Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has plenty of work to do in the window, though there are still question marks remaining over one of his most recognisable stars heading into the summer.

Celtic's summer transfer plans begin to accelerate

Plenty of movement is expected in both directions at Parkhead once the off-season comes around as the Bhoys look to build for next campaign’s Champions League qualifiers.

Currently, Celtic are a point off being crowned Scottish Premiership champions and still have a domestic treble in their sights, which, in turn, is bound to raise the stock of several assets who are already well-regarded in the football world.

Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Nicolas Kuhn are among those who may attract interest from elsewhere this summer, making it a priority for Brendan Rodgers to do his due diligence on potential replacements.

According to reports, Slovan Bratislava star David Strelec is a target at Parkhead and may be available for an overall package of £5.9 million, alleviating some of the strain on Celtic’s slim forward line.

Furthermore, Mathias Kvistgaarden is a long-term Hoops pursuit, even if his £13.5 million valuation could discourage the Parkhead hierarchy from pushing forward in their bid to sign the Denmark Under-21 international.

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Either way, there is an acknowledgment that a refresh will be needed to maintain hunger for silverware over the next few years. Several Celtic stars may consider their options this summer; it is just the nature of a squad cycle’s lifespan in Glasgow’s east end.

Nevertheless, there could now be a twist involving one of Rodgers’ disciples who has seemed destined to leave the club for a few months, per reports.

Celtic star Greg Taylor could u-turn and extend his contract

In recent times, Greg Taylor has become a prime candidate to leave Celtic as even with weeks until the end of the season, no news of a contract extension has emerged regarding the Scotland international and he is now set to become a free agent this summer.

Nevertheless, journalist Mark Guidi has made clear that Taylor could yet stay at the Bhoys, claiming that the gap between player and club in negotiations over a new deal isn’t ‘insurmountable’ despite suggestions to the contrary.

Greg Taylor’s successful spell at Celtic

Appearances

210

Goals

9

Assists

33

Trophies

10

Guidi stated on Go Radio: “Maybe having seen the reception he got from the Celtic supporters on Saturday, he’s clearly a very popular member of the squad.

“He’s a good guy around the dressing room, good guy around the training ground. He got his family, his young family, involved on Saturday.

“Maybe he’ll just think, do you know what? If Celtic can come up with a bit, by all accounts, they are a good bit apart in terms of what he’s been offered and what he’s looking for. It’s a good bit, by all accounts, but it’s not insurmountable.”

Kieran Tierney has been quietly announced ahead of the summer. Nevertheless, his frequent injury problems over recent years mean a reliable competitor in his position will be needed to handle another congested fixture schedule.

Taylor won’t have designs on playing second fiddle, but competition for your role is the nature of the beast at Celtic. Following months of speculation, could an unexpected stay still be on the cards?

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta faces the prospect of losing a player he “loves” this summer, with the Gunners star holding exit talks despite the club’s wish for him to remain at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal players who could leave this summer

A host of players appear set to depart N5 this summer, but some won’t be major losses for Arteta.

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Left-back Kieran Tierney has been handed opportunities this season, partly due to Arsenal’s shortage of options at points, after looking as if he’d already played his final games for the north Londoners in 2023.

This time last year, nobody expected that Arteta would hand the 27-year-old a total of 17 appearances in all competitions, including a very rare Premier League start against Brentford, but these will be among his last outings for the Gunners.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Tierney is set to join Celtic this summer after agreeing a pre-contract in the January transfer window, and will make a return to his former club in July.

The defender could be joined by a host of his teammates in vacating Arsenal, including out-of-favour left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has struggled for consistent minutes throughout 2024/2025.

Arsenal will sell Zinchenko this summer in the event a suitable offer arrives, while veteran midfielder Jorginho is currently set to depart on a Bosman deal when his contract expires past June 30th.

Jorginho has an offer from Flamengo, according to Fabrizio Romano, so a return to Brazil is on the cards for him during these twilight years of his impressive career.

While Arsenal appear ready to let the Italy international leave, they’re not prepared to lose fellow midfielder Thomas Partey, who has impressed in his arguably best season to date.

