Celtic could look to sign a striker in the summer transfer window even though it isn’t a ‘priority’, according to journalist Anthony Joseph.
The Lowdown: Busy summer ahead for Celtic?
The Hoops are on the verge of regaining the Premiership title this season but Ange Postecoglou probably won’t be resting on his laurels moving forward.
He will surely want to keep improving his squad in the coming years, especially with Champions League football likely to come to Parkhead in 2022/23.
An update has now emerged regarding the possibility of Celtic strengthening in one particular position in the summer transfer window.
Taking to Twitter, Joseph hinted that signings a striker will be on the agenda for Celtic, as Postecoglou looks to add more firepower to his squad. The journalist claimed:
“I’d imagine they’ll be looking for a striker in the summer… unless Albian Ajeti bursts back onto the scene AND Ange Postecoglou sees Daizen Maeda as a striker long-term. Not a priority, though.”
The Verdict: Makes sense
As Joseph alludes to, it isn’t necessarily essential that a new striker comes in at Parkhead this summer. It certainly wouldn’t go amiss, though, with any team surely grateful to have a dependable goalscorer to call upon.
Liel Abada (10) is the only Celtic player to reach double figures in the league this season, and while the goals have been shared out healthily, bringing in a player who routinely breaks the 20-goal barrier in a campaign could take them up another level.
Whether Postecoglou actually pushes the boat out to sign a striker remains to be seen, though, with Joseph saying that it isn’t a priority and the manager perhaps believing that the transfer budget could be focused on strengthening other parts of the squad.
In other news, Celtic have been dealt a potential transfer blow. Read more here.
Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst could be set for a fresh injury lift after an update on Kemar Roofe’s injury situation…
What’s the latest?
According to The Scotsman, the striker has an ‘outside chance’ of being fit for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final clash.
The report claims that he has been in a hyperbaric chamber this week in a bid to speed up his recovery from a knee problem. He will be out for the first leg and for the Old Firm match on Sunday and Rangers are now targeting next Thursday (5th May) as a possible return date.
Gio will be buzzing
Van Bronckhorst will surely be buzzing with this news as it suggests that Roofe may be available for selection next week if the hyperbaric chamber is able to work its magic and get him back fit for the second leg.
The Dutch head coach is without first-choice striker Alfredo Morelos for the rest of the season due to injury and this means that the ex-Leeds man’s injury is doubly concerning as it leaves the Gers with no recognised centre-forward options. Fashion Sakala can play through the middle but is mainly deployed out wide on the right, which is why getting Roofe back will be a big boost for the club.
His injury was a major blow for Rangers as he was hitting form at the right time in the season. Prior to his knock, he scored four goals and provided two assists in his last six outings for the club in all competitions – including a crucial strike against Braga in the last round in Europe to send the Light Blues through to the last four.
This suggests that he would have had a big impact against RB Leipzig in Germany this week, and against Celtic on Sunday, as he has been in red-hot form in front of goal in recent weeks. Instead, he will be watching on from the sidelines as the Gers fight through these two huge matches without a natural number nine to call upon.
Hopefully, Rangers can head into the second leg at Ibrox without a heavy deficit to overturn and Roofe will be able to come back into the team to make the difference at the top end of the pitch. Van Bronckhorst, given the forward’s recent run of goals, will be buzzing with the prospect of having the former Anderlecht man back.
AND in other news, Wilson masterclass: Rangers must brutally axe 26 y/o dud who’s an “all-round shambles”…
Manchester United are plotting signings and now look to be on the verge of announcing their latest arrival at Old Trafford, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Man Utd prepare to take on Crystal Palace
The dust has settled on a disappointing defeat for Manchester United against Everton on Monday night, which will have left Ruben Amorim with plenty to stew over after being denied by a rigid block that refused to budge at Old Trafford.
Arguably, a change of shape or style would’ve heightened the chances of the Red Devils scoring. Still, some excellent saves from Jordan Pickford ended their five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, and they will now need to reset against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
South London has proved to be one of the toughest destinations in the top-flight this campaign for clubs keen on points, albeit Manchester United will have no choice but to try and defy recent norms in their pursuit of continental qualification.
Come the January window, Amorim will hope to call upon the backing of INEOS in the hunt for new additions, and Wolverhampton Wanderers pair Joao Gomes and Andre are wanted at Old Trafford.
Casemiro could be on his way out at Manchester United, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that he may only be kept on under reduced salary conditions, as he said: “So now the desire is from Man Utd obviously to continue with Casemiro, but on different conditions.
