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da 888casino： Celtic are now likely to complete the signing of an “amazing” attacking player soon, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Attackers the order of the day for Celtic

da brwin： Brendan Rodgers will know the importance of adding to his squad and making his team even more of a force next season, in order to prevent Rangers from closing the gap in the Scottish Premiership, and perhaps more excitingly for the Hoops to improve in the Champions League.

Celtic appear to be prioritising attacking signings this summer, with Benjamin Nygren strongly linked with sealing a move from Nordsjaelland to Parkhead.

Meanwhile, Evan Ferguson has emerged as an audacious transfer target for the Hoops ahead of next season, with the Brighton striker’s stock falling over the past 12 months, following a tough spell out on loan at West Ham.

That’s not to say that the Republic of Ireland international couldn’t be a fantastic acquisition for Celtic, however, with Gary Lineker calling him a “born goalscorer” and once tipping him to replace Harry Kane at Tottenham.

Now, it looks as though the Scottish champions could be edging towards another attacking signing.

O'Rourke: Celtic set to finalise deal for Balikwisha

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed Celtic have a good chance of signing Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha this summer.

“There’s real potential that Celtic could finally get a deal done for Balikwisha. He’s been a long-term target for them, they tried to sign him in the summer transfer window last year but an injury and failing to agree a price stopped their hopes. Their interest has never gone away, they’ve continued to keep tabs on him. He has got back to full fitness after a bad injury and finished the season strongly.

“Celtic will be in the market for a new winger and Balikwisha has remained on the radar. They’ve been given a boost in their pursuit as well, reports are suggesting in Belgium that Royal Antwerp are experiencing some financial problems. They may have to cash in on some of their players, and with the 24-year-old in the final year of his contract Celtic could land him for a bargain fee of £5million.”

Balikwisha has been linked with Celtic for some time, with talks mooted recently, and he could be a brilliant signing this summer, with the 24-year-old possessing so much quality.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s international stats

Caps

Goals

Belgium Under-21s

10

1

Belgium Under-19s

3

0

Belgium Under-18s

1

0

Belgium Under-17s

5

1

Belgium Under-16s

4

1

The attacker already has 46 goal involvements in 141 appearances for Antwerp, and at international level he has been capped for Belgium across five different youth age groups, also being called “amazing” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

While primarily a left winger, Balikwisha can also shine on the opposite flank and as a striker, so Rodgers would be signing a player who can add so much depth to his attack.

Risking an early end to his career, the fast bowler declined knee surgery to play through the 1993 Ashes series

