A noite da última quarta-feira (3), no duelo entre Sport e Ceará, pela final da Copa do Nordeste, marcou o primeiro momento especial do atacante Luvannor no Vozão. Na conquista do tricampeonato regional, o atacante entrou no segundo tempo e foi um dos escolhidos para a decisão por pênaltis. Com uma cobrança firme, no canto esquerdo, não deu chances para o goleiro Renan.
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Além da participação na decisão, o jogador também teve participação importante no duelo contra o Sergipe, válido pelas quartas de final do torneio. Aos 45 minutos do segundo tempo da partida, o jogador pedalou em frente ao goleiro Dida com estilo, o driblou e marcou um golaço para fechar o placar e classificar o Ceará para a semifinal do torneio.
Na ocasião, o tento do atleta foi comparado com o gol marcado por Ronaldo Fenômeno, na Copa do Mundo de 2006. Luva, aliás, foi um dos reforços trazidos na gestão Ronaldo e fez gols importantes no primeiro ano da SAF no Cruzeiro.
Aos 32 anos de idade e com larga trajetória fora do país, Luvannor chegou ao seu segundo título no futebol brasileiro. Algo bastante importante se considerado o fato de que, quando decidiu por voltar ao Brasil, a condição imposta era de que aceitaria apenas desafios com possibilidade iminente de ser campeão.
Luva também fez uma relação com a conquista do Nordestão servindo como uma dose de ânimo extra para o Alvinegro de Porangabussu ser bem sucedido no maior objetivo estabelecido para a temporada: retornar para a primeira divisão do futebol nacional.
– Eu vim para o Brasil para ganhar títulos. O Ceará é um clube enorme e tem uma torcida apaixonada. Merece estar sempre no topo em todas as competições que disputa. Vamos comemorar esse tricampeonato, que veio pela dedicação de todo elenco, mas precisamos virar a chave e focar na Série B, pois temos uma importante e longa temporada pela frente – destacou.
A ânsia por comprovar que o setor ofensivo do Fluminense tem variedade move Lelê e John Kennedy na Copa Libertadores. A dupla de ataque vai a campo nesta quinta-feira (25), às 19h, diante do The Strongest, no Hernando Siles, com uma chance de ouro: é a primeira vez nesta edição na qual são lançados no início da partida.
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Para o confronto em La Paz, o técnico Fernando Diniz recorreu a um rodízio. Com motivações diferentes, os atacantes tentam se sobressair em um duelo no qual os tricolores precisarão de fôlego.
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Lelê chegou às Laranjeiras credenciado por seu bom desempenho pelo Volta Redonda no Campeonato Carioca. Vindo inicialmente como uma alternativa ao artilheiro Germán Cano, o jogador de 25 anos tem se mostrado que é uma boa opção também em outra área.
Além de surgir como um finalizador, o atleta em alguns momentos tem mostrado empenho para atuar pelas pontas. Aos poucos, Lelê tem mostrado condições de deslanchar em campo e marcou um gol em dez jogos. Porém, ainda mostra condições de lapidar seu poderio ofensivo.
John Kennedy, por sua vez, conhece bem o desafio de vestir a camisa tricolor. De volta após o empréstimo à Ferroviária, o atacante, aos poucos, foi recebendo oportunidades com Diniz. Aliando habilidade na troca de passes com velocidade, o jogador de 21 anos voltou a se firmar como um bom desafogo.
Na goleada por 5 a 1 sobre o River Plate, John Kennedy participou da jogada que culminou em um dos gols de Arias. Seu ímpeto tem sido crucial para a equipe manter o fôlego em partidas nesta temporada.
Ao atuarem juntos, Lelê e John Kennedy também vêm mostrando bom entrosamento em campo ao serem acionado em partidas. Em busca de uma sintonia forte, a dupla vai a campo em La Paz para garantir que o Tricolor das Laranjeiras saia do Hernando Siles com um resultado positivo.
It’s been an interesting summer for Arsenal so far this year.
Andrea Berta and Co have been very active in the transfer market, bringing in six new faces for Mikel Arteta so far.
Undoubtedly, the most exciting addition has to be Viktor Gyokeres, who was a lean, mean goalscoring machine for Sporting CP last season, and looked good in the club’s final pre-season game.
Gyokeres
However, while he was part of the team that picked up three points away to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, he didn’t look anything like the goal threat we saw last season.
