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In what would welcome the Tyne-Wear derby back to the Premier League in style, Newcastle United are now reportedly ready to hijack Sunderland’s move to sign a Serie A star this summer.

Newcastle return for Elanga

They may have faced their fair share of rejection so far this summer, but Newcastle are yet to be discouraged in their pursuit to sign an attacking reinforcement. Not giving up, the Magpies have returned with a second offer to sign Anthony Elanga after Nottingham Forest rejected their first bid worth around £45m.

With Bryan Mbeumo seemingly on his way to Manchester United, it’s clear to see why Newcastle have turned towards Elanga. The Swede had his best season yet last time out as Forest achieved an unthinkable European place. Now, however, he could leave the City Ground behind in favour of the Magpies.

The winger isn’t the only one on Newcastle’s shopping list, either. Those at St James’ Park now look set to complete a deal to sign James Trafford from Burnley, welcoming a long-term target in the process.

Newcastle eyeing move to sign 6'5 "freak" after completing scouting mission

The Magpies are still seeking reinforcements.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 3, 2025

The England international will compete with Nick Pope and may even displace the shot-stopper to become Eddie Howe’s No.1 as the ultimate modern-day goalkeeper.

Deals for both Elanga and Trafford would represent a change in fortunes for Newcastle following earlier rejection from the likes of Joao Pedro and Mbeumo. And that swing in momentum could yet see them jump ahead of rivals Sunderland to sign an ex-Arsenal midfielder in the coming months.

Newcastle ready to sign Matteo Guendouzi

As reported by Corierre della Sera and relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now ready to sign Matteo Guendouzi ahead of interest from Sunderland and meet his €50m (£43m) release clause at Lazio.

The Frenchman hasn’t been seen in the Premier League since leaving Arsenal in 2022, but could now return three years later as a far more complete player courtesy of spells at Marseille and now at Lazio.

A player who Gary Neville once described as a “leader”, Guendouzi could push Joelinton all the way for a starting place at Newcastle and offer Howe the depth he has been craving in doing so.

As the Magpies step back into the Champions League next season, it’s the type of depth that Newcastle simply must add to their side this summer. It’s also depth that they failed to sign the last time they were in the Champions League, resulting in an early exit and a finish outside the Premier League’s top four.

Signing Guendouzi would go a long way towards solving that problem all whilst getting one over on Sunderland.

Everton have enjoyed plenty of success when it comes to signing players from the EFL since 2004.

Tim Cahill was the first real star to move from the Championship to Everton that summer, before the likes of Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Dwight McNeil have followed throughout the years.

It is a place where talented players can be signed for a reduced fee, especially if a club has just suffered relegation.

The transfer window is already weeks old and only Carlos Alcaraz has signed permanently. The Toffees faithful will be hoping David Moyes can change this sooner rather than later by welcoming in another player from the EFL.

Everton eyeing Championship starlet

A move for Villarreal striker Thierno Barry looks close to being sealed and this could act as a catalyst for more incomings.

Barry looks set to cost around £34.5m, but there is no doubt that he is exactly the type of signing Everton needs.

Now, according to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, a move for Ipswich Town starlet Omari Hutchinson could be next.

The journalist stated the player would love the chance to return to the Premier League, with the publication specifically name-checking the Toffees as one possible destination.

The Englishman has a release clause in his contract worth £35m and this is surely an enticing proposition for Moyes.

Considering the club’s success at poaching talented players from the Championship in recent years, this is a move the Toffees should be all over in the coming weeks.

With Iliman Ndiaye on one wing and Hutchinson in the middle, Everton could provide Barry with plenty of opportunities next term.

Why Omari Hutchinson could be Ndiaye 2.0 at Everton

Ndiaye was particularly impressive for the Toffees last term. Following his summer arrival from Marseille, the Senegal international scored 11 goals, including nine in the Premier League.

These efforts played a huge part in the club preserving their top-flight status, and he will be key for Moyes next season.

Hutchinson, who was hailed as “dazzling” by Statman Dave in 2024, is cut from a similar cloth and despite not being able to get on the ball as much during Ipswich dismal Premier League campaign, he did shine for England at the U21 European Championships this summer.

He scored in the final against Germany, which saw his country defend their title, and a move back to the Premier League now seems inevitable.

