All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United are showing some promising form in the Championship and now look ready to open their transfer chequebook in January after identifying a talented young target, according to a new report.

Leeds United cast eye to festive period…

Much goes on during the festive period in football, with a congested fixture period usually on the cards for those concerned, alongside the reality of the January transfer window drawing ever closer to opening for business. Leeds are no different in this sense and will have to factor both of these upcoming events into consideration in the next few weeks as Daniel Farke continues to do a sterling job at Elland Road.

So far, the Whites have given a good account of themselves all told, claiming 31 points from their opening 16 fixtures in the English second-tier ahead of their trip to face Rotherham United on Friday evening. Nevertheless, Farke doesn't believe that his side will feel added pressure to cut the gap on Ipswich Town to five points at the AESSEAL Stadium, as journalist Phil Hay described his response to the notion, stating on social media platform X:

"Farke doesn't think the chance to put pressure on Leicester/Ipswich with an early game is significant. Says that in his view, the last five or six games of the season are where you get scenarios where you have to hold your nerve. #lufc."

Casting an eye to the January transfer window, Leeds are keen on Cape Town Spurs striker Luke Baartman; however, they will face competition from other English clubs and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic to sign the 17-year-old. Now, a fresh report has emerged detailing that Farke has a promising young defender on his radar as the Yorkshire outfit start to make inroads concerning their New Year transfer plans.

Leeds United want Sam Curtis

According to 90min, Leeds, and by extension the 49ers Enterprises, appear to be in the market for a new full-back and have identified St Patrick's Athletic youngster Sam Curtis as a target.

Sam Curtis stats at St Patrick's Athletic in 2023 – (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

39

Goals

3

Assists

3

Nevertheless, competition to sign the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international is vast and Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Hull City and Celtic are all keen to swoop for the right-back, who is expected to leave his homeland in the Irish off-season.

Tom Grivosti, who is a teammate of Curtis in Dublin, afforded the 17-year-old high praise earlier this year in an interview, as he stated when asked about his abilities:

"For a young kid I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s unbelievable. Even in his general play he is getting better all the time."

In years gone by, Leeds have had a number of Irish players who have gone on to feature for the club, including the likes of Gary Kelly, Robbie Keane, Ian Harte and Aidy White, among others. Now, the Whites could be set to once again tap into the Emerald Isle's talent pool in a move that could potentially secure a star of the future at Elland Road, with the club not afraid to hand youngsters first-team opportunities, as seen with Archie Gray this season.

Manchester United could be busy when it comes to moving players on in 2024, with Fabrizio Romano saying a “top” player will leave in January.

Man Utd exit news

The Red Devils have had a chaotic few months both on and off the pitch in recent months, with Erik ten Hag’s side not exactly making a perfect start in the Premier League. Off the field, the club brought in a number of new players over the summer, including adding to their midfield ranks with moves for Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat.

Players who have been frozen out at Old Trafford include winger Jadon Sancho, who has seemingly fallen out with Ten Hag and hasn’t featured since the end of August. Meanwhile, Donny van de Beek has actually played less than Sancho this season, featuring in just 21 minutes of competitive action this season. (Donny van de Beek stats – Transfermarkt)

An update has now emerged regarding his future, with a move away looking likely. Talking to The United Stand’s Mark Goldbridge, Romano claimed that Van de Beek will leave in the January window as he wants to play regularly. Relayed by United in Focus, the transfer expert said:

“Yes, Donny will leave in January for sure. He has to and he wants to because he wants to play. It’s a shame because Donny wanted to play for Man United, he loved this opportunity, but at the same time, he is never playing.

“He also knows after the injury he needs regular football. he can’t stay on the bench, not even on the bench, for a long time.”

