All posts by z3u9t.icu

After failing to secure European football last season, Newcastle United will have to spend big this summer in order to continue their quest to be the disruptors to the Premier League's traditional big six.

Toon target new talents this summer

If Newcastle want to prove that 2022/23's fourth-placed finish was not just a one-off, they will have to make major improvements in a number of areas this summer.

Newcastle have "been offered" chance to sign £258k-a-week "phenomenon"

A journalist has made a huge summer transfer claim.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 15, 2024

A fresh face between the sticks appears near the top of the Magpies' shopping list with Newcastle set to secure a deal for Burnley shot stopper James Trafford in the coming days. A fee of around £20million has been reporedly agreed for the young keeper to return to the Premier League.

Newcastle are also eager to bolster their defence with the most recent rumours seeing AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori linked with a move to Tyneside. The Italian giants are said to want £42 million for the England international, a reasonable price for a player of his quality.

With incomings the priority at St James' Park, there is the assumption that departures will be necessary in order to ward off any FFP sanctions. With this in mind, it appears that one Toon talent is at the top of the shortlist for one of Europe's top clubs.

Newcastle man top target for European giants

As first reported by Sport Witness, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has stated that Newcastle's Yankuba Minteh is a target for Borussia Dortmund this summer.

After last week saw Dortmund solve their issues in the dugout by parting ways with Edin Terzic and promoting his assistant Nuri Sahin, the German outfit are now eager to dip into the transfer market and improve upon the squad that made it to the Champions League final last season.

Minteh is one of many names reported to be of "serious" interest to Dortmund with the Gambian winger seen as a back-up option if the club cannot agree a permanent deal for Jadon Sancho.

The 19-year-old spent the last season on loan at Dutch side Feyenoord, contributing ten goals and six assists as his side finished second in the Eredivisie. The winger certainly impressed during his time in the Netherlands, ranking as one of the best performing players in his position.

Non-penalty goals

0.62

97th percentile

Assists

0.31

87th percentile

Progressive carries

7.85

98th percentile

Successful take-ons

3.65

98th percentile

Shots total

3.46

93rd percentile

It was his time with Feyenoord that saw Minteh catch the eye of then manager Arne Slot. Now at the helm of Premier League rivals Liverpool, Slot sang the praises of his player back in 2023 telling the press: ”He certainly doesn’t lack self-confidence, his willingness to give everything is enormous."

“When we see his statistics, it is really impressive… he is incredibly fast. And he wants it so badly."

With offloading talent to satisfy FFP a key part of Newcastle's strategy this summer, Minteh may have to be sacrificed in order to fund much needed reforcements at St James' Park.

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

Crystal Palace enjoyed a spectacular end to the Premier League season under new boss Oliver Glasner, winning seven of their last 14 games and beating sides like Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester United.

This incredible uptick in form and excitement around the manager means that this summer's transfer window could be one of the most important ones for the club for a very long time as they look to build on the positive momentum.

Luckily for fans, Steve Parish and Co have been proactive in this regard, and based on recent reports, the latest player touted for a move to Selhurst Park could help make winter signing Adam Wharton even better.

Crystal Palace transfer news

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Japanese international Daichi Kamada has completed the first part of his medical at Crystal Palace and will sign a two-year deal very "soon."

Romano has revealed that the Eagles agreed to sign the experienced midfielder on a free after his short-term deal with Italian side Lazio was completed and that Glasner "strongly wanted" the player.

The 27-year-old was a vital part of the Austrian's Europa League-winning Eintracht Frankfurt side in 2022.

Kamada's experience and longstanding relationship with the manager can only benefit Palace and, in particular, the club's impressive midfield prospect, Wharton.

How Kamada could improve Wharton

Since his arrival in February, Wharton quickly established himself as one of the most important players in Glasner's team, starting 94% of Premier League games and playing 91% of league minutes.

He's not a goal threat, with no goals and three assists in those 16 matches, but he has shown himself to be an imposing central and defensive midfielder for the South Londoners.

In fact, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Englishman sits in the top 5% of central midfielders for tackles, which could help explain his surprise inclusion in England's Euro 2024 squad.

So, with it evident that the Blackburn-born gem thrives best in a slightly more defensive role, Kamada can help make him even more effective due to his attacking ability.

The Japanese veteran would be the central midfielder looking to advance up the pitch in games, allowing his young partner to focus on and further develop his strengths.

