Talks held: Yang upgrade now wants to sign for Celtic after Nancy sacking

On what was a hugely disappointing day for Celtic, Hyun-jun Yang was one of the few players who came away with credit after Saturday’s loss at Parkhead, which resulted in Wilfried Nancy’s dismissal.

The South Korea international scored his second goal of the season in the Scottish Premiership with a brilliant run and thumping finish to put his side 1-0 up.

Unfortunately, the rest of the team were unable to get the game over the line, as they coughed up three cheap goals in the second half to lose 3-1 to their rivals.

Despite that stunning goal, there should still be a question mark over his place in the starting line-up because he has only produced two goals and no assists in the league this season, per Sofascore.

Celtic in talks to sign new winger

Yang’s spot in the side could come under increased pressure amid claims that the club are in the market to sign a player in his position this month.

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 Herald Scotland journalist Josh McCafferty, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Red Bull Bragantino winger Ignacio Laquintana in the January transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Hoops have “held talks” with the Brazilian side over a potential deal for the right winger, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

McCafferty adds that they could agree an initial loan until the end of the 2025/26 campaign for the attacker, with an option to make it permanent in the summer transfer window.

He also reveals that Laquintana is “keen to join Celtic” before the end of the current window, which suggests that personal terms will not be much of an issue for the club.

Why Celtic should sign Laquintana in January

The Hoops should push to get this deal over the line in the days to come because he has the potential to arrive at Parkhead as an even better option than Yang, despite the South Korean star’s stunning goal on Saturday.

As aforementioned, the current Celtic winger has not offered enough in the final third on a consistent basis to say that he deserves to start week-in-week-out in the wing-back role, with only two goal contributions to his name heading into the second half of the league season.

Laquintana, however, has shown real promise in his time with Red Bull Bragantino and could be an exciting addition to the squad, as a winger who has the potential to offer more quality than Yang has so far this season.

Sebastian Tounekti, James Forrest, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, and Yang have all failed to deliver more than two goals or two assists in the Premiership this term, per WhoScored, whilst Laquintana managed more than two goals and more than two assists on his own in the Brasileiro in 2025.

The Uruguay international, who has scored one goal in two caps for his nation, produced four goals and three assists in 23 appearances in the league for Bragantino last year, per Sofascore.

Stats

Laquintana (2025 Brasileiro)

Yang (25/26 SPL)

Appearances

23

14

Goals

4

2

Big chances missed

1

6

Big chances created

4

1

Assists

3

0

Cross accuracy

16%

12%

Possession lost per game

6.7x

9.9x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Laquintana’s form last year suggests that he has the quality to provide a greater threat than Yang at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops, if he can carry his form over to Scottish football.

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The 26-year-old forward is a more efficient finisher, given his superior goals to ‘big chances’ missed rate, and has more creativity to offer, with three times as many ‘big chances’ created in less than twice as many appearances.

Therefore, he could be an even better option than Yang on the right flank for the next boss, possibly with Bournemouth loanee Julian Araujo to support him down the right side at right-back.

Signing him on a loan-to-buy deal would also provide Celtic with an opportunity to properly assess him over the next few months before making a decision on whether or not to activate their buy option in the summer.

Forget O'Neill: Celtic can save season by hiring "box office" Nancy upgrade

Celtic can still save their season by parting ways with Wilfried Nancy to hire this manager.

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This means that if he is unable to hit the ground running in Scotland and his form tails off, they can look elsewhere or continue with Yang as the first-choice in that role ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Liverpool’s “nervous wreck” is in danger of becoming the next Darwin Nunez

Fulham substitute Harrison Reed’s outrageous last-gasp goal to steal victory away from Liverpool summed up Arne Slot’s side’s season.

Though Cody Gakpo had scored what he thought was the winner moments earlier, bundling home following a crisp cross from substitute Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool were unstuck by a wonder goal, marking successive draws in the Premier League.

Truthfully, the champions have been well below the expected standard this season, and though their unbeaten run stretched to nine in all competitions, there is so much work to do for a laboured and uninspiring side.

Liverpool had the lion’s share of the ball, and as Slot asserted, Fulham rarely tested Alisson’s goal. But this is a team shorn of confidence and initiative and creativity, and it showed at Craven Cottage.