Daniel Brettig02-Feb-2021Imagine a fast bowler in 2020, halfway through an Ashes tour, facing the fact that a degenerative knee problem was likely to contribute to an early end to their career unless they went home to face surgery. In this day and age of sports science and data-driven decisions, it would barely be a debate – off to Heathrow.Twenty-seven years ago, Merv Hughes faced just such a dilemma in the midst of an Ashes campaign where he was the manful spearhead of an Australian attack that, while blessed with the abundant talents of a young Shane Warne, was also down to its final four bowlers for long stretches of a tour that began in April and stretched into early September. Fortunately for Australia, but damagingly for the remainder of Hughes’ playing days, he says now that never considered accepting the offer of an early flight home and the attendant career-lengthening rehab.At the end of the third Test, Hughes had knee trouble as well as a groin strain, and spent nine days on his own in London with the team physio Errol Alcott, working assiduously to improve his fitness in order to play the final three Tests. When the knee began playing up again over the final two Tests, putting Hughes in agony when he climbed stairs and forcing him into a limp whenever he wasn’t actually bowling, team-mates began to realise the cost. Hughes had, in the words of his biographer Patrick Keane, “given more than anyone had a right to expect.”It was not as though Hughes’ early exit from the series could not be covered: the likes of Jo Angel, Damien Fleming and Joe Scuderi were all in England at the time to play league cricket, and Mike Whitney was working as both a commentator for Channel Nine and a more-than-occasional net bowler to the tourists. Hughes, though, was committed to leading the bowling attack and paying back his captain Allan Border for the faith he had shown in him over the years before.Perhaps only Ryan Harris since then has come close to the extremes Hughes went through in carrying his troublesome knee through the six Tests, scooping 31 wickets and playing a huge hand in a 4-1 series victory. Undoubtedly, Hughes paid a personal price for his commitment to the team and the tour, playing only two more Tests thereafter, in South Africa the following year. This selflessness was key to why Hughes was an integral part of the Australian side of the Border era, and a worthy inductee to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.”I had a bit of knee trouble, I think it was made out to be a lot worse than it actually was,” Hughes said, self-effacingly, on Tuesday. “Errol Alcott was the team physio and I trusted every word he said, he was one of my best mates when I played to be honest, but when he said you’re going to have a little bit of pain but it’s not going to get any worse, that’s where it was. I had the option to go home, yes, halfway through it, and if I had to make the same decision again I wouldn’t change it. To be on that tour from start to finish was very rewarding.Bowling with a bad knee, Merv Hughes took 31 wickets to help Australia claim a 4-1 Ashes victory in 1993•Getty Images”I think ’94 in South Africa was reward for contribution to Australian cricket. I thank the Australian selectors for that. But I’d come off an injury, there were some young guys coming through and I was very fortunate to get on that tour and by the end of that tour you had blokes like Glenn McGrath and Paul Reiffel coming through, and when they’re 10 years younger, the writing’s on the wall. Ultimately I don’t think things would’ve changed – probably the only thing that may have changed is I may have played a few more years of first-class cricket, but that didn’t eventuate.”The guys coming through were putting pressure on the old fella in the team and the old fella in the team couldn’t cope that well.”Repeatedly over his time in the Australian side, Hughes came through with big performances and big wickets, particularly in Ashes series and over several increasingly competitive bouts with the great West Indies teams of the period. After an initial phase when Hughes’ qualities were doubted by some, his quirky hat-trick over three overs at the WACA in 1988, and then heroic match figures of 13 for 217 either side of Geoff Lawson having his jaw broken by Curtly Ambrose, dispelled all reservations about whether there was real substance beneath his caricature moustache and beer belly.The crowds loved Hughes’ caricature moustache and his on-field antics, but there was genuine cricketing substance to go with it•Patrick Eagar/Getty Images”That’s where you really get measured, isn’t it, you don’t get measured by doing well against weaker teams,” Hughes said. “So to come up against that West Indies team having lost the first Test match … it was a great personal achievement but I think we lost that Test match by about 200 runs [169 runs], so the disappointment of the loss of the Test match overrode the emotion of a great personal achievement.”But the hat-trick, you try to explain to people that you didn’t know you were on a hat-trick, and people look you and go ‘mate, a hat-trick’s three wickets in three balls’, I know that, but when it’s over three overs, over two days and two innings and Tim May takes a wicket in between your first and second wicket, you tend to lose it. Plus with the emotion about Geoff Lawson being hit late on the day when we went back into bowling on the third day, to bowl for 20 minutes, I think you’re going to get fired up as a fast bowler anyway.”When you’ve seen one of your team-mates being hit, there’s just a little bit of extra spice to it. The eight-for was against a very good side, but ultimately if Geoff Lawson hadn’t been injured, I probably would’ve bowled half the overs and if you bowl half the overs you take half the wickets.”A spray of invective at the third of his hat-trick victims, Gordon Greenidge, was an example of the aggressive and often ugly way in which Hughes expressed himself on the field, the archetypal angry fast bowler who would use the short ball and his vocabulary to get under an opponent’s skin. Between these tendencies and constant battles with his waistline – at one point he infamously stomped on and shattered a new set of scales when asked to weigh himself – Hughes was a cricketer of his time, but with determination and courage to stand up in any era.Hughes, Dean Jones and David Boon were among the core group of players who revived Australia’s fortunes under Allan Border•Graham Chadwick/PA PhotosHughes drew immense personal satisfaction from the fact that the Australian team was constantly improving during his time in it, from the depths of the mid-1980s when the rebel tours of Apartheid South Africa had stripped the national cricket system of many of its established players, to the time when Hughes played his last Test in 1994 as part of an XI about to finally topple the West Indies and become the world’s best the following year. Later a national selector, Hughes has remained a consistent presence whether through tour groups or occasional commentary.”It was a tough time and people talk about that ’85 rebel tour to South Africa, and that came on top of just rebuilding from World Series Cricket in the late ’70s, so as Australia started to get back on their feet, that rebel tour came along,” Hughes said. “Fortunately for Australia Allan Border was appointed captain, Bob Simpson look over as coach and Laurie Sawle was appointed chairman of selectors. Those three blokes deserve a lot of credit for where Australian cricket got to.”They had a game plan and it was short-term pain for long-term gain and they picked a heap of young blokes and identified some young talent, picked a couple of guys who had the reputation of being tough and uncompromising and they had that senior core of players that led the way. The thing I look back on most satisfied with is that I played in an ever-improving Australian team. We didn’t quite get to the top of the tree when I was playing, but I look back at it with great satisfaction that we pushed the West Indies.”We pushed them in ’91 and the thing I probably hold closest is I think we were the first team to beat the West Indies in Antigua. They hadn’t lost in Antigua, it was Viv Richards’ last Test match on his home ground, and we got up and had a win there. I firmly believe at that stage was when we as a collective group of Australian players started to think we could match it with the West Indies.”As for what team-mates thought of Hughes, the following words from Steve Waugh of his efforts in England in 1993 are a fitting summary of both admiration and occasional exasperation. “He didn’t use his brain at all because it was all heart and that cost him in the long run,” Waugh told Keane in . “It put an end to his career in my opinion. I think he thought that ‘every Test I miss is one I can never play again’ and we were on a huge winning roll and he wanted to be part of it.”

