Celtic will earn at least £17million if they qualify for next season’s Champions League, according to financial expert Dr. Dan Plumley.
The Lowdown: Nearing a Champions League return
Ange Postecoglou’s side are within touching distance of Scottish Premiership glory, leading Rangers by six points with three matches remaining this season.
A title win would see Celtic automatically go into next season’s Champions League group stage, allowing them to test themselves against some of Europe’s best teams.
Not only would it be an exciting challenge for Postecoglou and his players but it would also be a significant financial boost.
Speaking to Football Insider, Plumley claimed that a minimum £17million windfall would come the Hoops’ way if they get the job done in the league:
“If you base it on the prize money, each club gets just over £13m. You then have win bonuses, which are £2.4m for a win and just under £1m for a draw. So around £17m is what you’re looking at the very least.
“If you go straight into the group stage, you know you have that extra money to play with. Celtic do generate good revenue for where they are in that league. If you add another £17m on top, it becomes even more significant.
“In terms of future planning, you can target transfers accordingly because there is no jeopardy. You know you’re going to be there come September.”
The Verdict: Exciting time for Hoops
There is a feeling that a special era is growing again at Parkhead, with Postecoglou doing a fantastic job since arriving and the title now tantalisingly close.
The financial gains from reaching the Champions League are huge and it would allow more money to be available for transfers, not to mention a higher calibre of player coming in to play amongst Europe’s elite under a special manager.
Celtic must not rest on their laurels just yet, though, with work still to do in the league, starting with Saturday’s visit of Hearts.
In other news, a journalist has dropped a key Celtic transfer claim. Read more here.
Manchester United have been rejected by Leeds United midfielder and summer transfer target Kalvin Phillips.
What’s the story?
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claimed that the England star will snub a move to Old Trafford this summer out of loyalty for his boyhood club, with the two teams sharing a fierce rivalry.
However, the Whites will listen to offers in the region of £60m for the 26-year-old.
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Ten Hag will be furious
Although the new Manchester United boss has stated that he wants to be left alone by club officials until he takes up his new role in the summer, with his current club Ajax still in the hunt for the Eredivisie title, he will certainly be furious to hear of Phillips’ snub.
The 52-year-old is set to lead a major squad overhaul this summer as part of a serious rebuilding job required at Old Trafford, with numerous players set to leave.
It has already been made clear that the likes of Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata will depart the Red Devils, and plenty more could follow suit.
Therefore, new recruits are vital, and Phillips would certainly have been an excellent addition to the Manchester United squad, with the midfielder now an England regular and a kingpin for Leeds.
In fact, the 26-year-old was named men’s senior England player of the year for 2021 after a breakthrough year which saw him become a key cog in the Three Lions’ run to the final of the European Championships last summer.
However, this season will have certainly been a frustrating one for the midfielder, who has been limited to just 15 Premier League appearances due to a hamstring injury keeping him out of action for almost four months.
Whilst Phillips was on the sidelines, fan favourite Marcelo Bielsa was sacked as Leeds manager with the Yorkshire club’s top-flight status in serious jeopardy, with American coach Jesse Marsch coming in and subsequently steadying the ship at Elland Road.
Whether or not the England midfielder – who was labelled a “baller” by Nigel de Jong – will want to be a part of the 48-year-old’s long-term plans in Yorkshire next season is still to be learned.
What does seem certain, though, is that Phillips’ rejection of Manchester United will leave Ten Hag furious ahead of taking the reins at Old Trafford.
AND in other news: “Made contact…”: Journo drops huge MUFC transfer update, supporters will be buzzing
Leeds United have now shown that they have enough quality in the big matches in the Premier League this season to clinch survival.
The 3-1 win over Chelsea saw new recruits Jaka Bijol and Dominic Calvert-Lewin come into their own as the goals were shared out, while the following 3-3 draw against Liverpool – which Daniel Farke coined as another “magic night” at Elland Road – also saw faces such as Anton Stach deliver the goods on the tense occasion.
All of these fresh signings that have contributed to the positive patch of form unfolding will hope they’re viewed in the same glowing light Raphinha is still held in down the line.
The Brazilian winger was key to Leeds beating the drop during the 2021/22 season, when collecting a memorable 11 league strikes.
Of course, while the likes of Stach have stuck out as positive influences ever since moving to England, Leeds’ success rate in the transfer department since Raphinha’s £17m switch has been rather mixed.
