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Aston Villa are enjoying a solid transfer window so far. Jadon Philogene has departed for Ipswich Town, raising £20m in the process.

Elsewhere, Diego Carlos looks set to leave Villa, making the move to Fenerbahçe for a fee in the region of €11m (£9.3m) after two and a half years in the Midlands.

Donyell Malen has been the only addition thus far, but could Unai Emery be closing in on signing number two?

Aston Villa closing in on another signing

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Villa are currently in advanced talks to sign Seville defender Loic Bade, and are set to finalise a switch worth a £30m fee.

Moving on Philogene and now Carlos has given Emery the funds to make further signings which will bolster his squad ahead of a crucial few months.

Transfer Focus

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

The likes of Liverpool, Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion were all keen on bringing Bade to the Premier League, but it appears Villa have won the race to sign the centre-back.

Despite securing the services of Malen this month, could the signing of Bade be more important for Villa and what they hope to achieve this season?

Why Loic Bade could be a better signing than Donyell Malen

In Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers, along with the supporting cast of Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey, Emery has plenty of attacking players who can make a difference in the final third.

That’s not to say Malen won’t offer much, as he has proved to be a fine player, especially in the Champions League, scoring twice and grabbing an assist for Borussia Dortmund this term.

Given the magnitude of talent at the manager’s disposal in an attacking sense, Malen’s arrival might go under the radar.

It was clear, however, that bringing in another defender was imperative this window. With Carlos all but gone and Pau Torres out for a couple of months, Emery is bordering on a defensive crisis. Bade, therefore, is the answer.

The former Forest defender’s talents were identified as far back as 2021 when he was finely praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who said: “He’s so good, mature and complete. He will be a world-class defender in the future. I have no doubt about that. Elite talent.”

When compared to his positional peers in La Liga this season, Bade currently ranks in the top 2% for tackles (2.17) and touches in the defensive third (44.38), the top 1% for successful take-ons (0.59) and in the top 5% for ball recoveries (4.79) per 90.

These are an impressive range of statistics, especially in one of the toughest leagues in Europe, suggesting Bade will be an excellent addition to the Villa squad should a deal get over the line.

Therefore, his signing will be of far greater importance to Emery than that of Malen’s, especially given the depth of talent across both the defensive and attacking areas of the first-team squad.

Aston Villa preparing to advance on deal to sign new "warrior" after Garcia

He could be their third reported signing…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jan 18, 2025

Players who perform well in the Championship regularly get signed for lavish fees by those in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Take Archie Gray, for example. The 18-year-old shone for Leeds United in the second tier last season, helping the club reach the playoff final. Despite losing, it wasn’t long before Tottenham Hotspur came in with a £30m offer, which was duly accepted.

Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham emerged from the Birmingham City academy to establish himself as one of the finest talents in the Championship. He may have only played 41 games for the Blues, yet this didn’t stop Borussia Dortmund calling in 2020.

The 15 biggest transfer sales in EFL Championship history

Championship clubs have received some eye-watering fees from the biggest clubs in the country and beyond.

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 29, 2025

Over the years, clubs from the second tier have also spent a lot on players. With finances steadily improving due to more lucrative TV deals, while most clubs have bolstered their profits by selling their best talent for premium prices, Championship sides have never had it so good.

As such, we at Football FanCast look deeper into the top 15 record signings made by clubs from the division below the Premier League.

15

Andre Gray

Brentford to Burnley (£9m)

Burnley’s 2014/15 season ended in relegation after just one season in the top flight, and Sean Dyche wasted no time splashing out the cash.

Andre Gray signed for £9m, becoming a club-record purchase at the time. He netted 23 times to fire Burnley back into the big time, carrying on this form during 2016/17 as the club avoided relegation. Money well spent indeed.

14

Dwight Gayle

Crystal Palace to Newcastle (£10m)

Newcastle United suffered relegation at the end of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign, but it was clear they wanted a swift return to the top flight. This led to the club signing striker Dwight Gayle, who arrived from Crystal Palace in a deal worth a reported £10m.

