Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will expect to end this campaign with another three medals in his cabinet, but a former international has now intimated that one of the Hoops’ old bosses could be open to an emotional return to replace the Irishman.

Brendan Rodgers in the hunt for a domestic treble at Celtic

Despite a frustrating defeat at St Johnstone last weekend, Celtic remain on course to claim the Scottish Premiership crown and could still mathematically confirmed as champions should they defeat Kilmarnock followed by Aberdeen seeing off Rangers at Pittodrie.

In a potentially decisive few weeks for Brendan Rodgers, he could also take one step closer to winning the Scottish Cup if his side can dispose of St Johnstone at Hampden next Sunday.

With the Premier Sports Cup already in the bag, the Irishman could finish this campaign by inheriting a 13th trophy in charge across two spells, which would place him third in Celtic’s all-time most successful managers list.

Nevertheless, Rodgers will demand significant backing at Parkhead this summer in his mission to elevate the club’s standing in comparison to those on Europe’s biggest stage.

After leading Celtic to the Champions League knockout playoff phase, the 52-year-old wants to build on their continental success by securing talented arrivals to prop up a squad bristling with talent.

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By nature, most managers in Glasgow have a shelf life. Whether it be a consequence of admiration from the Premier League or failing to deal with the unique level of pressure associated with coaching one of the world’s most reputable brands, there is never a true sense of permanence in the dugout.

Casting a tentative eye towards the future, Celtic have now been told one of their former managers could be open to completing a sensational Parkhead return later down the line.

Ange Postecoglou tipped for dramatic Celtic return

Ange Postecoglou hasn’t had it all his own way at Tottenham Hotspur. The 59-year-old has been in charge for the best part of two seasons in North London, but pressure is mounting on the Australian due to a series of inconsistent results with the Lilywhites.

Now, per reports via The Glasgow Times, former Greece international Giorgos Karagounis has hinted that Postecoglou could be open to a Celtic comeback story in the future due to the immense success he had north of the border.

Brendan Rodgers vs Ange Postecoglou at Celtic – how both managers have fared

Ange Postecoglou’s managerial record at Celtic

Trophies

2x Scottish Premiership, 2x Scottish League Cup, Scottish Cup

Points per game

2.64 PPG in normal time, 1.80 PPG in post-split fixtures

European record

Finished third in Europa League group 2021/22 (knocked out of Europa Conference League by Bodo Glimt at Round of 32 stage). Finished bottom of Champions League group in 2022/23 on two points despite admirable performances against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Fan approval

Loved for daring style of football and commitment to play on front foot at all costs.

Brendan Rodgers’ managerial record at Celtic

Trophies

3x Scottish Premiership, 3x Scottish Cup, 4x Scottish League Cup

Points per game

2.45 PPG in normal time, 2.20 in post-split fixtures

European record

Finished fourth in Champions League group 2016/17. Finished third in Champions League group 2017/18 (knocked out of Europa League Round of 32 by Zenit St Petersburg). Finished second in Europa League group 2018/19 (knocked out at Round of 32 by Valencia). Finished bottom of Champions League group 2023/24 Qualified for Champions League knockout playoff phase in 2024/25 (narrowly beaten by Bayern Munich).

Fan approval

Seen as a proven winner who rarely falters on big occasions.

Karagounis stated: “Ange Postecoglou did a great job with Celtic, a fantastic job, so one day I think we will see him back there.

“Having said that, at the moment, he is at another great team in Tottenham, and of course, he’s coaching in the Premier League, so I don’t think he’ll want to go back to Scotland straight away.”

Commended for his “excellent” work at Celtic by Martin O’Neill, Postecoglou is someone who is deeply admired by supporters, but it remains to be seen if a future return is something that could come to fruition.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Rangers have reportedly been boosted by the news that one particular attacking target is now open to completing a move to Ibrox.

Rangers receive transfer boost

It looks set to be a hectic summer at Ibrox, starting with new ownership with the 49ers Group reportedly on their way in the coming months. To say that they’ll have an important first act to make would be a major understatement too, with a new manager needed to take over from interim boss Barry Ferguson.

Whilst the interim boss has impressed at times, recent rumours suggest that Rangers are set to turn their attention towards a more experienced option and could even lure the likes of Marco Rose to Scotland. The German was recently sacked by RB Leipzig as they continued to slip away from Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga, but could be handed an instant return to management by the Gers.