Still reeling from their failure to qualify for the Champions League, Aston Villa have instantly set their sights on summer upgrades which could reportedly include a defender who has won it all in English football.

Aston Villa may still face PSR consequences

It’s fair to say that Aston Villa went all in on Champions League qualification, knowing that failure would have its consequences – that failure simply couldn’t be an option. So, the reaction when Manchester United sealed a shock victory on the final day after Morgan Rogers’ goal had controversially been disallowed was always going to be strong.

Villa slammed the decision, which they feel cost them their Champions League place, citing that a more experienced referee should have been in charge of such an important game, rather than 35-year-old Thomas Bramall.

Whether the blame truly lies with Bramall or Villa, themselves, for missing out on a place in the top five is not the question those in the Midlands should be answering, however. Instead, they should turn their focus towards how they’re going to navigate their way past increasing profit and sustainability concerns.

Already, the likes of Emiliano Martinez have been linked with moves away from Villa Park in a shock exit which is becoming more and more of a possibility. The Argentine is undoubtedly one of Unai Emery’s key men, but could be shown the door as they look to balance their books this summer.

Perhaps in a defiant attempt to welcome upgrades even in the face of PSR concerns, Aston Villa could still welcome fresh faces in the coming months. The likes of Lucas Chevalier is one name on their reported shortlist to replace Martinez, whilst those in the Midlands have also seemingly set their sights on signing a Premier League champion at a bargain price this summer.

Aston Villa informed about Joe Gomez deal

According to Empire of The Kop, Aston Villa have now been informed about Joe Gomez’s situation at Liverpool and are one of eight Premier League clubs currently keeping an eye on the defender who will be allowed to leave Anfield this summer.

The veteran centre-back, who can also play as a left and right-back, will reportedly cost any potential suitor just €30m (£25m) in the coming months in what is a bargain deal for such an experienced player. After becoming a two-time Premier League winner in recent months too, Gomez himself is reportedly open to an Anfield exit in pursuit of a starting place elsewhere.

He's Grealish 2.0: Aston Villa keen on £55m star who has the "X Factor"

Aston Villa are looking to upgrade their attacking options this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 3, 2025

Whilst the 28-year-old has endured his fair share of injury problems, there’s a reason why he’s Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team player and Arne Slot recognised his quality earlier in the season, telling reporters: “Joe is patient in a good way, he always makes sure he is ready whenever the club or his teammates need him, and that is special when it comes to his mentality because not many players can do this for so many years that he has done this.”

If Aston Villa want to get back into the Champions League next season, then to say they could do a lot worse than signing a defender who’s won the competition would be a major understatement.

