All posts by z3u9t.icu

Birmingham City won’t be entering into the Championship happy to just make up the numbers as Chris Davies’ men move back up to the tricky division with a new lease of life.

Last time the Blues were in the second tier, they depressingly sunk down to League One as years of mistreatment off the pitch and dire results on it culminated in the St. Andrew’s giants finally falling off the cliff.

Now, they’re back and better than ever after a monumental 111-point haul saw them coast to the title, with plenty of new signings rumoured to be entering through the door to help them acclimatise back to the EFL’s top league.

The highest points tallies in Championship history

Leeds and Burnley recently made second-tier history.

ByCharlie Smith May 17, 2025

It’s not the most bizarre claim to suggest that Tom Wagner and Co could even go back in for former star Nathan Redmond, considering the 31-year-old has just been released by Burnley and was a breathtaking watch donning a Birmingham strip during the fledgling stages of his career.

Redmond's standout spell at Birmingham

Before the likes of Jude Bellingham put Birmingham on the footballing map as a sensational St. Andrew’s prodigy, Redmond was the original golden child developed by the West Midlands side.

The Birmingham-born ace would excite and enthral his loyal set of supporters in equal measure throughout his stint at the club, leading to Norwich City picking up the pacey winger for around the £3.2m mark in 2013.

Therefore, the temptation to bring him back for nothing must be palpable, with Redmond triumphantly rejoining to add to his sizeable tally of nine goals and 11 assists.

But, Birmingham could also set their sights elsewhere in attempting to land a gung-ho right winger in the same vein as Redmond, with one target constantly linked with a switch to the Blues causing havoc in League One, much like the 31-year-old was once capable of.

Birmingham could now sign their next Redmond

After all, it would be a major risk on Davies and Co’s end to expect their former homegrown product to be as electric as he once was on his return, considering the one-time England international’s last two seasons have been horribly plagued by injury.

Therefore, Birmingham should go all full steam ahead to try and snap up the services of Peterborough United ace and reported target Kwame Poku, with the entertaining Ghanaian perhaps the second coming of Redmond.

Whilst Redmond has only been fit enough to feature 18 times for the Clarets across those two last campaigns, Poku – on the other hand – has been ripping League One to shreds as a captivating attacker down the right flank, much like the injury-prone veteran in his prime.

Last season, Poku would tally up a hefty 23 goal contributions from just 31 games, adding to his equally impressive 20 goal contributions the campaign prior.

RW

100

25

19

AM

50

4

8

RM

19

3

5

LW

14

2

3

CF

3

0

0

LM

2

1

0

Moreover, the 5 foot 10 forward is also capable of playing down the left wing and through the middle as a number ten like his soon-to-be free agent counterpart.

Therefore, Birmingham coming out on top to snap up the “outstanding” star – as he has been lauded by football journalist Lukman Evergreen – would be a real signing of intent, with the 23-year-old superstar also potentially linking up with the likes of Jay Stansfield and Alfie May to devastating effect.

Of course, there will be a lot of sentimentality on the end of Blues supporters regarding that possible reunion with Redmond.

But, with all of his injury issues taken into account, alongside Poku now excelling in what Redmond used to do so well, this might well be a necessary signing for Davies’ men to make in the here and now to unsettle the Championship.

Birmingham closing in on signing their next Iwata for Davies

Birmingham City could soon snap up their next Tomoki Iwata with this summer purchase.

1 ByKelan Sarson May 18, 2025

Celtic have enjoyed another fantastic campaign, but could now have to make a decision on the future of one of their key stars this summer following recent developments.

Celtic look to continue claiming regular silverware

Brendan Rodgers continues to dominate the landscape north of the border and stands on the verge of claiming a third treble over two spells at the club if he can see off Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden later this month.

With minimal fuss, Celtic have already claimed the Scottish Premiership title alongside the Premier Sports Cup, setting the scene for an exciting summer that could see several arrivals at Parkhead.

Per reports, Ross Doohan could join the Hoops on a free transfer from Aberdeen to bolster their pool of homegrown options in line with squad registration rules for European competitions.

Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic is also a Celtic target, even if the Scottish champions have been warned that he isn’t for sale at this moment in time.

Closer to home, speculation over whether Lennon Miller will complete a move to the Bhoys remains unanswered despite persistent interest in the Scotland Under-21 international.

Fewer minutes than Nawrocki: Celtic must axe flop who's "not good enough"

Celtic must finally part ways with this player who has played fewer minutes than Maik Nawrocki.

ByDan Emery May 9, 2025

Either way, Celtic are aware they will need to act fast on the market to strengthen their squad efficiently for their involvement in the final Champions League qualifying round. Entry to the league phase isn’t guaranteed, so Rodgers and company may need to act earlier than normal to secure priority targets ahead of rival suitors.

Conversely, they could now have to decide on a star player who has recently been scouted by an outfit from Europe’s top-five leagues.

Celtic star Reo Hatate wanted by Udinese

According to Sunsport, Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate was recently scouted by Udinese during their 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock as the Serie A outfit ponder a move for the Japan international. Italian and French clubs are also interested in the 27-year-old. Nevertheless, the Bhoys are set to demand a significant transfer fee in the event of any emotional exit.

Reo Hatate’s impressive Celtic spell

Appearances

140

Goals

26

Assists

28

Trophies

8

Labelled “incredible” by Celtic boss Rodgers, Hatate has once again emerged as a key player this term, creating 40 chances on Scottish Premiership duty.

Ten goals and nine assists in 53 appearances across all competitions from the former Kawasaki Frontale man in 2024/25 have inched his side closer to a domestic treble.

Despite this, there is always a shelf life for players north of the border. Hatate has been involved in delivering a steady stream of trophies at Celtic since 2022, but squad cycles come to an end and new faces are needed to maintain the hunger needed for further silverware.

Heading into the summer, it remains to be seen whether the Bhoys will be able to retain his services as they prepare for another tilt at success on both domestic and European fronts.

Manchester City are now closing in on a “world-class” defender, having recently received a boost in their transfer pursuit, according to a report.

Man City pursuing new full-back

With captain Kyle Walker being shipped out on loan to AC Milan in January, Matheus Nunes has been filling in at right-back, meaning Man City have now set their sights on a replacement, and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro has been identified as a potential target.

Spurs are set to drive a hard bargain for the right-back, having set an asking price of £50m, but the Spaniard is not the only Tottenham defender of interest to City, with left-back Destiny Udogie emerging as a target earlier this month.

The Blues have been pursuing a new left-back for quite some time, and there are a number of options from within the Premier League, including AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, although there could be competition for the Hungarian from Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Man City now make £34m+ offer to sign "incredible" Ederson replacement

The Citizens have stepped up their pursuit…

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 28, 2025

Pep Guardiola’s side have also been extensively linked with a move for Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso, and a new report from The Sun has revealed they are now closing in on a move for the Italian after receiving a recent boost in their pursuit.

Juventus are advancing towards signing a replacement for Cambiaso, namely Arsenal’s Nuno Tavares, who is currently on loan at Lazio, which indicates they are planning to sell their current left-back in the summer transfer window.

Man City are expected to make a fresh attempt to sign the 25-year-old, who they have been interested in signing since the January transfer window, and reports from elsewhere have stated that a deal could amount to around £54m.

"World-class" Cambiaso could be fantastic signing

Since forcing his way into the first-team, Nico O’Reilly has done a remarkable job at left-back, particularly impressing in an attacking sense, having picked up five goals and two assists in 16 games for City.

However, Guardiola may want to bring in a more experienced option this summer, and there are signs the Juventus defender could be a fantastic signing, given that he has received very high praise from journalist Zach Lowy.

It appears the Italy international is very comfortable in possession of the ball, given the number of passes he has attempted per 90 over the past year, while his pass-completion rate is also very impressive, potentially making the defender a perfect fit in a Guardiola system.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

67.05 (92nd percentile)

Pass-completion %

88.5% (96th percentile)

Progressive carries

3.35 (92nd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.10 (86th percentile)

There may be concerns that Cambiaso’s arrival could stunt O’Reilly’s development, but the Englishman is capable of playing in a number of different positions, so he should still receive regular game time, and the Juventus star could take City’s defence to the next level.