A return of 23 goals in just 32 matches for the Magpies signified how important a signing Gayle was, helping lead the club back to the promised land after just one season away.

The 35-year-old is currently playing for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.

13

Maxime Esteve

Montpellier to Burnley (£10m)

Vincent Kompany signed Maxime Esteve on a loan deal in January 2024, hoping that his presence would help Burnley avoid the drop.

While the Frenchman became a key member of the starting XI, it wasn’t enough to save the club from slipping back into the Championship. However, this didn’t stop the Clarets from splashing out £10m to secure his services permanently after their relegation.

At the time of writing, he has yet to miss a league game for the club as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League.

12

Isaac Mbenza

Montpellier to Huddersfield (£11m)

Isaac Mbenza moved to Huddersfield Town on loan ahead of the 2018/19 season, but he couldn’t keep the club in the top division, despite netting against Manchester United.

A reported fee of £11m was agreed so that Mbenza would remain at Huddersfield, yet the winger would play just 43 games over the next two seasons before departing in 2021. Not the best way to spend a chunk of their parachute payment.

11

Matt Ritchie

Bournemouth to Newcastle (£12m)

Rafa Benitez wasted no time in bolstering his Newcastle squad after relegation in 2016. Dwight Gayle had joined, but it was the signing of Matt Ritchie which looked like the most impressive piece of business.

10 goal involvements for Bournemouth the season prior went a long way in the Cherries retaining their Premier League status, and this saw Newcastle spend £12m to secure his signature.

He went on to make over 200 appearances for the Magpies across the next eight seasons.

10

Ross McCormack

Fulham to Aston Villa (£12m)

In the same summer that Villa spent big money on signing Jonathan Kodjia, another striker also arrived at Villa Park. Ross McCormack had sparkled at Fulham, but a bid of £12m was always going to be accepted, despite his talents in front of goal.

The move soon turned into a nightmare. McCormack would manage just three goals during his spell with the club, working out at £4m each. Hardly money well spent in the transfer market.

9

Benik Afobe

Wolves to Stoke (£12m)

Benik Afobe helped Wolverhampton Wanderers secure the Championship title in 2018, leading the club to make his loan deal permanent.

However, he was on the move just two weeks later to Stoke City, who offered £12m for the striker. The move didn’t exactly work out as expected, especially considering the fee spent.

Across 51 matches for the Potters, Afobe managed a paltry nine goals and has since embarked on a nomadic career which has seen him play in Turkey and Qatar.

8

Harry Wilson

Liverpool to Fulham (£12m)

Fulham spent big during the summer of 2021 in a bid to secure promotion to the Premier League with Harry Wilson joining the Cottagers for £12m – and it turned out to be a crucial signing.

The Welshman was excellent throughout 2021/22, scoring 10 league goals while registering 20 assists in the second tier. He has continued to impress in the top flight, helping the club establish themselves as a solid Premier League outfit under Marco Silva.

7

Joel Piroe

Swansea to Leeds (£12m)

Joel Piroe emerged as one of the deadliest strikers in the second tier during his time with Swansea City. He scored 46 goals in 96 games for the Welsh side, ensuring there was plenty of interest in him during the summer of 2023.

Indeed, it would be Leeds United who would win the race, splashing out £12m on the Dutchman – and it looks like money well spent.

Since making the move to West Yorkshire, Piroe has netted 24 goals, and he will be hoping to end the club’s exile from the top flight this season.

6

Helder Costa

Benfica to Wolves (£13m)

Wolves spent what was a club-record fee of £13m to bring Helder Costa to the Midlands in January 2017, despite sitting 18th in the league table at the time.

He enjoyed a remarkable start, contributing 18 goal involvements during his first six months, before aiding the side as they cruised to the Championship title the following season, scoring five times.

That was as good as it would get for the winger, who scored only once more for Wolves.

Former Manchester United bosses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho will come face-to-face in Turkey as Besiktas take on Fenerbahce on Sunday.