Thomas Partey still talking to other clubs over Arsenal exit

The Ghana international has made more appearances this term than in any of his previous campaigns, putting his past issues with injuries behind him and proving a very useful member of Arteta’s starting eleven.

Partey helped to dominate Real Madrid in the last round of the Champions League whilst also filling in at right-back this term, to great effect, and his impressive displays have prompted the club to open talks over an extension.

While Partey will have to take a cut to his £200,000-per-week wages to remain at Arsenal, according to ESPN, there is a real eagerness to extend his stay beyond 24/25. However, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, in a piece for The Boot Room, the 31-year-old is still keeping his options open.

Partey and his camp are actively in talks with other clubs as well, something which Arsenal are fully aware of, with the African putting contingency plans in place if an agreement can’t be reached over his stay.

Bailey adds that Partey is a player who “Arteta loves”, following on from the Spaniard’s public statement that the midfielder is a “massive” player for them.

Arne Slot has done a sensational job in charge at Liverpool during his first campaign at the helm, producing a seamless transition after taking over from Jürgen Klopp last summer.

Their latest win over Tottenham Hotspur secured their second Premier League title with four games to spare, highlighting the impressive work conducted by the Dutchman.

The success endured has been made even more impressive given the fact that only one addition was made last summer in the form of Federico Chiesa, who’s only featured for 33 league minutes in 2024/25.

However, if they are to build on their achievements in Slot’s second season, additions are needed to bolster the squad and inject further quality in key areas of the pitch.

With the title secured, undoubtedly attention will now shift onto the transfer window, with numerous names already thrown into the mix over a switch to Anfield.

An update on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers

In recent days, it’s emerged that Liverpool are one of a number of Premier League clubs in the race for Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman during the summer window.

The Nigerian, who has scored 18 goals this campaign, also has admirers from Chelsea and Manchester United, with the Serie A side demanding a £50m fee for his signature.

However, despite the interest in his services, the Reds have also made a move for Monaco’s 20-year-old forward Eliesse Ben Seghir, making an approach for him, according to French outlet L’Equipe.

The report also states that Slot’s side have been keeping a close eye on his progress in Ligue 1, with Manchester City also in the race to land the Moroccan international.

It also goes on to state that he’s frustrated at his current outfit, potentially being open to a move to England should the side give the attacker first-team assurances.

Why Liverpool’s target would be an upgrade on Luis Diaz

After joining in January 2022, many expectations were placed on winger Luis Diaz to succeed, especially after Sadio Mané departed Merseyside just a few months after his arrival.

Whilst he’s managed to net 40 goals in his 145 appearances to date, frustrations have been growing around the Colombian in recent months, leading to rumours around his future at the club.

Barcelona have recently been credited with an interest in signing the 28-year-old, whose current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2027 – but could yet extend his stay on Merseyside.

Such a situation could lead to a move for Ben Seghir in the months ahead, offering Slot an upgrade on the former Porto ace, adding a new dimension to his already impressive front line.

The Moroccan, who’s been labelled a future “£100m” star by The Athletic’s Euro Expert, may have registered fewer goals and assists, but has managed more progressive carries and carries into the final third per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

Games played

30

33

Goals & assists

9

17

Progressive passes

6.5

4.1

Progressive carries

4.5

4.1

Carries into final third

4.5

2.1

Take-ons attempted

4.9

4.4

Fouls won

2.9

1.2

Aerials won

37%

26%

Ben Seghir has also managed to achieve a higher tally of take-ons, whilst also winning more of the aerial duels he’s entered, offering Slot an excellent all-round option within the final third.

His talents don’t stop there, winning more fouls per 90, along with more progressive passes completed, demonstrating his relentless athleticism, which has seen countless defenders struggle to contain him.

At just 20, he has the current ability and potential to transform into an elite-level talent, having all the tools to back up the Euro Expert’s predictions around his future at the top level of the professional game.

Whilst it’s unclear what the situation is with Diaz heading into the summer, a move for the Monaco gem would allow the club to cash in should no contract be agreed – also landing a star who could improve tenfold and secure his place in the side for many years to come.

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Leeds United have fallen into a sticky predicament within their promotion push, but that hasn’t stopped the club in pushing to land a high-profile summer target, per reports.

