Tag Futebol

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.

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

Expand Collapse

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).

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.

Related Celtic interested in signing "explosive" 27 y/o free agent after Iheanacho

Can the Hoops strike a deal for another striker?

Posts 1 ByHenry Jackson Sep 3, 2025

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.

Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, will rejoin the touring party in Australia on Tuesday, having flown out of India after having returned home because of “personal reasons”.Gambhir missed India’s two-day tour game – which was later reduced to a limited-overs contest following rain on the first day – against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, having flown back home at the conclusion of the first Test in Perth on November 25. Gambhir left on November 26, the scheduled final day of that Test.The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a day-nighter in Adelaide, will start on December 6.Related

• Rohit's turn to lead from the… middle

• What do India, Australia, South Africa et al still have to do to make the WTC final?

• Siraj finds joy in his bowling again as the wickets follow

• Pujara: Rahul should bat no lower than No. 3 if Rohit opens

In Gambhir’s absence, the support staff of Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate and Morne Morkel had overseen the team’s training, and were part of the Canberra fixture, which the Indians won by six wickets, with Harshit Rana (4 for 44) and Shubman Gill (50 in 62 balls) playing key roles.Now, Gambhir will have to be part of the tricky discussions around India’s playing XI, with Rohit Sharma, the full-time Test captain, having linked up with the team after skipping the first Test to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Jasprit Bumrah had led India to the comprehensive 295-run win in the Perth Test in Rohit’s absence.Gill, who had also missed that Test after fracturing his right thumb during a training session, is also back in the reckoning.Even if India bring in Rohit and Gill for Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, who were part of the XI in Perth, there is the question of the opening combination, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul having put on a double-century first-wicket stand in India’s second innings in Perth. Indications from the pink-ball tour game, though it wasn’t a full-fledged contest, are that Jaiswal and Rahul will continue to open with Gill replacing Padikkal at No. 3, and Rohit possibly going in the middle order behind Virat Kohli. Rishabh Pant is the other certain starter in the middle order.

تحدث آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول بعد الفوز على إيفرتون بهدفين لهدف على ملعب أنفيلد في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وعلق سلوت في تصريحات نشرتها “تلجراف” البريطانية على جدول المباريات المزدحم: “كنا نعلم مدى صعوبة الأمر، ثلاث مباريات في سبعة أيام و62.5 ساعة راحة”.

وأضاف: “مباراة مبكرة يوم السبت، هذا الأمر لا أمانعه، لكنني لا أفضل أن نلعب مساء الأربعاء، يمكنك أن ترى مدى تأثير هذا، في الشوط الأول عندما كنا في حالة بدنية جيدة كان شيء لا يصدق، كنا نفتقر للقوة لكن العقلية مذهلة”.

وواصل مدرب ليفربول: “كلا الهدفين اللذين سجلناهما استهدفنا نفس المنطقة التي كان لدينا فيها لاعبون أسرع منهم للوصول”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. شبكة إنجليزية: محمد صلاح عانى من شيء معتاد في مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون

وتابع عن الاختيار بين إيزاك وإيكتيكي: “لا يوجد أي صداع لأن اللاعبين سعداء بوجودهما معنا، يكاد يكون من المستحيل اللعب ثلاث مرات طوال 90 دقيقة، هوجو لاعب شاب وقادم لدوري جديد، قوة عالية، يمكنك أن ترى اللاعبين الذين اعتادوا على ذلك”.

وحول تحقيق الفوز اليوم: “سيقول الناس إن لدي فريق كبير، نعم، وهذا ما ساعدنا في الفوز بالمباريات الثلاث، في دوريات أخرى، من حيث أتيت، كان يحدث هذا إما أن تلعب المباراة مبكراً أو يمنح اللاعبين وقت أطول، كنا نطلب من الاتحاد الإنجليزي التأجيل ليوم بسبب خطر الإصابة، يريد الناس أن يشاهدوننا نلعب، ولهذا السبب نلعب مبكراً، أفهم السبب لأننا فريق رائع يستحق المشاهدة”.