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• Besiktas take on Fenerbahce
• Solskjaer desperate for a win over Mourinho
• Battle of ex-Man Utd bosses

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Solskjaer replaced Mourinho at Old Trafford in December 2018 after he was removed from the club's managerial post. During his time with United, the Norwegian came face-to-face against the Portuguese in the Premier League when the former Chelsea boss was in charge at Tottenham Hotspur.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The two coaches are now all set to lock horns in Turkey as their current clubs, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, will meet in a crucial Turkish Super Lig clash on Sunday evening. Solskjaer's Besiktas are currently fourth in the league and are fighting with Samsunspor for third spot as they look to secure a place in the Europa League qualifiers next season.

• WHAT OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER SAID

  Ahead of the crucial fixture, Solskjaer recalled his spat with Mourinho the last time they met in England. The then-United boss had criticised Spurs star Son Heung-min, which fuelled a war of words between the two managers. Speaking to , the Besiktas manager said: "I remember that one. He has all the charisma of course and I don't think any of us change a lot when we have come this far. It will be good to see him again and hopefully the headlines will be about the team and the football that is played and nothing else."

  The 52-year-old added: "I saw from Gala, when you are at home and winning these games there is nothing better. If you are at home and you don't win, there is nothing worse. Football is decided by moments. You see last night [Thursday], Athletic had two or three massive chances and Victor [Lindelof] saves one on the goal line. Then it all changes. The margins between winning and losing in football are so close. It is better to be lucky than good sometimes. Hopefully, it will be one of Jose's bad nights."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BESIKTAS?

  Since beating Galatasaray on March 29, Besiktas have remained winless in three out of their last four Super Lig games. They will aim to get back to winning ways to overtake Samsunspor in the league table. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, need a win to keep their slim title hopes alive.

When it rains, it pours, and that’s certainly been the case for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have endured injury after injury so far this year, and based on preliminary reports from last night, Kai Havertz is the latest player set to spend some time on the sidelines.

The German international has supposedly suffered a hamstring injury while on the club’s training trip in Dubai, although the extent of the problem is still unknown.

The former Chelsea ace has come in for plenty of criticism at points this season but has still produced 20 goal involvements in just 34 games, so replacing his output could prove challenging, although a youngster in the academy could be one option.

Arsenal's first-team options to replace Havertz

If Arteta is going to turn to his already depleted first-team options to try and solve the problem of Havertz’s absence, then there are likely a couple of routes he could go down, the first of which is starting Leandro Trossard or Raheem Sterling down the middle.

Now, out of the two wingers, it certainly feels more likely that he’d move the Belgian into the middle, as while he’s never looked entirely comfortable there for the North Londoners, his numbers are reasonably impressive: four goals and eight assists in 15 appearances.

In contrast, while the Englishman has spent more time down the middle in his career to date, he’s only made one appearance there for the Gunners, and considering he’s scored one goal and provided two assists in 18 appearances this season, he’s not someone you want in those goalscoring positions.

The second and more unlikely way the manager could address this problem within the first team is by moving the sensationally gifted Ethan Nwaneri from the right to up top.

After all, only a couple of months ago, Arteta told the press how he sees a future in which the teenage dynamo develops into an out-and-out nine.

Moreover, on top of already scoring seven goals this season, the Enfield-born star has made nine appearances down the middle in the youth sides, in which he scored 11 goals and provided two assists.

In all, it seems likely that Arteta will turn to the three players mentioned above to try and plug the gap left by Havertz, but he could help alleviate the load on the trio by handing one of the club’s young academy stars some unexpected minutes in the first team.

The Hale End star who could help replace Havertz

Arsenal’s worryingly thin squad has already been significantly bolstered this season by Nwaneri and the incredible Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Still, given the circumstances, it might be time for Arteta to introduce another academy talent to the Emirates faithful.

Dan Casey has been a part of the club’s youth set-up for just under a decade now, and since moving up to the U18s squad last season, he has been spectacular.