What went wrong for Liverpool at Fulham

Slot spoke post-match of the gains made in recent weeks, but there’s no question that Liverpool fans are fed up, with their side lacking so much of their previous sparkle and coherence as an elite attacking force.

Liverpool are not only duller than before but blunter too. And that having spent something close to £450m in the summer transfer window, breaking the British transfer record not once but twice through deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

The boarding that props up this project is creaking, and soon it will splinter. In fairness, Liverpool did improve. The second half gave rise to more purpose and drive, but the Merseysiders still only created an xG total of 1.45 across the contest, with their makeshift frontline unable to produce and sustain fluent offensive football.

Reed’s stunning strike will have left the visitors feeling rather aggrieved, but this is the latest example of inefficient attacking play, and a creative unit that is unable to focus and direct itself.

Slot has sought to establish more control at Liverpool, but this has come at the expense of creative expression. However, there are a few who have been singled out as struggling to achieve the kind of balance and modulation in the starting line-up, with one even branded Liverpool’s new version of Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool have found their new Darwin Nunez

Jamie Carragher can be a contentious online presence at the best of times, and the Sky Sports pundit proved this once again by claiming before Liverpool’s contest in west London that Milos Kerkez is “like having Darwin Nunez at left-back”.

This was a harsh twist on previous effusions laid on Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there’s something to be said of the Hungarian’s erraticness and lack of poise down the left channel, yet to bring it all together after completing a £45m transfer from Bournemouth.

Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts

Pundit Jamie Redknapp also branded the 22-year-old a “nervous wreck” earlier in the campaign, after Manchester United scored a shock victory over Slot’s side at Anfield.

While he’s improved along with his team from a defensive standpoint in recent weeks, Kerkez remains a mixed bag, lacking purpose through his playmaking. This was clear after his performance at Fulham.

Liverpool World gave him a 6/10 match rating and acknowledged his capable defending, but Kerkez flattered to deceive from a more attacking slant, failing with each of his three attempted crosses and unable to create a single chance for a side crying out for more inspiration, as per Sofascore. Moreover, the 64-touch talent didn’t even attempt a dribble or have a shot. He did, at least, win all of his duels, including a solitary tackle.

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Looking at how he compares this season against his PFA Team of the Year-awarded 2024/25 campaign with Bournemouth, it’s clear to see that he’s struggling to produce the same level.

Milos Kerkez in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

19 (16)

Goals

2

1

Assists

5

0

Touches*

59.6

53.7

Accurate passes*

28.6 (80%)

30.5 (87%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.7

Succ. dribbles*

0.6

0.3

Recoveries*

4.7

2.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.0

Clearances*

2.6

2.6

Duels won*

4.0 (54%)

3.7 (61%)

Errors made

4x

2x

Data via Sofascore

Kerkez has to do more, but it’s undeniable that he has been hamstrung somewhat by Slot’s coaching, more conservative to be less porous in recent weeks. He’s aggressive, but that aggression must be controlled and moulded into something that can help Liverpool penetrate through tough defences.

It’s worked, but Kerkez remains a somewhat unconvincing prospect, and he needs to develop the completeness that evaded Nunez throughout the Uruguayan’s three terms on Merseyside.

All told, this is a young player who has stepped into a system that has failed to click together this season. Improvements are needed, but with time, there is hope that Kerkez will make the necessary gains and start drawing more positive comments.

Florian Wirtz upgrade: Liverpool ready to pay £78m for "superstar" signing

Liverpool’s expensive playmaker still isn’t performing to the anticipated standard.

ByAngus Sinclair

Balotelli 2.0: Liverpool keen to sign “maverick” who was ‘better than CR7’

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool tenure was characterised by precision in the transfer market. That among other things.

Truly, though, the German manager was a terrific tactician, and he got the best out of so many players, snapped up so many prospects for sharp sums and fashioned them into superstars. Take Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane. Andy Robertson. Gini Wijnaldum.

The list goes on. The German was brutal, though, and he cut out the deadwood quickly. The likes of Mario Balotelli and Christian Benteke.

Jurgen Klopp and Christian Benteke

Now, Arne Slot’s Anfield side are in a different stratosphere to that sorry squad that predated Klopp’s reign. But Slot’s Premier League champions are in a rut, and are looking to make a signing or two in the January transfer market.

