Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster is set to become a Tottenham Hotspur player ‘very soon’.
The Lowdown: Forster set to become a free agent
The now 34-year-old first arrived at St Mary’s eight years ago in a £10m move from Celtic, and he has since gone on to make 161 senior appearances for the south coast club.
The shot-stopper’s current contract with the Saints is set to expire at the end of June, making him a free agent for any potential suitors interested.
In the past he has been linked with a move away from Southampton after Premier League duo Chelsea and Arsenal registered interest in him, but it seems as though the Gunners’ north London rivals are now the club who look set to secure his signature over the summer.
Romano took to Twitter to state that the deal is almost complete and that the Lilywhites are set to make an official announcement imminently.
He stated: “Fraser Forster will be announced as new Tottenham player very soon. Paperworks ready as he’s gonna join Spurs on a free transfer, he was considered the best option on the market for a backup GK. First called by @mcgrathmike – deal almost completed.”
The Verdict: Perfect cover for Lloris
With second-choice goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini set to depart N17 and return to parent club Atalanta, Forster could be the perfect backup to Hugo Lloris and would provide some valuable cover for Spurs’ number one.
The 6 foot 7 netminder, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” player by his manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, already has plenty of experience in the Premier League, and in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic, with a total of 199 clean sheets throughout his career.
Antonio Conte is believed to have a new goalkeeper high up on his transfer wish list as he looks to rebuild his squad ahead of the start of next season, and it now looks likely that Forster will be the one to walk through the door at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the coming days.
In other news… a club insider has made a promising transfer claim involving one of Spurs’ summer targets
Newcastle United have been handed a big injury lift ahead of their clash with Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday…
What’s the latest?
New Zealand international Chris Wood may be in contention to return to the squad, as he has made his injury comeback at Darsley Park this week.
The striker missed out on the matchday squad as the Magpies beat Arsenal 2-0 at St. James’ Park earlier this week, but he could now be fit to face his former side.
Newcastle World reporter Jordan Cronin tweeted on Friday: “#NUFC INJURY NEWS Chris Wood will train today ahead of Burnley. United are following concussion protocols re Fabian Schar, so a late decision will be made. Ryan Fraser felt his hamstring again versus Arsenal and is unlikely to feature.”
Eddie Howe will be delighted
This update will surely leave the Toon head coach delighted, as Wood is a strong option for him to be able to use off the bench, particularly given Callum Wilson’s condition.
The ex-Bournemouth attacker has only played two matches since December and may not be able to handle another full 90 minutes in this game. Howe will not want to overwork the 30-year-old and send him into the summer with a fresh injury setback, which is why having another decent player to call upon in that position will be a big boost.
Dwight Gayle came off the bench against Arsenal but he has endured a horrific time on Tyneside in the last two years. He has zero goals or assists in eight Premier League appearances this term and managed only one goal and one assist in 18 outings in 2020/21.
The ex-Crystal Palace forward is just not good enough to lead the line for Newcastle, and that is why having Wood available is a big boost. Whilst he has only scored five goals in 33 games for the Toon and Burnley combined this season, he has won a whopping 6.2 aerial battles and created 0.6 chances per game while showcasing his strength in the air.
Meanwhile, Gayle won 0.6 aerial battles per game last term and 0.1 per match in the current campaign. This shows that, whilst neither of them has been prolific, Wood offers more at the top end of the pitch as he can be a focal point for the team. He has the quality and strength to be an outlet for his team-mates to use when they are under pressure.
This is why Howe will be buzzing to have him available this afternoon, as the New Zealander has the potential to play an important role, whether that is from the start or off the bench.
AND in other news, PIF eyeing NUFC swoop for “highly-rated” £30m phenomenon, he can be Howe’s “Benzema”…
Liverpool have not been shy when it comes to signing teenage talents in recent years with the likes of Harvey Elliott joining and Fabio Carvalho set to arrive.
Now that the next summer transfer window is around the corner, it seems as though the Reds have another young prospect in their sights to potentially add to their ranks.
What’s the news?