The “very talented” 17-year-old, as dubbed by Hale End expert Jeorge Bird, is a versatile attacker, and while he’s primarily played in midfield during his time in the academy, this season has seen him make five of 17 appearances up top, where he’s found the back of the net four times.

However, when including his games in the middle of the park as well, the teenage prospect has managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and one assist, which is undeniably encouraging.

Now, it would be a massive step-up to bring him into the first team this season, but he’s shown he’s already better than the level he’s currently playing at, and given how well Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have adapted, there is no reason to think he couldn’t do the same.

Moreover, with Sterling and Trossard in the side, he wouldn’t have to start too many games; he could simply come off the bench here and there to pick up valuable minutes and ensure the senior players aren’t played into the ground.

Ultimately, Arsenal are in an attacking crisis at the moment, and while there probably weren’t plans to introduce Casey into the first team this season, the circumstances dictate he might have to be fast-tracked.

He walked away for £0: Arsenal icon is outperforming Havertz after leaving

The free-scoring ex-Arsenal star is tearing it up for his new club.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 12, 2025

Arsenal have decided on their priority centre-forward transfer target after accepting a move for Alexander Isak is unrealistic.

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• Arsenal decide on centre-forward target
• More realistic than Isak
• Big summer for Arteta

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Telegraph report that Sporting forward Viktor Gyokeres is the man the Gunners want to lead the line next season. New sporting director Andrea Berta is a big fan of the Swede, who would prioritise Arsenal over Manchester United if both clubs make an offer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gyokeres has proved a sensation at Sporting since signing from Coventry in 2023, scoring 52 goals in 48 appearances so far this season. While Isak is said to be the Gunners' dream target, there is an acceptance that it is unrealistic to expect Newcastle to sell him.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The report states that Berta attempted to sign Gyokeres for Atletico Madrid last summer and has kept close tabs on the player. Sporting are set to sell the forward for less than his release clause and already have a list of targets ready to replace him.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arsenal take on Liverpool, Newcastle and Southampton between now and the end of the season, when they can get moving in their bid to challenge for the title next season.

West Ham United are now considering a summer move for a “sensational” midfielder who’s made 79 Champions League appearances, according to a report.

Mixed start for Graham Potter

West Ham have had some tricky fixtures since the arrival of Graham Potter, with two trips to Villa Park being followed up by a recent visit to Stamford Bridge, meaning results have been mixed.

The Hammers fell to a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, but a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa is likely to be viewed as a positive point, with Potter also bagging a victory in his first match at the London Stadium, watching on as his side beat Fulham 3-2.

Given the start the Irons made under Julen Lopetegui, they are unlikely to challenge in the upper echelons of the Premier League table this season, but they will be happy to now be 10 points clear of the bottom three.

West Ham think they'll regret not agreeing deal for this striker in January

The Hammers are already ruing a missed opportunity.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 8, 2025

However, West Ham have now started looking at players who could help them push for Europe once again next season, and they have identified a target who has a plethora of experience in the Champions League.

According to a report from The Boot Room, the Hammers are now keen on signing Al-Arabi midfielder Marco Verratti, who is considering a return to Europe, having played in Qatar since 2023.

There may be competition for Verratti’s signature, as Fulham and Bournemouth have also been credited with an interest, although there is also a feeling he could be tempted by a move to Italy’s Serie A, having never played top-flight football in his native country.

Verratti's career achievements

Although a move to Qatar is normally indicative of a player’s career winding down, the Italian is only 32, and he may want to prove himself in the Premier League as a final bow.

The Pescara-born maestro has made 79 appearances in the Champions League during what has been an esteemed career, winning nine French league titles and six French Cups, along with Euro 2020 for his national side.

The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke waxed lyrical over the “sensational” Italian following a performance in the Champions League a few years ago which saw PSG defeat Real Madrid in a last-16 first-leg clash, with Kylian Mbappe scoring a late winner against his future employers.

