It wasn’t long ago that those of a Newcastle United persuasion were itching for something to happen in the summer transfer market, and rightly so at that.

Well, plotlines have been gathering apace on Tyneside over the past several weeks, but maybe not in the manner which the club or indeed the fanbase had anticipated.

Newcastle have missed out on a range of their top targets, and while Eddie Howe has welcomed Anthony Elanga to his squad for a £55m fee, it’s clear that much needs to happen over the coming weeks, with the Premier League campaign looming large.

With Alexander Isak brooding in the background and defensive targets such as Marc Guehi and Malick Thiaw appearing priorities for the Magpies, it’s easy to forget that Howe wants a new central midfielder, but that too remains one of the club’s most important transfer objectives.

Newcastle plan to sign central midfielder

Last month, Newcastle sold homegrown midfielder Sean Longstaff to newly-promoted Leeds United in a deal worth £12m. Longstaff, 27, played a bit-part role fro his boyhood club and only started eight Premier League matches last term, the last of which came a week into December.

More depth is needed in the engine room, though, and Aston Villa’s John McGinn has been earmarked as an alternative. Everton have already seen a bid knocked back this summer, and Unai Emery doesn’t want to part with his captain.

In which case, United might turn to Ajax talent Kenneth Taylor, with NUFCBlog revealing inside information that confirms Taylor has been added to the shortlist.

The 23-year-old Ajax midfielder has been valued at £25m, and was also the subject of a formal offer from Portuguese giants Porto last month.

Why Newcastle want Kenneth Taylor

Ajax left something to be desired in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, but Taylor confirmed the strength of the club’s revered academy once more, claiming the Player of the Season award after winning the Marco van Basten award the year prior, acknowledging the outfit’s most exciting up-and-coming talent.

Having graduated from the youth ranks and made his first team debut back in 2020 as an 18-year-old, Taylor has only gone from strength to strength over the past four years as a senior in his homeland, having made 165 appearances in total and earned his first five caps for the Netherlands.

Last term, though, he truly came into his own, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists for his teammates across 52 matches in all competitions, operating across the different areas of midfield.

Though McGinn would add some industriousness, energy and spirit to Howe’s project, Taylor’s Dutch verve and hunger to impress at the highest level could make him the perfect alternative, perhaps even a better signing, bringing a sharp potency in front of goal that might be needed, should the matchless Isak be playing in different colours over the looming campaign.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

34 (27)

Goals

9

1

Assists

6

4

Touches*

46.1

34.9

Pass completion

83%

87%

Big chances created

7

6

Key passes*

1.1

0.9

Dribbles*

0.4

0.6

Ball recoveries*

2.5

2.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.6

1.4

Duels won*

3.5

4.1

As you can likely draw from the table above, Taylor is more of an able force in the final third than McGinn, placing an emphasis on pushing into dangerous positions and striking on goal.

Moreover, Taylor finished the 2024/25 campaign ranked among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe for goals scored, the top 7% for through balls and the top 2% for goal-creating actions, with his energetic and forward-moving style leading data-driven site FBref to liken him to Newcastle’s Joelinton.

This exciting mix of strong athleticism and creativity is exactly what Newcastle need to complete their set in the middle of the park.

Though McGinn has a wealth of Premier League experience and is a natural-born leader, Howe has carefully wrought a dynamic and hardy engine room that could do with a touch of youthful exuberance to complement the commanding Bruno Guimaraes, the elegant Sandro Tonali, and, indeed, Joelinton’s raging intensity.

McGinn would be a credit to Newcastle’s team, to be sure, but it’s unlikely that he would nail down a starting berth from the outset, given the strength of the Magpies’ existing options.

Further, the 30-year-old earns £120k per week at Villa Park, and whether the Newcastle chiefs would feel it a prudent move to make a bid for such a player when they would play a utility and squad-rousing role is a pertinent question, especially as the Lions would expect to bank a figure in excess of £30m for their stalwart.

Taylor, however, would be content with joining the club and absorbing the fruits of his impressive midfield peers’ craft. He’s only 23 years old after all, and has plenty of mountainous heights left to scale before reaching the level that his skill set suggests is attainable.

