Aston Villa are fighting to secure more arrivals after a disappointing start to the campaign and have now made a proposal to sign a renowned star, according to a report.
Aston Villa move on from defeat at Brentford
Truthfully, there wasn’t much to write home about from a positive perspective as the Villans slumped to a 1-0 defeat away to Brentford last weekend, which has left them with a point from their first two Premier League encounters.
Unai Emery has been frustrated in his quest to add quality reinforcements in the West Midlands this summer and made it clear that his side need to improve several aspects of their game after a hapless afternoon in West London.
Aston Villa manager UnaiEmeryduring a lap of honour
He told BBC Sport: “We reacted well to going behind, we created chances but didn’t score. There are some things tactically we need to improve. In the first half and second half we had chances to score. We had corners and we had a lot of crosses. Yes, it was a clear mistake (that saw Villa go behind). We are not like we want. Today we are very disappointed with the result.”
Nevertheless, there is no time for Aston Villa to dwell and recruiting quality reinforcements will be the priority before the deadline next Monday.
Reacting with urgency, Emery has initiated contact with Chelsea over a move for Christopher Nkunku, who could potentially offer a valuable alternative through the middle to Ollie Watkins as their attacking frailties continue to show on the pitch.
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Nicolas Jackson and Geny Catamo are also on Aston Villa’s radar in the final stages of the market, though it may well be midfield where NSWE look to add a statement reinforcement ahead of the deadline.
Aston Villa make proposal for Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot
According to L’Equipe, Aston Villa have made an approach for Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who may be on the market after one campaign at the Stade Velodrome due to a well-publicised bust-up with teammate Jonathan Rowe.
Galatasaray, West Ham United, Inter Milan and other clubs from Italy are keen on the World Cup finalist. However, their sporting director Medhi Benatia has no more relations with Rabiot and his mother amid recent events under Roberto De Zerbi’s watch.
Previously impressing at the Ligue 1 giants, the 30-year-old has registered ten goals and six assists in 32 appearances across all competitions, though it remains to be seen whether he will be available at a suitable price.
With the end of the window in sight, Aston Villa are targeting a statement finish and Rabiot would certainly fit the bill as someone who could move the needle in the West Midlands.
Glasgow Rangers head into the first international break of the season after drawing all four of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership.
It has not been an ideal start for the Ibrox giants or Russell Martin, who will have to wait until the middle of September, at least, before grabbing his first win in charge of the club.
There were some positives for the Gers in their 0-0 draw with Celtic, including the debut of Bojan Miovski as discussed in the clip above and a clean sheet, but there were also some worrying performances.
Thelo Aasgaard was selected to play in the number ten role for the Gers behind the Macedonia international, and failed to impress in an attacking sense.
Thelo Aasgaard's performance in numbers
The Norway international, who signed from Luton Town on a permanent deal this summer, was unable to offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, as he ended the game with zero shots on target and zero key passes, per Sofascore.
Aasgaard was also unreliable in possession, completing just 57% of his attempted passes, and Martin may not have been happy with how sloppy he was on the ball.
The former Wigan Athletic star was, however, a physical outlet for Rangers. He won nine duels, including eight of his 12 on the ground, and won two tackles without being dribbled past a single time.
Performance in Numbers
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Aasgaard put himself about and was up for the scrap defensively, which helped Rangers to avoid losing too many 50/50s, and was far from the worst performer for the Gers.
Martin's possible tactical mistake for Rangers against Celtic
One player who was even worse than Aasgaard against Celtic was left-sided attacker Mikey Moore, who was unable to cause Anthony Ralston many problems.
Ahead of the match, Ralston appeared to be the weak link in the Hoops defence due to the injury to first-choice Alistair Johnston. Despite that, Martin opted to move Djeidi Gassama over to the right flank to accommodate Moore on the left.
Gassama has scored four goals and provided one assist in nine appearances as a left winger for Rangers this season, which is why it seemed like he would be the most obvious option to take the game to Ralston and expose him on that side.