Interestingly enough, Hutchinson could perhaps become Ndiaye 2.0, as the Senegal star is his fourth-most comparable player according to FBref.

Last season, the pair registered similar statistics across a range of metrics, including shots (1.57 vs 1.3), shot-creating actions (2.82 vs 2.41) per 90 minutes, successful take-ons (51 vs 68), touches in the attacking penalty area (92 vs 83) and carries into the penalty area (37 vs 32), suggesting the pair offer plenty in the final third.

Ndiaye settled in nicely at the club last term, eventually ending it as their top scorer across all competitions.

Should Hutchinson swap East Anglia for Merseyside, there is every chance he could sparkle under the tutelage of Moyes next term.

It could turn into an excellent signing. That much is certain.

Everton now ready to pay £5m+ to sign new star with same agent as McNeil

The Toffees are ready to take advantage…

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jul 7, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has added a host of new faces to his squad at Parkhead during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Benjamin Nygren, Ross Doohan, Kieran Tierney, Callum Osmand, and Hayato Inamura have all arrived in Glasgow on permanent deals to bolster the group.

There is more to come for the Scottish Premiership giants, though. Whilst discussing interest in Napoli’s Giuseppe Ambrosino, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed the manager wants a major striker signing, telling Football Insider: “It’s a bit of a surprise link, with Ambrosino – I think Brendan Rodgers would prefer a more established, marquee number nine to bring into his Celtic squad.

“Rodgers is obviously looking to make inroads in the Champions League again and would probably prefer a more established striker who can come in and guarantee him goals.”

If the Hoops go into the market to sign the ‘marquee’ centre-forward that the Northern Irish boss is looking for, it will be interesting to see what kind of role Adam Idah will play next season.

Why Adam Idah's role could be reduced

The Ireland international enjoyed a fairly important role in the team during the 2024/25 campaign, as the striker started 19 of his 35 appearances in the Premiership.

However, the 6 foot 3 marksman only started three of the club’s ten games in the Champions League, as Kyogo Furuhashi – before his January exit – and Daizen Maeda were often preferred ahead of him up front from the start.

In those 45 appearances in the two competitions, the 24-year-old attacker scored 16 goals for the Scottish giants, with 13 in the Premiership and three in the Champions League.

Whilst it was a respectable return for the Irish forward, Celtic may have been expecting more quality in front of goal from a player they reportedly agreed a £9.5m deal with Norwich for last summer.

Idah’s lacklustre finishing in the Premiership prevented him from adding even more goals to his record, and possibly prevented him from being a guaranteed starter, rather than just a regular one.

As you can see in the table above, the forward underperformed his xG by almost two goals in the league, which shows that he was not as efficient as he could have been.

This is why Idah’s role could be reduced next season if the Hoops are able to find the marquee striker they are looking for, as that signing could potentially be an upgrade on the Ireland international, who would then be permanently resigned to bench duties.

A fresh report detailing the club’s interest in a forward from down south suggests that the former Norwich man is in real danger of a reduced role in the 2025/26 campaign.

Celtic in talks to sign Premier League forward

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic have made contact with Crystal Palace centre-forward Odsonne Edouard to discuss a potential return to Parkhead this summer.

The report claims that the Hoops are in talks with the player’s representatives to explore the possibility of a transfer for the French marksman ahead of next season, as Rodgers looks for his marquee number nine.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the Premier League side, who sent him out on loan to Crystal Palace last season, are looking for a fee in the region of £15m to sell the attacker.

However, Celtic are hoping to persuade them to sanction a season-long loan deal, which would then allow them to make him a contract offer in January, as his deal expires at the end of next season.

That, of course, would mean that the Eagles would lose him for nothing, though, and that is why this will be a difficult deal to get over the line, unless the English side do not get any other offers from elsewhere for his services.

Why Celtic should sign Odsonne Edouard

Celtic should push to get a transfer over the line for the 27-year-old striker because he would come in to guarantee the goals that Rodgers is looking for this summer.

The Frenchman should be in the prime years of his career, age wise, and is already a proven performer who has been there and done it in Scotland with Celtic, which suggests that he could hit the ground running as an upgrade on Idah.

As shown in the graphic above, Edouard enjoyed a sensational time at Parkhead in his first spell at the club, winning two Golden Boots and four Premiership titles.