Although it must be noted the Qatari league is not of the highest quality, the central midfielder has been in impressive form this season, picking up four goals and four assists in 11 league outings.

There should always be caution when it comes to signing players in the latter stages of their careers, but if Verratti is able to emulate his previous exploits in Europe, he could be a fantastic signing for the Hammers.

GOAL writers analyze Luis Suarez's goal-scoring issues, Messi's apparent frustrations, and what's troubling Atlanta and Galaxy

Nearly three months into the MLS season, there are a few surprises. Inter Miami have been good at times, but fairly woeful at others. And as a result, manager Javier Mascherano has endured his fair share of criticism.

The Herons are a different team to the one that won the Supporters' Shield last year. There have been personnel changes, but also radical dips in form. Luis Suarez found the net for just the third time this season last weekend, while Lionel Messi has cut a frustrated figure of late, showing it on the pitch and with reactions to losses (cue the body language experts!)

But a big result against the Red Bulls showed it might not all be doom and gloom – especially if they can put a run together.

Elsewhere, the LA Galaxy continue to struggle immensely. A rough start was perhaps inevitable given that Riqui Puig is out for most of the season, but going winless in 11 is almost unfathomable. There are faint calls for a coaching change, and the detractors might just have a point this time.

Meanwhile, Atlanta United have sputtered, and are yet to find their mojo after spending more than $40 million to rebuild their squad this offseason. Is it just a slow start, or have the front office gotten it all wrong?

GOAL US writers discuss all of these MLS topics in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

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  Is Messi's apparent frustration justified?

  Tom Hindle: Don't you just love body language experts? It is entirely possible that we're reading way too much into everything here. Still, the man has won eight Ballons d'Or, a World Cup, and everything else a billion times. He's probably pretty angry that his team are struggling in MLS. Not usually a fan of superstars giving the "you guys all suck" vibes, but you can understand Leo's frustrations. Still, it's probably better to motivate than sulk.

  Jacob Schneider: Absolutely, but that should be aimed at Javier Mascherano. Some of his personnel selections have been baffling. In his last two MLS starts, Benja Cremaschi has a goal and an assist. He came off the bench twice – against Vancouver, and against RBNY on Matchday 11. Playing him as a second striker alongside Suarez, or at the 10 with two other wingers opposite, is not where he needs to be. Play Messi on the right side of the pitch, play Cremaschi central, and then choose your LW. Stop trying to be cute and innovative.

  Alex Labidou: This is par for the course for world-class players who have come into MLS. David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic – it's a rite of passage at this stage. Playing in MLS is unlike any other league in the world. You have players who could still start for Champions League clubs, making 20-times more than a teammate they start with who might be EFL League One quality. Then you have the travel aspect. It can be grueling, especially for star players who are the face of a franchise in a way they aren't expected to in other leagues. For example, no one blames Lamine Yamal for losing to Inter in the Champions League. Fans and media blame the tactics or the collective effort of the team. In MLS, when Inter Miami lose, the magnifying glass goes directly to Messi. All of that is to say, the frustration is understandable, but it is what he signed up for.

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  Is Suarez's goal finally a sign of better things to come?

  TH: You'd certainly hope so! Suarez was class last season, but has spent much of this looking like an old man with bad legs – while his form inside the box has been pretty miserable. Then again, the stats suggest he's doing everything right. His xG is higher than his actual goals scored, and he's still getting into the right spots. So, for all of his struggles in the final-third – he has just three goals – he is providing assists. Maybe this is just a funky new version of Suarez, who might assist 10-15, and only provide 10 goals. As long as everyone else finds the back of the net a bit, Miami will likely take that.

  JS: He won't reach 20 goals in MLS as he did last year – but he'll come close to 12-15 by the end of the season. Where Suarez will be more efficient around net is with hold-up play and awareness in drawing defenders out of position, thus allowing other attackers to move into goal-scoring spots. His knees are tired, and he can't move like he did before – but he still has a role to play. "Better things" is subjective. Don't think he will be more efficient in terms of scoring, but he'll continue contributing and building on the six assists he has.

