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Liverpool’s 2024/25 campaign was one of undisputed success, but there are some within Arne Slot’s squad who will have been left feeling pensive in spite of the club’s incredible Premier League triumph.

Harvey Elliott, for one, adores Liverpool and has no doubt envisaged a career-long affinity with the Anfield side, dominating with his creative flair and ingenuity. However, starting berths were few and far between after Jurgen Klopp left, and the recent club-record acquisition of Florian Wirtz would see the 21-year-old play still less.

That’s why he’s expected to leave this summer, with Brighton & Hove Albion among the interested parties, prepared to pay £40m for the talented playmaker.

But Elliott isn’t the only one. Jarell Quansah has been another of the Merseysiders’ most exciting prospects after emerging in 2023/24 and earning praise for his “absolute monster” season from talent scout Jacek Kulig.

However, Slot wasn’t so enamoured as his predecessor, and after subbing the young centre-back off against Ipswich Town last August, the first game of a new era, Quansah never looked the same.

Thus, a deal worth £30m plus add-ons has been agreed with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of the Three Lions star, who has been called up to the national camp, if not actually fielded yet.

So much potential; it’s a shame. However, FSG aren’t messing about this summer, and have already found their dream replacement in Marc Guehi.

Why Liverpool want Marc Guehi

Guehi is one of the most exciting defenders in English football, having only got better under Oliver Glasner’s Eagles wing, already established at Crystal Palace after leaving Chelsea for £18m in 2021.

The 24-year-old is the real deal, all right, and played an instrumental part in Palace’s stunning FA Cup triumph in May, beating Manchester City in the final.

It’s been reported that Liverpool are close to agreeing personal terms for the England international, who is entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.

However, Guehi wants assurances over his playing time; with Ibrahima Konate believed to have rejected Liverpool’s latest contract proposal, maybe he’ll get his wish.

Though Guehi is “among the best centre-backs”, as claimed by one data analyst, Liverpool are keeping their options open. Indeed, there’s another on the outfit’s shortlist who might be an even bigger talent.

Liverpool eyeing Guehi alternative

As per The Athletic, Liverpool have an admiration for Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, though they have concerns over the Tricky Trees’ £80m valuation.

Transfer Focus

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

Murillo, 22, has emerged as one of the Premier League’s biggest breakout stars and is also coveted by Chelsea. Though it’s absolutely certain that Liverpool would not be forking out £80m for the Brazilian, if the young talent pushes for an exit, a deal may yet be struck.

After joining Forest from Brazilian side Corinthians for £15m in August 2023, Murillo signed a new long-term deal in January 2025, extending his deal to the end of the 2028/29 season.

Why Liverpool want Murillo

Let’s be clear: the chances of Liverpool signing Murillo are low, but it is not out of the question. The hulking centre-half is one of the most ferocious defenders in the business, praised as a “monster” by teammate Anthony Elanga and as “one of the best defenders in the Premier League” by certain experts on Brazilian football.

Over the past two years, Murillo has played 68 times in the Premier League, instrumental in reinforcing Nottingham Forest as a Premier League outfit and then lifting them into the top half of the division, securing a place in European competition through their efforts last season.

He’s also a bit Joel Matip-esque, capable of taking the ball and ploughing forwards in a way which is elusive to most backliners. To be honest, though, scant few defenders would even attempt the Brazilian’s trademark forays, sure to end in a wonder goal at some stage.

Guehi likes to carry the ball upfield too, as you will see through the statistical analysis coming up in a moment, but Murillo simply does it better.

Indeed, both players enjoyed stunning seasons in their own right, but Murillo perhaps edges his positional peer after demonstrating a blooming roundedness that, with a bit more work, could see him become a superstar in Slot’s system.

Murillo vs Marc Guehi in the Prem (24/25)
Stats (* per game)	Murillo	Guehi
Matches (starts)	36 (36)	34 (34)
Goals	2	3
Assists	0	2
Clean sheets	11	11
Touches*	55.4	64.9
Pass completion	80%	84%
Key passes*	0.4	0.5
Ball recoveries*	3.9	4.3
Dribbles*	0.8	0.4
Tackles + interceptions*	2.5	2.6
Clearances*	6.7	4.6
Duels (won)*	3.6 (60%)	4.9 (59%)
All data via Sofascore

In fairness, facing Murillo and Guehi off against each other is akin to splitting hairs: both have proven their quality in the Premier League, and both have demonstrated a technical aptitude that would allow them to dovetail into the Anfield side.