According to a recent report from The Mirror, Liverpool are the early frontrunners to make a potential summer swoop for Birmingham City’s 16-year-old midfielder Jobe Bellingham.
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Following in the footsteps of his brother Jude, the teenager is a product of Birmingham’s youth academy and made his senior debut for the Championship club back in January this year.
With 26 appearances to his name across the club’s senior, U23 and U18 sides, the midfielder has scored five goals and delivered one assist along the way.
A scary talent inbound?
If Liverpool can secure a move for the 16-year-old this summer then they could well unearth the next version of his older brother.
After making his senior debut for Birmingham, Lee Bowyer reserved fine praise for Jobe, words that sum up why he’d be such an exciting signing at Anfield.
“Young Jobe coming on looked so comfortable. He’s earned that, he’s been training with us for two, three, four weeks now, you can just see him growing and improving every day.
“He played with a confidence and that’s because he’s improving every day and I thought it was the right time and I’d like to think that I was right.”
Should the teenage sensation find himself on the same trajectory as his brother, whose talent has been described as “scary” by Jack Grealish, then securing a move for the Blues starlet this summer should definitely be near the top of Liverpool’s priority list.
Currently valued at a massive £127m according to CIES, the Borussia Dortmund star has scored ten goals and provided 18 assists in 90 appearances for the German club across all competitions since he left Birmingham in the 2020 summer transfer window.
Having also been linked with the 18-year-old, Liverpool could possibly sign the next best thing by acquiring the younger Bellingham brother this summer, someone dubbed a “wonderkid” by TEAMtalk.
Talented footballers clearly run in the family and they could also save plenty of cash by opting for Jobe instead of Jude this summer. Should he progress at a similar rate then his transfer value, stock and potential will only increase as it has done for his elder sibling.
Therefore, if Liverpool are able to bring the Birmingham youth talent to Anfield this summer, they could find themselves with a long-term midfield option for their team and one of England’s top prospects.
In other news: “He’s gonna leave”: Romano drops Liverpool update that’ll have supporters gutted
Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on Antonio Conte’s future and transfer plans at Tottenham Hotspur.
What’s the word?
The Italian journalist revealed that the 52-year-old’s priority is to remain in charge of the north London outfit but he must be given reassurances over Harry Kane’s future and be backed to sign three to four new players in the summer window.
Writing in a column for Caught Offside, he said:
‘Conte wants at least three or four high-level signings in the summer and then definitive clarity on the Spurs project, including keeping Harry Kane at the club. This is his priority to remain Tottenham manager, but the decision will be made in a meeting at the end of the current season.’
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Huge news
This latest claim should leave many around N17 absolutely buzzing about what the future may entail because, despite many inconsistencies on the pitch, the Italian – who won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017 – wants to stay at the club.
He has got Nuno Santo’s struggling outfit contending for a place in next season’s Champions League, which is no mean feat, so you can only imagine what sort of magic he could do with a full pre-season and backing in the transfer window.
Conte and his coaching team could really make up the ground on some of the division’s current heavyweights, namely defending champions Manchester City, their nearest challengers Liverpool and Champions League holders Chelsea.
Whilst chairman Daniel Levy has never been one to completely splash the cash, he will surely understand that it’s a must this off-season. He’s finally got a world-class manager in the dugout, one capable of bringing that elusive silverware to their 62,850-seater stadium.
Arguably, the Italian is in need of solid backups to both Kane upfront and skipper Hugo Lloris between the sticks, whilst a left-footed central defender will surely be among the priorities with full-back Ben Davies the current first-choice alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero.
Making the Argentine’s loan move from Atalanta permanent will be another key deal to keep an eye on, with Conte also on the lookout for a right wing-back, having failed to secure one during the winter.
There may be some doubt over whether or not he will be backed, but the signings of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kuluseveski on deadline day in January certainly show that the club is prepared to back him.
As such, Levy and co must be absolutely thrilled by Conte’s desire to stay at the helm heading into 2022/23.
AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops Pau Torres-Spurs transfer update…
Sunderland now face a big dilemma as a consortium fronted by William Storey has reportedly now submitted a £42m offer to buy the Wearside club.