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 4% of midfielders for touches in the opposition's penalty area, and when looking at his career overall, he's started far more games as an attacking midfielder than any other position – 212, to be exact.

Moreover, he was a consistent attacking threat during his time in Germany, registering 40 goals and 33 assists in 179 games for Frankfurt. However, he reached another level in his final campaign with the club, in which he scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in 47 games.

Appearances

179

Goals

40

Assists

33

Goal Involvements per Match

0.40

Lastly, while his ability to shoulder the attacking burden would certainly help Wharton develop, Kamada would also be a brilliant role model for the youngster, as when talking about him prior, Glasner couldn't have been more complimentary: "I've only rarely encountered such an intelligent player out on the pitch. Daichi's sense of anticipation for where dangerous spaces will open up is excellent."

Ultimately, while he might not be a name overly familiar to fans in England, Palace might be about to sign the perfect player to help their up-and-coming youngster develop further.

£34m trio sign, Eze gone: What Crystal Palace's XI could look like in 24/25

The Eagles might be without one of their star men next year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 9, 2024

Newcastle United have now reportedly set their sights on signing a Ligue midfielder if they fail in their pursuit to welcome young star Kees Smit in 2026.

Newcastle set to make Kees Smit move

It’s a fairly open secret that Newcastle are after a midfield reinforcement in 2026. The trio of Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali is undoubtedly impressive, but as Joelinton continues to struggle, Eddie Howe could certainly do with some quality in depth to make a change.

Names like Alex Toth have emerged on the Magpies’ radar in recent months as a result, though it seems like Smit remains top of their midfield shortlist.

Reports have even claimed that Newcastle are set to make their move to sign the AZ Alkmaar star, despite competition from the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Such interest could hand those at St James’ Park some fresh Déjà vu after missing out on several big names in the summer. It’s only now that Howe is beginning to get his full squad together following the chaos of the summer window and instant injury to Yoane Wissa.

The Newcastle boss welcomed his forward into the squad for the first time on Saturday, telling reporters: “He’s got a lot more work to do to get to the very best level that he can. We hope to keep him available by managing correctly.

He once cost £38.5m: Newcastle plot concrete move to sign "brilliant" PL star

He desperately needs a move.

ByTom Cunningham 5 days ago

With Wissa back, the Magpies and their manager can turn their full attention towards avoiding a repeat of the summer chaos even if they miss out on Smit.

Newcastle eyeing move to sign Kevin Danois

According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle have now set their sights on signing Kevin Danois if they fail to sign Smit in 2026. The AJ Auxerre midfielder has emerged as an ideal alternative as the Tyneside club continue to plan ahead.

Compared to Joao Neves and dubbed “intelligent” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Newcastle would be wise to instantly move for Danois if they miss out on their Smit next year.

The Magpies have seemingly learned from last summer and have identified a cheaper alternative who is yet to attract the same intense interest as their main target. Whether they’re forced to turn towards the Ligue 1 star remains to be seen, however.

Newcastle star was entering Obertan territory, now he's their "best player"

Liverpool have now launched their first approach to sign a much-needed right-back target, who could arrive at Anfield or in North London as a free agent.

Arne Slot admits shock at "ridiculous" Liverpool form

It has been a disastrous run for Liverpool, with their 3-0 loss against Nottingham Forest proving to be their most shocking result yet. After eight defeats in 11 games, the champions are on course for one of the worst title defences in Premier League history, despite spending over £400m in the summer.

With PSV Eindhoven up next, Arne Slot has admitted just how shocked he’s been by his side’s form and went onto describe it as “ridiculous” in his pre-match press conference.

The Champions League has often been a saving grace for Liverpool this season. Their victory over Real Madrid last time out proved to be somewhat of a false dawn before their Premier League return, but the Reds now have the chance to pick up where they left off in Europe, at the very least.

They will, however, be without an out-and-out right-back yet again following Conor Bradley’s injury to join Jeremie Frimpong on the sidelines. It is a problem that Liverpool must solve and one that could yet see Zeki Celik arrive.

Liverpool launch approach to sign Zeki Celik

According to TeamTalk’s Rudi Galetti, Liverpool have launched an approach to sign Celik in a transfer battle with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, all of whom have made contact.

The right-back is on course to become a free agent when his contract expires next summer and could yet provide a solution for Slot by finally replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 28-year-old, at the peak of his powers, recently earned the praise of Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella, who told reporters: “He’s the perfect player for any coach.

