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Celtic centre-forward Adam Idah added another goal to his tally for the season in the 1-1 draw with the club’s city rivals away from home in the Scottish Premiership last time out.

The Ireland international has now scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Hoops in his first full season at the club, following his permanent move from Norwich City last summer.

Idah may, however, hope to earn more minutes in the Premiership under Brendan Rodgers next term, because he has only started 17 of his 32 appearances in the division so far this year.

He has found himself behind Daizen Maeda in the pecking order at times, whilst he was often behind Kyogo Furuhashi in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign.

That was before the Japan international left to sign for Rennes in the January transfer window for a reported fee of £10m, leaving Maeda and Idah to battle it out for a starting spot.

Celtic will be hoping that Idah becomes a success and fulfills his potential at Parkhead as they look for their best centre-forward signing since Odsonne Edouard.

Celtic's top scorers since Odsonne Edouard left

The Scottish giants smashed their transfer record to sign the French centre-forward from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of £9m in the summer of 2018, after an initial loan spell at Parkhead.

Edouard went on to score at least 22 goals in each of his three full seasons as a permanent Celtic star, which shows that he provided a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

After those three seasons, the 23-year-old was snapped up by Premier League side Crystal Palace in a reported deal that could rise to £18.5m, which meant that the Bhoys more than doubled their money on the striker, and it is a transfer that ranks as the fifth-highest sale in the club’s history, as per Transfermarkt.

Since Edouard moved down south in the summer of 2021, Kyogo, Idah, and Maeda have all had turns at being the main man at the top end of the pitch for goals.

24/25

Daizen Maeda

33

23/24

Kyogo Furuhashi

19

22/23

Kyogo Furuhashi

34

21/22

Kyogo Furuhashi

20

20/21

Odsonne Edouard

22

19/20

Odsonne Edouard

29

18/19

Odsonne Edouard

22

As you can see in the table above, Kyogo only scored more than 20 goals in one of his three full seasons at Parkhead before his £10m move to Rennes, which shows that he was not as consistent as Edouard, and he was sold for £8.5m less.

Maeda, meanwhile, scored just 14 goals in his first two Premiership seasons at the club before the current campaign, so he is yet to prove that his current goalscoring exploits are more than a flash in the pan.

Therefore, Celtic have not made a better striker signing than Edouard since the Frenchman’s departure, both for footballing and financial reasons, but they do have the chance to rectify that in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Celtic's told how much to pay for striker target

According to reports in Denmark, via GlasgowWorld, Brondby are set to demand a record fee of £11.4m to allow Mathias Kvistgaarden to move on in the summer.

That would also make the centre-forward a club-record signing for the Hoops, as well as a club-record sale for Brondby, after they broke their record with an £11m move for Arne Engels from Augsburg last year.

Transfer Focus

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

Football Insider reported earlier this year that the Hoops are planning to make a move for the Danish centre-forward in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The outlet added that the 23-year-old marksman is a long-term target for the Scottish giants, and that they are eyeing him up ahead of next season.

With this in mind, Celtic could land their best centre-forward signing since Edouard by pushing ahead with a deal for the young Brondby sensation in the coming months.

Why Kvistgaarden could be Celtic's best centre-forward signing since Edouard

Firstly, Kvistgaarden would come in as a young player with the potential to improve and grow in value throughout his time at Parkhead, which means that they could make a significant profit on him in the future.

Whereas Kyogo left to sign for Rennes at the age of 30 in January, which may have been why his transfer fee was £10m, rather than being closer to Edouard’s £18.5m move to Palace.

This means that Kvistgaarden would have more potential to be sold on for big money in the future than Kyogo ever had, simply because he is seven years younger than the Japanese ace.

The £11.4m-rated star, who was hailed as “absolutely sensational” by U23 scout Antonio Mango earlier this term, also has the goalscoring pedigree to potentially offer more than the Japan international did in the final third.

Appearances

35

Shots on target

40

Goals

22

Big chances missed

15

Key passes

20

Big chances created

4

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, Kvistgaarden has scored 22 goals in all competitions for Brondby this term, which is more than Kyogo managed in two of his three full seasons in Glasgow.

