Celtic’s pre-season plans are starting to take shape.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Brendan Rodgers’ side will be heading to Northern Italy in late-July for a pre-season tournament between 23 and 27 July, with hosts Como, Dutch giants Ajax and recently crowned Asian champions Al-Ahli from Saudi Arabia also taking part.

The Hoops also have friendlies against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Newcastle United at Parkhead in the diary beforehand, with Rodgers hoping to bolster his squad ahead of pre-season getting underway.

A new striker has been the priority ever since Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais in January, so are the Scottish Premiership champions about to land their man, a move reminiscent of that for a recent fans’ favourite; Giorgos Giakoumakis?

Giorgos Giakoumakis's Celtic career

Giakoumakis was not a Celtic player for a very long time, but he certainly made his mark in Glasgow.

During his 18-month stint at Parkhead, the Greece international scored 26 goals in just 57 appearances for the Hoops, thereby averaging a goal every 97 minutes, winning the Premiership golden boot during his only full season at the club.

However, after never being able to properly cement himself as the first-choice centre-forward, Giakoumakis departed for Atlanta United in February 2023 for a reported £4.3m fee.

A year later, he was sold to Mexican club Cruz Azul in a record-breaking £7.5m deal, part of the los Celestes squad that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup last Sunday, smashing Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 in the final.

So now, four years after Giakoumakis first arrived in Glasgow, could the Celts finalise a very similar deal?

Celtic's striker search

As has been previously reported by ESPN Netherlands, Celtic are interested in signing striker Youssef El Kachati this summer.

The 25 year old was on fire for Dutch club Telstar this season, scoring 25 goals in all competitions, helping them gain promotion back to the Eredivisie for the first time since 1978, going up via the play-offs, in which El Kachati scored five goals in six appearances, dumping out ADO Den Haag, Den Bosch and then Willem II as recently as last weekend.

However, the Moroccan youth international will not be around for de Witte Leeuwen’s top division return in August, given that his contract expires this month, and he is not going to renew.

On top of this, as noted by Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times, El Kachati has rejected the chance to join Zweite Bundesliga side Hannover 96, stating “I will make a fantastic step this summer”, with Anthony Evans of the Daily Record claiming the Celts are ‘supremely confident’ of securing his signature.

So, why would this move evoke memories of Giakoumakis’ arrival?

Well, the Greek centre-forward arrived in Glasgow for £2.5m in the summer of 2021 from VVV-Venlo, with whom he’d won the Eredivisie golden boot during his final season in the Netherlands, scoring 26 league goals, despite the fact the Yellow and Black Army were actually relegated.

Lorihanna Balabanova of Total Football Analysis praised Giakoumakis’ exceptional “positioning” and movement, outlining how he uses his physicality to his advantage.

Well, similarly, writer Martin Bjerke believes that El Kachati “combines physical presence with dynamic movement”, labelling him “technically gifted” as well as a “reliable offensive outlet”, which sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

So, let’s analyse how the two centre-forwards compare.

Giakoumakis 2020/21 vs El Kachati 2024/25

Statistics

Giakoumakis

El Kachati

Appearances

33

45

Minutes

2,875

3,517

Goals

29

25

Assists

2

6

Shots on target %

43%

40.5%

Shots per 90

3

3.86

Shots on target per 90

1.29

1.56

Goals per shot

0.21

0.14

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com

Worth stating first and foremost that, of course, Giakoumakis was plying his trade in the Eredivisie, while El Kachati did so in the Eerste Divisie last season.

According to Global Football Rankings, the Netherlands’ top division is the 12th strongest league in the world, while the Dutch second-tier comes in at 70th; for comparison, the Scottish Premiership is 43rd, while the SPFL Championship is actually 75th.

That caveat aside, El Kachati’s statistics are impressive, scoring more goals while also registering more shots as well as more shots on target per 90.

So, as Celtic search for centre-forward reinforcements this summer, the 25-year-old is surely worth a punt, given that he’s available for free.

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Posts ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be hoping Champions League qualification enables him to sign world-class players this summer.

The Spaniard is aiming to further bolster his first-team squad when the summer transfer window opens in a few weeks, especially if a top-five finish is secured.

Several players have been linked with a move to the Midlands already, including Lucas Chevalier, Ferran Torres and Alexander Sorloth.

All three would be excellent signings, but could Emery turn to the Turkish Süper Lig in a bid to improve his attacking options?

Aston Villa learn price tag for Turkish target

The club have been credited with an interest in Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz recently and now Emery has learned the asking price.

According to reports in Turkey, Galatasaray are looking for €30m (£25m) amid interest from Aston Villa, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest.

From a financial point of view, this fee is certainly within reach for the Villans, as it is not a huge sum of money,, allowing him to spend bigger amounts on improving other areas of his squad.

Adding in a winger who has a keen eye for goal could give the club a boost ahead of next season, and Emery may even unearth his next Bukayo Saka in the process.

Why Aston Villa must sign Baris Alper Yilmaz

Saka made his debut for Arsenal under Emery during the 2018/19 season. The Spaniard clearly saw something in the teenage talent to merit a place in the senior squad, and seven years later, he is arguably one of the best wingers in Europe.