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

Perfect for Isak: Liverpool make £122m sensation their "dream target"

Liverpool need to make changes in the transfer market once again.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

The AS Roma man is also capable of playing centre-back in what would kill two birds with one stone for Slot, who currently has just three senior centre-backs to choose from which includes the injury-prone Joe Gomez.

Instead of Gakpo: Liverpool can unlock Isak by unleashing homegrown Semenyo

Chelsea take on Burnley this weekend as Enzo Maresca looks to spearhead a possible Premier League title challenge, with the Blues lying just six points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

Chelsea travel to Turf Moor on Saturday looking to maintain their impressive form against the top flight newcomers.

The Blues currently sit third in the Premier League table, having enjoyed an unbeaten run of four games in all competitions before the international break. Despite some criticism, perhaps overblown at times, Chelsea are in pretty good stead right now, having lost just three times in their 12 outings.

The visitors will be strong favourites against a Burnley side languishing in 17th, with the Clarets enduring four defeats in their last six league games. They haven’t even kept a clean sheet in their previous three, and even more concerning for Scott Parker’s side, Burnley now have the third-worst defence in the division this campaign with 22 goals conceded in 11 matches.

However, Chelsea’s title challenge has been hampered by injuries, particularly to their talismanic forward Cole Palmer.

Palmer has been plagued by a niggling groin issue which even caused him problems at the Club World Cup, limiting him to just four appearances in all competitions this season. Maresca confirmed Palmer would miss another six weeks before the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest last month, though Chelsea are hoping the England international will be back from injury to face Arsenal on November 30 (Simon Phillips).

Injuries and absentees have been a key theme of their campaign so far, with Palmer, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, Roméo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Andrey Santos and Josh Acheampong all missing games at various points so far.

This has prompted Maresca to make the most squad rotations of any Premier League manager so far this season with 93, and it could well be a symptom of their extensive fixture schedule last campaign.

Their current injury list includes Palmer, Essugo, Colwill, Badiashile, Lavia and Neto, with Fernandez ruling himself out of Argentina duty as well.

The latter, who has dazzled since Maresca’s arrival as a key linchpin of Chelsea’s midfield, has now become a crucial player for the west Londoners.

Fernandez is attracting interest from Real Madrid as a result, according to some reports, and supporters have been waiting for an update when it comes to his condition.

Chelsea given Enzo Fernández update ahead of Burnley

According to journalist Simon Phillips, the situation is fairly positive.

While Fernandez has been struggling with knee pain, it is believed that the 24-year-old is expected to be available for Chelsea’s trip to Lancashire this weekend in what is a big boost for Maresca’s side.

Fernandez has emerged as a ‘leader’ at Chelsea who has ‘a bit of everything’, as per Sky pundit Micah Richards, and he’s poised to play a crucial role in Chelsea’s hunt for major silverware.

With Barcelona in the Champions League just days after Burnley and Arsenal the weekend after, having Fernandez fit and firing will be absolutely pivotal.

The midfielder has been deployed in an attacking position when Chelsea are in possession, but drops back alongside Moises Caicedo to defend without the ball, creating a hybrid role that has seriously unlocked Fernandez’s true potential after initially failing to justify his £107 million price tag.

Remarkably, Fernandez is the only player at Chelsea to have 20 direct goal contributions in 2025, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists, with Maresca describing him as an ‘example’ to the team.

Just a matter of weeks ago Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim cut a forlorn figure.

He looked ready to give up. The Red Devils were a sinking ship and Amorim was being engulfed by the stress and pressures of being the top man at Old Trafford.

Yet, he has turned a corner and all of a sudden, United look in the hunt for a top four berth, pouncing on the inconsistencies of the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in recent weeks.

United have now only lost one of their last six matches and have only dropped points in one of their last four outings. It’s an amazing run of form considering how the Amorim era has played out to date.

The Portuguese’s side still have room for improvement, of course they do, but it’s impossible to deny that he isn’t a good coach. He has, after all, managed to revive the careers of Luke Shaw and in-form midfielder Casemiro.

Yet, while the Brazilian has now found the net in successive matches, his companion in defence, Diogo Dalot continues to struggle. United have improved but they still have issues.