Van de Beek’s record at Man Utd

Bot of Van de Beek’s substitute appearances came against Crystal Palace last month in the Premier League and EFL Cup, and overall, he hasn’t lived up to expectations since arriving from Ajax back in 2020. The 26-year-old contributed to 75 goals in 175 appearances for Ajax, but as can be seen below, has struggled in Manchester. (Donny van de Beek stats – Transfermarkt)

Donny van de Beek's record at Man Utd

Appearances

62

Goals

2

Assists

2

However, he has been praised in England by former Everton manager Frank Lampard during a loan spell with the Toffees, saying:

"I've been really impressed with him. On a professional level, since speaking to him, him coming and seeing him train, I am absolutely impressed with his fitness and his game sharpness. When you're watching training it doesn't surprise you.

"When I think back to the time he has had at Manchester United, he's a top level player. He was when Manchester United signed him and he was at Ajax. It's not easy. There are different ways of reacting and I'm sure it was tough. He has shown that if you keep your head down and keep working you can come through it.”

Van de Beek, on £120,000-a-week, is under contract until 2025, so the club could be in line to receive a transfer fee for his services, although you’d expect they may not recoup the €40m they paid three years ago.

It's almost like Brendan Rodgers never left off at Celtic, such is the way that the former Leicester City manager has simply picked up where he left off at the Hoops.

So far this season, the Scottish Premiership champions have remained unbeaten, having won four of their first five games, and drawn the other. Most impressively, they have already gained an edge over Rangers, after defeating the Gers in the first Old Firm derby of the campaign to put themselves four points clear of their rivals.

Not every player has benefited from the return of Rodgers, though, with the FA Cup winner's Champions League squad excluding some noticeable players, including Alexandro Bernabei, who club legend John Hartson has spoken about.

What has John Hartson said?

Bernabei joined Celtic under Ange Postecoglou for a reported £3.75m last summer, but failed to make his mark in the nine starts that he was handed by the Australian. The hope would have been that, under Rodgers, the left-back would be handed a fresh start to impress, but that hasn't been the case so far.

Five games into the season, the Argentine has made just two appearances, with both of those coming from the bench. To make matters worse, Bernabei was then left out of Celtic's Champions League squad.

Having his say on the fullback's future, Hartson told The Go Radio Football Show, via TBR Football: “Yeah, I think he’s as good as Greg Taylor. I really do. But at this moment in time, Brendan probably feels there’s other areas that he needs to strengthen in terms of going into the Champions League, in terms of cover.

“I think he likes to get forward. I think his defending sometimes can improve but so does Taylor’s. I think Taylor’s better going forward than what he is defensively.

“I think he’s improved on his ball into the box, as has Taylor in the last couple of seasons. He’s been very constant in the team in terms of Celtic’s success.

“And listen, it’s only my opinion, but I think Bernabei has got a future. I think he’s a decent left-back. He likes a tackle. He can be aggressive. So you know, I think the fact that he’s got Taylor there with that bit a bit more experience in the last couple of seasons played in Europe, so he’s gone with Taylor. But we also know as well that Liam Scales can play left centre-back and obviously left back. But I do think Bernabei has got a future.”

Should Celtic keep Alexandro Bernabei?

It's worth remembering throughout all of this that Bernabei is still only 22-years-old, and has plenty of time to improve in years to come. It would arguably be foolish for Celtic to sanction the departure of a player who is not only still so young, but only in his second season at the club.

If he is given time, then the left-back could become an important member of Rodgers' side. Of course, Bernebei will undoubtedly feel frustrated after being left out of the Champions League squad, but opportunities in the Scottish Premiership could see him bounce back.

A journalist has shared news on West Ham United manager David Moyes' and his personal transfer plans for January.

Who have West Ham signed 2023?

The Hammers, over a productive summer transfer window, sealed deals for Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus.for a total fee of around £134 million.

Going the other way, Declan Rice moved across London to Arsenal for around £105 million; eventually being joined by Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic and Arthur Masuaku out the door.

West Ham have won three out of their opening five Premier League matches with some impressive performances against the likes of Brighton, Chelsea and Luton Town.

However, Moyes' men tasted their first defeat of the season on Saturday; succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of fellow European trophy winners Man City in east London.

Indeed, Goals from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland cancelled out Ward-Prowse's diving header to end West Ham's early-season unbeaten streak.

Will West Ham sign a striker?

