انتهت مباراة مصر وبوركينا فاسو بالتعادل السلبي، في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات تصفيات قارة إفريقيا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026، والتي ستقام في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك وكندا.

وأقيمت المباراة بين مصر وبوركينا فاسو على أرضية استاد 4 أغسطس، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثامنة من تصفيات كأس العالم.

ويتواجد منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، رفقة بوركينا فاسو وإثيوبيا وجيبوتي وسيراليون وغينيا بيساو.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة مصر في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد التعادل مع بوركينا فاسو

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر في مباراته المقبلة أمام جيبوتي في إطار لقاءات الجولة التاسعة من مواجهات المجموعة لـ تصفيات كأس العالم.

ويحتاج منتخب مصر للفوز أو التعادل بأي نتيجة خلال مباراته المقبلة ضد جيبوتي من أجل حسم بطاقة الصعود إلى نهائيات كأس العالم مباشرة كـ أول عن المجموعة. موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد أمام بوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

وسيلتقي منتخب مصر أمام جيبوتي يوم 8 أكتوبر المقبل، من أجل حسم بطاقة التأهل إلى كأس العالم.

Freya Davies’ impeccable four-for set up Southern Vipers’ no-nonsense seven-wicket bonus point victory over South East Stars to cement their place at the top of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy table.Former Stars fast bowler Davies hadn’t taken four in an innings since taking 4 for 23 in a T20 for England against New Zealand in March 2021, and last haul of four or more in 50-over cricket was a six-for for Sussex Women in 2018.But she extracted great pace to take 4 for 14 at Falkland Cricket Club, to restrict Stars to 120, with local star Ava Lee and Charli Knott both grabbing two wickets apiece.Knott – on her penultimate appearance – then made sure the chase was straightforward with a classy 57, as holders Vipers avenged their Charlotte Edwards Cup semi-final defeat to Stars in style.Vipers chose to bowl, and after a rain delay which knocked the overs down to 46 a side, they ruthlessly sliced through the Stars’ batting.Mary Taylor made the initial breakthrough when she found Tash Farrant edging a drive behind to Megan Sturge, who was keeping wicket for the first time due to a finger injury to Rhianna Southby.But Davies was the bigger danger in dumping the visitors to 22 for 4 with her swing bamboozling Bryony Smith, Alexa Stonehouse and Kalea Moore.The ball to bowl Smith and the one which Moore gloved behind were particular snorters in an often unplayable first seven-over spell of 3 for 10.Alice Davidson-Richards and Bethan Miles recovered things somewhat by putting on 35 but another collapse of 25 for 4 stymied Stars.This time it was the Vipers’ spin which took hold as Miles and Aylish Cranstone were undone by Knott’s smart offbreaks, before the Australian turned Elastigirl to incredibly catch Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones in the leg-side deep.It was the start of two wickets in an over for Lee – playing on the ground she began playing on at Under-11s for Falkland – as the England Under-19s spinner had Davidson-Richards caught behind.Chloe Hill and Ryana Macdonald Gay held things up with a patient 34-run partnership for the ninth wicket before Hill was run out at the non-striker’s end and Dani Gregory was Davies’ fourth victim and Sturge’s third.The reply was emphatic from Vipers. Where Stars had only scored six boundaries in their entire innings, Vipers, led by Knott, had equalled that inside 14 overs.Stars were also not helped by an apparent hamstring injury suffered by Farrant in the first over, which forced her to leave the field.Knott and Ella McCaughan put on 46 for the first wicket inside eight overs before the latter was outfoxed by a big turning offie from Moore.Georgia Adams, after a 43-run alliance with Knott, and Emily Windsor fell but Knott was graceful in dispatching width to reach a 56-ball fifty, her third half-century and fifth score over 40 for the Vipers.It was only right that Knott would cut the winning runs as Vipers romped to the target in 23 overs.

Rivals thought Liverpool would fall off a cliff when Jurgen Klopp packed up and left, but Arne Slot came and chased their wistful dreams right back from where they came.