Meanwhile, it could also be a busy summer on the incomings front with a permanent move for Vaclav Cerny already mooted in recent weeks. And the loanee may not be the only attacking star on the way to Ibrox in what could turn into a major boost.

According to Rangers News, Dor Turgeman is now open to joining Rangers this summer and the 49ers could yet swoop in to land a deal worth around £5m in the coming months.

That said, the Maccabi Tel Aviv forward hasn’t exactly hidden his end goal, with reports indicating that he’ll only complete a move to the Scottish giants if he can use them as a stepping stone towards the Premier League.

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Unfortunately for Rangers, it is something that Koppen may consider even if that is the case as he looks to transform the Gers’ transfer model into one that signs stars for cheap, builds them up and then sells them on for major profit.

"Quick" Turgeman suits Koppen's plan

Just like Turgeman has made his ambitions no secret, Koppen has been fairly open about his own plan at Rangers – telling reporters as relayed by Rangers News: “You have to let the players go, also because that’s how you attract them, they come with an ambition to go. We cannot force them to stay.

“You have to say to them, come here to be successful and win, but this is not your end station. 80% of these players who move to the club should come with the ambition to go. Ultimately, that is only achieved by winning and progressing so that everyone can benefit – the club and the player.”

When thinking about players that would slot straight into that criteria of players, Turgeman instantly comes to mind. The 21-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, could add instant firepower at Ibrox before earning the Premier League move that he desires.

Dubbed “quick” and “agile” by The Rangers Journal last summer, the 49ers should make signing Turgeman one of their first priorities when they arrive at the club this summer.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has held talks with the agents of a “dream” target for manager Mikel Arteta, and the Gunners know exactly what is required to convince the player to make a move to the Emirates Stadium.

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Arteta candidly expressed his excitement over Berta’s appointment, and the 53-year-old could even orchestrate a summer spend of up to £300 million on seven key signings, according to GiveMeSport.

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

The north Londoners are plotting serious changes to Arteta’s squad across the board, defensively, in midfield and further forward, with Berta expected to target a new back-up keeper, full-back, midfielders, a left-winger, an alternative to Bukayo Saka and, of course, a goalscoring number nine (GMS).

The wide positions will be a key area of improvement, with uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of Leandro Trossard as the Belgian begins to enter the final 12 months of his contract.

Saka was a dear miss when the England star was sidelined through injury, which undoubtedly played a role in Arsenal falling miles behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, and Arsenal could move to bring in a proven back-up.

According to credible recent reports, that man could be Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, who’s capable of playing both on the right and on the left. Arsenal have also held very recent talks with Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane over signing as a free agent, but as things stand, the German favours remaining under Vincent Kompany.

With a move for Sane looking less likely, and Williams expected to push for a Bilbao exit, it is believed that Berta reached out for talks with the 22-year-old’s representatives last week.

The Spain international’s contract contains a tempting £48 million release clause, but the real issue will lie in his wages.

Nico Williams makes £250k-per-week demand to join Arsenal

Following talks with Berta last week, it has now been revealed by GiveMeSport that Williams will demand a salary of around £250,000-per-week to join Arsenal or any other interested club, which would make him the club’s third-highest earner behind just Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Arsenal’s wage bill is currently massive, and Berta will be eager to avoid skyrocketing it even further amid PSR and FFP regulations.

That being said, Williams is definitely worth the effort to prise away from Bilbao, if Arsenal can reach a compromise on his pay packet expectations. He bagged 19 assists in all competitions last term and played a starring role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, leaving little surprise that GMS have also reported the winger is a “dream” target for Arteta.

“Nico is unique, wonderful,” said José Mourinho recently.

“During the European Championship, people were focused on Lamine Yamal, who is obviously another wonderful kid, but personally, I prefer Nico. He’s a fantastic player, and you can’t think that a Turkish club could sign him. I hope he ends up with Real Madrid.”

Chelsea have not held back in signing wingers over the last few years since Todd Boehly took over as owner of the club.

Last summer, they signed two from within the Premier League, bringing in Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United and Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Of course, in the prior transfers window, they brought in Cole Palmer and Rahemm Sterling, both from Manchester City and England international Noni Madueke, who signed from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. It has really been a point of focus for the Blues.

In the next transfer window, more wingers will join, namely 17-year-old wonderkid Estevao and Kendry Paez, who can also play as a number 10. Incredibly, the West Londoners are seemingly looking to add a world-class winger to their ranks, according to a recent report.