Despite digging deep for the majority of that match, their lack of punch against Pep Guardiola's imperious City side perhaps exposed the need for a world-class centre-forward.

Michail Antonio has performed exceptionally so far this campaign, but the Jamaica international has been susceptible to injuries in past seasons.

Scamacca's departure in the summer means West Ham only have Danny Ings to turn to as a natural option if Antonio were sidelined, and Moyes is apparently keen to rectify that.

According to journalist Pete O'Rourke, sharing news from a "well-placed source", the Irons head coach is personally keen to add a new striker to his ranks in January.

This comes after failed summer deals for PSG striker Hugo Ekitike and Corinthians goalscorer Yuri Alberto.

Indeed, West Ham "could yet move" for a new forward in the winter window, according to O'Rourke.

"West Ham could yet move for a new striker in January despite their successful start to the new campaign," wrote the reporter for Football Insider.

"Football Insider revealed on Sunday (17 September) that West Ham and Crystal Palace could reignite their interest in Ekitike in January.

"It is believed that all parties have accepted it is best for the 21-year-old to depart Parc des Princes in the mid-season window.

"A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Moyes is keen to add another striker in the January window.

|An injury could leave them light going forward – with West Ham playing in the Europa League from this week."

Which striker could West Ham sign?

We believe Ekitike could be an excellent option, as reports over the summer window suggested he is open to joining West Ham and making a move to England.

The young forward has been praised by former coaches in past seasons, like ex-Reims manager Oscar Garcia, who once explained to BeIN Sports' Ligue 1 show, via Chronicle Live, that he is "quality".

"There is something very special about him," said Garcia.

"He’s young, and he has the quality to become a very good player. He’s a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on, but he works hard in training."

West Ham United's rise under David Moyes' management will forever be heralded in east London for the stunning ascent to sustained European exploits – leading to victory in the Europa Conference League last season.

Such success has meant that truly excellent players have been welcomed to the fold, with the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen coveted commodities on the European scene.

The climb to prominence even led to the attempts to sign Manchester United's Harry Maguire in the summer, but a deal wasn't agreed. Now, the Irons are believed to be back in for the titan and could move this winter.

What's the latest on Harry Maguire to West Ham?

The fact that Maguire's name remains in circulation suggests that Moyes is still optimistic that a deal could be struck in the future, and should the 30-year-old's playing time continue to cause concern such a transfer grows increasingly likely.

According to ESPN, West Ham are indeed considering a new bid for Maguire and may even lodge a formal offer in January.

It's understood that the Hammers grew weary of Maguire's unwillingness to commit to a transfer from the Theatre of Dreams and withdrew their £30m bid this summer, though with Manchester United's stance relatively unchanged a deal might be salvaged next year.

However, Maguire recently claimed that there was no agreement between the respective outfits and that he did not actually turn down a transfer to the London Stadium.

How good is Harry Maguire?

Manchester United signed Maguire from Leicester City for £80m in 2019, surpassing the world-record £75m fee Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk 18 months earlier.

Maguire had impressed in the Premier League but he has become a figure of debate for his poor performances and has received many vitriolic comments, branded as a "liability" by figures such as talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.

Despite all of the criticism, he remains a powerful and commanding centre-half and a "leader" of men, as he has been called by international teammate Kieran Trippier.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 9% for aerial wins per 90 – highlighting his ball-playing skills and imposing presence, attributes that would suit West Ham very well.

Not just an imposing unit defensively, the England international has also been known to pop up with a goal, scoring 28 goals at club level, 11 of which have come in the Premier League. Of course, he has played a great deal more games but for context, that tally was more than even Sebastien Haller managed in the top-flight of English football, netting ten times in 48 outings.

Such a glistening array of qualities could well mean the £190k-per-week star is the perfect replacement for defender Kurt Zouma, who is the West Ham captain and has been integral in Moyes' side's endeavours over the past several years.

However, as ESPN covered in their report on Maguire's transfer situation, Zouma is contracted until 2025, and while the east London side are hoping to extend his current deal, Saudi Arabian suitors are eager to exploit any hiccups in negotiations.