Only 11 months after Klopp sang Slot’s name, Carabao Cup trophy in the bag but not much else (aside from qualification back into the Champions League after the misery of 2022/23), Anfield’s new Dutch boss returned the song, having won the Premier League and defied all expectations.

Slot’s proven himself, joining an exclusive club of managers who won the English top flight in their first year, and now he’s been entrusted to work with sporting director Richard Hughes and make sweeping changes in the transfer market.

Slot chased the doubters away, and with Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz joining from Bayer Leverkusen, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez arriving soon and a new centre-forward soon to be targeted, there’s so much to be excited about if you’re of a Liverpool persuasion.

Of course, some outgoings are happening too, with the legend that is Andy Robertson mooted for a departure in the coming months.

Liverpool's left-back situation

Robertson, 31, is entering the final year of his £160k-per-week contract and sadly looked a weak link under Slot’s wing. It’s understandable: he’s been run into the ground across so many years of tireless service.

With a deal agreed to sign Kerkez, Robertson is going to be relegated to the backbench, and so with Atletico Madrid circling, it might be that FSG reluctantly let their stalwart go.

Kerkez might be young, but there’s no question that he’s already reached a degree of superiority over Liverpool’s veteran, whose athleticism and once unending batteries have ebbed back over the past year.

Milos Kerkez vs Andy Robertson (PL 24/25)
Stats (* per game)	Kerkez	Robertson
Matches (starts)	38 (38)	33 (29)
Goals	2	0
Assists	5	1
Touches*	59.6	64.5
Pass completion	80%	88%
Big chances created	8	7
Key passes*	1.0	1.2
Dribbles*	0.6	0.2
Ball recoveries*	4.4	3.2
Tackles + interceptions*	2.6	1.8
Clearances*	2.6	1.3
Duels (won)*	4.0 (54%)	1.8 (48%)
Data via Sofascore

If Robertson does leave, though, could Liverpool be selling themselves short? His back-up, Kostas Tsimikas, is on Leeds United’s radar, after all. Liverpool might need one more star on the left side of the backline, and the chosen target may just be the most exciting of the lot.

Liverpool consider another left-back

According to TEAMtalk, Ajax defender Jorrel Hato is interested in moving to Liverpool despite the efforts of Arsenal, who effectively have the lead in the race right now.

Hato, 19, has been a revelation in his homeland and has been priced at €50m (£43m), a valuation which Ajax are not willing to reduce this summer.

Further reports claim that Chelsea are also in the frame, and that Liverpool and the Blues have been informed by the player’s camp that the race is very much open at this stage.

What Jorrel Hato would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool are stocking up nicely with the 21-year-old Kerkez, aren’t they? So why does Slot want another left-sided defender in Hato? Well, the young Dutchman would provide that extra bit of depth on the flank, all the while fostering qualities as a central defender too.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig actually hailed Hato as “one of the most talented centre-backs in Europe in his generation” just a few years ago, during his formative phase. But despite this, the Netherlands star has played the past year of his professional career as principally a left-back, owing to his gas tank, tenacious attitude and dynamism, driving up and down the wing.

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 9% of full-backs across Europe last season for pass completion, the top 14% for tackles and interceptions combined and the top 15% for ball recoveries per 90.

Impressive stats, and useful to shine a light on the skill set that has seen a natural centre-half perform with such aplomb in a wide berth.

Jorell Hato – Ajax Stats by Position
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
Left-back	89	4	8
Centre-back	70	3	3
Centre-midfield	1	0	0
Data via Transfermarkt

Hato and Kerkez are both rising defensive stars of immense potential, and choosing which one would be ‘better’ under Slot’s wing is effectively splitting hairs, but we’re hair splitters over here, and Ajax’s age-belying prospect is an absolute marvel.

Hailed for his “special” talents by scout Phil Costa, so skilled, so versatile, Hato could become one of the best in the world across multiple positions, and if that isn’t enough to send frissons of excitement through the Liverpool fanbase, what is?

It’s for this reason that he has been described as an “exceptional athlete” by analyst Ben Mattinson. When considering Hato’s quality across not one but two positions that Liverpool need to strengthen, you could argue he’s the more exciting man than Kerkez.

