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Leeds United are back in the big time, and deservedly so, shaking off their Wembley heartbreak to secure the Championship title last time out – reaching 100 points in the process.

Another year in the second tier may suggest that Daniel Farke’s side are now better prepared to make the step up to the Premier League, although is that really the case?

The team that came so close in 2024 was blessed with the dazzling duo of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, for instance, the former having contributed 16 assists in total that season, while the latter man registered 21 goals for the Yorkshire side.

With both men having since flown the nest, question marks remain surrounding Farke’s current attacking crop. Indeed, Brenden Aaronson provided just four goal involvements during his previous Premier League stint, with Daniel James registering one fewer while on loan at Fulham during that 2022/23 campaign.

Those prior woes don’t necessarily mean that Leeds’ attacking unit will flounder again next term, although it is evident that more firepower is needed before the window is out. As it is, reports appear to suggest that the Elland Road side are working to find a solution to that problem.

Latest on Leeds' search for a forward

The Whites have so far only bolstered their attacking ranks with the free transfer addition of Wolfsburg’s Lukas Nmecha, albeit with reports earlier this week outlining that contact had been made regarding a move for Juventus’ £12m utility man, Timothy Weah.

Transfer Focus

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

Whether the United States international ends up at Elland Road remains to be seen, however, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano outlining that Ligue 1 side Marseille are also engaging in talks amid a potential move for the 25-year-old.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, French outlet Foot Mercato have noted that Leeds are among a quintet of clubs who are keen on signing Borussia Monchengladbach forward, Franck Honorat, with Farke and co said to be showing ‘strong interest’ in the Frenchman.

As per the report, the likes of Nice and Freiburg are also keeping a close eye on the 28-year-old, while both Valencia and Stade Rennais are also said to have entered the frame, with Honorat previously lining up for Brest in Ligue 1.

Valued at £11m by Football Transfers, the experienced talent has spent the last two seasons in Germany, although a fresh start could be on the horizon. Might it be worth Leeds taking a punt?

Why Honorat could be Farke's new Rutter

The signing of an exciting and versatile French talent from the Bundesliga – ring any bells?

Of course, Leeds forked out a club-record fee of £35.5m to prise the aforementioned Rutter from Hoffenheim in January 2023, with the former France U21 international shaking off a quiet first six months in Yorkshire to emerge as a real shining light under Farke’s watch.

In all, the 23-year-old registered 26 goals and assists in just 66 games prior to his £40m switch to Brighton last summer, having been the creative hub in the side in 2023/24, having created 22 ‘big chances’ in total in the second tier.

While at 28, Honorat isn’t exactly a ‘prospect’, he has been described as “one to watch” this summer by journalist Santi Aouna, having showcased his own creative flair for Gladbach in recent seasons.

Indeed, in just 56 games for the German side, the in-demand forward – who, like Rutter, can operate centrally or on the flanks – has already registered 22 assists, alongside chipping in with ten goals, having been a revelation since his 2023 switch from France.

Games (starts)

32 (28)

19 (18)

Goals

3

4

Assists

9

7

Big chances created

19

12

Key passes*

2.8

2.7

Pass accuracy*

74%

76%

Successful dribbles*

0.7

0.6

Total duels won*

2.4

2.3

Possession lost*

15.1

13.3

As for last term, in particular, Honorat notably provided seven assists and created 12 ‘big chances’ in the Bundesliga, having boasted a stellar average of 2.7 key passes per game from his 19 appearances. For comparison, Rutter averaged 1.9 in that regard during 2023/24.

Had it not been for injury, the Gladbach man could well have even improved upon that return of goal involvements, albeit while still standing out as an exceptional ball carrier, after ranking in the top 15% of wingers and attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga for progressive carries per 90.

That is a trait that is no doubt shared with his compatriot, with Rutter’s dribbling prowess evidenced by the fact that he ranked in the top 4% of his peers for successful take-ons per 90 in 2023/24.

Like Rutter, Honorat may not exactly be a household name at present, but he could prove to be Farke’s next playmaking magician at Elland Road, if a deal can be struck.

Yes, competition for his signature is fierce, but that can only be a good sign…

Better signing than Krstovic: Leeds considering bid for £21m striker

Leeds are considering a move for a star who would be even better than Nikola Krstovic.