Minutes
72
Pass accuracy
44%
Shots on target
0
Key passes
0
Dribbles completed
1/3
Crosses completed
0/1
Duels won
4/9
As you can see in the table above, Moore did not take the game to the Scotland international and put in a disappointing all-round performance on the left flank, failing with 66.6% of his dribbles and completing just 44% of his passes.
That tactical decision also put Gassama out on the right, on his right foot, and meant that he struggled to take Kieran Tierney on down the outside in tight spaces, leaving Rangers too one-dimensional going forward.
In the end, the poor decisions in the wide areas heavily contributed to the team’s failure to create a single ‘big chance’ in the game, which left Miovski starved of service.
This is why Martin’s call to put Moore, who had an underwhelming afternoon, in on the left ahead of the usually electric Gassama was one that cost Rangers the win, as they were unable to take advantage of Johnston’s injury at right-back.
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Whilst it is not a guarantee that Gassama would have won the game for Rangers, his statistics as a left-winger suggest that there was a good chance that he would have made a big impact and could have sealed all three points with a moment of magic.
Will Graham Potter secure any more new signings before the start of West Ham United’s Premier League campaign?
So far this summer, the cash-strapped Hammers have brought in both Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters on free transfers, while El Hadji Malick Diouf has arrived from Slavia Prague for a reported fee of £19m.
However, given that Mohammed Kudus has been sold to Tottenham for around £55m, the Irons are still in the market for midfield reinforcements, so have they pinpointed their prime target?
West Ham's search for a new midfielder
Earlier this week, it was reported that West Ham had identified Jacob Ramsey as their ‘top target’, willing to spend around £30m to secure the signature of the midfielder.
However, it was claimed that Aston Villa value the 24-year-old at close to £43m, with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham also purportedly interested, meaning this certainly will not be an easy deal to finalise.
Thus, potentially in need of an alternative, Football Insider reports that the Hammers are ‘plotting a late-window move’ for Mateus Fernandes of Southampton, adding that the Saints are ‘reluctant’ to sell, but the Portuguese under-21 international is ‘keen’ to return to the Premier League, following his side’s relegation.
It’ll therefore be interesting to see if he is involved in their EFL Championship opener against Wrexham at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Fernandes joined Southampton from Sporting CP for £15m as recently as last August, but there claims he could fetch as much as £50m, which would make him West Ham’s record signing, surpassing the record of £45m held by Sébastien Haller.
Of course, the later into the window we get, if Fernandes pushes for a move, potentially the stronger West Ham’s negotiating position gets, so could the 21 year old soon swap the South Coast for the East End of London?
What Mateus Fernandes would bring to West Ham
Fernandes joined Sporting Clube de Portugal at the age of 12, and is the latest product of their academy forecast to go to the top.
He actually made just ten appearances for Sporting, his only goal in green and white hoops coming against Farense in the Taça da Liga group stages, spending the 2023/24 season on loan at fellow-Primeira Liga outfit Estoril Praia, before Southampton were convinced to sign him.
Analyst Ben Mattinson is certainly a fan, labelling him a “massive talent’, outlining that “passing” and “vision” are his key attributes, adding that he is a “solid ball-winner” and a “press-resistant midfielder”.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, asserting that he is a “big talent” who is definitely capable of remaining at Premier League level, while Kevin Araújo Fernandes of Breaking the Lines adds that he is ‘capable of covering ground with real intensity’, making him an ‘extremely talented’ all-round midfielder.
Ahead of Southampton’s visit to Old Trafford in January, Rúben Amorim, who was his manager at Sporting, described Fernandes as a “really good player” who is able to “overload the midfield” from wide areas, a skillset that should translate well to Potter’s West Ham team.
Nevertheless, the question remains: how does Fernandes compare to the Hammers’ other top midfield target Ramsey? Let’s find out.
Appearances
42
45
Minutes
3,365
2,074
Goals
3
4
Assists
6
7
All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:
Shots
0.7
0.7
Shots on target %
63.64%
33.33%
Chances created
1.1
1.1
Big chances created
0.18
0.28
Passes attempted
38.2
31.5
Duels contested
12
9
Tackles
2.8
1.7
Clearances
1
0.5
Interceptions
0.9
0.5
Ball recoveries
5.6
4.6
Touches
59
46
Average SofaScore rating
6.95
6.87
Caveats required for both: Ramsey’s minutes were limited last season due to injury and lack of selection, while Fernandes was playing for one of the worst teams in Premier League history, with Southampton collecting an ignominious 12 points.