Zouma joined the club from Chelsea in a £30m transfer two years ago, and has been praised for his "incredible" qualities by his Scottish manager.

Clearly important to the squad's progress, Zouma's leadership could be emulated by a player of Maguire's standing, and while the Frenchman ranks among the top 4% of defenders for goals scored and the top 2% for clearances per 90, he is not known for his passing ability and ranks among the bottom 3% for passes attempted per 90.

Maguire would be an excellent replacement and one whose time in Manchester appears to be drawing to a close, earning his first Premier League start of the season last time out against Brentford but only as a by-product of injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

West Ham offer a starring role and a clean slate, and it's surely a transfer that would benefit all parties and is certainly one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

This summer has to be one of Chelsea’s best in a very long time.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca has led his men to Club World Cup glory, and off the pitch, they’ve been incredibly active in the transfer market.

The likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens have all joined and improved the side, and yet the Blues continue to be linked with some of the most exciting players in the world, like Hugo Ekitiké.

In fact, one of the West Londoners’ current players is being linked with an exit, an exit that could free up space to sign the £85m Frenchman, although with Newcastle United and Liverpool both reportedly keen, they will have to move quickly.

Why so many teams want Ekitike

It was earlier this week that news of Newcastle’s interest in Ekitike began to gather pace, and then yesterday afternoon, more reports emerged claiming Liverpool were also looking at him as an alternative to an even more ambitious deal for Alexander Isak.

So are three of the biggest clubs in the Premier League all interested in signing the Eintracht Frankfurt forward this summer?

Well, simply put, he proved himself to be a lean, mean output machine in Germany last season and the sort of player who could help all three sides achieve their goals next season.

For example, in 48 appearances last season, totalling 3644 minutes, the prolific Reims-born forward scored a whopping 22 goals and provided 12 assists to boot.

That means the former Paris Saint-Germain prospect averaged a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes – talk about world-class.

Moreover, that level of output would be incredible for a striker at the very peak of his career, but the Frenchman is nowhere near the peak, as he is still just 23 years old, and according to research carried out by The Athletic, he has another four years before he reaches it.

In other words, with the right coaching and the right team, we can expect his numbers to continue improving for some time, which is a scary yet exciting thought.

With all that said, due to his massive price tag and the hefty wages he’d probably demand, Chelsea would likely need to sell a player before moving for him, which, based on reports, they could do, and to a Premier League rival no less.

The star Chelsea could sell

With Delap and Pedro joining the side this summer and already impressing at the Club World Cup, it would make sense for Chelsea to consider selling a striker to facilitate room for Ekitike.

Transfer Focus

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

Therefore, the player in question who could well depart Stamford Bridge this summer is none other than Nicolas Jackson, who, according to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, is being monitored by several top sides, including Manchester United and Aston Villa.

In terms of the potential fee the Senegalese star could generate for the Blues, reports vary.

On Saturday morning, the Sun revealed that the club had placed a whopping £100m price tag on his head, but then later that same day, French journalist Nabil Djellit claimed that the West Londoners would be willing to let the player leave for around €70m, which converts to £61m.

Whatever the final price ends up being, it appears that Chelsea will make a sizable profit on the £32m they paid for the “unbelievable” forward, as dubbed by Peter Crouch, two years ago.

Moreover, it’d free up more funds to sign Ekitike, who would be a massive upgrade.

Jackson scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2535 minutes last season, which comes out to an average of 1.94 goal involvements per match or one every 133.42 minutes.

Appearances

48

37

Minutes

3644′

2535′

Goals

22

13

Assists

12

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.51

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107.17

133.42′

That is not a bad rate of return by any means, but it does pale in comparison to what the Frankfurt star was able to produce last season.

Ultimately, Jackson is a good player, but if selling him this summer allows the club to sign Ekitike, then Chelsea should be doing all they can to drum up even more interest, even if the fee ends up closer to £60m than £100m.