Rating Leeds' transfer business since signing Raphinha
While the £17m splashed out on Raphinha’s services ended up looking incredibly shrewd, other bits of business signed off on at Elland Road since this masterstroke purchase have gone down as extortionate wastes of money.
The summer window right after the South American’s departure, before the 2022/23 season kicked off, sticks out as having a lot of misfires, with nearly £70m spent on obtaining Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra, and Tyler Adams, as Aaronson has the tag next to his name of being the only remaining first-team presence today.
Thankfully, though, Leeds haven’t just been setting cash on fire since Raphinha’s exit, with the reported £10m fee to bring Joe Rodon to West Yorkshire in 2024 still looking to be a fine acquisition, as the Welshman remains an undroppable part of Farke’s starting XI, with two Premier League goals next to his name this season.
Moreover, the £7m dropped to pick up Ethan Ampadu the summer before Rodon made his move permanent is another bargain that’s arguably on the same level as Raphinha’s coup, with the ex-Chelsea man winning a mighty nine duels against his former employers and Arne Slot’s visitors, to firm up his own concrete starting spot.
That said, there’s a deal that eclipses the moves to bring both Ampadu and Rodon to Elland Road.
Underrated Leeds star must now start every game
Although Leeds have splashed the big bucks on the likes of Georginio Rutter in recent years, they have also demonstrated an eagerness to bring in cheap gems who have then exploded into life at Elland Road, as seen in the glittering examples of Rodon, Ampadu, and Raphinha.
Ao Tanaka’s name now has to be added to this ever-growing list, with the modest £2.9m the Premier League newcomers had to part ways with last year to land the Japanese midfielder from Fortuna Düsseldorf, continuing to look like an insane steal, and one of “the best bargains in Leeds history” as per writer Adonis Storr.
Tanaka has become an ice-cold figure Farke can rely on in the big moments, with his ultra-cheap price-tag justified just with his last-minute equaliser against Liverpool last time out, as the Japan international was in the right place at the right time to slam home a 96th-minute leveller.
He was also the hero against Chelsea, who gifted his relegation-threatened side a two-goal cushion, as the German just continues to get more and more out of his “unbelievable” signing, as he referred to the 27-year-old during his team’s promotion-winning exploits.
Games played
57
Goals scored
7
Assists
2
Promotions won
1x
Indeed, Tanaka hasn’t just shown up to the party in the Premier League, with five goals and two assists in the hustle and bustle of the Championship, helping steer the Whites to the title in emphatic style.
While Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe would steal many of the plaudits last season, Tanaka would have his own fanbase forming, too, with the “underrated” star – as per journalist Bence Bocsak – now ready to become a regular in the top-flight and start every game.
For just £2.9m, Leeds really have won themselves a once-in-a-lifetime deal, with Tanaka’s heroics continuing on, surely securing survival, as Farke hopes he remains put for the foreseeable future, unlike Raphinha.
Forget Tanaka: Leeds hero who had 100% passing now has to start every game
Leeds United’s wild week continued with a last-gasp draw against Liverpool.
Last season, Arsenal’s squad depth, or lack thereof, was tested to the absolute limit. Really, it was amazing that this team got as far as they did.
The Gunners were not a million miles away from the title and reached the Champions League semi-finals.
That all happened without a number of key players. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel all missed large chunks of the campaign with serious hamstring problems.
Skipper Martin Odegaard also missed a lot of the early exchanges through an ankle injury, a problem that subsequently dampened his form for much of 2024/25.
So, with Andrea Berta at the helm for his first summer window, the message was loud and clear; add depth.
Add depth they did, in abundance too. The likes of Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres have improved numbers in forward areas. At the back, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie have been added to the collection.
Yet, all of that means that competition for places is now intense. Some of the club’s finest young talents are struggling for game time.
The biggest losers from Arsenal's increased squad size
Mikel Arteta has not been afraid of making big calls since becoming Arsenal manager if it means his squad improves.
The most notable example is undoubtedly Aaron Ramsdale. The England international looked like the Gunners’ number one for the next decade but Arteta was dissatisfied and swooped for David Raya, now one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
In the current side, a number of players are suffering from similar treatment. Jurrien Timber’s emergence as one of the Premier League’s finest right-backs means that Ben White is now reduced to a regular role among the subs.