5 ByDan Emery Jul 4, 2025

Everton have now joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the race to sign a “dangerous” £17 million striker, according to a new report.

David Moyes’ return to Everton lifted the club both on and off the pitch, eventually moving far away from any threat of relegation during the 2024/25 season. Heading into the new campaign and a new stadium, the plan will be to establish themselves as a top-half team once again, as they were during his first tenure.

Their best attacker since Lukaku: Everton lead race for £50m star on loan

Everton are in the market for another maverick attacker

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 18, 2025

To do just that, Moyes now has his eyes on improving his defensive options, especially at right-back, given the age of Seamus Coleman and the fact that Ashley Young will depart at the end of the month. Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this week that Everton had made contact with defender Kyle Walker over a move to Merseyside. Moyes approves of the addition of the England international, but they are not alone, as teams across Europe are also looking at signing the Manchester City man.

Therefore, the Toffees are keeping their options open, and according to The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson and Will Unwin, Everton are also interested in signing Fulham defender Kenny Tete. The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent at the end of this month, and he is a player who is under consideration along with West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal and Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters, as well as Walker.

Everton keen on signing £17m Wolves target

It isn’t just his defence that Moyes is looking to strengthen; he is also in the market for a new centre-forward, and a fresh name has emerged. According to Spanish outlet AS, Everton are interested in signing Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto.

The 24-year-old is expected to leave the Brazil side this summer after being a prolific goalscorer in the Brazilian league. The Toffees are one side keeping an eye on his situation, but they face competition from AS Roma and Atlético Madrid, with the Spanish giants considered to be at a slight advantage ahead of the other teams.

Alberto, who has been dubbed “dangerous” by scout Jacek Kulig, had a tremendous 2024, as he scored 31 goals in all competitions for Corinthians. Staggeringly, despite that impressive scoring streak, this report states that he could be available for around 20 million euros, which is roughly £17 million.

Competition

Apps

Goals

Assists

Serie A

29

15

5

Campeonato Paulista

11

5

0

Copa Sudamericana

10

9

2

Copa do Brasil

7

2

0

The Toffees are not the only team from the Premier League who are chasing Alberto, as earlier this year there have been reports stating Nottingham Forest have made contact with the player over a move to the City Ground. Most recently, it’s been reported that both Wolves and West Ham have made offers to sign the young striker.

Everton are now the latest team in the mix, and given Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks set to depart, the need for a new striker has become even greater.

St. James’ Park’s overseers are not yet in situ, with sporting director Paul Mitchell set to leave at the end of the month, but Newcastle United plan to make headway in the transfer market all the same.

Namely, Eddie Howe has his sights set on Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro, a dynamic and versatile striker whose qualities would see him complement and contest Alexander Isak in equal measure.

However, with Liverpool running rampant in the transfer market and monitoring Anthony Gordon, the Magpies may need to find an out-and-out winger to join Howe’s cause, too.

Newcastle in the race for PL star

As per Caught Offside, Newcastle United are in the race to sign Jadon Sancho, who is almost certain to leave Manchester United this summer.

However, the Toon are joined by a host of clubs on the continent – including Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and AC Milan – after his loan spell with Chelsea, who paid a £5m penalty to waive their obligation to buy the 25-year-old for £25m.

A swarm of interest from the Saudi Pro League throws a spanner in the works, but from a sporting perspective, Howe may offer the electric winger the perfect lifeline in his homeland.

Why Jadon Sancho could thrive at Newcastle

There’s no denying that Sancho has fallen by the wayside since leaving Borussia Dortmund and signing for Man United in a £73m package.

His recent campaign at Chelsea wasn’t poor by any stretch, but neither was it show-stopping to the degree that was promised upon his first move to the Premier League.

24/25 – Chelsea

31

3

5

23/24 – Man Utd

14

2

3

22/23 – Man Utd

26

6

3

21/22 – Man Utd

29

3

3

20/21 – Dortmund

26

8

12

19/20 – Dortmund

32

17

17

His numbers for Chelsea in the Premier League certainly left something to be desired, but then Sancho also demonstrated his intense levels of fitness and athleticism, ranking among the top 11% of the division’s attacking midfielders and wingers for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 15% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Contrast that with Gordon, who may yet leave and sign for Liverpool this summer in an £80m deal, and you begin to see how Sancho might just thrive in stable conditions on Tyneside.