Despite the phenomenal effort by Bruno Fernandes in 2024/25, Manchester United simply haven’t been good enough in attacking areas, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly league standing.

The Portuguese international has notched a staggering 33 combined goals and assists in all competitions, but has been alone in his attempts to transform their fortunes in recent months.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have both shared the responsibility of leading the line for Ruben Amorim, but have both been massively disappointing and struggled to provide the goods.

The aforementioned pair have only netted six Premier League goals between them this campaign, leading to huge rumours over new additions this summer.

One player in particular has emerged as a key target, with the club wasting no time in identifying players to make amends for the dismal season this time around.

The latest on Matheus Cunha’s move to United

Over the last week, huge rumours have emerged linking Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha with a move to join United this summer, as the hierarchy looks to back Amorim in the market.

The Brazilian, who’s registered 18 combined goals and assists in the league this season, currently has a £62.5m release clause within his current contract – something which the club could look to exploit.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s latest update, the 25-year-old is keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, with the hierarchy willing to trigger his release clause and being confident of completing a deal.

However, they could turn their attention to another summer target in the form of Villarreal star Alex Baena, who’s emerged as an alternative to Cunha for the upcoming window.

According to Spanish journalist Eduardo Burgos, United have already entered talks with the Spanish side over a deal for the 23-year-old, who has a £50m release clause.

Why Baena would be a better signing than Cunha

There’s no denying that Cunha is a fantastic talent, as seen by his tally of goals and assists this season, but the only major concern is his attitude issues that have prevented him from starring further in 2024/25.

He received a two-match ban for an incident after the clash with Ipswich Town, whilst also receiving a separate four-game suspension for headbutting Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.

If he is to move to Old Trafford this summer, there’s hope that Amorim will be able to separate that side of his game, allowing him to become a key member of the side.

However, it’s a huge amount of money to spend with a risk lingering over his head, potentially opening the door for a move for Spanish star Baena in the coming months.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the LaLiga ace has managed to outperform the Brazilian star in numerous key areas, showcasing what a superb addition he would be to Amorim’s squad.

Baena, who’s been labelled a “creative machine” by one analyst, has managed more progressive passes per 90, along with a higher tally of passes into the final third, highlighting his ability to find his teammates in attacking areas.

The 23-year-old is best suited in a role behind the striker, but that hasn’t stopped him from achieving a higher goal per shot on target rate and more shot-creating actions than the Wolves star.

Games played

27

28

Goals & assists

13

18

Progressive passes

6.7

4.7

Goals per shot-on-target

0.4

0.3

Passes into final third

3.5

3.2

Shot-creating actions

6.1

4.2

Aerials won

46%

27%

He’s also won more of the aerial battles he’s entered, offering Amorim a dangerous all-round option alongside Fernandes in the number 10 role at Old Trafford.

It’s unclear whether Cunha would be signed to play as the focal option or slightly deeper, but if it’s for the latter, there’s no denying that Baena would be a better option this summer.

Given his age, he has the ability to improve further in the years to come, playing a vital role in Amorim’s ambitions of taking the club back to the heights they’ve achieved in previous years.

Amorim's next Gyokeres: Man Utd hold talks to sign "unplayable" £70m star

It isn’t just Matheus Cunha who could be on their way to Man Utd this summer

ByRobbie Walls Apr 23, 2025

Liverpool are on the verge of winning their second-ever Premier League title in the coming weeks, as they sit 13 points clear at the top of the table with just six games left to go.

The Reds have only won the Premier League once in the history of the competition, winning under Jurgen Klopp in the 2019/20 campaign, and are not set to secure their second.

Arne Slot is on course to claim the title in his first season as a manager in England, having arrived from Feyenoord last summer, and he will go down as the latest in a long line of impressive recruits from the Eredivisie.

Liverpool have tapped into the Dutch market for players in the past, whether that has been directly from the Eredivisie or not, and have now done so to find a brilliant manager, having been successful in the past on the playing side of recruitment.

One Dutch recruit, who did not come directly from the top-flight in the Netherlands, was integral to the first Premier League title success, as central midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum played a key role.