Certainly, there’s more thrill involved with the teenager than Robertson, who Jamie Carragher called “an absolute legend” in January, but a defender who has been “hanging on in every game.”

If, at the eleventh hour, Liverpool’s bid to sign Kerkez falls through, Hato would prove an excellent alternative; but, if all goes to plan and Hughes secures another excellent signing for the title-winning Reds, adding Hato to the mix would surely complete the set.

Slot's own Mane: Liverpool enter race to sign "unbelievable" £51m star

Liverpool are presented with a unique market opportunity to sign a talented youngster.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 16, 2025

Seamer will bolster T20 squad after departures of Xavier Bartlett and Wes Agar

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2024Kent have signed Melbourne Renegades seamer Tom Rogers for the second block of Vitality T20 Blast group games.Rogers, 30, has several years’ experience in the Big Bash League with Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes but this will be his first stint in county cricket. In all T20 cricket, Rogers has taken 60 wickets at 24.78 with an economy of 8.38.”We’re pleased to have got Tom on board to sure-up our bowling options going into the ‘business end’ of this South Group stage,” Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said. “He has a lot of experience and has skills that will be useful to us with both the ball and the bat, too.”Rogers will reinforce Kent’s bowling in the Blast, with Xavier Bartlett having only been made available for the first eight group games and Wes Agar returning to Australia early due to a shoulder injury.Kent are currently second from bottom in the South Group, having won two games, but could still fight their way into contention for a top-four spot.”I’m grateful for the opportunity to play in the Vitality Blast and I’m excited to be joining Kent,” Rogers said. “We know that every game is vital for us now, and I want to do my part in getting results as a Spitfire in the near future.”

Celtic have moved quickly to bolster their playing squad during the summer transfer window and several moves have officially gone through on Tuesday.

Kieran Tierney agreed to return to Parkhead earlier this year, and his move has finally gone through upon the expiry of his contract at Arsenal, which came to an end on Monday.

The Scotland international, who left the Hoops to sign for the Gunners back in the summer of 2025, is not the only player officially arriving on Tuesday, though, as Ross Doohan has also joined on a free transfer from Aberdeen.

Celtic have also taken advantage of a contractual situation to snap up a deal for 19-year-old centre-forward Callum Osmand, whose deal with Premier League side Fulham expired on Monday.

The teenage striker has joined from the Cottagers’ U21 side, but has taken the first-team squad number of 19, and is set to compete for a place in the squad.

What Callum Osmand's role at Celtic will be

The young striker could arrive at Parkhead to fulfill the role that Johnny Kenny played for the Scottish Premiership champions in the second half of last season.

Brendan Rodgers decided to integrate the Irish forward into the first-team squad after his loan spell with Shamrock Rovers, and the 22-year-old forward scored one goal and provided one assist in eight Premiership outings, starting one game.

Celtic have already rejected an offer of £500k from Bolton for the Irishman, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will still be at Parkhead by the end of the summer transfer window.

An exit from Glasgow for Kenny in the coming weeks would open the door for Osmand to take up his role as the back-up centre-forward in the squad.

24/25

22

11

4

23/24

29

21

6

22/23

21

11

2

21/22

1

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the Welsh striker enjoyed a prolific career at youth level for Fulham, scoring 54 goals for the U18 and U21 sides combined.

However, he is yet to make a senior appearance for any club to date, which means that it remains to be seen how he will adapt to first-team football. This is why a back-up role initially could make a lot of sense for the teenage talent.

Osmand, though, may not be the only centre-forward to come through the door this summer, as the Hoops may also look for a long-term replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi as an immediate starting-calibre option.

Celtic opted against signing an immediate replacement for the Japan international in the January window, but they should now swoop for a senior addition, and Bojan Miovski is a player who could make a lot of sense.

Why Celtic should sign Bojan Miovski

The Daily Record recently reported that Celtic have shown more interest in signing the Macedonia international than Rangers in the past, and that they would be a more likely destination for the forward.

They have been linked with an interest in signing the former Aberdeen star, who is valued at £9m, from Girona, but it remains to be seen whether or not they will press ahead with a swoop for his services.