Across that time span, the Englishman has scored 70 goals and registered 71 assists for the Gunners in 262 games, working out as a goal contribution every 1.8 matches.

Having a player with the same sort of qualities as Saka may prove to be a big hit at Villa Park, and Yilmaz certainly looks the part.

The Arsenal star is the ninth-most comparable player to the Turkish forward in Europe’s top five leagues.

Furthermore, the pair have also registered similar statistics across a range of metrics this term, including goals and assists (15 vs 16), shots on target per 90 (1.07 vs 1.16) and crosses (1-5 vs 115).

Baris Alper Yilmaz’s statistics for Galatasaray this season (league only)
Goals	12
Shots per game	2.4
Assists	3
Goal conversion percentage	16%
Big chances created	8
Total duels won per game	6.3
Via Sofascore

Elsewhere, Yilmaz has also created eight big chances, averaging 1.4 key passes and succeeded with 1.4 dribble attempts in the Turkish top flight this season.

In comparison, Saka has created 21 big chances, averages 2.5 key passes, and succeeds with 1.7 dribbles each match for Arsenal in the Premier League.

Saka is in a class above, but throughout the course of the season, Yilmaz has certainly proved his worth.

After his displays for Turkey at Euro 2024, especially against the Netherlands, he was lauded by Virgil van Dijk, who said: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”

Should he move to Villa this summer, he could become Emery’s next Saka and light up the Midlands as a creative winger who could provide the likes of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins with plenty of chances to find the back of the net.

Martinez upgrade: Aston Villa in contact for one of the 'most talented GKs'

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By
Ross Kilvington

May 24, 2025

Newcastle United’s qualification for the Champions League next season will give Eddie Howe hope that he can lure some high-profile players to Stamford Bridge.

One player they are showing interest in is Jadon Sancho. The Manchester United winger looks set to depart Old Trafford this summer.

The Englishman could cost the club around £25m, and he would certainly bolster their wide options, given his return of five goals and eight assists for Chelsea this season.

It would be a massive statement of intent if Howe could secure a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund starlet. While adding wingers will help the club next season, perhaps it is other positions that require strengthening first.

Newcastle enter the race to sign Barcelona star

One position that Howe must improve is his goalkeeping department. The club conceded 47 Premier League goals last term, the worst defensive record out of any side in the top five.

Thus, bringing in a top-class goalkeeper ahead of another Champions League campaign makes perfect sense.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona’s keeper Marc-André ter Stegen could be set to leave the club following the arrival of Joan Garcia.

PSG, AC Milan, Manchester City, and Juventus have all expressed interest in the German international, but Newcastle are also entering the race.

Beating these clubs to the signature of Ter Stegen would be a major coup for Howe; that much is certain. Indeed, he would be an even better signing than Sancho.

Why Newcastle must sign Marc-André ter Stegen

Signing Sancho could prove to be a massive gamble. For Man United, the winger scored just 12 goals across 83 matches for the club. His loan spell at Chelsea didn’t exactly see him sparkle either.

His 41 matches for the Blues saw only five goals netted, and it was no surprise that they declined to sign him permanently. Given the fact that Newcastle can call upon players such as Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, and Jacob Murphy on the wing, do they need to splash out to sign Sancho? Especially with the risks involved with his lacklustre form.

In this instance, making a move for Ter Stegen would be seen as the smarter approach. That’s for sure.

Last season, Nick Pope kept just eight clean sheets from 35 appearances, while Martin Dubravka kept five clean sheets across ten domestic matches for the Magpies.

If Howe is serious about progressing far in the Champions League next season, making a move to bring Ter Stegen to England would be a very shrewd move indeed.

Metric

Pope

Dubravka

Clean sheets

8

5

Saves per game

3.1

2.9

Touches per game

34.8

38

Goals conceded

35

12

Goals conceded per game

1.3

1.2

Pass success rate

65%

76%

He played just nine games last season for Barcelona, keeping a solitary clean sheet. The German has been with the La Liga giants since the summer of 2014, playing over 400 competitive matches in the process.

A total of 175 clean sheets have been kept throughout that period. While he may not have featured much this term, in La Liga during 2023/24, he was excellent.

Across his 28 matches, Ter Stegen made 2.7 saves per game – a success rate of 74% – while he was also successful with 100% of his runs out per game.

He was comfortable on the ball, as evidenced by his average of 40 touches per game, while a 94% pass accuracy in his own half suggests the German moves the ball on effectively.

The player was lauded as “ice cool” by popular X page Goalkeeper.com for the way he snuffed out an opponent’s attack in the Champions League in September 2023.

Given the fact that he has a contract until 2028 with the Catalan giants, a move would cost the club, although it hasn’t been determined just how much Hansi Flick will demand for his player.

Sancho would be a fine signing, no doubt, but bringing Ter Stegen to the north-east would certainly turn heads.

Newcastle accelerate pursuit of £60m striker who now wants move to Tyneside

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BySean Markus Clifford Jun 13, 2025

Chelsea have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the transfer window over the last few summers. The Blues have become notorious for signing lots of players in the summer window, and 2025 will seemingly be no different. A deal for Liam Delap is all but confirmed.