This suggests that the potential is there for the Danish star to offer even more than the Rennes striker did during his time at Parkhead, if he can carry that form over to Scottish football and deliver consistently in the final third.

Kvistgaarden, who scored 31 goals and provided 11 assists in 45 matches for Brondby at U19 level, has shown that he can be lethal in front of goal on a regular basis, particularly at league level with 16 goals in 23 Superliga starts.

The Celtic transfer target could, therefore, be the club’s best centre-forward signing since Edouard because he has the age profile, the potential, and the goalscoring pedigree to be even better for the Hoops than Kyogo as a goalscorer and as a future asset.

Celtic could sign their next McGregor in shock move for £14m Scotland star

Celtic have been tipped as a possible option for this £13.6m-rated star in the future.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

It is now down to Celtic’s board to back Rodgers in the transfer market by splashing the cash to sign a high-quality striker in a club-record swoop for Kvistgaarden in the upcoming summer transfer window to bolster their options in the final third.

This summer is a huge one for Nottingham Forest if they are to sustain the success they’ve enjoyed throughout the 2024/25 campaign under Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Reds are still in with a huge opportunity to secure Champions League football, whilst also reaching the FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1991.

Such achievements would’ve been laughed at during the start of the season, especially after the club only just managed to stay in the Premier League in the two previous campaigns.

However, signings are needed in all areas of the pitch to hand Nuno the depth and quality he needs to balance the side in the league and in European competitions next season.

With the transfer window rapidly approaching, numerous names have already appeared on their radar, with multiple being strongly linked with a summer switch to the City Ground.

The latest on Forest’s hunt for new signings this summer

Wolves star Matheus Cunha was Forest’s main target during the January transfer window, with his name remerging as a possible target for the summer market in recent weeks.

However, a deal for the Brazilian now looks unlikely, with the attacker now looking almost certain to move to Manchester United after they held positive talks with his representatives.

Such a move has seen the Reds’ hierarchy shift their attention to other targets, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap the latest player they’re targeting, according to Football Insider.

The report claims that he’s seen as an excellent option in forward areas, potentially a cheaper alternative to other targets given his £30m relegation release clause.

It also confirms that Nuno’s side could offer regular minutes in Europe, which could hand them an advantage in the race to land his signature – but will have to work tirelessly given the interest from elsewhere.

Why Forest’s £30m target would be perfect with Gibbs-White

Over the last week or so, Forest fans have all been on edge after journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Manchester City were positive about completing a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White’s signature this summer.

However, the Reds are said to have placed a £100m price tag on his shoulders, showcasing how highly the club rates the star who cost them £44.5m in the summer of 2022.

Given his tally of 12 combined goals and assists this campaign, it’s no secret that he’s been one of the club’s most important players within attacking areas.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, creating 1.7 chances per 90 this campaign, along with 1.1 successful dribbles per 90 – subsequently able to progress the ball into forward areas.

He’s also completed 80% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 61% of his long passes – as seen by his extraordinary assist to Callum Hudson-Odoi against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Such figures could fall perfectly into the hands of Delap next campaign should he complete a switch to the East Midlands, potentially building on his excellent debut year in the Premier League.

He’s managed to achieve 1.2 shots on target per 90, whilst also completing 1.4 successful dribbles – able to play off the shoulder of the backline, handing the Reds an added dimension at the top end of the pitch.

Games played

34

Goals scored

12

Shots on target per 90

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.4

Fouls won

1.8

Aerials won

2.1

Duels won

5.5

The 22-year-old has also won 1.8 fouls per game, along with 2.1 aerials won per 90 – handing the club the perfect all-round option in attacking areas to help balance the load between current talisman Chris Wood.

Delap, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by teammate Jens Cajuste, has the ability to progress under Nuno’s guidance, potentially being the club’s main centre forward for many years to come.

His pace and power are a real bonus for the Reds, handing them an option they’ve desperately lacked throughout the majority of the campaign despite their success.

If they are to be in Europe throughout 2025/26, they will need added quality, with Delap certainly providing that – but if they are to secure a deal for his services, they will need to act quickly to avoid losing him to a rival.

Marinakis pushing: £25m+ Nottingham Forest target now keen to complete move

Marinakis could get his man…

ByTom Cunningham May 7, 2025

Manchester City could be a force to be reckoned with in the transfer market and have made their first step to landing a priority target this summer, according to reports.