The Lowdown: Storey tries again
Storey tried to buy the Stadium of Light faithful back in 2020, but failed in his bid, which leaves Kyril Louis-Dreyfus as the majority shareholder with a 41% stake.
Stewart Donald retains a 34% share, while Juan Sartori holds 20% and Charlie Methven the remaining 5% (The Daily Mail).Nonetheless, it now looks as if Storey is going to try his luck once more, and you’d have to say his timing is impeccably inconvenient given the importance of Friday’s play-off first leg against Sheffield Wednesday.The Latest: Offer madeAs per The Daily Mail, Storey and his consortium are now proposing to take up 100% of the shares, and are ‘keen’ to push through the deal if Alex Neil’s team do not win promotion up to the Championship.They welcome the Owls to Wearside in the first leg of the semi-final tonight, and sources close to the bid insist that there is ‘interest’ from some of the current owners to accept the offer, although there is none from majority shareholder Louis-Dreyfus.The Verdict: Accept it?After the confusion over the details of the ownership structure that came to light back in February, which left supporters feeling misled, now is the time to allow Storey and his consortium to own 100% of the shares, so long as they are committed to the club.It seems as if some of the owners are not at the moment, given the hectic nature of the shares split, and so their takes need to be sold to help the Black Cats move forward in unison.Nonetheless, it looks like Louis-Dreyfus is the one that needs persuading to hand over to Storey, in what is a big dilemma for both him and the club.In other news, find out which injured SAFC star could now make the Wednesday game here!
Alan Hutton has been left buzzing over what he has now heard from a Glasgow Rangers source.
The Lowdown: Lowry deal close
As per Football Insider’s RFC sources, the Ibrox faithful are now close to tying Alex Lowry down to a new deal, amid strong interest from a number of clubs in the Premier League.
The youngster had rejected an initial contract offer back in February, but now it looks as if the club have persuaded him to stay at Ibrox.
The Latest: Hutton reacts
Speaking to Football Insider, former Teddy Bears defender now Rangers TV pundit Hutton has now given his reaction to the news, claiming that it is ‘brilliant’ both for Lowry and his old team:
“I think it’s brilliant for both sides. We know what he’s all about. He’s definitely one for the future.
“He needs to know there’s a pathway into the first team. I think that’s the biggest thing to come out of this. The flip side is that the grass isn’t always greener.
“Yes, there’s an opportunity to go down south but he’s very young. You can also get lost down there. It’s difficult to break into a Liverpool team or a Man City team. That’s got its own challenges.
“So to stay where you are, you know what it’s all about to play with Rangers. There are opportunities that are going to arise. If you work hard, he has seen that the pathway is there.
“He can find the first team, he has done it in the past. I think it’s good for him moving forward to be where he is. Be comfortable and see how he develops from there.”
The Verdict: Right call
It is easy to forget that Lowry is still just 18 years of age, and so he has his whole career ahead of him.
The pathway has been there for him, as he has already managed a total of four senior appearances in a Light Blues shirt this season, and more opportunities are sure to come for him next term under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Nonetheless, he is highly thought of at the club, as former manager Graeme Murty even went as far as to call him ‘remarkable‘, and so staying at the Gers seems like the right thing to do for now, until he makes more of a name for himself outside Scottish football.
In other news, find out which ‘really exciting’ attacker RFC could now lose this summer here!
Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to battle it out for the signature of Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry, despite a winger not being a ‘priority’ in the summer.
The Lowdown: Impressive form
The 26-year-old, who first arrived at the Allianz Arena from Werder Bremen in 2017, has just one year remaining on his current contract and has been scintillating for the Bundesliga outfit this season, scoring 16 goals and registering ten assists across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.
Such form has seen him catch the eye of Antonio Conte, who – according to the Daily Star just last month – is pushing for the Lilywhites to pursue a cut-price deal for the German, but they are set to face serious competition from Real Madrid.
When asked for his thoughts on the possibility of Spurs pulling off a move for the 31-cap Germany international, Robinson told Football Insider:
“Gnabry is a world-class player. If he is to leave Bayern Munich you would like to think that Spurs are in the hunt for him.
