All posts by h79snht.top

da betsul： Celtic’s European campaign is over, cut short in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable.

da brdice： Having lost the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase tie 2-1 when Bayern Munich visited Parkhead, few gave Brendan Rodgers’ side a prayer in Bavaria on Tuesday.

However, after actually squandering four excellent first half opportunities, Nicolas Kühn’s cool finish mid-way through the second 45 had the Bhoys on course to cause an almighty upset.

However, just as everyone inside the Allianz Arena was preparing for extra time, the Bundesliga leaders snatched victory; Kasper Schmeichel produced yet another remarkable save, but Cameron Carter-Vickers’ subsequent clearance found its way into the net via Alphonso Davies.

So, devastation for those bedecked in hoops, but they can certainly take heart from two outstanding performances against the six-times champions of Europe, with one member of the side, in particular, catching the eye, being compared to a Celtic great of the very recent past.

Matt O'Riley's impact at Celtic

When Matt O’Riley arrived at Celtic, joining from Milton Keynes for a reported £1.5m in January 2022, he was a complete unknown, having made just five appearances in Fulham’s first team, before appearing 54 times at EFL League One level for MK.

History could have panned out so differently, because Ange Postecoglou’s first choice was actually Australian international midfielder Riley McGree, who chose to go to Middlesbrough instead, with Boro cheekily posting ‘some people prefer red to green, but hey ho’, a caption that has gone down in Celtic folklore.

Fair to say, supporters are pleased events panned out the way they did, given that, as Stefan Bienkowski of Transfermarkt puts it, O’Riley became ‘unquestionably the best player in Scotland’.

During his time in Glasgow, the Danish international scored 27 goals and provided 35 assists in 124 matches, that’s a goal involvement every 146 minutes, winning six major trophies, before being named Celtic Player of the Year and Celtic Players’ Player of the Year last season.

O’Riley was then sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £25m in August, a joint-club-record sale, having more than made his mark in just two and a half seasons in Glasgow’s East End.

One of his most eye-catching performances came as the Celts made their Champions League return following a five-year exile, hosting reigning champions Real Madrid no less.

O’Riley – who “did not look out of place at all against Madrid”, according to Guillem Balague – had 43 touches, completing 77% of his passes and creating two chances on a night where, as Jonathan Liew of the Guardian put it, Celtic outplayed Los Blancos for long periods.

That night, as with Tuesday, ultimately ended in disappointment against a European juggernaut, but did a current Celtic midfielder put in an equally outstanding performance that proves he is worth his large transfer fee?

Celtic star just had his O'Riley moment

As O’Riley’s replacement in the summer, Celtic broke their club-record transfer fee to sign midfielder Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported £11m on deadline day.

Chalkboard

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Earlier this season, Joe Donnelly of the Glasgow Times described Engels’ start to life in green and white as ‘mercurial’, adding that due to the price tag, ‘an extra layer of expectation rests on the midfielder’s shoulders’.

However, in more recent weeks, Graeme McGarry of the Herald believes the Belgian had a ‘coming of age’ performance against Bayern Munich, with Robbie Hanratty of the National adding that Engels’ ‘hard work is paying off’, while former Motherwell and Scotland forward James McFadden labelled him “a class act”.

Still only 21 years old, his recent brace against Dundee took his tally to nine goals and ten assists for the season, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believing he is still “underrated”, adding he “could easily play for a strong club in the top 5 league”.

In Munich on Tuesday night, Engels completed 93% of his passes, created two chances and won two duels, proving his worth in a Celtic jersey. As writer Ryan McGinlay noted – in a similar manner to the aforementioned Balague – the one-time Club Brugge man “looks at home at this level”.

He may then have just enjoyed his O’Riley moment, but how does Engels’ first season as a whole compare to the current Brighton star?

Matt O’Riley (22/23) vs Arne Engles (24/25) comparison

Statistics

Matt O’Riley

Arne Engles

Appearances

52

38

Minutes

3,308

2,205

Goals

4

9

Assists

14

10

Expected goals per 90

0.09

0.35

Expected assists per 90

0.36

0.23

Shots per 90

2.53

2.37

Shots on target %

38.1%

31.1%

Pass completion %

81.8%

70.3%

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

To give a larger and more comparable sample size, O’Riley’s first full season was chosen for comparison.