  AL: Going to put this as simple as possible: Class might be permanent, but Father Time is undefeated. The reality is Suarez's technical ability is still world-class and still among the elite of MLS. But his athleticism, whatever was left of it, left last season. He simply can't beat defenders anymore, no matter how nice the dribble or skill he tries to use to do so. He'll still finish chances like he did against the Red Bulls, a chance that was very much force-fed into a finish. His quality also means he likely can find teammates with intelligent passes, which explains his assist tally this season. But he shouldn't be counted on to be a goal-scorer at a high level consistently game after game. One could make an argument that on an elite MLS team, he would be better suited as a backup who can be counted on for 20 strong minutes. Inter Miami should strongly consider doing the same.

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  Do the LA Galaxy need a coaching change after a winless start?

  TH: No. The results have been disastrous, but the performances haven't necessarily been terrible. They were a team that really relied on a star, and then lost a collection of very good footballers around him. At some point, it's fair to question the coach, but it's still a bit early in the season to be talking seriously about moving on from him. Also, who else can they get who can make this team better? If there were an obvious, REALISTIC(!!!)hire out there, then, sure, consider it. Harsh truth: there isn't.

  JS: Absolutely. It's crazy to say out loud, but it's absolutely something that should be considered. Losing Riqui Puig is a massive blow, we all know that – but ZERO wins in 11 matches, including a game in which the opposition won by not taking a SINGLE shot on goal (shout-out own-goal)? It's just absurd.

  AL: Don't want to pile on managers today, and Vanney has shown – with the right pieces – that he can win titles. It's a trait that isn't recognized enough, being able to win in the biggest games. Yet, if there is an area in which Vanney has been challenged, it's being able to handle significant changes. In 2018, the year after Toronto FC won its historic treble, Toronto FC struggled mightly – finishing ninth in the East. It appears as if the same thing is going on now, though Vanney has fewer excuses. In Toronto, he had a core that was coming to the end with stars such as Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore past their peak. In LAFC, he has a largely young core with Gabriel Pec and Joseph Pantsil leading the way. Yes, losing Puig was a significant blow, and sure, trading Dejan Joveljic was a tough decision. But three points in 11 matches is bad. There's no way around it. If things don't turn around by the summer, expect wholesale changes, including the manager. The Galaxy can't afford to fall into irrelevance again, especially in just one season.

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  What is going on with Atlanta United?

  TH: It seems like there's been loads of change with a manager who still can't quite figure out how to piece it all together. They are victims of their own expectations here. They spent exorbitantly last summer, brought in a new coach, and promised big things. The issue is, this is still a team that scraped into the playoffs and spent most of 2024 being not very good at soccer – other than the upset of Inter Miami in the playoffs. There's enough talent for them to turn things around, but they still need time to piece things together. Patience.

  JS: It's a really baffling development, right? It doesn't make a ton of sense that Atlanta have spent more than $40M on three Designated Players since August 2024, but not bolstered their defense or added a ball-winning midfielder to match the caliber of their attack. They focused SO much on their attack, they forgot to consider other areas of development – and they've fallen behind as a result. Ronny Deila hasn't done well on the touchline, but the transfer business from the club over the offseason isn't a winner by any means.

  AL: Not entirely convinced Deila is a strong manager. Yes, he won the MLS Cup with NYCFC, but other than 2021 – when he won – it always seemed as if The Pigeons were underachievers despite their talent. The year they won, it was a flash-in-the-pan moment for the franchise. And there's a reason why things didn't work for him at both Club Brugge and Al Wahda prior to his return to MLS. Did Atlanta get it wrong to overlook Rob Valentino, who had done a good job with the team in his interim spell with the Five Stripes? This team is too talented to have won just over 18 percent of its games since Deila's arrival.

Jude Bellingham sent a message to his brother Jobe after Sunderland secured Premier League promotion at the expense of Sheffield United.