Leeds United risk failing to claim automatic promotion

Despite claiming a point at Luton Town courtesy of Daniel James’ first-half strike in a 1-1 draw, the Whites have won one of their last six Championship matches under Daniel Farke.

Frustratingly, Burnley now sit at the summit following their narrow victory over Coventry City, while Sheffield United remain in contention even after a shock loss to Oxford United on Saturday lunchtime.

On the eye, a sense of fragility has crept in at the wrong time for Leeds United. The situation is still salvagable as it stands, but they will certainly want to rectify their on-field issues to put forward the best picture possible to potential targets come the summer window.

Providing a marker of their ambitions in the market, the Yorkshire giants have made an opening approach for West Ham star Tomas Soucek in a deal that could see the Czechia international earn £120,000 per week.

Premier League promotion would need to be a certainty for the veteran to entertain the possibility, and the same goes for Leeds United’s pursuit of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

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Illan Meslier has been dropped due to a string of erratic performances, so it only makes sense that their recruitment team begin to do their homework on stoppers far and wide that could replace the Frenchman.

Looking to rectify the problem, Farke and company have now cast their eye on a Premier League veteran who could be on the move this summer.

Leeds United eye surprise move for Newcastle United stopper Nick Pope

According to The Sun, Nick Pope is being lined up by Leeds United as a replacement for Meslier following question marks over his form since recovering from injury.

Intriguingly, the Magpies’ pursuit of James Trafford could put the England international under ‘serious pressure’ at St James’ Park. However, the Whites also have Trafford in their sights should promotion occur at Elland Road.

Nick Pope key statistics in 2024/25 – Premier League

Saves

61

Save percentage

69.3%

Goals conceded

27

Error which leads to goal

2

High claim

28

Labelled “brilliant” by Pep Guardiola, there is no doubt Pope has lived up to that billing since arriving in the North East. The former Burnley man has kept 31 clean sheets in 86 appearances, playing his part in a top-four finish and EFL Cup triumph under the stewardship of Eddie Howe.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old, who is a CAA Stellar client alongside Leeds United pair Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle, may feel his best chance of continuing to receive first-team football could come elsewhere amid Newcastle’s desire to land a younger profile.

Saying that, it does feel unlikely that the £60,000 per week earner would drop down to the second tier, making promotion a necessary development before any serious talk of a move can take place.

Celtic clinched the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season running on Saturday when they smashed Dundee United 5-0 at Tannadice Park.

The Hoops only needed one point to make it official, but, of course, they did it in style with a five-star display away from Parkhead to win the division yet again.

Brendan Rodgers will surely be delighted with his side’s performance on the afternoon, and may be particularly pleased with Adam Idah’s contribution to the win off the bench.

Why Adam Idah has won his place in the team

The Ireland international was taken out of the starting line-up for this match, despite scoring against St. Johnstone in the SFA Cup semi-final last weekend, but did not have to wait too long to get his chance.

Jota limped off the pitch towards the end of the first half and that provided the former Norwich City centre-forward with an opportunity to prove Rodgers wrong, after being dropped.

Idah, motivated to show that he belongs in the starting XI, made it 4-0 and scored his first of the match just two minutes into the second half, as he peeled away from Emmanuel Adegboyega to nod the ball into the bottom corner.

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The Irishman then made a terrific run across his former Norwich teammate to slot the ball into the bottom corner of the near post, making it 5-0.

Idah has, now, won his place in the XI, particularly if Jota’s injury keeps him out of the next match, ahead of the clash with Rangers next time out, because he came on and made a big impact in the final third.

He is not the only Ireland international who has made himself undroppable, though, as central defender Liam Scales put in an excellent showing.

Why Liam Scales is undroppable

The left-footed central defender has started the last three matches in all competitions, and the last two Premiership games, and has proven that he deserves to keep his place in the side.

Scales played a part in the opening goal for Celtic with his header at the back post that forced Ryan Strain to deflect the ball into the roof of his own net.

It was his play out of possession, however, that was most impressive. The Ireland international was not dribbled past a single time in the 90 minutes, and won eight of his 14 duels – dominating the Dundee United attackers on the deck and in the air.