As the table shows, O’Riley’s statistics are more impressive across the board, aside from the fact Engels has scored nine goals, while acknowledging that seven of these have come from the penalty spot.

Nevertheless, it’s worth remembering that it took the Dane a season and a half before he truly exploded onto the scene, and the Belgian is showing encouraging signs that he will repay that £11m price tag.

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da dobrowin： Aston Villa head into tonight’s Premier League fixture with Liverpool desperate to get back to winning ways in front of their adoring Villa Park faithful.

da realsbet： Last time out, Unai Emery’s men picked up a flat point versus relegation-threatened Ipswich Town on their own patch, with the result made to look even more bleak by the fact the Tractor Boys managed to pick up that point despite only having ten men for all of the second 45 minutes.

Even with Liverpool currently showing some chinks in their armour with a Merseyside Derby draw and a slim win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Villa will know they’ll need to be at their best to exploit the Reds’ rustiness, especially if Mohamed Salah is at his frightening peak.

Salah's unbelievable form this season

Indeed, even with the Egyptian ace hitting 32 years of age and worrying about his long-term Anfield future, the tricky attacker is having the campaign of his life.

Staggeringly, Salah boasts a whopping 28 goals and 19 assists in all competitions this season so far, with a large portion of those goal contributions – 37 to be exact – coming in the bread and butter of the top flight.

Salah’s G/A record – last five games in all competitions

Game

Result

Goals scored

Assists

Wolves (H)

2-1 W

1

0

Everton (A)

2-2 D

1

1

Tottenham (H)

4-0 W

1

1

Bournemouth (A)

2-0 W

2

0

Ipswich (H)

4-1 W

1

0

Stats by Sofascore

Scoring and assisting in some capacity across his high-flying side’s last five matches too, Villa will know they will have to keep the enigmatic Salah quiet all night long to try and pick up a result and sour Arne Slot’s mood even more.

Emery might well even have his own Salah up his sleeve for this Wednesday night affair, with the star in question equally comfortable playing on the right wing but when putting his golden left foot to good use.

Aston Villa could unleash their answer to Salah

Villa certainly were the talk of the town after an explosive end to the hectic transfer window saw them welcome in Axel Disasi, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio all on loan deals.

Whilst Disasi is likely to start again in the centre-back areas, there is a shout that Asensio could be handed a start down the right wing to spring a surprise on Slot and Co, who might well be anticipating Rashford jumping into the XI after he clattered the crossbar against Ipswich.

Instead, the “unbelievable” Spaniard – as he has been labelled in the past by football talent scout Antonio Mango – might be given the nod to try and cause havoc to a Liverpool defence that gave up 16 shots to Wolves, with a fierce strike like this one in the ex-Real Madrid man’s wheelhouse.

After all, when donning the famous Los Blancos strip, Asensio would help himself to a stunning 61 goals and 32 assists from 286 games, further reinforcing the notion of the 29-year-old being a star for the big occasion and why he should start against the table-toppers late on.

His debut in claret and blue also saw a confident Asensio take to the pressures of the English game well, with many a trick and flick well executed, alongside walking away from the FA Cup win versus Spurs with a 100% pass accuracy in-tact.

A real threat off the right flank, like Salah, the comparison between the pair – as well as Rashford – has only recently been made by Emery himself:

Asensio could also link up well with the main Villa marksman Ollie Watkins who managed to push his side to a draw against the Tractor Boys with an equalising strike, alongside the fact the former Brentford sharpshooter has five career goals versus the Reds.

Emery will want to see a reaction from his underwhelming troops and there wouldn’t be a better way to respond than beating the league leaders in front of a packed Villa Park, courtesy of some Asensio magic.

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da bwin： After a matter of months, INEOS are already reportedly plotting to cut Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United reign short by hiring a veteran replacement who’s won as many as six Serie A titles.

Man Utd already eyeing Amorim replacement

da doce： When looking back at the last year of INEOS’ decisions, it’s clear that they haven’t exactly helped to drag Manchester United out of the position they currently find themselves in. First and foremost, they rewarded Erik ten Hag with a new contract after much deliberation. They decided that FA Cup glory was enough to make the Dutchman their man despite all the Premier League failure that came before.