Deal for English county confirmed after former majority owner Rod Bransgrove sells stake

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Sep-2024The GMR Group, the newly unveiled owner of Hampshire, is “keen and open” to buying a majority stake in the Southern Brave franchise in the Hundred. That confirmation has come from Grandhi Kiran Kumar, GMR’s corporate chairman, who recently sealed a multimillion-pound deal which has made Hampshire the first English county to have overseas ownership.ESPNcricinfo understands that GMR Group’s parent company, GGPL, will initially hold a 53% stake in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd, Hampshire’s parent company, with a completed 100% acquisition expected within the next 24 months. The overall deal, which was sealed earlier this year, is close to £120 million, half of which is understood to be operating debt. The equity part of the deal is worth £43 million.It is understood that GMR, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate that owns teams in various T20 leagues, including the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, have paid 53% of that equity amount upfront with the remainder to be be paid in a phased fashion. There is also an incentive element in the deal which is related to the performance component, but the exact nature of how that will work will be worked out by all parties soon.The process does not guarantee GMR’s acquisition of Southern Brave, the Hundred team who play at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl, though they are clear favourites to acquire full ownership. The ongoing sale of equity in the eight Hundred teams by the ECB will involve 51% stakes being transferred to host counties – in this case, Hampshire – but the process includes a mechanism which would require GMR to pay fair market value for the remaining 49% before that transfer happens.Grandhi told ESPNcricinfo on Monday that the acquisition of Southern Brave was part of his plan. “We will evaluate as we go forward,” he said. “Certainly, we are happy to work with ECB. We are certainly very keen and open.”Jofra Archer is Southern Brave’s star player•Harry Trump/Getty Images

Both parties have stressed that the Hundred was not a significant part of the original plan when Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s majority owner, first pitched the idea of selling his 60% stake in the company. It was in June of 2023 when India and Australia were playing the World Test Championship final at The Oval that Grandhi was alerted to a possible investment opportunity in Hampshire.As the months went by, GMR started looking at the opportunity seriously. While the cricketing aspect of the deal was appealing, GMR, whose core business remains in infrastructure, was equally – if not more – attracted to five-star Hilton hotel and golf course at the Utilita Bowl.”We come from an infrastructure background,” Grandhi told ESPNcricinfo. “We are into airports, roads etc. When you see this, it is quite amazing with what they have done. When we visited the facilities, including the hotel, we were impressed.”The entire concept is very nice, especially the fact that it was developed with keeping the fans in mind. Rod [Bransgrove] and his management team have kept the cricketing and sporting culture intact. I was quite amazed with the other facilities like the golf course. It is quite inclusive.”Kiran Kumar Grandhi (left) sits on the IPL auction table•BCCI

Grandhi assured Hampshire fans and members that GMR do not intend to “come and takeover”. He said: “We are looking at this opportunity holistically. The Hundred [opportunity] came only recently. Our discussions with Hampshire started nearly one-and-a-half years ago. When I heard about the opportunity I said, ‘Why not?’ The first six months went knowing each other and become comfortable. The deal happened much later.”The deal makes GMR Group the majority shareholder in the club, after Hampshire’s former chairman, Rob Bransgrove decided to sell his 60% stake in the company. Bransgrove will, however, continue as group chairman until at least September 30, 2026, with David Mann retaining his role as group CEO.While its business focus has been in the infrastructure business, GMR Group made its first major sporting investment in 2008 when it bought Delhi Daredevils. In 2018, GMR sold a 50% ownership stake in the Delhi franchise to Jindal South West (JSW), a fellow Indian business heavyweight. In cricket, the GMR Group also owns the Dubai Capitals franchise in the UAE’s ILT20 and has a stake in Seattle Orcas in MLC.The potential for overseas investment in Hampshire derives from Bransgrove’s original bail-out of the county in 2000, when he secured the club’s move from its 116-year home at Northlands Road in Southampton to the Utilita Bowl, on the outskirts of the city.Related

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• Kevin Pietersen helped to broker Hampshire's 'historic' GMR deal