With that out the way, the Portuguese midfielder’s underlying statistics are almost universally more impressive across the board, ranging from passing and touches, to out-of-possession metrics, namely duels, tackles, ball recoveries and interceptions.
The fact Southampton struggled so much may directly correlate as to why Fernandes’ defensive metrics were so high but, with many forecasting a tough campaign for West Ham too, this could certainly be useful.
Thus, if the Hammers are able to secure the highly-rated Portuguese youngster for a reasonable fee, he would surely prove to be a shrewd addition.
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Everton are in new hands under the Friedkin Group and have made contact over a potential new arrival that could pitch up at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, according to reports.
Everton circling for more new signings
Thierno Barry, Carlos Alcaraz and Mark Travers have kicked off what is expected to be a summer of change at Everton. However, David Moyes still has plenty of work to do before his side are capable of pushing on in the Premier League.
Over the weekend, a surprise defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park wasn’t a satisfactory outcome for anyone concerned with the club, but pre-season is nothing more than laying the groundwork to make sure fitness is up to scratch once the competitive campaign kicks off in earnest.
Reports suggest Manchester City duo Jack Grealish and James McAtee are on Everton’s shortlist to beef up their creative options centrally and out wide, even if both players will attract a plethora of interest this summer from several different clubs.
Delivering his slant on their need for inventiveness, Paul Robinson believes the Toffees could win the race to sign Tom Fellows from West Bromwich Albion despite Leeds United’s admiration due to the fact Moyes was keen to bring him to Merseyside in January.
He stated: “Leeds have bolstered their defence, so I’m hoping they’re building from the floor upwards. Tom Fellows would fit that bill, he’d be a great signing, but Everton are ahead because of where they were in January with him.
Everton’s first five fixtures of the Premier League season
Leeds United (A)
Elland Road
Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
Hill Dickinson Stadium
Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
Molineux
Aston Villa (H)
Hill Dickinson Stadium
Liverpool (A)
Anfield
“I do think he’ll go in this window because of the length of his contract. This is where West Brom are going to get a big fee for him.”
However, Moyes will also be keen to strengthen his defensive line, and he may be making progress towards achieving that feat if reports are to be believed.
Everton make contact for Atletico Mineiro defender Lyanco
According to Globo, Everton have made contact over Atletico Mineiro defender Lyanco to ask for information about his situation at the Brazilian giants.
Southampton defender Lyanco.
His current employers have set up a meeting with his camp to discuss his current predicament, and the outlet claim Olympiacos and Al Duhail are also monitoring the state of play with keen interest.
Lyanco vs Everton in 2023 – how did he get on against Dominic Calvert-Lewin?
Most remember Lyanco for his time at Southampton, and he previously shone against Everton in a 2-1 win for the Saints at Goodison Park, where Dominic Calvert-Lewin failed to score or provide an assist.
Labelled a “fantastic character” by Ralph Hasenhuttl, he would arrive with the carrot of Premier League experience and is coming off the back of a positive Club World Cup, which is said to have alerted suitors.
Lyanco has scored four times in 27 appearances this season, but it remains to be seen whether he would be an ideal fit for an Everton squad in need of upgrades on existing personnel.
Even before the summer transfer window opened, Manchester United entered the off-season with one clear goal: improve the forward line ahead of 2025/26.
Such a task needed to be undertaken after the Red Devils only managed to score 44 times in their 38 Premier League outings during the most recent campaign.
Ruben Amorim has showcased his desire to improve the current situation, making multiple moves to land Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively.
Mbeumo
Whilst the pair notched 35 combined goals in the Premier League last season, other additions are still being pursued within the final third before the end of the summer window.
Given the climate of the current window, a new talisman would likely cost a pretty penny, but that hasn’t stopped the hierarchy from targeting numerous players over recent days.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions
Moise Kean has been a player firmly on United’s radar throughout the current window, even making contact with Fiorentina over a deal to land the Italian striker.