Now, it seems they have moved on to new targets, including one at the other end of the pitch. Fabrizio Romano exclusively revealed on Tuesday morning that they have contacted AC Milan over a potential move for goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The France international is thought to be a player high up on their list of targets for a new shot-stopper.

However, Maignan is not the only Frenchman linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea's search for a new striker

As it has been over the past few years under Todd Boehly, it will be a busy summer for Chelsea. They have identified some key targets and are working on bringing them in, or, in Delap’s case, have done so already.

Transfer Focus

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

Next on the list is Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike. The 22-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, most recently by journalist Florian Plettenberg.

The Sky Germany reporter claims the Blues ‘remain very active in the race’ for the Frenchman this summer, with talks having ‘taken place’ already.

However, the West London outfit are not the only club targeting a move, with Plettenberg explaining that ‘more teams are showing interest’ in Ekitike, although he does not name them. As for the price, the transfer insider confirms the £84m package still remains for the attacker.

Why Ekitike would be a good signing

It has been a strong season for Ekitike in 2024/25. He has left a great impression, reminding European football how good he is after a tough spell the previous campaign for Paris Saint-Germain.

Very much a revitalised star at Frankfurt, the 22-year-old has scored 22 goals and grabbed a further 12 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for the club this season. That included 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga games.

The Frenchman has shown he has the ability to score goals in important games. This term, he has bagged against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the top flight of Germany, and against eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.

This signing feels similar in many ways to that of Kai Havertz. Chelsea signed the German from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen back in 2020 for a fee of £71m. He went on to make 139 appearances for the club.

Although the 25-year-old burnt his bridges at Chelsea by joining major rivals Arsenal, he will surely go down in folklore in West London.

One of the 32 goals Havertz scored in that famous Blue shirt was the winner in the 2021 Champions League final, delivering the club their second title in the famous competition.

The are similarities between that deal and the one for Ekitike, with the fact that both have performed superbly in Germany’s top flight, a key likeness. In his final year as a Leverkusen player, Havertz bagged 12 goals and six assists in the league.

There are also similarities between Havertz and Ekitike’s numbers on FBref during their most recent Bundesliga season. For example, the German attacker averaged 0.66 goal involvements per 90 minutes during 2019/20, compared to 0.81 each game last term for Ekitike.

Ekitike and Havertz key stats compared
Stat (per 90)	Ekitike (2024/25)	Havertz (2019/20)
Goals and assists	0.81	0.66
Key passes	1.54	2.16
Shot-creating actions	3.55	4.47
Goal-creating actions	0.42	0.48
Ball recoveries	3.05	3.66
Stats from FBref

Ekitike was described as a “world-class” operator earlier in the season by football talent scout Jacek Kulig. Even though they are signing Delap, having depth up front will be important, and Ekitike will bring goals and assists to the side, too.

His all-round play is certainly similar to Havertz’s. If he can match the ultimate high of scoring in a Champions League final that the German had in a Chelsea shirt, then he will surely be a successful addition to the club.

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1

By
Joe Nuttall

Jun 3, 2025

Reports pertaining to Liverpool’s interest in Alexander Isak just won’t go away; for Newcastle United fans, this isn’t that dissimilar to an incessant fly tracking your ice cream on a hot summer’s day (much like this one).

The thing is, though, Isak’s going nowhere. Eddie Howe masterminded triumph in the Carabao Cup last season, also restoring the Magpies’ fluency and venom from 2022/23 and creating a stunning run of form through and beyond the new year, which ultimately sealed their place in next term’s Champions League.

Isak will play in the Premier League once again next season, and he will play on Tyneside. The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed the Sweden striker “is going nowhere” after his 27-goal campaign, with PIF pricing him north of £150m.

He will need some more attacking support, however, and Newcastle are circling on their chosen target.

Newcastle open contacts for new forward

A number of talented forwards have been touted with a move to St James’ Park in recent weeks, namely Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga. But, their efforts at improving the forward line do not stop there.

As per The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Newcastle are on the brink of opening talks with Brighton & Hove Albion as they look to sign Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, who is valued at £60m.

Brighton are willing to sell Pedro, 23, after a training altercation in May with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke, and Newcastle’s recent setbacks in trying to sign forwards such as Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo appear to have prompted them to accelerate their interest.

Indeed, with Chelsea also hot on the case, Howe won’t want to see this one slip through his fingers, especially when considering the partnership that could be forged with Isak.

Why Newcastle want Joao Pedro

Callum Wilson, 33, remains in negotiations with Newcastle for an extension on his current deal, scheduled to expire at the end of the month, but even if the veteran renews, injuries limited him to 18 Premier League appearances in 2024/25, with just two starts and not a single goal involvement.

Enter Pedro. The attacker is a man of style and dynamism, rhythmic on the ball and intelligent with his out-of-possession movement. Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has actually declared him “magical” when with the ball at his feet.