In so doing, he converted Hampshire from a members-owned club to what was then known as Rose Bowl PLC, and oversaw the building and development of the venue – which now includes the Hilton hotel and Boundary Lakes Golf Course, with plans for more additions currently under consideration with Eastleigh Borough Council.The Utilita Bowl hosted its maiden Test match against Sri Lanka in 2011, while in 2020, its on-site hotel and remote location made it an ideal venue for the ECB’s bio-secure summer during the Covid pandemic. The ground hosted three Tests against West Indies and Pakistan, and six white-ball matches against Australia and Ireland.”This is the fulfilment of a dream for me and, I hope, for all Hampshire Cricket supporters,” Bransgrove said. “Beyond our team’s accomplishments on the field over the past 24 years, we have transformed our stadium into a premier Test Match and events venue and one of the most exceptional cricket and leisure facilities in the country. We have also been pioneers in the development of women’s cricket and have consistently innovated throughout this relatively short history.”After a thorough selection process, we chose GGPL as our partners due to their shared values and commitment to our vision. We believe GGPL is the perfect organization, with the right people, to build on our proud legacy. Becoming the first English cricket club to join an international cricket group will open exciting new opportunities as we embrace the globalization of this great sport.”Rod Bransgrove (left) and David Mann (right) were GMR’s guests at the ILT20 in February•ILT20

In 2021, Hampshire also hosted the inaugural World Test Championship final between New Zealand and India, again with Covid restrictions, while in 2027, it is due to host its maiden Ashes Test.Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said that the deal “demonstrates the global interest” in investing in English cricket and underlines “the continuing appeal of county cricket.”Gould said: “This is an exciting time for Hampshire Cricket, and I’d like to welcome GGPL to cricket in England and Wales. I am pleased to see their commitment to continuing to develop Hampshire’s cricket teams and pathways and enhance facilities at Utilita Bowl, and their respect for the traditions of the game in this country.”I’d like to thank Rod Bransgrove for all he has done in transforming Hampshire and creating a world-class stadium, and look forward to continuing to work together in his role as Group Chair.”

Barcelona icon Hristo Stoichkov hails Lamine Yamal as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or but says he faces competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

Article continues below

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• Stoichkov says Yamal is world’s best
• PSG’s Marquinhos and Vitinha also praised
• Award to be handed out in September

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona icon Stoichkov has publicly thrown his weight behind Yamal as the frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, declaring he would personally present the award if the youngster wins it. Speaking on , the 1994 Ballon d’Or winner praised Yamal’s brilliance while also offering a reminder that the teenager still has "a long way to go." Stoichkov also named several other standout players, including PSG’s Marquinhos and Vitinha, as serious contenders for the prize.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 17-year-old dazzled in a title-winning season with Barca lifting La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana to earn his place among the top contenders for the prize. However, the Bulgarian legend believes the final podium will likely feature names from either Barca or PSG, with Vitinha and Marquinhos leading the latter challenge. If Yamal gets it, he would be the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in history, beating Brazil and Real Madrid legend Ronaldo, who won it at 21 in 1997.

• WHAT STOICHKOV SAID

  The Barca legend pledged to present the trophy himself if the teenager wins: “If he wins it, I'll give it to him personally.”

  While full of praise, Stoichkov reminded fans that Yamal is still just getting started: “Lamine Yamal is a very young boy who has a long way to go.” Despite his youth, he was unequivocal about Yamal’s talent: “I really enjoy watching him because he has so many interesting qualities.”

  Yet the former Ballon d’Or winner also acknowledged there’s strong competition for the honour, singling out PSG stars for their standout seasons: “If you tell me today that PSG's Marquinhos is the one to take him, I'd believe you too. Then we have Vitinha, who has also played fantastically this year. He had a spectacular championship in France and a spectacular Champions League. There are many players ready to win it.”

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LAMINE YAMAL?

  Yamal will focus on coming back from the summer break to continue his meteoric rise ahead of the Ballon d’Or gala in September. Whether or not he lifts the award, his name is firmly in the mix alongside senior stars, with the likes of team-mate Raphinha and PSG's Ousmane Dembele.

da dobrowin： Liverpool are believed to be planning talks with an “extraordinary” player over a move to Anfield at the end of the season, according to a new transfer claim.

Liverpool win historic 20th league title

da pixbet： The Reds clinched a 20th league title on Sunday afternoon, being crowned Premier League champions after an unforgettable 5-1 win at home to Tottenham. Despite falling behind to a goal from former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke, Arne Slot’s side turned things around in style, putting on a show in front of a euphoric Anfield and celebrating in emotional fashion after the final whistle.