Indeed, Gordon, for all his qualities, only scored six goals and assisted six more in the league last term, ranked only among the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 46% for successful take-ons per 90.

FBref considered through statistical analysis the two players to be of a certain likeness, but Sancho, arguably, offered a finer illustration of his underlying qualities and the potential for even more with a more potent finish.

He’s a powerful and pacy winger, but perhaps he didn’t activate his physical attributes to the best of their ability, evidenced by Howe’s decision to bench him across five of the final eight matches of the 2024/25 campaign.

Gordon is a brilliant player, but as pundit Stan Collymore says, “at his best” Sancho is an “unplayable” forward, outfoxing his opponents with fleet-footed movements and a potency that was, frankly, ridiculous during his Dortmund days.

It’s been a rough road for the Three Lions star these past several years, but his finest football lies latent, and Howe’s remarkable tactical and interpersonal skills might just see Sancho revived as a starring member of a high-flying Newcastle team.

Therefore, Newcastle could provide the perfect stomping ground for Sancho, whose fall from grace may yet see a resurgence that could see him realise his potential and surpass even the £80m-rated Gordon.

Newcastle now eyeing £40m Gordon upgrade who's "the closest thing to Gazza"

Newcastle have yet to heave over some attacking additions in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 19, 2025

There looks set to be plenty of change at Ibrox this summer after Russell Martin was officially unveiled as the new manager for Glasgow Rangers.

There could be plenty of inward and outward business for the Scottish giants before the window slams shut at the start of September, and one player who could be on his way out of the club is central defender Robin Propper.

The latest on Robin Propper's exit from Rangers

At the start of this month, RangersReview reported that the Dutch defender is ‘expected’ to seal a permanent exit from Ibrox before the end of the window.

It was then claimed by Dutch media that FC Twente would like to pay a fee of £1m to bring the Gers flop back to the Netherlands, and that he had already agreed a three-year contract with the Eredivisie side.

Fast forward to the present day, and the latest update on Propper’s future is that he is waiting to hear from Rangers about what they want to do with him heading into next season.

FC Twente sporting director Jan Streuer explained the situation earlier this week, saying: “We have to wait and see with him. Robin wants to hear from his club on what they’re going to do.”

It now remains to be seen whether or not Propper, who scored two goals in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, will be at Ibrox next term.

The former FC Twente skipper is not the only Rangers star who could be on his way out of Ibrox, though, as another player is reportedly closing in on a transfer.

Rangers star Dessers reaches agreement to leave Ibrox

According to reports relayed by The Daily Record, centre-forward Cyriel Dessers has agreed a £30k-per-week contract with Greek side AEK Athens ahead of a move to the club this summer.

The report claims that they have made the Nigeria international their number one transfer target, and now they have reached an agreement with him to ditch Ibrox for the Agia Sophia.

Appearances

35

35

Goals

16

18

Big chances missed

27

21

Ground duel success rate

29%

34%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

31%

Dessers, who has missed 48 ‘big chances’ in two Premiership seasons with the Light Blues, is keen on making the move, per this report, and it is now down to the two clubs to agree a transfer fee for the player.

The Daily Record adds that the club’s new American owners are prepared to hold out for a significant fee for the Nigerian marksman, and that AEK Athens are expecting to pay a fee in excess of £5m to land their number one target.

As aforementioned, the 30-year-old attacker, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed is “awkward” to play against due to his physicality, has been incredibly wasteful with the ‘big chances’ that have come his way in the Premiership since his move from Cremonese in the summer of 2023.

Cashing in on the experienced forward, despite his respectable goal return, could provide Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell with the opportunity to target a more ruthless striker who can be relied upon in the big moments when the big chances fall their way.

He's Jelavic 2.0: Rangers ready bid for "complete" £6m star

Rangers could be set to make a bid for a new striker who could be the club’s next Jelavic.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have now made a late approach to sign a Manchester United target, who has already agreed personal terms for a move to Old Trafford, according to a report.

Tottenham pursuing new signings as Frank deal advances

It is looking increasingly likely that Thomas Frank will be the man to replace Ange Postecoglou at N17, with reporter Ben Jacobs recently revealing the terms of the deal have now been agreed.