But might they be about to repeat a botched Balotelli-esque bid from before?

Liverpool lining up January forward signing

With Alexander Isak out injured with a broken leg and Salah currently away at the African Cup of Nations, it’s so surprise that Liverpool are interested in adding to their attack, even after pulling back in the race for Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo.

Liverpool’s frontline is chock-full of talent, with sweeping and expensive changes made this summer. It’s for this reason that FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes may be on the lookout for an astute piece of business.

And according to Brazilian outlet Bolavip, Liverpool are considering a bargain buy for Corinthians striker Memphis Depay, with the Netherlands star available for just €10m (about £8m).

The 31-year-old is vastly experienced and would add depth and dynamism across the frontline for the business end of the season, with the Merseysiders said to be ‘very keen’ to strike a winter deal.

But, would this be the right move for the Reds?

Why Liverpool want Memphis Depay

Depay has led a storied career, and having joined Corinthians in Brazil in September 2024 after his contract with Atletico Madrid expired, he has scored 19 goals and supplied 14 assists across 65 matches.

But Liverpool are not in a position to offer an ageing forward playing away from Europe a shot in their struggling squad. Any activity this month must hit the jackpot.

Would Liverpool be making a front-footed move here? Is Depay, whose £31m transfer from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United in 2015 turned out to be a disaster, the answer to Slot’s attacking troubles?

It doesn’t feel like the Dutchman would represent fantastic value for money, especially when considering he’s earning £173k per week in the Brasileiro Serie A.

Once hailed by pundit Rio Ferdinand as a “maverick” of a forward who moved to the Theatre of Dreams too young, Depay has since rebuilt himself and now sits at the autumn end of his career as an accomplished forward, one of the Netherlands’ finest.

Netherlands – All-time Top Scorers

Player

Apps

Goals

Memphis Depay

102

52

Robin van Persie

102

50

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

76

42

Patrick Kluivert

79

40

Denis Bergkamp

79

37

Arjen Robben

96

37

Data via Transfermarkt

For Liverpool to move for this player now would reek of desperation, and it would even be comparable to a long-ago move for Balotelli, who was the ostensible replacement for Luis Suarez when the Uruguayan legend was sold to Barcelona in 2014.

Balotelli, now 35, had previously won the Premier League with Manchester City and enjoyed prolific campaigns in his Italian homeland, but he arrived at Anfield at the wrong time, with the Brendan Rodgers era falling apart.

Mario-balotelli-liverpool

Balotelli was something of a nomad himself, and when he joined Liverpool from AC Milan for £16m, playing only one season at the club and scoring only one Premier League goal all year.

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The notorious forward left with few fond memories, describing his time at the club as “the worst mistake” of his life.

As for Depay, he’s a skilful player who has accomplished much, using that flopped spell at Man United to kick on and establish himself as a key player across various grounds before settling with Corinthians at this later-career stage.

As with Balotelli way back when, however, Liverpool would be panic-buying here, patching over deep attacking issues with a stop-gap.

Ex-Man Utd man Paul Parker might have described Depay as being a versatile forward who was at a higher level than Cristiano Ronaldo when he was 21 years old, but development isn’t linear, and it’s fair to say that Portuguese man has outstripped him since.

It would not be the answer to Slot’s problems, especially given the pace and intensity of the Premier League, and how Depay fell by the wayside last time, all those years ago.

Henderson 2.0: Liverpool plot move for the "best U21 player in the PL"

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1/2 and that’s all: Marco Silva gets 50% of his transfer wish, but it isn’t all good news

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According to Sport English, Andre Gomes is ‘on the verge’ of a permanent move to Everton after club officials flew out to Barcelona as they looked to smooth out the finer details of the deal.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees had the pleasure of having the Portuguese international in their side throughout the entirety of last season on a loan spell, and Gomes certainly impressed.

The classy midfielder won over the supporters with his consistently excellent performances, where he and the more combative Idrissa Gueye proved to be the perfect foil for each other in the Everton midfield.

Wearing the No.8 shirt at Goodison Park, Gomes made 27 Premier League appearances and took to the English game like a duck to water.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The 25-year-old will reportedly cost a fee in the region of €30m (£26.7m), which can be considered a snip in the modern transfer market.