وأشاد سلوت بتألق جرافنبيرخ: “إذا قلت أنه تحسن فهذا يعني أنه كان هناك مجال للتحسن في الموسم الماضي”.

واختتم سلوت حول قلقه من الدفاع عن تقدمه بهدفين: “في المرات القليلة التي حدث فيها ذلك، كانت القصة مختلفة، في كل مرة، حدث بخطأ من جرافنبيرخ في وقت سابق ثم كنا معرضين للهجمات المرتدة، ثم استقبلنا هدفين من نيوكاسل من كرات ثابتة، ضد أتلتيكو كان لدينا ما يكفي من اللاعبين خلف الكرة واليوم يعود ذلك بشكل كبير للعب ثلاث مباريات في سبعة أيام، في دوريات أخرى، لا يحدث هذا إذا كانت هناك بداية مبكرة”.

Shift of venue from Bangladesh to UAE presents unique challenge

Matt Roller29-Aug-2024England are anticipating empty stadiums at October’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, but believe that their upcoming training camp in Abu Dhabi will mitigate the impact of the late change in venue from Bangladesh to Dubai and Sharjah.The ICC confirmed last week that the tournament will no longer be played in Bangladesh after weeks of civil unrest which prompted the prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. England’s squad did not change as a result of the shift but they are expecting a difference in conditions in the UAE – not least off the field, with attendances likely to be low.”It’s going to be a bit different,” Heather Knight, England’s captain, said. “There definitely would’ve been bigger crowds in Bangladesh, having played there in 2014 in the World Cup. We actually got some really good crowds, particularly in Sylhet… It’s become the norm for us to have people around. It is something we’ll talk about, but it’s a World Cup: it shouldn’t take too much to get up for that.”Related

ICC moves women's T20 World Cup out of Bangladesh to the UAE

Women's T20 WC: Australia begin title defence on October 5; India vs Pakistan set for October 6

Kemp, Heath in England's T20 World Cup squad but Filer misses out

England will play their first three fixtures at Sharjah Cricket Stadium (16,000 capacity) and their final group match at Dubai International Stadium (25,000). Neither venue managed to attract big crowds for games which did not involve India or Pakistan during the men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, nor do they regularly stage women’s international cricket.”Some people thrive off the noise and the energy from the crowd, so [it’s about] making sure, individually, that everyone is prepared for potentially what we’re going to get. I don’t think, suddenly, there’s going to be a big rent-a-crowd. But it is what it is, and obviously safety and things like that are probably the most important things,” Knight said.While England have spent the past 18 months planning for a tournament in Bangladesh, doubling down on a spin-heavy strategy, Knight backed the ICC’s decision to shift the venue. “It’s obviously a shame for the Bangladesh team that they’re not going to have a home World Cup,” she said. “But I think it’s probably the right decision… the conditions will be slightly different, but not hugely.”England will arrive in Abu Dhabi on September 13, three weeks before their opening World Cup match, for a training camp. “[That is] the bit that’s a big advantage for us,” Jon Lewis, their head coach, said. “We’ve asked them to prepare wickets that are similar to what you would expect in the two stadiums, so by the time we get to the tournament itself, we think we’ll be really ready.”Dubai and Sharjah have only sporadically hosted women’s T20Is: Sharjah has staged 10 – most recently in 2017 – and Dubai only five, all between UAE and Namibia a year ago. It means that England are relying on data from men’s matches in their preparation, and are wary of going into the World Cup with too many preconceived ideas about conditions.”There’s obviously not been a huge amount of women’s cricket there, so you’re going off men’s stats,” Knight said. Lewis expects the toss to play a major role in floodlit games, as in the men’s T20 World Cup three years ago: “It will be a factor,” he said. “There are some subtle differences in terms of the wickets in Sharjah and the stadium in Dubai.”Lewis and Knight confirmed that England would have selected the same squad even if the tournament had stayed in Bangladesh, and played down concerns that they are one seamer light. “I don’t feel like we are,” Lewis said. “The thing that may be trickier for the spin bowlers is gripping the ball with some dew… but we do know that spin is really effective in the women’s game in general.”Lauren Filer was the only player to feature in England’s home T20Is this summer to miss out on selection, though will travel to Abu Dhabi for next month’s training camp. She was edged out by Linsey Smith, the left-arm spinner, who Lewis suggested covered more bases: “In the Powerplay, she’s a really effective bowler, and then she can bowl through the middle and the death.”Knight described Filer as being “really unlucky to miss out” and was impressed by her performances during the Hundred, despite her only taking six wickets in eight matches. “She bowled brilliantly without taking the wickets that she deserved,” Knight said. “But the squad we’ve picked gives us the most flexibility around potential conditions that we might face.”