As such, Spurs’ transfer plans may be subject to change, in order to make sure they bring in players suited to Frank’s system, although the Dane is known to be more flexible than Ange, having used several different formations during his time with the Bees.

Regardless of who Daniel Levy ends up bringing in as the new manager, it is clear that a new goalscorer would be useful, given that Brennan Johnson’s tally of 11 goals in all competitions was the highest of any player last season.

Frank may also be keen to bring in a forward that he knows very well, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed Tottenham have held talks over a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, recently making contact with the Bees.

Tottenham pushing to sign £34m Inter Milan star with exit "increasingly close"

A Spurs player could even go the other way.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Mbeumo has already agreed personal terms to join Man United this summer, and Old Trafford remains his favoured destination, but Spurs could throw a spanner in the works by getting involved in the transfer battle.

Brentford have already knocked back one offer from the Red Devils, but they could come back in with a new bid worth a total of £60m, so the north Londoners may need to move swiftly if they are going to hijack the deal.

"Deadly" Mbeumo could be exactly what Tottenham need

Despite making a success out of the season by winning the Europa League, the 2024-25 campaign was far from ideal for Tottenham, finishing 17th in the Premier League, and the lack of a consistent goalscorer was a real problem.

As such, the £45k-a-week Brentford star could be exactly what Spurs need, having scored 20 goals in 38 Premier League games last term, while also providing eight assists.

Scout Ben Mattinson singled out the 25-year-old for praise, describing him as “deadly”, while prospective new Tottenham boss Frank was also left impressed, hailing the Cameroonian as “unplayable” last December.

It appears as though Mbeumo still has his heart set on a move to Old Trafford, but Spurs will be hoping that Frank can convince the forward to make the move to N17 instead.

West Bromwich Albion lost one of their key players in the January transfer window when they sold number one Alex Palmer to Ipswich for a reported £5m.

The English stopper started the first 30 matches of the Championship campaign and kept 11 clean sheets, whilst saving 74% of the shots against his goal.

Instead of dipping into the market to source a replacement for the 28-year-old star, West Brom opted to utilise Joe Wildsmith and Josh Griffiths, which did not go to plan.

Why West Brom need a new goalkeeper

Wildsmith played the first ten matches in the league after Palmer’s move to the Premier League, and conceded 0.95 more than expected based on the xG against him.

He was dropped from the side by Tony Mowbray, though, after the error for the goal above, as he failed to keep out a free-kick from Trai Hume that appeared saveable, certainly from the angle behind the goal.

Griffiths then came into the side and conceded 2.11 more goals than expected and only saved 59% of the shots against his goal in his six appearances in the Championship, conceding 1.8 goals per game on average.

Transfer Focus

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

This shows that neither of them were able to replace Palmer’s quality or consistency in the second half of the season, which is why the Baggies should turn to reported transfer target Angus Gunn.

Why West Brom should sign Angus Gunn

SportsBoom recently reported that West Brom are one of a number of Championship clubs eyeing up the Scotland international after it was confirmed that he will be a free agent this summer.

The 29-year-old star is leaving boyhood club Norwich City at the end of his current contract, and the Baggies should swoop to secure a bargain signing.

Gunn, once dubbed “exceptional” by Joe Hart, would arrive as a proven Championship performer who could hit the ground running as an experienced signing, allowing him to nail down the number one position.

Appearances

30

40

34

Clean sheets

7

11

7

Save percentage

72%

69%

67%

Post-shot xG minus goals conceded

+8.2

+4.6

-3.6

Error led to goal

1

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Gunn has only made one error that directly led to a goal in his three seasons in the Championship with the Canaries since their relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign.

He has also been a net positive as a shot-stopper in that time, preventing 9.2 more goals than expected based on the post-shot xG of the shots against him, which suggests that Gunn could be an impressive operator for the Baggies if he can get back to his best after a difficult year.

The Scotland international showcased his quality against West Brom towards the end of the season, though, with this exceptional save in the clip above.

Now, Gunn could be making those kind of match-winning saves for the Baggies if the club can wrap up a bargain deal for the EFL star on a free transfer to finally replace Palmer as a quality number one option at Championship level next season.