It is a stunning achievement by Slot in his first season in charge of the Reds, with the Dutchman not allowing himself to feel the pressure of replacing Jurgen Klopp last summer, guiding his team to glory in the process.

Once the dust has settled on a memorable season, however, Liverpool will be well aware that a busy summer transfer window is required. The newly-crowned champions may be an excellent side, but there are still areas of focus ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with reinforcements required to help them defend their title.

Liverpool planning talks to sign Ademola Lookman

According to an update from Caught Offside, Liverpool are “planning to hold talks” with Atalanta attacker Ademola Lookman over a summer switch to Anfield. They are not alone, however, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal all mentioned in the update, too. The 27-year-old’s club will be demanding up to £55m for his services.

Lookman has been mentioned as a target for Liverpool in the past, and it is easy to see why Slot and Richard Hughes could view him as a strong addition this summer. The former Everton attacker has excelled in an Atalanta shirt, most notably scoring a hat-trick in their 3-0 win against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League final.

The Nigerian has scored 50 goals in just 115 appearances for the Serie A side, as well as registering 24 assists, and his current manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has lauded his ability in the past.

‘He’s [Lookman] a top player. In terms of character, there are perhaps players who have more continuity and are more solid, but that’s normal. Even his role is difficult. He always has to be very fit, but he has become a truly extraordinary player, among the best in Europe and the world. Because he has improved his consistency and in some ways he has started to be an important Atalanta player.”

Lookman has generally operated as a centre forward for Atalanta, even though he can also shine out wide, and if Liverpool’s recruitment team believe he is an upgrade on the likes of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez to lead the line next season, they need to be trusted.

Related Slot has found a "monster" who's Liverpool's new Gerrard & it's not Salah

Liverpool thrashed Tottenham to win the Premier League.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Apr 28, 2025

He would be a cheaper option than Newcastle star Alexander Isak, for example, and the fact that he already knows the Premier League well would be an added bonus.

Manchester City have clearly been struggling this campaign to hit the same levels they have done in the previous four Premier League campaigns, currently sitting fifth with 48 points, a whopping 22 points away from first-place Liverpool.

Despite their poor form, Pep Guardiola’s side are still topping plenty of the league’s metrics, however.

They are averaging the most possession per game in the division with 60.8% and have the highest successful pass percentage with 89.9%. They also sit second for shots per game, averaging 16.1 shots per match, with only Liverpool averaging more with 17.

Clearly, City have identified their need to invest, spending big money in the January transfer window to bring Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez to the club.

But, who has been underperforming this season, which has led to such heavy investment?

The biggest losers from Man City's awful season

One man who has underperformed since returning to play for Guardiola’s side this season is İlkay Gündoğan. The German has made 39 appearances for the Citizens so far, scoring two goals and providing three assists. It’s a far cry from that 2021/22 season where he was involved in 16 goals across all competitions.

18 of his appearances have come from the base of midfield, a byproduct of Rodri being missing through injury, which has led to an underwhelming return for the 34-year-old midfielder, not having the same effect on the ball for his side, whilst not solving their out-of-possession issues either.

Another key figure who was a huge part of Manchester City’s infamous treble campaign, but now finds himself lower in the pecking order, is Jack Grealish.

The 29-year-old has made 26 appearances this season, netting two goals, providing five assists and totaling 1,319 minutes played.

The English winger, who has struggled with a few injuries in the past two seasons, now finds himself behind the likes of Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Marmoush and even Phil Foden, who himself has had a very poor season thus far, underwhelming for both club and country.

The Englishman, who was criticised by Thomas Tuchel during the international break, has struggled to replicate the dazzling numbers of 2023/24 when he won the PFA Player of the Year award.

He has scored just ten times, down from the ridiculous 27-goal haul of last term. So, perhaps they may regret losing another academy star…

Better than Foden: Man City's lost "wonderkid"

Spending two years in the City academy system from 2018-2020 was a highly promising individual, a “wonderkid” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig.

That player was Jamie Gittens. Remarkably, he never played for City’s U21s but did feature in two U18 Premier League games. Then, in a puff of smoke, rather like Jadon Sancho, he headed for Borussia Dortmund.

Well, at BVB, it’s safe to say he’s starring. Gittens, who was in Lee Carsley’s latest England U21 made, has made 40 appearances for Dortmund so far this season, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in 2,535 minutes played.