It’s worth noting that Murillo has played in a system which precludes ball-playing emphasis. Nuno Espirito Santo has fashioned something special at the City Ground, qualifying for the Conference League with a seventh-place Premier League finish, and he did so without the ball.

Forest averaged 41.2% of possession in 2024/25, as per FBref, in front of only Everton and Ipswich Town for that metric. This, basically, shines a positive light on Murillo’s creativity, still finding cause to play progressive passes with consistency in spite of the limited ball time. He’d fit Slot’s system like a glove.

He’s also marginally ahead of Guehi in terms of duel success, a further illustration of his defensive prowess. While Murillo would need some work to shape his skill set into the completeness of a Liverpool-tailored central defender, there’s no question that he’s an outstanding talent who has proven his elite credentials in the Premier League.

Moreover, his creativity and athleticism prove the conclusive factors in outstripping another wonderful player in Guehi – and he’s two years his junior at that.

Slot's answer to Mane: Liverpool chasing "monster" £70m Premier League star

Liverpool have set their sights on another attacking star this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 24, 2025

Everton are in the market for a forward this summer and could now be narrowing down their options to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin when he leaves the club, according to a report.

Everton's uncertain situation involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The Toffees are settling into life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but there is still a question mark hanging over whether a couple of their established stars will be at the club beyond this summer.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out of contract at Everton and looks poised to leave the club despite the offer of a new deal being on the table, which could spell the end to his long-standing status as their number one striker.

71 goals in 273 matches is a respectable record considering the Toffees’ close brushes with relegation over the past few years, with the Three Lions international becoming a reliable focal point due to his hold-up play and instinctual nature.

However, injury struggles and a stalemate in negotiations over Calvert-Lewin’s wages have made him a prime candidate to move on unless an immediate agreement can be found.

In turn, David Moyes has begun his search for a new striker to fill the void, and Villarreal forward Thierno Barry could join Everton for £34 million amid reports they are ready to meet his release clause.

Everton plotting last-gasp move to hijack free signing of Argentina international

The Toffees could steal in ahead of Crystal Palace.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 13, 2025

Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is also on the Toffees’ radar, albeit West Ham United, Brentford, Lens, RC Strasbourg, Lille, and Stade Rennais are also tracking him.

Competition will be high for targets on the market this summer, meaning Everton need to harness their appeal in light of a new dawn for the blue half of Merseyside.

Scouring the market, they have now found a Premier League striker who could be available to make a switch that would create nationwide headlines.

Everton enter the conversation for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson

According to The Irish Times, Everton are interested in Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson and he may be allowed to leave the South Coast on a permanent deal this summer.

Once valued at around £55 million, an unfortunate period of injury has seen the Republic of Ireland striker’s stock fall; however, he is still only 20 years of age and remains highly regarded among his peers.

Evan Ferguson’s Premier League record – could Everton reignite his fortunes?
Appearances	68
Goals	13
Assists	3

Labelled an “amazing player” by Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, he was most recently on loan at West Ham United and failed to register a goal in eight appearances.

Nevertheless, he was found on the periphery in East London, so it is hard to judge his impact based on the fact that he only completed 151 minutes of football under Graham Potter.

Continuous game time is critical for Ferguson to find his mojo again, and Everton could be the perfect environment in light of their need for depth in the forward areas.

Newcastle United are thought to be interested in completing the signing of an “exceptional” Premier League player in the summer transfer window.

Who are Newcastle being linked with this summer?

The Magpies continue to push for new signings all over the pitch, as Eddie Howe prepares for an exciting season back in the Champions League in 2025/26.

Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi is a long-time target and Newcastle are said to be among the favourites to snap him up this summer, with a move away from the Eagles arguably feeling more likely than ever.

Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford has also emerged as an audacious summer target, as the Magpies battle the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona for his signature. It feels highly likely that he will leave Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim not considering him an important part of his plans.

Bryan Mbeumo has constantly been mentioned as the leading choice to bolster Newcastle’s right-hand side, but it looks as though the Brentford ace could be off to United or Tottenham instead. For that reason, Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert is reportedly being lined up as an alternative option.

Newcastle keen on "exceptional" Liverpool attacker Jota

According to a new claim that has emerged from Anfield Index, Newcastle are interested in signing Liverpool striker Diogo Jota this summer.

The Portuguese is considered a “potential attacking target” for the Magpies, with his future at Anfield up in the air, not least because the Reds have been linked with Alexander Isak, even holding talks with him over a move and remain in contact with the Newcastle star.