Chelsea in talks to sign £40m "superstar" who'd brilliantly replace Madueke

With Noni Madueke on his way to Arsenal for £52m, Chelsea remain “in contact” to sign one of the Premier League’s “brightest young talents” for £40m.

1 Jul 15, 2025

Chelsea’s spending in the transfer market over recent years has been erratic to say the least, with the club splashing huge figures on players who haven’t been up to the level required for a top-four Premier League side.

Mykhailo Mudryk is undoubtedly the biggest example of the club’s poor recruitment, joining the Blues in a £89m deal from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.

The Ukrainian has since only registered seven goals in his 62 appearances for the club, with Todd Boehly currently forking out £12.7m per goal he scored during his time in West London.

However, he’s also teammates with another player who has failed to make an impact after his own big-money move to Stamford Bridge a couple of years ago. Still, at least Mudryk is actually among Maresca's cohort of players…

Ben Chilwell’s time at Chelsea

After a successful five-year stint in Leicester City’s first-team, left-back Ben Chilwell moved to Chelsea during the summer of August 2020 to help improve the club’s full-back department.

The club paid a staggering £50m for his services – a huge fee for a left-back – with the move being an unsuccessful one four years on.

Chilwell has made 106 appearances at Stamford Bridge but has massively struggled with fitness and injury issues after his big-money transfer.

As a result, it’s allowed Marc Cucurella to secure his place as a regular starter under new boss Enzo Maresca, with Chilwell no longer part of the Italian’s plans at the Bridge.

The former England international has found himself away from the first-team squad, being forced to train separately – an indication as to how quickly his Chelsea career has declined over the last couple of years.

However, he still has a market value higher than a former Blues talent who was once destined for big things at the club. In an alternative reality, both would be key members of not only the Chelsea side, but the England team too.

Tammy Abraham's declining market value

Striker Tammy Abraham came through the Cobham academy, impressing on various loan spells at Bristol City and Aston Villa – scoring a combined 52 goals in 88 appearances over the two stints.

The latter loan allowed for a first-team spot at his boyhood club, scoring 30 goals in 78 appearances between 2019 and 2021, before leaving under the reign of Marina Granovskaia in a £34m transfer to Serie A outfit Roma.

2021/22

53

27

5

2022/23

54

9

7

2023/24

12

1

1

2024/25

2

0

1

It was a move to allow him to gain more valuable first-team minutes, but he’s been plagued with injury issues in Italy, with the "monster" 26-year-old, as described by former boss José Mourinho, suffering an ACL injury in 2023 – never fully recapturing his best form – which saw him join AC Milan on loan this summer.

As a result of his torrid luck with injuries, Abraham has seen his market value plummet in recent months, with the Englishman now only valued at £12m as per Football Transfers.

His subsequent value is lower than that of former teammate Ben Chilwell, who’s still valued at £16.1m despite his recent exclusion from Maresca’s first-team setup.

Despite the club’s recent hunt for a new striker, they made the right call in selling Abraham, with the 26-year-old failing to reach the heights many thought he would after his early promise during his younger years.

His unbelievable misfortune with injuries is undoubtedly a shame to see, but given his rapid decrease in market value, Chelsea sold him at his peak price – allowing for added investment and quality in the current first-team setup. This was a rare success story for the Blues in recent windows.

Chelsea must regret selling star who's now worth more than Enzo & Palmer

He’s been “sensational” since leaving…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 10, 2024

Sunderland take on Preston North End on Wednesday night and manager Regis Le Bris has confirmed that a “strong” player will start the game at Deepdale.

Sunderland prepare for Preston clash

The Black Cats dropped rare points in the Championship last weekend, only managing a 0-0 draw away to Queens Park Rangers, missing the injured Chris Rigg in the process and struggling to hit the heights they have so far this season.

It was still no disaster, however, and by the end of the weekend, Sunderland were still three points clear at the top of the table, as Le Bris continues to enjoy a superb start to life as manager since arriving in the summer.

Next up for the Black Cats is a trip to Preston in the league on Wednesday evening, as they look to get back to winning ways against their 20th-place opponents. They will be favourites to prevail and three points will allay any fears that their form could be on the slide.