Sure, he has a volatile streak, but Howe would bang him into shape and the talent bespeaks a deserved place within the Toon squad, ranked among the top 1% of Premier League forwards last year for assists, the top 17% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Two years ago, Brighton signed Pedro from Championship side Watford in a deal just shy of £30m, and his Premier League performances over two years point toward a combativeness and creative core which would see him dovetail right into the United squad, playing off the left, behind Isak or covering him at number nine.

Joao Pedro in the Premier League for Brighton

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

31 (19)

27 (23)

Goals

9

10

Assists

3

6

Shots (on target)*

2.4 (0.8)

1.7 (0.7)

Big chances missed

9

7

Pass completion

83%

75%

Big chances created

9

11

Key passes*

1.2

1.1

Dribbles*

1.4

1.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

0.9

Duels won*

5.6

4.9

Data via Sofascore

Pedro can perform as an out-and-out striker, but his on-pitch approach, making a high number of forward passes and creating plenty of chances, suggests he could improve Newcastle’s supply line and ensure their talisman reaches an even loftier tally next year and beyond.

It might be needed. Even though Howe has guided Newcastle to silverware and back through the Champions League doorway, they only created 81 big chances, putting them eighth on that chart. The term before, United ranked joint-second with Manchester City (97 big chances created).

Make no mistake: here is a phenomenal player, one whose pedigree in England’s top flight has been verified over the past few years – and his best is yet to come.

Isak will remain at St. James’ Park, hopefully beyond just one season, and with Pedro added to the mix, he might just reach levels not yet achieved in black and white. Just imagine that.

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Posts ByBen Gray Jun 15, 2025

It would be fair to say that this season was a real slog for Arsenal and their fans.

Mikel Arteta’s side came into the campaign with the express intention of winning the Premier League at the third time of trying, but as we all know, it wasn’t to be.

Instead, the North Londoners had to deal with a number of bizarre sending-offs, then a cascade of injuries and a general lack of cutting edge throughout the side.

Things can only get better next season, right? Well, while it’s impossible to be sure, the Gunners can certainly help their cause and finally get over the line next year by going out and making a real splash in the transfer market this summer.

Fortunately, while the club are yet to officially announce any new additions, there have been plenty of links, and it’s not too difficult to work out what Arteta’s dream lineup for the start of the 25/26 season may look like.

1 GK – David Raya

While there has been talk of a new goalkeeper signing this summer, it would be astounding if it wasn’t David Raya who started between the sticks on the first day of the 25/26 season.

The Spaniard won his second Golden Glove in successive seasons last week and has more than cemented his place in Arteta’s squad, thanks in part to his brilliant agility and reflexes, which have seen him pull off more than his fair share of doubles saves this year.

2 RB – Jurrien Timber

We come to our first position, which could be up for debate, as both Ben White and Jurrien Timber bring different qualities to the right-back position.

However, so long as the latter has recovered from his recent surgery in time, we reckon he’ll keep his place in the starting lineup, as the solidity and tenacity he adds there is crucial to the team’s brilliant defensive record.

3 CB – Gabriel Magalhaes

The first centre-back in the team is another player who missed the end of this season due to surgery: Gabriel Magalhaes.

The club are hopeful he’ll be back to full fitness for the start of next season, and if that’s the case, we cannot see anyone starting ahead of him, as the Brazilian international was superb for most of this year.

On top of his impressive ability to get on the end of set-pieces, the “absolutely unstoppable” colossus, as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, is a rock at the back.

4 CB – William Saliba

Partnering Gabriel at the back will be none other than the incredible William Saliba.

The French international has now made 134 appearances for the North Londoners, 100 of which have come in the Premier League, and while he wasn’t quite at his best this season, his immense talent and potential is undeniable.

5 LB – Myles Lewis-Skelly

The final defender in the starting lineup is the outrageously gifted Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Now, there is certainly an argument that it could and perhaps should be Riccardo Calafiori, but the Hale Ender has come on leaps and bounds since making his debut last year, and he looks to have cemented himself in the manager’s preferred lineup.

It’s easy to see why as well, as on top of being far sting and more defensively secure than any 18-year-old academy prospect has any right to be, the youngster is also a real outlet, and as we saw against Manchester City, has an eye for goal.

6 DM – Martin Zubimendi

We’ve made it to the first new face in the team: Martin Zubimendi.

The Spanish international, who is set to cost the club around £51m, might not officially be an Arsenal player just yet, but it’s been pretty widely reported that he’s a medical away from it all being confirmed.

It’s easy to see why Arteta and Co have been so keen to sign the 26-year-old as well, as he’s got an abundance of experience marshalling the midfield for Real Sociedad.

Moreover, he was dubbed one of the “best central midfielders in the world” by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente about seven months before he helped the country win their fourth European Championships against England.

7 CM – Declan Rice

Starting just ahead of Zubimendi in the left-eight will be Arsenal’s £105m man, Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain might have started this season a little slowly, but after Christmas, he was frankly superb.

He truly announced himself on the biggest stage against Real Madrid in the Champions League, scoring two sensational free-kicks in the first leg and then putting in a midfield masterclass away in the second.