“It is going to be a big summer for Spurs. A lot will depend on whether Harry Kane stays at the club, which I hope he does.
“I’d question whether Gnabry would get into the Tottenham team ahead of Son, Kane and Kulusevski right now. He’d be competition for Kulusevski but I don’t think that position is a priority at the moment.
“That level of player is what you want Spurs to be signing though.”
The Verdict: Would Gnabry have a place at Spurs?
The £63m-rated talisman has proven to be a brilliant attacking threat for Bayern this term, where he is currently averaging two shots, 1.9 dribbles, and 1.4 key passes per league game (via WhoScored), showing just how prolific he can be in the final third.
Once dubbed an “unbelievable” player by ex-Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Gnabry will already be used to life in the Premier League, having previously had a spell with Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal, so he could be tempted to make the transition back into English football should the right offer arise.
As Robinson stated, though, it might be tough for Gnabry to get into the Spurs team ahead of the likes of Kulusevski, who has become a pivotal player in recent weeks. There seems little doubt that the German will want to be in the starting XI consistently rather than occupying a place on the bench, so the best option for him could be to stay at Bayern if he desires plenty of game-time.
In other news… one journalist has reacted to recent behind-the-scenes ‘doubts’ at Tottenham
Whilst game-week one gave us a taster, game-week two truly signalled the start of the drama in the Champions League. We saw VAR controversy, upset players and a timely reminder as to why Paris Saint-Germain are European champions even with a weakened line-up.
The French giants gradually picked Barcelona apart and eventually found their reward to make it two from two on Europe’s top stage. The same can’t be said for Liverpool and Manchester City, however, who failed to pick up where they left off. That said, out of Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot, it is the latter who will be most frustrated after suffering back-to-back defeats in all competitions.
So, in a week full of many twists and turns, who stands out as our biggest winners and losers in the Champions League?
Winners: Dier rattles Man City and Hojlund sparks Man Utd regret
Winner: Rasmus Hojlund (Napoli)
It’s a familiar story for Manchester United, isn’t it? Whilst the Red Devils watch on from outside of European qualification and a long way away from even considering Champions League football, their former players continue to thrive elsewhere. Last season, it was Scott McTominay. Now, it is Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund.
The Napoli forward has already scored three goals in five games for the Italian giants – seven fewer than last season’s end total – and rounded off a fine evening in the Champions League with a brace against Ruben Amorim’s former side, Sporting Club.
What truly rubs salt in the Man United wounds is the fact that Hojlund, Anthony Elanga and Marcel Sabitzer – all former players – picked up the Man of the Match award for their current clubs in the Champions League this week while the Red Devils continue to struggle.
Winner: Goncalo Ramos (PSG)
Trying to get into that PSG frontline may well be the toughest task in European football. It now even includes a Ballon d’Or winner in Ousmane Dembele. But that’s not stopping Goncalo Ramos from knocking on the door of Luis Enrique’s frontline, desperately fighting for his place.
The Portugal international was at it again in the Champions League. After 19-year-old Senny Mayulu earned a starting place over him before scoring PSG’s equaliser against Barcelona, it was up to Ramos to emerge from the bench to find the winning goal and make a claim for his place once again.
Netting his third goal of the season and his second in as many Champions League games, Ramos continues to be one of the most underrated forwards in European football.
Winner: Eric Dier (AS Monaco)
A Bundesliga winner, versatile defender and now among Bernardo Silva’s football foes, Eric Dier is putting together quite the CV these days. The former Tottenham Hotspur star was accused of diving by the Man City midfielder to earn Monaco’s late penalty, which he converted to draw his side level, but insisted that there was contact in his post-match reaction.
After stealing a point from what seemed a certain defeat, both Monaco and Dier should be delighted with their latest Champions League outing. As for Man City, it’s yet another slip from what has become an increasingly-vulnerable side in the last 12 months.
Losers: Flick's high-line exposed and VAR steals headlines again
Loser: Hansi Flick (Barcelona)
A high-line is a game of risk and reward. Ask Jurgen Klopp and he’ll say that it played a crucial part in Liverpool’s best-ever Premier League side. Guardiola will also provide a similar answer from a Man City perspective. But Barcelona aren’t enjoying the same dominance.