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What came next felt inevitable. Even after a summer of investment which saw the likes of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt arrive, it quickly became apparent that United’s FA Cup victory was an off-day for Manchester City rather than the beginning of a renaissance and Ten Hag was soon sacked as a result.

He wasn’t the only one shown the door either – and at a price. Soon following the manager was Dan Ashworth, who was shown the door just months after INEOS chased and chased to secure the sporting director’s arrival from Newcastle United.

In between those two departures, however, it looked as though Sir Jim Ratcliffe had made his first positive call by hiring Amorim. The Sporting Club boss was a young, successful manager who had just thrashed Pep Guardiola’s City side. It simply had to be the right call.

Alas, even as the curse of Sir Alex Ferguson’s throne looked destined to end, that has proved far from the case. Four months on from taking hold of the poisoned chalice, Amorim has picked up just five Premier League wins in 16 games to leave United in the bottom half and leave INEOS wondering whether it’s time to make another expensive decision.

INEOS and Man Utd plotting Allegri move

Now, according to reports in Spain, INEOS and Manchester United are plotting a move to hire Massimiliano Allegri and hand the Italian his first job since his departure from Juventus at the end of last season.

In a move that would swap the young for the experienced, Allegri doesn’t need much of an introduction – his Serie A legacy speaks for itself. Winning the famous Scudetto six times, with five of those wins coming at Juventus and the other coming at AC Milan, Allegri is an undeniable winner who perhaps has the know-how which Amorim lacks at this stage of his career.

Whether the 57-year-old would finally solve United’s problems is another question entirely, however. Just like Amorim, Allegri’s preferred 3-5-2 system features wing-backs rather than wingers, which would hand the Red Devils the same issue they currently face with a squad full of players unable to fit into a back five.

It could also be argued that Allegri is past the peak of his managerial powers. Whilst the Italian does have six Serie A titles to his name, the last of those six came in the 2018/19 season, highlighting his struggles to take hold of Italian football in recent years.

da bet7： In what would be a major blow for those at Ibrox, Sevilla chief Victor Orta now reportedly wants to sign one of Rangers’ best players in a summer swoop when the transfer window swings open.

Rangers transfer news

da bet7： Whilst there’s no doubt that the Gers have had a season to forget given that they’re sitting as many as 16 points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, the Europa League could yet salvage things.

Having defeated Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 in midweek, Rangers will now welcome the Turkish giants to Ibrox with one foot in the last eight.

Their success on the European stage may not come without consequences, with the transfer window approaching and certain stars already emerging on the radar of several sides.

Following such a frustrating campaign on the domestic front, which ultimately brought Philippe Clement’s tenure to an end, the last thing that the Scottish giants need is a major departure on the pitch. However, reports suggest that they could be getting exactly that.

According to reports in Spain, Sevilla chief Victor Orta personally wants to sign Hamza Igamane for the Spanish club this summer following his excellent campaign in a struggling Rangers side.

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With Sevilla joining Everton in the race to secure the winger’s signature, the Gers are set to face quite the battle if they want to keep hold of their star man this summer, especially after the season they’ve had.

Whilst those around him have struggled, Igamane has scored 13 goals in all competitions, including three in the Europa League as Rangers have progressed out of the league phase and are one game away from a place in the last eight.

Rangers must keep "brilliant" Igamane

Whilst there may be some temptation to cash in on their star man to boost their finances this summer, Rangers should do everything to keep hold of Igamane for the sake of their new manager next season.

The forward is still just 22 years old and approaching the peak of his powers with every game, which means that he’s ready to make an impact on the pitch.

If the Gers are to consider their finances, then waiting another campaign to sell Igamane could be their answer. At such a young age, there’s every indication that he’s yet to reach his best in a Rangers shirt. Only then should Rangers should consider cashing in.

For now, the likes of Derek Ferguson should continue to enjoy his talents. The former Rangers midfielder was full of praise for Igamane earlier this season, telling BBC Sportsound (as per The Scotsman): “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant.

“He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

da roleta： The 2024/25 season has been a difficult one for Tottenham Hotspur, with injuries massively halting Ange Postecoglou’s progress as manager in North London.

da pinup bet： His side currently sit 13th in the Premier League, with any hope of qualifying for European football for next season all but over with just ten games remaining.