He was up against Sam Dalby, who has scored 14 league goals this season, and limited the impressive marksman to zero shots and ten duels lost.

Minutes

90

90

Sofascore rating

7.8

8.0

Clearances

5

6

Interventions

1

1

Tackles

0

3

Duels won

7/11

8/14

Pass accuracy

95%

94%

Passes completed

144

103

As you can see in the table above, Scales has caught the eye in his last two Premiership appearances for the Scottish giants, against Kilmarnock and Dundee United.

The left-footed ace, who earned an 8/10 Sofascore rating on Saturday, has been incredibly reliable on the ball, completing 95% and 94% of his passes in those matches, which means that he provides a composed presence in possession to progress the play for the Hoops.

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Therefore, Scales should be considered as undroppable as Idah, despite having Auston Trusty pushing him for his place on the bench, ahead of the clash with Rangers next time out.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now joined the race for a “top” player who legendary striker Didier Drogba is a huge fan of, but there could be competition for his signature from a number of rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Wolves' summer transfer plans

At one stage in the campaign, relegation from the Premier League was a very real threat, but Vitor Pereira has managed to steer Wolves clear of the bottom three, with the gap widening to 12 points after the 2-1 victory at Ipswich Town last time out.

The job may not be done mathematically, but Pereira can now start to look ahead to the summer transfer window, and the manager will be aiming to bring in players capable of helping his side push much further up the table next season.

Amid doubts over Matheus Cunha’s future, bringing in a new goal threat may be of key significance to Pereira, and a move for FC Twente attacking midfielder Sem Steijn is now being plotted, with the 23-year-old scoring a remarkable 27 goals this season.

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Not only could the Old Gold look to bolster their attacking options, but there are now suggestions they could bring in a new goalkeeper, with a report from Football Insider revealing they are now checking on Angers’ Yahia Fofana.

Fofana is said to be viewed as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe, given his impressive performances in Ligue 1 this season, which have led to interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs, with Newcastle United and Brentford also keen.

Not only that, but former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is a big fan of the goalkeeper, having previously convinced him to play internationally for the Ivory Coast, rather than France, the country of his birth.

Despite the level of his performances this season, the 24-year-old could be available for the bargain fee of just £15m this summer, potentially making the goalkeeper an even more attractive option for Wolves.

Fofana lauded as a "top" goalkeeper

Drogba is not the only person who admires the Angers shot-stopper, with football scout Ben Mattinson singling him out for praise back in February.

Despite his side losing 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain last time out, the 6 foot 4 colossus was one of the best players on the pitch, preventing 1.64 goals and making two big saves to keep his side in the game.

Jose Sa has received heavy criticism at times this season, with Jamie Carragher particularly scathing in his review of the 32-year-old’s performances, and Fofana’s displays in Ligue 1 indicate he could be a fantastic long-term replacement.

Liverpool’s season will live long in the memory, but FSG won’t want the 2024/25 campaign to stand as an outlier in the post-Jurgen Klopp years.

Luckily, that doesn’t look likely, not when Arne Slot is at the helm and thriving. The Dutch coach has been a remarkable success story, arriving last summer after several trophy-laden years in his homeland with Feyenoord.

The record-equalling title triumph must now be used as a foundation, built upon over the coming years to create another dynasty on Merseyside.

Arsenal and Manchester City will both feel their campaigns have been laced with disappointment, and they will be determined to strengthen over the next few months.

Liverpool need to do the same, especially after such nominal transfer activity in recent years. While a striker is among the priorities, it’s Anfield’s defence that could see the most dramatic shifts.

Liverpool's defensive plans this summer

Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool, but he will leave a two-time Premier League champion and one of the harbingers of the illustrious modern age for the club.

Liverpool are going to need to replace their vice-captain, even if Slot is willing to give Conor Bradley the chance to prove himself as the first-choice option. However, matters are complicated by the urgency for a new left-back, with Andy Robertson showing signs of decline.

FSG do have a name in mind. Milos Kerkez is the far-and-away favourite to join Liverpool’s ranks this summer, having enjoyed an exemplary campaign on the south coast with Bournemouth.

