Tag Futebol

It’s a travel day in Major League Baseball, which means there are just nine games – instead of 15 – to bet on. 

There are a couple of prop bets I’m eyeing on tonight’s slate, with two star right-handers looking to build on their strong starts to the 2024 season. 

The first prop comes in the New York Yankees-Baltimore Orioles matchup, which went to extra innings on Wednesday night with the O’s pulling out a win. Starter Luis Gil gets the ball for New York, and oddsmakers may be undervaluing him after a couple of outings where he showcased some command issues (eight walks over the last three games). 

Plus, there’s a play for Seattle Mariners ace Luis Castillo that I love tonight. Let’s break down these bets to send ourselves into the end of the week on a high note. 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Thursday, June 20

• Luis Gil UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-165)
• Luis Castillo OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (+115)

Luis Gil UNDER 2.5 Earned Runs Allowed (-165)

Gil has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, posting a 2.03 ERA in 14 starts (the Yankees are 12-2 in those games). 

While the rookie did allow three runs in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 9, Gil has still given up two or fewer runs in 11 of his 14 starts and eight of his nine starts since May 1. 

Since May 1, he’s compiled a 1.14 ERA while holding his opponents to a .128 batting average. That bodes well for him against the Orioles, who did not score and picked up just two hits against Gil across 6.1 innings of work earlier this season. 

We do have to lay some juice with this prop, but Gil is hitting the UNDER on his earned runs at an insanely high rate in 2024. He’s worth taking on Thursday night.

Luis Castillo OVER 4.5 Strikeouts (+115)

Castillo doesn’t have the easiest matchup on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians, but he could be undervalued in his strikeout prop. 

The Guardians average just 7.25 strikeouts per game this season, but Castillo needs just five to clear this prop, something he’s done in 12 of his 15 starts in 2024. 

There are a couple of advanced stats that I love for the Mariners ace here, especially his chase percentage. Castillo is in the 85th percentile in chase percentage, 69th in strikeout percentage and 64th in whiff percentage. 

The other reason I love this prop is out of the 12 games that Castillo finished with five or more punch outs this season, 11 of them have come with him picking up six or more. So, he doesn’t even have to put up one of his best games to get past this prop. 

At plus money, this is an easy bet for one of baseball’s top pitchers.

Kate Scott left Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Michah Richards in hysterics after suffering an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction while fronting CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League. The incident occurred on October 22, with a panel made up of former Premier League stars seeing the funny side of their host being left a little red-faced.

Wardrobe malfunction: What happened to Scott?

During the build-up to another busy evening of elite European competition, Richards and Co took the opportunity to welcome former USMNT star Clint Dempsey into their ranks. He is, of course, a familiar face to American audiences. Some playful fist-bumping took place between those preparing to offer expert insight and analysis.

Scott looked to get in on the act, but had to lean over the desk in order to reach Dempsey’s outstretched arm. In doing so, she ended up ripping the top that she was wearing. The 44-year-old quickly realised what had happened and managed to grab the garment in question before it slipped any further.

AdvertisementRichards' trouser tear left CBS Sports panel in tears

She looked a little sheepish when returning to her chair and blurted out: “Oh! I just broke my top!” Scott invited a member of CBS Sports’ production team onto set to help her out, with those sitting alongside her showing no sympathy whatsoever.

Henry, Carragher and Richards burst into fits of laughter, with the latter seeing his booming chuckle echo around the studio. Former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender Richards said: “Now you know how it feels! Give us a stretch then.”

Richards has suffered his own on-air clothing issues down the years. When covering Barcelona’s clash with Portuguese side Benfica in January, he popped a button clean off his shirt when jumping in the air to celebrate a dramatic 96th-minute goal from Raphinha in a thrilling 5-4 victory for Barca.

Prior to that, in October 2023, Richards ripped the crotch in his trousers when attempting to mimic the iconic goal celebration of World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe. Said incident left Scott and Carragher in tears, with the ex-Liverpool defender saying: “I’m not sure who is being cancelled, but someone is!”

Who is Kate Scott married to & does he have beef with Carragher?

Fans around the world found Scott’s latest gaffe funny, with several making playful jokes on social media at her expense. The CBS Sports crew have built up a legion of loyal supporters, with their behaviour always entertaining.