While Howe will be determined to address the more prominent points of concern at St. James’ Park, signing a defender and a goalscoring forward, he will also be aware that the new campaign will bring the added expectation and intensity of a return to the Champions League.

With Longstaff gone, a player of Taylor’s playmaking and progressive quality could prove a certain success for the long-term stability of Howe’s project.

McGinn, of course, would be a shrewd and impactful signing, but in five year’s time, Taylor could be among the finest midfielders across the continent, whereas the Scotland international will be staring at his career twilight.

Better signing than Sesko: Newcastle agree terms with £30m "monster"

Newcastle desperately need to kick on in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 7, 2025

Celtic still have plenty of time left to dip into the market to improve their squad for the 2024/26 campaign before the summer transfer window closes at the start of next month.

Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to add more quality to his options across the park in the coming weeks, particularly in the attacking areas of the pitch.

Speaking earlier this month, the Northern Irish head coach said: “The squad will hopefully look again different come the end of the window.

“I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”

As you can see in the post above, Rodgers confirmed back in May that Portuguese winger Jota is set to be out of action for up to nine months with a knee injury.

This means that Celtic supporters may not see the former Benfica starlet out on the pitch in green and white again until January or February of next year.

Why Celtic need to replace Jota

The Scottish Premiership champions need to sign another left-sided attacker before the window slams shut to ‘replace’ Jota, because he could be out for more than half of the season.

Celtic’s rather drab 1-0 win over St Mirren, decided by a deflected strike from Luke McCowan, highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements to come through the door in the weeks to come.

Rodgers would surely have loved to have had Jota available to bring off the bench, or start, to add some attacking quality in the final third, after the winger delivered four goals and two assists in seven league starts in the second half of last season.

24/25 Premiership

Jota (per 90)

Percentile rank vs wingers

Goals

0.63

Top 6%

xG

0.48

Top 8%

Assists

0.32

Top 17%

xA

0.37

Top 8%

Chances created

1.89

Top 25%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Jota hit the ground running in the Premiership after his return to Glasgow from Rennes in January, ranking highly among his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the left flank.

The Portuguese star is a winger who has the ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis, which is why his injury came as such a big blow for the Hoops and Rodgers, and why he has to be replaced.

Daizen Maeda is currently the only fit and available senior left winger in the first-team squad, and James Forrest, 34, was the only winger of any description on the bench at all against St Mirren.

This is why the Hoops must dip into the market to sign a player who can fill the gap left by Jota’s injury, to ensure that Rodgers is not left without adequate resources out wide until next year.

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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TEAMtalk recently reported that Brondby winger Clement Bischoff has emerged as a key target for Celtic, as they plan to bring in two more wingers before the end of the window.

The outlet claimed that the Danish youngster is available for a fee of around £6.3m, but that they could also face competition from Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Why Celtic should sign Clement Bischoff

Celtic should push to win the race for the 19-year-old talent’s signature this summer because they could finally replace the injured Jota by bringing him to Parkhead.

Bischoff could be the perfect signing to fill the specific need of this signing. He is a young player who may not expect to start every single game straight away, at the age of 19, which means that Jota’s return from injury may not cause problems in the squad.

Whereas, having Jota, Maeda, and another senior left-sided attacker who wants to start every week could cause problems and leave Rodgers in a difficult situation.

This means that Bischoff could fit the bill perfectly by coming in to play important minutes in the first half of the season, before moving to more of a back-up role when the Portuguese forward is back, learning from him to aid his own development.

The teenage whiz, who was described as a “flamboyant” and “technical dribbler” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has also shown enough quality in his time with Brondby to suggest that he can provide quality to Celtic straight away.

Extraordinarily, Bischoff has already created 24 chances and five ‘big chances’ in six games in all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign for the Danish side, playing on the left of a front three.

24/25 Superliga

Clement Bischoff

Appearances

29

Goals

2

Big chances created

9

Key passes per game

1.5

Assists

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.6

Dribble success rate

52%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the teenager only managed two goals and three assists at league level for Brondby last season, but all of his starts came as a left wing-back.

The Danish side have utilised him as a winger, instead of as a wing-back, at the start of this season and he has already produced one goal and one assist in three Superliga games.