Man City look to enjoy successful summer window

The Premier League title may have headed to Anfield this season in a transitional year for the Citizens, but you get the impression they will be quick out of the blocks once the window opens for business.

Pep Guardiola acted decisively to bring in Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah in January, and no stone will be left unturned as Manchester City aim to position themselves among the elite.

Sky Sports: Nottingham Forest keen on signing "special" £25m Man City ace

Nottingham Forest are the latest team to show interest in signing an attacker from Manchester City.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 26, 2025

With some statement arrivals on the agenda, the Blues are said to be keen on a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Desire Doue, even if they will have to stump up £85 million or over to have a chance of landing his services.

Barcelona winger Raphinha is another high calibre target at the Etihad Stadium and he is believed to be among their priority options to strengthen out wide due to his excellent form for club and country.

Even if the Citizens were to miss out on Champions League football, they still hold an appeal that very few would be able to match with Guardiola’s long-term project likely to yield further silverware.

Nevertheless, Manchester City remain at a vantage point from which they will be confident they can finish the job before a summer when changes could be made to fuel the fire for success. Now, they have taken a step forward in their pursuit of another key target as their ruthless approach to recruitment begins to take its course.

Man City submit £34m+ offer for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa

According to reports, Manchester City have submitted an initial £34.1 million offer for Porto stopper Diogo Costa and look set to improve on their opening bid, which was rejected, sooner rather than later.

The Portugal international’s contract includes a £64 million release clause, but he may be allowed to leave for a fee in the region of £51.1 million if appropriate interest arises for his services.

Labelled “incredible” by countryman Diogo Dalot, Costa has kept 18 clean sheets in 44 appearances across all competitions this season as Porto look to seal continental qualification.

Diogo Costa’s key statistics in 2024/25 – Liga Portugal

Saves

51

Save percentage rate

66.2%

Goals conceded

26

Acted as sweeper

18

High claim

17

Errors led to goal

0

Ederson is expected to leave Manchester City for Saudi Arabia, so it is intriguing to see that they have now upped the ante in pursuing a long-term replacement for the Brazil international.

Looking ahead, it seems plausible that progress could be made in their move for Costa and it will be intriguing to see if he does end up becoming the man between the sticks at the Etihad Stadium.

West Ham United have now “come knocking” to sign a £44m midfielder, and they stand a good chance of tempting him into a move to the Premier League, according to journalist Christian Falk.

West Ham in need of summer rebuild

The three promoted Championship teams have been way off the pace in the Premier League, which means West Ham are in no danger of relegation, but performances this season indicate a big rebuild could be needed in the summer.

The latest poor display came against already-relegated Southampton on Saturday afternoon, with Niclas Füllkrug launching a scathing attack on his teammates in the wake of the 1-1 draw, and Graham Potter has since admitted he sympathises with the striker.

It remains to be seen whether Potter is given a chance to turn things around next season, but the manager may need to oversee some major changes in the summer transfer window, if his side are going to be competitive.

One area in which the Hammers are looking to strengthen is central midfield, according to BILD reporter Falk, who has recently revealed that Joao Palhinha is of interest, amid doubts over the Portugal international’s Bayern Munich future.

Falk said: “Fulham are among the interested parties. They know what they have, but according to our information, West Ham has also come knocking.

“He (Palhinha) says he’s giving his all for the club, but he doesn’t know what will happen. And, uh, if Bayern say he won’t have better playing time next season, I think he would consider, if an offer comes in, whether it makes sense for him to perhaps return to the British Isles.”

"Iron man" Palhinha could be statement signing

Since arriving at the Allianz Arena for a fee of £44m, the former Fulham man hasn’t exactly set the world alight, having often been benched or utilised as a late substitute, but his previous exploits in the Premier League indicate he could be a top signing for West Ham.

During his time with the Cottagers, the 6 foot 3 maestro was extremely impressive in the defensive side of the game, as underlined by his tackling and intercepting ability.

The Lisbon-born midfielder has always been solid defensively, having been hailed as an “Iron Man who never turned his back on a fight” by former youth coach Luis Nunes, and he ranks in the 97th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year.