The promotion-winning campaign for Leeds United will live long in the memory of all supporters, taking them back to the Premier League after a two-year absence.

Daniel Farke was the man to lead the Whites back to the top division of English football, finishing top of the table and subsequently claiming the title on goal difference ahead of Burnley.

Such a feat was made all the more impressive after the sales of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, who all departed after the play-off final defeat the year prior.

However, such departures allowed the likes of Ao Tanaka to move to Elland Road, securing his place at the heart of the side and subsequently being named in the division’s Team of the Season.

The Japanese international could be about to be partnered by another star at the base of the side, as the hierarchy looks to strengthen the side ahead of their top-flight return.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last couple of days, Leeds have ramped up their efforts in the market as they look to provide Farke with the tools to survive next campaign.

His side have had an offer for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol rejected, but it appears as though they are set to return with an improved offer to force the Italian side into selling the 26-year-old.

However, he may not be the only summer arrival from Serie A, with Leeds also having keen interest in a deal to sign Juventus star Douglas Luiz, according to GIVEMESPORT.

The report claims that the Brazilian international has been offered to the Whites this summer, with the hierarchy set to schedule talks over a potential deal with the Old Lady.

It also states that he could be sold for just £30m this summer, only 12 months on from his move from Aston Villa, after making just 26 appearances across all competitions throughout 2024/25.

Why Luiz could be Farke’s very own Phillips

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips was a crucial part of the Leeds squad back in their previous stint in the Premier League, operating at the heart of the side after emerging through the club’s academy.

The 29-year-old spent 12 years with the Whites in Yorkshire, amassing a total of 234 appearances in the first team, being a mainstay in the side and enjoying a huge rise to stardom under Marcelo Bielsa.

Such form led to the midfielder being named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships back in 2020, as they fell at the final hurdle and lost in the final to Italy.

However, he would depart his boyhood side in a £45m deal to join Manchester City – a move that would subsequently ruin his career, only featuring 31 times in the last three years, with multiple loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town.

From a business perspective, it was great business for the club, with such funds allowing Farke to potentially have his own version of the Englishman in the form of Luiz.

When comparing their respective stats from Phillips’ final season at Elland Road, the former Villa star massively outperformed him, showcasing why he would be the manager’s own version of the fan favourite.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, registered more goals and assists, having the attacking threat to contribute to the Whites’ ambitions within the final third.

Games played

34

20

Goals & assists

5

1

Pass accuracy

83%

80%

Key passes

1.2

0.5

Through balls completed

0.3

0.06

Tackles won

1.5

1.4

Fouls won

1.4

1.1

Aerials success rate

45%

37%

He also managed to complete more passes and more key passes, subsequently aiding attackers ahead of him, as demonstrated by his assist tally back in 2021/22.

Luiz’s dominance doesn’t stop there, winning more tackles per 90 and coming out on top in more aerial battles, having the tools to star out of possession for the Whites.