The former Paris Saint-Germain youngster, who was hailed as “outstanding” by Neil Lennon, is also the only Celtic striker to have scored 20 or more goals in three successive seasons in the past seven years for the Hoops.

This shows that the £15m-rated star is the best and most consistent forward that the Scottish giants have had in the past decade or so, which means that he would return as a proven goalscorer for Rodgers.

Edouard only played six games in the Premier League last season, which means that he did not get a chance to show off his skills, but the striker did manage seven goals from 6.25 xG in the division for Palace in the 2023/24 campaign.

Whilst Idah has never scored more than 13 goals in a league season, the French marksman scored 15 or more goals in three of his four Premiership seasons with the Hoops.

This suggests that the potential is there for Edouard to come in as a big upgrade on the £9.5m-rated centre-forward, as he can ‘guarantee’ goals on a regular basis in Scotland, having already proven his quality for the club in the past.

It would be a terrific signing for Celtic, particularly if they can bring him in on loan with a view to a free transfer next summer, and it is one that could see Idah’s role reduced to riding the bench most weeks.

Wanyama 2.0: Celtic place "creative" £5m star at the top of their wishlist

Celtic could repeat their Victor Wanyama masterclass by signing this star from the Pro League.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 14, 2025

Presnel Kimpembe has left Paris Saint-Germain after 20 years at the European Champions to join Qatar Sports Club.

• Kimpembe leaves PSG after two decades
• Defender departs after lifting Champions League
• Moves to Qatar Sports Club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French defender joined the PSG academy in 2005 and went on to play 241 times for the club, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Paris-born Kimpembe made his debut in 2014 and went on to wear the captain's armband for his boyhood club 31 times. The defender would go on to become a top centre-half and earn 28 caps for his country. His form in the French capital led to his inclusion in the national team squad for the 2018 World Cup, where he and Le Bleus would be victorious.

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  WHAT PSG SAID

  On Kimpembe, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, PSG's president, said: “Presnel Kimpembe has had an incredible career at Paris Saint-Germain. Since the age of 8, Presnel has grown and developed at every level within his beloved club, where he has always been an ambassador and model of professionalism. He is a fantastic example for the young players at our Youth Academy and will always be part of the Paris Saint-Germain family. We wish him every success for the future and his next adventure."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kimpembe leaves the club as PSG's third most decorated player in its history. The defender helped the club win eight Ligue 1 titles, seven Coupe de France, six Trophee des Champions, five Coupe de la Ligue and one Champions League. The defender established himself as a key player throughout many different PSG teams, fighting back from numerous serious injuries to remain part of such a successful side.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KIMPEMBE?

  Kimpembe has joined Qatar Sports Club and could make his debut against Al-Rayyan next weekend. He joins a league that includes some of his former team-mates, including Marco Verratti, Pablo Sarabia and Julian Draxler.

Looking to continue their summer spending, PIF and Newcastle United are now reportedly readying a £61m raid to sign a Real Madrid attacker in a shock move.

Newcastle pushing to sign Hugo Ekitike

For the first time in over a year, PIF are in a position to spend at Newcastle and they’re wasting no time as a result. With Anthony Elanga already signed and delivered, those at St James’ Park have instantly turned their focus towards Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Fabrizio Romano has even gone as far as to report that Newcastle have launched a bid worth over £60m as they push to sign the forward in another headline deal.

Jumping ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea in the race to sign the Frenchman, Newcastle could be about to make quite the statement this summer. Contrary to some belief too, Ekitike would be arriving to partner Alexander Isak rather than replace the Swede in what could see Eddie Howe form one of the deadliest duos in the Premier League.

After securing their Champions League return last season, Newcastle are now pushing on in pursuit of keeping hold of their European status. They have already found out the hard way what a lack of squad depth can do to a side when competing on all fronts in the past, and it’s not a mistake that they’re about to make twice.

A dream for Bruno: Newcastle likely to see £50m bid accepted to sign new CM

As Newcastle United look to bolster their midfield options, the Mapgies are reportedly set to see a £50 million bid accepted to sig a great “leader”.

By
Ben Gray

Jul 15, 2025

Even if it’s not Ekitike who eventually arrives, the plan seems to be to welcome another attacking addition no matter what, amid reports that the Magpies already have their sights set on a potential alternative.