Marco Silva gets 50% of his wish, but it’s not all good news

Back in May, Everton boss Silva said on Gomes and another loan star in Kurt Zouma: “We believe in them, we give them something and we really help them. They help us, also. They have been fantastic professionals since they joined our club so let’s see what we can do. I hope and our fans also hope we can sign with them.”

Zouma was on loan from Chelsea and impressed massively in his 32 league appearances, although despite the good news on Gomes’ imminent arrival, Silva doesn’t look likely to get 100% of his transfer wish from last month after a fresh report.

The Daily Star believes that the Blues will block any potential exit for the French international as a result of their transfer ban. Chelsea bosses are said to be keen to limit the number of players leaving Stamford Bridge, as they would be unable to replace them.

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The supporters and Silva will be overjoyed to see Gomes close in on a permanent move, but it isn’t all good news on Merseyside in regards to the former Watford boss’ transfer hopes from May.

Lampard reveals Everton injury boost

Everton have been plagued with injuries throughout the season, and with an FA Cup clash coming up this evening and a huge challenge ahead in the Premier League,  losing players at this vulnerable time would be a nightmare for Frank Lampard.

However, a huge boost has now been revealed for the side.

What’s the word?

The Toffees boss took to his pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup clash against Boreham Wood at Goodison Park this evening to give an update on Donny van de Beek, after he went off injured against Manchester City last weekend.

When asked about the Dutch midfielder, Lampard simply told the press:

“Donny’s fine. He’s been training this week.”

The Dutch national had caused concern when he felt something in his leg in the second half of the Premier League game at the weekend and had to go off, replaced by his fellow January signing, Dele Alli.

Fans will be thrilled

Van de Beek has been a consistent performer in his short time at the club and will be an important player to have available in the upcoming game away to Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, so fans will surely be thrilled that he is back to full fitness and training in the side ahead of the challenge.

Everton have reached a point where they cannot afford to drop any more points, especially now they are sitting just one point off the relegation zone and it would be a huge loss to have any more first-team players out with injuries in the remaining months of the season.

The 24-year-old midfielder will not be available to play in the FA Cup clash against Boreham Wood, due to being cup-tied by his parent club Manchester United, but this could be a silver lining for Lampard as it means he will be given even more rest ahead of the Spurs game this weekend.

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The ex-Chelsea boss will surely be hoping that a good performance in the cup competition tonight can inject some confidence into his side ahead of the crucial Premier League game at the weekend. After all, if the side can’t pick up points against Antonio Conte’s side they could find themselves in the relegation zone by the end of the weekend.

In other news: Lampard must ruthlessly axe Michael Keane

Celtic: Kenny makes Ange contract claim

Paddy Kenny has made a contract claim regarding Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Australia tour

The Hoops have already made plans for Postecoglou’s second season in charge, with domestic football set to take a five-week break due to the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.

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Celtic confirmed earlier this month that they will take part in a four-team tournament down under at that time, describing the trip as ‘Ange’s Australian homecoming’.

The Latest: Kenny’s comments on Postecoglou

Kenny was talking to Football Insider and addressed the news coming from Celtic Park.

The pundit claimed that the Hoops manager may now look to renegotiate a ‘better deal’ and labelled Postecoglou, who signed a 12-month rolling contract last summer, as a ‘hero’ in Glasgow.

The former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said of the 56-year-old:

“He’s done better than anyone thought he would.

“You wouldn’t talk about a homecoming tour if you weren’t certain he will be there in November.

“It’s a 12-month deal, I wonder if he could renegotiate and get himself a better deal because he has done so well.

“Celtic could win the league, that would be crazy considering how far off they were last season.

“Even if Celtic don’t win the league they will keep him on, he looks so loved by the fans, he’s a hero.

“A new deal would be well deserved but I don’t know what he’s like, he might be happy doing what he’s doing.”

The Verdict: Good point

It’s easy to forget that, last summer, Postecoglou appeared to be second choice at Parkhead after a move for Eddie Howe fell through.

Following an impressive first season in Glasgow, where he has already guided the club to a Scottish League Cup triumph and currently leads the way at the top of the Premiership, the Hoops hierarchy and the 56-year-old may well be open to penning a long-term deal.

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You’d expect that everyone involved at Parkhead wants to see Postecoglou leading the club once again next season and beyond, so it would make sense to discuss a new contract for longer than a 12-month period.

