legspinner Zahid, who claimed six wickets in 18.3 overs in his most recent Test, against England at this very venue two years ago, but got launched for 115 runs in the process.Pakistan: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Aamer Jamal, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Noman Ali, 11 Zahid MehmoodStokes is the notable returnee for this second Test, after coming through an extended rehabilitation following his hamstring injury in August. Although there were some reservations about playing him as a frontline seamer in such inhospitable conditions, he has vowed to “sensible” with his workloads – and can at least rely on Leach as an in-form spinning option to provide the lion’s share of the overs. With Matthew Potts slotting in in place of Atkinson, England’s attack has the distinction of fielding three Durham fast bowlers, a prospect that Stokes said would be a “proud moment for the club”.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Matthew Potts, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir.Pitch and conditions: Spin for the win?If a leopard can’t change its spots, then it’s hard to see how Multan’s strip of rolled mud can be transformed into a spinner’s paradise, just a week after conceding the fourth-highest total ever made in Test cricket. Nevertheless, it is a used surface – which is common enough in white-ball cricket but virtually unheard of in Tests – and it ought to offer more for the bowlers, though quite how much more remains to be seen. Pace and bounce are likely to be short supply once the moisture in the surface has steamed away. Thereafter, it’s a question of what happens to those notable cracks from the first Test.Stats and trivia After his career-best 262 in the first Test, in which he overtook Alastair Cook as England’s leading run-scorer, Root’s average is back above 51 for the first time in more than six years. Another victory this week would draw Root level with Shane Warne on 13 wins in Tests in Asia, the most by any visiting player to the region. Leach, with 11 wins in 14 Tests, would move clear of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting into second place on that same list. Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub haven’t yet managed a double-figure partnership in eight attempts as Pakistan’s opening pairing. Their current average of 2.87 is by a distance the lowest for any regular partnership in that role. Tazeem Ali, the Warwickshire and England Under-19 legspinner, has been bowling in the nets for these two training days while in the country on holiday.Quotes”Our instruction to the curator for the first Test was that the ball should spin after the second day. But the pitch didn’t take turn until even the fifth day. Hopefully the ball will begin to take turn on the ninth day.”

Liverpool are less than one week away from returning to action. On Sunday, Arne Slot’s side will commence the 2025/26 campaign against Crystal Palace at Wembley for the Community Shield.

The season’s curtain-raiser counts for very little, but it does provide a chance for Liverpool to set the tone for the term, and for the fans to see some of the new signings in a competitive showing for the first time.

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s record signing at £100m (which will rise to a British-record £116m with add-ons), is sure to have a few eyes on him, while Hugo Ekitike may well start up top with Luis Diaz sold to Bayern Munich and Darwin Nunez anticipated to sign for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

But it’s not only the Redman that fans will be eager to see in action. Indeed, one subplot on the afternoon will be the performance of Marc Guehi, with the Premier League champions having a vested interest in the central defender.

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Last month, Liverpool allowed Jarell Quansah to leave for Bayer Leverkusen in a £35m deal. The 21-year-old was one of the club’s own, but he never found his footing in Slot’s system, and leaving was for the good of his career.

However, his departure has heightened the need to bring a refined talent like Guehi in.

The 24-year-old has become a regular for the Three Lions over the past year, and Liverpool have made it clear to Palace that they want to get a deal done this summer, with Guehi having entered the final year of his contract.

However, Newcastle United are also keen, with it having been reported that they are eager to snap him up after failed bids in 2024. Palace are holding out for £50m, a figure that the Anfield side are unwilling to pay.

However, news has broken that the Magpies are setting their sights on AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw, which might have something to say on their pursuit of Guehi.

Guehi would be the dream for Slot’s side, but there’s no certainty that he will join Liverpool or even leave Selhurst Park this summer. If sporting director Richard Hughes fails to get this one over the line, an alternative option has at least been lined up.

Liverpool lining up Marc Guehi alternative

As per GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are monitoring Brentford centre-back Nathan Collins as Hughes continues to quest for more defensive depth ahead of the new season.

However, the Bees won’t want to engage in talks with suitors as they prepare for life without Thomas Frank at the helm. Brentford signed Collins, now 24, from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a £23m fee in 2023.

Though Brentford want to keep their star defender, we’ve seen how Liverpool making their interest known can entice players, and this is certainly one to keep an eye on, should Guehi remain away from Anfield this summer.

Why Liverpool want to sign Nathan Collins

Republic of Ireland skipper Collins has made 77 appearances across all competitions for Brentford since joining them two years ago, scoring four goals and providing six assists.

Last season in the Premier League, he was the only outfield player in the division to have played every single minute of the term.

Considered by those within Brentford circles to have gone under the radar at the Gtech Community Stadium, Collins is a “high-quality centre-back”, as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with an even distribution of tough-tackling impetus and steady creative passing.