£30m for a player of his quality in today’s market is an absolute bargain, with the 27-year-old having the experience to thrive in such a division should he return to England.

It remains unclear whether he would be open to a switch to Elland Road, but Farke and the hierarchy must work tirelessly to convince the international star to move to Yorkshire this summer.

He'd be Farke's own Jansson: Leeds preparing bid for "monstrous" talent

Leeds United are set to make a move for a star who could become a fan favourite at Elland Road.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

It is the start of a new era at Glasgow Rangers after Russell Martin was officially unveiled as the new head coach at Ibrox last week, shortly after the takeover was made official.

The former Scotland international has joined the club as their long-term replacement for Philippe Clement, having left Southampton at the end of last year, and is tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox.

Rangers have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the past four seasons, and they ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

The Light Blues know that they will need to be active in the summer transfer window to improve their squad, as the current playing group ultimately failed this season.

This means that there could be several new stars added to the club before the deadline in September, which could create uncertainty for some of the fringe players.

One player whose future at Ibrox could be thrown into doubt by possible new additions in their position could be Brazilian forward Danilo, who has not had the easiest of times in Glasgow so far.

Why Danilo’s future at Rangers could be in doubt

The Light Blues swooped to sign the centre-forward from Dutch outfit Feyenoord in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £6m, as Michael Beale looked to improve the club’s attacking unit.

Danilo is a bit of a tricky player to judge at Rangers because there is little doubt that he has the quality to make a big impact on his day. In fact, the striker scored five goals and provided four assists in just 878 minutes in the Premiership this season.

However, the fact that he only played 878 minutes, despite his impressive statistics in that time, is part of the problem for the Light Blues marksman.

Danilo’s injury history

#1

#2

#3

Type of injury

Broken cheekbone

Knee injury

Knee injury

Date of injury

September 2023

December 2023

September 2024

Return date

October 2023

May 2024

November 2024

Days out

43

171

65

Matches missed

9

32

12

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Danilo’s injury record during his time at Ibrox so far is less than ideal, as he has missed a whopping 53 matches in two seasons.

Put simply, his injury history suggests that he will not be a player who can be relied upon by Martin moving forward, because the attacker has yet to prove that he has the durability to be available week-in-week-out at Ibrox.

This is why the Scottish head coach should consider ruthlessly parting ways with the Brazilian forward before the end of the summer transfer window, particularly when you consider the club’s reported interest in other players in his position.

Rangers eyeing up Pro League centre-forward

According to the Daily Record, Rangers are keeping tabs on KVC Westerlo centre-forward Matija Frigan, as Martin lines up a potential swoop for the gem in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that he is one of the strikers the club are watching, after a £20m cash injection from the new owners, and that they are also in talks to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv marksman Dor Turgeman after seeing an initial offer turned down for the Israel international.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

It does not state that they have made an offer, or that they are in talks, to sign Frigan as of yet, which means that he could be behind Turgeman on their wishlist in the number nine position.

The Croatian marksman, though, is being tracked by the Premiership side, as they weigh up their options, and could be a genuine target for Martin and Kevin Thelwell.

However, the outlet does not reveal how much the Belgian side are set to demand for their centre-forward this summer, so it remains to be seen how much the Scottish giants would have to pay for his services.

Why Rangers should sign Matija Frigan

The Gers should swoop to sign the 22-year-old forward because he could arrive at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Danilo, not least because of his reliable availability record.

He has played 69 matches in all competitions for Westerlo since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, including 39 times this term, which shows that he has been consistently available for the Belgian outfit.

Frigan’s form in front of goal in the Pro League this season also suggests that he has the quality to be a big goal threat for Martin next term, whilst also potentially exciting supporters with his skills in the final third.

The young marksman marksman, as shown in the clip above, has the technical ability to beat defenders to create moments of magic, which could be particularly useful when facing low blocks of defenders sat behind the ball in the Premiership.