This shows that he can provide more quality offensively when used on the wing, but it also shows that he is a versatile player who could be used in other positions down the left by Rodgers when needed.

Therefore, Bischoff could be a brilliant addition to the Celtic squad as a quality and versatile young player who could make an instant impact, whilst also having the potential to complement Jota when he is back fit and available.

Related Celtic could unlock Idah's full potential with swoop for "exciting" £5m gem

Celtic could help to unlock Adam Idah’s full potential by signing this reported transfer target.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2025

Stand-in captain, who is just one away from 10,000 Test runs, will rather look to “focus on job at hand”

Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Jan-2025

Steven Smith: “Last time, we played on one that spun from ball one and the other one was pretty flat in the first innings”•Getty Images

Sometimes it spins. At other times it goes straight. Be ready for both. This is stand-in captain Steven Smith’s advice to Australia’s less-experienced batters, as he prepares to lead them in a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle. Of Australia’s batters on tour, Smith understands the challenge ahead more than most – he has two hundreds in Sri Lanka, and averages 49.75 on the island.”We have spoken about the differences in the surfaces,” Smith said on Tuesday, the eve of the first Test on Australia’s ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. “Last time we came, we played on one that spun from ball one and the other one was pretty flat in the first innings, and then spun a lot in the second innings.”So it’s important to have plans for both kind of surfaces. Then if it is extreme from the outset, then you need to be proactive and follow different methods to score runs. You just have to adapt as quickly as possible to what you get.”Related

Australia, Sri Lanka and a touch of the dramatic

Head to replace Konstas as opener against Sri Lanka

'Be brave': Australia consider mid-match flexibility to batting order

In 2016, Smith had overseen a tour in which Australia’s batters largely failed to pick the slider from the one that turned off the surface, thus going down 3-0 in the series. In 2022, however, their batters fared much better, even winning a Test on the more spin-friendly surface in that series.Among the more recent trends in countering the kind of spin often seen in Galle has been to focus on run-scoring, rather than on defence. Smith’s own 145* the last time he was at this venue was memorable for how quick he was to move around the crease to create scoring opportunities. Reverse sweeps, slogs, paddles around the corner, and more frequent trips down the pitch – these have all become much more commonly employed.”I think the game has changed a lot since I first came to the sub-continent,” Smith said. “Guys play different shots to put pressure on the bowlers. The game has evolved a lot in the last ten years, and it’s good to see some of the shots these guys play to take the game forward.”For Smith, this is a series that will almost certainly feature a major career milestone. He is one run away from becoming the fourth Australia batter to 10,000 Test runs. Smith only needed 38 more runs from the last Test of the home summer – in Sydney – to get to the landmark, but fell for 33 and 4 against India.”I’ll just try to put it out of my mind, to be honest,” Smith said of the milestone. “I probably thought too much about it in Sydney. This time I’ll just try to forget it and focus on job at hand.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians, na tarde deste domingo (14), empatou por 1 a 1 com o São Paulo, na Neo Química Arena, pela sexta rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Após o final da partida, Vanderlei Luxemburgo comentou sobre o principal problema do Timão atualmente, que na visão do treinador é o emocional.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBrasileirãoVÍDEO: Os melhores momentos do empate entre Corinthians e São Paulo pelo BrasileirãoBrasileirão14/05/2023CorinthiansRóger Guedes castiga último rival do Corinthians que faltava e iguala recorde pessoalCorinthians14/05/2023BrasileirãoVÍDEO: Veja os lances polêmicos do clássico entre Corinthians e São Paulo pelo BrasileirãoBrasileirão14/05/2023

– O maior problema do Corinthians está no emocional. Você sabia que tem um ano que o Corinthians não sofre um pênalti aqui dentro? Esse ano, o Corinthians não sofreu pênalti, sofreu um pênalti hoje, o pessoal está contestando, mas entrou na área. Jogador quando entra na área vai ter a contestação se foi pênalti ou não, mas se ele não entrar na área nem contestação existe – disse o treinador.