Before then, Kai Havertz’s leading role as the striker meant Gabriel Jesus had become a fringe player.
In midfield, the arrivals of Eze and Madueke has also dampened Ethan Nwaneri’s game time.
When Saka was out, it was Madueke who deputised. With Odegaard now out, it’s Eze who is deputising. Nwaneri’s moment will no doubt come but he’ll have to be patient to get regular opportunities again.
Nwaneri’s fellow attacker in the shape of Gabriel Martinelli has also been hit with reduced starts so far in 2025/26.
The positive is that it has inspired improved performances. Martinelli has only started four games in all competitions but has scored three times and registered an assist.
Yet, for one of Hale End’s finest, he’s perhaps been hit the hardest this season.
Hale Ender is being given the Smith Rowe treatment at Arsenal
When Arteta first became Arsenal manager he relied on two players to carry his project forward.
One of them was Bukayo Saka, still the poster boy of this project, and Emile Smith Rowe, who appeared for Fulham in their 1-0 defeat to the Gunners on Saturday.
For Smith Rowe, his exit in the summer of 2024 was a sad one. He is an Arsenal boy, he loves the club, but he simply couldn’t re-find his form or reclaim his place in the team after a succession of injury problems.
This was a player who once scored ten goals in one Premier League campaign. That came back in 2021/22 and since then it has been a struggle. During his final year with the club, he featured in the matchday squad for a league fixture on 31 occasions but only started three times and came off the bench on ten occasions.
Smith Rowe was fit for much of the season but simply didn’t get his opportunity; instead he was kept out by Odegaard and Co.
The same now appears to be happening to a few players. Nwaneri is one of them but the other is Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Myles Lewis-Skelly reacts to being sent off
Now, it must be stated that Lewis-Skelly is still only 19 years of age. He’s an England regular and was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season. The teenager has the world at his feet and will no doubt become a regular under Arteta again.
However, at the moment, there are certainly echoes of the Smith Rowe situation. A sparkling and dazzling Hale Ender who saved Arteta’s lack of depth last season, the youngster is now paying the price for an increased squad size and the form of his teammates.
Liam Delap
Ipswich
Dean Huijsen
Bournemouth
Milos Kerkez
Bournemouth
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Arsenal
Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal
Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa
Hailed as a “future captain” by club insider Hand of Arsenal, Lewis-Skelly’s potential is enormous but it is slightly in danger of being wasted, certainly this term.
He has been in the squad for all eight Premier League matchdays but is yet to start, has come off the bench five times and has only featured for 83 minutes.
So, why is that? Well, Riccardo Calafiori – who spent much of last campaign on the treatment table – has enjoyed a finer time of it with regards to fitness.
Calafiori hasn’t picked up a single injury yet and has been an ever-present member of the starting XI in the league. He’s been magnificent, too.
It was the Italian who scored the winning goal against Manchester United on the opening week and it was the defender who also picked up two assists a game later against Leeds.
The full-back then had a remarkable finish ruled out against Fulham on Saturday, cruelly denied a scintillating goal courtesy of the offside flag.
Calafiori was everywhere on Saturday, and it gave us all the evidence needed to demonstrate why Lewis-Skelly isn’t starting. His fellow full-back has been a man possessed this season and without an injury, isn’t budging from that position anytime soon.
So, how can Lewis-Skelly get more minutes? Well, like Smith Rowe, he must be wondering what on earth he needs to do. With Hincapie also signed and due to return from injury imminently, it surely only dampens the prospect of Arsenal’s Hale End prodigy getting playing time even more.
A midfielder by trade, a spot may well open up there but considering Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have locked down those two positions, there isn’t a huge amount of hope that he’ll get chances there in 2025/26.
For a player who is the “future of Arsenal and English football” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig, it has been sad to see Lewis-Skelly’s decline in minutes. It is similar to Smith Rowe, but he has the talent, pedigree and fitness levels to ensure he doesn’t leave the club as early as his fellow Hale Ender.
Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action on Sunday as they welcome Motherwell to Parkhead after suffering the disappointment of a defeat at the hands of Braga in the Europa League.
In what turned out to be a bleak night, the Bhoys failed to turn up and Brendan Rodgers will feel a sense of frustration at the way matters panned out, especially after Kelechi Iheanacho’s controversial disallowed goal that was overturned by VAR.
Celtic’s last five results – a cause for concern?