On £140,000-a-week, Jota is a top-quality player when fit and firing, with Jurgen Klopp making it clear what he thought of him during their time working together.

“Exceptional player, exceptional boy. He has everything that a Liverpool player in this squad needs. He has the technical skills, he has the physical skills and he is very smart and can learn all the tactical stuff pretty quick. On top of that, he can play all three positions; in a 4-2-3-1 he could play as the 10. So, it is very helpful. He has the speed, has the desire to finish situations off really good. I think his goalscoring record is pretty impressive.”

If Jota is potentially being seen as a replacement for Isak, though, it would be very risky, considering the Portugal international is an injury-prone player who was limited to only 14 starts in the Premier League last season.

He also turns 29 later this year, and the fact that Liverpool may be willing to sell him suggests that he could be past his peak, with his fitness woes catching up with him.

Related Schar upgrade: Newcastle among favourites to sign "unbelievable" £40m star

Newcastle will be looking to improve their defence this summer

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jun 16, 2025

If the Reds ace is brought in as a backup option to Isak, it is easy to see it being shrewd business, given Jota’s ruthlessness in front of goal, but he may not be considered a key starter for Howe.

There’s been a curious reaction on social media to Liverpool’s drive to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s talisman, Florian Wirtz.

Far be it from FSG to employ a scattergun approach in the transfer market. Liverpool have only signed Federico Chiesa (for just £12.5m) since August 2023, when Jurgen Klopp built a new midfield.

Now, the Premier League champions are looking to invest, and though it’s true that Liverpool will break the British transfer record if they succeed in getting Wirtz’s signature inked in red, there’s little question he’s a “truly generational talent”, as has been noted by sports media professional Cristian Nyari.

Of course, Arne Slot’s side need more than just a new playmaker. Having already replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold with Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, efforts are being made across a myriad areas.

Richard Hughes must be a busy man, especially since he’s been forced to contend with the potential sale of one of the club’s biggest stars in Luis Diaz.

Liverpool's dream Diaz replacement

Diaz is one of the most valued members of Slot’s Liverpool squad. The Colombian started 38 games across all competitions this season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists.

However, he’s being pursued by Saudi club Al Nassr, and Barcelona are interested too.

Given that he’s 28 and entering the next-to-last year in his £55k-per-week contract, Diaz is understandably going to want either a new deal or a transfer away.

If Liverpool do cash in, with figures as high as €85m (£72m), it feels like a bit of a no-brainer, with the Merseysiders reportedly considering a swoop for Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon.

The 24-year-old Gordon would cost a pretty penny himself – £80m pretty pennies, more precisely. However, this could be a stunning long-term capture for a terrific player.

And he’s not the only one being targeted to revamp Liverpool’s left flank.

Liverpool advancing to seal another signing after Wirtz

As per Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are ‘working again this week’ to seal a move for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who has already reached a total agreement with FSG on personal terms.

After a likely weekend breather, the clubs are ready to lock horns in transfer battle once again this week in order to strike the same chord.

The Cherries are holding firm on their £45m valuation of the 21-year-old, a likely sticking point, although Liverpool are “willing to go close to that”, as per correspondent David Lynch, who stressed there is nought to worry about.

Why Milos Kerkez would be a dream alongside Gordon

In March, Kerkez was described by Troy Deeney as being “one of the best left-backs in the world already.” Deeney might not always get his Liverpool-related takes right, but the retired striker is on the money with this one.

The Hungarian prospect joined Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar in July 2023 in a £15m deal, since going from strength to strength, nailing down an important spot in Andoni Iraola’s outfit.

And “the frightening thing is he’s not even at his peak yet”, as said by pundit Izzy Christensen. Kerkez’s energy and athleticism will surely prove a game-changer next term, easing the responsibility on the declining Andy Robertson’s shoulders.

Moreover, he could forge a proper partnership with Gordon on that left-hand side, for the Magpies man is potent and electric in his attacking play, but also tenacious and committed to completing his defensive duties.

At his essence, though, Gordon is a forward, and earning Newcastle’s 2023/24 Player of the Year after posting 28 goal contributions across the campaign and leading Eddie Howe’s side through an injury-ravaged season.

Perhaps his struggles to influence Newcastle’s recently concluded campaign stem from Liverpool’s failed approach last summer. In any case, Gordon is a nightmarish opponent to face, and with Kerkez in behind him, FSG would secure a partnership for many years to come.