“So the salary he has right now is a salary Manchester United don’t want to pay in the future. Not because of unhappiness with the player, but because they want to change the salary structure.”
With that in mind, the Red Devils could now be set to imminently sign a younger midfielder who shares similar traits with the Brazil international.
Man Utd set to sign Cristian Orozco
According to Romano on X, Manchester United are now close to signing Fortaleza midfielder Cristian Orozco for a fee in the region of £756,800 and he will arrive in England over the coming days to seal his move.
Despite never playing senior club football, scouts have compared him to the likes of Moises Caicedo and believe he could be the “next Casemiro” due to his “physically imposing” displays in the engine room.
Capped 13 times at Under-17 level by Colombia, he looks to be the latest in a long line of additions Manchester United have made over recent times with an eye for the future, similar to the likes of Chido Obi-Martin, Ayden Heaven and Diego Leon.
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He could complete Amorim’s back three.
ByTom Cunningham Nov 27, 2025
With Casemiro soon to be into the final few months of his contract, the Red Devils may have now done the groundwork to land his long-term replacement.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has been dealt an injury blow as news emerges about one of his key players.
Unai Emery sparks mini Aston Villa revival after disastrous start to 25/26
Villa have started to show signs of life after a rocky start to the new Premier League season, sparking a mini-revival that has renewed some hope among fans.
The Villans really struggled early on, especially going forward, and it took them five league matches to even score their first league goal of the campaign.
Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace
Everton 0-0 Aston Villa
Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham
Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley
A huge sigh of relief swept through the away end at Sunderland when Matty Cash’s long-range drive ended Villa’s unbelievable goal drought, and they were unfortunate not to come away from the North East with their first three points of 2025/2026.
Once languishing near the bottom of the table, Villa have gone on a resurgence since Cash’s strike — winning their last four matches in all competitions — including back-to-back Europa League wins and two consecutive league victories.
NSWE struggled to build upon last season in the transfer window, with failure to qualify for the Champions League at the end of 24/25 certainly coming back to haunt them in this regard.
PSR has undoubtedly held Emery’s side back from fully investing in the squad, with Villa only able to spend around £26.5 million in total last summer as they agreed last-gasp loan deals for Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho in an effort to bolster the team.
Taking this into account, Villa’s renewed form under Emery could be seen as even more impressive as some of their rivals enjoyed mammoth spending sprees.
Emery has also had to cope without some key men through injury, especially Belgium international Youri Tielemans.
The former Leicester City star was a mainstay under Emery last term, registering 15 goal contributions in 53 total appearances, but he’s been forced to sit out of Villa’s excellent recent run with a calf problem.
Tielemans has watched on from the sidelines ever since their 1-1 draw at Sunderland, and according to reports from Belgium, the 28-year-old will now be out for a much while longer.
Unai Emery dealt Aston Villa injury blow as news emerges on Youri Tielemans
Het Nieuwsblad and La Dernière Heure, via Sport Witness, both state that Tielemans is now expected to be absent for longer than expected.
The £150,000-per-week playmaker could even miss Belgium’s November World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan, meaning Tielemans could also be unavailable for all of Villa’s next games after this October break.
The games Youri Tielemans is now expected to miss for Aston Villa
Emery’s side take on Tottenham, Go Ahead Eagles, Man City, Liverpool, Maccabi Tel Aviv and high-flying Bournemouth before the next round of internationals in November, with Tielemans now poised to potentially miss all of these crucial matches against top opposition.
The 28-year-old’s setback is undoubtedly a blow for Emery.
As a key influence, Tielemans brings creativity, control and experience to the heart of the team’s midfield. His ability to dictate tempo, link defense to attack and contribute with crucial goals and assists makes him central to the way Villa operate.
Even if Emery has coped fine without Tielemans in Villa’s last few games, with his last appearance coming in their 0-0 draw at Everton, he’ll be sorely missed when Villa face off against Spurs, City and Premier League champions Liverpool.
Lewis Hamilton has now decided between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with the Formula 1 legend insisting he is a “big” fan of one of the players in the ‘GOAT’ debate.
Hamilton chooses between Ronaldo and Messi
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is now on the horizon, with the eighth edition set to take place in Baku from September 19th to 21st, in what is round 17 of the Formula 1 season, and McLaren head into the race in a strong position to win back-to-back constructors’ championships.
McLaren are currently 337 points clear of second-placed Ferrari, courtesy of finishing second and third at Monza, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collecting 617 points between them up to this stage.