The Premiership champions should pursue a deal for the £9m-rated striker because he is a proven performer in Scotland who could hit the ground running as a starting-calibre option, competing with Adam Idah for a place in the starting XI.

This would leave Rodgers with Idah and Miovski as his two senior options, with Osmand as a back-up, and that would free up Daizen Maeda to play out wide.

Miovski’s form during his time at Aberdeen in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns suggests that he has the quality to come in as a better striker than Osmand, who is yet to make his senior bow.

The 26-year-old star’s return of four goals in 22 appearances in all competitions for Girona may not excite supporters, but a poor year in the Spanish top-flight does not paint the full picture.

Miovski plundered 44 goals in 98 outings for Aberdeen in all competitions during his two seasons in Scotland, which included a haul of 32 goals in the Premiership.

The left-footed marksman, who was once dubbed a “complete number 9” by journalist Josh Bunting, is a proven goalscorer in the Premiership, which suggests that he could provide an instant threat in front of goal for the Hoops next season.

Appearances

37

38

Goals

16

16

Conversion rate

23%

15%

Minutes per goal

181

197

Big chances created

6

4

Assists

2

2

As you can see in the table above, the Macedonia international was a consistent performer in front of goal for the Dons in the Scottish top-flight, firing in 16 goals in both of his seasons at Pittodrie.

Daizen Maeda, with 16 strikes, was the only Celtic player who scored more than ten league goals last season, which suggests that Miovski would be one of the biggest goal threats, if not the biggest, within the Hoops squad if he can get back to that form.

The Girona forward also has a record of four goals in nine games against Rangers in his career to date, which suggests that he could be a fearsome opponent in the big games for Rodgers next term.

Overall, Miovski is a proven Premiership performer in the prime years of his career, at the age of 26, which is why he would come through the door as a much better striker, in the here and now, than Osmand, who has not proven himself in any league at senior level to date.

More exciting than Inamura & Osmand: Celtic could sign "jaw-dropping" star

Celtic could land a signing that is more exciting than Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura with this star.

ByDan Emery Jun 30, 2025

This is why Celtic should swoop to rescue the centre-forward from Giorna before the end of the summer transfer window, to provide Osmand with a fantastic attacker to learn from next term.

Leeds United are now strongly considering a bid for a “brilliant” midfielder, who could be in line to join alongside their move for Sean Longstaff this summer, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up pursuit of new midfielders

Leeds have now reached an agreement on personal terms with Newcastle United’s Longstaff, as revealed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, with the deal said to be edging closer to completion.

Widespread reports have suggested the Newcastle midfielder is free to leave his boyhood club this summer, with Eddie Howe sanctioning a departure, and a move to Elland Road appears to be an increasingly likely outcome.

However, Daniel Farke may not want to stop there, with some extra quality perhaps needed in the engine room if his side are to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season, and the Championship title-winners have now intensified their interest in a different midfielder.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Leeds are now stepping up their interest in Shea Charles, with the Southampton midfielder catching the eye during a loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday last season.

The Whites tracked Charles’ performances during his loan spell with the Owls, and they were clearly impressed by what they saw, as a move is now being strongly considered, although it is unclear what sort of fee it would take to prise him away from the Saints.

Will Still is also hoping to keep hold of the central midfielder beyond the summer, which could make it difficult for the Whites to get a deal for the £15m-rated maestro over the line.

Charles could be "brilliant" addition to Farke's squad

While the signing of Longstaff makes more sense, considering the 27-year-old is vastly experienced at Premier League level, the Southampton midfielder’s performances in the Championship indicate he could be capable of making the step-up to the top flight.

Not only has the 21-year-old hailed as “brilliant” by members of the media, but journalist Joe Crann believes he could go on to achieve big things in the game.

Perhaps most noteworthy is the Northern Irishman’s defensive ability, performing very well across some key metrics over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

Shea Charles

Average per 90

Interceptions

1.46 (83rd percentile)

Tackles

2.68 (78th percentile)

Aerials won

1.54 (80th percentile)

However, having recorded five assists in the Championship last season, the former Sheffield Wednesday man is clearly a well-rounded midfielder, capable of contributing on the front foot.