While he’ll likely only get better as he gets used to the Premier League, Arsenal could help speed things along by signing another international ace they’ve been linked with this summer, an international who could potentially help Gyokeres hit Erling Haaland-esque numbers.
Gyokeres' underwhelming debut
While Gyokeres looked impressive against Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup, scoring a header and coming incredibly close to getting another, he didn’t make a great impression on his Premier League debut on Sunday.
Granted, it was a bad day at the office for most of the side, apart from David Raya and some of the defence, but with the eyes of the league watching him to see if he could translate his sensational goalscoring form from Portugal to England, the Swedish marksman failed.
For example, in his 60 minutes of action, the Stockholm-born international failed to take a single shot – the first time that has happened in a competitive game since his days at Coventry City – was unable to complete a single dribble, played no key passes, lost ten duels and took just 22 touches, which was 25 fewer than Raya between the sticks.
Now, in his defence, there were a couple of occasions when he drove out wide before firing a ball back towards the centre in reasonably dangerous positions only for nobody to get on the end of it, but by and large, it was a debut to forget.
However, given his form over the last few years, Gyokeres will surely find his shooting boots sooner or later, and for their part, Arsenal could bring in a particular player who might be able to help him reach Haaland-esque numbers: Rodrygo.
Why Rodrygo could help Gyokeres explode
Among all the attacking players Arsenal have been linked with this summer, Rodrygo has arguably been the most exciting, and while he is now being touted for a move to Manchester City, there is supposedly still a chance the Gunners can secure his services for around £78m.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Now, on top of being an exceptional signing in his own right, why would the Real Madrid star be able to help Gyokeres’ goalscoring numbers explode this season?
Well, the first reason is that he’s already proven himself to be a reliable source of goals and assists with the Spanish giants over the last couple of years.
For example, across the 23/24 to 24/25 seasons, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has found the back of the net on 31 occasions and provided 20 assists in 105 appearances, totalling 7159 minutes.
In other words, the often “unstoppable” dynamo, as dubbed by Madrid columist Kiyan Sobhani, was averaging a goal involvement every 2.05 games, or every 140.37 minutes in that period, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he was playing everywhere but his preferred position of left-wing.
Rodrygo’s recent record
Season
23/24
24/25
Appearances
51
54
Minutes
3707′
3452′
Goals
17
14
Assists
9
11
Goal Involvements per Match
0.50
0.46
Minutes per Goal Involvement
142.57′
138.08′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Just imagine the numbers the Swedish goal-machine would be able to put up with the 24-year-old to his left, instead of Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka to his right – they could be Haaland-esque if things click.
Moreover, when we take a look at the former Santos gem’s underlying numbers, it quickly becomes clear that he is elite at getting the ball into dangerous areas through carrying, which for a traditional number nine like Gyokeres could be perfect.
For example, FBref ranked him in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in La Liga last season for carries into the final third, the top 3% for touches in the attacking third, the top 6% for total carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, with his record from the last two years being what it is, we know Gyokeres can score goals at a rate few can match, and to help him get close to those numbers again, Arsenal need to bring in a world-class left-winger like Rodrygo.
Arteta must axe 4/10 Arsenal star who was worse than Gyokeres vs Man Utd
Arsenal may have secured victory at Old Trafford but there were some negatives.
حسم مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، مصير منصب المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة اليد بالقلعة البيضاء خلال بطولة إفريقيا.
وكان الزمالك قد أعلن توجيه الشكر إلى المدرب الفرنسي فرانك موريس المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة اليد، مع التمنيات له بالتوفيق في مسيرته المقبلة بعد الخسارة أمام برشلونة في كأس العالم.
طالع..الزمالك يتعادل مع الشارقة ويحصد المركز الخامس في كأس العالم لأندية اليد
وتولى محمد عبد السلام ريشة، تدريب الفريق بشكل مؤقت، لاستكمال البطولة، حيث حقق المركز الخامس على حساب الشارقة الإماراتي.
وعلم بطولات من مصادر خاصة، أن الزمالك استقر على استمرار محمد عبد السلام ريشة في منصب المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة اليد خلال بطولة إفريقيا.
وجاء القرار بعد عدم التوصل لأي اتفاق مع مدرب جديد وضيق الوقت قبل موعد انطلاق بطولة إفريقيا.