Frigan’s statistics in the Pro League this season in comparison to Danilo’s also suggest that he has the potential to offer even more in front of goal than the Brazilian.

24/25 season

Matija Frigan (Pro League)

Danilo (Premiership)

Appearances

39

23

Goals

13

5

Goals per game

0.3

0.2

Big chances missed

12

5

Conversion rate

14%

11%

Big chances created

6

8

Penalties won

3

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Croatian forward scored more than twice as many goals, averaged more goals per game, and had a better conversion rate of shots to goals than the Rangers flop.

Frigan, who was once described as a “complete” striker by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could come in as a big upgrade on Danilo as a goalscorer in the Premiership, as evidenced by their respective league form, because of how clinical and reliable he is in front of goal.

The Westerlo attacker would also be a big upgrade on the Gers number 99 because of his aforementioned availability record, which suggests that he is more likely to be available to Martin on a regular basis throughout the campaign.

Therefore, Rangers should sign Frigan and attempt to part ways with Danilo before the end of the summer transfer window because it would represent an improvement in the squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Related He wants to leave: Martin must axe Rangers dud who earns more than Igamane

Russell Martin must instantly axe this player from the squad if he is appointed.

Posts ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025

Everton have been incredibly strong defensively this campaign, both under Sean Dyche and David Moyes since his arrival. However, the other end of the pitch hasn’t been as free-flowing, scoring just 34 goals so far this season from a total xG of 40.29 (4th lowest in the Premier League).

The Toffees netted just 40 goals last campaign, scoring just 34 the season prior, which shows this goal-scoring issue isn’t a new one.

Whilst Beto has done a good job since Moyes took over, scoring six Premier League goals, much of the attacking burden has fallen upon summer signing, Iliman Ndiaye, who has netted nine times this campaign in 32 appearances.

Therefore, Everton could be forced to look into attacking reinforcements next season, in order to strengthen Moyes’ squad and give him the best possible chance of bringing the Toffees back towards mid-table, with the potential to even aim for the top half in their first season at Bramley Moore.

Everton eyeing outrageous star

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Everton are planning on signing a striker in the summer transfer window and their hunt is ‘well underway’ with Monaco forward, Mika Biereth, one of the names on their shortlist.

This comes as the Toffees could be set to lose both Dominic Calvert-Lewin (contract expiry) and Armando Broja (loan) this summer.

The 22-year-old has played in England previously, coming through the Fulham academy system and finding his way to Arsenal, making 26 appearances for the Gunners U21 side, netting 12 goals and providing five assists there.

Biereth has made 16 appearances for the French outfit this season, scoring 12 goals, providing three assists, and totaling 1,186 minutes played, which means that he is currently outscoring Beto. This comes after joining the club in January, previously netting a further 14 goals for Sturm Graz in Austria this campaign.

Why Biereth could be Everton's own Haaland

According to the ‘similar players’ tool on FBref, Biereth is compared to Manchester City talisman, Erling Haaland, despite being different types of strikers.

Haaland relies more on his physical attributes, bullying defenders inside the box to carve out his goal-scoring chances. Whereas Biereth has a mixture of natural height (6ft,2) and clever movement, not possessing the same brute strength as Haaland.

Goals

0.74

0.84

0.50

Assists

0.21

0.11

0.00

xG

0.67

0.83

0.48

xAG

0.22

0.09

0.06

Progressive Carries

1.01

0.75

0.95

Progressive Passes

1.63

0.75

0.71

Shots Total

2.52

3.95

2.56

Goals/Shot

0.28

0.19

0.20

G-xG

+0.11

-0.02

-0.01

Shot-Creating Actions

2.25

2.08

1.35

Aerial Duels Won

1.35

1.66

5.71

When comparing the underlying metrics of both Haaland and Biereth alongside Beto, you can see the level of clinical finishing the 22-year-old would bring to Everton, overperforming his xG, having the best goals/shot conversion ratio, and also providing for his teammates with assists/shot-creating actions.