8 CM – Martin Odegaard

The most attacking of the midfield three will be Martin Odegaard.

It’s undoubtedly true that the club captain’s return of six goals and 12 assists in 45 games this year has been seriously underwhelming, but it’s also true that he’s been the team’s player of the year twice since joining on a permanent deal in August 2021.

Therefore, there is every chance that following a summer of rest, the midfield maestro could be back to his mercurial best for the start of next season.

9 RW – Bukayo Saka

Was it ever going to be anyone else?

Starting off the right for Arsenal next season, and likely for many seasons after, will be Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon is undoubtedly the club’s most important and best player, and he once again showed us that this season.

For example, even though he missed over three months of football due to a hamstring injury and surgery, the “legend in the making,” as dubbed by Kulig, racked up a brilliant haul of 12 goals and 14 assists in 2619 minutes across 37 appearances.

Appearances

37

Minutes

2619′

Goals

12

Assists

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.73′

That means the talismanic winger averaged a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or every 100.73 minutes for the team this season.

10 LW – Rodrygo

We come to the second and arguably most ambitious signing in the team: Rodrygo.

The Real Madrid superstar, whom journalist Sam Tighe described as “terrifyingly good,” lost his guaranteed starting spot in the Spanish capital this season and, as such, has been touted for a move away, with Arsenal being one of the more prominent destinations.

It could end up costing the Gunners around £85m to get done, but given his brilliant record of 118 goal involvements in 267 games for the club, he’d be more than worth the outlay.

Moreover, with two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles under his belt, the 24-year-old would bring a serious winning mentality to N5.

Manchester United’s attack has carried them to countless trophies in recent history, allowing the club to sit on 20 league trophies – the joint most in English history.

Sir Alex Ferguson won a staggering 13 Premier League titles during his spell at Old Trafford, subsequently cementing himself as one of the best managers to grace England’s top flight.

He utilised players such as Wayne Rooney, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo during his 26-year tenure at the helm, with the latter winning the Ballon d’Or in such a period.

However, in the modern day, boss Ruben Amorim doesn’t have the luxury of such talents, having to rely on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho, who netted just 10 league goals between them in 2024/25.

The manager has the potential to change such a situation this summer, that’s if the hierarchy are willing to back the 40-year-old in the transfer market in the coming months.

The latest on United’s hunt of new additions this summer

After securing a deal to sign Matheus Cunha over the last couple of weeks, it remains to be seen how much the board are set to hand Amorim to make the changes he desires.

Viktor Gyokeres is one player who’s been on their radar, with the Red Devils battling Arsenal over the 27-year-old’s signature ahead of the reopening of the window on June 16th.

However, the Swede isn’t the only star on their radar ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo a huge target, according to journalist Ben Jacobs via CaughtOffside.

He confirmed that the Red Devils are leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, after Spurs entered the race following Thomas Frank’s agreement to take over in North London.

However, any deal for the attacker could prove to be an expensive one, with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £70m after rejecting the Red Devils’ opening offer of £55m.

Why Mbeumo could be United’s answer to Wirtz

Florian Wirtz has been a man in demand throughout the summer window, with Manchester City and Bayern Munich two of the sides interested in his signature.

However, the 22-year-old looks set to move to Premier League rivals Liverpool this summer, after Arne Slot’s side agreed a €150m (£127m) transfer with the Bundesliga outfit.

Such a deal looks certain to break the English transfer record currently held by Moises Caicedo, after the Ecuadorian joined the Blues in a £115m deal back in the summer of 2023.

The German has registered 30 combined goals and assists across all competitions this campaign, massively bolstering the Reds in their ambitions of retaining their title.

However, Amorim’s side could be about to land their own version of the attacking midfielder with Mbeumo matching Wirtz in being the major attacking addition for the Red Devils.

Like the soon-to-be Liverpool signing, he will be tasked with improving the current situation, with the Cameroonian having more of an opportunity given the difference in stats produced this season.

Mbeumo, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, has registered more combined goals and assists, along with a better goal per shot on target rate – showcasing his clinical nature when finding himself in front of goal.

Games played

38

31

Goals & assists

27

22

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Take-on success

50%

49%

Aerials won

32%

20%

Crosses completed

5.3

3.8

Carries into final third

2.8

2.7

He’s also been impressive when getting at the opposition, completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst also managing more carries into the final third – evidently getting the ball forward at any given opportunity.

The Bees star’s dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more crosses, subsequently being able to hand other players around him the chance to improve their own tallies.

Whilst the fee touted for his services seems slightly inflated, it will be worthwhile, handing Amorim the top-level talent he needs to take the side to the next level.

The battle between him and Wirtz could well prove to be an exciting one, with the pair trying to lead their side to different achievements, but it remains to be seen which will have the most impact in England’s top flight.

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Manchester United appear to be making a move for a player who could emulate Michael Carrick’s achievements.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 11, 2025

Every year, the top goalscorer in the Premier League has the honour of taking home the Golden Boot.

Despite goals being the ultimate currency in football, the winner of this particular accolade does not point towards top-flight success. Indeed, in 2023, Erling Haaland became the first player in 10 years to put a Premier League winners’ medal alongside his Golden Boot.