وتنطلق بطولة إفريقيا لكرة اليد في المغرب، خلال الفترة من 11 إلى 20 أكتوبر الجاري.
Sri Lanka began with a huge win against Malaysia before India brushed West Indies aside in the evening game
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2025
Left-arm spinner Parunika Sisodia finished with 3 for 7•ICC/Getty Images
Defending champions India started their Under-19 Women’s World Cup campaign with a bang, routing West Indies for just 44 before scripting a nine-wicket win. This came just hours after Sri Lanka had skittled Malaysia for 23 earlier on Sunday.In the second game of the day, India’s bowlers cashed in on their decision to bowl first by troubling West Indies with swing and spin. Fast bowler VJ Joshitha handed them a double-blow when she trapped Samara Ramnath in front and on the next ball had Naijanni Cumberbatch caught at slip to a superb diving catch from Sanika Chalke.When left-arm spinners Aayushi Shukla and Parunika Sisodia struck in consecutive overs to remove Jahzara Claxton and Brianna Harricharan respectively for ducks, West Indies were 17 for 4 after 5.1 overs. Three run outs in as many overs added to their woes, and 39 for 7 soon became 44 all out as Shukla and Sisodia wrapped things up. Sisodia finished with 3 for 7 while Joshitha and Shukla picked up two each.India lost only Gongadi Trisha, for 4, in the modest chase as G Kamalini and Chalke finished things off in 4.2 overs.Dahami Sanethma top scored for Sri Lanka with 55•ICC via Getty Images
Hosts Malaysia were shot out for just 23 in their maiden Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup appearance by Sri Lanka, who completed a 139-run win in the first of the two games on Sunday, in Kuala Lumpur.Put in to bat, Sri Lanka rode on quick knocks from opener Sanjana Kavindi (30 off 13) and No. 3 Dahami Sanethma (55 off 52) to score 52 in the powerplay before Sanethma led the innings even as wickets fell at the other end, including two in the 17th over. Cameos from Hiruni Hansika (28 off 21) and Shashini Gimhani (13 off 7) powered them to 162.In reply, Malaysia lasted 14.1 overs as left-arm spinner Chamodi Praboda struck twice in the second over to reduce the hosts to 2 for 3. Manudi Nanayakkara and Limansa Thilakarathna took two wickets each as no Malaysia batter reached double-figures and six were dismissed for ducks. Praboda finished with figures of 4-2-5-3.
West Ham United are now in “ongoing negotiations” over a dealt to sign a new centre-back, who Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich once described as a “beast”.
West Ham keen on new defender despite impressive Forest victory
West Ham finally got their first win of the new season under their belts on Sunday afternoon, securing a 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest courtesy of late goals from Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Callum Wilson.
Graham Potter will undoubtedly be pleased the three attackers were able to get on the scoresheet, but his side also looked far more solid from a defensive point of view, picking up a first clean sheet, after conceding eight goals in the previous two Premier League games.
Max Kilman was particularly impressive, winning all four of the duels he contested, with Konstantinos Mavropanos also catching the eye in his first league outing this season, making six clearances throughout the match to keep the home side at bay.
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The Hammers are “exploring a move” for a new centre-back.
ByDominic Lund Sep 1, 2025
However, it is clear that Potter wants to add more defenders to his ranks before the 7pm deadline, with talks ongoing over a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Igor Julio, alongside Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell.
According to an update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, West Ham are also in “ongoing negotiations” over a deal for S.C. Braga defender Bright Arrey-Mbi, and they are exploring a deadline day deal for the 22-year-old.
It is unclear whether the move for Arrey-Mbi will go through today, but there is clearly firm interest on the Hammers’ behalf, with talks over a deal being opened days ago.
Germany's BrightArrey-Mbilooks dejected after the match
A potential transfer fee is not discussed by Plettenberg, but Braga spending €6m (£5m) to sign the defender from Hannover 96 last summer provides a reference point.
"Beast" Arrey-Mbi could be solid long-term addition for West Ham
The Braga defender, who represents Germany U21s internationally, has been hailed by former teammate Joshua Kimmich in the past, with the Bayern Munich man saying: “Bright is already a beast. You can tell that he uses every muscle on his body. It surprised me in training that he’s not shy at all. He really goes into challenges and has a certain calmness on the ball.”
Since then, the Cameroon-born defender hasn’t exactly kicked on, but he has managed to get a lot more first-team experience under his belt over the previous two seasons, making a combined 47 league appearances across spells with Hannover 96 and Braga.