The odd unfortunate headline has been made, with Carragher once questioning the loyalty of Scott to her boxing trainer husband Malik Scott. A man that has previously worked with world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has since told of a supposed feud: “Jamie and I always see each other, so it's not an intimidating thing. It's just a respect that men have with each other. That's all it is. I respect him, he respects me, and my wife respects him, and he's going to respect my wife. And he does respect my wife. There’s no grudge with Jamie at all. I love that whole panel.”

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Promise of more Champions League carnage to comeQuestionable comments and wardrobe malfunctions are always a possibility when Richards and Carragher are involved, with Arsenal great Henry having told  of trying to produce entertaining television: “The main thing is that it is us. It is really us. People think I am putting on a face, but that is how I am. That is me. The most important thing is that we are friends. Nobody is acting.”

The show’s producer, Matt Curtis, added on that subject: “If people are guarded, if they’re worried about how long they have to talk or what happens if they mess up, there is an air of tension. Hopefully we’ve taken that away from them. We’ve tried to create an environment where they feel comfortable being themselves.”

There is the promise of more carnage to come, with CBS Sports set to continue with their Champions League coverage through to the final of that competition at the 67,000-seater Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on May 30, 2026.

يستعد فريق مانشستر سيتي لكرة القدم، بقيادة المدرب بيب جوارديولا، لخوض عدة مباريات في مختلف المسابقات خلال شهر نوفمبر المرتقب للعام الحالي، 2025.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الخامس في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26، برصيد 16 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا | مواعيد مباريات ليفربول في شهر نوفمبر 2025.. مواجهتان ناريتان

كما تأهل مانشستر سيتي إلى دور ربع نهائي كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية، كاراباو، بعدما فاز على سوانزي سيتي بثلاثة أهداف لهدف، بمشاركة النجم عمر مرموش الذي سجل هدفًا رائعًا.

في حين يحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز السابع في جدول دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري، برصيد 7 نقاط. مواعيد مباريات مانشستر سيتي في شهر نوفمبر 2025

مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث، الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الأحد 2 نوفمبر 2025، 6:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 7:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي وبوروسيا دورتموند، الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، يوم الأربعاء 5 نوفمبر 2025، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي وليفربول، الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الأحد 9 نوفمبر 2025، 6:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 7:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

نيوكاسل ومانشستر سيتي، الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم السبت 22 نوفمبر 2025، 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي وباير ليفركوزن، الجولة الخامسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، يوم الثلاثاء 25 نوفمبر 2025، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي وليدز يونايتد، الجولة الثالثة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم السبت 29 نوفمبر 2025، 5 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6 بتوقيت السعودية.

The amount of talent Manchester United have produced from their academy over the years has been astronomical. Of course, you can go as far back as the days of the Busby Babes, the start of the Premier League era, where the Class of ‘92 burst onto the scene, or more recently, when Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford flew the flag for the academy.

Nowadays, Kobbie Mainoo is the only academy graduate to have truly established himself in the first team. That, in many ways, is a sad reflection of the current state of the club, which once prided itself on homegrown stars.

Yet, a few academy players are on the fringes of the first-team squad, with one of the most prominent ones being Chido Obi.

Chido Obi’s Man United career so far

When the Red Devils secured the signing of Obi last summer following his departure from Arsenal, it was a move that piqued the interest of many. The 17-year-old joined United with a huge reputation in academy football.

His record at youth level is phenomenal. For United’s under-18s, he has 12 goals in 10 games, and for the under-21s, five goals in eight. During his time at Arsenal, the Denmark youth international bagged 32 goals in just 21 matches for the Gunners’ under-18s side.

With that record in mind, it was probably not a surprise that Obi made his first-team debut for United last season. Although he’s yet to play this season, the 17-year-old has already notched up eight appearances. He also scored twice for the first-team on their post-season tour at the end of 2024/25.

One man who knows a thing or two about being a top-level striker is Alan Shearer. The Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer was impressed with the youngster after his FA Cup efforts against Fulham last season. Shearer said, “I like what I see from Obi”, and described him as a “handful” for defenders.

Obi is certainly an exciting talent and another graduate of United’s academy. However, he is not the only top attacker coming through the ranks at Carrington.

Man Utd may have their next Wayne Rooney

Although under Ruben Amorim, the number of academy graduates involved in the first team has greatly decreased, there is still a pathway available. Obi’s rise through the ranks has certainly proved that.

Well, perhaps next on that path could be 17-year-old forward Amir Ibragimov. The versatile attacker can operate in midfield as a number eight, a number 10, and play on both flanks. He’s certainly left a big impression after his performances for the academy.