Celtic 0-2 Braga
Celtic 0-0 Hibernian
Crvena Zvedza 1-1 Celtic
Partick Thistle 0-4 Celtic
Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic
Either way, the focus turns back to league duty and even at an early stage, their encounter against the Steelmen feels like a match that will arrive in must-win territory as a disgruntled fanbase continue to vocalise their discontent with matters on and off the field.
Claiming three points will be the only option to quell some of that anger, so with that in mind, who could Rodgers look to start at home to Motherwell?
GK – Kasper Schmeichel
Veteran Denmark international Kasper Schmeichel’s error meant Ricardo Horta opened the scoring for Braga with a long-range strike in Thursday night’s Europa League, leaving some supporters wondering if it is time to grant Viljami Sinisalo a run in the side.
Truthfully, the 38-year-old looked shaky against the Primeira Liga outfit and not for the first time this season. However, Rodgers has always been a big advocate for his talent and experience. He will likely allow the former Leicester City goalkeeper a chance to atone on Sunday.
RB – Anthony Ralston
Colby Donovan started at home to Braga on Thursday in light of his positive emergence from the academy. Nevertheless, he failed to shine on a night where the Hoops were second best.
Anthony Ralston was preferred against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership last weekend after returning from injury and helped to keep a clean sheet, offering Rodgers a straight swap that may make a degree of sense heading into a must-win fixture.
CB – Cameron Carter-Vickers
Uncharacteristically, Cameron Carter-Vickers was another who fell below his usual lofty standards earlier in the week, though he is too important to drop at an early stage in the season where Celtic are fighting Heart of Midlothian for top spot. Expect him to start.
CB – Liam Scales
Partnering Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales has arguably been Celtic’s best player of the season so far and has barely put a foot wrong in spite of deficiences elsewhere on the pitch.
The Bhoys have only conceded a solitary goal in the Scottish Premiership this campaign, illustrating their resilience, so it feels unlikely that the Irishman would be rested against Motherwell.
Chris Sutton named Celtic legend his "best" ever teammate and as good as Shearer
He was full of praise…
ByTom Cunningham Oct 2, 2025 LB – Marcelo Saracchi
Left-back will be a toss-up between Marcelo Saracchi and Kieran Tierney, and it may be more prudent for the former to start as Rodgers looks to manage Tierney’s fitness.
Coming in on loan from Boca Juniors, Saracchi has been continually impressive when called upon and is establishing himself as a favourite among supporters.
CDM – Callum McGregor
Looking at his performances, Celtic captain Callum McGregor has some room for improvement as the Bhoys’ engine room struggles to find their best collective form. Still, he will be present and is someone you write off at your peril.
CM – Reo Hatate
Reo Hatate is another who has endured an inconsistent start to the season. Putting that aside, his defence-splitting qualities may be needed against an unbeaten Motherwell side on Sunday afternoon.
The Japan international is capable of playing line-breaking passes and takes on an average of 1.3 shots per league game, according to Sofascore, which is something Rodgers will hope to see in action as his side aim to take all three points.
CM – Benjamin Nygren
Luke McCowan, Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo may be players some supporters will make a case for starting, albeit Benjamin Nygren is hard to look past due to his encouraging numbers from midfield.
Three goals and four assists in his first 12 matches across all competitions is a decent tally, and the Swede will hope to do the damage as Celtic return to domestic endeavours.
RW – Hyunjun Yang
Daizen Maeda has recently featured on the right wing for Celtic, but Rodgers may opt to grant the Japan international a rest in favour of counterpart Hyunjun Yang. With a lack of options at his disposal on that side, the South Korean may be more of a natural fix.
LW – Sebastian Tounekti
The star of the show for Celtic this season, Sebastian Tounekti is someone that Rodgers can’t afford to drop, even if Michel-Ange Balikwisha is waiting in the wings for an opportunity.
Capped three times by Tunisia, he has created six chances in 162 minutes of Scottish Premiership football, making him a nailed-on starter.
ST – Kelechi Iheanacho
Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho has had the ball in the net four times in his opening five games for Celtic. Only two of which have counted, though he has impressed with his link-up play and ability to sniff out opportunities.
With the correct support, he could be the man to seperate the sides at Parkhead and appears to be finding his feet under a familiar face in Rodgers.
Newcastle United might have faced inferior opponents, but their comfortable passage through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup underlined the strength of Eddie Howe’s side.