Given that Arrey-Mbi is yet to prove himself in a major European league, it would make sense to bring in Igor or Cresswell alongside the young defender, but having caught Kimmich’s eye at a young age, he could have what it takes to be a long-term success at the London Stadium.
Em entrevista ao portal ‘Globo Esporte’, o meia-atacante Lucas Moura fez um belo de um afago nos corações do torcedor do São Paulo e disse que, nesta saída do Tottenham, da Inglaterra, estaria disposto a ouvir uma proposta do Tricolor. Durante o sorteio das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, na sede da CBF, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ), o diretor de futebol são-paulino Carlos Belmonte comentou sobre a possibilidade de uma das maiores crias de Cotia retornar ao Morumbi. Confira:
Discussions have been held between SA’s premier and the Australian Football League to have the game played at Adelaide Oval in the week between football fixtures
Alex Malcolm09-Mar-2025
Adelaide Oval could host the Sheffield Shield final despite the football season having started•Getty Images
South Australia’s dream of hosting the Sheffield Shield final at Adelaide Oval is one step closer to reality after they confirmed hosting rights thanks to a win over Victoria. Coach Ryan Harris said his side wants to play at the venue with it becoming a strong possibility as discussions have reached the state premier’s office amid a juggling act with the Australian Football League (AFL), which could see the dates of the decider shifted.South Australia will host their first Shield final since 2016 after locking up top spot on the table with an outstanding four-wicket win at the Junction Oval, after chasing down 300 in the fourth innings thanks to a superb unbeaten century from Jake Lehmann.Whispers that the final could be held at Adelaide Oval began to circulate after the win over Western Australia in Perth last month but nothing could happen officially until South Australia confirmed they would host the final.Related
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The final is currently scheduled to run from March 26 to March 30. One major issue is that Adelaide Oval’s drop-in pitches have already been removed from the venue ahead of AFL club Adelaide Crows first home game on March 16. South Australia’s other AFL club, Port Adelaide, play their first home game at the venue on Saturday March 22.If the Shield final were to be staged at Adelaide Oval, it would need to be moved forward two days to be played between Monday March 24 and Friday March 28, sandwiched between weekend football fixtures with Crows playing at home again on March 30.It is understood that a single drop-in surface could be put in place after the AFL game on March 22 is completed. The pitch would have already been prepared elsewhere and would be ready for play on March 24 with the outfield cut to an acceptable level.”We’re in now. I think that was part of the step,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo after the win over Victoria on Sunday. “I’ve left that up to the people above me, but it’s gaining momentum, I believe.”I think there are a few small bridges to cross coming into this week. But I think now that the fact that it’s been confirmed that we’re in Adelaide I guess we’ll hear over the next couple of days, what goes on there.”But I mean we want to play there. We love it there. It might be a little bit different. The outfield might be a little bit slower, but when we play early games in September, October, it’s generally quite slow anyway, so I don’t think it’s going to be a lot different.South Australia have been the dominant team of the season•Getty Images
“But ultimately if we can get out there, it’d be great. But obviously, we understand as well the agreement football have. But as far as I know, the conversations have been really positive so we’ll wait and see over the next couple of days.”A Shield final has not been hosted at Adelaide Oval since 1996 with South Australia’s last home final played at Glenelg Oval. The encroachment of the AFL season into March over the last 15 years has meant venues that host both first-class cricket and Australian Rules Football such as the Adelaide Oval, the MCG, the SCG, the Gabba and Perth Stadium have been unavailable to host Shield finals due to football being prioritised once the winter code begins it’s season.A Shield final has not been played at any of those venues since 2012 when Queensland hosted the final at the Gabba. Since then Victoria has hosted finals at Alice Springs and Hobart while New South Wales hosted a final in Canberra before Junction Oval and Cricket Central became viable grounds. Queensland host two finals at Allan Border Field in recent years.South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas has even got involved and has already spoken to the local AFL clubs about the issue.”This issue has been drawn to my attention, I did spend a bit of time on the weekend making a few calls,” Malinauskas told ABC