Hailed by journalist Sam Tabuteau for being a “future leader”, Collins would bring the perfect blend of defensive ability on the field and an influential presence on the training ground to ensure that Liverpool maintain their levels across all four fronts last term.

And with this in mind, he might even serve as Slot’s dream alternative to Guehi, who has been described as “England’s best centre-back” by one online analyst.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

38 (38)

Goals

3

2

Assists

2

3

Touches*

64.9

65.7

Pass completion

84%

86%

Big chances

5

3

Key passes*

0.5

0.3

Ball recoveries*

4.3

4.3

Dribbles*

0.4

0.3

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.0

Clearances*

4.6

5.8

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

5.1 (61%)

Errors made

2

3

Curiously, Guehi and Collins ranked up rather similarly in the Premier League last season, both proactive and hardy players with plenty of energy and a knack for organising teammates besides.

As per FBref, Collins ranked among the top 4% of centre-backs in the Premier League last year for assists, the top 3% for blocks, and the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90. This array of ball-playing and steely defensive qualities has actually seen Guehi listed as the Brentford man’s most statistically similar player.

With all this in mind, it’s clear that Hughes and the Anfield data analysts are targeting a specific defensive profile, and that Collins could be an astute alternative, should Palace remain firm on their £50m valuation.

He has, after all, proven himself capable against Liverpool’s frontline at their rip-roaring best, once winning 100% of his duels at Anfield while playing for Wolves.

It’s this kind of big-game mentality and willingness to step up in the face of adversity which differentiates Collins from the lion’s share of Premier League defenders; and which, indeed, led Frank to field him for every single minute of the recent campaign.

It’s a mindset Guehi wears on his sleeve, so commanding in the way he plays, but he’s not the only talented defender in the division, and Liverpool could hit the jackpot by signing Collins instead.

Liverpool clearly want to sign Guehi above all other targets on the shortlist, but if they fail to secure their quarry, Collins has exactly what Liverpool and Slot are looking for.

Imagine him & Ngumoha: Liverpool enter race for "outrageous" £56m striker

Liverpool are hoping to sign a new centre-forward in the transfer market this month.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 5, 2025

Bayern Munich chief Uli Hoeness says the club's cash position is as important as its sporting success while pointing out Barcelona's huge debt.

President says club needs act cautiouslyBelieves burning cash can lead to huge debtsClaims club's transfer choices are collective decisionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern have been criticised for not spending enough in a transfer window for Vincent Kompany and Co. The German club's primary transfer targets – Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade – joined Liverpool and Newcastle respectively after multiple efforts were made to bring them to Allianz Arena. At the centre of this criticism is sporting director Max Eberl, who was reportedly expected to resign, given the limitations to the transfer budget. Board member and honorary president Hoeness dismisses these rumours, claiming Eberl's commitment was never an issue despite them having controversial discussions.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Critiqued for his missteps in transfer policies, financial management issues, and internal tensions, Eberl still retains official support, as Hoeness believes it was a difficult time for the sporting director given the pressure he was under. The club legend points out that Eberl does get "sensitive" in these matters, but one must understand that overspending can lead to nightmarish situations, providing the example of Barcelona's recklessness and overspending behaviour, which eventually resulted in them generating €1.2 billion (£1.04bn/$1.4bn) in debt.

WHAT HOENESS SAID

When asked to comment on Eberl's transfer business, the Bayern chief said on : "He would have liked to buy a player, but we know our cash position. In the end, that's just as important as sporting success. Barcelona sends its regards. If you buy, buy, buy… Suddenly you have 1.2 billion euros in debt. See you later.

"Eberl often argued like mad with [board member] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, but when the door closed behind us, it was okay again, Max is quite sensitive in that regard."

Clearing the air around Eberl's resignation rumours, the ex-German international said: "If he thought that way, they'd have to ask him themselves. We [the supervisory board] naturally had controversial discussions, as always, but the Eberl issue was not an issue at all, whether they were parting ways with him or anything like that.

"Eberl was constantly under pressure from outside. And it was always said: 'He didn't get him, he didn't get him'. There is no Eberl transfer, there is no Hoeness transfer, there is no Rummenigge transfer, but an FC Bayern transfer. FC Bayern buys players, not the individual. And if it doesn't work out, it's not the individual's fault, but all of us."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

Even though Bayern missed out on their primary targets, they eventually signed some good players, including Luis Diaz, Nicolas Jackson and Jonathan Tah. However, losing out on their dream deals, coupled with the club's reserved belief about overspending, speaks volumes about the shift in their standing in the transfer market.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes India will get looked after “amazingly well” if they travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in February next year and reckons it would be a great thing for cricket.”I think whatever I’m reading, there are positive vibes from [the] Indian government and [the] BCCI,” Akram said. “I also read somewhere they will play probably all their games in Lahore. They will probably come to Lahore and travel [back] the same night. I’m all for it, as long as India is comfortable.”And I can promise you, they [are] going to get looked after amazingly well. I mean, Indian cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, [Hardik] Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, they have fans in Pakistan. The young cricket fans adore them.”Related