The top 10 all-time Premier League goalscorers

FFC takes a look at the PL’s most prolific goalscorers.

By
Mark Marston

Dec 23, 2023

2024/25 saw Mohamed Salah take home a fourth Golden Boot, something only Thierry Henry has done in the Premier League era. Pre-1992, Jimmy Greaves (6) and Derby County forward Steve Bloomer (5) are the only other players to be the English top tier’s top scorer four times or more.

So, who have been the previous winners, who has won the award the most times, and who has done it with the most goals? All that information and more can be found here.

Here is a list of every Premier League Golden Boot winner, alongside a detailed look at the most recent recipients of the award, including the best goal from their winning seasons.

Every Premier League Golden Boot winner
Season	Player	Club(s)	Goals
1992/93	Teddy Sheringham	Nottingham Forest, Tottenham	22
1993/94	Andy Cole	Newcastle	34
1994/95	Alan Shearer	Blackburn	34
1995/96	Alan Shearer	Blackburn	31
1996/97	Alan Shearer	Newcastle	25
1997/98	Chris Sutton, Dion Dublin, Michael Owen	Blackburn, Coventry, Liverpool	18
1998/99	Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Michael Owen, Dwight Yorke	Leeds, Liverpool, Man Utd	18
1999/00	Kevin Phillips	Sunderland	30
2000/01	Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink	Chelsea	23
2001/02	Thierry Henry	Arsenal	24
2002/03	Ruud van Nistelrooy	Man Utd	25
2003/04	Thierry Henry	Arsenal	30
2004/05	Thierry Henry	Arsenal	25
2005/06	Thierry Henry	Arsenal	27
2006/07	Didier Drogba	Chelsea	20
2007/08	Cristiano Ronaldo	Man Utd	31
2008/09	Nicolas Anelka	Chelsea	19
2009/10	Didier Drogba	Chelsea	29
2010/11	Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov	Man City, Man Utd	20
2011/12	Robin van Persie	Arsenal	30
2012/13	Robin van Persie	Man Utd	26
2013/14	Luis Suarez	Liverpool	31
2014/15	Sergio Aguero	Man City	26
2015/16	Harry Kane	Tottenham	25
2016/17	Harry Kane	Tottenham	29
2017/18	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	32
2018/19	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah	Arsenal, Liverpool	22
2019/20	Jamie Vardy	Leicester	23
2020/21	Harry Kane	Tottenham	23
2021/22	Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min	Liverpool, Tottenham	23
2022/23	Erling Haaland	Man City	36
2023/24	Erling Haaland	Man City	27
2024/25	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	29

Robin van Persie (Arsenal & Man Utd)

2011/12 (30 goals), 2012/13 (26 goals)

Dutchman Robin van Persie picked up each of his two Golden Boots in consecutive years, distinctively doing so for two different clubs: Arsenal and Manchester United.

He hit 30 in the 2011/12 season for the Gunners, emulating Thierry Henry in the process. But after his strikes were only enough to steer Arsenal to third that year, he arrived at rivals Manchester United the following summer keen to add team honours to his collection.

His move was vindicated when his 26 goals secured United what is still their most recent league title to date.

Best goal: It has to be the one that helped seal the title for United, as Van Persie sumptuously smashed home Wayne Rooney’s cross-field ball against Aston Villa.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

2013/14 (31 goals)

While the 2013/14 campaign ended in heartbreak for Liverpool, it was a record-breaking year for Luis Suarez.

Despite entering the season under the cloud of a recent (but not his last) biting incident, not to mention a heavily publicised and failed move to Arsenal, he equalled the Premier League record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007/08 with 31 goals.

The Reds may have ended as runners-up that year, but Suarez would move on to better things off the back of this campaign, winning the Champions League with Barcelona 12 months later.

Best goal: Smashing the ball over a hapless John Ruddy from 40 yards (before scoring three more against Norwich City).

Sergio Aguero (Man City)

2014/15 (26 goals)

It may be something of a surprise to note that Sergio Aguero only took home one Golden Boot – particularly in a year when Manchester City did not win the title.

But he saw off the challenges of Harry Kane and Diego Costa to comfortably claim the top scorer award amid a disappointing defence of City’s Premier League crown.

Best goal: While his best strikes came in other seasons, his superbly curled effort against Spurs capped a marvellous afternoon as he scored all four goals.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

2018/19 (22 goals)

One of three different winners in this particular year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to take home a Golden Boot in his first full season at Arsenal.

The Gunners fell short in their pursuit of a Champions League place, but the Gabon ace was often on hand to help their cause, with two strikes against Burnley on the final day sealing his place in the top-flight history books.

Best goal: His equaliser in the north London derby proved what a clinical finisher he could be, even from range.

Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

2018/19 (22 goals)

The second of the three winners in 2018/19 was Sadio Mane, who picked up his only Golden Boot during his time at Liverpool.

Often seen working prolifically alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Mane was at his best while that Liverpool trio tore almost every Premier League defence to shreds.

Best goal: His backheel against Watford was unlike anything we have seen before or since (at 2:12 in the video below).

Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

2019/20 (23 goals)

Although his best season will undoubtedly have been amid Leicester City’s title win in 2015/16, Jamie Vardy was far from the peak of his powers.

He continued to terrorise defences up and down the country, and got the Golden Boot that his goalscoring exploits deserved by scoring 23 times in the 2019/20 campaign.

We’ll never know how the curtailed season due to the pandemic affected things, with Leicester’s form tailing off as they missed out on a top-four place. Vardy scored four times post-restart to edge ahead of Aubameyang and Danny Ings, his closest competitors.

Best goal: A simply superb strike lofted over Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale early in the campaign.

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

2015/16 (25 goals), 2016/17 (29 goals), 2020/21 (23 goals)

Had he played in another era, Harry Kane may well have had twice the amount of Golden Boots he ended up with, but three while playing for a Tottenham Hotspur side who seldom challenged for the title itself is not bad going.

That said, they came closest to the title in two of Kane’s Golden Boot seasons, with back-to-back gongs coming his way after the Lilywhites secured finishes of 3rd and 2nd in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns respectively.

With only Alan Shearer ahead of him in terms of all-time goals, it is difficult to understate Kane’s success in the Premier League, but there’s no doubt he’d have swapped a Golden Boot or two for a trophy with his beloved Spurs.

Best goal: A classic strike to put Spurs 2-1 up against Arsenal all but killed off the Gunners’ title hopes as both teams chased Leicester down.

Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

2021/22 (23 goals)

While Harry Kane got most of the plaudits during their time together at Spurs, Son Heung-min finally got one over on his teammate by not only beating his personal tally for the season, but everyone else’s, too (well, bar Salah).

Tottenham flourished that season, particularly after Antonio Conte arrived in north London, as they secured Champions League football on the final day – with Son grabbing two goals to draw level with Liverpool’s Egyptian.

No doubt an accolade worthy of the South Korean’s efforts in Tottenham colours, he has continued to lead by example as Spurs captain following Kane’s exit.

Best goal: Son has made the outside-the-box curler something of a trademark, and his effort against Leicester in May 2022 is certainly one of his finest.

Erling Haaland (Man City)

2022/23 (36 goals), 2023/24 (27 goals)

There are few superlatives left to describe Erling Haaland, not least after he arrived in the Premier League by smashing record after record and winning everything in sight with Manchester City.

With such an impressive goalscoring record at Borussia Dortmund (86 goals in 89) preceding him, he would’ve been expected to be right amongst the goals after his switch to City.

The Norwegian not only ended up with the Golden Boot and the PFA Player of the Year award in his first season, but he did so by reaching a record 36 goals – averaging over a goal a game in the Premier League, proving he is truly one of a kind.

Understandably, he wasn’t quite able to reach those standards again, but with some time out injured during the most recent campaign, he still put in another solid return of 27, with a late-season four-goal blitz steering him clear of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

With another Premier League title and Golden Boot in the bag, Haaland seems far from finished…

Best goal: While he makes finishing look easy, Haaland’s acrobatic effort against Southampton in 2022/23 (at 4:04 below) was arguably the pick of the bunch during his first season at City.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

2017/18 (32 goals), 2018/19 (22 goals), 2021/22 (23 goals), 2024/25 (29 goals)

One of the greatest Premier League goalscorers in recent times, Mohamed Salah had no problems re-adapting to the English top flight after returning as a Liverpool player in 2017.

His first season back saw him notch a Premier League record of 32 goals for the Anfield club, becoming the second African player (after Didier Drogba) to sit top of the goalscoring charts.

In 2019, he shared the award with two fellow Africans in Aubameyang and teammate Mane, before tying for the award once more in 2022.

He won it outright again in the 2024/25 season as he steered Liverpool to a second league title since joining, picking up awards for the most goals and assists, as well as the Player of the Season award, to go along with the Premier League trophy.

Best goal: There are plenty to choose from, but we’ve gone for his rocket against Chelsea in the 2018/19 season, which made even Martin Tyler sound rather excited (at 1:59 for those in a hurry).

Will Celtic sign another Premier League superstar?

Kieran Tierney has already returned to Parkhead this summer, following in the footsteps of manager Brendan Rodgers and Jota, who’ve also both re-joined the club in recent times.

Now, could another boyhood Celtic fan fulfil his dreams of wearing the famous green and white hoops?

Celtic targeting another statement signing

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Celtic are ‘interested’ in signing Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson, while admitting that ‘financial constraints’ would prove to be a stumbling block.

The Scotland captain is widely expected to depart Merseyside this summer, with David Ornstein and Mario Cortegana of the Athletic documenting Atlético Madrid’s interest, given that the Reds are targeting Bournemouth’s Miloš Kerkez, who they view as an upgrade.

Robertson, who was in Celtic’s academy between the ages of nine and 15, has always been open about his desire to represent the Hoops one day, admitting that “Celtic was my life” growing up, adding that he’d “love to pull on the Celtic top and walk out at Parkhead” one day.

So, could this move really come to fruition this summer?