However, despite the setbacks, the Lilywhites have registered 55 goals in their 28 outings, with only league leaders Liverpool scoring more to date – with the defensive issues preventing their progress.

Brennan Johnson and James Maddison sit joint top of the club’s league top-scorer charts with nine goals, showcasing how spread out goals have been among the first team squad.

Despite Dominic Solanke’s club-record move in the summer, the Englishman has struggled with injuries, subsequently preventing him from matching the levels produced by one other player in England.

Alexander Isak’s stats for Newcastle in 2024/25

Swedish international Alexander Isak has set England alight after his move to Newcastle United in the summer of 2022, scoring 57 times in his 99 appearances.

The 25-year-old has been strongly linked with Spurs’ North London rivals, Arsenal, after his form this campaign, which has seen him score 22 times across all competitions.

He’s been a constant nuisance to endless sides in the division, but none more so than Postecoglou’s men, scoring six times against them since his move – the most of any team in his professional career.

Despite the excellent goalscoring record of the Lilywhites, they’ve lacked that clinical goalscorer to lead the line amid Solanke’s fitness issues, with the supporters undoubtedly wishing they had a talent of Isak’s quality.

However, one player who left a couple of years ago has since thrived away from the club, being compared to the Swede as a result of his performances in the final third.

The former Spurs flop who’s playing just like Isak in 2024/25

Over the years, numerous players have arrived at Spurs with high potential to succeed but have ultimately failed to deliver, with Erik Lamela just one player to fall into that category.

The Argentine joined in a £30m deal after Gareth Bale’s departure, looking to fill the void, but failing to do so – scoring just 37 times in his eight years in North London.

Striker Vincent Janssen is another player who had high hopes of being a success, costing £17m from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar back in the summer of 2016.

However, his spell at the club would be a dismal one, scoring just six times during his debut campaign – before just one appearance in 2017/18, subsequently joining Fenerbahçe on loan in January – leading to John Laverty dubbing him as “dreadful”.

He would never recover from his poor form early on in England, with Daniel Levy offloading him, leaving in a £6m deal to join Mexican side Monterrey – aiming to get his once-promising career back on track.

Fast forward to 2025, the striker now plies his trade for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, scoring 50 times in his 127 appearances over the last three years, with FBref ranking him as a similar player to Isak based on their respective figures.

When comparing their stats from the ongoing season, he may have been outscored by the Swede, but he has matched him for shot-on-target accuracy – subsequently showcasing his clinical edge.

How Janssen compares to Isak in 2024/25 so far

Statistics (per 90)

Janssen

Isak

Games played

27

25

Goals & assists

16

24

Shot-on-target accuracy

46%

46%

Pass accuracy

78%

74%

Take-on success

66%

47%

Fouls won

1.8

0.5

Aerial success rate

48%

33%

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more take-ons and won more aerial duels, offering that all-around number nine play in which the club have missed in Solanke’s absence.

It’s safe to say that his time in North London was nothing short of a disaster, as he struggled to match the expectations placed on him after his big-money move to England.

However, it’s clear that he’s since found his form after leaving, showcasing to his former side what they’re missing out on after cutting their losses on him after just three years at the club.

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da dobrowin： Liverpool huffed and puffed but they couldn’t breach Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive barrier, and Arne Slot will not be tasting European glory in his first season at the Anfield helm.

da fazobetai： It’s the first major blot on Slot’s copybook. He succeeded Jurgen Klopp last summer and has steered Liverpool to within touching distance of the Premier League title, with Wembley also looming large this weekend.

But despite Harvey Elliott’s incredible late winner at the Parc des Princes last week, defying the Ligue 1 giant’s dominance, Liverpool couldn’t find a way through at Anfield and are out of the Champions League in the last 16.

It’s hard to pin down any one thing on the crushing defeat, but Liverpool’s frontline flattered to deceive on the continental stage and will have given Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes plenty of food for thought.

Liverpool's forwards misfire in Europe

Mohamed Salah was kept relatively quiet once again, but he did look to make things happen and proved a threat with some neat tricks, close misses and dangerous passing.