• Champions Trophy: PCB wants an explanation in writing from India for refusal to travel

• Champions Trophy: PCB approaches Pakistan government after India rule out travelling

• PCB chief 'confident' of India's visit to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025

• Champions Trophy without India not an option, say ECB chiefs

• Champions Trophy 2025: PCB draft schedule has all India games in Lahore

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains intent on hosting the entire Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan between February 19 and March 9. It has even proposed to have all of India’s matches take place in Lahore, which is close to the Indian border and makes logistics and security hurdles less complicated. The PCB also said that it would grant about 17,000 visas to Indian fans who wanted to follow their team. The final will be held in Lahore, as will any semi-final that India play, if they qualify.Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s six-match ODI and T20I tour of Australia that begins on Monday, Akram was hopeful India would come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.”People-to-people contact is very important in this day and age,” he said. “In this social media age, there’s so much negativity all over the world, unnecessary negativity in my opinion, and I think if India come, it will be great for cricket, and of course, it’ll be great for Pakistan too.”India have not played an international match in Pakistan since 2008, and the UAE is believed to be the likeliest – though not only – alternate venue should any part of the Champions Trophy be moved out. The BCCI did not send a team to Pakistan last year for the Asia Cup, prompting the tournament to be shifted to a hybrid model with the latter stages played in Sri Lanka.But Pakistan did travel to India right after that for the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they missed out on a semi-final spot.Earlier this month, the ECB’s chief executive Richard Gould and chair Richard Thompson, said that there are “lots of different alternatives and contingencies available” in the event that India do not travel to Pakistan, raising the possibility of a hybrid model being used.The Champions Trophy will feature eight teams, with two groups of four, followed by semi-finals and a final. The competing teams are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

Birmingham City have now agreed a season-long loan move for a “fantastic” attacking player, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

Birmingham eyeing double signing from Rangers

The Blues’ Championship return is now less than a week away, with Chris Davies’ side hosting Ipswich Town on Friday evening, which promises to be a memorable occasion.

In the meantime, Birmingham are still pushing for more signings to give them the best possible chance of reaching the Premier League, with a double deal for Rangers duo Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell being eyed up.

Davies spent last season on loan at St Andrew’s, playing a big role in them winning the League One title in relentless fashion, starting 32 league matches and winning an average of 4.1 aerial duels per game. For that reason, a permanent move to the Blues makes perfect sense.

Meanwhile, Dowell also was on loan at St Andrew’s and could be a shrewd addition to Birmingham’s midfield, with the 27-year-old already racking up 123 appearances in the Championship, possessing a huge amount of experience and knowing what it takes to be a success in the competition.

Birmingham agree deal to sign "fantastic" striker

Writing on X, Joseph claimed that Birmingham have now agreed a deal with Ajax to sign striker Chuba Akpom on a season-long loan deal.

However, since this update, it has emerged that Championship rivals Middlesbrough are looking to hijack the Blues’ move for the forward, with Akpom previously starring at the Riverside.

Akpom could be a brilliant signing for Birmingham, giving Davies the extra attacking quality that is needed to be promotion contenders in 2025/26.

The 29-year-old is now an experienced striker who has played at a high level, appearing in both the Champions League and the Europa League last season, as well as being praised by Michael Carrick during their time together at Middlesbrough, having reached 20 league goals in a season.

“It’s a terrific achievement. It’s not easy to score that many goals. He’s scored all different type of goals for us since I’ve been here. I thought his performance was fantastic. “He gets credit for his goals but his performance all round was terrific.”

Akpom is also a former Golden Boot winner in the Championship, highlighting his pedigree further, so he could prove to be a real coup for Birmingham if they can get a deal over the line in the coming days.

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The loan nature of the move is arguably ideal, too, and if they win back-to-back promotions, an obligation to buy could be triggered, meaning Akpom may have played a big part in that potential success.

Nottingham Forest are now “starting” talks to sign an “incredible” forward, who could be in line to join alongside Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, according to reporter John Percy.

Nottingham Forest closing in on Ndoye's signature

With Anthony Elanga joining Newcastle United, one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s most important tasks this summer was to bring in a new winger, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed a deal is now in place for Ndoye, with the Bologna forward set to travel to England for a medical very soon.

Given that Elanga is well-known for being a “constant direct threat”, it was important for Nuno to bring in a replacement also capable of driving at opposition defences, and the Swiss winger ranks in the 92nd percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year.