Once again, Hansi Flick’s backline were left exposed in the Champions League. It arguably handed Inter Milan a route to the final last season in a thrilling semi-final and it has just provided PSG with an early scalp in their first defence. The Spanish giants are unlikely to change and former star Thierry Henry didn’t hold back with his verdict.
The former Barcelona star said: “You cannot play in the Champions League with that high-line, I’m sorry. When you play against good teams, you’re gonna get exposed and that’s exactly what happened. Any well-timed run, you go through on goal.”
Loser: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
An exasperating, dramatic start to Liverpool’s season has quickly turned concerning. Suddenly, the late winners have stopped coming and their defensive vulnerability has remained, with Ibrahima Konate’s performances playing a large part in that. The Frenchman was suspect in a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace last weekend and struggled once again as Galatasaray shocked the Reds.
With the Frenchman’s contract coming to an end in less than 12 months and Real Madrid sniffing around, to say that his dip in form is poorly-timed would be an understatement.
Add on the fact that Arne Slot only has three senior centre-backs at his disposal and it’s clear that Konate must rediscover his best as soon as possible.
Loser: VAR
At risk of sounding like a broken record, it was another poor week for VAR in the Champions League. Galatasaray’s penalty, which was awarded after Baris Alper Yilmaz hit the deck following contentious contact from Dominik Szoboszlai, stood out as questionable on Tuesday night before Monaco’s late penalty against Man City caused more controversy.
Reports are also circulating that the VAR team chose the wrong frame to look at Ramos’ winning goal against Barcelona. New images show just how tight the call actually was in a moment that could have ended very differently.
Many believed that VAR’s introduction would eradicate refereeing mistakes or at least guide the headlines away from the referees. Years on, however, it is doing anything but.
Celtic’s dominance in Scotland has continued under Brendan Rodgers, and the Northern Irishman has worked with a number of star players at Parkhead during his two stints as manager who have gone on to bring in huge transfer fees for the Hoops.
But who is the club’s record departure? Here’s a look at Celtic’s most expensive sales in their history, as per Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.
=1
Matt O’Riley
£25m
Brighton
2024
=1
Jota
£25m
Al-Ittihad
2023
=1
Kieran Tierney
£25m
Arsenal
2019
4
Moussa Dembele
£19.7m
Lyon
2018
5
Nicolas Kuhn
£16.5m
Como
2025
6
Odsonne Edouard
£14m
Crystal Palace
2021
7
Kristoffer Ajer
£13.5m
Brentford
2021
8
Virgil van Dijk
£13m
Southampton
2015
9
Victor Wanyama
£12.5m
Southampton
2013
10
Jeremie Frimpong
£11.5m
Bayer Leverkusen
2021
=11
Liel Abada
£10m
Charlotte FC
2024
=11
Kyogo Furuhashi
£10m
Rennes
2025
=11
Josip Juranovic
£10m
Union Berlin
2023
=11
Fraser Forster
£10m
Southampton
2014
15
Aiden McGeady
£9.5m
Spartak Moscow
2010
=16
Stuart Armstrong
£7m
Southampton
2018
=16
Mark Viduka
£7m
Leeds
2000
18
Stiliyan Petrov
£6.5m
Aston Villa
2006
=19
Ki Sung-yueng
£6m
Swansea City
2012
=19
Adam Idah
£6m
Swansea City
2025
Here's a detailed look at Celtic's top 10 sales… 10 Jeremie Frimpong £11.5m to Bayer Leverkusen, 2021
Jeremie Frimpong has had one of the more impressive post-Celtic careers, as his £11.5m move to Bayer Leverkusen has certainly worked out for the Dutchman.
Frimpong was a key part of the Leverkusen side which went unbeaten in their double-winning season in 2023/24, as well as reach the Europa League final, which proved to be their only defeat of the campaign.
Not only did Celtic receive a handsome fee following Frimpong’s departure, but they also had a 30% sell-on fee is in his Leverkusen contract, where he was sold to Liverpool for £30m in 2025.