ATUAÇÕES: Decisivo, Róger Guedes marca e mantém tabu histórico do Corinthians contra o São Paulo na Neo Química Arena

O comandante corintiano celebrou o fato de o time manter o tabu histórico de não perder para o São Paulo na Neo Química Arena, mas acrescentou que o time está em evolução, e precisa de tempo de treinamento para implementar melhor suas ideias de jogo.

continua após a publicidade

– O futebol é muito complicado, eu tenho uma semana ou dez dias aqui, e as pessoas querem que você consiga mudar em dez dias tantas coisas como se fosse uma ciência exata, não é. Necessita muitas coisas serem feitas para você encontrar o equilibro como equipe. Então, se você me perguntar, evoluímos.

O Corinthians volta a entrar em campo na próxima quarta-feira (17), diante do Atlético-MG, pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. A bola rola às 21h30 no Mineirão.

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The attacking department at Tottenham Hotspur has been subject to somewhat of an overhaul this summer, especially after the departure of fan favourite Heung-min Son.

The South Korean departed in a £20m move to join MLS outfit LAFC, ending his Lilywhites career on a high after claiming the Europa League title at the end of last season.

However, it was an emotional departure, bringing an end to his decade-long stint in North London – a period that saw him amass over 400 appearances and become the club’s fourth-highest goalscorer in their history.

At 33, it was undoubtedly the right call to allow him to move on to pastures new, but it’s left a void in the forward area – something which Thomas Frank will want to fill before the end of the summer window.

Whilst Mohammed Kudus has already been added to such a department, the new boss has made it abundantly clear that he wants added reinforcements to help him in his quest to rise up the Premier League table in 2025/26.

Spurs preparing another big move after Eze

A deal for Eberechi Eze has been in the pipeline for numerous weeks now, but a deal seems to be edging closer to completion, after key moves were made by Daniel Levy.

It was reported that the Spurs owner held face-to-face talks with Steve Parish over a move for the Englishman, which has seen a verbal agreement of £55m plus £5m in add-ons be reached in recent days.

A deal for the 27-year-old could see the Lilywhites’ pursuit of a new number ten finally come to an end, subsequently turning their attention to Monaco star Magnhes Akliouche in an attempt to further strengthen the squad.

According to The Independent, Frank’s men have identified the winger as the latest attacking target this window, potentially pursuing a move for the 23-year-old before the September 1st deadline.

Their report claims that the Frenchman is seen as an alternative to Manchester City’s Savinho after the lack of progress on a deal for the Brazilian, with Akliouche a cheaper option, currently available for around a bargain fee of £43.5m.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be perfect alongside Eze

As previously mentioned, a deal for Eze appears to finally be edging towards its completion, in a deal that would be yet another excellent deal for Spurs this window.

The attacking midfielder was one of the most potent number 10s in the division last year, managing to register 26 combined goals and assists – subsequently firing the Eagles to FA Cup glory.

If he can replicate such numbers across the capital in 2025/26, it would be a signing that would go a long way to improving the options at Frank’s disposal – making the side a force to be reckoned with across all competitions.

Such a deal would also allow the Lilywhites to get one over their bitter North London rivals Arsenal, with the Gunners also previously interested in a move for the England international.

However, the prospect of Eze operating in Frank’s side is scary enough, not to mention the potential partnership he could strike up with Akliouche, should he too make the move to join the club.

He may be an unknown quantity to many, but the 23-year-old enjoyed a season to remember in his homeland last campaign, notching seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

His underlying stats were just as impressive, adding another dimension to the Lilywhites squad, offering another huge attacking threat in the hierarchy’s quest for added success in the near future.

Akliouche, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, ranked in the 93rd percentile for touches in the opposition box and passes into the 18-yard box last campaign – highlighting his ability to create or be on the end of chances.

Such numbers would fit perfectly into the hands of Eze, who registered 12 assists last season, with the pair able to link up and improve their respective tallies in North London.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

15

Pass accuracy

82%

Progressive passes

6.5

Progressive carries

4.8

Touches in opposition box

5.4

Passes into the opposition box

2.4

Carries into final third

1.8

Take-on success

49%

Key passes made

1.9

The Monaco youngster also ranked in the 94th percentile for carries into the final third, whilst posting a 49% take-on success rate, subsequently able to get the ball into dangerous areas at any given opportunity.