Ibragimov has an impressive record of 11 goals and nine assists in 33 games in the under-18s Premier League. The 2024/25 season was his first full campaign in the competition, and he chalked up 14 goals and assists in 22 games.

2022/23

5

1

2023/24

2

1

2024/25

22

14

2025/26

4

4

One of the biggest compliments paid to Ibragimov came from Mail journalists Nathan Salt and Isaan Khan. They compared the United youngster to one of their all-time greats, Wayne Rooney, due to “his vision and his ability to pick a pass in attack”, which is high praise indeed.

Of course, replicating what Rooney did in that famous Red shirt will not be easy. Yet, the 17-year-old has “dangerous” attacking ability, according to Antonio Mango, and can make a real impact in the final third, as his numbers show.

There could be a long way to go before we might see Ibragimov show similarities to Rooney in the first-team. But the way he has performed for the Red Devils’ academy certainly bodes well for the future.

Perhaps he can soon follow in Obi’s path and break into the senior side. If he is half as successful as Rooney was for United, Ibragimov will have had an impressive career.

Man Utd let “little Iniesta or Xavi” go for £0, now he looks like Carrick

Man Utd may regret letting this star go back in 2023

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 25, 2025

أكد محمود الخطيب، رئيس النادي الأهلي، أنه اتخذ قراره بخوض انتخابات النادي واستكمال مهمته، رغم ظروفه الصحية التي دفعته للتفكير أكثر من مرة في الابتعاد عن العمل العام، مشيرًا إلى أن القرار جاء استجابةً لرغبة منظومة النادي وجماهيره في استمرار المسيرة وتحقيق المزيد من الإنجازات.

وخلال الندوة التي عقدتها قائمته الانتخابية بفرع الشيخ زايد، كشف الخطيب عن أن الفريق الطبي المعالج له طالبه بالحصول على راحة تامة والابتعاد عن الضغوط، وهو ما دفعه في البداية لاتخاذ قرار بعدم الاستمرار، وإبلاغ مجلس الإدارة بهذا القرار، قبل أن يتراجع عنه استجابةً لإجماع داخل النادي من أعضاء المجلس ومسؤولي الشركات والجماهير.

طالع| خاص | خلال الكشف الطبي.. الأهلي يخسر صفقة هامة بسبب توقيعه لنادي آخر

وقال محمود الخطيب: «أُقدّر كثيرًا كل من طالبني بالاستمرار، سواء من داخل النادي أو من جماهيره، والذين رفعوا لافتات تطالبني بعدم الابتعاد، وهو ما أشعرني بالمسؤولية أكثر تجاه الكيان، لذلك قررت أن أواصل المشوار بطريقة تتيح لي في الوقت نفسه متابعة ظروفي الصحية».

وأضاف: «سيتم توزيع الملفات داخل المجلس الجديد، وسأتغيب لفترات محددة بناءً على توصيات الأطباء، وثقتي كبيرة في كل أعضاء القائمة، فكل واحد منهم يمثل إضافة حقيقية للنادي الأهلي وأعضائه وجماهيره، والهدف هو مواصلة العمل من أجل بقاء الأهلي في موقع الريادة على كل المستويات».

وأشار رئيس النادي إلى أنه من حق الجمعية العمومية أن تتعرف على ما تحقق من إنجازات خلال السنوات الماضية، وما يجري العمل عليه ضمن خطة التطوير المستقبلية، مؤكدًا أن رؤية المجلس ترتكز على الحفاظ على تاريخ النادي ومبادئه، وتطوير أصوله وموارده ليتقدم بخطى ثابتة نحو العالمية.

وتابع: «منذ عام 2017 وضعنا رؤية واضحة بأن الأهلي هو مبادئ وتاريخ وتطوير، وهذه المحددات كانت منهجًا للعمل في كل الملفات الرياضية والخدمية والإنشائية. وقد احتاج الأمر إلى إدارة محترفة واستثمار حقيقي وابتكار في الموارد المالية لتمويل المشاريع وتطوير الخدمات، وهو ما تحقق بجهود الجميع».

وشدد الخطيب على أن الأهلي ملك لكل من ينتمي له ويخلص له من أعضاء وجماهير، وهو ما يمثل أحد أسرار نجاح النادي عبر تاريخه الطويل، مضيفًا أن دورتي مجلس الإدارة 2017-2021 و2021-2025 شهدتا جهودًا كبيرة من أبناء النادي المخلصين الذين قدموا كل ما لديهم من أجل الكيان.