How Andy Robertson compares to Kieran Tierney

It is all change in terms of Celtic left-backs this summer.

Greg Taylor is highly likely to depart following the expiration of his contract. PAOK are the latest European club interested in securing his services, while it’s not yet clear if Jeffrey Schlupp will be staying, following a brief loan spell.

Meantime, Tierney has of course returned but, as has been an interminable debate surrounding the national team for nigh on a decade, is he better than Robertson?

Let’s attempt to find out.

Tierney vs Robertson 2024/25 comparison

Statistics (per 90)

Tierney

Robertson

Appearances

20

45

Minutes

447

3,320

Pass completion %

79.8%

83.0%

Interceptions

0.2

0.6

Tackles

0.5

1.2

Clearances

0.7

1.3

Ball recoveries

2.2

3.8

Ground duel success %

71%

50%

Touches

72.5

76.9

Stats from Transfermarkt, FBref & Squawka.

First things first, due to injuries and the fact he was not first-choice at Arsenal, Tierney played fewer than 500 minutes of club football this season, which does offer a very small sample size.

That caveat aside, Robertson’s per-90 statistics are still pretty much more impressive across the board.

When he was still Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp described Robertson as a “world-class left-back”, while José Enrique, a former incumbent of the Reds’ full-back spot, asserts that he has been “the best left-back in the world” for many years.

Now though, James Pearce and Mark Carey of the Athletic outline that the Scotland captain’s form ‘has come under intense scrutiny’ this season, while also asserting that he is far from ‘finished at the highest level’.

Robertson still ranked 17th in the Premier League this season for crosses into the penalty area, as well as 11th for crosses overall, according to FBref.com, an attribute that has been viewed as his superpower for many years.

Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis claims that Robertson is ‘passed their peak’, but still has a lot to offer at the elite level, so could he really be tempted to make a move to Glasgow this summer?

Related Celtic may make shock bid to re-sign £10m star who Rodgers called "sublime"

Hoops supporters could absolutely love this.

Posts 1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 17, 2025

Despite losing their last five games of the regular Championship season, Sunderland are Premier League-bound once more after Wembley produced yet more drama in a play-off final.

Tommy Watson would break Sheffield United hearts right at the death to hand his hometown club a passage up to the big time, but all these jubilant celebrations will soon be met by the crashing fear of realism as Sunderland attempt to stay afloat in such a brutal division.

Already, however, the Wearside high-flyers have been active in the transfer market to try and boost their young squad, with Enzo Le Fee about to pen a permanent Stadium of Light contract.

Away from the standout loanee joining for good, there are a whole host of other rumours involving incomings that will please fans of Regis Le Bris’ underdogs.

Sunderland's growing list of transfer targets

Amazingly, Le Fee might not be the only statement addition in the centre of the park this summer.

The rumour mill continues to churn out the wild possibility of Jordan Henderson returning to his hometown roots, whilst another flashy buy in the midfield department could soon come in the form of Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.

Yet, away from Henderson and Amad’s names being tentatively linked, Sunderland could look to improve defensively this summer by shopping in Le Bris’s native France.

As per a new report from the Daily Mirror, that has been relayed by the Sunderland Echo, the AS Monaco ace is being looked at by the Black Cats as part of an ambitious summer rebuild, meaning the old guard in the building might be moved to one side for the likes of Singo to shine.

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Indeed, any move for the £20m-rated defender could prove to be an upgrade on long-serving hero, Luke O’Nien.

How Singo compares to O'Nien

O’Nien’s appearance at the final whistle at Wembley tells you all you need to know about his warrior-like character as the veteran defender celebrated with his arm in a noticeable sling.

Whilst that grit and determination might well be of value to the Black Cats in such a demanding league, the strong 30-year-old could soon take a back seat for a fresh body to arrive in the form of Singo.

After all, whilst O’Nien can play both as a right-back or as a centre-back like Singo, it’s clear from the numbers below that the 23-year-old target is more accustomed to being a Premier League-level defender for Sunderland right now, over the long-standing Wearside servant.

Games played

27

48

Goals scored

1

3

Assists

2

1

Touches*

65.9

73.5

Accurate passes*

45.1 (87%)

52.7 (87%)

Big chances created

3

1

Ball recoveries*

5.1

3.4

Clearances*

4.0

3.9

Total duels won*

4.7

3.9

Clean sheets

7

16

Indeed, Singo has already shown he can cut it with the top dogs in Ligue 1 when amassing one goal and two assists when lining up either in the heart of defence or down the right flank last season.

But, away from solely offering Sunderland a new expansive option out from the back, he also possesses that same hunger and drive to battle like O’Nien, with the “monster” Ivorian – as he’s been labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – actually bettering his ex-Wycombe Wanderers counterpart in terms of clearances, ball recoveries and duels won throughout last season, even when plying his trade in a top league.

Also capable of pulling off an audacious flick like this one, everything is pointing in the direction that landing the “freak athlete” – as he’s been further noted by Mattinson – would be a worthwhile addition for Le Bris’ men ahead of Premier League action finally returning, with a sprinkle here and there of quality giving the Black Cats a hopeful fighting chance at survival.

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