The move to Bayern may not have worked out, but Palhinha is clearly a top defensive midfielder, and it is exciting news that West Ham could lure him back to the Premier League this summer.

Rangers and new prospective owners the 49ers Enterprises have their eyes on a versatile young target from Germany, according to a new report.

Rangers and 49ers planning for summer incomings

The Gers have been impressing since the departure of Philippe Clement and the arrival of interim boss Barry Ferguson.

The lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership may well be too big of a gap to close down, but Rangers are still in the Europa League and recently got the better of Celtic at Parkhead for the first time in five years while also producing a come from behind win at Dundee last time out.

As a result, Ferguson is being linked with keeping the Rangers job on a permanent basis, and according to older brother Derek, is keen on remaining at Ibrox.

“This is a different kettle of fish now. I took him to Rangers as a boy. The club is ingrained in him. There’s only one conclusion: He wants the job but will need to win games”, said Ferguson on his younger brother.

Prospective new owners the 49ers are likely to have a big say in who gets the role, and they also have exciting plans in the transfer market.

The 49ers may back Rangers with a £20-25million budget this summer, once a takeover is completed, and some of that cash could be used on making Vaclav Cerny’s loan a permanent transfer.

Rangers have the option to buy Cerny for just £5.5m until the end of May, and the 49ers are aware of the conditions of a full-time deal.

Elsewhere, there have been plenty of Ibrox exit rumours doing the rounds, including Nicolas Raskin attracting the interest of Aston Villa and Leeds United, whereas Everton are still keen on landing forward and Glasgow derby hero Hamza Igamane.

It promises to be a busy few months off the pitch at Rangers, and now, a new target has come onto the radar.

Rangers eye move for new versatile German player Niehoff

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Rangers are eyeing up Holstein Kiel’s Niklas Niehoff. It is claimed that the Gers have been monitoring Niehoff during his loan spell at Osnabruck alongside interest from Serie A side Udinese and Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.

Rangers star who Ferguson loves "surely" now "on his way" out of Ibrox

A Rangers star Barry Ferguson said “has been a joy to work with” looks to be on his way out…

ByBarney Lane Mar 31, 2025

Holstein Kiel could end up selling Niehoff amid interest all across Europe, with offers potentially arriving in the coming weeks. The 20-year-old, should he move to Scotland with Rangers, would provide an extremely versatile option to whoever is in charge at Ibrox.

Right-winger

55

Centre-forward

17

Right midfield

12

Left-winger

11

Right-back

4

Left midfield

3

Attacking midfield

2

As can be seen, Niehoff, a Germany youth international, has already played in a variety of positions ranging from right-back to centre-forward.

Transfermarkt state that his main position is a right midfielder, and with his market value increasing to a career-high €400,000 last month, Rangers could be on to a future star with a move for Niehoff.

Aston Villa are now believed to be eyeing a surprise January move for one of Chelsea’s summer signings, according to a new report.

Chelsea prepare for Bournemouth after humbling Leeds defeat

Chelsea make the journey to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, desperate to bounce back from their humbling 3-1 defeat at Leeds United, with Enzo Maresca insisting his side have no fresh fitness worries.

The Blues are forced to navigate another difficult fixture without suspended £150,000-per-week midfielder Moises Caicedo, though, who was a sore miss at Elland Road as Daniel Farke’s side exposed their fragility minus the Ecuadorian.

Maresca addressed the media on Friday morning ahead of the Vitality Stadium encounter, confirming Caicedo will serve the second match of his three-game domestic ban following his dismissal against Arsenal.

The star’s absence continues to leave Chelsea light in central midfield, particularly with Roméo Lavia and Dario Essugo both ruled out through injury problems of their own.

Maresca provided a concerning update on Lavia’s condition, revealing the midfielder faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines due to muscular issues.

When pressed on whether the problem was short or long-term, the Italian offered little reassurance, stating only that it represents “a muscular problem” with no clear return date.

The setback compounds Lavia’s frustrating Chelsea career, having missed the entirety of last season and significant chunks of this campaign through various fitness issues.

Essugo’s situation offers similarly grim reading for Maresca.

The Portuguese youngster appeared close to rejoining training sessions last week but has since suffered a setback that will keep him sidelined against Bournemouth.