وحرص الخطيب على الإشادة بالراحل العامري فاروق، نائب رئيس النادي السابق، مؤكدًا أن تاريخه وما قدمه من عطاء سيبقى خالدًا في ذاكرة النادي.

وأشار رئيس الأهلي إلى أن مجلس الإدارة عمل على صياغة لائحة النظام الأساسي عبر حوار مجتمعي موسع، شارك فيه ممثلو مختلف فئات المجتمع، وأسفر عن «دستور الأهلي» الذي يحمي النادي ويحدد طريقه نحو المستقبل.

وواصل: الأهلي تاريخ ومبادئ وتطوير، تاريخ عظيم في زيادة ومبادئ وقيم متمسك بها، الأهلي ليس نادي كرة، الأهلي له دور في المجتمع، وملك جمهوره وأعضائه وكل إنسان مخلص للكيان.

But Hurricanes are yet to re-sign Tim David; Melbourne Stars, meanwhile, bag Liam Hatcher

Alex Malcolm31-Jan-2025

Beau Webster spent four seasons each with Renegades and Stars•Getty Images

Australia Test allrounder Beau Webster has returned to BBL champions Hobart Hurricanes on a three-year deal, having not played for his home state’s team since 2017.Webster, 31, played five matches for Hurricanes in 2016-17, but has spent the past eight seasons in Melbourne: he was there for four seasons with Renegades, before another four with Stars.But having played his entire domestic career for his home state Tasmania, Webster will return to play for Hurricanes in the BBL over the next three seasons.Related

Marsh and David set to re-sign as BBL, WBBL contracting embargo ends

Swepson moves to Melbourne Stars on deadline day

Melbourne Renegades sign Doggett, Jewell set to follow

Owen earns SA20 deal on the back of BBL heroics

Renegades sign Jason Behrendorff in first BBL free agency move

“I am pumped to return to Hobart next summer for the BBL, and get the opportunity to play on a packed Ninja Stadium in front of our fans, my friends and family,” Webster said.”Vaughany [Jeff Vaughan] and Nelly [Nathan Ellis] have got the group playing a really good brand of cricket, and to see them win a championship makes me hungry to bring another one to ‘Canes fans next season.”Webster signing is an interesting move by Hurricanes given they already have seam-bowling allrounders in Mitchell Owen and Chris Jordan in the top seven of their title-winning team. Despite Webster’s outstanding first-class record, he hasn’t been as dominant in T20 cricket.He has failed to strike at more than 132 in any of his last seven BBL seasons, and it will be interesting to see how he slips into Hurricanes’ high-tempo batting unit. But Hurricanes general manager Salliann Beams was pleased to bring Webster back to Hobart.”We have seen over the past 18 months just how special of a player Beau is, and to have him re-join the Hurricanes is something that will make all Tasmanians proud to hear,” Beams said. “Beau’s skill set in the short form of the game is up there with some of the best in the country, and he can take the game away from the opposition with the bat while also providing another wicket-taking option with the ball.”His leadership will also be a vital aspect of his role at the Hurricanes, and he is great mates with the players we already have on our list, which means he will fit into what we are trying to build seamlessly.”Stars hopeful about David, and sign HatcherHurricanes are still yet to re-sign title-winning power hitter Tim David, but they are hopeful of keeping him after a successful season. But Stars are still hoping of landing him as a free agent.Meanwhile, Stars have signed New South Wales fast bowler Liam Hatcher on a two-year deal after he spent the past two seasons with Sydney Thunder. Hatcher began his BBL at Stars in 2020, playing 17 matches over two seasons before moving to Thunder in 2023. But he played just four games in his first season in 2023-24, and did not feature at all in Thunder’s run to the final in 2024-25.

It wasn’t long ago that those of a Newcastle United persuasion were itching for something to happen in the summer transfer market, and rightly so at that.

Well, plotlines have been gathering apace on Tyneside over the past several weeks, but maybe not in the manner which the club or indeed the fanbase had anticipated.

Newcastle have missed out on a range of their top targets, and while Eddie Howe has welcomed Anthony Elanga to his squad for a £55m fee, it’s clear that much needs to happen over the coming weeks, with the Premier League campaign looming large.

With Alexander Isak brooding in the background and defensive targets such as Marc Guehi and Malick Thiaw appearing priorities for the Magpies, it’s easy to forget that Howe wants a new central midfielder, but that too remains one of the club’s most important transfer objectives.