Likewise, Luis Diaz ran to and fro, to and fro, stretching the French opposition but to little avail. The men in the middle, however, typified Liverpool’s problems, with Diogo Jota shackled and Darwin Nunez out of sync and ineffective in his stead, replacing the Portugal international after 73 minutes.

The pointers suggest FSG are going to move for a high-class central striker this summer, and you can see why.

Jota & Nunez’s Performances vs PSG at Anfield

Match Stats

Jota

Nunez

Minutes

73′

47′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

33

14

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

12/17 (71%)

5/8 (63%)

Key passes

0

0

Dribbles

0/3

0/1

Duels won

2/10

3/8

Data via Sofascore

Neither Jota nor Nunez provided anything meaningful, with the latter missing his spot-kick and heightening Curtis Jones’ nerve, for the midfielder subsequently hit a tame strike at the unbeatable Gigi Donnarumma.

However, the blame cannot lie solely on the strikers, as the home side still found some more errors leaked into their game and this was showcased by one Liverpool star who raised his levels after recent months but still failed to produce the desired effect.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Expand Collapse Liverpool star proved he's reaching the end

While questions linger regarding the futures of Liverpool’s non-committal contract rogues, there are a few more who might be reaching the end of their Anfield journeys.

Andy Robertson is one of them, with the 31-year-old left-back flattering to deceive for large parts of the current campaign despite Liverpool’s immense season.

As per Sofacore, he lost the ball 24 times during his 90 minutes on the field as he sought to make things happen for the Reds but struggled to hit the kind of consistency of years past, finding his target with one of ten attempted crosses.

Moreover, the Scotland skipper was exposed during the build-up to Ousmane Dembele’s opening goal, a moment that proved crucial in the grand scheme of the evening.

He did show plenty of spirit thereafter and wasn’t run ragged by PSG’s devastating and interchangeable frontline, but Robertson simply isn’t what he used to be, with wayward passing, questionable decision-making and unconvincing positioning underpinning the issues in this Liverpool squad.

And there are issues. However, let’s all take a moment. Liverpool now turn toward a Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday and remain 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League. Falling in Europe doesn’t change that.

But this time next week, the Merseysiders will have one road to travel down for the final few months of the campaign, and next season, Slot will hope to exercise Champions League demons to be sure.

Hopefully, Robertson’s still at the club, he is a legend after all. But Liverpool need younger and more robust improvements to take them to the next level, and this was illustrated against a fearsome PSG side, who advance to the last eight.

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da spicy bet： Patience is not often a popular thing in football, yet Manchester United have seen its merits in recent times, not least with the rise of a certain Amad Diallo.

da premier bet： The deal to sign the Atalanta teenager was initially announced back in October 2020, prior to his eventual arrival in January 2021, albeit with it having arguably taken until this season for that £19m addition to bear fruit.

Having been on the periphery under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before spending time out on loan at Rangers and Sunderland, the Ivorian remained a bit-part player under Erik ten Hag, even despite his FA Cup heroics against Liverpool last term.

It has taken the arrival of Ruben Amorim for the 22-year-old’s stock to truly soar, with the wing wizard already registering more goal involvements under the Portuguese than he did under any other previous United boss.

From his dazzling displays at the Etihad and Anfield, to his crucial hat-trick against bottom side Southampton, the £120k-per-week sensation had been the shining light of 2024/25, prior to suffering his cruel injury setback last month.

Amad’s Man Utd record by coach

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

20

6

5

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

57

12

9

Stats via Transfermarkt

Regardless of the halt to his impact, Amad looks like a genuine star at Old Trafford. The question remains, why didn’t Ten Hag see it?

How Amad earned his big chance at United

Not every player can follow the Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo route by thrusting themselves straight into the limelight in their teenage years, with the pair notably scoring in last season’s FA Cup final under Ten Hag.

For others, the path to becoming a first-team regular is not quite as smooth, a fact that has also played out elsewhere. Take William Saliba, for example, with the Frenchman signed by Arsenal in 2019, before ultimately making his debut for the Gunners in 2022.

Now part of the “best [centre-back] partnership in Europe”, according to Martin Keown, the 24-year-old – and the north London side – have flourished following that gradual progression. The same could now be true of Amad.