His talents are further reflected in his progressive passes per 90 rate, averaging 5.5 per 90, with such tools able to find Eze – who will be required to make third-man runs in behind the striker within Frank’s current system.

Whilst both players would set the club back over £100m, they are additions that need to be made if the club are to build on their recent European triumph in 2024/25.

Both players are extremely technical, having the talent to get out of tight spaces and create endless opportunities, with Akliouche in particular being an exciting addition for the immediate and long-term future in North London.

Romero will love him: Spurs chasing "one of the best defenders in the PL"

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land another top defensive talent this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 19, 2025

Mikel Arteta has introduced a hardline rule at Arsenal, reportedly designed to boost unity, but it’s hitting his players squarely in the pocket. The Gunners boss, desperate to finally deliver the Premier League crown to north London after two decades of waiting, has made it mandatory for his squad to gather at the training ground before every single match, home or away.

• Arteta orders strict new rule

  According to gone are the days of simply driving straight to the Emirates or hopping on a team coach from the ground. Under Arteta’s system, every player must report first to Colney, Arsenal’s Hertfordshire HQ, before being bussed together to their destination.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Cab bills through the roof

  The new setup has forced stars into booking private drivers for entire days. Many players now shell out between £700 and £1,000 to ensure they have a car on call to ferry them and their families to and fro, and even wait around until the final whistle. Drivers drop players at Colney, return to pick up their families, then hang around near the stadium until it’s time to head back out to Hertfordshire. Only then can they drop the stars home. It’s a costly merry-go-round that’s quickly adding up across the season.

• Drivers loving every minute

  While the players might be groaning about the expense, north London’s private hire drivers are rubbing their hands together. One cabbie told The Sun: "I mean for us it leaves us looking forward to every game and hope we get the call because that is essentially more than half what we have to get for the week and it's quite relaxing. Also who doesn't want to be involved in football these days even if you're driving them around."

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• Arteta obsessed with unity

  Arteta’s logic is clear: team spirit equals trophies. He believes that if his men eat, travel, and prepare together, they’ll develop the mental edge required to dethrone Liverpool and finally lift the Premier League title for the first time since 2004. Insiders claim the Spaniard monitors everything from players’ body language to the strength of their off-field friendships, convinced that total cohesion will translate to silverware.

Marc Guehi has reportedly set his heart on a surprise transfer away from Crystal Palace after the defender saw his deadline day move to Liverpool collapse. The England defender came within a whisker of joining the Reds on deadline day, only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug when they couldn’t land a replacement.

Guehi turns his back on Anfield

On September 1st, Guehi’s £35 million move to Anfield was all but agreed. Bags were nearly packed, and medical checks lined up. Then Palace, unwilling to leave themselves exposed, pulled the plug on the deal at the final moment. Rather than wait for another chance in England, Guehi has told his advisors that Real Madrid is where his heart lies, as revealed by . For the 25-year-old, the lure of La Liga and the chance to wear the white of Los Blancos outweighs anything Liverpool can put on the table.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALDouble whammy for the Reds

It isn’t just Guehi Liverpool have to worry about. Ibrahima Konate, one of their most reliable defenders, is running down his contract with no sign of renewal. Next summer, he can walk away for free, and Real Madrid are one of the clubs circling. That sets up the nightmare scenario: Madrid swooping for both Guehi and Konate, pairing them in Spain’s top flight while leaving the Reds short of options at the back.

Contract clock ticking for Palace

The Guehi situation is even more precarious for Palace. With his contract winding down, they face losing him for nothing next summer. From January, foreign clubs can approach him directly and seal a pre-contract agreement. Madrid’s prestige and history of snapping up the Premier League’s best will make them favourites to land his signature.

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GettyEndgame in Spain

The ball is firmly in Guehi's court, and unless Palace find a miracle way to convince him otherwise, he will be La Liga-bound next summer. 

It’s been a rollercoaster couple of weeks to be a Crystal Palace supporter.

Eagles fans did manage to see their beloved team win at Wembley again in the Community Shield final, having witnessed their never-say-die side fight back from 2-0 down to surprise Arne Slot’s Liverpool to lift the early-season honours.