Newcastle plan to sign central midfielder

Last month, Newcastle sold homegrown midfielder Sean Longstaff to newly-promoted Leeds United in a deal worth £12m. Longstaff, 27, played a bit-part role fro his boyhood club and only started eight Premier League matches last term, the last of which came a week into December.

More depth is needed in the engine room, though, and Aston Villa’s John McGinn has been earmarked as an alternative. Everton have already seen a bid knocked back this summer, and Unai Emery doesn’t want to part with his captain.

In which case, United might turn to Ajax talent Kenneth Taylor, with NUFCBlog revealing inside information that confirms Taylor has been added to the shortlist.

The 23-year-old Ajax midfielder has been valued at £25m, and was also the subject of a formal offer from Portuguese giants Porto last month.

Why Newcastle want Kenneth Taylor

Ajax left something to be desired in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, but Taylor confirmed the strength of the club’s revered academy once more, claiming the Player of the Season award after winning the Marco van Basten award the year prior, acknowledging the outfit’s most exciting up-and-coming talent.

Having graduated from the youth ranks and made his first team debut back in 2020 as an 18-year-old, Taylor has only gone from strength to strength over the past four years as a senior in his homeland, having made 165 appearances in total and earned his first five caps for the Netherlands.

Last term, though, he truly came into his own, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists for his teammates across 52 matches in all competitions, operating across the different areas of midfield.

Though McGinn would add some industriousness, energy and spirit to Howe’s project, Taylor’s Dutch verve and hunger to impress at the highest level could make him the perfect alternative, perhaps even a better signing, bringing a sharp potency in front of goal that might be needed, should the matchless Isak be playing in different colours over the looming campaign.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

34 (27)

Goals

9

1

Assists

6

4

Touches*

46.1

34.9

Pass completion

83%

87%

Big chances created

7

6

Key passes*

1.1

0.9

Dribbles*

0.4

0.6

Ball recoveries*

2.5

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Duels won*

3.5

4.1

As you can likely draw from the table above, Taylor is more of an able force in the final third than McGinn, placing an emphasis on pushing into dangerous positions and striking on goal.

Moreover, Taylor finished the 2024/25 campaign ranked among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for goals scored, the top 7% for through balls and the top 2% for goal-creating actions, with his energetic and forward-moving style leading data-driven site FBref to liken him to Newcastle’s Joelinton.

This exciting mix of strong athleticism and creativity is exactly what Newcastle need to complete their set in the middle of the park.

Though McGinn has a wealth of Premier League experience and is a natural-born leader, Howe has carefully wrought a dynamic and hardy engine room that could do with a touch of youthful exuberance to complement the commanding Bruno Guimaraes, the elegant Sandro Tonali, and, indeed, Joelinton’s raging intensity.

McGinn would be a credit to Newcastle’s team, to be sure, but it’s unlikely that he would nail down a starting berth from the outset, given the strength of the Magpies’ existing options.

Further, the 30-year-old earns £120k per week at Villa Park, and whether the Newcastle chiefs would feel it a prudent move to make a bid for such a player when they would play a utility and squad-rousing role is a pertinent question, especially as the Lions would expect to bank a figure in excess of £30m for their stalwart.

Taylor, however, would be content with joining the club and absorbing the fruits of his impressive midfield peers’ craft. He’s only 23 years old after all, and has plenty of mountainous heights left to scale before reaching the level that his skill set suggests is attainable.

While Howe will be determined to address the more prominent points of concern at St. James’ Park, signing a defender and a goalscoring forward, he will also be aware that the new campaign will bring the added expectation and intensity of a return to the Champions League.

With Longstaff gone, a player of Taylor’s playmaking and progressive quality could prove a certain success for the long-term stability of Howe’s project.

McGinn, of course, would be a shrewd and impactful signing, but in five year’s time, Taylor could be among the finest midfielders across the continent, whereas the Scotland international will be staring at his career twilight.

Better signing than Sesko: Newcastle agree terms with £30m "monster"

Newcastle desperately need to kick on in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 7, 2025

Celtic kicked off their Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead, thanks to a late goal from substitute Luke McCowan.

The Scottish central midfielder came off the bench to score from the edge of the box, via a fortunate deflection, to secure all three points for the home side.

After the match, Brendan Rodgers revealed that he still wants more signings to come through the door before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, particularly in the attacking department.

The Northern Irish boss said: “It’s just about improving. There’s areas that we want to improve in the forward line. That’s something that we hope we can do over these remaining weeks.”