It felt at times during the summer transfer window that the Magpies would teeter and fall, so intense was the noise around Alexander Isak’s future at St. James’ Park, so glum was the mood.
But in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Newcastle have welcomed talented and contrasting strikers equipped to deal with the pressures of leading the line on Tyneside and into the Champions League, United having lost their opener against Barcelona and now in need of results.
However, they also have William Osula, who has gone from strength to strength under Howe’s wing and bagged himself a brace against Bradford City on Wednesday evening.
William Osula's Carabao Cup display
Osula came within a whisker of leaving Newcastle this summer, with Eintracht Frankfurt over in Germany actually tabling a formal £30m offer for the Danish forward.
Sources such as Sky Sports’ Keith Downie have confirmed that the bid had been slapped on the table and then withdrawn on deadline day. Some within the Toon hierarchy may be kicking themselves for not having accepted the offer sooner, but Howe may well be content with the 22-year-old Dane having stayed put, with three goals scored already in 2025/26.
It wasn’t a perfect display against Bradford in the Carabao Cup, but Osula certainly demonstrated a degree of improvement after languishing on the periphery last year, also netting off the bench in the Premier League during the 3-2 defeat by Liverpool in August.
Praised for his complete performance and for “slowly but surely” making the necessary improvements to his game, Osula is a valuable asset as United look to challenge across multiple fronts this term.
However, he wasn’t the only one to catch the eye on Wednesday, with Malick Thiaw putting in another statement showing after his summer transfer. The centre-back has some thick internal competition, but there might come a point when Howe marks him as one of the first names on the team sheet.
Malick Thiaw's start to life at Newcastle
Newcastle welcome Arsenal to St. James’ Park in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, and that’s going to be a tough test indeed for Howe’s side.
It was a bold call to field so many of his finest players, though that is a declaration of the manager’s respect for the Carabao Cup and his desire to successfully defend the crown that was so emphatically claimed last season.
Thiaw helped carry Newcastle through, and he may well have underscored his claim for another starting berth at the weekend, with fans taking to online circles after the win and voicing their excitement at a future Thiaw and Sven Botman partnership.
As per FBref, the German defender, who joined from AC Milan for £35m in August, ranks among the top 7% of defenders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 16% for progressive passes per 90.
He is not only crisp in possession, but eager to make things happen and progress the play upfield.
And, against Bradford, the 24-year-old proved himself worthy of a place in Howe’s starting line-up for the biggest occasions, energetic and secure in the defensive phases and crisp and creative on the ball.
Minutes played
90′
Touches
82
Accurate passes
67/70 (96%)
Chances created
0
Long balls
5/6
Tackles
1
Interceptions
3
Clearances
4
Ground duels
1/2
Aerial duels
2/2
There’s a certain no-nonsense style to the right-footed defender, who also carries a technical command that stretches above the capacity of most other positional peers competing in the Premier League and across Europe.
Thiaw, while still integrating into Howe’s squad and indeed the Premier League,
He’s been hailed as a “monster in the air” by journalist Martino Puccio for his efforts in Italy with AC Milan, but also “one of the most talented centre-backs in Germany” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
While Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have been pillars of strength for Newcastle over the past several Howe-led years, it’s clear that in Botman and Thiaw, the tactician has a more dynamic and stable central partnership, and that’s something which could bear dividends in the long run as Newcastle look to build on their recent successes and reach even loftier heights in the coming years.
It would be premature to label Thiaw as undroppable already, but he’s certainly on his way to nailing down a starting spot on the big occasion, and it’s unlikely that many of a Toon persuasion would be dismayed if he were to be named in the rearguard when Arsenal come calling at the weekend.
Reared in Germany and then developed in Serie A, Thiaw has only started once in the top flight thus far, playing most of the recent goalless draw against Bournemouth and receiving a 7/10 match rating from the Chronicle Live after winning four duels, making six clearances and four interceptions, data sourced via Sofascore.
It might have been an even more generous rating, but for a yellow card which prompted Howe to make a change in the dying embers.
In any case, Thiaw is the real deal, and fans can start to get excited about his potential in the Premier League.
Osula did himself no harm in his quest for success at Newcastle, scoring twice against Bradford, but Thiaw’s display was more telling: this is a player tailor-made for a star role in Howe’s team.
Howe could unleash Newcastle's own Yamal in 18-year-old "elite talent"
Newcastle’s academy setting has changed for the better in recent years.