However, if they are to land a deal for the 25-year-old during the current window, they will have to pay over the odds, after his £44m release clause expired on the 15th of July.
Fiorentina'sMoiseKean
He’s not the only player who’s currently in their sights at present, with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins once again a player they’re interested in, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
The journalist claimed that the Red Devils have held talks over a move for the 29-year-old star, after he scored 16 league goals last campaign.
He also claims that Unai Emery’s side see the England international as not for sale during the ongoing transfer window, potentially making any deal for his signature somewhat harder.
Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Sesko
Alongside a deal for Watkins, the United hierarchy have been targeting a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in an attempt to complete their hunt for a new centre-forward.
Benjamin Sesko 2024-25 stats (timeless)
The Slovenian has been a key target for numerous sides this summer, but the Red Devils could be about to have a free run at his services after Arsenal and Liverpool opted for other targets.
He could prove to be a viable option for Amorim’s men, after he bagged 21 goals across all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit throughout 2024/25.
At just 22, he has bags of time to develop into an elite-level talisman, but any move could prove to be a huge risk given his current £67m asking price.
As a result, it would make Watkins a cheaper option for the hierarchy, whilst also providing a more experienced Premier League option in the club’s hunt to return to their former glory.
The Englishman did register more league goals last time around, subsequently offering a bigger goal threat, with his underlying stats also just as impressive.
Watkins, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in Europe” by boss Emery, also posted a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, subsequently taking advantage of more chances that fall his way in front of goal.
Games played
38
33
Goals scored
16
13
Shot on target accuracy
44%
43%
Goals per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Pass accuracy
72%
67%
Key passes made
0.8
0.7
Carries into opposition box
1.3
0.5
Progressive carries
1.9
1.7
He also completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst posting a higher key passes per 90 tally, able to provide fellow new additions Cunha and Mbeumo with chances in the final third.
The Englishman’s talents are further reflected in his tally of carries into the final third per 90, able to create his own chances rather than being reliant upon others around him.
Given the difference in the stats and price tag, Watkins would evidently be the better addition for United during the current transfer window, subsequently bolstering their chances of success next season.
If he can replicate the levels he’s produced at Villa Park, it would be a phenomenal addition and one that would inject the added dimension Amorim is hunting for in his forward line.
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Leeds United officially completed their third signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday when they unveiled Sebastiaan Bornauw as their new centre-back.
The Belgian giant has joined on a four-year contract on a permanent deal from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, following the arrivals of Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha.
Bornauw played 15 times for Wolfsburg in the German top-flight last season and will provide competition to the likes of Bijol, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Pascal Struijk in the centre-back positions.
This means that Leeds have now brought in two new central defenders and one centre-forward, in Nmecha, but they are yet to add to Daniel Farke’s options in the middle of the park.
Habib Diarra for Strasbourg against PSG.
One central midfielder who will not be signing for the Championship champions, though, is Senegal international Habib Diarra, who has signed for Premier League rivals Sunderland.
Leeds reportedly made a bid of around £22m to sign the star from Strasbourg last month, but the Black Cats have now snapped him up for a club-record fee of £30m.
What Habib Diarra could have brought to Leeds
The 21-year-old midfielder could have been an interesting signing for the Whites as a young midfield talent who has shown promise in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg.
Diarra could have provided a decent threat at the top end of the pitch from a central midfield position after a return of four goals and five assists in 30 appearances in the French top-flight last season.
However, he is far from the finished article at the age of 21 and still has a lot to learn, as his defensive work in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg left quite a bit to be desired.
Whilst his contributions at the top end of the pitch were notable for such a young player in a major European league, Diarra’s all-round play in midfield was not at a particularly high level.
24/25 Ligue 1
Habib Diarra per 90
Percentile rank vs midfielders
Progressive passes
4.44
Bottom 41%
Progressive carries
2.33
Top 27%
Successful take-ons
0.50
Bottom 29%
Tackles made
0.84
Bottom 4%
Interceptions
0.50
Bottom 15%
Blocks
0.84
Bottom 21%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, the Senegal international ranked within the bottom half of midfielders in Ligue 1 in a host of defensive metrics, as well as in-possession attributes.