Adam Idah started the win over St Mirren as Celtic’s number nine and failed to do enough to suggest that he is set for a prolific season as a regular starter for the Hoops.

The Scottish giants reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £9.5m to sign the striker on a permanent deal from Norwich City last summer, but he has yet to nail down a position in the XI.

Why Celtic need to sign another striker

Rodgers confirmed that the club are going to be dipping into the market to bolster their attacking options in the coming weeks, and a new number nine should be on the agenda for the Premiership champions.

Idah has, unfortunately, failed to prove that he has the quality or consistency to deliver as the main number nine for Celtic, based on his form over the past 12 months or so.

Since the start of last season, the Ireland international has scored 13 goals from 14.66 xG in the Premiership for the Hoops. This shows that he has not been clinical in front of goal and has wasted too many high-quality opportunities in the league.

The closest Idah came to finding the back of the net against St Mirren was in the clip above, when he brought down a cross from Liam Scales and rocketed a shot off the post from close range.

Vs St Mirren

Adam Idah

Shots

4

xG

1.09

Goals

0

xA

0.05

Assists

0

Duel success rate

42.9%

Pass accuracy

63.6%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the £9.5m signing failed to score from 1.09 xG worth of chances and four shots, whilst he also created almost nothing for his teammates.

The 24-year-old centre-forward was replaced by Johnny Kenny in the 78th minute, before Celtic broke the deadlock nine minutes later through McCowan.

Because of the lack of quality that Idah has provided, consistently, on the pitch, Rodgers should be looking to find an upgrade on him before the window slams shut.

Last month, TEAMtalk reported that the Hoops are eyeing up a potential swoop for Wycombe Wanderers centre-forward Richard Kone, who is valued at £7m by the English side, this summer.

Why Celtic should sign Richard Kone

The Premiership champions should push to win the race for the £7m-rated star before the end of the month because he could come in as a big upgrade on Idah.

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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Kone is a young and hungry forward who could follow in Gary Hooper’s footsteps by making the move from the lower leagues in England to shine at Parkhead for the Hoops.

The biggest concern with Idah is that he does not finish chances efficiently, as evidenced by his aforementioned xG underperformance, but that may not be an issue for the Wycombe star if he makes the move to Glasgow in the coming weeks.

Kone, who scored three goals in three games in pre-season for Wycombe, enjoyed a stunning 2024/25 campaign in the third tier of English football, and his form last term suggests that the potential is there for him to be a fantastic signing for Celtic.

The Ivorian marksman had only scored three goals in 17 matches in League One in the 2023/24 campaign for the Choir Boys, before he hit his stride in his second season at first-team level.

Kone, as shown in the post above, won the League One Player and Young Player of the Season awards at the end of the campaign, which speaks to how impressive he was at the top end of the pitch.

The Hoops target ended the season with a return of 18 goals and three assists in 43 appearances in League One for Wycombe, albeit it was not enough to help them earn promotion back to the Championship.

24/25 League One

Richard Kone

Percentile rank vs STs

xG

15.89

Top 7%

Goals

18

Top 7%

Shots on target

40

Top 8%

xA

3.33

Top 8%

Assists

3

Top 32%

Touches in the opposition box

243

Top 1%

Successful dribbles

44

Top 6%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old talent was ruthless in front of goal for his side, outperforming his xG by just over two goals in the league, and ranked highly as a creator and a dribbler for his side.

Former teammate Joe Jacobson described him as a “goal machine” and it is not hard to see why his teammates held him in such high regard, as he was lethal for Wycombe in League One last term.

Kone could arrive at Parkhead as a big upgrade on Idah as another towering, but mobile, centre-forward, but one who can finish chances with efficiency.

The £7m-rated star could make the most of the high-quality chances that Celtic are able to create for their number nine on a regular basis, whilst Idah has yet to prove that he can do that.

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Therefore, Rodgers should be pushing the club to strike a deal to bring Kone over to Glasgow as soon as possible, as he has the quality, as a scorer and a creator, to come in as an upgrade on his current number nine.

There’s no certainty Liverpool will sign an out-and-out striker in the summer transfer market, even with Darwin Nunez in the process of leaving Anfield and joining Serie A champion Napoli.

It’s funny: in the build-up to the market, many of a Reds persuasion would have ranked the acquisition of a high-level striker among Richard Hughes’ chief priorities as Liverpool’s sporting director.