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• Sunderland staged a stunning comeback
• Tom Watson scored winner in stoppage time
• Jude Facetimed his brother immediately after the final whistle

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In a dramatic Championship play-off final, the Black Cats overturned a first-half deficit to secure a 2-1 win, sending their fans into raptures and confirming their top-flight return. Tyrese Campbell had given the Blades an early advantage, capitalizing on a sluggish opening from Sunderland. But the tide turned after the break as Eliezer Mayenda and Tom Watson found the net, completing a stirring turnaround and sealing the Black Cats’ place among England’s elite once more.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real Madrid and England star Jude was quick to celebrate his younger brother Jobe’s promotion, FaceTiming him from inside Los Blancos’ dressing room. During the call, Jobe, still basking in the euphoria of his team’s victory and Championship medal hanging proudly around his neck, was seen biting the medal in jubilation. Jude responded with a raw, heartfelt message via text that simply read: “So f***ing proud!!! Up, Up, Up” — a unfiltered glimpse into the emotional connection between the two stars of English football.

  @judebellingham Instagram

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While Sunderland fans celebrate their return to the Premier League, uncertainty still looms over Jobe’s future. His rapid rise has caught the attention of major European clubs, with Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt named among the potential suitors. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Black Cats can hold onto him for their top-flight campaign.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JUDE BELLINGHAM?

  While Jobe celebrates promotion, his older brother Jude now turns his attention to global competition. Real Madrid are set to compete in the Club World Cup next month, hosted in the United States and have been drawn into Group H, where they will face Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia, Mexico’s Pachuca, and Austrian side RB Salzburg. After missing out on the La Liga and the Champions League titles, Jude will be aiming to cap off the season with a silverware as Madrid look to assert their dominance on the world stage.

Celtic are back in action in the Champions League this evening as they prepare to travel to Germany to take on Bayern Munich in a defining clash.

The Hoops lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich at Parkhead last week and this means that they will need a huge result against the Bundesliga giants tonight to turn things around, or else they will be knocked out of the competition at the play-off stage.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have been in action since their loss to the Bavarian team, though, as they beat Dundee United 3-0 in Glasgow at the weekend in the Scottish Premiership.

As you can see in the highlights above, all three of Celtic’s goals were impressive as Callum McGregor, Jota, and Adam Idah produced moments of individual quality.

Idah’s strike was the pick of the bunch as he cut in from the left flank to unleash a tremendous effort into the far top corner for his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.

Last week, Celtic were on the wrong end of a stunning strike from a similar range when Michael Olise put Bayern Munich 1-0 up in the second half.

Michael Olise's Bayern brilliance

The former Reading and Crystal Palace star beautifully controlled a ball over to the right wing and cut inside of Greg Taylor with ease before unleashing a sublime shot into the top corner of Kasper Schmeichel’s near post.

It was a sensational goal from Olise and one that broke the deadlock on the night, as it had been a tense 0-0 game until he delivered that moment of brilliance.

That strike was the London-born magician’s 11th goal in all competitions for Bayern this season since he made the move from Crystal Palace last summer to try his luck in the Bundesliga.

The left-footed wizard had racked up an impressive return of ten goals and six assists in 19 appearances in the Premier League for the Eagles in the 2023/24 campaign, which attracted Bayern’s attention.

Olise has hit the ground running in Bavaria as a left-footed right winger with the ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis, cutting in on his favored foot to devastating effect at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, the France international has been directly involved in 13 goals in 17 starts in the Bundesliga so far this term, and has been let down by the wasteful finishing of his teammates at times, as they have only scored seven times from the 13 ‘big chances’ that he has created for them.

Celtic will need to contain his threat better than they did in the first leg, but they could also cause Bayern problems by unleashing their own version of Olise on the right flank, and that is not Hyun-jun Yang.

Why Hyun-jun Yang should be dropped

The South Korean forward was selected to start on the right side of the front three in the 3-0 win over Dundee United at Parkhead in the Premiership on Saturday.

Chalkboard

Rodgers must, however, instantly drop the former Gangwon attacker from the starting line-up for this clash with Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight, despite his assist for McGregor’s goal.