Charles could be a solid signing for Leeds this summer, but Longstaff looks to be a more attainable target, given that Newcastle are more willing to sanction a departure.

Newcastle United are now exploring a move to sign an “extraordinary” £35 million defender ahead of Leeds United, according to a recent report.

Newcastle confident of landing Kudus after missing out on key targets

It has so far been a difficult transfer window for the Magpies, even though they secured a place in next season’s Champions League. Eddie Howe’s side have already missed out on signing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, as the Cameroon international closes in on a move to Manchester United, and they have now missed out on Joao Pedro, as he joins Chelsea.

Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga is also another target of Newcastle’s, but they have already seen a bid rejected, and the Reds are determined to keep their winger. That means Newcastle are having to identify alternative targets, and according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Newcastle are now confident they can sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The Hammers are looking to sell the attacker in this transfer window, and therefore, they are likely ready to accept less for him than his £85 million release clause.

Newcastle explore move to sign £35m defender ahead of Leeds

As the Magpies weigh up a move for Kudus, according to reliable reporters Craig Hope and Simon Jones of The Daily Mail, Newcastle are looking into a move to sign defender Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille.

The Magpies are in need of a new centre-back this summer, and their search has now taken them to Balerdi, who is the captain of the French side.

The report states that Juventus have been looking into a move for the player, but given their financial situation, Newcastle sense an opportunity to pounce and beat them to his signature. However, they also face Leeds United in this race for the Argentine international, as back in May, they were given a boost in their pursuit as the player refused to rule out a move in this transfer window.

The 26-year-old played 27 times in Ligue 1 last season under former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, and given he is under contract until the summer of 2028, Marseille are looking to get around £35 million for his services should he leave this summer.

The French side are back in the Champions League next season, but the Magpies will hope the offer to play in the Premier League can help bring the Argentina international to St. James’ Park.

Apps

27

Starts

27

Clean sheets

4

Passing accuracy per game

87.4 (94%)

Key passes

0.3

Interceptions per game

1.4

Tackles per game

2.0

Clearances per game

2.7

Ground duels won

3.5 (59%)

Aerial duels won

1.5 (63%)

De Zerbi has only worked with the defender for a season, but the Marseille boss was left impressed by his performances last season, as he labelled Balerdi “extraordinary”. He said: “Balerdi? I hope that the big European teams don’t realise that he exists. I say every night before going to sleep that I am happy that he is going under the radar of the big teams. He is an extraordinary player.”

Breakthroughs at a premium in follow-on as batter’s fourth century of season thwarts hosts

ECB Reporters Network03-Jul-2024

Joe Clarke’s hundred helped salvage a draw for this side•Getty Images

Joe Clarke made his fourth century of the season and blunted the threat posed by Lancashire’s James Anderson to ensure that Nottinghamshire drew their Vitality County Championship match with Lancashire at Southport.Clarke passed fifty for the seventh time in 14 first-class innings this season and had put on an unbroken 136 for the fifth wicket with Lyndon James to steer the visitors to 270 for four when the players shook hands at 4.50 with James unbeaten on 43 and Clarke on 115 not out, bringing his first-class aggregate for the season to 795By contrast to his astonishing spell on Tuesday morning, Anderson had figures of 1 for 25 from eleven overs in two spells on the final day at Southport but the eight points the sides collect for the draw enable both of them to pull a little further away from Division One’s relegation zone.Anderson took his only wicket of the second innings with his 17th ball of the day when Will Young pushed a trifle tentatively forward and edged a catch to Matthew Hurst. The same combination had dismissed Young nearly 24 hours previously but Clarke and Jack Haynes then steadied the ship and Haynes hooked Tom Bailey for a six onto the Southport to Liverpool railway line narrowly missing a fast-moving train by seconds.In the next over, though, Haynes was caught behind off Chris Green, thus giving the Australian offspinner his maiden first-class wicket for Lancashire on his Championship debut.James Anderson only managed one wicket in the second innings•Getty Images