However, all this ecstasy so early into the campaign hasn’t been enough to tempt Eberechi Eze to stay put at Selhurst Park, with his disallowed free-kick effort against Chelsea on the opening day in the Premier League all she wrote on a stunning Palace career, as he now edges ever closer to a £60m move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Marc Guehi could be the next high-profile name to ditch Oliver Glasner’s men, too, leaving the South London side with plenty to do in the transfer window before September’s abrupt cut-off.

Crystal Palace in talks to sign £14m star

It had been an extremely low-key window so far from a Palace perspective up until this boiling point.

The only notable addition to the building for the Eagles this summer has been ex-Ajax full-back Borna Sosa joining for £3m, but with Guehi and Eze both looking to be heading out the exit door, expect their activity to ramp up.

Jakub Kiwior looks to be on their list of centre-back targets if the forceful Englishman does seal a move away to Liverpool, while Bilal El Khannouss is also on the Palace radar to try and soften the blow of the former Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder leaving.

There are also striker targets on Palace’s mind, too, if reports are to be believed, with a loan move allegedly in the works for hit-and-miss Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-Chan to move to Selhurst Park, away from Molineux.

The Athletic has revealed that talks have taken place over a move that will help Glasner and Co. fill the void left by Eddie Nketiah’s notable injury absence, with no deal in place just yet.

While he will be viewed as a temporary sprinkle of quality, the £14m man does possess shades of Palace fan favourite Jean Phillippe-Mateta’s game at the peak of his powers, which will hopefully be on full view in South London shortly.

Why Hwang possesses shades of Mateta

After all, even if those named do desert Selhurst Park this summer, Glasner will know he can rely on Mateta to deliver more moments of magic like this chipped effort against Arsenal for the Eagles across the 2025/26 season.

In total, the towering, but skilful, Frenchman has a lethal 47 strikes next to his name from 154 appearances for Palace, which included him bagging his side’s opener at Wembley to kickstart the Community Shield comeback.

However, he hasn’t always found his time at Selhurst Park to be a smooth sailing experience, with only 13 goals coming his way across his first three seasons at the Premier League outfit, before everything impressively clicked into gear.

Hwang has faced a similar reality at Wolves, but while Mateta has come into his own donning Palace’s distinct claret and blue over the past few seasons, his Asian counterpart has found that his own goalscoring prowess has somewhat fizzled out.

24/25

26

2 + 1

23/24

31

13 + 3

22/23

32

4 + 1

21/22

31

5 + 1

Indeed, last season saw Hwang only fire home a meagre two goals across 26 competitions, while Mateta reached 17 across all his games, on the contrary.

Yet, just the season before Mateta’s explosion, the former RB Leipzig attacker had managed to collect an impressive 13 strikes for the Old Gold, leading to former Arsenal goal machine Ian Wright declaring that the 29-year-old has “got everything” you want in a desirable striker.

His standout efforts during the 2023/24 campaign did see him fall short of the FA Cup-winning attacker again – with Mateta trumping his tally by six goals – but the pair were deemed as statistically similar across this season, as per FBref, as Hwang attempts to be another unsung hero-style figure for the Eagles up top.

After all, both strikers in question joined the English game from Germany with points to prove, as they now prepare to potentially link up with each other in attack at Selhurst Park, while Glasner’s men also look for a positive future on the horizon, likely without Guehi and Eze.

Crystal Palace receive reply to £27.6m bid for 21-goal star

He would be a big-money signing at Selhurst Park.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 19, 2025

Glasgow Rangers kicked off their Scottish Premiership season with disappointment, as they were held to a 1-1 draw away from Ibrox against Motherwell.

The Light Blues had the lead at Fir Park for most of the evening, thanks to an opener from James Tavernier, but Emmanuel Longelo’s crisp strike just before the end of the 90 minutes secured a draw for the home side.

Russell Martin will surely be gutted that his team were unable to see it out to claim all three points on the opening day, and may not have been too pleased with some of the performances from his players on the pitch.

One player who still looks to be adjusting to the drastic change in the style of play under the new head coach is central defender John Souttar, who does not look at home in a risk-taking defence.