In other news: ‘Great to see’ – Journalist buzzing as injured Celtic gem now spotted back after ‘long spell out’

Ronaldo’s MUFC future hangs in the balance

Manchester United have had their fair share of controversy and negative headlines this season, especially surrounding the culture at the club and the ongoing reported issues in the dressing room, and they could now be about to take a huge hit ahead of next season as new information emerges on Cristiano Ronaldo’s future.

What’s the word?

Reliable journalist Jacque Talbot took to Twitter to make a bold claim about the current situation for the 37-year-old and what his next moves are likely to be after he was notably missing from the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.

Talbot tweeted: “Understand if Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently in Portugal, moves in the summer it will most likely be to PSG. A lot depends on Manchester United if reach a Champions League spot this season. A new manager won’t change matters if they fail to get the top four.”

Supporters will be fuming

The ever-growing storm cloud which covers Old Trafford may well burst this summer, and whilst supporters of the club may have been expecting this to happen for months, it will surely hurt the fanbase to lose such an iconic and influential player who gives them not only hope for success in the future, but reminds them of what the club was about when he joined back in August 2003.

Fans must be furious with the current state of the club for many reasons, but losing Ronaldo due to a lack of Champions League football would sting even further. The veteran’s prospective departure from the club could have a severe knock-on effect for the Red Devils when it comes to appointing a top manager in the summer and attempting to attract world-class players to join a club without Champions League football and without Ronaldo.

With that being said, it is essential for the Glazers and Ralf Rangnick to implement some damage control and prepare for the 37-year-old’s potential departure ahead of the summer. Although United still have genuine hope to finish in the top four this season, they should not be hiding from the potential repercussions if they fail in that mission.

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With Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and now Cristiano Ronaldo all heavily linked with moves away from the club this summer, the Red Devils could find themselves in a much weaker position than they are in now if they don’t meticulously plan for the immediate future.

In other news: Gary Neville reveals his theory on Man Utd’s managerial search

Bielsa’s Winks call may cost Leeds £100m

While Leeds United’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last week has somewhat eased the Whites’ immediate relegation concerns, Jesse Marsch will still very much be aware his side are involved in a fight for survival over their final eight fixtures of the Premier League campaign.

Indeed, with Leeds currently sitting seven points above 18th placed Watford – who have a game in hand on the Whites – and eight points above 19th placed Burnley – who have three games in hand – statistics website FiveThirtyEight currently estimate that Marsch’s outfit have a 23% chance of going down this season – meaning there is just under a one in four chance Leeds will be playing Championship football in 2022/23.

And, while Leeds’ considerably poorer league performance than in 2020/21 can largely be attributed to a number of key players picking up long-term injuries – most notably Kalvin Phillips – Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross recently revealed that, despite a distinct lack of options in central midfield, Marcelo Bielsa turned down the opportunity to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Winks in the January transfer window – a decision which could end up costing the club very close to £100m in Premier League revenue.

Bielsa’s Winks call could cost Leeds £100m

While Winks is far from a guaranteed starter under Antonio Conte at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – something that is presumably the reason the midfielder was offered to Leeds this winter – the argument that the 26-year-old would have made an impressive addition to the Whites’ current options in the middle of the park is an easy one to make.

Indeed, despite his bit-part role at Spurs this season, the £15.3m-rated England international has nevertheless turned in a decent level of performance over his 14 Premier League appearances, registering one assist and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.9 key passes, 1.1 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 37.1 passes and winning 51% duels per game.

These returns have seen the £91k-per-week dynamo who Mauricio Pochettino once backed to become England’s Andres Iniesta average a SofaScore match rating of 6.96, ranking him as Tottenham’s 11th-best performer in the top flight of English football.

However, aside from his impressive metrics, Winks’ style of play would also have appeared to suit Leeds perfectly, with Paul Robinson previously suggesting the 26-year-old would be a fantastic alternative to Phillips, stating:

“One player I would love to see at Leeds in the Kalvin Phillips role is Harry Winks. He’s not been given his opportunity at Spurs, I think he is a fantastic player. Not only can he do the Phillips role, but he can also play in midfield as well.

“Someone with Winks’ quality would really add something to that Leeds side. He is able to play more advanced but can do the Phillips role when he’s not available. I would love to see Winks at Elland Road.”