Sunderland will have to make do without Jobe Bellingham for the game, however, with the young midfielder suspended after his red card away to QPR, but Le Bris has been boosted by having Rigg and Dan Ballard as part of his squad for the midweek action.

"Unbelievable" Sunderland ace will start vs Preston

Speaking ahead of the game, Le Bris confirmed that Alan Browne will start for Sunderland against former club Preston on Wednesday, praising his player in the process.

“He will play, and he deserves to play obviously, because he’s a great professional with good experience, good leadership – quiet leadership, but strong leadership.

“Obviously our midfielders played very well since the beginning of the season and for Browney, he needed to wait. But, he knows that that league is so long, that he was sure he’ll have opportunities to play. It’s now and he did well, so I’m confident for him.”

Browne has been such an astute signing for Sunderland since arriving on a free transfer from Preston during the summer transfer window, bringing experience to the midfielder, in a squad littered with young players. The 29-year-old may have only started four Championship matches this season, but he has appeared 10 times in the competition in total, scoring once and completing 82.5% of his passes.

Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil has hailed Browne since he became his teammate, lauding his qualities and making it clear he was always a strong opponent when the Black Cats faced Preston.

“Alan’s got an unbelievable engine, unbelievable legs. We knew that from when we played Preston previously. Every time we’ve come up against him, we’ve talked about the unbelievable engine he has. He’s a bit more of an experienced head in there as well, which helps us because me and Jobe are still young.”

Sunderland struck gold selling £8m ace who's now worth millions less

Sunderland will now feel they made the right decision shifting on this star.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 4, 2024

With Bellingham out, the £15,000-a-week Browne’s influence is going to be vital on Wednesday, and if he plays a big role in a Sunderland win, he could retain his place at home to Coventry City on Saturday.

Celtic have made a name for themselves as a club that excels at developing and selling on talented young players, with Matt O’Riley the latest player to benefit from the stepping stone.

As much as the Hoops would rather not be a middle ground for players who want to play in the major leagues across Europe, that is where they are and they have been making the most of that position over the last ten years or so.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Fraser Forster, Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele, and Kieran Tierney, among many others, all spent time in Glasgow before sealing moves across Europe.

Celtic sold Portuguese winger Jota to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad for £25m in the summer of 2023, and sold O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of more than £25m earlier this year.

This means that the Hoops have raked in more than £50m from two player sales since the start of last season, alongside the departues of Carl Starfelt and Liel Abada, to Celta Vigo and Charlotte respectively.

However, not every young player who arrives at Parkhead is able to make that next step, and they may be about to cash in on one who failed to establish himself in Glasgow.

The latest on Alexandro Bernabei's future

Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei was sent out on loan to Brazilian side Internacional back in March and is set to remain at the club until the turn of the year.

According to The Scottish Sun, Internacional would like to sign the 24-year-old full-back on a permanent deal in the upcoming January transfer window.

The report claims that they are due to fly to Europe for a number of recruitment meetings and they want to have talks with Celtic chiefs in order to thrash out an agreement to keep the defender on a permanent basis.

It states that his contract with the Scottish giants is not due to expire until the summer of 2027 and that puts the club in a relatively strong position in negotiations, as they are not under any pressure to cash in on him for an insignificant fee.

Bernabei joined the Hoops from Lanus for a reported fee of £3.75m in 2022 under Ange Postecoglou, and it remains to be seen how much of that they would be able to recoup from the Brazilian outfit.

Transfer Focus

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

One thing is for sure, though, and that is that Brendan Rodgers must ruthlessly cash in on the flop, as he reportedly earns £5.5k-per-week, which is even more than current first-team star Liam Scales.

How much Liam Scales earns for Celtic

The Ireland international reportedly earns £5k-per-week, £500 less each week in comparison to Bernabei, and has provided great value for that wage since the start of last season.

After his loan spell with Aberdeen in the 2022/23 campaign, Rodgers decided to provide the left-footed titan with an opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the Celtic first-team, and he grasped the opportunity with both hands.