Indeed, the diminutive forward spent the tail-end of 2021/22 in Glasgow, before moving to the Stadium of Light for the following campaign, with that drop into the Championship seeing the youngster score 14 times in what was a breakthrough year.

Frustratingly, an injury sustained on the summer tour of 2023 hampered his involvement back at United at the start of the next season, although even upon his return to action, he was utilised sparingly by Ten Hag, despite netting against Liverpool in March.

After signing off 2023/24 with a notable strike against Newcastle United, Amad was then the star of pre-season after scoring against both Rangers and Real Betis, although after starting the new campaign in the side, he swiftly faded from view.

Since netting a brace against PAOK under Ruud van Nistelrooy – as well as assisting Marcus Rashford in Amorim’s first game in charge – he simply hasn’t looked back, however, taking his chance with both hands and swiftly overtaking the likes of Antony in the process.

The Ten Hag favourite who now needs to be sold

What makes the slow rise of Amad all the more headscratching is that Ten Hag and co were so keen to favour others above him, with Antony having been the go-to man on the right flank under the Dutchman’s watch.

Signed for £86m in the summer of 2022, the Brazilian was almost doomed to fail from the outset amid the sizeable nature of the price tag, particularly considering that United had been quoted around £25m during Solskjaer’s time at the helm.

After a strong start that included three goals in his first three Premier League outings, the polarising winger struggled to maintain that early impact, albeit while notching notable strikes in the Europa League against both Betis and Barcelona.

Antony’s stock plummeted even further in 2023/24 as it took until January to register his first goal away at Newport County, with the only real highlight of that campaign having been his well-taken strike against Liverpool in that 4-3 thriller.

A player who boasts just 12 goals and five assists for United in 96 games in total, the 24-year-old was arguably undeserving of the continued favouritism shown toward him, albeit with ex-coach Benni McCarthy revealing that Ten Hag viewed him to be “better” than the likes of Amad in that wide berth.

That view has already come back to bite Ten Hag considering that Amad has already eclipsed Antony’s goals and assist total from just 57 United games, having contributed 12 goals and nine assists to date.

Journalist Samuel Luckhurst even quipped earlier in the campaign that Amad was playing “like a man suitably insulted by the suggestion Antony should play ahead of him because of his training form”, with Ten Hag having revealed that was the reason why Antony was introduced off the bench ahead of the Ivorian against Fenerbahce.

Having since seen what the one-time Atalanta starlet can do when handed a consistent run of game time, the former Ajax boss may be regretting his handling of the youngster.

As for Antony, having now shown glimpses on loan in Spain – with eight goals and assists in 11 games for Betis – Amorim and co must capitalise on that recent resurgence to find a suitable buyer for him this summer.

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da bet7： Birmingham City are currently putting plans in place to attack the Championship after they were promoted as champions of League One with 111 points.

da wazamba： The Blues wrapped up their 111-point league title success with a 2-1 win against Cambridge United away from home on the final day of the season earlier this month.

Chris Davies and his staff, working alongside the owners, will now be working towards the goal of building a squad that can compete for promotion to the Premier League.

Ipswich Town, albeit they have been relegated from the top-flight this term, have already shown that it is possible to do back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Davies may have to be incredibly ruthless with who he decides should and should not come along for the ride in the Championship, after his players helped him to an incredible season in League One.

One star whose suitability for the second tier is still in question is experienced centre-forward Alfie May, who has just enjoyed a fantastic year in the third tier.

Why Alfie May could be dropped as a starter

The 31-year-old attacker started 27 matches in League One in the 2024/25 campaign, but the step up to the Championship could see him reduced to a cameo role off the bench, or even in need of looking elsewhere for game time.

May turns 32 this summer and has not played a minute of Championship football in his career, playing in League Two or League One throughout his entire professional career to date.

The English centre-forward joined Birmingham from Charlton on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window last year and enjoyed an impressive debut season at St. Andrew’s.

24/25 League One

Alfie May

Appearances

44

Goals

16

Big chances missed

13

Big chances created

7

Assists

8

Ground duel success rate

43%

Aerial duel success rate

10%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, May racked up 24 goals and assists combined in 44 appearances in League One, and scored more goals than he missed ‘big chances’, which shows that the forward was an effective finisher at the top end of the pitch.