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As such, considering the fact that, at the time of being offered Winks in January, Phillips was very much in the early stages of his recovery from a serious hamstring injury, while Leeds were also in an extremely poor run of form, exactly why Bielsa chose not to sign the Tottenham midfielder on a short-term deal is rather baffling.

Indeed, if Leeds do happen to go down this season, fingers can very much be pointed at the Argentine passing up the opportunity to sign Winks – as the 66-year-old could very easily have cost his former side big-time.

AND in other news: Orta could unearth Leeds’ next £60m sensation in “dirty” 23 y/o with a “desire to win”

Newcastle: Nickson eyes Gianluca Scamacca

Newcastle United head of recruitment Steve Nickson admires Sassuolo’s Gianluca Scamacca, according to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder. 

The lowdown

The 23-year-old Italian striker has finally established himself in the Sassuolo first-team after loan stints at Cremonese, PEC Zwolle, Ascoli and Genoa. He has scored 13 goals in 28 Serie A appearances this season, averaging one every 117 minutes.

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Nicknamed ‘Il Bomber’, Scamacca has been called ‘deadly’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and dubbed ‘a bit Zlatan-ish’ by sports journalist Maxi Angelo.

Newcastle have also been strongly linked with another Serie A striker in the form of Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata. The Daily Record even claimed that the Magpies made a £25m bid for the Colombian in January.

The latest

Ryder reported for The Chronicle that Zapata remains on Newcastle’s ‘wish list’, but they may only make a move for the 30-year-old if they are unable to snap up Scamacca.

Nickson is said to be ‘well aware’ of the Sassuolo hitman ahead of the summer transfer window.

The verdict

How do Scamacca and Zapata compare?

First and foremost, the former scores more non-penalty goals per 90 minutes (0.65 against 0.52). In terms of their all-round game, though, Zapata boasts double the expected assists p90 (0.2 against 0.1) and has also completed more than twice as many dribbles (1.68 against 0.79) a the Sassuolo marksman.

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However, Scamacca’s defensive contribution is far stronger – he ranks in the 62nd percentile (among positional peers) for pressures and the 73rd for tackles, compared to just the sixth and the 19th for Zapata.

Also, whereas the Colombian may be more or less the finished article at the age of 30, Scamacca’s game can be expected to develop even further over the coming years. Valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old could be a smart long-term addition for Newcastle.

In other news, Luke Edwards has revealed Newcastle’s summer budget

WBA had a howler over Aubameyang transfer

West Brom have been fairly active in the transfer market whenever they get the chance, bringing players in either on loan or permanent deals.

However, one deal that the Baggies had the chance to complete and will now be regretting is one for Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

According to an article from the Express & Star, the Midlands club were watching the centre-forward back in 2011 while he was on loan at Saint-Etienne from AC Milan.

The article also claimed that the Baggies had the chance to bring in the Gabon international on loan but opted against the move.Shortly after being scouted by West Brom in 2011, the striker ended up joining Saint-Etienne on a permanent deal in the 2012 January transfer deal.Since that point, the attacker has had spells at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal before making a move to Barcelona during the previous January window.According to a report from Football Espana, the former Gunners star took a significant pay cut from the £300k-per-week wages he was on at the Emirates, to complete his move to the Nou Camp, where he is reportedly now earning a weekly wage of just over £96k-per-week.Having been praised for his “phenomenal” form at the north London club by Mikel Arteta, Aubameyang has hit the ground running in Spain by racking up nine goals in 11 appearances across La Liga and the Europa League.Throughout his entire career, the 32-year-old has scored 305 goals in 592 senior and youth club appearances across all competitions in England, Italy, Germany, France and now Spain, winning several trophies in the process.One other award the striker picked up during his time in England was the Golden Boot in the 2018/19 Premier League season, having found the back of the net 22 times.Taking all of this into account, it’s seems as though the Baggies made the wrong call in not choosing to sign the Gabon star on loan when they had the chance.Had they done so and Aubameyang managed to impress, there would have been a chance that the club could have secured him on a permanent deal, thus sealing their own goalscoring superstar.However, the club will now have to live with their mistake and move on from the matter rather than reminiscing over what could have been.In other news: Sold at £13m, now worth £49.5m: WBA will have nightmares over 6ft4 “beast of a man”

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