The Telegraph claim Wolves are growing in confidence that they can tie Rayan Ait-Nouri down to a new deal, with Liverpool ready to bin their interest in the Algerian in favour of signing the £45m-rated Kerkez.

That’s not all. Andoni Iraola is doing a fine job at the Vitality Stadium, and the Reds are keen on raiding the European contenders for their star centre-back Dean Huijsen too.

Huijsen, 20, has been one of the most exciting prospects in the Premier League this term, with analyst Ben Mattinson even going as far as to call him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”

With a £50m release clause, the young Spain star is wanted by every top team, but Liverpool need a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement.

And there’s more going on in central defence too, with one of Slot’s superstars continuing to pad along without any real clarity on their future, and whether that will remain on Merseyside.

In any case, Liverpool have struck gold on their towering titan.

Slot has hit gold on "monster" defender

Liverpool have a self-sustaining model under the ownership of FSG. This has rankled at times, but who can say the Premier League champions have been unsuccessful over the past decade?

This model does mean that certain hardships have to be endured, with some talented players warming to the idea of a pay rise that simply won’t be granted. Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, it must be said, are the two exceptions to the rule.

However, in the case of Ibrahima Konate, it feels we have an incipient transfer saga on our hands, Reds, with the France international about to enter the final year of his £70k-per-week contract.

It’s understandable that he should want a new deal to better reflect his “monster” defending alongside the skipper, as has been said by Liverpool writer Josh Williams. However, if reports are to be believed, Konate is looking for a £200k-per-week salary to stay put.

This would make him the third-highest-paid player in Slot’s senior squad, perhaps not an unfair reflection of Konate’s worth, but maybe a little tall.

There’s also the matter of Real Madrid. That ever-present and ominous shadow that lurks over Liverpool. They are taking Trent, and now they want Konate too, disassembling and then piecing back together the right side of Slot’s backline, though in a shiny white hue.

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According to Spanish outlet Marca, Konate is very much a transfer target for Los Blancos, but given that he is valued at €100m (£85m) by Liverpool’s chiefs, they are hoping to call upon more dark magic and sign another world-class player on a free transfer.

This is quite the hike in value for the 25-year-old, who first arrived in Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 after his £36m release clause was met.

24/25

29 (27)

1

2

12

23/24

22 (17)

0

0

5

22/23

18 (17)

0

0

7

21/22

11 (11)

0

0

4

It’s a neat reflection of Konate’s improvements on the fitness front; never has the 6 foot 4 star been so consistently available in a Liverpool shirt.

His value as one of Europe’s elite defenders is further underscored by how far he is currently away from up-and-comers like Kerkez and Huijsen, whose combined transfer value would only exceed Konate’s by about £10m.

Both talented players, the young Bournemouth duo are worthy of a move to Merseyside this summer, but they are not yet the finished article.

Konate has spent several years learning from Van Dijk beside him, completing 90% of his passes in the Premier League this season, winning 71% of his aerial battles, as per Sofascore.

He’s athletic and imposing, technical and tenacious. Liverpool have reaped the fruits of his labours for several years now, but he’s truly made himself known as an elite player under Slot’s wing, so important in winning the title.

Liverpool have hit the jackpot on their French defender, but it won’t feel that way in 12 months, if the ghost of Alexander-Arnold returns to take another top-tier player away from Slot’s ranks on a Bosman.

It’s paramount that FSG manage to engineer a new deal for this wonderful player. Maybe £200k-per-week demands aren’t so absurd after all.

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Chelsea are making moves for their desired summer transfer targets, with BlueCo reaching out to yet another player who’s keen to leave Bayern Munich.

Chelsea hold talks with Dean Huijsen and Jorrel Hato's agents this week

As per reliable Stamford Bridge journalist Simon Phillips, both Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato and Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen have been subject to approaches from Chelsea in the last few days.

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As per the reporter’s sources, writing via his Substack, Chelsea held talks with Hato and Huijsen’s representatives, just before their Europa Conference League loss to Legia Warsaw in west London, with Enzo Maresca on the hunt for new defenders this summer.