However, the Reds have armed themselves with a wide breadth of fresh quality, and though they are yet to sign a centre-forward, there’s no question that Arne Slot has the tools to defend his Premier League title and challenge for the various other trophies up for grabs.

Signing a new striker would hardly be a bad thing, though, especially with rumours linking Liverpool to Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who was declared “the best striker in the Premier League” by pundit Jamie Carragher last season.

However, should Luis Diaz be on the move too, that stance will no doubt change.

Luis Diaz's Liverpool future: the latest

At the start of June, Liverpool reportedly rejected a formal approach from Barcelona for their trusty forward Diaz. The 28-year-old hit 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions last season, filling in plenty at number nine to compensate for the struggles of Nunez and Diogo Jota.

Liverpool’s supposed stance is that he’s going nowhere, but that hasn’t stopped a gurgling stream of rumours from flowing through.

With interest coming from the Saudi Pro League too, there’s every chance the Colombian moves ship after his successful year in Slot’s system, for he has just two years remaining on his current deal and earns a comparatively meagre salary at £55k per week.

Given the potential finances involved in an agreement with a team like Al-Nassr, Liverpool’s position may well shift, though it would mean that the Merseysiders would need to sign a replacement.

Diaz’s dynamic qualities worked a treat for Slot last year, bringing something unique to the squad. Such players are few and far between, although Hughes has found a potential successor with similar properties.

Liverpool line up Diaz replacement

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are interested in signing Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman this summer, albeit they are behind Arsenal in the race at this stage.

The Gunners, who have a long-standing interest in the 27-year-old, are engaged in negotiations, with the Serie A side seeking a €50m (£43m) fee.

With Hughes keeping an eye on Lookman, things may yet accelerate. A deal would depend on the outcome of Diaz’s quandary, but given his dynamic faculties, it’s a move worth exploring.

Why Liverpool should sign Ademola Lookman

Liverpool have one of the best left-sided forwards in the business in Cody Gakpo, but the Dutchman would need competition if Diaz were to leave.

Mohamed Salah is a matchless forward, but he turned 33 this month and cannot be expected to haul such a heavy load again without more goalscoring support from his peers – Lookman could help in that regard, for sure.

Lookman, indeed, could blend the skill sets together, especially as he has some experience as his team’s focal frontman, and performing prolifically at that.

Ademola Lookman – Career Stats by Position
Position	Apps	Goals	Assists
Left winger	102	29	7
Attacking midfield	98	33	14
Right winger	62	10	12
Centre-forward	38	14	9
Data via Transfermarkt

Broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos praised Lookman for his “monster” 2023/24 season, winning the Europa League and posting 27 goal involvements across 45 matches.

It was his stunning hat-trick which won Atalanta the Europa League and ended Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible unbeaten run, which stretched across the vast chasm of a campaign.

There was no doubting it: this former Everton, Leicester City and Fulham prospect, who never quite brought it together in the Premier League, was a “superstar”, as had been said by 90min’s Sean Walsh.

Perhaps he didn’t quite reach the same heights last year, but he still scored 20 goals and provided seven assists for his Italian outfit – a higher tally than Diaz for Liverpool, it should be noted.

And the underlying data speaks in his favour too. As per FBref, Lookman ranked among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for goals, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90.

With Newcastle set to demand £200m for Isak this summer, Liverpool might be better off heading down this left-field track and signing a versatile forward who was recognised for his talent at a young age and has since realised his potential after first weathering adversity.

After all, FBref’s data reveals the Sweden international to have been among Lookman’s most comparable strikers in 2024/25, having played with a roundedness that aligns with the complete nature of Isak’s skill set, as has been noted by pundit Alan Shearer, who said in January, “his all-round game is magnificent.”

His performances out wide have also led the stats-led site to draw up Salah as one of his most comparable wingers, something which should hardly come as a surprise given the Nigerian’s ball-striking prowess and direct style of play.

Would he be expected to emulate Salah’s ridiculous output? Absolutely not. The Egyptian King scored 34 goals and supplied 23 assists in Slot’s system last year.

But the fact that Liverpool are pursuing a player with a semblance of their talisman bodes well for Slot’s project, especially as Lookman would be best utilised centrally or out on the left, meaning the forwards could play side-by-side.

All this hinges on Diaz’s fate, of course, but with so much exciting activity happening on Merseyside this summer, there are so many reasons to be excited for Liverpool fans.

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An emphasis on investment remains at BlueCo’s Chelsea, but several learning curves have been passed and there’s a feeling that things are not so scattergun anymore.