Tottenham still have some key transfer business to conduct ahead of Thomas Frank’s first full season in charge of the Lilywhites.
As important as Kudus: Tottenham also confident of winning race for £25m forward
Spurs believe they can beat their Premier League rivals to the signature of a “electric” striker.
1 ByDominic Lund Jul 7, 2025
Spurs are yet to really make a statement signing this summer. Mathys Tel made his stay permanent for a cut-price fee of around £30 million, and Kota Takai’s £5 million move from Kawasaki Frontale was finally confirmed by the club this morning.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Tottenham have high hopes for Takai, and he will be in and around the first team next season, according to Alasdair Gold, but far more eyes are on whether the north Londoners can strike a deal with rivals West Ham United over the signing of Mohammed Kudus.
Spurs are in ongoing talks with West Ham to agree a move for Kudus after seeing an opening £50 million bid rejected, and he’s the calibre of potential signing which supporters are crying out for as Frank prepares for his first-ever season coaching in the Champions League.
Their pursuit of proven top-level additons is made even more important by uncertainty surrounding the futures of vital Tottenham men – most notably Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero.
The former has attracted rumoured interest from both Saudi Arabia and Los Angeles FC, but any potential exit for the South Korean will likely be delayed until after their pre-season tour of Asia – due to the obvious commercial appeal Son has in the far east (BBC).
Son’s entered the final 12 months of his contract, so chairman Daniel Levy could well be tempted to sell the 33-year-old in the event of a suitable offer.
Meanwhile, reports from Spain and South America have continued to heavily link Romero with a move to Atlético Madrid.
Tottenham in talks to sell Cristian Romero after Atlético Madrid offer
Spanish newspaper AS have an update on the £165,000-per-week defender’s future this week, with Atlético already tabling a £60 million bid, including add-ons, for his services.
This hasn’t met Spurs’ valuation of the centre-back, who won last season’s Europa League Player of the Year award, as Levy demands closer to £60 million all-in.
Nevertheless, Diego Simeone’s side are not giving up or shying away. Atletico are in ongoing talks with Tottenham over signing Romero, who James Maddison called Spurs’ most “underrated” player, and this story is unlikely to go away any time soon.
Simeone publicly confirmed his desire to sign the Argentine in a recent press conference, and there is an expectation that Romero could be more than open to this La Liga switch.
“You’ve got to want to be there, and I’m not sure he wants to be at Spurs,” said pundit Tony Cascarino on talkSPORT.
“I’ve always felt that he’s played his best football that he’s played his best football when he’s had to and when Atletico have made a clear indication they want him. That would be one of his issues [Frank], he’s got to look players in the eye and find out do you want to be at this football club.”
In what would be a frustrating start to his tenure, the 49ers are reportedly ready to take the decision out of Russell Martin’s hands and sell one of his best Rangers stars for a £19m profit.
49ers looking to commence Rangers business
The 49ers have wasted no time before getting things up and running in Scotland. The American owners have already solved Rangers’ managerial problem by hiring former Southampton boss Martin and the transfer rumours have been coming thick and fast ever since. Reports are even now suggesting that the Gers are closing in on signing Josh Mulligan from Dundee to officially get their business underway.
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Martin could suffer a frustrating blow.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 13, 2025
New Dundee manager Steven Pressley has only added fuel to the fire amid that recent rumour, telling reporters that keeping Mulligan will be “easier said than done” this summer. He said when asked about keeping his young star: “I would love to, but it’s easier said than done.
“We’d love to keep certain personnel. There’s a number of players that I think are pivotal to move this club in the right direction and we’ll be working tirelessly to do so.”
Mulligan isn’t the only name on Rangers’ reported radar, however. Recent reports have also linked both Conor Coady and Flynn Downes with a move to Ibrox. The latter worked with Martin at Swansea City and then Southampton in the Premier League last season and may well reunite with his manager for a third time this summer.
Southampton's Flynn Downes in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro
The 49ers’ ambition should come as little shock after chairman Paraag Marathe told Rangers’ website after officially arriving: “We are excited to join Andrew and our other consortium of investors in a new era for this iconic club and we are determined to build something that supporters can be proud of for years to come.”
Building a side capable of bridging the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership may not come without sacrifice, though, and the new owners are already reportedly ready to sell one key man.