Despite the deal for Ndoye recently edging closer to completion, the Tricky Trees remain interested in signing another new winger this summer, and Nuno is now targeting a reunion with one of his former players…

That is according to Percy, who recently reported that Nottingham Forest are now “starting” talks with Fulham over a potential deal for Adama Traore, with the winger emerging as a serious target, given that Nuno is prioritising the additions of new wide men.

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The Fulham forward is regarded as a direct replacement for Elanga, and he could join alongside Ndoye, who is set to sign a five-year deal at the City Ground, having informed Bologna of his desire to leave and play in the Premier League.

"Incredible" Traore could be ideal addition to Nuno's squad

Much like Ndoye, the £65k-a-week Spaniard is a skilled dribbler of the ball, while he also ranks very highly for assists per 90 over the course of the past year, when compared to other wingers and attacking midfielders.

Statistic

Average per 90

Progressive carries

5.08 (86th percentile)

Successful take-ons

2.44 (88th percentile)

Assists

0.36 (89th percentile)

Lauded as “incredible” by journalist Arjun Pradeep, the former Barcelona man is also well-known for his “electric” pace, which could make him an ideal signing for Nuno, given that the manager implemented a counter-attacking style of play last season.

With Forest set to embark on a Europa League campaign in the 2025-25 campaign, it is very important that Nuno has considerable strength in depth, so it would be a smart move to try and get a deal for Traore over the line alongside Ndoye.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making some serious moves in the transfer market this summer, splashing the cash during Thomas Frank’s first window at the helm.

The Dane has been tasked with the challenge of making the Lilywhites consistent title challengers in the years ahead, with the ambition shown by the board backing such a vision.

They have already completed the £55m signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, with other big-money additions expected between now and the start of the season.

Morgan Gibbs-White has been another huge name touted with a big transfer to North London, even triggering the Nottingham Forest star’s £60m release clause in his contract.

Despite triggering such a clause, the Reds have blocked such a transfer from taking place, leading to multiple other Premier League forwards emerging on the Lilywhites’ shortlist.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

Tyler Dibling has once again appeared on Spurs’ radar this window, potentially being a shrewd addition given Southampton’s relegation from England’s top-flight.

However, despite dropping into the Championship, the Saints are currently demanding £55m to part ways with the teenager during the current transfer window.

Another name has emerged as a possible option for Frank this summer, in the form of Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.

The journalist confirmed that the 28-year-old wants a move to join the Lilywhites this summer, once again linking up with Frank after scoring 19 league goals under the Dane last season.

He also states that the DR Congo international would be prepared to reject interest from Newcastle United in favour of a move across the capital, with a £50m transfer fee mooted.

Why Spurs’ £50m target could be their answer to Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres has been one of the most in-demand talents throughout the current transfer window, unsurprisingly so given his staggering goalscoring record at Sporting CP.

The Swedish international managed to net 54 goals in just 52 outings across all competitions last campaign, taking his tally of goals in Portugal to a whopping 97 in just 102 outings.

As a result of such form, the 27-year-old has been valued at £70m this summer, leading to strong interest from Manchester United, but he now looks set for a move to North London rivals Arsenal.

Such a deal will undoubtedly improve Mikel Arteta’s side in 2025/26, but questions have been asked around Gyokeres’ ability to impress in England’s top flight.

However, Frank’s side have the opportunity to land their own version of the Swede in a deal for Wissa, possessing a similar playstyle in being able to operate off the shoulder of the defender and handing the side that poacher instinct in front of goal.

When comparing the pair’s stats from the recent campaign, the DR Congo star managed to outperform him in multiple areas, handing the side an added threat within the final third.

Wissa, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, may have notched fewer goals last season, but did post a better goal per shot on target rate – showcasing he’s more clinical with the chances that fall his way in the final third.

How Wissa & Gyokeres compare in the 2024/25 campaign
Statistics (per 90)	Wissa	Gyokeres
Games played	35	33
Goals & assists	23	46
Goals per shot on target	0.5	0.4
Pass accuracy	77%	71%
Passes into final third	1.4	0.5
Progressive passes	2.2	2.1
Take-on success	46%	45%
Aerials won	52%	50%
Stats via FBref

His goalscoring ability is one thing, but the Brentford star has also demonstrated his creativity, completing more passes into the final third per 90, along with a higher pass completion rate – handing others around him the chance to improve their tallies.

Despite his lack of height, Wissa has showcased he’s a better aerial option than Gyokeres, winning more of the battles he’s entered, subsequently handing Frank’s side an excellent all-round option within attacking areas.

Whilst £50m may appear a hefty fee for a 28-year-old forward, it could prove to be excellent business for a player who’s about to enter his prime years – potentially getting even better in the near future.

If he can carry over his form across the capital to North London, it would be a sensational addition and one that could push the club closer to their goal of battling for league titles.

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