Long-term absentee Levi Colwill remains unavailable as he continues rehabilitation from his ACL injury sustained during pre-season.

One positive emerged from Maresca’s briefing regarding Cole Palmer’s availability. The England international returned for the final 30 minutes at Elland Road on Wednesday evening after two months absent through groin and toe injuries, though whether he starts on the south coast is unclear.

Chelsea hold talks with defender's camp as Moises Caicedo offers thoughts on signing

The midfielder is playing a role in this potential transfer.

ByEmilio Galantini 7 days ago

The widespread absences have forced Maresca into makeshift solutions, with captain Reece James and Malo Gusto both deployed in central midfield roles recently.

Maresca quite simply needs every man he can count on as Chelsea look to put that Leeds defeat behind them, making Villa’s interest in Liam Delap quite a surprise.

Aston Villa eyeing January move for Chelsea striker Liam Delap

The former Ipswich and Man City striker joined Chelsea six months ago in a deal worth around £30 million, spending much of the early campaign out with a hamstring problem before returning to the fold.

Delap finds himself behind Joao Pedro in the pecking order, with Football Insider’s Wayne Veysey now reporting that Villa are keen to capitalise and move for Delap in January.

It is believed Unai Emery’s side are eyeing a potential winter move for the 22-year-old amid their search for a prolific striker to complement Ollie Watkins, and could try to tempt him with a more ‘prominent role’.

It is unclear what Chelsea would demand for their new striker, but it’s far more likely they just won’t entertain a sale, period.

Delap’s first Chelsea goal arrived against Esperance in the Club World Cup, offering a glimpse of the predatory instincts that convinced BlueCo to invest in his services.

The highlight of Delap’s opening months came in November when he scored his maiden Champions League goal for Chelsea during their commanding 3-0 victory over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

Delap would arguably have more to show for his efforts if not for that hamstring injury, and it is very hard to envisage a scenario where Maresca could be open to selling the number nine already, especially amid their push for silverware and hectic fixture calendar.

That being said, in today’s footballing landscape, you can never rule anything out.

West Ham are entering the market for a new striker in January as injury-prone flop Niclas Füllkrug prepares to leave the London Stadium, according to multiple reports.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are facing a critical winter transfer window as they scramble to address their striker shortage, with Fullkrug’s impending departure forcing manager them to accelerate plans for attacking reinforcements.

While free agent summer signing Callum Wilson is proving he can lead the line, having scored four goals in four starts already this season, West Ham will definitely need another number nine soon.

Fullkrug has informed the club of his intention to leave when the winter window opens, bringing a premature end to what has been a disastrous spell at the club.

The Germany international, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £27 million in August 2024, has failed to score a single goal this season across seven appearances, with injuries severely limiting his availability and impact.

His agent, Thorsten Wirth, publicly acknowledged the transfer has been a failure, stating that it “might make sense to make a change” and admitting “the transfer didn’t work”.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

The 32-year-old striker is reportedly desperate to secure regular playing time to boost his chances of making Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad, having made just two international appearances in the past 12 months amid persistent injury problems.

However, the Hammers will only sanction his departure if they can secure a suitable replacement or receive a substantial offer, unwilling to leave themselves dangerously thin up front while battling relegation.

The club are actively pursuing multiple striker targets as they seek to avoid repeating past recruitment failures, and AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez has emerged as a primary target.

West Ham told they can sign Santiago Gimenez for £30 million

The Mexican bagged 22 goals in all competitions across his total appearances for both previous club Feyenoord and Milan last season, including six strikes in seven Champions League outings.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola will remember Gimenez’s strike at the Etihad when Feyenoord sealed a shock 3-3 draw. Meanwhile, Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany won’t have fond memories of the 24-year-old’s brace against them when Feyenoord thrashed the Bundesliga giants 3-0.

Make no mistake, on his day, Gimenez is a big-game player.

However, the North American is yet to score this campaign, and reports suggest that the Rossoneri are underwhelmed by their 2025 signing as they ponder a January sale.

According to Hammers News, West Ham have been told they could strike a £30 million deal for Gimenez when the window reopens, and going by his age, potential and previous exploits, this could actually prove to be a bargain.