Chelsea target new winger

It is no secret that Real Madrid are blessed with an embarrassment of riches in forward areas. The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are two of the best players in the world, as is Brazilian international Rodrygo.

Transfer Focus

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Well, according to reports from Spain, Chelsea are planning a summer move for the Los Blanocs number 11 and are hoping they can ‘to lure him away from Real Madrid’ with an enticing offer in the next few months.

This will not be a cheap deal for the West Londoners. They are willing to put a reported £103m on the table to complete what would be their third most expensive signing ever.

Chelsea are thought to be ‘confident that a substantial financial offer’ will be enough to convince Rodrygo and Real Madrid to complete the move.

Why Rodrygo would be a good signing

Rodrygo’s quality is undeniable. The Brazilian is a key player for Los Blancos, alongside the likes of Mbappe, Vinivus and Jude Bellingham. Naturally a left winger, he can often be seen playing on the right-hand side, where he has excelled again this term.

Across all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in 2024/25, the 24-year-old has scored 13 times and grabbed ten assists in 45 appearances.

As good as the Brazilian has been, it is not his best year in the famous white shirt. Last term, he scored 18 times across competitions, registering nine assists along the way as Madrid won the Champions League once again.

If Chelsea do manage to get this deal over the line, then they could well sign a hybrid of Estevao and Vinicius. Firstly, the similarity between Rodrygo and Chelsea’s new winger Estevao are clear to see.

Both players are exciting young Brazilian talents who are full internationals for the five-time World Cup winners. Estevao has already played for Brazil four times, despite being just 17 years of age. Not only that, the par are both right wingers, although Rodrygo can, of course, play on the left, too.

However, there are also stylistic similarities between the 23-year-old and his Los Blanocs teammate Vinicius. The Real Madrid number seven has 19 goals and 14 assists in 43 appearances this term.

The pair are certainly similar players. Direct and tricky wingers with an eye for goal and plenty of flair. That is certainly reflected in the stats via FBref.

For example, Rodrygo averages 5.08 shot-creating actions and 5.23 progressive carries per 90 minutes compared to Vinicius’ 5.21 shot-creating actions and 6.78 progressive carries.

Rodrygo and Vinicius key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Rodrygo

Vinicius

Goals and assists

0.56

0.78

Key passes

2.44

2.15

Progressive passes

5.28

3.37

shot-creating actions

5.08

5.21

Progressive carries

5.23

6.78

Stats from FBref

Rodrygo would be an astounding coup for Chelsea if they can bring him in over the summer. Not only is he versatile, able to play on the right wing or the opposite left flank, but he would add directness and flair in the final third.

There is no doubt that £103m is a lot of money. With that being said, for someone who is a “future icon” as football talent scout Jacek Kulig believes, it might well be worth it.

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As rumours continue to rumble on over Marc Guehi’s future, Crystal Palace have reportedly set their sights on signing a South American defender who has impressed club chiefs.

Crystal Palace targeting Guehi replacement

After earning the interest of Newcastle United before the Magpies were priced out of a move last summer, Guehi was always likely to receive plenty of attention just one year later. This time, however, it’s clubs of Liverpool’s calibre who are reportedly interested, as they look to reinforce Arne Slot’s backline by splashing out on the Palace star.

Such interest in Guehi should come as little shock either following the season that he has enjoyed. After a slow start in Oliver Glasner’s first full campaign in charge, Palace have rediscovered their best form since the turn of the year and recently booked their place in the last four of the FA Cup by thrashing Fulham 3-0.

That success often comes with consequences, however, and those in South London are seemingly already preparing for Guehi’s potential departure by turning their focus towards signing a replacement.

According to GiveMeSport, Crystal Palace are now plotting a move to sign Kevin Lomonaco from RB Bragantino this summer by potentially triggering his €20m (£17m) release clause.

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The 23-year-old Argentine defender has seemingly impressed those at Selhurst Park and could now be on his way to European football for the first time. On loan at Independiente this season, Lomonaco has played a key role, starting in all 11 of their Torneo Apertura games and helping them keep five clean sheets in that run.

Whilst there will still be some question marks over just how ready he is to step into the Premier League, clubs around English football have benefitted in the past from welcoming South American players of such calibre.

"Aggressive" Lomonaco could become Guehi heir

Whilst he wouldn’t steal instant headlines like other options might, Lomonaco is still one to watch if Guehi leaves Crystal Palace this summer – especially when priced at just £17m. Earning plenty of praise during his time at Independiente, who bought 75% of his rights last winter, PanoScout described Lomonaco as “aggressive in ground duels”, and a player who “won’t hesitate to tackle”.