Trevoh Chalobah is likely to leave Chelsea again this summer, despite being recalled from his loan at Crystal Palace in January, while Wesley Fofana has been sidelined through yet another long-term injury.

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 10th

Man United (home)

May 18th

Ajax mainstay Hato is able to provide cover at both centre-half and left-back, so the Netherlands international is an astute option, while Huijsen’s £50 million release clause has piqued interest from Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea after his excellent campaign at Bournemouth (David Ornstein).

The competition for both men’s signatures will be fierce, though, so Maresca’s side will have earmarked a number of defensive targets ahead of the 2025/2026 season.

Chelsea must get this summer’s transfer window right, and Maresca also has a chance to bring players in early ahead of their Club World Cup campaign, following confirmation from the Premier League that there will be an additional transfer window open from June 1st to June 10th.

Up to £100 million in prize money will be on the line during this year’s CWC, so Chelsea will be keen to reinforce areas of the squad in time to compete.

Chelsea contact Kim min-Jae with defender keen to leave Bayern Munich

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, it is now believed £198,000-per-week Bayern defender Kim min-Jae is a target for Maresca’s side.

The South Korean, with nearly 70 international caps, is apparently “very open” to departing the Allianz Arena this summer, despite being trusted by Vincent Kompany as a consistent starter.

Chelsea have reached out to min-Jae’s camp for discussions, as per Aouna, but Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have done the same, as both sides look to reinforce their backlines.

The 28-year-old has been linked with a move to England for years, with Tottenham registering an interest in min-Jae during Antonio Conte’s tenure in charge.

Back in 2020, during José Mourinho’s time at Spurs, it was also reported that Son Heung-min was pushing the club to sign min-Jae – so he’s clearly highly-rated by his peers behind-the-scenes.

Nottingham Forest strengthened their case to secure a spot in the Champions League for next season by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Monday night.

The Tricky Trees picked up all three points to move up to third in the division, above the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, thanks to goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood.

Whilst the usual stars were performing for Nuno Espirito Santo, including the two goalscorers, there was a surprise performance from the rarely-seen Harry Toffolo at left-back.

Harry Toffolo's surprise performance against Spurs

The English defender was named in the starting XI for the first time in the Premier League this season, having mainly been an unused substitute, and stepped up to produce a fantastic display in a huge match.

Toffolo’s best moment of the game came in the second half when his mind-boggling clearance off the line prevented what looked like a certain goal for Dejan Kulusevski, which would have brought Spurs back in the game with plenty of time still to play.

The former Norwich full-back also made two blocks, three tackles, and one interception down the left flank to keep the home team at bay, and secure a big win for Forest.

He has seemingly revived his career at the City Ground, given his complete lack of starts prior to the game, and Nuno could repeat the blinder he just played with Toffolo by reviving Ramon Sosa’s career at the club.

Why Santo should unleash Ramon Sosa

The forward played one minute off the bench against Spurs in his 16th cameo of the season, coming off the bench in 16 of his 17 appearances in the division.

Sosa, who Ross Wilson described as a “coveted” player last summer, could make a surprise impact in the final few games of the season, reviving his career at the club in the process, if the manager is willing to hit the jackpot by unleashing from the start in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old attacker joined from Talleres last year after a run of impressive performances in the Copa de la Liga Profesional during the first half of 2024.

2024 Copa de la Liga	Ramon Sosa
Appearances (starts)	12 (12)
Goals	4
Big chances created	6
Key passes per game	2.3
Assists	4
Completed dribbles per game	3.1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Sosa displayed his quality at the top end of the pitch with goals, assists, ‘big chances’ created, and by constantly dribbling past opposition players.

That quality was also on display in a rare start in the FA Cup against Luton, when the forward scored and produced an assist, creating one ‘big chance’, in a 2-1 win back in January, which shows that he does have the potential to translate his form over to English football.

It is now down to Nuno to provide Sosa with enough opportunities on the pitch in the coming weeks to make him his secret weapon in the push for the Champions League places, reviving the attacker’s career at the City Ground and hitting gold in the process.

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Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed another successful season in charge of Celtic, and it could get even better if his side wins the SFA Cup final later this month.