Newcastle readying shock Endrick move

According to reports in Spain, PIF are now readying a fresh raid to sign Endrick for Newcastle in a move worth as much as €70m (£61m) this summer. The young Brazilian remains one of Europe’s top prospects, but may struggle to break into Xabi Alonso’s side next season to leave the door ajar for the Magpies to make their move.

At 18 years old, Endrick would be less ready for a starting role than Ekitike, but his potential may eventually make up for that. The young winger was showered with praise by former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti last season, who told reporters he is “spectacular”.

“He has these amazing characteristics he has shown whenever he has a chance. His accuracy is off the charts, he’s quick and he still has a lot to improve with the ball.

“But, wow, his dribbling, his runs… the shot he has… he could even score a second goal easily with that great strike off the post… He is just spectacular. Very young, but a very fast learner.”

At £61m, Endrick’s arrival would be another statement by Newcastle and their biggest yet this summer. Although, as things stand, Ekitike remains their top target.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is known for spinning many plates simultaneously when it comes to his transfer plans, and the Italian now has his eyes on more than one attacking midfielder.

Pennant: Arsenal target would be a "great signing" alongside Gyokeres

Arsenal appear to be lining up their next marquee signing after Viktor Gyokeres’ arrival

By
Robbie Walls

Jul 30, 2025

After finally sealing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres in a deal worth up to £64 million from Sporting CP, reports have suggested that Arsenal’s next transfer priority is a number 10 to complement club captain Martin Odegaard.

Mikel Arteta’s side are believed to be working on outgoings right now too, with that being a key focus, especially after a summer of expenditure totalling well north of £200 million thus far, but a new creator is still on the agenda.

Arsenal’s links to Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, as has been the case for a month now, are refusing to go away.

There are some suggestions that Eze has already agreed personal terms to join Arsenal (Sport Zone), and while this is yet to be confirmed by reliable media sources, the likes of Fabrizio Romano state that the Gunners are in constant contact with the 27-year-old’s camp.

However, there is no guarantee that Arsenal will agree a deal for Eze, with north London rivals Tottenham also contending for the England international as Palace continue to demand his release clause be paid in full.

Arsenal eye Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, Berta is now targeting Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss – who would come as a potential alternative to Eze.

Arsenal are believed to be real fans of El Khannouss, alongside a host of clubs in Europe – RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Monaco, Atalanta and Valencia – alongside Premier League rivals Spurs, Newcastle, Palace, Leeds and West Ham.

The Moroccan is a man in demand, it would seem, with talkSPORT also reporting that El Khannouss’ contract includes a £22.5 million release clause – so he’s up for grabs at a quarter of Eze’s price.

“El Khannouss is a fascinating player,” said Bailey. “Very similar to Rayan Cherki in terms of talent. Many clubs rate him as one of the finest technicians of his generation.”

The 21-year-old, who only signed for Leicester from Genk in 2024, averaged more key passes per 90 in the top flight than any other Foxes player last term (WhoScored), with a fee of just under £23m seeming like a steal.

UEFA has officially confirmed the venues for the 2027 Champions League finals, with Madrid and Warsaw set to stage the men's and women's showpiece events. Atletico's Estadio Metropolitano will host the men's final, returning to the stadium where Liverpool lifted the trophy in 2019, while Poland's Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw has been selected for the women's final.

• Estadio Metropolitano to host 2027 men's UCL final
• Stadion Narodowy confirmed for women's final
• UEFA also award 2026 Super Cup hosting rights to Salzburg

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The men's Champions League final in 2027 will be held at Atletico Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano after Milan's San Siro lost the rights amid ongoing renovation plans. Atletico's 70,000-capacity stadium previously hosted the 2019 final, when Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0. It will be the sixth time the Spanish capital has staged the competition's biggest game.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Warsaw's Stadion Narodowy will be the venue for the 2027 Women's Champions League final, marking a major moment for Polish football. UEFA confirmed the decisions following its executive meeting in Albania.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  This season's Champions League final will be played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, with London also due to host future editions. The committee also announced Salzburg as the host city for the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The new Champions League league phase begins on September 16, kicking off another season of Europe's biggest club competition. The tournament will culminate in a final at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30, 2026. This year's Women's Champions League final will be held at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany faces a delicate decision over Manuel Neuer’s starting spot, with promises made to young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig still unfulfilled. Neuer remains first-choice at 39 and continues to impress, but Bayern pledged the 22-year-old German around 10 appearances this season. With Hoffenheim up next, Kompany must balance loyalty, succession planning and results.