Hamilton, on the other hand, hasn’t won in Azerbaijan since 2018, and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has admitted the 40-year-old has struggled after making his big move to the Scuderia.
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Vasseur said: “I don’t know if we underestimated the importance of the change. Probably, because he spent 10 years at McLaren, then 12 with Mercedes, but it was a kind of continuity – two teams based in the UK with the same engine, same environment.
“[Joining Ferrari] is a complete change for him, in his life, the culture of the team and everything. To do it in three test days in the winter period is quite difficult – and I think also the expectation was huge.”
The Briton will be looking to get back on track in Baku, after a mixed year so far, but there are no doubts over the fact he is one of the best F1 drivers of all time, having won a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championships.
Alongside his clear love of F1, the Ferrari driver is also-well known to be a big football fan, having been a supporter of Arsenal growing up.
Hamilton has also decided between Ronaldo and Messi, claiming he is a fan of both players, saying:
Messi signs off in emphatic fashion in Argentina
The 38-year-old may no longer be playing in Europe, but he is still performing at the top-level, scoring a brace against Venezuela in his final home game for Argentina in the most recent international break.
Having racked up a remarkable 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances during his time with Barcelona, while also winning eight Ballon d’Ors and the 2022 World Cup, it is difficult to argue with Hamilton’s assessment of the Rosario-born star being the greatest of all time.
Winning a second World Cup in 2026 could arguably end the debate, and Argentina have now sealed their place at the competition, which is due to take place across North America from next June until July.
Nottingham Forest are set to embark on a new era under Ange Postecoglou, though their newly-appointed boss has been dealt a serious injury blow at the City Ground.
Ange Postecoglou set to get to work at Nottingham Forest
Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic fans will attest to the notion that Nottingham Forest fans will experience an exciting rollercoaster under Postecoglou’s stewardship. Still, his trophy-winning exploits at both have created an intriguing dynamic on the River Trent.
Speaking after his arrival to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, the Australian has made it clear he feels the Tricky Trees have a squad capable of competing on all fronts while he is in charge.
Intriguingly, Nottingham Forest star Jota Silva is set for Besiktas in a deal that could be worth over £17 million by next summer, offering an early boost to the coffers ahead of 2026.
After a mixed start to the campaign, the Tricky Trees will have designs on creeping up the Premier League table, and there will be plenty of positivity among supporters that they can begin to strike up a run of results.
However, Postecoglou may now have suffered a blow upon entering the dugout as one of his players could be out until the New Year with an injury concern.
Nottingham Forest see Ola Aina sustain serious injury
According to National World, Nottingham Forest star Ola Aina has been ruled out for around three months due to a hamstring injury, signifying that he may not return to the pitch until 2026.
John Percy described it as a “big early setback” for Postecoglou, and addressing his status, Postecoglou stated before his side faced Arsenal:
Ange must now unleash Nottingham Forest star who "spelt the end for Nuno"
It isn’t just Omari Hutchinson who Nuno didn’t appear to fancy at Nottingham Forest.
ByJoe Nuttall Sep 12, 2025
The Nigeria international has featured in all of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League fixtures until this point. However, it may now be over to Nicolo Savona to take over the mantle while he works his way up to full fitness.
Postecoglou had to deal with widespread injury concerns at Tottenham last term, so if anything, the Australian boss will hope this is an isolated setback.
Arsenal have attacking reinforcements in their sights and are willing to put one of their key targets in the top bracket of earners at the Emirates Stadium, per a report.
Arsenal's search for attacking reinforcements rumbles on
Truthfully, it is impossible to avoid the discussion of Arsenal adding attacking reinforcements this summer when it comes to assessing their scope to do transfer business.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres are the Gunners’ two main targets through the middle. However, with neither prospective deal near completion, other names will begin to be thrown into the hat as a consequence.
Speaking about what he would do in his old side’s situation, William Gallas has backed Arsenal to enter the race for Alexander Isak despite the Sweden international being a difficult star to sign this summer.
He stated: “Isak is perfect for Arsenal and they should be going all out to sign him. He would adapt instantly and give them the best chance of winning the title out of any player in the world, they don’t have time to let a striker adapt.
“Arsenal should go and break the bank for Isak. He is a 20-goal-a-season striker, and he would be surrounding himself with quality players.”
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The midfield monster would be a game-changer for Arsenal.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 23, 2025
Boyhood Arsenal fan Ollie Watkins is wanted at the Emirates and would offer proven top-flight pedigree, even if he is firmly in the prime of his career. The race remains open to find out who will be Mikel Arteta’s new centre-forward come the end of the window.