West Brom pushing hard to sign POTY-winning defender who's "tough as nails"

The Baggies have set their sights on a full-back, who recently scooped up a Fans’ Player of the Year award.

ByDominic Lund May 22, 2025

Ahead of a summer full of potential sales, Aston Villa could now lose one of Unai Emery’s most important players to Barcelona amid reports that he’s now ready to leave the club.

Why Aston Villa may need to sell

After the Premier League received a glimpse of their potential troubles when they sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the January transfer window, Aston Villa could be in for a long summer. Failure to qualify for the Champions League would particularly exacerbate their PSR problems to the stage that they may be left with no choice but to sell once again.

Many have had their say on the potential problems that Aston Villa face this summer and former Villans chief Keith Wyness, who now runs a football consultancy which advises top clubs, has been among those.

Aston Villa open talks with £39m "leader" over joining Emery next season

The Villans have every intention of backing their manager.

ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025

Wyness recently told Football Insider: “The issue with PSR is not surprising. They’ve been sailing close to the wind. It’s only been the cleverness of Monchi and the recruitment team which have got them out of trouble so far.

“They’re going to have to do it again. It may be a player sold that the Villa fans are not happy about. That’s where the value will be. When you look at what Emery has done with squad strengthening, the fans will forgive him and allow him to get the resources to go ahead in the market – and meet PSR.”

Just who heads for the exit door with that said is now the big question. Emery’s squad is one filled with talent, there’s no doubt about that, but whether the Spaniard will help open the door for the likes of Ollie Watkins or Morgan Rogers to leave remains to be seen this summer. Instead, it could be another Aston Villa who heads for a summer exit.

Barcelona plotting move to sign Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are now targeting a move to sign Emiliano Martinez, who is ready to leave Aston Villa for a ‘bigger club’ when the summer transfer window arrives.

The Argentine shot-stopper has rebuilt his career at Villa Park over the years and become one of the best in the world in his position – winning the Yashin Trophy twice. Now, however, with Barcelona calling, the 32-year-old could be set to depart.

What certainly shouldn’t be seen as a positive sign over his future for those at Villa Park is just how emotional Martinez looked following his final home game of the season. The former Arsenal man even looked to be waving a tearful goodbye to the fans.

A player who was praised for an “incredible” save by legend Alessandro del Piero in Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Juventus earlier this season, Martinez would be an undeniable loss for those in the Midlands.

Will Manchester City qualify for next season’s Champions League?

Last Sunday, the Sky Blues reached a third successive FA Cup final, courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley, in which Rico Lewis and then Joško Gvardiol were the scorers.

Back in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s team have enjoyed three successive victories, now seeking to win four in a row for the first time since the first four matches of this season.

Victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night would propel the Sky Blues up to third, but this won’t be easy, considering Wolves travel to the Etihad following six successive victories, achieving this in the top division for the first time since 1970.

If Guardiola is going to end Wolves’ winning streak, he should make a change to his forward line with Jack Grealish likely to come out of the side.

Jack Grealish's Manchester City decline

When Grealish arrived at Manchester City for £100m, at the time breaking the British transfer record, few would’ve forecast that, four years later, he’d merely be a peripheral figure.

The 29-year-old has started just 16 matches across all competitions this season, going a whopping 392 days without a club goal, starting only once in the Premier League since Christmas, hence why his name was a surprise inclusion against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The table below illustrates the England international’s decline.

Appearances

39

50

36

31

Starts

31

41

26

16

Minutes

2,730

3,487

2,114

1,520

Matches unused

19

11

18

20

Goals

6

5

3

3

Minutes per goal

455

697

705

507

Assists

4

11

3

5

As the table outlines, since Grealish’s best season, the treble-winning campaign of 2022/23, he’s been little more than a bit part player, no longer a regular starter and not a regular contributor when it comes to goals and assists.

Jeremy Cross and Oli Gamp of the Daily Mirror believe it is very likely that Grealish will depart this summer, making it pointless Guardiola picking him for Man City’s four remaining league fixtures, so here’s who he should unleash against Wolves instead.

Chalkboard

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

The Man City forward yet to fulfil his potential

Jérémy Doku joined Manchester City two summers ago from Stade Rennais, costing a reported £55.5m, with Director of Football Txiki Begiristain describing him as a “very exciting young player” who has the potential to “develop into a world-class attacking talent”.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labeled him an “explosive winger” with “superb dribbling skills” who “plays with a natural flair”.