49ers ready accept £20m deal for Nicolas Raskin
According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, the 49ers are ready to sell Nicolas Raskin for £20m this summer, making £19m profit in the process. The Belgium midfielder is attracting plenty of interest and, as per O’Rourke, Porto, Fiorentina and Marseille are preparing to test the waters in pursuit of his signature.
Whilst Martin is keen to keep hold of his best players, he is also reportedly well aware that the 49ers could take such decisions out of his hands this summer in frustrating fashion.
Losing a player of Raskin’s calibre certainly wouldn’t be an ideal start to the manager’s reign, but it could be a sacrifice that he has to live with when considering the long-term boost that it could provide.
Dubbed “utterly sensational” by analyst John Walker, replacing Raskin will be no easy task for Rangers if they decide to go in pursuit of major profit this summer.
Since the summer of 2003, Chelsea have spent a staggering €3.86bn (£3bn) on transfers.
According to Football Transfers, this expenditure is the highest of any club across Europe. It’s no surprise, given Roman Abramovich and Todd Boehly’s penchant for splashing cash.
This money has been used to sign players who have gone on to win major trophies and become established Chelsea icons in the process.
Eden Hazard immediately springs to mind. The Belgian arrived in 2012 and helped the Blues win two Premier League titles and two Europa League crowns.
Eden Hazard
Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kanté are two midfielders who enjoyed plenty of success at Stamford Bridge, while defenders such as Ricardo Carvalho, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ashley Cole turned into some of their much-loved signings.
Notice, however, that there is a lack of strikers mentioned. Despite having an almost unlimited amount of cash to spend, the club have very rarely signed a centre-forward who has enjoyed much success in London.
Didier Drogba and Diego Costa are two who come to mind. But, players such as Fernando Torres, Andriy Shevchenko and Álvaro Morata struggled to win over the Stamford Bridge crowd due to their consistent finishing.
Could Liam Delap break the mould? Chelsea’s new number nine looks ready to become Enzo Maresca’s main man next season.
Why Chelsea signed Liam Delap
Following Ipswich Town’s relegation at the end of last term, a clause in Delap’s contract stated that he could move for a fee of just £30m.
“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies.” Said the youngster following his move to London.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
It comes after a campaign where he found the back of the net 12 times in 37 games for the Tractor Boys in the top flight.
While he has an undisputable eye for goal, the Englishman shone across other metrics in the Premier League this season.
Indeed, when compared to his positional peers, Delap ranked in the top 12% for successful take-ons (1.39) per 90, along with ranking in the top 23% for fouls drawn (1.77) and in the top 14% for penalty kicks won per 90 in the top flight last season, showcasing that he’s difficult to deal with for defenders.
Is the manager looking at bringing in another talented youngster this summer, however?
Chelsea’s search for a striker
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is a player who has been routinely linked with a move to the club over the past few weeks.
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It is a deal that Maresca looks keen on getting over the line, but there is another striker whom the Italian might make a move for.
According to Caught Offside, the Blues are now ready to step up their interest in FC Porto forward Samu Aghehowa this summer.
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
The eagle-eyed Chelsea fans will remember that the club agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid last summer to sign the youngster in 2024, but the move collapsed at the last minute.
Might it be the second time lucky for the Blues this year? Porto are in no rush to sell one of their prized assets, and he has a release clause of €100m (£85m) inserted into his contract.
With Champions League football secured for next season, Maresca has money to spend in a bid to bolster his attacking options.
Signing Aghehowa this summer may break the bank, but in the long term, it would be worth it. Given his form throughout the 2024/25 campaign, the Spaniard would be an even better signing than Delap, that’s for sure.
Why Chelsea should sign Samu
In terms of debut seasons, Samu’s was incredible. Across 42 matches for the Portuguese side, the 21-year-old scored an impressive tally of 25 goals while grabbing three assists.
It may not have been enough to fire the club to a league title, but he has certainly put himself in the shop window with this current form.
Metric
Aghehowa
Delap
Goals
19
12
Assists
3
2
Shots per game
2.7
1.8
Key passes per game
0.6
0.6
Goal conversion percentage
23%
18%
Scoring frequency
119
218
The Spaniard ended up registering a goal involvement every 1.5 games for Porto last season. Compared to Delap, who recorded a contribution every 2.8 games, it is clear who is the more effective frontman.
When compared to Delap domestically, the Porto striker further establishes his dominance across several key statistics.