Milan’s interest in Fullkrug has even opened up the possibility of a swap deal, so Gimenez’s price tag could be brought down even further as West Ham look for that perfect number nine mid-season.

The former Cruz Azul sensation stands out as one of January’s best-available forward men if he can rediscover his past form, so he’ll undoubtedly be under serious consideration at Rush Green.

Do Arsenal lack attacking firepower?

The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres this summer was supposed to end the Gunners’ search for a centre-forward but, so far, the Swede has scored just four Premier League goals, with supporters yet to be truly convinced by their new number nine.

The Swede, as well as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are all likely to remain sidelined ahead of Sunday’s North London derby, meaning Mikel Merino will continue as the makeshift centre-forward.

So, could Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta address this issue in January by targeting “one of the best strikers in Europe”?

Arsenal searching for more attacking firepower

The January transfer window is often a quiet one for Arsenal, albeit they have pulled off some memorable winter signings down the years.

Nacho Monreal, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor, Leandro Trossard and Andrey Arshavin all arrived in various Januarys, as did current club captain Ødegaard, albeit the most exciting mid-season addition surely remains Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January 2018.

So now, in a deal that would be very reminiscent, reports in Spain claim that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a January move for another Dortmund centre-forward, this time Serhou Guirassy.

They claim that the Guinea international has a €50m release clause (around £44m) in his contract, making him an attractive proposition for any potential suitors, including Arsenal.

Transfer Focus

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

Former national team head coach Kaba Diawara is the only Guinean to ever feature for Arsenal, scoring zero goals in 14 appearances in 1999, infamously hitting the woodwork with pretty much every shot he took, so Guirassy would certainly surpass that legacy, should he swap North Rhine-Westphalia for North London.

How Serhou Guirassy would repeat Aubameyang's success

When Aubameyang joined Arsenal, he was 28 years old and had just scored 141 goals in 213 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, winning the previous season’s DFB-Pokal, scoring the winning penalty against Eintracht Frankfurt in the final at Olympiastadion.

Once at Arsenal, the Gabonese international netted 92 times in 163 outings, sharing the Premier League golden boot in 2018/19, while only five players have ever scored more goals for the Gunners in the competition.

For those wondering, this quintet are: Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Olivier Giroud.

Now 36, Aubameyang is proving that goal-scoring instincts never fade, having netted six times for Olympique de Marseille already this season, most recently breaking the deadlock during Friday night’s 5-1 demolition of Nice, having also scored when les Phocéens crushed Ajax 4-0 at Stade Vélodrome in the Champions League in September.

So, with Gyökers earning mixed reviews, Arsenal might just lack a striker with that killer instinct, but could that be Guirassy?

Well, let’s compare his and Aubameyang’s time at Borussia Dortmund to see if he would be able to replicate the ex-Gunners star’s career?

Appearances

50

46

Minutes

4,244

3,959

Goals

38

40

UCL Goals

13

7

Assists

9

5

Shots per 90

2.9

3.4

Shots on target per 90

1.8

2.2

Shot accuracy %

60.54%

63.11%

Big chances missed

31

32

% of touches in the box

15.9%

20.5%

As the table documents, Guirassy’s form last season is remarkably similar to that of Aubameyang during his final campaign with die Schwarzgelben.

​​​​​​​

The current Dortmund centre-forward scored two fewer goals than peak Aubameyang, albeit he did net 13 times in last season’s Champions League, thereby picking up the competition’s golden boot.

Other numbers that are similar are the pair’s shots per 90, shooting accuracy and the percentage of their touches that come in the opposition’s penalty area, while the duo both missed more than 30 Opta-defined big chances, which, statistically speaking, is a lot!

Nevertheless, Guirassy’s form at Westfalenstadion​​​​​​​ led to Germany’s all-time record appearance holder Lothar Matthäus asserting that he has become “one of the best strikers in Europe”, underlining how highly rated he is by regular Bundesliga observers.

Thus, should Guirassy arrive at Arsenal in January, he would undeniably have a massive impact, one that could fire Arteta’s team to that elusive first Premier League title in 22 years.

Rice & Merino hybrid: Berta now exploring Arsenal move for £70m "monster"

Declan Rice & Mikel Merino remain two of Arsenal’s most important players, so is Andrea Berta now targeting a monster hybrid of of the two worth £70m?