Well, so far, we’ve only seen this in glimpses, with the Belgian scoring only six goals both this season and last, the most recent of which came during the 6-0 demolition of Ipswich all the way back in January.

Nevertheless, Doku does rank more favourably when it comes to other metrics, as outlined by the table below.

Minutes played

1,307

247th

Goals

3

99th

Assists

5

41st

Progressive carries

176

1st

Attempted take-ons

175

2nd

Successful take-ons

98

1st

Take on success % (min 50 attempted)

56%

4th

Carries into the final third

83

4th

Carries into the penalty area

80

2nd

As the table highlights, despite his relative lack of minutes, Doku has accumulated the most progressive carries and successful take-ons of any player in the Premier League.

Meantime, only Mohammed Kudus of West Ham has attempted more take-ons, while only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has registered more carries into the opposition penalty area.

Still only 22-years-old, Doku has the potential to be the future of this team, while the same cannot be said of Grealish.

Thus, given that Vítor Pereira is likely to set Wolves up in a low defensive block on Friday night, their back three quickly retreating and becoming a back five, Doku’s one-vs-one dribbling ability could be invaluable as Man City seek to break them down.

'Shades of De Bruyne': Man City preparing to make offer for £35m sensation

Manchester City are preparing to make an offer to sign a highly-rated talent to replace Kevin De Bruyne, described as Guardiola’s dream signing.

ByBen Gray Apr 29, 2025

Celtic could wrap up the Scottish Premiership title this week as they prepare to travel away from Parkhead to face off against Dundee United on Saturday.

The Hoops head into the game off the back of a thumping 5-0 win over St. Johnstone in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park on Sunday, securing their place in the final against Aberdeen.

Brendan Rodgers knows that a win against Dundee United this weekend will secure the league title for the second time in as many seasons under his leadership, and for the fourth time in as many seasons as a club.

This means that there is still a chance for Celtic to win the domestic treble this term, after they failed to do so last season, if they can win the title and go on to beat Aberdeen at Hampden Park in the final of the SFA Cup.

Focus will then turn to the summer transfer window and how the Hoops can make changes to their squad in order to continue their success next season.

Celtic are already, reportedly, fighting to keep hold of one of their players ahead of the summer, as they are attempting to tie Greg Taylor down to a new deal.

The latest on Greg Taylor's Celtic future

The Daily Record reported last week that the club are in talks with the Scotland international over the possibility of a contract extension for the full-back.

It was claimed that the Scottish giants want to tie him down to a new three-year contract to extend his stay in Glasgow, with his current deal due to expire at the end of this season.

The outlet added that the three-year deal that has been tabled for the defender would see his wages significantly increased. They currently sit at £15k-per-week, but it is not revealed what they would be increased to if he put pen to paper on this three-year extension.

Despite this, there remains uncertainty over Taylor’s future at Celtic because the report outlined that he would still have to play second-fiddle to the returning Kieran Tierney next season.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

The Daily Record also outlined the level of interest in the left-footed star’s services. He has an offer on the table from Dinamo Zagreb and has interest from unnamed clubs in the MLS, in Italy, and in England, which suggests that he has plenty of options to pick from and would not be left without a club by leaving the Hoops.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Taylor would be happy to remain at the club to be behind Tierney in the pecking order, with the carrot of a wage increase that could see him move further up in the club’s top ten earners.

Celtic's top ten wage earners

The Scottish defender’s £15k-per-week wages at the moment place him tenth in the wage bill, as per Salary Sport, although they are yet to add Jota’s wages to their data since his move from Rennes in January.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor are supposedly the joint-highest earners in the squad with wages of £37k-per-week, over £20k more per week than Taylor earns.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

£37k

Callum McGregor

£37k

James Forrest

£19k

Daizen Maeda

£18k

Alistair Johnston

£16k

Reo Hatate

£16k

Arne Engels

£16k

Adam Idah

£16k

Luis Palma

£16k

Greg Taylor

£15k

As you can see in the table above, most of the top earners in the team are the regular starters in Rodgers’ team who have earned their place in the top ten earners, including the likes of Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, and Arne Engels.