As per Sofacore, Kerkez won 60% of his ground duels and created eight big chances in the Premier League this season, underscoring his balanced qualities.

Adding to that, the high-flying prospect’s tireless running led to an obscene amount of ground being covered across the campaign (see Sofascore), which is more than can be said for Robertson, who across the whole Premier League campaign managed just 0.2 dribbles per game, succeeding with a miserable 41% of his efforts.

The Scotsman also created fewer big chances than Kerkez with seven, so the new recruit would be fostering a rising creative flair, which could serve Gordon very well indeed.

Across his two full terms with Newcastle in the Premier League, the Three Lions star has scored 17 goals while only missing 19 big chances, which isn’t the most clinical metric in the division but does suggest he’s got a prolific streak about him that Kerkez’s support would only enhance.

Finally, Kerkez ranked among the top 6% of full-backs in the Premier League this year for crosses into the penalty area per 90 (0.73), as per FBref, providing a source for Gordon to latch onto with his loping strides, or indeed to meet the centre-forward fans are hoping to see come through the Anfield gates before the window’s done and dusted.

With Robertson on the way out and Trent already lapping up the Spanish rays, a new creative full-back force is duly needed, and Kerkez certainly fits the bill.

All-time Most PL Assists by a Defender
Rank	Player	Assists
1	Trent Alexander-Arnold	64
2	Andy Robertson	60
3	Leighton Baines	53
4	Graeme Le Saux	44
5	Kieran Trippier	38
Stats via Premier League

Fuelling Gordon from the defensive area, charging forward when he deems it the right time, Kerkez would be a breath of fresh air for Slot’s side, fixing the biggest chink in the armour and ensuring the Reds have the means to do it all over again next year.

Better than Sesko & Ekitike: Liverpool now looking to sign £60m "monster"

Liverpool are planning to replace Darwin Nunez at number nine this summer.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 2, 2025

Glasgow Rangers and 49ers Enterprises could be a marriage made in heaven. Of course, things are still very much in the pre-wedding phase.

The club were crying out for new investment and this summer can see the beginning of a new era for the Light Blues. First of all, a permanent manager must be appointed, preferably sooner rather than later, especially given the size of the task at hand.

It remains to be seen just how big a budget the manager will be given this summer to improve the squad. It might be the case that he will have to sell a few players in order to raise funds and reduce the wage bill.

Vaclav Cerny, Neraysho Kasanwirjo, and Rafael Fernandes have all returned to their parent clubs following their respective loan spells at Ibrox.

Elsewhere, Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence, and Leon Balogun have all departed following the end of their contracts. Balogun and Hagi were both part of the squad that won the Premiership title in 2021.

A new era indeed. Regardless of who the new boss is, players such as Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell could be sold, especially after strong loan spells at Birmingham City.

Robin Propper must be another player who has to go this summer.

Why Rangers must sell Robin Propper

Last summer, Philippe Clement sought several signings that would turn his side from also-rans to title winners.

In came players such as Nedim Bajrami, Hamza Igamane, and Cerny, but it was the defence that the club really needed to strengthen.

Connor Goldson was sold after six years at Ibrox and a new centre-back was identified as being a priority for Clement ahead of the season.

This led to the Gers bringing in FC Twente captain Propper, who had made over 100 appearances for the Dutch side. On the surface, it looked like a shrewd signing, especially as the club paid just £1.5m to secure his signature.

After a few months, however, it was evident that the Dutchman was struggling to cope with the physicality of Scottish football. He was regularly being out-muscled and outfought by strikers of teams further down the table, while his lack of pace didn’t help either.

He delivered worse performances in the Europa League, and when compared to his positional peers in the competition, his statistics are poor to say the least.

Robin Propper’s stats in the Premiership this season (per 90)

Accurate passes

57.9

Tackles

1.6

Clearances

4

Total duels won

5.6

Possession lost

8.5

Balls recovered

3.3

Via Sofascore

Indeed, he ranks in the bottom 75% for pass completion percentage, progressive passes, progressive carries, and tackles per 90 in the Europa League. The defender just cracks the top 45% for blocks and clearances per 90 for the Light Blues.

While Rangers may have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament, they might have gone further had Propper not been part of the team.

He will turn 32 in September, and it is obvious that his best days are behind him, based on his disappointing performances for the Gers this season. Depending on the style of play of the new manager, Propper must surely be aiming to look for another team this summer.

With Balogun already departed and Ben Davies likely to be sold as well, signing a centre-back or two during the transfer window is imperative, and the arrival of a new one could result in Propper’s exit.