Biereth has been labeled “outrageous” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, after scoring his third hat trick in seven games for Monaco back in February. The goal-scoring prowess of the ex-Arsenal gem at such a young age is clearly catching the eye, with acrobatic and clever finishes inside the box reminiscent of Haaland, mixed with poachers’ goals to ensure that the tally keeps ticking upwards.

Keeping Beto around as a brilliant outlet option, especially given his upturn in form under Moyes, but also adding Biereth as a younger option with brilliant goal-scoring instincts and high potential could be a great balance for Everton next season in their striker department.

Their next Tarkowski: Everton make contact to sign £120k-per-week defender

David Moyes is ready to strengthen this Everton side this summer with a move for Tarkowski 2.0.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 25, 2025

It is a big summer for West Ham United, who will need to ratify the misgivings of the 2024/25 campaign. The Hammers have been largely disappointing this term, sitting 17th in the Premier League, and although they are safe from relegation, their 36 points are certainly underwhelming.

Having had two managers this season, with Graham Potter currently in charge, things have certainly not been easy at the London Stadium. However, West Ham’s tally of just nine wins so far, alongside 16 losses, is hugely disappointing. There have only been four teams that have won fewer games, and three of those have been relegated.

Now, with the summer transfer window around the corner, West Ham have already been linked with one striker who can solve their attacking problems.

West Ham’s new striker target

One of the most impressive clubs in Ligue 1 this season has been Liam Rosenior’s Strasbourg. They have reached seventh in the table and are pushing for European football. Unsurprisingly, clubs around Europe have been put on high alert for some of their stars, with striker Emanuel Emegha a wanted man.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the Hammers are one of the sides who could make a move for Emegha this summer. They are thought to have made contact after lodging an enquiry about the 22-year-old’s availability.

However, they are not alone in the chase for the Dutchman. Chelsea, who are the sister club of Strasbourg, are in the race, as are Premier League rivals Everton, Brentford and Fulham.

The report suggests Emegha will be available for just £12m this summer.

Why Emegha would be a good signing

Emegha has been one of the standout players for Strasbourg in their really strong campaign so far. They are within two points of a Champions League finish, and he will be crucial to helping them qualify for Europe’s premium club competition.

Emegha has managed 14 goals in 26 games in Ligue 1 this season. The Dutchman, who has played for his country as high as under-21 level, has also grabbed three assists this term. He has played 2217 minutes so far, and averages a goal involvement every 130 minutes.

One of the standout things about Emegha is the consistency with which he scores. His longest goal drought in Ligue 1 this season is five games, which came on either side of a five-game layover due to a knee injury. As football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, he is “phenomenal”.

Should the Hammers look to sign Emegha this summer, he could be the perfect alternative to another reported target, Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The East London side have ‘registered their interest’ in the Everton striker, according to Caught Offside.

However, despite the talent he possesses, the 28-year-old England international can struggle with injuries at times. Calvert-Lewin has had 16 separate injuries in his Toffees career since the start of the 2016/17 campaign.

It has also been a tough season in front of goal for the Sheffield-born striker. He has managed just three goals in 22 Premier League games, although has proven he can find the back of the net, with 57 top-flight goals in his career.

With that being said, it seems a risk to bring him into the London Stadium, given the injury record on show. Indeed, the FBref stats suggest that Emegha might be the better signing for West Ham this summer.

For example, the Dutchman averages 0.4 goals per shot on target and 0.73 key passes per 90 minutes. In comparison, Calvert-Lewin averages 0.18 goals per shot on target and 0.4 key passes each game.