9 Victor Wanyama £12.5m to Southampton, 2013
Celtic really found a gem in powerful central midfielder Victor Wanyama, making a huge profit on the fee they paid Beerschot in 2011, with Southampton paying £12.5m to take the Kenyan to the Premier League.
Wanyama made more than 90 appearances for Celtic in his two-year stay, starring in the Champions League before moving to the south coast.
8 Virgil van Dijk £13m to Southampton, 2015
Yet another player to depart for Southampton in the top 10 list is Virgil van Dijk, who is now regarded as one of the best centre-backs of the modern era.
The Hoops signed Van Dijk in 2013 from FC Groningen, and after winning back-to-back titles in Glasgow, he caught the eye of the Saints, who were managed by fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman.
The south coast side paid £13m to lure Van Dijk to St Mary’s, before they received a then-world-record fee for a defender when Liverpool came calling in late 2017.
7 Kristoffer Ajer £13.5m to Brentford, 2021
Signed as a teenager after a trial with Celtic in 2016, Kristoffer Ajer grew into one of the best defenders in the Scottish Premiership.
The Norway international won three trebles in a row with Celtic between 2018 and 2020 before leaving the club in 2021 for London and Brentford. The Bees spent an initial £13.5m to bring him to the Gtech Community Stadium.
6 Odsonne Edouard £14m to Crystal Palace, 2021
One of Celtic’s record signings, Odsonne Edouard scored goals for fun at Parkhead after joining permanently from PSG.
In total, Edouard scored 87 goals in 179 games for the Hoops and was too good for the division when he left for Crystal Palace on deadline day in the summer of 2021, with the Eagles sealing a £14m deal.
5 Nicolas Kuhn £16.5m to Como, 2025
Nicolas Kuhn was Celtic’s high-profile transfer saga in the summer of 2025, with the Hoops not exactly splashing the cash despite receiving £16.5m for their star winger.
Serie A side Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, struck a deal with Celtic for Kuhn, who spent just £3m on the forward in January 2024.
4 Moussa Dembele £19.7m to Lyon, 2018
Another free-scoring French striker who brought in plenty of money was Moussa Dembele, who left three years before Edouard in 2018.
Dembele netted 51 times in 94 Celtic appearances and went on to be successful in a Lyon shirt. The Ligue 1 side paid close to £20m for the striker, with Celtic making a handsome profit in the process having signed him for around £500,000.
3 Kieran Tierney £25m to Arsenal, 2019
Kieran Tierney holds the record as Celtic’s joint-most expensive sale, as well as the outright record for an academy player, with the boyhood Hoops fan bringing in an eye-catching £25m in his move to Arsenal back in 2019.
The left-back fell out of favour at the Emirates and made the surprise move back to Celtic Park in 2025 on a free transfer.
2 Jota £25m to Al-Ittihad, 2023
After a memorable loan spell from Benfica, Celtic activated their option-to-buy clause to sign Jota in 2022.
However, after another impressive campaign at Parkhead, the Portuguese winger attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad making him their club-record signing for £25m. Things didn’t work out for Jota with Al-Ittihad, signing for Rennes a year later before re-joining the Hoops.
1 Matt O’Riley £25m to Brighton, 2024
Also top of the charts as Celtic’s most expensive sale is midfielder Matt O’Riley, who cost the Hoops a tiny fee in comparison to what they sold him for this past summer.
Signed from MK Dons, O’Riley starred at Celtic Park and won his first caps for Denmark as a result, with Brighton spending £25m on his signature in 2024.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may have to deal with interest from other clubs in his top players yet again during the summer transfer window.
The Northern Irish head coach’s plans were disrupted around this time last year when Denmark international Matt O’Riley left to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.
There are now clubs reportedly interested in snapping up the club’s key players this year, as Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with an interest in Japan international Daizen Maeda.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, are also reportedly interested in a deal to sign the winger from the Scottish giants this summer.
The Japanese forward produced 16 goals and ten assists in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, and it would be a big blow for the Hoops to lose him to Spurs or Fenerbahce ahead of next season.