Why Dalot has become a big problem for Manchester United

When Amorim was first given the job, he came to English football with a clear style and philosophy. He traditionally plays with a three-man defence, utilising wing-backs to provide the width.

That area of the field is a pivotal one for the manager and it beggars belief that they haven’t strengthened more there.

Amad Diallo has found a home at right wing-back, notably scoring in the draw with Nottingham Forest and striking up a fine partnership with Bryan Mbeumo down the flanks.

Sadly, the left flank continues to be a big problem. Patrick Dorgu is the only senior wing-back that INEOS have signed since Amorim was appointed but the young Dane has not covered himself in much glory since joining.

As a result, alternative solutions have been sought, one of which has been Dalot.

The Portugal international has featured at left-back of left wing-back on 34 occasions in Man United colours but it’s safe to say he’s far more competent on the right.

Dalot was particularly poor at The City Ground a few days ago with the Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston handing the defender a 3/10 rating, writing that ‘there are always question marks around Dalot when he plays on the left side and he was exposed at various stages of the contest.’

Minutes played

68

Touches

43

Accurate passes

21/24 (88%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/2

Shots

0

Possession lost

12x

Tackles

1

Interceptions

2

Clearances

3

Dorgu has by no means been much better on the left but he is at least more natural in that position and will give Amorim the rampaging style of play he prefers from his wing-backs.

So, what’s the solution? Well, perhaps there’s one lying in wait at Carrington.

Identifying Man United's Diogo Dalot solution

The most obvious solution here is to exclusively field the 26-year-old on the right, but with Amad having made that position his own in 2025/26, it really does feel as though Dalot is on borrowed time at Old Trafford.

Couple that with some of the young talent United have coming through and the future certainly looks bleak for Dalot.

One talent coming through is Diego Leon and they must start to hand him more minutes before they risk an Alvaro Carreras repeat.

The wing-back has gone around the houses to reach Real Madrid, going via Preston North End and suffering from Erik ten Hag’s rejection before ending up at the world’s most famous football club.

Ten Hag never played him. In fact, Carreras never featured in a single competitive game for United before leaving. That said, he’s been able to thrive away from Manchester and is now seriously catching the eye for Madrid after leaving Benfica behind in a deal worth a whopping £43m.

The fact he left United for just £5m must now leave a seriously bad taste in the mouth of those at Old Trafford.

Carreras has been in the news of late after scoring his first Real goal just last week, belting the ball home in quite some fashion.

The 22-year-old has become a mainstay in Xabi Alonso’s side this season, starting every LaLiga game and playing more minutes (981) than any outfield player in the Bernabeu ranks.

As some have suggested on social media, he is now regarded as “one of the best full-backs in the world”, notably ranking inside the top 2% of wide defenders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes per 90 minutes and among the best 9% for interceptions per 90, according to FBRef.

What might have been for United, eh, but perhaps they have another version of Carreras in the academy?

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Step forward Leon, signed from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno for just £3.3m in the summer. An exciting wing-back, he is yet to feature competitively for United but looks like he has the potential to thrive in the Premier League before too long.

For the U23s this season, the 18-year-old has played just three times but he’s already found the back of the net. Like Carreras’ goal for Madrid, it was a remarkable effort too.

The teenager has been in the matchday squad in the Premier League on three occasions and it is surely only a matter of time before we see him in action. After all, Dalot’s position is under threat and Dorgu is yet to convince many.

So, what’s so exciting about the young Paraguayan? Well, as analyst Ben Mattinson outlines, he is a “powerhouse”.

Revealing more about the wing-back, Mattinson noted that “the standout trait of Leon is his physicality”, adding that “with a broad, compact build he’s able to dominate duels with real aggression despite his young age.”

But, Leon isn’t just about winning duels, something that is vital in the English top-flight. The defender is also strong going forward. Mattinson further commented that Leon “is a powerful runner who takes on players with explosiveness and directness.”

So, he’s got the powerful running style that Dorgu possesses but pivotally, he also looks like a very strong defender.

Whisper it quietly but the teen looks as though he’s got all the raw attributes needed to be a success in English football. Watch out Dalot and Dorgu, Leon is coming for your place.

Southampton are now eyeing Russell Martin as a replacement for Will Still, who was dismissed on Sunday night, but there could be competition for his signature from their Championship rivals.

After being relegated from the Premier League last season, the Saints were expected to mount a promotion push, but it has been nothing short of a terrible start to the campaign, having taken just 12 points from their opening 13 matches.