Could the 49ers turn to the Premier League to bring someone in?

Rangers eye swoop for Premier League defender

Last week, Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie delivered some transfer news on X surrounding the club’s interest in Ipswich Town centre-back Cameron Burgess.

He posted: “Rangers are interested in Ipswich defender Cameron Burgess as they seek to bolster their defence ahead of the new season.

“29-yo has played 18 times in the Premier League this season.”

The link certainly came out of the blue, but it was a welcome one. With Ipswich suffering relegation from the top flight, now could be the perfect time for the Gers to make a move for the Australian.

If so, the manager must axe Propper.

Why Rangers should sign Cameron Burgess

Across his 18 Premier League appearances for Ipswich Town this term, Burgess has won 3.6 total duels per game – a success rate of 68% – while also making an impressive 6.9 clearances and 0.9 tackles per game for the Tractor Boys.

It wasn’t enough to see them slip back into the second tier, but Burgess wasn’t the problem, far from it.

Burgess has showcased his talents when compared to other defenders in the Premier League, ranking in the top 21% for aerial duels won (2.57), the top 2% for clearances (7.48), and in the top 5% for percentage of dribblers tackled (81.8%) per 90 this season.

Scottish scout and analyst Kai Watson hailed the defender amid the links to Rangers, saying: “Cameron Burgess may not be the most exciting signing on paper but he’ll bring necessary experience to the back, particularly if Balogun departs.

“He’s 6’4, left sided, an Australian international and uses the ball well (Ipswich struggled to keep it which impacts his %s).”

As Watson mentions, Burgess uses the ball well at the back, but what Rangers need is a defender who is physically capable of getting the better of opposition forwards in the penalty area.

Too often have the club seen opposition players get plenty of time in the final third, which has given clubs such as Motherwell, St Mirren and Hibs chances to secure victory against the Glasgow side this season.

Propper was a big factor in some of these defeats. By signing Burgess, the Gers will be getting someone who is currently at the peak of their powers.

His contract expires in a couple of weeks, which means he won’t cost the Light Blues a single penny, making the move all the more attractive.

Perhaps not the big-name signing many of the supporters are hoping for, but the Australian would offer some solidity to a backline which has struggled throughout 2024/25.

He won’t demand a massive wage either. Everything points to this being a smart piece of business by the club; that much is certain.

Related Gerrard's next Defoe: Rangers could sign PL "living legend" this summer

Rangers must make a move for a current Premier League striker this summer

Posts ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 2025

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.

Bumrah and Jadeja show why India is the hardest place for visiting batters to stitch partnerships

Alagappan Muthu20-Sep-20242:10

Sanjay Manjrekar: Jasprit Bumrah is a bowler without a weakness

The ball left Jasprit Bumrah’s hand with a . Shakib Al Hasan got in line with it. The length was full. So he was forward. The line was on fourth stump. So he was across. Bumrah was the biggest threat in the opposition. So he defended with soft hands. . The sound echoes around the stadium. There was virtually no time between the and the . A zeptosecond is a trillionth of a billionth of a second. Test match batting in India lives somewhere in there.For a while, Bangladesh had risen to meet this challenge. They put on a fifty partnership during which they were in control of 89% of the deliveries they faced and scored eight boundaries. Some of them were really pleasing, Litton Das moving smoothly forward to a length ball from Akash Deep and gently tapping it through the covers for four. Taken in isolation, the cricket in this little period of play showed two teams evenly poised.And then it happened. Like it has always happened.Related

• Spotlight on off-colour Shakib amid injury murmurs

• Bumrah, Jadeja back Bangladesh into a corner on 17-wicket day

• Ashwin: 'Bowling and batting are very separate sports in the same game'