Celtic would have to go back into the market to bolster their options on the flanks, and Rodgers could be on the lookout for his next version of Scott Sinclair.
Why Scott Sinclair was a star for Brendan Rodgers
The English attacker played for the Northern Irish head coach at both Swansea and Celtic earlier in his career and caught the eye with his performances at the top end of the pitch.
Sinclair racked up 95 goals and 49 assists in 238 appearances for the manager at those two clubs combined, and no player, Luis Suarez and Jamie Vardy included, has scored more goals for Rodgers to date.
The former Great Britain Olympic star was particularly impressive for Celtic as a right-footed left winger who thrived as both a scorer and a creator of goals, cutting in from the left to provide a huge threat in front of goal.
19/20
2
0
0
18/19
28
9
3
17/18
30
9
10
16/17
35
21
7
As you can see in the table above, Sinclair enjoyed a hugely successful first season at Parkhead with a return of 28 goals and assists in 35 Premiership matches.
The winger signed for the club in the same summer that Rodgers made the move to Glasgow in 2016, as he joined from Premier League side Aston Villa for a reported fee of £3m.
That £3m transfer fee looks like a bargain in hindsight because he went on to deliver plenty of goals and assists for the Scottish giants as an impressive and exciting left-sided attacker for Rodgers.
He was a star for the Northern Irish head coach because he could provide consistent quality in the final third, and the Celtic boss could unearth his next version of Sinclair by signing one of the club’s current transfer targets.
Celtic identify winger as top target
According to Celts Are Here writer Mark Hendry, Celtic have identified Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top target for the summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Belgian forward is a target for the club because Rodgers would like to bolster his options in the wide areas, which suggests that he could be signed irrespective of any exit for Maeda.
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Hendry’s article adds that the club have monitored the 24-year-old for some time and that he remains ‘active’ on their shortlist, as they eye a deal for the wing wizard.
The journalist states that Royal Antwerp look set to cash in on the Pro League attacker this year to avoid losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season, as his current contract with the Belgian side is due to expire in the summer of 2026. His valuation, as per Transfermarkt, currently stands at £4.6m
Celtic could, therefore, take advantage of that situation to swoop in and agree a deal for the left-sided forward, who could be Sinclair 2.0 for Rodgers at Parkhead.
Why Balikwisha could be the next Sinclair
Like the English forward, who played for Bristol Rovers this season, Balikwisha is a right-footed forward who predominantly plays off the left flank, cutting in onto his favoured foot to make things happen in the final third.
This immediately suggests that they are stylistically similar and could, therefore, fulfill a similar tactical role within Rodgers’ system, whilst starting on the left wing in his favoured 4-3-3 set-up.
Balikwisha also has the quality to make a real impact in the final third. He returned from injury during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign to deliver four goals and seven ‘big chances’ created in just 12 Pro League starts.
The Hoops target has shown that he has the potential to be a Sinclair-esque figure on the left wing if put in the right environment, as he caught the eye in limited game time.
Starts
27
12
xG
6.46
2.65
Goals
7
4
Big chances created
6
7
Key passes per game
1.5
1.6
Assists
5
3
As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha has consistently outperformed his xG in the Pro League since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst regularly creating three chances every two games on average.
One scout, Emir, on X, claimed that the winger has the quality at the top end of the pitch to “wins games on his own”, which is backed up by the statistics above as he can score and assist goals at a good level in Belgium.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha for Royal Antwerp.
A move to Scotland to play in an incredibly dominant Celtic team could allow him to flourish, as Maeda did this season with his 26 goal involvements in the Premiership, and truly reach Sinclair’s level of goals and assists under Rodgers.
Balikwisha has also shown potential in Europe, with two goals in seven games in the Champions League in the 2023/24 campaign, which suggests that he could hit the ground running in the league phase of the competition next term for the Hoops.
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Overall, the Royal Antwerp star could be an excellent signing for Celtic due to his age, his contract situation in Belgium, and the potential he has to be Sinclair 2.0 for Rodgers as an electric winger who can score and assist goals from the left flank.