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr celebrates withHabibDiarraand Cherif Ndiaye after scoring their first goal
So, whilst he may be a promising young player with the potential to improve, Diarra may not have been an instant star for Leeds in the Premier League because of his lack of defensive nous and physicality in the middle of the park.
Because of this, it may be a good thing that the Whites missed out on a deal for the £30m-rated midfielder, amid reported interest from the club in another midfield target who would be a better signing.
Leeds eyeing Championship midfielder
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a swoop to sign Southampton central midfielder Mateus Fernandes this summer.
The report claims that the Saints, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are preparing to lose several key first-team stars in the coming weeks, and the Portuguese ace is one of them.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that former Sporting prospect is expected to be snapped up by another club before the end of the summer transfer window at the start of September, and that Leeds and Crystal Palace are both lining up moves to sign him.
Previous reports have claimed that the Championship side are looking for a fee of around £30m for the midfield star, but it remains to be seen if that has changed.
Mateus Fernandes for Southampton.
It is now down to Leeds to fight hard to win the race with Palace for his signature in the coming weeks, to ensure that they do not lose out to another Premier League rival like they did with Diarra.
Why Leeds should sign Mateus Fernandes
The Whites should be pushing to sign Fernandes from Southampton because he would arrive at Elland Road as an even better signing than Diarra would have been.
At the age of 20, the Portuguese talent is even younger than the Senegalese ace and, therefore, has a similar potential to grow and develop over the years to come, which would make him an ideal long-term signing.
Southampton'sMateusFernandescelebrates scoring their first goal
However, Fernandes has the quality to make an even bigger impact than Diarra in the short-term, based on his performances for the Saints last season.
Despite Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League, the 20-year-old starlet caught the eye with some impressive displays in the middle of the park, scoring two goals and providing four assists.
The £30m-rated star, who also scored against Cardiff in the League Cup, offered more to his team than just goal contributions, though, as he is an all-action and dynamic midfielder.
24/25 season
Fernandes (Premier League)
Diarra (Ligue 1)
Appearances
36
30
Goals
2
4
Assists
4
5
Successful dribbles per game
1.4
0.4
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.3
1.1
Blocks per game
0.6
0.2
Ground duel success rate
53%
49%
Aerial duel success rate
63%
43%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Southampton ace has far more to his game than Diarra does as a central midfield option, due to his defensive and offensive qualities.
Fernandes, who was once hailed for his “exceptional” passing quality by analyst Ben Mattinson, may not have produced as many goals and assists as the former Strasbourg star, but he offered significantly more to his team defensively.
As aforementioned, Diarra may have been a liability defensively for Leeds due to his lack of physicality in Ligue 1, but that would not be the case for the Saints midfielder, who has been there and done it in the Premier League.
Fernandes has shown that he can handle the physicality of English football, to be a standout in a poor Southampton team, and that means that the Leeds target could hit the ground running at Elland Road if they sign him, which may not have been the case for Diarra due to his lack of experience in England.
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Therefore, Leeds should swoop to sign the relegated midfielder after missing out on Diarra because he has the qualities, potential, and experience to be an even better signing than the club-record Sunderland ace.
Brendan Rodgers has had to oversee a lot of change on the left side of his Celtic squad, at left-back in particular, during the summer transfer window so far.
The Hoops have already added one new left-back to the team in the form of Kieran Tierney, who has returned to Parkhead on a free transfer from Premier League giants Arsenal, six years on from his initial move to the Gunners from Glasgow.
Tierney, who won five Scottish Premiership titles during his first spell at the club after coming through the academy, will be aiming to nail down a position as the first-choice left-back at Celtic once again.
The Scotland international looks set to replace compatriot Greg Taylor, who is leaving the Scottish giants this summer upon the expiry of his contract.
Fabrizio Romano, as shown in the post above, recently confirmed that the full-back has agreed a deal to sign for Greek side PAOK ahead of next season.
Another left-back who has moved on from Parkhead this summer is Jeffrey Schlupp, who spent the second half of the season on loan from Crystal Palace, and the club must now avoid a permanent deal for him.
Why Celtic should not sign Jeffrey Schlupp
The Eagles confirmed at the end of May that the left-back would not be getting a new contract at Selhurst Park, which means that he will be available on a free transfer.
Schlupp made 14 appearances, starting eight of those games, in the Premiership and the Champions League for the Hoops, and his best performance for the club came in the second leg of their Champions League play-off clash with Bayern Munich.
Vs Bayern (A)
Jeffrey Schlupp
Minutes
90
Clearances
9
Blocks
1
Interceptions
5
Tackles
6
Dribbled past
1x
Ground duels won
7/8
Aerial duels won
1/2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Palace loanee was incredibly dominant defensively up against the mercurial Michael Olise on the right wing for Bayern, winning the majority of his duels and making 11 tackles and interceptions, whilst being dribbled past just once.
Despite that impressive showing from the Ghana international, Celtic also have to plan for the future and signing a 32-year-old, who turns 33 in December, on a permanent multi-year contract may not be the best move that they can make this summer.
Therefore, supporters should be happy to read that the Hoops are reportedly closing in on the signing of an alternative target who could be an even better signing than Schlupp.
Celtic schedule medical to complete new signing
According to Sponichi, Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Albirex Niigata defender Hayato Inamura to bolster their options at the back ahead of next season.
The report claims that the left-footed star’s last match for his club was the 4-0 defeat to Machida on Sunday, as he played 90 minutes as a centre-back in the loss.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It adds that the two clubs have already reached an agreement in principle over a transfer for the 23-year-old talent, and that a move will officially go through in the coming week.
Sponichi reveals that the Japanese defender will travel to Scotland at the start of the coming week to undergo a medical with the Hoops before putting pen to paper on a permanent switch to Glasgow.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
This means that Celtic are set to sign the versatile Niigata ace in the coming days, with a medical scheduled and a fee agreed, and he could come in as an even better signing than Schlupp.
Why Inamura will be a better signing than Schlupp for Celtic
As aforementioned, the former Palace loanee turns 33 later this year and would only come in as a stop-gap signing to provide cover in the short term, which is also what he did during his loan spell.
Schlupp would not be a signing with a view to the future because, at his age, he is unlikely to develop much further, if at all, and does not have the potential to grow into being the first-choice after Tierney’s second spell comes to an end.
Inamura, however, is nine years younger than the Ghana international and, therefore, has far more time on his hands to develop and improve as a player during his time in Glasgow.
He is five years younger than Tierney and could, therefore, eventually be his successor if he kicks on and improves at Celtic, whilst initially coming in as a back-up option.
Inamura is usually deployed as a centre-back by Niigata, but Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph noted that he can also play as a left-back. His statistics in the J1 League this season also suggest that he would be well-suited to playing that role for the Hoops.
2025 J1 League
Hayato Inamura
Percentile rank vs CBs
Assists
0.07
Top 8%
Pass accuracy
87%
Top 29%
Accurate long passes
5.75
Top 5%
Long pass accuracy
47%
Top 19%
Chances created
0.42
Top 18%
Cross accuracy
50%
Top 15%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, the soon-to-be Celtic signing ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of possession-based metrics, which speaks to his ability on the ball.
His ability to successfully complete crosses at an impressive rate and to consistently create chances for his teammates from a centre-back position suggests that he could be well-suited to playing as a left-back for the Hoops, which would allow him to showcase his in-possession qualities.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
Inamura, who analyst Rio Nakagawara claimed has “fantastic ball progression” as a passer and carrier, appears to have the technical qualities to thrive in Glasgow.
His positional flexibility also makes him an attractive target, as he can play at centre-back or left-back, and that is another reason why he would be an even better signing than Schlupp, who was not a central defensive option for Rodgers.
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Overall, signing Inamura seems to make more sense for the Premiership champions because of his age profile, his positional flexibility, and his quality on the ball.
Leeds United are now willing to trigger the £21m release clause in the contract of a “spectacular” midfielder, according to a report.
Leeds looking to sign midfielder amid £120m cash injection
The 49ers are showing they mean business as Leeds prepare for their return to the Premier League, having injected £120m into the club, with former Everton CEO Keith Wyness revealing the Championship title winners are willing to splash the cash.
Wyness said: “I think a chunk of it will be going towards transfer business. I think that £100million mark is a minimum spend now, and they’ve got to spend it wisely.
“This cash injection will pay for some new players to give the fans hope.”
One position in which the Whites are particularly keen on strengthening is central midfield, with Kalvin Phillips being linked with a return to Elland Road, while they are also “one to watch” in the race for Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma.
Moves for Bissouma or Phillips could make sense, having proven themselves in the Premier League, but there have now been suggestions that Daniel Farke’s side may also take a risk on a La Liga midfielder.
According to a report from Super Deporte (via Leeds United News), Leeds are now willing to activate the £21m release clause in Uche’s Getafe contract, with the midfielder catching the eye of some bigger clubs courtesy of his performances in Spain.
Brighton & Hove Albion are also in the race for the Nigerian, with the Seagulls also showing a desire to trigger the release clause in his contract with the Spanish side, so there may be stiff competition for his signature.
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ByDominic Lund Jun 5, 2025 "Spectacular" Uche impressing in La Liga
The 22-year-old emerged as a key player for Getafe in the 2024-25 La Liga season, making 33 appearances, during which time he has displayed his versatility by featuring in a range of positions, including striker, although the maestro most commonly plays in a midfield role.
It is clear to see why the Nigeria international has been given the nod further forward, having picked up four goals and six assists in La Liga during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring with an impressive effort from outside the box back in August.
However, the “spectacular” Getafe gem, as lauded by manager Jose Bordalas, is also strong at winning back possession, ranking in the 95th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, and the 89th percentile for interceptions, when compared to his positional peers.
Uche’s versatility could make him a very useful option for Farke next season, and £21m feels like a fair fee, given his recent exploits in La Liga, but Brighton’s interest could pose a problem, considering they are a more established Premier League side.
Manchester United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tonight in the Premier League, entering the penultimate game of what has been a dismal year in England’s top-flight.
Ruben Amorim’s side will want to end the campaign on a high after their disappointment across the board, but all focus will undoubtedly be on the Europa League final.
The Red Devils face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday evening, with players wanting to save themselves and prevent injury ahead of the vital clash.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
However, players will still want to impress against Enzo Maresca’s side, potentially landing themselves a start against Spurs and having the opportunity to make themselves a hero and end the season on a high.
It will hand the boss a chance to assess his squad, but he should drop one player for the clash in West London tonight, after what has been a below-par year at Old Trafford.
Why Amorim needs to drop Hojlund against Chelsea
Striker Rasmus Hojlund had huge hopes of being a success at United following his £72m move from Atalanta back in the summer of 2023 – but it’s safe to say his time at the club has been a disaster.
The Danish international has often been the Red Devils’ main talisman this campaign, but has failed to deliver, netting just four league goals in his 30 appearances.
The 22-year-old even went 21 games without a goal across all competitions earlier this campaign, highlighting his lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.
His all-round play has been just as disappointing, completing an average of just 11 passes per game, unable to offer the side the link-up play needed for success within the final third.
Such a record has led to numerous links to other attackers all across Europe, with the manager needing to experiment with multiple other options against Chelsea to evaluate his side further ahead of the summer.
The United star who Amorim should start in a new role
Over the course of 2024/25, Amorim has experimented with multiple options at the top end of the pitch in an attempt to combat their issues in the final third.
Harry Maguire
Centre-back Harry Maguire has often been called upon to operate as a makeshift centre-forward this campaign, most notably against Nottingham Forest, where he had an effort cleared off the line.
He’s not been the only player to operate out of position, with midfielder Kobbie Mainoo operating in such a role during the defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
However, he could continue in such vein, by utilising Amad Diallo as a centre-forward, adding yet another position to his resume this season after switching since Amorim’s appointment.
The Ivorian has operated at wing-back and attacking midfield, starring in both positions and being one of the club’s most effective players, given his tally of 10 goals and eight assists across all competitions.