Why Wijnaldum was integral to Liverpool's title win

The Netherlands international played 37 of the club’s 38 Premier League matches that season, starting 35 of them, as part of a regular midfield trio of himself, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho.

Of the players to start at least one game, no Liverpool star completed a higher percentage of their passes than Wijnaldum (90.8%), which shows how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.

He also averaged 4.20 progressive passes and 2.27 progressive carries per 90 to build up play from a midfield position, which shows that the Dutch ace did not always play it safe with the ball at his feet.

Wijnaldum’s development at Anfield was interesting because he was signed from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016 off the back of a return of 11 goals and five assists in the Premier League for the Magpies during the 2015/16 campaign.

The Dutch star arrived at Liverpool as an attacking midfielder who had proven his quality at the top end of the pitch in the top-flight for his previous club, but Klopp developed him into an all-round midfielder who could be a solid option as a number eight.

He ended his Liverpool career with just 22 goals, four of which came in the Premier League in the title-winning campaign, in 237 matches, which illustrates his change in style from Tyneside to Merseyside.

That change in style, however, made him integral to Klopp’s title-winning team because Wijnaldum was a consistent performer, hence his 35 starts, who offered reliability and progression in possession, putting in the hard yards whilst providing quality on the ball.

Instead of being a consistent goalscorer or constantly creating chances, the former Newcastle star did his job in the middle of the park without too much fuss, chipping in with the odd goal here and there, to make himself a reliable figure for the German head coach.

Chalkboard

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

Liverpool have, now, unearthed their new version of Wijnaldum in the current squad, and it is not Alexis Mac Allister – despite his impressive form of late, with a goal and an assist in his last two matches.

Liverpool have unearthed their new Georginio Wijnaldum

Mac Allister did arrive at Liverpool off the back of scoring ten goals in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 2022/23 campaign, but six of those strikes came from the penalty spot.

This meant that the Argentina international only provided four goals and two assists in the top-flight outside of penalties before his move to Liverpool to become a well-rounded midfielder at Anfield.

Whereas, Dominik Szoboszlai scored ten goals and provided 13 assists as an attacking midfielder for RB Leipzig in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign before his switch to England, and only two of those goals were penalties.

The Hungary international, as Wijnaldum did when he joined from Newcastle, arrived at Anfield as an incredibly promising attacking midfielder who had the potential to provide goals and assists, and has followed the Dutchman’s path to becoming an all-rounder in the middle of the park.

Szoboszlai has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 63 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League to date, which illustrates the shift in style in his game since his time in the Bundesliga.

The Hungarian dynamo has been moulded into a perfect box-to-box midfielder for the Reds since switching Germany for England, utilising his fantastic work rate and engine in midfield more so than his ability to score and create goals.

He has started 24 of his 30 appearances in the Premier League so far this term and, interestingly, offered more than Wijnaldum did during the title-winning campaign under Klopp in several parts of the game as a midfielder.

As you can see in the chart above, Szoboszlai has been far more creative with his use of the ball than the Dutchman was, whilst also doing more out of possession by making blocks, tackles, and interceptions.

That chart shows that the 24-year-old Liverpool star, who was described as “unstoppable” by Fabrizio Romano earlier this year, is a brilliantly well-rounded midfield figure because he can combine quality on the ball with hard work and defensive quality off it, making him a key player for Slot in the middle of the park.

Appearances

30

Goals

5

Big chances created

9

Assists

3

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.3

Duels won per game

2.9

As you can see in the table above, Szoboszlai has still found a way to incorporate his attacking qualities into his game, with eight goal contributions, but they are not as prevalent as they were during his time with Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

Therefore, Liverpool have repeated the masterclass they played with Wijnaldum, turning him from an attack-minded midfielder into an all-round number eight, with the Hungary international, who is now set to have played an integral role in the club’s second-ever Premier League title success.

Liverpool strongly positioning themselves for £68m goalscoring midfielder

He would offer a goalscoring boost from midfield.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 16, 2025

Hopefully, this trophy will be the first of many titles in his Premier League career with the Reds, as they will hope that this season is far from a one-off success.