radio last week. “I’m pretty optimistic that with some hard-headed reason, there’s a compromise to be had here that would allow it to be played at Adelaide Oval.”But everyone is going to have to give a little bit. There’s a whole bunch of moving parts to this, but after the calls I’ve made, I’m pretty optimistic we’re going to get the right outcome if wiser heads prevail. I think the Crows have an appetite for pragmatism here, and that is to their great credit. The AFL’s got a role to play.”South Australia’s final Shield game of the home and away season starts on Saturday March 15 but it was already scheduled to be played at Karen Rolton Oval.The AFL are receptive to allowing the final to be played in between weekend football games with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon saying that the league was open to co-operating.”Like we do with other sports where we have a scheduling clash, we’re fortunate to play in the best stadiums in Australia across all of our capital cities and we know those stadiums get built and operate because they are multi-sport,” Dillon said at a press conference on last week. “So if it can be accommodated within our schedule, we absolutely would look at that.”Playing the final at Adelaide Oval would shorten the turnaround from the last regular-season round from seven days to five for whichever travelling team qualifies. Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria all still a chance depending on the results of the final round.Lehmann, Alex Carey and Travis Head are the only current South Australian players who played in their last Shield final. Lehmann, whose father Darren played in the state’s triumph at Adelaide Oval in 1996, said he would love to play the decider at the ground.”If that arises, that’d be awesome, because I think the last time we played in the Shield final at home was at Glenelg,” Lehmann said. “We actually got a pretty good crowd there, and it was good. But also, I love Adelaide Oval. I think it’s the best stadium in the world. You know, it just produces good wicket good cricket wicket, great stadium. so I’d love to be able to do that.”Meanwhile, Harris confirmed that Carey will be available for both South Australia’s final Shield game of the season against Queensland and the final.”As far as I know, he’s back next week, and for the final now,” Harris said. “That’s huge. Getting a player who’s playing pretty well at the moment. I watched his innings the other night in the Champions Trophy, I don’t think I’ve seen him bat as good as that.”But Head is not going to be around. Having captained South Australia in their last two Shield finals, Head is committed to playing in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad and their first game is on March 23. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Spencer Johnson, who both played Shield games this season for South Australia, are also IPL bound.”All fine with that,” Harris said. “That’s what they want to do. I think they’re probably having a bit of FOMO now and would want to be here. But that’s alright.”
كشفت تقارير صحفية موقف لاعب فريق برشلونة، داني أولمو، من خوض مباراة الكلاسيكو ضد خصمه ريال مدريد، في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم في وقت لاحق من شهر أكتوبر الحالي.
ويستضيف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الكلاسيكو بين فريقي ريال مدريد وبرشلونة، يوم 26 أكتوبر، في الجولة العاشرة.
وأعلن منتخب إسبانيا، في بيان رسمي اليوم، مغادرة داني أولمو المعسكر الدولي نتيجة تعرضه لإصابة (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
وذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية أن داني أولمو سيسافر إلى العاصمة الكتالونية، برشلونة، اليوم حيث من المقرر أن يخضع لمزيد من الفحوص الطبية يوم الإثنين قبل إصدار بيان رسمي من النادي بشأن الشخيص ومدة الغياب.
وأوضحت أنه حسب مصادر في برشلونة، فإن مشاركة أولمو في الكلاسيكو ضد ريال مدريد موضع شك، رغم أن النادي لم يستبعد مشاركته بشكل قاطع بعد.
وسيخوض برشلونة مباراتين قبل الكلاسيكو، حيث سيلتقي مع جيرونا في الدوري الإسباني، ثم أولمبياكوس في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وأشارت إلى إنه باستثناء مفأجاة كبيرة، من المستبعد مشاركة أولمو في المباراتين المذكورتين، وفي حال إذا تأكد معاناته من تمزق عضلي، فإنه سيغيب عن الملاعب نحو 3 أسابيع على الأقل، مهما كانت درجة التمزق بسيطة، مما يعني غيابه عن صدام ريال مدريد.
Celtic hero Chris Sutton put it best when summarising the situation surrounding Adam Idah at Parkhead – “a total mess”.
A surprise late approach from Swansea City looked to have spelt the end for the Irishman’s time in Glasgow, only for the Hoops to hold fire amid the wait to acquire a replacement for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Heading into deadline day, the former Norwich City man ultimately sealed his bumper £7m switch to South Wales, bringing an end to a mixed 18-month stint in Scottish football.
Having been stung by the failure to replace Kyogo Furuhashi in January, the Celtic hierarchy had thankfully learned their lesson, with a successor to Idah already lined up months in advance.