Luis Palma, who earns more than Taylor, however, does not fall into that category. In fact, his lack of impact in the first-team led to him joining Olympiacos on loan in the January transfer window.

Why Celtic must finally sell Luis Palma

The Hoops must finally cash in on the Honduras international when the summer transfer window opens for business because he is clearly not a part of the manager’s plans and is, therefore, bleeding the club dry with his high wages.

Olympiacos reportedly have an option to sign him permanently for £3.4m, but it has been claimed that they are not going to exercise that option. This means that Palma is due to return to Parkhead in the summer, as it stands.

Dynamo Kyiv are reportedly interested in a deal to snap up the forward ahead of next season, though, and Celtic must push to do a deal with them in the coming weeks and months, in order to finally part ways with the flop.

Appearances (starts)

28 (18)

8 (1)

Goals

7

0

Big chances created

14

1

Assists

9

0

Key passes per game

2.4

1.5

As you can see in the table above, his game time and his performances regressed from the 2023/24 campaign to the current season, which suggests that Rodgers lost faith in the attacker – culminating in his loan exit to Olympiacos in January.

Palma has had some good moments in a Celtic shirt, including the spectacular goal in the clip above, but his lack of minutes and goal contributions this season suggests that the club are wasting significant wages on him.

Earlier this term, former Hoops striker John Hartson was not afraid to be scathing in his assessment of the winger. The Daily Record quoted him as saying: “For me I am watching him thinking ‘go, make something happen’ and it just comes to nothing. For me as a winger Palma doesn’t do enough. He is just too wasteful.”

Palma has, therefore, not impressed pundits, not impressed Rodgers, and not impressed his loan club enough to seal a permanent move to Olympiacos, with zero goals and zero assists in six Super League matches for his temporary team.

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ByDan Emery Apr 22, 2025

It is now down to the board to find a suitor, whether that is Dynamo Kyiv or another club, to finally part ways with the £16k-per-week dud ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Liverpool are cantering towards a second title of the Premier League era and now look set to press ahead with some exciting transfer plans, including a pursuit of one of Europe’s most high-profile stars, per a report.

Liverpool set for exciting window after taking step towards Premier League title

Relief was the overriding emotion at full-time on Wednesday night as Liverpool saw off a stubborn Everton side courtesy of Diogo Jota to reclaim their 12-point advantage over Arsenal at the summit with eight matches left to play.

While the Premier League title is all but certain to head to Merseyside, Arne Slot is likely to already have an eye on potential market activity this summer to strengthen his bid for more silverware down the line.

In light of Virgil Van Dijk’s contract situation, Piero Hincapie has been lined up as a Liverpool defensive reinforcement and it remains to be seen if the Reds will meet his £42 million valuation. Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is also on their list after winning plenty of plaudits, signifying that the backline may be a key priority to firm up before 2025/26.

Xavi Simons is also in the sights of Liverpool and could offer Slot a degree of versatility to bolster his attacking options. There has been no confirmation over Mohamed Salah’s future, while rumours that Trent Alexander-Arnold could leave for Real Madrid would produce a creative void needing to be filled.

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Either way, Liverpool aren’t expected to let up once the market opens for business and have now turned their attention to an exciting target as a marker of their future ambitions.

Liverpool set to intensify talks to sign Barcelona's Ronald Araujo

Per reports in Spain, Liverpool are set to intensify negotiations to sign Barcelona star Ronald Araujo, who has cropped up on their radar due to Van Dijk being at risk of departing Anfield on a free transfer.

The La Liga giants are battling with economic issues that need to be resolved to comply with financial fair play, which may embolden the Reds in their pursuit of the Uruguay international.

Ronald Araujo’s key La Liga statistics in 2024/25

Appearances

6

Tackles won

6

Duels won

23

Pass completion rate

92.2%

Goals

1

Assists

1

Valued at just over £42 million by Barcelona, Araujo has endured terrible luck with injuries this campaign and has only managed 14 outings across all competitions, with Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen among others limiting his involvement.

Nevertheless, Liverpool have spotted an opportunity to offer a new challenge to the 26-year-old, albeit it remains to be seen whether he views the prospect of a move to Anfield as a positive during the peak years of his career.

One thing is for certain, there will rarely be a better time to join the Reds following their recent success. Now, all supporters can do is sit back and wait to see if negotiations prove successful.