However, his lack of strength in duels, particularly in the air, may be why Championship teams have not taken a chance on him in the past, and why Birmingham could drop him as a starter heading into next season.

The Blues could swoop to sign an upgrade on him in the upcoming summer transfer window, as they have been linked with an interest in an international forward.

Birmingham eyeing deal for Serie A striker

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Birmingham City are eyeing up a deal to sign Che Adams from Serie A side Torino ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Scotland international signed for the Italian club on a free transfer from Southampton last summer, and the Blues are now hoping to tempt him back to England.

Transfer Focus

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

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Speaking to EFL Analysis, the journalist said: “I think Che Adams is one who’s on Birmingham’s list. He does tick the boxes. Obviously, he’s been there before. Knows the club. Obviously be very expensive in the Championship. We know that. So let’s see how that one goes. But yeah, they do want another striker.

“I’m not sure how much he wants to drop to Championship. I don’t really think he’s that keen on dropping to the Championship, but there are options there. If it’s a long-term thing for Birmingham, I do think that’s an option for him certainly.”

These comments from Bailey suggest that it will be a difficult deal to do for the striker, who is valued at £13m by FootballTransfers, for financial and footballing reasons.

However, it could be a fantastic signing for Davies and his staff if the club are able to thrash out a transfer that would bring Adams back for a second spell at Birmingham.

Why Che Adams would be an upgrade on Alfie May

The Blues could secure a big upgrade on the aforementioned Alfie May by signing the experienced centre-forward from Torino in the summer transfer window because of his proven quality at Championship level.

Adams has been there and done it in the second tier, including in a Birmingham City shirt, and has scored goals at an even higher level in the Premier League and in the Serie A.

The 28-year-old star, who manager Paolo Vanoli described as the “perfect player”, has scored nine goals in the Italian top-flight this season, and scored 25 times in the Premier League for Southampton earlier in his career.

These statistics show that Adams has already proven himself at a much higher level than the Championship, whilst May is yet to prove himself above League One.

The Torino striker has also proven his quality in the second tier in England in his last two seasons at that level with Southampton and with Birmingham back in the 2018/19 campaign.

Che Adams (Championship)

18/19

23/24

Appearances

46

40

Starts

43

25

Goals

22

16

Big chances missed

11

11

Big chances created

6

7

Assists

4

4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Adams proved that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis, without missing many ‘big chances’ in the Championship in those two seasons, scoring as many or more goals than May did in League One this term.

This shows that Adams has the potential to deliver even more quality in the second tier than May did in the third tier of English football, which is why he could come in as a big upgrade on the current Birmingham star.

The Torino ace has also won 36% of his aerial duels in the Serie A this term, and won 38% of them in the Championship for Southampton last season, which suggests that he could provide more physicality in the number nine role than May.

It is now down to the club to wrap up an “expensive” deal for the forward and for Davies and his staff to convince the forward to make the drop back down to the second tier with the hope that he buys into a long-term project.

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da betcris： Regis Le Bris has now joined an exclusive club when it comes to Sunderland managers who have triumphantly secured Premier League football for the Black Cats.

da mrbet： The last successful boss to guide the Wearside outfit up to the big time was Roy Keane all the way back in 2007, with Sunderland managing to consolidate themselves as a top-flight worthy club from that point onwards until their demise ten years later.

The former Lorient head coach will be desperate to return the Black Cats to their former glories as a Premier League staple, therefore, but he will have to likely stomach Jobe Bellingham’s departure if he is to excel in the elite division.

The latest on Bellingham's future at Sunderland

Breaking down at the close of the dramatic playoff final, Bellingham must have realised that this unbelievable day out at Wembley could be the final ever time he dons Sunderland colours.

The teenage sensation could well be foolish not to move on whilst he’s a hot commodity, seen in new reports that he is in Germany for talks with Bundesliga titans Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential summer switch.

Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also keen on the Sunderland starlet, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, with his promising return of four goals and three assists this season clearly catching many an eye.

This isn’t the only crushing development with Tommy Watson – who scored the crucial winner at Wembley to down Sheffield United – also leaving the Stadium of Light behind soon to join Brighton and Hove Albion for £10m.