Nottingham Forest are now very keen on signing a £26m midfielder who is becoming increasingly likely to leave his club this summer, according to a report.

Forest's summer transfer plans

Even the most optimistic of Forest fans wouldn’t have predicted their levels of performance this season, with Champions League qualification still very much on the cards, although they were dealt a blow with the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa at the weekend.

It was an afternoon to forget at Villa Park, with the Tricky Trees’ three-game winning streak in the Premier League coming to an end, but they remain in third place, four points clear of nearest rivals Chelsea.

However, should the Tricky Trees manage to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they may have to improve their squad depth this summer, with Nuno setting his sights on targets in a range of different positions.

Bringing in a new striker is of particular importance, with the likes of Crystal Palace’s Jean Philippe-Mateta and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres among the targets, while Marseille winger Luis Enrique could be signed to provide competition for Anthony Elanga at left-wing.

£25m release clause: Nottingham Forest join hectic race for "superb" star

They could trigger his release clause.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 7, 2025

Not only that, but Nuno could also look to bolster his options in the middle of the park, with a report from Italy revealing Nottingham Forest are now very keen on signing AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah (via Sport Witness).

Musah is likely to exit the San Siro this summer, with a €30m (£26m) fee mooted, having put in some disappointing performances this season, recently being substituted in the first half after making a major error against Fiorentina.

The 22-year-old was booed off the field by the Milan fans, which could lead to a move elsewhere this summer, and a number of Premier League clubs are lining up for his signature, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also expressing an interest.

"Incredible" Musah needs to move on this summer

The midfielder’s relationship with the Milan fans is seemingly at breaking point, given their reaction to his substitution at the weekend, and he may need to move on for the good of his career.

While it was undoubtedly a disappointing performance from the American, he is still very young at just 22, and there are plenty of indications he would have a lot to offer Forest in the Premier League.

Journalist Kyle Bonn lauded the Milan ace as “incredible” earlier this season, and he has performed pretty well across some key metrics for midfielders over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, most notably impressing with his dribbling.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.12 (73rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.43 (96th percentile)

Progressive carries

3.25 (98th percentile)

Should Musah decide he needs to move on this summer, he could be a bargain at just £25m, and Forest could be well-positioned to win the race for his signature, should they manage to achieve their goal of qualification for the Champions League.

One Chelsea star has been critiqued for his performance in their game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Robert Sanchez having more touches than him at Stamford Bridge.

In what was Chelsea’s final Premier League game ahead of the November international break, the Blues played host to a Wolves side who, after 10 games, were still without a win in the top flight.

Enzo Maresca’s side struggled to do much with the chances they generated in the first half against Wolves, frustrating the home support at Stamford Bridge. Soon after the half-time break, however, the Blues broke the deadlock.

Malo Gusto opened the scoring with what was his first-ever senior goal just minutes into the second half. This lead was doubled just after the hour mark when Joao Pedro smashed a deflected Estevao cross beyond Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

The game was put beyond any doubt when, with less than 20 minutes to go, Pedro Neto scored against his former club. The win moved Chelsea to second in the table. However, one Blues player was slammed for his performance against the relegation-threatened side.

Delap failed to make mark against Wolves

Signed in the summer from Ipswich Town, Liam Delap has endured a tough start to life at Chelsea. An injury saw him sidelined for weeks to open the 2025/26 campaign, missing almost two months. Upon his return, against Wolves in the Carabao Cup, Delap was sent off for accumulating two yellow cards after coming off the bench.

Delap, who reportedly signed a contract worth £100,000 per week, made his first start for Chelsea since returning from injury against the Old Gold, but failed to make an impact. Simon Johnson, who works for The Athletic, was critical of what the striker produced, noting that he did not appear at match fitness and said he was “struggling”.

As per SofaScore, within 64 minutes of football, Delap had just one shot on target. He was dispossessed on three occasions and by having just 15 touches in the game, had less time on the ball than Sanchez.

Delap is still a young player, one coming back from a relatively long set-back no less. His performance against Wolves, though, can simply not be the level that he consistently operates at going forward.

Chelsea weighing up move for England international