Yang’s short pass to the captain led to the midfielder’s brilliant run into the box and finish, but the winger also missed a ‘big chance’, completed one of his three attempted dribbles, and lost six of his nine duels.

These statistics show that it was far from a perfect performance from the 22-year-old forward, who has struggled for consistency in the final third throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Yang has failed to offer much in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch in the Champions League or the Premiership.

This is why Rodgers must ruthlessly ditch him from the XI for this knockout clash with Bayern tonight, and Nicolas Kuhn is the man who should replace him in the line-up.

Why Nicolas Kuhn could be Celtic's own Michael Olise

The German forward has the potential to be Celtic’s own version of the game-changing Olise from last week if he can step up with a big performance this evening.

Kuhn thought he had his own moment of glory in the match after just 26 seconds when he cut in from the right flank and found the bottom corner of Manuel Neuer’s goal with an excellent left-footed strike from distance, only for VAR to ultimately rule it out for Idah being in an offside position in front of the German legend.

Unfortunately, the Celtic winger was unable to produce another moment of magic on the night, but his form this season suggests that he is very capable of being a match-winner for the Scottish giants this evening.

Like Olise, the 25-year-old star, who was once described as “magical” by Rodgers, is a left-footed forward who typically plays on the right flank and cuts in to produce goals and assists on a regular basis.

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has delivered goals and ‘big chances’ created with regularity for the Hoops in both the Premiership and the Champions League this season.

These statistics show that the former Bayern youth prospect has the quality to step up and deliver a big moment for Celtic tonight, as he almost did with his disallowed goal last week.

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That is why Rodgers has to drop Yang, who has lacked consistency in the final third throughout the season, in order to unleash his own version of Olise from the start on the right wing in Bavaria tonight, in the hope that he can fire Celtic through to the last 16 of the competition.

Chelsea are in talks to sign a Brazilian wonderkid who is already playing first-team football at the age of just 16, according to a new report.

Chelsea acting early in the market as Denner Evangelista set to sign

Chelsea made a new signing over the weekend in the form of Brazilian full-back Denner Evangelista, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Blues have agreed to pay £11.5 million for the 17-year-old. Romano said that Denner is soon to sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge, but that he won’t join his new club until 2026 after he turns 18.

Denner is just the latest in a growing-line of Brazilian youngsters to have joined the club in recent years, including Deivid Washington, Andrey Santos and Angelo. Most notably, young winger Estevao – who is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in world football – will join the Blues in the summer, having agreed an initial £29 million move to West London back in June.

Thanks to his sensational displays for Palmeiras this season, the 17-year-old’s impending arrival has many a Chelsea fan excited, who are hoping he can bring some much-needed dynamism in the final third for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Blues also in transfer talks for long-term target Gabriel Mec

Clearly not content with the signings of Denner and Estevao, according to Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Chelsea are now also pursuing the signature of Gremio attacking midfielder Gabriel Mec. Bailey claims that the Blues tried and failed to land Mec, 16, last summer, but are now once again in talks with Gremio and are hopeful they can secure a deal.

Chelsea are said to be pushing hard to land Mec, who is already playing first-team football at the Arena do Grêmio, having been handed his debut by manager Gustavo Quinteros earlier this year. They will face competition from Barcelona, however, who are also keen on the youngster.

Mec is represented and Neymar’s father, Neymar Sr., and has already been compared to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star by analyst Ben Mattinson.

“Neymar-esque play-style and comes from the same academy (Grêmio) as Ronaldinho. Hard to not be excited by him,” wrote Mattinson on X. “Mec has rapid feet able to do skills so quickly that he can fool defenders easily,” he said. “A joy to watch, he’s a real throwback Brazilian.”

After Mec made his Gremio debut in January, Mattinson wrote of him: “Played with so much confidence to drive at the defence onto either foot, drawing players to him to create spaces. Mec is the biggest talent of his age group and another prospect ready for a breakthrough season.”