• Neuer’s grip on No.1 shirt

  German veteran Neuer continues to command Bayern’s goal, despite the club having signed Urbig as his long-term successor. The 39-year-old, who recently reached 100 Champions League victories, remains in exceptional form and has played every major fixture this season. Kompany has repeatedly highlighted the veteran’s calmness, saying: "This mixture of 100 percent focus and yet still being completely relaxed. You can't easily achieve that in your career, but at some point, it's the sunshine you live in, and that's the case with Manu at the moment. For me, Manu has zero pressure in any of his games. You can feel that in his life and on the pitch, too, that he's under no pressure, that he still has something to prove."

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  Urbig still waiting for promised chances

  Young goalkeeper Urbig was brought in with assurances of around 10 appearances this season to ease the transition beyond Neuer. So far, his only outing has been in the DFB-Pokal against Wiesbaden in August, when Neuer was suspended. According to , Bayern internally discussed handing Urbig at least one start before his expected return in the next cup tie, yet no league opportunities have arrived. Kompany payed special attention to Urbig in training on Thursday, the report adds, and had talks with Urbig, fellow reserve backup stopper Sven Ulreich, and his goalkeeper coaches.

• Kompany’s balancing act

  Kompany is under pressure to deliver results after six straight wins, and he is reluctant to disrupt momentum with a goalkeeper switch. Asked about Urbig, the Bayern coach said: "It's important that they know that we have a lot of confidence in Jonas Urbig, that we also believe in his future. But right now, I want to win the game against Hoffenheim! And these other topics will come up at some point, but I don't think this is the moment for them yet." His comments underline the difficulty of managing transition while maintaining Bayern’s perfect start to the season.

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• Injuries complicate Bayern’s selection

  Bayern’s defensive crisis also weighs heavily on Kompany’s mind, Josip Stanisic is sidelined with a knee ligament injury, leaving the squad without a natural left-back. That has pushed Kompany to prioritise stability in other areas, including keeping Neuer in goal. With high-profile fixtures stacking up, the coach is unwilling to risk a disruptive change, especially given the demands of the Bundesliga and Champions League schedule.

Glasgow Rangers took another step towards qualifying for the league phase of the Champions League when they ran riot with a 3-0 win at Ibrox over Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.

The Light Blues will now take a commanding lead to Czechia next Tuesday as they look to book their place in the play-off round of qualifiers for the competition.

Russell Martin will surely be delighted with the way that his team played against Viktoria Plzen, as his side looked solid and composed defensively and potent at the top end of the pitch.

The Gers boss brought Oliver Antman in for a swift debut and handed Cyriel Dessers his first start of the season, with the pair indirectly combining for the second goal.

Dessers, who also assisted the opening goal from Djeidi Gassama, expertly tucked his penalty away after the former Go Ahead Eagles winger won the spot-kick.

The Nigeria international should keep his place in the starting XI for the time being, because Danilo has failed to show that he has what it takes to be the starting number nine.

Why Danilo should not start for Rangers

Fitness issues for Dessers and Hamza Igamane provided the former Feyenoord attacker with an opportunity to start the first three games of the season for Rangers; both legs against Panathinaikos and the Scottish Premiership opener against Motherwell.

The 26-year-old forward should be in the prime years of his career and able to hit the ground running at the start of the campaign to be a reliable presence at the top end of the pitch for Martin.

However, as you can see in the table above, that was not the case in the first three matches that Danilo started. The Brazilian lightweight offered very little to the team in and out of possession, with no goals, no assists, and just four duels won.

He was, rightly, dropped for Dessers for the clash with Viktoria Plzen and the Nigerian striker scored a goal and provided an assist, which was more than Danilo managed in the previous three games combined.

The former Eredivisie centre-forward has not proven himself to be reliable enough with his availability, either, as he has missed 53 games through injury in two years at the club.

This is why the Scottish giants should be in the market to find an upgrade on Danilo, and there is a fresh report linking them with a striker who would be exactly that.

Rangers make striker one of their top targets

According to TEAMtalk, Maccabi Tel Aviv centre-forward Dor Turgeman has emerged as one of Rangers’ top Ibrox targets to bolster their options in the number nine position before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Martin has approved the club’s pursuit of a deal to sign the Israel international, and that the Gers remain keen on a swoop for his services.