With West Ham United and German club Wolfsburg also chasing the defender’s signature, those at Selhurst Park should make their move as soon as possible this summer.

The last thing that the South London club will want is to miss out on Lomonaco and then watch on as Guehi departs to join a club of Liverpool’s calibre in the coming months.

The Manchester City squad rebuild is firmly underway.

Last week, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed he will be leaving the club this summer, following the expiration of his contract.

He’ll follow fellow sky blue stalwart Kyle Walker out the exit door while, as outlined by Philip Buckingham of the Athletic, Man City spent around £180m in January. That’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico González, Vitor Reis, and Juma Bah.

Now, as Pep Guardiola attempts to fill the gigantic void that De Bruyne will leave behind, does he have his eyes on one of the Premier League’s very best midfielders?

The latest on Man City interest in PL star

According to UOL Esporte, via a report from Spain, Guardiola ‘has identified’ Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães as his ‘ideal candidate’ to replace De Bruyne this summer.

The Belgian is on his way out of The Etihad and the Cityzens have now set their sights on the Premier League midfielder to bolster their options in the middle of the park ahead of next season.

However, it remains to be seen how much money it will take for the Magpies to consider parting ways with their brilliant Brazilian in the upcoming transfer window.

The 27-year-old joined Newcastle back in January 2022 from Olympique Lyonnais for a reported £40m, making 146 appearances for the Magpies to date, scoring 20 goals, a key figure in the side that won last month’s EFL Cup, the first major domestic trophy the club have hoisted aloft for 70 years.

His manager Eddie Howe described Guimarães as “world class”, with Chris Waugh of the Athletic believing that, when the Brazilian is deployed with more attacking freedom, there’s few better in the Premier League.

Thus, his signing would obviously be a major coup for Man City, but any potential deal will be far from straight-forward.

Why Guimares would be the perfect de Bruyne replacement

Instinctively, it does not feel as though Guimarães would be the perfect stylistic fit to replace De Bruyne.

The Belgian is known as the pass master, with Sam Lee of the Athletic outlining that a whipped ball to the back post is very much his ‘trademark’ assist.

As noted by Opta, since De Bruyne’s debut for Manchester City, no player has registered more assists (117) or created more chances (827) than him across Europe’s top five leagues.

Meantime, Guimarães is more well known for his ‘tenacity’ and leadership qualities, as documented by Jack Lang and Maurício Alencar of the Athletic, registering just 24 assists in 146 appearances for Newcastle to date.

But, let’s now take a deeper dive into the numbers.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Bruno Guimarães (24/25 PL comparison)

Statistics

De Bruyne

Guimarães

Appearances

21

30

Minutes

1,192

2,590

Goals

2

3

Assists

6

6

Expected assists

6.1

5.3

Progressive passes

116

212

Chances created

39

38

Shot-creating actions

81

97

Through-balls

8

21

Pass completion %

76.7%

82%

Ball recoveries

44

144

Touches per 90

77

67

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and Squawka

As the table outlines, despite having played less than half the number of minutes that Guimarães has, De Bruyne’s assists, expected assists, and chances created numbers are still comparable, emphasizing his qualities in that regard.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian has registered more progressive passes, shot-creating actions, and through-balls, while accumulating exponentially more ball recoveries, underlining that he is more of a useful asset out of possession.

This suggests that he would be a perfect replacement for de Bruyne in the sense that he could arrive with more depth to his game, due to his qualities out of possession and in deep build-up, which means that he could offer more to the all-round team performance than the Belgian veteran.

Thus, even though this would not be a like-for-like replacement, Guimarães would surely slot into Man City’s team perfectly, making this a transfer they should absolutely complete, if at all possible.

Daniel Farke had a daunting task before him when picking up the pieces from Leeds United’s promotion near-miss during the 2023/24 season, with the likes of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter all leaving Elland Road behind for good.

Losing all these exceptional talents in quickfire succession hasn’t quite derailed the Whites’ promotion mission this time around thankfully, as the West Yorkshire outfit aim to just keep picking up the wins to see a top two spot be officially clinched come May.

Then, it will all be about tinkering here and there to transform Leeds into a Premier League capable side, with one transfer rumour already giving fans a sneak peek as to what business they might conduct.

Leeds interested in new midfielder

As per Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the promotion-chasers are already monitoring Borussia Mönchengladbach captain Julian Weigl ahead of a potential summer swoop.