The Hoops travel to Hampden Park to take on Aberdeen at the national stadium with the chance to secure a domestic treble, having already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.

Rodgers led the team to the SFA Cup trophy and the Premiership title in his first season back at Parkhead in the 2023/24 campaign, as he came in to replace Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2023.

It has been an incredibly successful return to the club for the Northern Irish head coach, whose team won the title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at the end of last month, and he has had to make some ruthless decisions along the way.

Rodgers is not afraid to make bold or unpopular decisions if he thinks it is the best for the team, and one example of that has been his use of central defender Maik Nawrocki this season.

Why Maik Nawrocki has not been playing for Celtic

The Polish centre-back did not make a single appearance in the Champions League campaign and has only played two matches in the Premiership to date.

He was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Rangers at Ibrox last time out, which is the 28th time that has happened to the defender in the current term. This shows that he has rarely been used by Rodgers despite being available for the entire season.

Nawrocki could not do much more to earn more minutes in the first-team, though, because he took his chances when they came his way against Rangers and Hearts last month.

Due to injuries to Liam Scales, Dane Murray, and Auston Trusty, the former Legia Warsaw star was named in the starting XI for the first time in the campaign against the Gers, and did enough to keep his place against Hearts in the following Premiership match.

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

Error led to shot/goal

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki put in two outstanding performances at centre-back, as he was incredibly reliable on the ball and dominant defensively, with plenty of defensive actions and impressive duel success rates.

However, the 24-year-old colossus has not played a minute of football in any competition since the full-time whilst went in the 3-0 win over Hearts, and Rodgers has explained why that has been the case.

The Celtic boss explained: “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.”

Nawrocki is, of course, right-footed and this has led to Scales and Trusty starting every game since that win over Hearts, as one or both of them have been fit and available since then.

Chalkboard

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It now remains to be seen what will happen to the Polish defender in the upcoming summer transfer window, because it seems unlikely that he will be happy with just two league appearances all season.

Whilst Nawrocki is one player who could push to move on from Parkhead of his own volition, there is a player who has played even fewer minutes than the defender who should be moved on by the club – Scott Bain.

Why Celtic should move on from Scott Bain

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has been on the bench in recent weeks, with Viljami Sinisalo deputising for Kasper Schmeichel, but has not played a single minute in any competition this season.

Bain reportedly earns £7.6k-per-week at Parkhead, which is more than Hyun-jun Yang (£6k), Liam Scales (£5k), and Sinisalo (£2.5k), yet has played fewer minutes than Nawrocki in all competitions, as he has not played any at all, domestically or in Europe.

Herald Scotland recently reported that Aberdeen shot-stopper Ross Doohan, who is out of contract this summer, is being considered as a target for the Hoops, as Bain is entering the final 12 months of his deal and could look to move elsewhere.

The 27-year-old ace is reportedly on a weekly wage of £2.7k, which is less than the current Celtic third-choice currently earns, and that means that this switch in goalkeepers could save the Hoops thousands per week, potentially freeing up wages to be used in other areas of the squad.

Doohan could arrive as a cheaper third-choice option for the Scottish giants than Bain, who is earning more than several first-team stars who play regulars, as aforementioned, whilst he has not made an appearance for the club since last season.

The 33-year-old flop played three times in the 2023/24 campaign and pundit Frank McAvennie criticised the goalkeeper, telling Football Insider that having him as an option is “not good enough” for the Hoops.

24/25

0

0

23/24

3

1

22/23

1

4

21/22

2

2

20/21

18

18

19/20

2

2

As you can see in the table above, Bain has only played five league games since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, conceding seven goals in those five matches, and has not played at all this term.

This does not suggest that he has done enough for the club to justify keeping him at Parkhead on more wages than the likes of Yang, Sinisalo, and Scales, who contribute to the team on the pitch, which is why they should ruthlessly ditch him from the squad this summer.

Selling Bain, if there is enough interest in his services from elsewhere, and replacing him with Doohan, who has played 15 league games this season and earns less money per week, could be a shrewd move by the club.

It is now down to Rodgers to be ruthless once again by brutally ditching the veteran goalkeeper from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, whilst landing the Aberdeen stopper on a free transfer.

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