Supporters will already be buckled up and ready to experience a chaotic few months in the market, though they could be in for a treat if recent reports are to be believed.
Arsenal willing to make Rodrygo one of their highest earners
According to TBR in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Andrea Berta is willing to make Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo one of their highest earners should he pitch up at the Emirates this summer.
Berta has engaged in ‘preliminary talks’ with his camp over recent weeks, and it is said that the La Liga giants could be open to offloading him for £70 million despite believing he is someone worth around the £100 million mark.
Rodrygo in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances
52
Goals
14
Assists
11
Dubbed “top drawer” by former Chelsea star Joe Cole, there is a realisation among his entourage that he won’t be guaranteed a starting spot this campaign due to competition within the forward areas, which could lead to a departure as he would be allowed to operate in his favoured left wing berth.
Arsenal are looking to tie Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to new deals, though Rodrygo would be expected to hold parity with most of their top bracket, with a suggestion that he could even become the Gunners’ top earner.
Of course, that is all theoretical at this point, but it does show how serious Berta and company are about trying to pull of what would be one of the deals of the summer.
There have been a lot of players who have tormented Arsenal over the years, from Roberto Firmino to Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah.
However, when it comes to the striker who has scored more goals against the North Londoners in the Premier League than anyone else, it’ll come as no surprise to most that it is Harry Kane.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star scored 14 goals against the club in 17 appearances before moving to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, and then added another in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.
So, the Gunners faithful should be excited about reports linking them to a free-scoring striker who’s won comparisons to the England captain.
Arsenal's striker search
With Arsenal’s need for a striker this summer practically undeniable, the last few weeks have seen the club linked with a host of talented options, from Benjamin Sesko to Evann Guessand.
The club are reportedly in talks for the former at the moment, who could cost around £67m, which might just prove to be a bargain price, as in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this season, the 22-year-old dynamo was able to score 21 goals and provide six assists.
Coming in with a cheaper price tag that is said to be around the £25m mark, Guessand would be the more economical option, and with a tally of 13 goals and ten assists in 42 games, it would be a tempting one at that.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Yet, there is now another forward whose price fits nicely between both and has been compared to Kane: Nick Woltemade.
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams incredibly interested in the VfB Stuttgart poacher.
In fact, the report reveals that the Gunners, as well as Liverpool, have made contact with the German outfit over their star striker, who could be available for around €50m, which comes out to about £42m.
He might not be a known quantity to fans in England, but given Woltemade’s ability and potential, this is a deal worth pursuing – with the comparison to Kane a nice bonus.
How Woltemade compares to Kane
Now, there are several reasons why Arsenal might want to go out and sign Woltemade this summer, but before getting to them, it’s worth examining this comparison to Kane and where it originated from.
Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade
In this case, it stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions in the Bundesliga this season and came to the conclusion that the Englishman was the second most similar forward to the German.
The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, live passes, expected assists, passes into the penalty area, tackles won and more, all per 90.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.70
0.70
Goals per Shot
0.22
0.16
Expected Assists
0.19
0.21
Live Passes
26.5
23.4
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.28
1.36
Tackles Won
0.39
0.42
Successful Take-On %
43.7%
43.4%
However, while the comparison to England’s captain and one of the best strikers in the game is certainly encouraging, it’s not the only reason the Gunners should be looking to sign the Stuttgart star.
For example, despite playing for a midtable side, the “exceptional” marksman, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was able to rack up an impressive haul of 17 goals and three assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes.
That means the 23-year-old goalscorer maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games this year, or every 101.95 minutes, which is undeniably impressive.
On top of that, the Bremen-born star comes in at a massive 6 foot 6 but remains agile and quick on his feet, so not only could he interchange with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard at the Emirates, but he’d add even more height and physicality into the Gunners’ squad.
Ultimately, Woltemade has been incredible this season, and his goalscoring abilities combined with his physical characteristics make him someone Arsenal should not miss out on – the comparison to Kane is just another reason they should be going all out to sign him.
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The sensational talent could add so much to Arsenal’s attack.
A Premier League star is now more inclined to join Chelsea over Man Utd after a U-turn behind-the-scenes, with both clubs reaching out for talks recently.
Chelsea kickstart transfer plans amid Champions League qualification
Levi Colwill’s second-half tap-in against Nottingham Forest on Sunday arguably came as Chelsea’s most important goal of the 2024/2025 campaign, with Enzo Maresca’s side confirming their place in the Champions League next season as a result.