Farke did momentarily manage Weigl when he was Gladbach coach – with that good working relationship highlighted by Plettenberg – but any move getting off the ground rests on Leeds sealing promotion back up to the top-flight.

Initial contact has occurred between the two parties surrounding the £5.1m-rated star, but Leeds might not need to go after another face in the middle of the park after all, considering they already have this past import from Germany on their books who is worth more than Weigl.

The Leeds hero who's worth more than Weigl

Whilst Farke did have to deal with that worrying mass exodus last summer, he did also manage to welcome in a number of stunning buys, with loan sensation Manor Solomon up to a bumper eight goals and nine assists this season in the league action.

But, it could be argued that the pick of the bunch from the summer buys looking back now was former Fortuna Dusseldorf ace Ao Tanaka, who has been consistently top-notch for his new employers since an understated £2.9m switch occurred.

Indeed, the Japan international has instantly managed to fit into his new surroundings, with this audacious back-heel effort against Sheffield Wednesday back in January one of four strikes he’s managed to bag under Farke’s wing.

With 72.6 touches amassed on average per league clash too, it could be argued that the “unbelievable” 26-year-old – as he was lauded by his manager after a breakneck start to life in England – has become somewhat of a heartbeat for the title hopefuls since his arrival, culminating in his once humble £2.9m valuation shooting up.

Stat – per 90 mins*

Tanaka

Games played

39

Games started

33

Minutes averaged*

77 mins

Goals scored

4

Assists

2

Touches*

72.6

Accurate passes*

53.8 (90%)

Ball recoveries*

5.0

Total duels won*

4.6

Value when joining

£2.9m

Value now

£6.8m

As per Transfermarkt, Tanaka’s value now stands at a far heftier £6.8m, meaning the 32-time Japan international is worth around £1.7m more than the Gladbach target and deservedly so based on his sparkling Championship numbers above.

With Farke also able to call upon the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev in the holding midfield ranks, there might not be that much of a thirst to land Weigl moving forward, especially if Tanaka – who has further been donned “exceptional” by Opta statman Jonny Cooper – takes to the potential challenge of the Premier League swimmingly.

Whilst the Whites will have to presumably spend big on occasion in the top-flight to secure their safety, Farke and Co will want to stray away from spending for spending’s sake, with a more shrewd approach in the market paying off when Tanaka entered through the door.

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Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for a “fantastic” forward, who is also wanted by Premier League rivals Manchester United and Manchester City, according to a report.

Forest set sights on new winger

The calibre of player Forest are able to attract will depend heavily on whether they are able to achieve their dream of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but they have now started to identify some top-level targets in wide areas.

One such player is Marseille star Luis Henrique, with the Tricky Trees making contact to discuss a move to the City Ground with the Brazilian’s agents, although there could be competition from Newcastle United and Inter Milan.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are also plotting to hijack West Ham United’s move for Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz, with the 24-year-old set to leave the Turkish club at the end of the season, amid widespread interest in his services.

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Another winger who is attracting a lot of attention is Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj Moussa, with a report from France revealing the 23-year-old is now in Nottingham Forest’s sights ahead of a potential summer transfer swoop, but they are not alone in the race.

Man United and Man City are also eyeing a move for Moussa, so there could be fierce competition for his signature at the end of the campaign, with Lille also expressing an interest during the January transfer window.

The Tricky Trees are yet to make any formal moves to sign the Feyenoord forward, and it is unlikely they make an approach until they seal Champions League qualification, which will provide Nuno with extra funds for the summer transfer window.

That said, a move is unlikely to break the bank regardless, given that previous reports have revealed that a deal could be possible for a fee of just £10m.

"Fantastic" Moussa impressing in the Netherlands

It has been an impressive debut campaign with Feyenoord for the 23-year-old, having been lauded as “fantastic” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season, given his exploits in front of goal.

The Algeria international, who has been compared to both Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Ododi, as per FBref, has six goals and two assists to his name in the Eredivisie, while he has also bagged three goals in the Champions League, indicating he is the calibre of player Forest will need to bring in this summer ahead of a potential European campaign.

Kulig has also dubbed the Paris-born winger “one of Europe’s most pleasant surprises”, and his performances for Feyenoord this season indicate he could now be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League.

As such, it is exciting news that Forest could be in the race for Moussa’s signature this summer, at which point they will need to strengthen their squad depth, should they secure European qualification.