Not only did the Spaniard register more goals and assists (22 vs 14) than Delap last season in their respective leagues, but he also recorded more shots per 90 (1.15 vs 1.01), won a higher percentage of aerial duels (52.1% vs 42.6%) per 90 minutes and took more touches in the attacking penalty area (137 vs 92) throughout the whole of last season.
He may cost more than Delap, but given the evidence, the 21-year-old is already better than his English counterpart and could be an ideal long-term solution to this problematic area for Chelsea.
Amid his excellent start to the season with his new club, football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the striker, saying: “Samu is maintaining his fantastic form for FC Porto. 20 years of age. Pace, physicality, aerial ability, bravery, shot power… Such a complete profile for a striker of his age. A true monster in the making.”
Lazio's Adam Marusic in action with FC Porto's SamuOmorodion
High praise indeed for the youngster and he has a bright future ahead in the game. A move to the Blues would allow the player to continue his development while playing Champions League football.
If Maresca can move on Nicolas Jackson this summer, having options such as Delap and Aghehowa would certainly constitute an upgrade by the Italian, no doubt about that.
Much will depend on how much the club are willing to spend on another centre-forward, but as mentioned, this area hasn’t exactly been a success for the Blues over the years. Might things change this summer? Only time will tell.
Chelsea eyeing £70m Ekitike alternative who's a bigger talent than Delap
Despite having already signed Liam Delap for £30m, Chelsea are interested in another “superb” striker to bolster Enzo Maresca’s attacking options.
Manchester United come into the summer transfer window needing to strengthen in every area of the pitch.
From the goalkeeper disaster of Andre Onana, to defensive injuries, an ageing midfield and a toothless attack, INEOS need to spend big.
Spend big, yes, but also spend wisely. That’s not something United have done in recent transfer windows. £82m on Antony and £72m on Rasmus Hojlund speaks volumes there.
Rasmus Hojlund
So, who could join? Well, Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha looks well poised to move to Old Trafford.
The latest on Manchester United's move for Matheus Cunha
While there is talk of a move for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, the first order of business looks set to be Cunha.
United have been hot on the trail of the Brazilian attacker in recent months and according to reports, the conditions of a deal to sign him for his £62.5m release clause have now been agreed.
Games
33
38
Goals
15
20
Assists
6
8
Earlier this week it was revealed by a number of sources that permission had been granted for the 26-year-old to undergo a medical with his future employers.
It’s safe to say that Cunha enjoyed a fantastic season in the Premier League. Although discipline did prove an issue, there was no doubting the quality of his play when the ball was at his feet.
Indeed, the Wolves talisman scored 17 goals in 36 outings across all competitions throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
A spellbinding player who strikes fear into a large pool of defenders, it’s actually another player from England’s top flight that Wes Brown thinks would be the most game-changing signing.
Wes Brown wants Man United to sign £30m forward
Another player on the club’s radar this summer has been young English striker Liam Delap.
Son of Rory and a Manchester City academy graduate, it would be quite something if he ended up at Old Trafford. Possessing a £30m release clause, it would be a rather simple move to complete, but it does look as though he is now on his way to Chelsea.
Reports on Thursday indicated that a deal was as good as done, thus preventing Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co from making their move.
Still, it’s a move that Brown, in conversation with Football FanCast, wanted to have seen happen at Old Trafford.
Speaking on behalf of BetVictor, the former defender was asked who would be the most game-changing signing out of Cunha, Mbeumo and Delap. He said: “Liam Delap is a great young player. He has had experience of a Premier League season now and he’s that sort of player that you want to be going for.”
Why does Brown think that? “He will get better and he’s talented,” Brown admitted. “He’s not scoring 25 goals a season yet, but he’s only had one full season. That’s what you’re hoping for as a Manchester United fan, young, talented players who have played in the Premier League and know what it’s about, to build yourself back up with better players.”
Signing proven Premier League players is certainly a wise strategy. You only need to look at the way Arsenal found a way to rejuvenate the playing squad under Mikel Arteta, bringing in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City, David Raya from Brentford and most famously, Declan Rice from West Ham, to name a few.
United ought to take influence from this as the Ruben Amorim era looks for greener shoots next season.
Gordon Strachan tells Man Utd to sign £30m star who'd be better than Osimhen
Gordon Strachan was speaking to Football FanCast this week.