Yet, all this bad news coming through doesn’t have to completely demoralise the newly promoted team, considering the Black Cats have an impressive reputation for homegrown youngsters coming good.

This could be the case once more when potentially bumping up a promising 20-year-old prodigy who might well be a savvy Bellingham replacement if all goes to plan.

The Sunderland "diamond" who could replace Jobe

Of course, nobody will be expecting a youngster coming into a harsh Premier League environment to be an instant, rip-roaring success.

But, much like the patience that was exercised with Bellingham when he first broke through, the same should be applied to young midfielder Harrison Jones if he’s deemed worthy now of being handed over the baton by the Frankfurt-linked star.

After all, Jones has already been launched into the senior side six times during his fledgling career to date, with his gleaming numbers for both the U18s and U21s showing off his keen eye for a goal and assist much like Bellingham.

In the Premier League 2 alone this campaign, the Sunderland-born star has picked up five assists and three strikes, with his ability to shine both as a central option or down the wings making him very comparable to the soon-to-be departing Watson, away from any lofty comparisons to the in-demand number seven.

Watson’s overall numbers for Sunderland

Age bracket

Games

Goals scored

Assists

U18s

15

1

5

U21s

40

11

7

First team

6

0

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Of course, Bellingham can also slot into the side down the flanks if needed, with a real hope in the air on Wearside that the homegrown “diamond” – as he has been lauded previously by youth coach John Hewitson – can have a formative season to come to try dress up the wounds of any major exits.

There will have to be a sense of realism over Jones hitting the ground running, though, as the Premier League is a testing beast, but if he can show glimpses of quality and learn off the likes of Enzo Le Fee, he could have a very bright future at his hometown club.

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da betcris： It appears as though Steven Gerrard is in the running to be the next manager of Glasgow Rangers.

da marjack bet： His previous spell between 2018 and 2021 saw the Ibrox side win their first Premiership title since 2011 before he left for Aston Villa.

He was savvy in the transfer market, bringing in a mix of young players with plenty of potential and experienced professionals who were ready to make an immediate impact.

One of his most underrated signings was Jermain Defoe, who enjoyed a productive Indian summer to his career in Glasgow.

Jermain Defoe’s Rangers statistics

The Englishman arrived at Rangers in January 2018 on an 18-month loan deal, scoring on his debut against Kilmarnock.

He ended up with eight goals during his first six months, before netting 17 across 32 games the following season. In January 2020, he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club permanently and went on to play a bit-part role in the 2020/21 title-winning campaign.

Jermain Defoe’s 2019/20 stats for Rangers (league only)

Games

20

Goals

13

Goals per game

0.7

Scoring frequency (minutes)

77

Minutes per game

50 minutes

Via Sofascore

Defoe scored only five times all season, but he won his first-ever domestic title in the process. He left Ibrox less than six months later, but the veteran striker was great to have around the training ground, offering advice and encouragement to the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.

While the transfer strategy has changed over the years, if Gerrard is appointed as manager, could he make a similar sort of signing in Jamie Vardy this summer?

An English centre-forward with a host of experience in the Premier League, looking for one final crack at the big time. It makes sense when you think about it…

Why Rangers should sign Jamie Vardy

Ally McCoist has stated his desire to see Vardy in a Rangers’ shirt next season, and given the fact he is soon to be a free agent, a prospective move could be closer than many think.

Vardy will leave Leicester City this summer after 13 years, making his 500th appearance for the club last week while netting his 200th goal for the Foxes.

It has been a remarkable career in the Premier League for the Englishman and he was even named as a “living legend” by manager Ruud van Nistelrooy recently.

He might be 38, but a season or two in Scotland could still see him finding the back of the net on a regular basis, especially if used as an impact sub.

The striker – who has ten goals to his name this term, including nine in the league – has managed to create six big chances in the top flight, having a goal conversion percentage of 16% and averaging 1.7 shots per game.

Not excellent statistics by any stretch of the imagination, but for Rangers, he could certainly replicate the feats of Defoe should the Ibrox side come calling this summer.

It may go against the club’s ethos of prioritising younger talents, but Vardy would offer something different in the final third.

That something might just make all the difference towards the end of the season. That’s for sure.

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