Oh no, wait, that’s not what happened, is it? Instead, in the dying embers of the window, the Scottish champions were left scouring the free transfer market, even considering an approach for an injury-prone Patrick Bamford amid his recent Leeds exit.
As it proved, Rodgers got out the phonebook to reunite with Kelechi Iheanacho, having enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the Nigerian at Leicester City.
As for Idah, while the manner of his exit – and the search to replace him – represented a ‘total mess’, were Rodgers and co actually right to sell him?
Why Celtic had to sell Adam Idah
The caveat to this, of course, is as explained above. The Premiership giants should only have sanctioned a sale if a suitable replacement had already been lined up.
Adam Idah in pre-season for Celtic.
That being said, a £7m fee for a player of his ilk was undoubtedly too good to turn down, with Celtic only taking a slight hit on their initial £9m investment.
In truth, that was a fee that should never have been dished out in the first place, with the Hoops gambling on a player who had scored just 17 goals – yes 17 – in 116 games in all competitions during his time at Norwich City.
Of course, the 24-year-old’s return of nine goals in 19 games during his initial loan spell in 2024 – which included that Scottish Cup final clincher – was reason for encouragement, although the subsequent burden of a £9m fee, and the No.9 shirt, appeared to weigh too heavy.
Yes, there were high points, including his brace at Villa Park and the 20 goals in all competitions last term, yet his overall record of 29 goals in 76 games makes for disappointing reading – as too does his 19 big chances missed in the Premiership in 2024/25, as per Sofascore.
Failure to score in the early knockings of the new campaign, alongside his shoot-out miss away at Kairat, appeared to pave the way for his departure, with Celtic left to reflect on an expensive gamble that simply didn’t pay off.
At Ibrox, meanwhile, Rangers could well have secured their own Idah figure with the eye-watering £10m capture of Everton’s Youssef Chermiti, while Celtic may have to rely on a familiar face to deliver the goods this season.
How Daizen Maeda's value compares to Idah and Chermiti
If the £9m dished out on Idah raised eyebrows, then the £10m that the Gers have forked out for Chermiti appears even more headscratching, not least considering that the Portuguese striker has failed to score a single senior goal during his time with the Toffees.
As Celtic have seen in the case of the ex-Norwich man, splashing the cash on a player doesn’t always lead to success on the field, with the club’s best work having come when plucking a bargain from the market.
Matt O’Riley’s £1.5m acquisition is a perfect case in point, as too is the £1.6m fee that was forked out to make Daizen Maeda’s initial loan move a permanent deal, with few deals having proven quite so fruitful.
Market Movers
It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the Japanese speedster – having been guilty of his own spot-kick miss last month – but boy has he been effective during his three-and-a-half-year stay in Glasgow.
There are few better sights in football than the 27-year-old breathing down the neck of a defender with his relentless pace, having proven himself to be a physical “machine” in recent years, in the words of his former coach at Yokohama F Marinos, John Hutchinson.
A unique talent in European football, let alone Scotland, Maeda has more than warranted his growing cult hero status at Parkhead, having taken his game to even greater heights last season.
While an at-times profligate figure in his early Celtic days, having notably missed three big chances across just six Champions League group games in 2022/23, the ex-Yokohama man is now Rodgers’ go-to man.
Maeda’s favourite Celtic opponents
Club
Games
Goals
Hibs
14
7
Hearts
12
6
Livingston
7
6
Rangers
21
5
Killie
11
5
Aberdeen
11
5
St Johnstone
10
5
Motherwell
11
4
Stats via Transfermarkt
Indeed, 2024/25 yielded a ridiculous tally of 33 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, including four goals during the club’s encouraging European run.
While only a solitary goal has followed this time around, the value of Maeda to Rodgers and to Celtic is immense. Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, he is now worth as much as €15m (£13m).
Daizen Maeda
That not only eclipses the recent fees dished out for his fellow forwards Idah and Chermiti, but also the pair’s actual market values, deemed to be in the region of €6.5m (£5.5m) and €8m (£7m), respectively.
There will be much debate at Parkhead over who will take on Idah’s mantle as the starting striker, be it Iheanacho, Johnny Kenny or Shin Yamada, but in reality, if this season is to be a success, then it will be Maeda who is central to it.
Celtic interested in signing "explosive" 27 y/o free agent after Iheanacho