Sheffield United’s place in the Championship Play-Offs was confirmed on Easter Monday after their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Blades and Sunderland are the two teams confirmed to be in the four-team post-season tournament to compete for a place in the Premier League next season.

Chris Wilder’s side have lost four of their last five matches and have to find a way to rediscover their form ahead of the play-offs, to avoid their season ending in complete disappointment, which could include putting faith in Tom Cannon.

Why Sheffield United should keep starting Tom Cannon

The Ireland international, who joined from Leicester City in the January transfer window, scored his first goal for the club with a thumping finish in the 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

It was his first goal in 13 matches for the club in the Championship, after a return of nine goals during the first half of the campaign on loan at Stoke, and is hopefully a sign of things to come.

Cannon, who scored four goals in one game earlier this season, has scored 20 goals in 68 matches at Championship level, and should be given the nod over Tyrese Campbell.

The English striker has scored ten goals in 32 league games this term, but is currently on a run of zero goals and zero assists in his last five outings, whilst Cannon has hit form with a goal against Burnley.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Instead of unleashing Campbell in an attempt to turn the form around to win the Play-Offs, Wilder should bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi off the bench to be a difference-maker.

Why Jesurun Rak-Sakyi should start for Sheffield United

The Crystal Palace loanee came off the bench in the defeat to Burnley and should, now, be brought into the starting line-up to replace Ben Brereton Diaz.

Sheffield United will need to be ruthless and effective at the top end of the pitch in their Play-Off outings if they want to earn promotion to the Premier League, which is why Rak-Sayki should be given the nod.

The 22-year-old star, once dubbed “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, could come in to provide more quality than Brereton Diaz in the final third, based on their form in the division this term.

Starts

22

13

xG

6.07

4.07

Goals

7

4

Key passes

31

14

xA

3.49

1.13

Assists

2

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.4

0.3

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi has been more effective as a finisher and racked up more than three times as much xA, despite only starting nine more games.

Brereton Diaz, who completed 56% of his passes and lost 100% of his duels against Burnley, does not carry as much of a threat from a wide position, which is why he should be dropped from the side in favour of the English winger.

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This change could, then, improve Sheffield United’s chances of winning the Play-Offs in the post-season, because they would have a more effective forward on the pitch by swapping Brereton Diaz for Rak-Sakyi.

Manchester United are now working to seal a deal for a £60m+ star “very soon”, with the “incredible” forward “keen” on a move to Old Trafford, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd stepping up summer transfer plans

Although Rasmus Hojlund bagged a late equaliser, the recent 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to strengthen his squad considerably this summer, with Daniel Sturridge dubbing the current Man United team the “worst” since he was born.

As we edge closer to the summer window, it is becoming clear Amorim wants to bring in a number of new forwards this summer, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta among the targets at striker, alongside the likes of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui.

There have also been widespread suggestions that the Red Devils are progressing towards agreeing a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, having reportedly submitted a five-year contract offer in recent days.

Romano has now taken to X to drop an update on Man United’s pursuit of Cunha, stating they are “working” to seal the deal “very soon”, with negotiations now underway over the final details of the contract.

Man Utd set to hold talks with £50m ace who has been contacted by Barca

United are trying to beat Barcelona to the signing of an exciting attacker.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 28, 2025

The Wolves star is “keen” on a move to Old Trafford this summer, but he is unlikely to come cheap, given that he is protected by a £62.5m release clause in his contract.

Reports from elsewhere have stated the Brazilian is set to be brought in to play as a number 10, which means United are still tasked with signing a new striker, and there is no shortage of potential targets.

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

£40m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£64m

Mateo Retegui

Atalanta

£50m

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

£30m

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£62m

"Incredible" Cunha could help transform Man Utd's attack

United have been particularly poor from an attacking point of view this season, having scored just 39 goals in 34 Premier League games, which suggests they may need to make a number of additions to their frontline this summer.

Joshua Zirkzee and Hojlund have struggled to adapt to life in England, but Cunha has proven himself in the Premier League, playing a major role in steering Wolves clear of relegation trouble by picking up a total of 15 goals and six assists.

The Wolves star has been impressing in the Premier League for quite some time, having previously been lauded as “incredible” by reporter Jacob Steinberg after scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season.

There are some doubts over the signing of Cunha, with suitors said to be put off by his disciplinary record, but Paul Scholes believes he has the “attributes” to fit into Amorim’s style of play, and there are plenty of indications that he could be a success at Old Trafford.