£172k-per-week striker is waiting for Chelsea to contact him about joining
Chelsea are set for a big summer after qualifying for the Champions League.
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This will have a profoundly positive effect when it comes to Chelsea’s recruitment drive over the summer window, as the west Londoners are set for a considerable financial windfall and gifted far more pull in the market, given they will be competing in European football’s most prestigious competition.
Rank
Team
Points
GD
Man City
71
+28
Chelsea
69
+21
Newcastle
66
+21
6
Aston Villa
66
+7
7
Nottingham Forest
65
+12
Finishing in the top five could truly prove to be season-defining for 2025/2026, with Chelsea setting their sights on a proven goalscorer as one of their many transfer priorities before the next campaign kicks off.
It is believed that Chelsea could even bring in two strikers this summer, which is made all the more possible by their Champions League place, and journalist Simon Phillips reports that the Blues want to register one of them before the Club World Cup next month.
That man could well be Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, following his excellent 12-goal season in an otherwise dismal side, according to various reports.
Ipswich Town's Liam Delap against Brentford.
Fabrizio Romano backs up whispers that Chelsea have held talks with Delap’s camp, and other media sources claim that the Englishman is set to make a decision on his next destination “this week” (Simon Phillips).
Liam Delap inclined to join Chelsea over Man Utd
This is echoed by talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, who told the broadcaster that Delap is actually more inclined to join Chelsea over Man United, after the former qualified for Champions League football next season.
While the 22-year-old’s spoken to United, Newcastle and Everton as well as Chelsea, it appears the latter are in pole position as things stand.
“My understanding was that he was leaning towards Manchester United because he wanted to go back and live in the north west. He’s a former Manchester City player,” said Crook on air.
“But he does want to play in the Champions League. So I wonder if that may have scuppered United now.
“And the noises I’m hearing this morning are more that maybe he’ll end up at Chelsea.”
Delap’s sky-high potential stretches far beyond just goals, as the ex-City starlet’s power, speed and physicality also make him a real force to be reckoned with. Teammates like Alex Palmer have endorsed Delap’s talent as well, calling him a “monster” up front.
“You look at him and he’s a monster,” said Palmer.
“He’s a young lad that’s got the enthusiasm and energy – and also the talent.”
Liverpool are now “seriously pursuing” a £34m defender, and advanced talks have already taken place, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Liverpool searching for Trent replacement
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time at Anfield isn’t ending the way he would’ve liked, having confirmed his decision to leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, with the right-back entering the field to a chorus of boos after being brought on as a substitute against Arsenal on Sunday.
Jamie Carragher has since criticised the reaction to Trent entering the field, encouraging supporters to sing other players’ names, rather than booing one of their own.
Conor Bradley, on the other hand, received a good reception on Sunday, but having made an error in the build-up to the Gunners’ first goal, Arne Slot could have some reservations about the Northern Irishman becoming the first-choice right-back immediately.
As such, Slot may choose to enter the transfer market to find a replacement for Trent, and Plettenberg has now taken to X to provide an update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong.
Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies in action with Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpong
The Sky Sports reporter states the Reds are now “seriously pursuing” Frimpong, with the right-back “planning to move this summer”, and he should be available for a relatively affordable fee, given that he has a release clause of around €35m – €40m (£29m – £34m) in his contract.
The 24-year-old is also described as “one of the top options” to replace Alexander-Arnold at the end of the season, underlining the Merseysiders’ level of interest, with advanced talks taking place.
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1 BySean Markus Clifford May 12, 2025 "Monster" Frimpong could be ideal Trent replacement
Trent has received criticism for his defending during his time at Anfield, but the England international has more than made up for it with his quality going forward, picking up three goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season.
Much like his potential predecessor, the Leverkusen star also excels on the front foot, ranking in the 93rd percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, and the 89th percentile for assists, when compared to other full-backs.
Amid previous links to Manchester United, the Dutchman was also described as a “monster” in the attacking third by the United Stand’s Beth Tucker, which is underlined by his contributions going forward over the past three Bundesliga seasons.
Season
Bundesliga appearances
Goals
Assists
2022-23
34
8
7
2023-24
31
9
9
2024-25
33
5
6
A fee of just £29m – £34m could be a bargain for Frimpong, who could be the ideal replacement for Trent, given his attacking quality, although it would also be good to see academy graduate Bradley receive more game time next season.