No more wickets fell until lunch by which time home spectators could reflect on a session in which they had been treated to the sight of Nathan Lyon bowling in tandem with Anderson, a combination that has taken 1230 Test wickets. The statisticians believe it is the most ever taken by one first-class team. (The nearest challenger discovered so far is another Lancashire side, one that contained Muthiah Muralidaran, Andrew Flintoff and Dominic Cork.)Regardless of who he was facing though, Clarke continued to bat with careful fluency, lapping Lyon for four to fine leg, pulling him onto the railway line and reaching his fifty in 107 balls. Nottinghamshire lunched on 164 for four and were therefore only 63 runs in arrears. But the prospect of Anderson with the new ball in his hand was enough to have those supporters looking anxiously at the sky and wondering when the forecast rain might arrive.Anderson duly took the new ball two overs into the afternoon session and Clarke prepared to receive it as though he was starting his innings afresh. However, the Lancashire bowler had delivered five wicketless overs for 16 runs when rain swept in from the west at 2.20.Contrary to some expectations, play resumed at 4.00 with a minimum of 33 overs to be bowled. Rather than be unsettled by the resumption of play, though, Clarke and James played with increasing freedom and had taken their side into the lead when Clarke reached his century off 185 balls with a square cut off Luke Wells.

Ipswich Town find themselves back in the Championship next term and could now pounce for one of the EFL’s brightest stars in their hunt for promotion, according to a report.

Ipswich Town look to replace Liam Delap

There were some encouraging signs in the Tractor Boys’ Premier League showing last season. Still, ultimately, they didn’t produce enough and find themselves in the second-tier desperate for another bite of the top-flight cherry.

Liam Delap’s £30 million move from Ipswich to Chelsea has given Kieran McKenna plenty of leeway in his hunt for a new centre-forward. At the same time, he will have also been encouraged by George Hirst’s maiden goal for Scotland against Liechtenstein last week.

Atlanta striker Emmanuel Latte Lath emerged as an early contender to replace Delap at Portman Road. Despite only joining Atlanta United in January, he could now be set for a quickfire return to English football.

Addressing their striker hunt, Craig Finbow believes Ipswich could look to recruit two forwards this summer in an attempt to freshen up their frontline before the close of play.

He stated: “It could well be two strikers that they look to get in and that will be the intriguing part. What do we do, do we potentially go abroad, do we go down the lower leagues?

Ipswich Town’s forwards in 2024/25 – how did they all fare?

Liam Delap

Appearances – 40 Goals – 12

George Hirst

Appearances – 29 Goals – 5

Nathan Broadhead

Appearances – 21 Goals – 2

“We’ve done that before with varying levels of success. I’d be quite excited to go abroad and find a striker from there.”

The Tractor Boys could do with some inspiration in front of goal as they head back to familiar waters, and they are now reportedly lining up a move for a shining star who can score and create.

Ipswich Town join the race to sign Kwame Poku

According to Football League World, Ipswich are the latest club to show an interest in Peterborough United forward Kwame Poku. However, they are faced with stiff competition to try and land his services.

Birmingham City are keen admirers of the Ghana international upon their return to the second-tier, while Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers are also lurking in pursuit.

Ipswich hold talks to sign "fantastic" £35k-p/w maestro who McKenna loves

The Tractor Boys are in discussions to sign a midfielder.

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Dubbed a “huge talent” by former Colchester United boss John McGreal, Poku shone on either flank for Posh in their unsuccessful bid to win promotion, registering 12 goals and 11 assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.

With his contract at an end, the 23-year-old could walk out of the door at the Weston Homes Stadium for a sizeable compensation package due to being under the age of 24.

Poku is also said to have attracted interest from abroad, so it is fair to say Ipswich may need to work their charm on this one if they have designs on bringing the versatile attacker to Portman Road.

Celtic are in need of a new option on the left flank ahead of the 2025/26 campaign to cover for the time that Portuguese winger Jota is going to be out for.

Brendan Rodgers’ side clinched the Scottish Premiership title in style with a 5-0 win away at Dundee United, but the left-sided forward hobbled off with a worrying injury in the first half.

It was then revealed after the game that Jota would be out for between six and nine months, setting a potential return date as late as February of next year.