ByBen Gray Nov 21, 2025

One Chelsea star has been critiqued for his performance in their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Robert Sanchez having more touches than him at Stamford Bridge.

In what was Chelsea’s final Premier League game ahead of the November international break, the Blues played host to a Wolves side who, after 10 games, were still without a win in the top flight.

Enzo Maresca’s side struggled to do much with the chances they generated in the first half against Wolves, frustrating the home support at Stamford Bridge. Soon after the half-time break, however, the Blues broke the deadlock.

Malo Gusto opened the scoring with what was his first-ever senior goal just minutes into the second half. This lead was doubled just after the hour mark when Joao Pedro smashed a deflected Estevao cross beyond Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The game was put beyond any doubt when, with less than 20 minutes to go, Pedro Neto scored against his former club. The win moved Chelsea to second in the table. However, one Blues player was slammed for his performance against the relegation-threatened side.

Delap failed to make mark against Wolves

Signed in the summer from Ipswich Town, Liam Delap has endured a tough start to life at Chelsea. An injury saw him sidelined for weeks to open the 2025/26 campaign, missing almost two months. Upon his return, against Wolves in the Carabao Cup, Delap was sent off for accumulating two yellow cards after coming off the bench.

Delap, who reportedly signed a contract worth £100,000 per week, made his first start for Chelsea since returning from injury against the Old Gold, but failed to make an impact. Simon Johnson, who works for The Athletic, was critical of what the striker produced, noting that he did not appear at match fitness and said he was “struggling”.

As per SofaScore, within 64 minutes of football, Delap had just one shot on target. He was dispossessed on three occasions and by having just 15 touches in the game, had less time on the ball than Sanchez.

Delap is still a young player, one coming back from a relatively long set-back no less. His performance against Wolves, though, can simply not be the level that he consistently operates at going forward.

Chelsea weighing up move for England international

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are riding high at the top of the Premier League table, and supporters have been told one player doesn’t get the praise he deserves.

Arsenal's set-piece kings on course to win the Premier League

Their explosive start has not just positioned them as Premier League title favourites, but also as the current kings of set pieces — a deadly weapon that’s wreaking havoc on opposition sides domestically and in Europe.

Arsenal have scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other top-flight side so far (11), with star defender Gabriel at the heart of it with four contributions to those strikes as the Gunners make their best weapon known.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Corners, free kicks and even throw-ins have become golden scoring opportunities, as Arsenal turn these situations into major results with surgical precision.

Their aerial strength, combined with clever routines, has made them a nightmare for defenders who can’t afford to lose focus for even a moment.

However, at the heart of Arsenal’s success is their impenetrable defence which has conceded the joint-fewest goals, not only in the Premier League, but across Europe’s top leagues (3), with Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma also conceding just three.

The arrival of no-nonsense new backroom coach Gabriel Heinze is viewed as a real contributor to Arsenal’s increasingly water-tight backline, which has somehow become even more solid, despite already leaking the fewest league goals of any Premier League side in each of the last two seasons.

David Raya is in line for this third-successive Golden Glove award, and only a complete disaster in terms of injuries to key defenders would disrupt Arteta’s side right now.

That being said, even when William Saliba was briefly forced out of the side through injury, Cristhian Mosquera performed exceptionally well next to Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, and fellow summer signing Piero Hincapie is also on hand to step in.

Given their imperiousness at the back, Viktor Gyokeres has been somewhat overshadowed.

The Swede, who was brought in to take the mantle of Arsenal’s new prolific number nine, got off to a flying start but went seven games without a goal before his much-needed brace against Atlético Madrid last week.

Gyokeres has attracted some criticism for his fairly underwhelming return so far, but journalist Graeme Bailey insists that he’s actually a pretty underrated new member of the team.

Viktor Gyokeres adds extra element to Arsenal that people don't see

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey says that Gyokeres brings an “extra element” to Arsenal that “people don’t really see”.

Interestingly, this thought is echoed by Arteta, who says that Gyokeres makes Arsenal a much more “unpredictable” side.

His in-game play is there for all to see, and the former Sporting CP star has already proved a handful for defenders since his blockbuster summer switch.

Now, Gyokeres just needs to add more goals, then the critics will soon be silenced.