Goals and assists

0.69

0.23

Goals per shots on target

0.4

0.18

Key passes

0.73

0.4

Progressive carries

1.51

1.26

Ball recoveries

2.37

1.83

Indeed, £12m does seem like a bargain for someone as consistent as Emegha. He is a genuine goalscorer, which the Hammers have had issues with this season; they have found the back of the net just 39 times in the Premier League.

This is a deal that West Ham can’t miss out on. They would be able to bring a proven goalscorer into the club and add necessary depth up front.

Liverpool willing to table £51m to make West Ham star Bowen marquee signing

He has scored 3 times against the Reds in the past.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 28, 2025

After years of setbacks and near-burnout, Rath returns to a familiar place with renewed hope and a joy in cricket he never thought he’d find again

Shashank Kishore07-Sep-2025When Anshuman Rath returned to Hong Kong in early 2023, he was “cooked.” He contemplated a career in insurance, finance or real estate, instead of trying to return to a team he’d captained as a teenager. At 25, a promising cricket career was at the crossroads.Two years of playing for Odisha in India’s domestic circuit had drained him mentally, emotionally, even physically. He was 20 kilos heavier, nursing injuries, and battling a deep sense of disillusionment. The game he loved as a teenager felt like a burden.”I’m someone who enjoys cricket because of the camaraderie, the team environment. In Odisha, I just wasn’t feeling it,” Rath, back as Hong Kong’s batting lynchpin, tells ESPNcricinfo in Dubai ahead of the Asia Cup. “I was questioning myself, doubting every decision I’d made.”Related

• Back-to-back games plus travel 'not ideal' – Asalanka, Rashid on gruelling schedules

• It's showtime as winless Hong Kong take on wounded Afghanistan to kick off Asia Cup

• 'Maybe I have something…' – the phenomenal rise of Noor Ahmad

• Will UAE punch above their weight in Group A?

• All you need to know about the men's T20 Asia Cup

Rath felt stifled by the culture, the regimentation, the senior-junior divide in Odisha. Youngsters would be berated publicly, something Rath, who had grown up in cosmopolitan Hong Kong, struggled to reconcile with.”I remember once being made fun of for eating rice and with a spoon,” he recalls. “It sounds silly, but when you have no one to talk to, no support system, those things hit you hard. No matter what level you play, if you’re not enjoying it or you’re not in the right frame of mind you’re wasting your time.”So I called my dad, literally almost in tears being like, ‘what am I doing here? I just don’t want to do it.’ I had played two years of it, but didn’t have anything more to give.”When I felt it the most, I remember getting injured during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy [2022-23, India’s domestic T20 competition]. Wasim Jaffer was our head coach. He sent me to get a scan in Mumbai. So I went there and started punching myself in the collarbone to make it worse so that I wouldn’t have to play more. It was that bad.”For me, I’m a massive team person. So I love playing with my teammates. That’s why I don’t think of it as work. Whereas when I was in Odisha, the environment wasn’t like that. The coaches had their favourites. I actually played the rest of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with that injury. It was just an awful time.”It was around this time that Rath turned to food for comfort.”When you’re in that state of mind, there are very few things that make you happy,” he says. ‘For me, it was food – eating just to survive, to feel something. It was the only enjoyment I was getting. I piled on 20 kilos. I completely lost the plot.”Anshuman Rath – “No matter what level you play, if you’re not enjoying it, you’re wasting your time”•Getty Images