The 26-year-old speedster returned to Parkhead in the January transfer window, from French side Rennes, and produced four goals and two assists in seven league starts in the Scottish top-flight before his injury.

This means that the Hoops need another option on the left wing because they are unlikely to have Jota available for a large portion of next season, hence why they are keen on Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Celtic are reportedly in talks with the Belgian Pro League club in an attempt to secure a deal to sign the left winger, who is valued at £5m, this summer.

What Balikwisha could bring to Celtic

The 24-year-old forward is a right-footed left winger, like Jota, which means that he could play a similar role within Rodgers’ tactical set-up next season.

Balikwisha’s form in the Pro League, when available, over the last two seasons also suggests that he has the potential to deliver both goals and assists from the left flank at a respectable rate.

Starts

27

12

xG

6.46

2.65

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian talent has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in his last 39 appearances in the Pro League, which suggests that he could offer a decent threat at the top end of the pitch from a wide position.

This means that the potential is there for him to replace the goals and assists that they have lost through Jota’s injury, which is why he could be a solid signing for Celtic this summer.

However, Balikwisha’s own injury record over the years is a cause for concern because he has suffered a lot of injuries that have kept him out for significant lengths of time each season during his time with Royal Antwerp.

In the last four seasons, the 24-year-old wing wizard has missed a whopping 63 games through injury, and at least ten matches in all four campaigns, suffering eight separate injury issues in that time.

This suggests that Celtic would be gambling on his fitness by bringing him to Parkhead to replace their currently injured player, which is why it could make more sense to look in a different direction if another target becomes available.

Celtic's interest in Premier League winger

Earlier this summer, Football Insider reported that the Premiership champions were interested in a potential deal to sign Aston Villa forward Louie Barry to bolster their squad.

The outlet claimed that the Scottish giants were willing to explore either a loan or a permanent deal for the former Barcelona academy starlet this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

They looked set to miss out on a deal for the 22-year-old talent when Hull City agreed a £3.5m fee to sign him permanently, only for the transfer to fall through after the Tigers were hit with a three-window embargo.

That transfer ban for the Championship side has put Barry back out on the open market and presented teams with an opportunity to snap him up, which means that he could still be an option for Celtic.

It remains to be seen, though, whether or not the Hoops are still interested in the English sensation, or if they would be willing to go in with an offer to sign him permanently at this point in the window.

Why Celtic should sign Louie Barry

Rodgers should seriously consider a swoop to sign Barry from the Premier League outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, though, because he has the potential to be an even better winger signing than Balikwisha.

Whilst his injury history is far from spotless, the English forward has missed fewer games (34) through injury in his career than Balikwisha (63), which suggests that he may be more reliable from an availability perspective.

The 22-year-old star’s form during his time on loan with Stockport County in League Two and in League One in the last two seasons also suggests that the potential is there for him to offer even more than Balikwisha at the top end of the pitch.

Barry produced nine goals and four assists in 20 League Two games in the 2023/24 season, before plundering 15 goals and two assists in 23 League One outings in the first half of last season.

xG

0.47

Top 5%

Goals

0.75

Top 3%

Shots on target

1.80

Top 2%

xA

0.21

Top 11%

Assists

0.11

Top 47%

Successful dribbles

2.70

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, the Villa youngster was one of the best players in the English third tier last season at scoring and creating goals from a wide position, and was unfortunate not to have more assists to show for the xA that he created.

Barry, who was hailed as “electric” by reporter Sam Byrne, scored 24 goals, assisted six goals, and created 12 ‘big chances’ in his 43 appearances on loan at Stockport, which suggests that he has even more to offer in front of goal, particularly as a scorer, than Balikwisha.

The Belgian forward, as aforementioned, has scored 11 goals in his last 39 Pro League outings, which is not as impressive as Barry’s return in England is, whilst playing in the same position.

Therefore, Celtic and Rodgers could land an even better winger than Balikwisha by signing the Villa gem, who is two years younger, less injury-prone, and has more potential to explode as a goalscorer on the left flank.

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ByDan Emery Jul 10, 2025