With Enzo Maresca’s side preparing to take on the Paris Saint-Germain super-team in the Club World Cup final, the club will be permitted to take only the briefest sojourn before a reduced pre-season commences ahead of 2025/26.

There has already been a deluge of new arrivals for the west Londoners, who secured their place back in the Champions League and won the Conference League across Maresca’s first season at the helm.

Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have been poached from domestic rivals, while Jamie Gittens, 20, has finally completed his £51.5m transfer from Borussia Dortmund, having been hailed by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley as “England’s best left winger in 2024/25” before he plateaued over the closing months of the term.

The talented Estevao, Kendry Paez and Dario Essugo are all bound for Stamford Bridge too, but Chelsea still have a few more tricks up their sleeve.

The latest on Chelsea's summer transfer window

Noni Madueke has been granted permission to engage in the personal technicalities of his proposed transfer to Arsenal, with the Gunners having seen a £52m offer accepted.

The right winger is a talented player but hardly indispensable. And he’s not the only one the Blues are willing to offload in order to reshape in a superior fashion. Indeed, Nicolas Jackson may be sold, with Todd Boehly reportedly pricing the Senegalese striker at an eye-watering £100m amid interest from AC Milan.

Elsewhere, Chelsea have been mooted to make their move for Aston Villa’s dynamic attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, something which Madueke’s departure would facilitate.

But Maresca seemingly wants some more competition out on the left, too, with Mykhaylo Mudryk in interminable purgatory and the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix all likely to leave this summer.

And that’s why Chelsea could make an approach for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who, aged 28, is settled as one of the most underrated wingers in the Premier League.

That’s according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, who has confirmed that Chelsea (and Arsenal) have considered making a move to sign the Japan international this summer.

Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabian suitors are also looking to get a deal done, and while there’s a sense that Mitoma’s entourage are drumming up interest to get a bumper new contract at the AMEX, the door is ajar for a summer switch, though Brighton would certainly need to lower their £80m asking price.

Why Chelsea want to sign Kaoru Mitoma

Mitoma joined Brighton from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale and was instantly loaned out to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Pro League, something which proved instrumental for his development as he polished his physical properties before being unleashed in the Premier League.

Now, he’s a seasoned veteran, having completed 108 appearances for the Seagulls across all competitions, scoring 24 goals and assisting 20 more.

His 37-goal involvement return in the Premier League, across 88 matches, is also nothing to be sniffed at. Mitoma isn’t the most prolific player, but he is immensely talented and endowed with the pace and intelligence to make a real difference.

In fact, the 28-year-old ranked among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last term for non-penalty goals and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, which highlights the impact he could have in Chelsea’s first team.

Is there any proof that Gittens, so young and untested, could bring such an instant effect to Maresca’s squad? Indeed, cast your mind back to Jadon Sancho’s days at Dortmund, and you will find all the substance needed to form such a compelling argument.

Matches (starts)

36 (28)

32 (21)

Goals

10

8

Assists

4

3

Shots (on target)*

1.6 (0.8)

1.6 (0.8)

Big chances missed

12

4

Pass completion

81%

82%

Big chances created

8

6

Key passes*

1.0

0.7

Dribbles*

1.4

2.4

Ball recoveries*

2.8

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.3

Duels won*

4.1

4.9

While Gittens is maybe a bit more active in the duel, and certainly has the makings of a clinical wideman, Mitoma is more complete in his performances, with BBC pundit Shay Given even claiming he’s “at the heart of everything positive” Brighton do in the Premier League.

There is also the pretty significant factor that Mitoma plies his trade in the Premier League, whereas Gittens has been cutting his teeth these past few years in the Bundesliga, a division of ostensibly lower quality.

The aforementioned Bailey has regarded Mitoma as “one of the Premier League’s best”, and it’s clear to see why. Though consistency might not be the Japanese’s strong suit, he has shown quality on England’s biggest stage that most wingers could only dream of, and even then, such ambitions would be hazy, ill-defined things.

While Gittens has the makings of something special, Chelsea would be wise to ease him into a position of seniority at Stamford Bridge. Signing Mitoma and allowing the pair to jockey for starting roles could prove a move that bears dividends for the success of Maresca’s project.

Chelsea will be raising the bar in the months to come. European nights will be freighted with the added expectation and intensity that the Champions League theatre brings. Mitoma is exactly the kind of player who could help the club tackle this issue and come up with a solution.

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