The 2-0 defeat at home to Preston North End was the final straw for Sport Republic, who relieved Still of his duties on Saturday, and Under-21s head coach Tonda Eckert has now emerged as a contender for the first-team manager’s job.

It would be a gamble to appoint Eckert, however, given that he is just 32-years-old and yet to prove himself at senior level, and an external appointment is also being considered…

Southampton eyeing Russell Martin to replace Will Still

According to journalist Alan Nixon (via GiveMeSport) Southampton are now eyeing former manager Martin as a replacement for Still, with the 39-year-old on standby for a swift return to management, having recently been dismissed by Scottish giants Rangers.

The Saints are not the only Championship club that hold an interest, however, with it being revealed that Norwich City are also considering the Englishman, given that there are doubts over Liam Manning’s future.

The Brighton-born manager is available without any compensation, which means he is an appealing option for the two Championship clubs, who could do battle for his services.

In truth, the former Rangers manager’s spell at Ibrox was a complete disaster, being sacked after just 17 games in charge, making him the shortest-serving permanent boss in the Scottish side’s history.

That said, the “exciting” manager, as hailed by analyst John Walker, could still be a good appointment for Southampton, considering the work he did at St. Mary’s previously, guiding them to promotion in the play-off final in the 2023-24 campaign.

The ex-Swansea City boss, who prefers to implement a 4-3-3 system, is also very experienced at Championship level, having taken charge of 138 second tier matches.

Games

138

Wins

60

Draws

34

Losses

44

Points per match

1.55

That said, it would arguably be a backwards step to appoint Martin, given that he was sacked by the Saints less than one year ago, after being unable to make the step-up to the Premier League, with his side losing 13 of their opening 16 Premier League games.

Southampton plotting move for James Ward-Prowse in January He's been told to leave: Southampton now plotting move to sign £30m PL star

The Saints could pull off an impressive move.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 2, 2025

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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1 ByDan Emery Nov 13, 2024

Just a matter of weeks ago it looked like Chelsea were in the title race but things have rather unravelled for Enzo Maresca and Co in recent weeks.

The Blues did pick up a point against Arsenal with ten men but results since then have been bleak, losing 3-1 to Leeds United and drawing 0-0 with Bournemouth.

Cole Palmer’s return to fitness has been timely, but according to the manager, he’s still not up to full speed just yet.

The latest Chelsea injury news

Palmer returned from the bench against Bournemouth at the weekend but in a fresh blow to Maresca and Co they have decided that the attacking midfielder will not travel with the squad for the Champions League trip to Atalanta.

That said, no fresh injury has been sustained. The manager has confirmed the forward is simply being rested as part of his recovery.

Palmer had missed a period courtesy of a groin injury and then had to spend an extra week out after breaking a toe at home.

That said, he is now slowly working himself back. Maresca said: “Cole is in part of his process in this moment. He’s not available, he can’t play two games in a row in three days. So we planned that, and it’s just a way to protect him.”

As far as Liam Delap is concerned, the news isn’t ideal there. The striker injured his shoulder against the Cherries and will now miss a period of time.

Commenting on the striker’s situation, the Chelsea boss stated: “Liam, fortunately, there is not any fracture, so that is good news. In terms of how long he will be out, we are not sure at this stage to be honest.”

What Delap's injury means for Chelsea

Well, it certainly means that Joao Pedro is likely to play a lot of minutes over the festive period and there could well be a rare slice of minutes for Marc Guiu who has barely kicked a ball this season after being recalled from his early-season loan spell with Sunderland.

That said, it’s unlikely we’ll see a recall for a certain Raheem Sterling who remains out in the cold alongside centre-back Axel Disasi.

A January exit looms for both players and it would be a surprise if we saw either in a Chelsea shirt again.

Maresca said in his press conference: “In terms of Raheem, once again it’s the same thing I said about Axel, they are Chelsea players. Now also we are in December, January is coming, so anything can happen, obviously.”

Sterling signed at Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £47.5m back in the summer of 2022 but has not lived up to expectations, scoring just 19 goals in 81 outings. A season-long loan spell with Arsenal in 2024/25 failed to get his career back on track either.

As for Disasi, he had a loan spell with Aston Villa in the back end of last campaign but has not been seen in Chelsea blue this season. He once cost the club a whopping £38.5m but there is seemingly no way back for him.

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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago