Leeds United fans would have entered Elland Road on Monday full of both nerves and excitement, knowing that one more win and Sheffield United failing to win in a showdown with Burnley in the Championship would clinch promotion.

Well, the Whites certainly kept to their end of the bargain in West Yorkshire with Daniel Farke’s hosts hammering a petrified Stoke City side 6-0 in front of their jubilant home masses and after the Blades later went on to lose against the Clarets, promotion to the Premier League was sealed in spectacular fashion at the second time of asking.

Joel Piroe – who has had his fair share of critics in recent weeks for his wasteful showings – staggeringly chipped in with four of the strikes, with the Dutchman a man possessed in front of goal as he became their promotion hero.

Piroe's remarkable performance vs Stoke City

Heading into this big clash against Mark Robins’ visitors earlier today, Piroe was deep in a barren patch of form, with nine Championship clashes passing him by without finding the net.

He more than made up for these lacklustre showings on Monday, however, as the deadly 25-year-old sucker-punched Stoke with two goals inside the first ten minutes.

Constantly in the right place at the right time to tap home, Piroe would go on to secure a memorable hat-trick inside a bonkers 20 minutes after his early brace, before further managing to fire home his fourth of the remarkable day four minutes before the half-time interval.

Now up to a league-high 19 strikes for the season in the second tier, the ex-Swansea City man will be hoping he can be equally as clinical for the Whites if Premier League football returns to Elland Road, with this whirlwind win pulling them ever closer back to the promised land.

But, whilst Piroe obviously delivered a display of the highest order, he wasn’t the only Whites performer against the Potters who was near faultless…

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

10/10 Leeds star was as good as Piroe

Nobody in Leeds white exactly let the team down in all fairness, with every single player picked by Farke singing off the same hymn sheet to secure a huge three points.

While the attack were en song at Elland Road, the two full-backs were in fine fettle too, evoking memories of Ian Harte in his prime, charging forward to contribute in the final third with Junior Firpo finding the net and Jayden Bogle running the Stoke defence ragged.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

63

Accurate passes

28/42 (67%)

Shots

2

Key passes

1

Successful dribbles

3/3

Interceptions

2

Tackles

4

Total duels won

10/12

He has had a fine season in West Yorkshire to date after dramatically leaving Sheffield United behind for Leeds last summer.

The gung-ho full-back would get in on the act when assisting Piroe’s second of the day, taking Bogle’s assist count for the season all the way up to a weighty four, on top of his stunning six strikes, while he also hit the post in the build-up to Piroe’s fourth.

Bogle would constantly maraud forward and leave Stoke shirts in the dust – seen in his 100% dribble completion rate – leading to Leeds reporter Graham Smyth to remark that the expansive 24-year-old “absolutely mullered” the Potters across a breathtaking first half.

But, the ex-Blades defender also looked strong defensively when infrequently called into action, with four tackles and ten duels won to preserve Leeds’ likely clean sheet.

Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned Smyth dished out a flawless 10/10 rating to Bogle post-match too, waxing lyrical further that he “tortured” Robins’ visitors who just had no answer to the home side’s persistent waves of attacks.

Come the full-time whistle, Leeds simply looked top-flight bound after brushing aside Stoke with ease, with both Bogle and Piroe ready for the challenge of Premier League football.

Farke can repeat Meslier trick by dropping "anonymous" Leeds flop

Daniel Farke can repeat the trick he played with Illan Meslier by dropping this Leeds United flop.

ByDan Emery Apr 18, 2025

Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises could sell an Ibrox star for a huge profit after receiving enquiries, according to a new update.

Rangers preparing for Athletic Club second leg after Aberdeen draw

The Gers and Barry Ferguson are preparing to head to Spain to take on Athletic Club in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final this week. The first leg at Ibrox was a stalemate as 10-man Rangers held the La Liga side, with Liam Kelly saving a penalty late on.

It is all to play for on Thursday, and Ferguson’s side go into the game off the back of a 2-2 Scottish Premiership draw with Aberdeen, where they once again played large parts with 10 men.

Ross McCausland received two yellow cards in the first half at Pittodrie, however, second half goals from Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi ensured the points were shared.

Talking after the draw with Aberdeen, Ferguson said: “After going down to 10 men and 2-0 down, you’ve got to be pretty happy with coming back into the game and getting a point. [Character] is one thing I’ve tried to drill into them. They’ll dig deep for me. They never give in. They kept going until the end. But we don’t help ourselves.”

Update shared about 49ers plans for next Rangers manager amid Mourinho talk

An update has been shared on the direction the 49ers wish to go when it comes to finding a new Rangers manager.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025

Igamane starred over the weekend and looks set to play a big role for Rangers against Athletic Club, however, a worrying transfer update has emerged on the 22-year-old.

Rangers could sell Igamane for £20m as Marseille make serious move

According to a new transfer report from TEAMtalk, a number of clubs have been making enquires to sign Rangers star Igamane.

Ligue 1 side Marseille, under Roberto De Zerbi, have made ‘serious moves’ to sign Igamane, whereas Everton, Tottenham, Bayer Leverkusen, Nice and Rennes, are also credited with an interest.

It is added that Rangers want £20m to sell the forward, a fee which would represent a 700% profit on the £2.5m they paid for Igamane last summer.

Games

41

Goals

15

Assists

3

Minutes played

2,373

The Morocco international has enjoyed a brilliant first season in Scotland, with five of his 18 goal contributions coming in the Europa League.

Back in December, Derek Ferguson, brother of Barry, hailed the attacker, saying: “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

Leeds United supporters won’t be getting carried just yet, but Daniel Farke’s Whites do find themselves in the driver’s seat now in the dramatic automatic promotion tussle in the Championship.

Indeed, the West Yorkshire giants are perched at the very top of the unpredictable division after a slim 2-1 victory over Preston North End, with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United a sizeable five points off Farke’s troops in third spot after a shock loss on the road to Plymouth Argyle.

Still, Leeds aren’t perfect all over the pitch despite their top-of-the-table appearance, with one problem area at Elland Road coming in the goalkeeper department.

Already, the Whites have targets in mind to improve here, with this potential incoming resting on Farke’s men triumphantly returning up to the Premier League.

The latest on Illan Meslier's future at Leeds

It’s safe to say that Illan Meslier has had a nightmare campaign at Elland Road. From that horror mistake at Sunderland to the dismal error-riddled performance against Swansea, it’s simply gone from bad to worse.

As a result, Farke has been left with no choice but to take the Frenchman out of the firing line. Karl Darlow has replaced the Leeds number 1 instead.

Speaking about the situation at the beginning of the month, the Leeds boss stated: “The goalkeeper position is not one you change week-to-week like outfield players. Illan had the perfect February with many wins and many clean sheets, but in the last few weeks, there have been a few incidents where we thought he could have done better.”

Illan Meslier's 9 worst goalkeeping errors in a Leeds shirt

Meslier has been no stranger to an absolute howler in recent weeks.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 1, 2025

So, it looks as though Meslier may well have saved his last shot at Elland Road, but who could replace him long-term?

Leeds enter race for "phenomenal" Meslier upgrade

As per a report from Football Insider, Leeds see Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as a “great fit” for the club if promotion is achieved, with the Saints shot-stopper set to be available for around the £25m mark.

The report further elaborates that Southampton’s relegation means a release clause has been activated that could see him be sold for this price tag, alerting the Whites to his services.

Once hailed as “phenomenal” by ex-Arsenal great David Seaman when at the peak of his powers at the Emirates Stadium, the 26-year-old would be an arguable upgrade on an often flappy Meslier, who has dropped out of Farke’s first-team ranks recently due to far too many error-strewn displays.

Amazingly, Ramsdale could even go down as Leeds’ next Paul Robinson if everything slots into place nicely, with the Saints shot-stopper once a recognised England international like the former Whites great.

How Ramsdale could be the next Robinson

Away from Leeds’ current woes involving Meslier, leading to Darlow being shoved into the spotlight, Elland Road has been home to some top-notch ‘keepers over the years.

Robinson definitely fits into that category, with the now-retired stopper tallying up 119 appearances in West Yorkshire before solidifying himself as a Premier League stalwart far away from his boyhood employers.

Robinson even headed home a dramatic header for the Whites before a switch to Tottenham Hotspur occurred, with Ramsdale not quite a goalscoring hero in a similar vain, but he does have bags of top-flight experience like the 41-time Three Lions international.

Indeed, the Southampton number 30 has notched up an impressive 177 Premier League appearances for the likes of Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth and Sheffield United, with plenty of clean sheets also coming his way.

Ramsdale’s PL numbers vs Robinson’s
Stat	Ramsdale	Robinson
Games played	177	375
Goals conceded	269	581
Clean sheets	40	88
England caps	5	41
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Looking at the table above, Ramsdale has regularly impressed in the top division with 40 clean sheets amassed across his 177 appearances, which is only 48 off Robinson’s own total from a weightier 375 clashes.

Meslier has also struggled in the bright lights of the elite league before, meaning a gloveman who can be reliable making the step-up is a must for Farke and Co, with the error-prone Frenchman only registering an inferior 21 clean sheets from his various top-flight outings.

The German will hope Ramsdale can be that dependable pair of gloves in between the sticks, much like Robinson, therefore, with the Whites hopeful that they can further consolidate as a Premier League capable outfit if promotion is sealed.

Transfer Focus

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

The transfer circus is now in full swing, it would appear, with speculation raging over just who will be added to Ruben Amorim’s ranks at Manchester United this summer.

After acquiring Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January, it looks as if the Red Devils are set to continue this squad overhaul with the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers star, Matheus Cunha.

As has been widely reported, United have held positive contract talks with the Brazilian amid the prospect of striking an early deal, with the 25-year-old available for £62.5m amid the presence of a release clause in his existing deal at Molineux.

While previously linked with a move to Nottingham Forest and Arsenal back in January, it looks as if Amorim and co have now won the race for the former Atletico Madrid man, all being well, with attention turning to the impact that he could make at Old Trafford.

Where Cunha will fit into the Man Utd side

With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just six Premier League goals between them this season, the addition of a new centre-forward appears to be a real priority this summer, not least with United scoring just 38 top-flight goals collectively to date.

Despite having played through the middle in the past, it would appear that Cunha is not actually being targeted to be the new number nine, amid parallel interest in Ipswich Town talisman, Liam Delap.

In the case of the current Wolves man then, he would instead be needed to strengthen Amorim’s options in one of the new number ten berths, not least with the exiled trio of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony all looking set to depart permanently.

Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, is yet to truly convince that he can transition from being an out-and-out winger, while Amad Diallo – who has registered 12 goals and assists in 20 games under Amorim – has notably been hampered by injury over the last two seasons.

With Mason Mount also netting just once in total since his arrival in 2023, and with Bruno Fernandes having dropped into a deep-lying role of late, the options in the number ten role are scarce, hence why Cunha could flourish.

How Cunha compares to PL forwards – 24/25

Stat

Record (per 90)

Ranking

Non-penalty goals

0.56

Top 3%

Total shots

3.56

Top 7%

Assists

0.16

Bottom 46%

Shot-creating actions

4.27

Top 20%

Pass completion

71.0%

Bottom 20%

Progressive passes

4.75

Top 22%

Progressive carries

3.79

Top 31%

Successful take-ons

2.20

Top 16%

Tackles

1.36

Bottom 49%

Interceptions

0.64

Top 20%

Stats via FBref

Having registered 14 goals in the league this season while operating in a similar system under Vitor Pereira, the Brazil international would be a ready-made solution ahead of next term.

That statement signing appears to be needed – although it shouldn’t come at the expense of young Kobbie Mainoo.

Man Utd's "generational talent" must not be sold

Be it the lack of options in attack – as noted above – or his own struggles as part of the midfield, the Amorim regime so far has brought with it a change for Mainoo, with the academy graduate largely lining up as one of the two ten’s of late.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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From making his first Premier League start as a defensive-minded option in front of the back four against Everton in November 2023, the 20-year-old has since even been deployed as a makeshift centre-forward against Crystal Palace and – more recently – Lyon, with a definitive role still yet to be found.

That transition has largely come about due to Amorim’s claims that the midfielder was “struggling a lot defensively” as part of the midfield two, albeit with the Portuguese coach also praising the youngster for his ability in the final third.

Indeed, last week’s thrilling triumph in the Europa League saw Mainoo net in almost trademark fashion with a delightful, curling effort inside the area, having previously scored in similar style against both Wolves and Liverpool last term.

That impact off the bench has highlighted just why the England starlet can thrive in a more advanced berth moving forward, albeit with the addition of a figure like Cunha only set to hamper his hopes of a regular role in the starting lineup.

For all his injury-related woes this term, it’s worth remembering that Mainoo had enjoyed a stunning emergence in 2023/24, resulting in his key role in the Three Lions’ surge to the Euro 2024 final, having started every knockout stage game under Gareth Southgate.

Described as a “generational talent” by Hojlund, it would be a crying shame for the FA Cup final match winner to be nudged toward the exit door so swiftly, with speculation having been rife regarding his future, amid an apparent stall in contract talks.

While there may be a desire to cash in on a player who is valued at around £74m, according to CIES Football Observatory – placing him ahead of the £62.5m-rated Cunha – that soaring valuation also indicates just what a diamond he truly is.

Of course, Amorim’s 3-4-3 system may be better suited to Cunha and the like, yet not being able to find a home for Mainoo in the starting lineup would reflect poorly on the manager.

This is the type of talent that United simply can’t afford to lose.

Related Imagine him & Cunha: Man Utd eye bid for 'one of the best CMs in the world'

Man Utd appear to be stepping up their transfer search, alongside the signing of Matheus Cunha

Posts ByRobbie Walls Apr 24, 2025

Everton are believed to be interested in signing a player who is a “massive favourite” of David Moyes in the summer transfer window, a new update has claimed.

Moyes plans summer signings at Everton

The Blues’ Premier League season is starting to peter out a little in terms of important matches, with survival all but secured for another season. Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal was another good result under Moyes, though, with the Scot continuing to do an excellent job during his second stint at Goodison Park.

There will now be lots of focus on possible new signings for Everton this summer, with contact reportedly made with the representatives of SC Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl over a move to Merseyside. The 22-year-old has been affected by injuries in 2024/25, but he is a versatile player who could be a long-term signing.

Feyenoord defender David Hancko has also been mentioned as an option for the Blues once the current season reaches its conclusion, following another impressive campaign for the Eredivisie giants.

Lorenzo Lucca has been linked with a move to Everton as well, with the Udinese striker a towering 6 foot 7 inches tall, which is the same height as Peter Crouch. The Italian has scored 10 goals in 25 starts in Serie A this season, also picking up nine yellow cards, highlighting a tenacious side to his game.

Everton fighting West Ham for "very clever" Sunderland star Neil

According to a fresh report from Football Insider, Everton are in the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil at the end of the season.

West Ham are thought to be providing competition for the signature of the Black Cats skipper, but the 23-year-old is a “massive favourite” of Moyes.

Sunderland are “bracing themselves for ample bids” from Premier League clubs, assuming the Championship side fail to earn promotion.

Neil may not be a top-flight player currently, which could naturally put some Everton fans off, but he could be a shrewd addition to Moyes’ squad. At 23, the Englishman has already become one of Sunderland’s most important players, captaining them at a young age, and Black Cats manager Regis Le Bris lauded him back in January.

“I think he did well during the first part of the season, but it wasn’t so obvious for the observers maybe, because he was really important in adjusting all the behaviour of his teammates. He’s very clever, very important to adjust the formation and balance the team.”

This season, Neil has started 39 of Sunderland’s 40 Championship matches, outlining his availability, and his quality and energy in midfield could be a real asset for Everton.

Everton struck gold on “constant threat” who’s worth more than Longstaff

Everton made a good investment with the signing

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025

He could be seen as a long-term replacement for Idrissa Gueye, who is now 35 years of age and whose contract expires at the end of this season.

Arsenal chiefs are now targeting an “all-round” forward, who arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur bid for last summer.

Andrea Berta's transfer plans for Arsenal this summer

The Gunners’ new sporting director, Andrea Berta, looks set to be a very busy man when the transfer window reopens for business.

Injury to Arsenal star stops Berta from signing two players in key position

The north Londoners had a potentially ambitious plan.

ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025

Manager Mikel Arteta has already admitted that the club are set for a “big” summer after Berta’s arrival, and the Spaniard is “excited” by what could be in store.

“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s transfer plans ahead of next season.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.

“But it’s a big summer for many things, because first of all, we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then, obviously, how can we improve and evolve the team.”

Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with a host of players looking set to depart N5.

Neto will return to Bournemouth after his straight loan expires, while Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic after agreeing a pre-contract with his former club in the winter window.

Arsenal are expected to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko as well, and veteran midfielder Jorginho will be free to find a new club after his contract expires on June 30th – emphasising the need for new arrivals in key areas.

Thomas Partey and Arsenal are in negotiations over a contract extension right now, but a new midfielder remains high on Berta’s agenda, amid reports a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is close.

Arsenal are internally behaving like they’ve already signed Zubimendi, according to David Ornstein. Meanwhile, as Arteta’s side also reportedly chase new wide options, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is emerging as an option.

Arsenal targeting Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey

As per journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal are targeting Ramsey as a potential option, and a Villa Park exit for the 23-year-old isn’t entirely ruled out.

Ramsey has been a firm regular under Unai Emery this term, making 43 appearances in all competitions, where he’s predominantly featured on the left-wing. The Englishman could be a solid alternative to Gabriel Martinelli on that side, but Arsenal are not the only north London club to conjure up ideas about signing Ramsey.

According to The Times, Tottenham made a part-exchange bid for Ramsey, offering Villa £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso, but this offer was rejected out of hand.

Called an “all-round” player by ex-Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ramsey’s rumoured price tag stands at around £50 million, so Berta will have to pay a significant fee if he wishes to seal an Arsenal deal.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have now identified a 30-year-old who they could sign in a £34 million transfer, according to a recent report.

Ruben Amorim confirms Diogo Dalot injury blow

Ahead of United’s next Premier League game against AFC Bournemouth, Amorim has revealed that his side have suffered another injury blow. Defender Diogo Dalot has suffered a calf injury and could potentially miss the rest of the season.

Amorim said in his press conference on Friday: “He has a problem with his muscle in his calf. He had a sequence of games; he played all the time. We tried to manage, but some of the players have to play a lot of minutes, and we have to protect the ones that we think are not so ready to cope with that, but Dalot felt something.”

Everton make contact over summer deal for "brilliant" £120k-p/w Man Utd ace

David Moyes wants a deal done…

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 25, 2025

This is a big blow for Amorim and United, as the Portuguese international has been a persistent starter for the Red Devils this season, cementing that right wing-back spot as his own.

His absence from their Premier League matches isn’t much of a concern, given there isn’t anything riding on those games, but Amorim will be hoping he can have his defender back for the Europa League, even if it is the second leg or final, should United get there.

Man Utd want to sign 30 y/o compared to Matic in £34m transfer

As Amorim tries to deal with his latest injury blow, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd are now interested in signing midfielder Stanislav Lobotka from Napoli.

The report states that his performances for Antonio Conte’s side have caught the attention of United, who have ‘expressed a desire’ to hold talks with the player’s agent. It goes on to add that Napoli may look to move the player on this summer, as they see it as their last chance to earn a lot of money from his exit, as he is under contract until 2027.

Given that Lobotka will turn 31 soon, Conte believes his value will only go down and therefore are willing to do business should they receive an offer of €40 million, which is roughly £34 million.

Interest from United comes as they may look to move Casemiro on at the end of the campaign, and therefore, a replacement will be needed, and Labotka could be that person, as he is someone who is very similar to Nemanja Matic, a player United fans know very well.

Lobotka

Matic

Apps

29

25

Assists

1

1

Progressive carries

29

33

Progressive passes

112

132

Passes attempted

1619

1243

Passes completed

1463

1080

Tackles (Won)

43 (28)

35 (28)

Interceptions

20

12

Clearances

57

27

However, the Red Devils are not the only team chasing his signature, as Barcelona have been linked with the midfielder a few times, and French champions Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping an eye on the player. Labotka has really impressed this season, so much so that former Arsenal midfielder and now Como manager Cesc Fàbregas has labelled the midfielder as someone who can “make you win games”.

Fabregas said: “Napoli have many players who won the league, like Lobotka. Please, give me Lobotka. What a player, Mamma Mia. He is marvellous. Players like this make you win games for their ability to understand football and recover many balls. I go crazy for players like this.”

Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic to manage the club for a second time in the summer of 2023 when Ange Postecoglou decided to ditch Parkhead for the Premier League.

The Northern Irish head coach, who had left the Hoops to join Leicester City in 2019, enjoyed a fantastic first season back in Glasgow, winning the Scottish Premiership and the SFA Cup.

Celtic, despite already enjoying a successful campaign, backed Rodgers in the summer transfer window by signing the likes of Auston Trusty, Arne Engels, and Luke McCowan, as well as signing Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah on permanent deals.

That backing looks to have paid off because the Hoops are a SFA Cup final win over Aberdeen from winning the domestic treble, which would be an improvement on the 2023/24 campaign.

Celtic could, therefore, back Rodgers once again in the upcoming summer transfer window to bolster the squad even further, potentially with a view to going further in the Champions League.

One player who has been linked with a potential move to Parkhead ahead of the 2025/26 campaign is Lennon Miller, who is currently starring in the Premiership.

How much Lennon Miller could cost Celtic

Back in March, The Scottish Sun reported that Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise are working on a deal to sign the Motherwell star for a fee of £5m.

They are Brighton & Hove Albion’s sister club and the report claimed that the Premier League side view him as a long-term prospect and would want him to play European football with USG before making a move to the AMEX in the future.

The Scottish Sun added that both Celtic and Udinese had offers turned down by Motherwell for the Scotland international in the January transfer window.

Football Insider have since reported that the Hoops remain interested in a deal for Miller and are set to pursue him in the summer transfer window, which suggests that they could challenge USG for the £5m-rated star.

The Scottish star, dubbed Motherwell’s ‘Star Boy’ by the league’s official X account, has caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Premiership for his club at such a young age this season.

Miller, who only turns 19 in August, has showcased his quality in and out of possession in the middle of the park throughout the 2025/26 campaign, as a midfielder who can break up play as well as provide quality at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

29

Goals

2

Big chances created

11

Assists

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.1

Ball recoveries per game

6.5

Duel success rate

52%

As you can see in the table above, the Motherwell star has been an excellent creator for Motherwell, with 11 ‘big chances’ created in 29 matches, whilst also being able to consistently break up opposition attacks with tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.

These statistics, for a player who is only 18, explain why he could be well worth the reported £5m transfer fee for Celtic, or any of the other clubs interested in signing him.

The Hoops, though, already have a central midfield player who is worth even more than the £5m that it would take to sign Miller, because the club have hit the jackpot with club captain Callum McGregor.

How much Callum McGregor is worth

The former Scotland international came up through the youth ranks at Parkhead before emerging as a first-team star for the club after a loan spell with Notts County in England.

McGregor first came into the senior set-up in the 2014/15 campaign, after that loan down south, and has gone on to rack up a staggering 514 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The left-footed star, who has won ten Premiership titles with the Scottish giants, is now the Celtic captain and an integral part of Rodgers’ team in the present day, at the age of 31.

McGregor was valued at just £127k by Transfermarkt at the time of his emergence in the first-team at Parkhead, and that value has soared significantly in the past 11 years, as shown in the table below.

May 2014

£127k

November 2015

£848k

August 2018

£1.7m

August 2019

£4.2m

July 2020

£5m

May 2021

£5.9m

December 2022

£6.7m

December 2023

£7.6m

December 2024

£6.3m

March 2025

£5.5m

The Scottish star’s value skyrocketed throughout his early career at Parkhead and peaked at £7.6m in 2023, but it has gone down slightly in the last couple of years.

That is not because of his performances, though, as he has naturally declined in value with age. There is not much sale value in a player who turns 32 this summer, which may be why his value has dropped down to £5.5m.

Despite his value having dropped in the last couple of years, McGregor is still worth £500k more than Lennon Miller, who is reportedly valued at £5m, which shows that Celtic have hit the jackpot with their captain.

They have struck gold with the central midfielder because he did not cost them a penny to sign, given that he came up through the academy, and has developed into an incredibly valuable asset and key player on the pitch.

In the 2024/25 campaign, McGregor has made 50 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops and is on course to lead the team to a treble, if they beat Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.

The experienced star has also scored ten goals, including the one above, in those 50 matches, which shows that he has provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position.

Earlier this year, his Rodgers lauded his quality, saying: “He is such a unique player, the tempo setter for the team. He’s tactically so good, he really is a coach on the pitch.

“He sees all the pictures we want and he knows when to release himself to shoot or create goals. A wonderful player who is the glue for this team.”

This shows that McGregor remains an important player for the manager, given how often he has played this season, whilst also being more valuable than a midfielder the club are reportedly looking to sign this summer.

Fewer minutes than Nawrocki: Celtic must axe flop who's "not good enough"

Celtic must finally part ways with this player who has played fewer minutes than Maik Nawrocki.

ByDan Emery May 9, 2025

Celtic have, therefore, hit the jackpot with the Scottish metronome, who is on course to spend his entire career at Parkhead, and they may hope that they can develop more players like him through the academy system in the years to come.

The race to finish inside those coveted Champions League spots in the Premier League is heating up with Chelsea having to make sure the wins keep flowing to stay put.

Chelsea do have a potential Conference League final on the horizon, but the main focus for the Blues this May will centre on ensuring they finish inside those top five spots, even as tense games against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest present themselves as upcoming hurdles.

The Blues will also be aware that a place amongst Europe’s elite again will help them out in the transfer window, with Enzo Maresca’s men looking to splash the cash once more if the rumour mill filtering out of Stamford Bridge is anything to go by.

Chelsea's growing list of targets

This summer won’t just see a whole host of incomings arrive through the door you imagine, with some players in Maresca’s camp also needing to be offloaded, as seen in the growing likelihood that Blues flop Christopher Nkunku will reportedly depart shortly.

New attacking recruits are already being lined up, with Viktor Gyokeres one centre-forward routinely linked with a switch to West London, on top of fresh winger additions in the form of Jamie Gittens.

Transfer Focus

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

But, it’s not all just attackers on Chelsea’s varied shopping list, with Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato another face that has also been linked incessantly with a move to England away from the Eredivisie giants.

However, with Liverpool and Arsenal also sniffing around for the Dutch powerhouse, this could see the Blues opt to try and snap up long-term target Ousmane Diomande instead.

New reports from Spain indicate that Chelsea are in the running to finally snap up the Sporting titan for a fee around the £68m ballpark with Maresca personally keen on adding him to the Stamford Bridge ranks.

When comparing the 21-year-old’s strengths next to Hato’s, he could well be a dream alternative and even an upgrade on the Rotterdam-born youngster.

Why Diomande is be a dream alternative to Hato

Whilst there is so much hype around Hato’s name as a starlet tipped for big things, Diomande could be just what Chelsea need right now, particularly when it comes to his experience on stages such as the Champions League.

Indeed, this season saw Diomande line up for nine Champions League contests, whilst his Dutch counterpart had to make do with appearances for Ajax in the lesser Europa League.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 enforcer has proven across 99 games in the Portuguese capital that he has an eye for goal, with six goals – usually powered home via a header – tallied up by the 21-year-old.

Hato does possess a similar reputation of being a young and hungry defender capable of joining in with attacks, but his goal number for Ajax currently sits at a lower four, even from nine more senior outings.

Attempted passes

58.63

76.51

Pass completion %

89.4%

93.8%

Progressive passes

4.15

3.04

Touches in attacking penalty area

1.40

1.71

Total shots

0.57

1.15

Tackles

2.15

1.29

Interceptions

0.82

1.05

Clearances

2.11

2.69

Aerials won

1.68

2.97

The table above further validates why Chelsea splashing out £68m for Diomande could prove to be a golden buy over snapping up the 19-year-old.

Indeed, the Ivorian betters Hato in multiple different areas of their respective defensive games, including when playing as both a composed passer of the ball, but also when it comes to regularly winning duels and being a full-blooded presence at the back.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has even lauded the Blues target as an “elite talent” previously, with Diomande himself perhaps edging for a chance to impress away from Sporting in a more challenging environment to further back up his glowing praise.

Chelsea have had their fair share of fighters defensively over recent years that can also put in classy displays – with the likes of Thiago Silva and John Terry springing to mind – with a hope that Diomande can also cement himself as a first-team regular if he’s given a shot at Stamford Bridge.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

ByBen Gray May 4, 2025

After a week of anxious waiting, today is the day Arsenal could book themselves a place in the Champions League final for only the second time in the club’s history.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men will need to put in the best performance of the season and make amends for their incredibly underwhelming display in the first leg.

In particular, club captain Martin Odegaard will have to show the fans just why he was handed the armband in 2022, as to describe his personal campaign this year as disappointing would be quite an understatement.

The Norwegian has looked like a different, far less effective player for much of it, and there is a chance the club are already looking at their options, with recent reports linking them to a Premier League star who’d be a massive but costly upgrade.

Arsenal transfer news

Given Odegaard’s lacklustre form this year, it’s hardly surprising that, in recent weeks, Arsenal have been linked to a plethora of midfield talents, such as Brahim Diaz and Desire Doue.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former is reportedly available for around £51m and has enjoyed a decent enough campaign with Real Madrid, racking up a haul of six goals and seven assists in just 2058 minutes of first-team action.

On the other hand, Doue could cost as much as £86m, but with a staggering tally of 13 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this season, it would be hard to say he wouldn’t be worth it.

However, given the Gunners’ desperation to win the Premier League next season, they may want someone who already knows the league, which is where Morgan Rogers comes into play.

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Arsenal are ‘firmly in the race’ to secure the Aston Villa star’s signature in the summer, with Sporting Director Andrea Berta said to be ‘a huge admirer.’

However, the report also claims that Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in the Englishman, while another story from March valued him at a whopping £100m.

It would be an incredibly complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rogers’ immense ability and potential, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a massive Odegaard upgrade.

How Rogers compares to Odegaard

The first thing to say is that while Unai Emery has been playing Rogers on the wing at points this season, his most played and undoubtedly preferred position this season has been attacking midfield.

Therefore, were he to join Arsenal for the fees being banded around, then he’d most certainly do so with the intention of starting every game, in turn putting him up against Odegaard – but who comes out on top?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output this season, it’s Villa’s “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, who comes out on top and quite comfortably at that.

Rogers vs Odegaard

Players

Rogers

Odegaard

Appearances

51

41

Minutes

4233′

3162′

Goals

14

5

Assists

13

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.52

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

156.77′

197.62′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in 51 appearances, totalling 4233 minutes, he’s scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 156.77 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain has scored five goals and provided 11 assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3162 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.56 games, or every 197.62 minutes.

On top of that, the former Manchester City prospect comes out far better when we take a look at some of the other important attacking metrics, such as conversion rate, chances created, and take-ons completed.

Finally, while this isn’t massively important today, the Halesowen-born maestro is four years younger than the former Real Madrid wonderkid, so if Arteta were to bring him in, he might not need to worry about replacing him for the best part of a decade, which could allow the club to focus on other areas of need.

Ultimately, while Odegaard is a talented footballer, Rogers appears to be far superior in most ways, and if Arsenal can sign him this summer, they should do all they can to do it.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 7, 2025