He established a partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers and went on to play a whopping 45 senior games in all competitions last season for the Hoops.

The 26-year-old colossus played 34 times in the Scottish Premiership for the Bhoys and helped the team to keep 14 clean sheets, winning 63% of his duels against opposition attackers in that time.

His rock-solid performances at the heart of the defence earned him a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, alongside teammates Carter-Vickers, Callum McGregor, and Matt O’Riley.

Appearances

11

Sofascore rating

7.59

Clean sheets

8

Ground duel success rate

71%

Aerial duel success rate

77%

As you can see in the table above, Scales has also enjoyed a strong start to the current Premiership season, despite competition from Auston Trusty for his starting spot.

The Irish brute has been even more dominant than he was last term in the division, winning a higher percentage of his duels on the deck and in the air.

Scales’ 45 Premiership appearances, dominant displays, and Team of the Year inclusion, since the start of last season show that he has provided great value for his £5k-per-week, and the same cannot be said of Bernabei with his £5.5k-per-week.

Why Celtic should sell Bernabei

Rodgers must ruthlessly cash in on the Celtic dud when the January transfer window opens for business, amid these planned talks with Internacional, as he failed to make the grade during his time in Glasgow.

In the 2022/23 campaign, after being brought in by Postecoglou for £3.75m, Bernabei only managed 15 appearances, including nine starts, in the Premiership for the Scottish giants.

The left-footed defender was dribbled past 14 times in nine starts and gave away one penalty, whilst he also lost a whopping 60% of his physical duels, which shows that he was a liability defensively as opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him.

Bernabei was then handed eight league appearances by Rodgers in the 2023/24 campaign and was dribbled past five times and lost 53% of his duels in three starts.

His performances clearly did not impress the Northern Irish head coach, who sanctioned a loan move to Internacional from March until the end of 2024.

Appearances

19

Goals + assists

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

4.7

Dribbled past per game

1.3

Duel success rate

47%

As you can see in the table above, Bernabei has made a big impact in the final third from a left-back position in the Brazilian top-flight this year, and made numerous tackles and interceptions per game on average.

However, his issues with being dribbled past too often and losing the majority of his duels are still present, which does not suggest that he would fare much better if given another chance at Celtic.

Therefore, Rodgers should get this £5.5k-per-week wages off the books and attempt to recoup some of the £3.75m spent on him by cashing in on the flop at the earliest available opportunity.

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Celtic have been linked with an interest in a swoop for the in-form centre-forward.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 13, 2024

Derby County are very much dreaming of a Championship return at the end of this 46-game slog of a season, with the Rams beating fierce League One rivals Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at the weekend to tighten their grip on that coveted second automatic promotion spot.

Derby are now four points clear of the Trotters after leaving them in the dust at Pride Park, the fans packed into the home end in love with the set of players put together under Paul Warne after not-so-distant memories of the club nearly folding had troubled them.

Still, there's a whole plethora of talents from years gone by that are still very much in the hearts of those with connections to the promotion chasers who continued to shine even when times got ugly.

Casting an eye over those who have donned Derby white heroically in the 21st century, here is what an ideal Rams player would look like based on bits and pieces taken from top performers over the years…

1 Brain – Will Hughes

First up, possessing a great footballing brain is key to making it at the highest standard of football.

Will Hughes has seen that first hand since waving goodbye to Pride Park in 2017, going on to perform in the Premier League competently with both Watford and Crystal Palace.

The ex-Derby number 19 was never blessed with being able to score goals by the bucket load from the centre of the park but still managed to win supporters over with his stylish and calm displays all the same allowing the Rams to tick.

Hughes would bow out from Derbyshire tallying up 30 goals and assists in total from 187 appearances, with the now 28-year-old former youth product then relocating to Watford and then Palace in an aim to make it in the top-flight.

The 6 foot 1 midfielder is still in and around the Eagles' first-team set-up to this date, amassing 21 appearances this season as a relied-upon option who rarely puts a foot wrong.