John Souttar's performance against Motherwell

The rough and tumble Scottish brute is a physical defender who can dominate opposition attackers in one-on-one duels, and that was the case against Motherwell as he won two of his three ground duels and four of his five aerial contests.

Performance in Numbers

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However, Souttar is tasked with defending large spaces because of the positions that the full-backs take up and the risks that Rangers take, and he does not have the mobility to deal with those situations consistently.

The Scotland international did make seven clearances, including one vital one in the six-yard box after Jack Butland spilled the ball, but he also made an error that directly led to a shot and was outpaced down Motherwell’s right flank one too many times.

Souttar was far from the only less-than-impressive performer on the park for Rangers, though, as Martin must drop Danilo for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Viktoria Plzen.

Why Rangers must drop Danilo

The Brazilian forward, who was awarded a 5/10 player rating by GlasgowWorld, was selected to lead the line ahead of Cyriel Dessers, whilst Hamza Igamane was unavailable due to injury.

Unfortunately, the former Feyenoord marksman was even worse than Souttar and should be ruthlessly dropped by Martin for the game against Viktoria Plzen.

Whilst Souttar offered strength defensively and made seven clearances to help his side out, Danilo had very few redeeming factors in his performance, as he struggled on and off the ball.

The Brazilian lightweight played 63 minutes and only contested one duel with the opposition centre-backs, which shows that he did not anticipate the game well enough, or show enough desire, to get stuck in for his team.

Minutes

74

82

63

Shots on target

0

1

0

Passes completed

11

9

10

Key passes

2

0

1

Big chances created

0

0

0

Ground duels won

1

1

1

Aerial duels won

0

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Danilo also failed to register a single shot on target and did not create any ‘big chances’ for his side in his 63 minutes on the field.

This means that the 26-year-old striker was a liability in and out of possession, as he offered very little at the top end of the pitch and very little physically when Rangers did not have the ball.

Therefore, Martin should ruthlessly ditch Danilo from the starting XI for the game on Tuesday night, as he has not done enough in the last three games, as a starter, to justify his continued inclusion.

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Dessers, who won as many duels (one) in 28 minutes as Danilo won in 63 minutes, may get a chance to show what he can do in a Martin team from the start.

Shifting their focus towards further incomings, Aston Villa are reportedly ready to launch their second offer to sign a versatile target for Unai Emery.

What Aston Villa could do after Ramsey sale

It’s been an open secret all summer long that Aston Villa need to sell before they can buy. The big question that remained unanswered for some time was just who would be sacrificed in order for them to push on with their own business. Now, however, those at Villa Park have received their answer and Jacob Ramsey has joined Newcastle United for an initial £39m fee.

Whilst there has been plenty of disgruntlement over the sale of an academy graduate – mainly aimed towards PSR rules more than anything else – the Villans may now at least be in a position to spend.

As such, the rumours have already started circulating. Names such as Nicolas Jackson have particularly threatened to steal the headlines amid reports that Emery is a huge admirer of the Chelsea forward.

After being dropped at Stamford Bridge, Jackson desperately needs a move before the transfer window slams shut at the start of September. Whether that move comes courtesy of those at Villa Park remains to be seen, however.

Of course, the Midlands club have already welcomed one attacking addition in the form of Evann Guessand this summer. The former OGC Nice forward snuck through the door to hand Emery an instant boost.

So it would come as no surprise if Villa decided to boost their backline rather than their attacking options this month, which could see a versatile addition arrive.

Aston Villa ready to launch improved Canvot offer

As reported by RMC Sport, Aston Villa are now ready to make an improved offer for Jaydee Canvot after seeing an opening bid rejected by Toulouse last month. The versatile defender is reportedly valued at around €20m (£17m), but it remains to be seen whether the Villans decide to match that fee and leave no room for further rejection with their next bid.

A player who would be an “exciting signing for Aston Villa” according to U23 scout Antonio Mango, Canvot can play both in midfield and a centre-back in what would kill two birds with one stone for Emery.

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Also described as “strong” by Mango, it should come as no surprise that Canvot is on Villa’s radar. At just 19 years old, he’s someone who is likely to get even better with time and potential Premier League opportunities.