****

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.Rath’s journey had already taken him through the heartbreak of visa denials in England – which ended a near-signed deal with Middlesex – and a tough, lonely stint in Christchurch as he tried to qualify to play for New Zealand in late 2018.Canterbury Cricket had sponsored Rath a three-year work-to-residence visa for him to potentially qualify for New Zealand. He’d put his studies on hold for it initially, but found the move harder than he’d thought.”Because I was 21 at the time and the whole Middlesex thing had happened, I hadn’t really processed the whole thing yet,” he says. “The trauma of going through the Middlesex visa stuff, the ECB visa stuff. I didn’t really want to do more qualifying.”To spend another three years, it was kind of daunting. Obviously, they’re lovely people in New Zealand. But, it was the other side of the world. You know, you wake up in the morning, you don’t know who to call. Because all the people you know are asleep.”Rath eventually didn’t sign the document to pledge himself to New Zealand via the qualifying path. He chose something that was slightly easier. At the time, though, he didn’t know that too would be quite be, what he says, was an “un-ending nightmare.””So, then I made the decision. I had an Indian passport, so I thought I might as well use it, so we decided to test the Indian waters,” Rath continues. “I had to start from scratch but I was fine. As long as I didn’t have all these three-year qualifying rules again. I knew I had to serve a one-year cooling off period, and I was fine with that.”After trying with a few teams, Rath identified Vidarbha as his home in India. And for a while, it seemed like the perfect environment. He was received warmly and he thrived in the club cricket ecosystem alongside the likes of Jitesh Sharma, Faiz Fazal, Atharva Taide, and Harsh Dubey among others.”Every time I walk on the field now, I’m smiling, I’m laughing. And I think that shows in my cricket too”•Peter Della Penna”It reminded me of the systems in the UK. Structured, professional, with a clear pathway to the senior team. I loved it,” he remembers.But administrative roadblocks derailed his plans. A registration issue with the BCCI – according to the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) – meant he couldn’t be picked despite completing his cooling-off period. Rath later checked with a lawyer contact in the BCCI if there were issues with his paperwork. He was told there wasn’t any, and he was green lit.”That was a real sinking moment,” he says. “I don’t like politics. I’ve always believed in letting my bat do the talking. To be told I couldn’t play despite doing everything right was hard to take.”What followed was a downward spiral that eventually took him to Odisha, his home state, where his grandparents live. It should have felt like a homecoming. Instead, those three years drained him.”No matter what level you play, if you’re not enjoying it, you’re wasting your time,” he says. “I was just going through the motions.”On a cold January morning in 2023, when Odisha were put in to bat on a green top in nondescript Nadaun (in Himachal Pradesh) in a Ranji Trophy fixture, he finally took a decision that had been simmering underneath for months.”I was like I don’t even want to play on a flat track, let alone here,” Rath says. “I walked up to the coach on day two and told him, ‘please book me a flight back to Bhubaneswar.’ I knew that was that. I spoke to the association people, they said, you’re doing fine, stay back. But I was like no, that was it.”For Rath, a prodigiously talented left-hander who once nearly helped Hong Kong pull off a giant ODI upset against India at the Asia Cup in 2018, it was the closest he’d ever come to turning his back on the game.When Rath returned to Hong Kong in February 2023, he was ready to walk away from cricket entirely.”I told my dad I was never touching a bat again,” he says. “I was ready to try my hand at the corporate world – finance, real estate, insurance, whatever. Just something different.”

“I don’t like politics. I’ve always believed in letting my bat do the talking. To be told I couldn’t play despite doing everything right was hard to take”Rath on his turbulent time in India

That’s when Mark Farmer, Cricket Hong Kong’s High Performance manager who’d known Rath from his younger days, stepped in.”He sat me down and said, ‘Let us know what you need. We’re happy to give you a contract right now.’ I hadn’t even played,” Rath says. “And they were willing to give me that love, that faith. It was the first time I’d felt something like that in five or six years. I almost teared up.”Rath eased his way back, found his rhythm, his fitness, and most importantly, his love for the game. “I wake up in Hong Kong now, have meals with my family, and enjoy the vibe of the city. There’s a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in so long. I laugh more on the field. I banter with teammates. I enjoy touring again. I’m just grateful to be playing.”For Rath, who once captained his country at 20 and chased professional cricket across three continents only to nearly give it all up, his return to Hong Kong has been a second coming.”This isn’t going to last forever,” Rath says. “So every time I walk on the field now, I’m smiling, I’m laughing. And I think that shows in my cricket too.”