2 Head – Richard Keogh

Although the centre-back trio at Pride Park currently in Sonny Bradley, Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin are often as solid as a rock, Derby fans will still hold Richard Keogh dear for his expertise in helping the Rams shut up shop in the past.

Keogh, who accumulated a staggering 356 appearances in the heart of defence for Derby before moving on to Huddersfield Town in 2022, was known to be a battler when it came to winning his fair share of aerial duels.

The decorated Rams servant would win 5.9 duels per game on average during the 2017/18 campaign – which saw Derby flirt with promotion to the top flight – with 3.5 aerial duels also managed that same season per match to show off his ability to be imposing and forceful.

The Irish centre-back would also chip in with 12 goals across his lengthy stay, immortalising himself as a hall-of-famer in the process.

3 Vision – Craig Bryson

Derby really have been blessed with silky central midfielders in recent memory, with current Manchester United flop Mason Mount starring on a loan spell from Chelsea for the Rams once upon a time alongside the aforementioned Hughes.

Yet, Craig Bryson's name could shine the brightest out of them all as an immensely talented former star.

Now retired at the age of 37, the Scotsman would notch up an impressive 246 appearances in the East Midlands with his eye for scoring and picking out a teammate with an assist second to none.

Bryson would be etched into Derby history for his pivotal contributions during the 2013/14 season, coming away from his fruitful 46 games that campaign with a combined goal and assist haul of 30.

In his prime, there was no one more trusted to come up trumps for Derby than this sparkling gem.

4 Strength – Fikayo Tomori

Going on to star in Italy with AC Milan in the present, Fikayo Tomori won't have forgotten his humble beginnings at Pride Park back in 2018 – the loan switch proving to be a formative experience that has since set him on the path to stardom.

Tomori's adoring supporters that same season he was on the books at Derby will still fondly recollect the ex-Chelsea's man time with the club too, with the now 26-year-old showcasing his brute strength to nullify any attackers in this path in the Championship even as a youngster.

The 6 foot 1 centre-back would pick up ten clean sheets from his 44 appearances, winning six duels on average per contest.

5 Hands – Scott Carson

Amazingly still on the roster at Manchester City as a reserve figure at 38 years of age, Scott Carson's hay day as a goalkeeper was arguably at Derby.

The former England international would be everpresent over the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons in the East Midlands, picking up a respectable 36 clean sheets along the way.

Commanding a certain level of authority in between the sticks as a shot-stopper who had tasted top-flight football before relocating to Derby, Carson was the textbook definition of a safe pair of gloves during his celebrated time at Pride Park.

6 Pace – Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

The first player listed from Warne's current selection of promotion chasers, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's pace from down the channels this season have been an effective calling card for his team in clutch moments.

Mendez-Laing's strike away at Exeter in the middle of February demonstrated his frightening burst of pace, racing through on the counter-attack with venom to slot home Derby's second goal in Devon.

Warne and Co have been blessed with the fact their ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man knows where the back of the net alongside being rapid, the 31-year-old onto nine goals for the campaign alongside 18 assists.

7 Right foot – Tom Lawrence

Tom Lawrence's golden right foot, whilst routinely hugging the left-hand flank for Derby, would catch so many teams off-guard when the current Rangers man was still at Pride Park.

His knack of scoring blinding strikes at crucial times would see him accumulate 37 goals from 185 games in Rams white, often attempting the audacious and having it pay off.

Derby fans will still hate the fact Lawrence would leave Pride Park on a free transfer after being so important, but they will always cherish how impactful he once was.

8 Left foot – Louie Sibley

Derby fans will know that there could soon come a time where Louie Sibley is the next on the conveyor belt of homegrown talents to leave the building, with the 22-year-old's adaptability at filling gaps in the team making him a much-loved asset for Warne.

Sibley has starred down the left wing this season where he feels most comfortable, scoring against Port Vale earlier this month from this spot to help the Rams thump their lowly opponents 3-0.

Whilst the likes of Mendez-Laing and James Collins have stolen the headlines for the League One side, Sibley has been equally as crucial in Derby striving to win promotion, with seven goals and three assists thus far.