Ravindra Jadeja had Litton pinned to his crease, giving him no way out. The line was constantly at fifth stump. The length too good to do anything but defend. Conditions in Chennai were such that the spinners were the best source of runs but here was one who simply wouldn’t give anything away. Basically, if you ever want anything from Jadeja, never be 22 yards away from him.Litton didn’t have that luxury so he decided to make his own arrangements. It was a decent plan. He had spent enough time in the middle to figure out the pace of the pitch. He had also seen that midwicket had been left open. Now if he were to shuffle across his crease a little bit, he could meet those good-length balls just outside off stump under his eyes and sweep them into the gap. So that’s what he did, except he went a zeptosecond too early. And Jadeja spotted it. He shifted his line wider. Additionally, this ball landed on the seam and bounced that extra bit higher. So instead of the plan that Litton had set, he ended up miscuing a catch to the only man in the deep on the leg side square of the wicket.Bangladesh’s recovery was done. They were 91 for 6 and then 149 all out.Jasprit Bumrah finished with four wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings•BCCIBuilding partnerships against India in India is a gruesome process. Visiting teams’ first six wickets have averaged 26.04 here in the last five years. No other place is as hostile. A part of this is surely the result of the spin-friendly nature of the conditions. They’ve at times been extreme.But there is another reason as well. Bumrah typified it in the dying stages of the Bangladesh first innings when he slapped one hand onto the other. He was disappointed at presenting Mehidy Hasan Miraz with a ball that he could get to the pitch of and drive through the covers. India do not like offering run-scoring opportunities up on a platter. That is, in fact, their entire agenda when they play at home. It isn’t to take wickets. It is to build pressure. Because if they get it right, things like Litton’s mis-hit happen. Or Joe Root’s. Or David Warner’s. On each occasion, a side that was enjoying a period of ascendancy slipped, never to recover again. And every time it was the result of India simply doing the basics right.Their attack isn’t seduced by the idea of magic balls. They just sit in and wait. Crucially, they give no sighters. Even during Bangladesh’s best phase of play on Friday, there were only six balls – out of 92 – that allowed Litton and Shakib to breathe easy. Those were the only ones they could leave alone; the only ones that didn’t come with the threat of a dismissal. In contrast, Hasan Mahmud gave Rohit Sharma the chance to leave five straight balls alone in just the second over of India’s first innings. When a batter doesn’t need to play a shot, their vulnerabilities are never in play. India want vulnerabilities to be in play. Always.Batting against them on their turf is a pointed and endless examination. How often are you okay pushing forward but never having the drive as an option? How will you cope against the short ball when it doesn’t provide the room to cut or pull? How long can you keep doing the right things over and over and over again when they don’t yield a lot of runs?Turns out, not long. In the last five years, there have been 265 partnerships for the first six wickets of every visiting side. Only nine of them have made it to 100.India’s dominance at home is directly related to the depth, skill and variety of their bowling attack. And this is their signature skill.

They were ahead of the curve over a decade ago, but haven’t quite followed that blueprint since

Hassan Cheema02-Nov-2022As Pakistan have stumbled their way through the back end of the Asia Cup to two heartbreaking losses in the World Cup, every aspect of the team has been debated over. Yet this World Cup has been defined by a question that is ever more familiar in non-sports discourse in Pakistan: why don’t we have what others do? What does a Pakistani T20 side that’s up with the zeitgeist even look like?If we were to create the ideal, data-driven T20 side, it would have: two to three top-order hitters, two to three middle-overs specialists who are good spin-hitters and bat deep, followed by allrounders who create the depth that allows those above them to play with freedom. For pace, you’d want a powerplay specialist fast bowler, a death-overs specialist, and another fast bowler who can do both. Among these three, you’d want express pace and a left-armer. For spin, you’d want bowlers who turn the ball either way and can bowl across phases, plus additional bowling options to create positive match-ups. Six or more bowling options and batting that lasts till eight.In other words, the ideal T20 team today would look almost identical to Pakistan’s 2007 (runners-up) and 2009 (winners) T20 World Cup sides.The late 2000s are a dark period in Pakistan’s cricket history. They went four years without winning any Test series. They lost ten of their 15 bilateral ODI series, with four of their five wins coming against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and West Indies. They dealt with the death of a beloved coach during a World Cup, lost hosting rights, and had their players banned for, variously, using performance-enhancing and recreational drugs, spot-fixing, scuffing up the pitch, and conspiring against their captain. The 2007 World Cup was a forgettable experience, and while they made it to the knockouts in the 2009 Champions Trophy, the semi-final loss led to fixing accusations.
Yet in the middle of all this, Pakistan stumbled upon the perfect way to play T20 cricket.The top order: hitters over anchors, please
There are a handful of players from those Pakistan teams who would have had different careers if they had been ten years younger, but no one more so than Imran Nazir, who was the lynchpin of the 2007 T20 World Cup side. He finished with a career strike rate just shy of 150, a figure that would have made him a franchise globetrotter today. A lot of those runs were made in the lower-quality Indian Cricket League and on the Pakistan domestic circuit, but even at the highest level, Nazir’s method was successful. Until 2010, for example, only Yuvraj Singh and Andrew Symonds scored more T20I runs at a higher strike rate than Nazir.