Boasting “electric pace” in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, the English winger is certainly starting to turn heads in Europe, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United linked with the young winger.

So, how does he compare to that man Foden? Certainly favourably in the goalscoring department.

Jamie Gittens vs Phil Foden comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)	Gittens	Foden
Goals	0.39	0.34
Assists	0.11	0.17
xG	0.18	0.26
xAG	0.13	0.23
Progressive Carries	5.78	2.72
Progressive Passes	2.09	5.49
Shots Total	2.57	3.02
Key Passes	1.10	2.33
Shot-Creating Actions	3.80	4.67
Successful Take-Ons	3.84	0.93
Stats taken from FBref

When comparing Foden and Gittens’ underlying metrics this season, you can see how their playstyles differ, with the former being more creation heavy, looking to drop into pockets of space, play progressive passes and create for others, whilst the latter has a direct manner, looking to attack the box with carries and score goals.

Whilst Foden isn’t a natural winger, he has seen 18 of his 38 appearances come from wide areas, due to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and now Marmoush, who can both play as that central attacking midfielder in close vicinity to Erling Haaland.

On the other hand, Gittens would have provided City with something they have lacked in wide areas this season, and that’s goals, with both Doku and Savinho excelling in the creation department, as opposed to the direct, high-shot-volume playstyle of their former academy star.

Man City offloaded their own Bellingham for £0, now Man Utd want him

Man City could see yet another of their former academy graduates end up back in the Premier League

By
Robbie Walls

Mar 27, 2025

Crystal Palace are now keen on signing a “phenomenon” forward, and he could be seen as a potential replacement for Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to a recent report.

Parish looking to secure off-field appointments

The Eagles booked their place in the last four of the FA Cup over the weekend, and while matters on the pitch are going well for the South Londoners, Steve Parish is busy off it, looking to secure some key agreements.

What Steve Parish is doing to stop Oliver Glasner from joining RB Leipzig

Parish is hoping a key Crystal Palace figure will commit his future to the club.

1 ByBrett Worthington Mar 26, 2025

Palace are still continuing their search to find a replacement for Dougie Freedman, with Kieran Scott, Lee Dykes, and Iain Moody all being linked with the vacant role in recent weeks. Former West Ham sporting director Tim Steidten has also joined the race, with the German believed to be in pole position to join the Premier League side after Oliver Glasner gave his approval.

As well as looking for a new sporting director, Parish is also working hard behind the scenes to agree a new contract with Glasner. Football Insider reports that Palace are progressing in finding an agreement with the Austrian, but Glasner still wants some assurances around the future of some of his key players before committing to a new contract.

The 50-year-old will be in the final year of his deal this summer, and it is reported that he is happy at Selhurst Park despite interest from a Jurgen Klopp-led Red Bull project in Leipzig.

Crystal Palace looking to sign "phenomenon" ahead of West Ham

Another way Palace can confirm their desire to support Glasner is by backing him in the transfer market, and it looks as though they are willing to do just that. According to Caught Offside, Crystal Palace are interested in signing striker Georges Mikautadze from Lyon this summer.

The report states that the Eagles are looking at signing the 24-year-old, as he is believed to be open to a move to the Premier League. However, they are not the only team chasing the striker, as West Ham and Wolves are also keen on securing a deal, with the Hammers making Mikautadze a top target ahead of the summer transfer window.

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Mikautadze, who has been dubbed a “phenomenon” by his former manager Emilio Ferrera, joined Lyon last summer and has scored eight goals in Ligue 1. The forward has also netted four times in the Europa League, and the French side will be turning to his aid next week when they come up against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Mikautadze may also be remembered for his Euro 2024 contribution, as he scored three goals in four games, one coming in the 2-0 win over Portugal in their final group match.

Palace have their eye on the Georgia international as a possible replacement for Mateta, who has been linked with a move to United in recent weeks, with Palace believed to be looking to get £40 million for his services.

It has been reported that Glasner wants Palace to agree to new terms with the striker, but if that can’t happen then a sale could happen this summer, given his deal expires in 2026. Mikautadze could be someone the Eagles turn to, and he is likely to cost less than what Palace sell Mateta for.