However, his ankle injury has derailed his progress, needing vital minutes before the Europa League final to hand himself the best chance of swinging the game in their favour.
Amad, who’s been labelled a “monster” by former teammate Scott Arfield, has registered 2.3 shots per 90 – undoubtedly aiding his excellent tallies, making him a superb option at the top end.
Games played
24
Goals & assists
13
Pass accuracy
86%
Shots taken
2.6
Chances created
2.4
Successful dribbles
2.1
Touches in opposition box
7.2
He’s also completed 86% of the passes he’s attempted, and whilst creating 2.4 chances per 90 – handing the other players around him the opportunity to thrive at the Bridge.
It may seem a bold call to utilise the 22-year-old in such a role, but given the lack of impact from other players in the department this campaign, it could be another masterstroke from the boss.
Ultimately, attention will be fully on next week’s European final, but it presents another chance for the youngster to get minutes under his belt, possibly registering a positive end to what’s been a year to forget for the Red Devils.
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With the Premier League still yet to be decided, Liverpool still need to win four games to claim the title after only a second league defeat against Fulham yesterday.
Arne Slot’s men simply weren’t at the races, unable to produce the performance that they have done so many times over the last couple of months, which has led them to the summit of the division.
The Reds will be hoping to make amends against West Ham United next week, aiming to close in on a first league title since Jürgen Klopp’s triumph back in 2019/20.
Despite the heights achieved during the Dutchman’s first year at the helm, the showing against the Cottagers was one of the worst of the campaign with countless players way off the pace.
As a result, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see various players dropped from the starting eleven, with changes needed to prevent such a defeat from occurring in the near future.
Liverpool’s poor performers against Fulham
Curtis Jones has been forced to operate at right-back in recent weeks after the injuries suffered by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley – doing an admirable job against local rivals Everton.
However, the same can’t be said for his showing in the capital yesterday, contributing to an error that led to a goal, whilst also failing to win any of the two tackles he entered.
He wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with Dominik Szoboszlai producing one of his worst displays in recent memories, uncharacteristically so given his rise under Slot.
The Hungarian failed to create a single chance for any of his teammates, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he contested, ultimately being a passenger during the loss.
Despite the showings from the aforementioned players, one other star failed to deliver, with the manager needing to offload him when the summer transfer window opens.
The Liverpool player who’s become the new Fabinho
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho was a fan-favourite during his time at Anfield, starring in the heart of the side and making over 200 appearances during his five years as a Red.
fabinho-liverpool-premier-league
However, his last season on Merseyside was one to forget, falling way below the expectations he’d set for himself given the heights he achieved after helping Klopp’s side win the league title.
He would leave in a £40m deal to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023, with one player potentially suffering the same fate in the form of left-back Andy Robertson.
The Scottish international will go down as one of the biggest bargains in the club’s history, making over 300 appearances and notching 66 assists after joining for just £8m back in 2017.
Whilst he’s achieved some impressive performances over the years, he’s rapidly declined in recent months, with the club targeting Milos Kerkez as a replacement this summer.
Liverpool's AndrewRobertsoncelebrates after the match
The 31-year-old once again failed to impress against Fulham, also making an error leading to a goal before being replaced with just eight minutes remaining.
He also failed to complete any of his attempted crosses, coming out on top in just 50% of his tackles and being dribbled past once in the process.
Minutes played
82
Touches
59
Crosses completed
0/2
Tackles won
1/2
Possession lost
10x
Dribbled past
1x
Errors leading to goals
1
Robertson also lost possession 10 times during the defeat and was unable to produce the goods as he did during his early days as a player on Merseyside.
As a result of his showing, he was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by The Express’ Jack McEachen, with fellow journalist Lewis Steele labelling his showing as “awful”.
Given his age, it’s likely that he’s going to continue declining over the next couple of years, with Slot needing to offload him this summer to allow for fresh blood in the backline.
He’s been an incredible servant to the club, helping them win countless major honours, but ultimately his showing against the Cottagers was further evidence that he’s unable to cut it at the top level.
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