Transfer Focus

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

However, TEAMtalk adds that the Light Blues need to cash in on a player before they are able to commit funds towards a potential deal for Turgeman, as they want to sell Dessers or Igamane in order to free up money for new signings.

The outlet also reveals that MLS outfit New England Revolution have made an offer to sign the striker from Maccabi Tel Aviv, which means that Rangers will need dominoes to fall quickly to avoid missing out on the forward.

It was reported earlier this summer that the 21-year-old dynamo has a price tag of around £5m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the American side will meet that valuation before the Gers have an opportunity to make their own move.

Why Turgeman would be a Danilo upgrade for Rangers

Given Danilo’s performances at the start of this season and his injury issues throughout his time at Ibrox, Rangers should be looking to sell the Brazilian forward to make room for the signing of Turgeman, who would be an upgrade on him.

As aforementioned, the Gers number 99 has missed 53 games through injury in the last two seasons, which means that he is not a reliable or durable player whom Martin can depend on.

Turgeman, however, has only missed five games through injury, all through one thigh issue last year, in his entire senior career to date, which suggests that he is far more likely to be available week-in-week-out for the Light Blues.

Availability is the best ability and that is why this is one of the big reasons why he would arrive as an upgrade on the former Feyenoord marksman.

The 21-year-old striker, who was described as “lethal” in the penalty area by writer and analyst Kai Watson, also has the quality to come in as a big upgrade on Danilo.

As you can see in the table above, Turgeman produced an eye-catching haul of 15 goals and ten ‘big chances’ created in just 22 starts in the top-flight in Israel last season, which shows that he is a prolific forward who rarely wastes a ‘big chance’.

Danilo, meanwhile, has scored nine goals and created nine ‘big chances’ in 36 appearances in the Premiership for Rangers to date, including the clash with Motherwell last weekend.

These statistics suggest that Turgeman also has the potential to deliver more quality in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator, given that he scored six more league goals last season than the Brazilian flop managed in the last two years combined.

This is why Rangers should be looking to move on from Danilo this summer in order to facilitate a swoop for the Maccabi Tel Aviv centre-forward, who could be an excellent addition to the squad if he is able to adapt to Scottish football.

Djiga repeat: Rangers have held talks over deal to sign £3.4m star

Rangers have reportedly held talks over a deal to sign a star who would be Nasser Djiga repeat.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 7, 2025

Hugo Ekitike has not been fined by Liverpool for a "stupid" red card as Arne Slot claimed that the striker is "allowed to make a mistake". The French forward, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win against Southampton, was sent off just moments after taking off his shirt in celebration, earning a second booking having already picked up a yellow card.

• Red card chaos at Anfield

  Ekitike entered the Carabao Cup tie as a substitute for Alexander Isak in the second half. Within eight minutes, he was booked for punching the ball away after referee Thomas Bramall awarded Southampton a free-kick. The French striker redeemed himself in the 85th minute, tapping in a precise pass from Federico Federico Chiesa to put Liverpool ahead 2-1. In the heat of the moment, Ekitike removed his shirt to celebrate in front of the home fans, a decision that proved costly. The second yellow card came swiftly, and he was forced to walk down the tunnel, leaving Slot fuming.

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  Slot steps in to defend Ekitike

  Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, Slot addressed rumours that Ekitike had been handed a two-week wage fine. The manager dismissed the claims and offered full backing for the striker.

  "Disciplined means a fine, which he didn’t get. I spoke to him," he said. "He said sorry straight away to his team-mates, he is young and players of all ages make mistakes and you are allowed at this club to make a mistake without getting fined."

• Lesson learnt by young striker

  Slot went on to praise Ekitike’s character, noting his warmth and professionalism off the pitch. "A fantastic human being. If you asked staff for top three warmest and polite players, he would be in there. So he can make a mistake," Slot said.

  "It wasn’t smart, it didn’t hurt us. It might hurt a bit more tomorrow but Chiesa is showing himself and a chance for him to play tomorrow off the bench."

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  Champions League test awaits Ekitike next

  Ekitike will be missing out on the trip to Crystal Palace due to suspension, but is set to return for Liverpool’s Champions League clash in Istanbul against Galatasaray next Tuesday. With a European showdown in midweek, the striker has the perfect opportunity to bounce back and show that the rash moment was simply a blip in the matrix.