Arsenal: "Very Aggressive" Star Now Wants To Join

Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is eyeing a move to Arsenal this summer as negotiations to join Bayern Munich hit a standstill, according to reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who will Arsenal sign next?

It's been a very busy summer at the Emirates Stadium as both manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu work behind-the-scenes to strengthen key areas of the squad.

Arsenal, much to the delight of their fanbase, have already completed a trio of marquee deals for Germany international winger Kai Havertz, star midfielder Declan Rice and versatile defender Jurrien Timber.

Havertz put pen to paper on a £65 million move from Chelsea and Timber joined for around £38 million from Ajax, while ex-West Ham star Rice sealed his transfer to Arsenal for a club-record £105 million.

Rice will strengthen Arteta's midfield to no end, with Arteta hailing his serious quality just after his side announced the capture.

“We’re really happy that Declan is joining us," said Arteta.

"He is a player with tremendous ability, who has been performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England for a number of seasons now. Declan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here.

“Declan has great experience in the Premier League at only 24 years old. He has captained a very good West Ham team and as we all saw, he recently lifted a European trophy. The responsibility and role he has taken on has been very impressive and we are really excited that he is joining us.”

It has been mooted that Arsenal will be focusing on player sales for the foreseeable, especially after spending over £200 million so far, but surprise reports in the last two days claim they've now entered the market for a new goalkeeper.

This is echoed by renowned reporter Romano, who has taken to Twitter with his own news on their fresh links to Raya of Brentford.

Brentford's David Raya

"David Raya prefers Arsenal move over Bayern," wrote the journalist.

"Deal depends on clubs now but Arsenal expected to bid soon in order to accelerate talks.

"Negotiations with Bayern are currently off after loan offered in the morning — not what player/Brentford wanted."

How good is David Raya?

The Spaniard, according to WhoScored, stood out as one of Brentford's best-performing players per 90 in the top flight last season.

Raya also featured over more league minutes than any other player in Thomas Frank's squad, playing every single game for them over 2022/2023 (WhoScored).

Speaking after the 27-year-old received his first ever call-up to the Spain squad last year, Frank also hailed his shot-stopper's "very aggressive" style of play.

"You can't have a strong mentality if you don't have any setbacks," said Frank.

"I know setbacks are different to a lot of people, but his clear and obvious abilities in terms of playing with his feet, high position, very aggressive in terms of his positioning and going for crosses, he definitely deserves this."

If Arsenal do in fact seal a deal for Raya, he could come in as a very capable contender for the Gunners number one spot with current first choice Aaron Ramsdale.

Everton: Dyche eyeing "cheap" signing after Chermiti

Everton are on the verge of completing a deal for Portuguese winger Youssef Chermiti. Looking beyond that now and Paul Brown has spoken to GIVEMESPORT about who is next on Sean Dyche’s summer wish list.

Who could follow up the Youseff Chermiti signing?

The Athletic are reporting that teenager Youssef Chermiti is set to be the latest arrival at Goodison Park, from Sporting CP.

Two faces who will be familiar to fans of the Premier League have already been snapped up, in the form of Ashley Young and Arnaut Danjuma. The former has plied his trade in England for many years with the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa and Watford.

Danjuma meanwhile is best known for excelling with Bournemouth in the Championship- his time with Tottenham Hotspur last season hardly went to plan for either party.

Wilfried Gnonto has been one named linked with Everton as it seems clear that Dyche is still hoping to strengthen in the attacking third. Leeds United are holding out for a fee of £20 million for the young Italian and this could become all the more necessary if anyone is to depart.

Journalist Rudy Galetti, when speaking to GIVEMESPORT, noted that Demarai Gray could move on to pastures new, opening the perfect spot for Gnonto.

What has Paul Brown had to say?

“You may even see him go out on loan at some point before he makes a big breakthrough at Everton, but I don't think anyone should be expecting this to be the striker that comes in and solves all of Everton's issues should Calvert-Lewin get injured again.

"I still think they're in the market for another one with a bit more experience if they can get one on the cheap.

"Chermiti is a long-term project that they hope will come good, and I do think that clubs like Everton need to be signing at least one player like that every summer, so I'm all for it."

Where do Everton need to strengthen?

As previously mentioned, a lot of the rumours surrounding the Toffees point towards new attacking arrivals. Gnonto would be a great asset on the wing but there may be more pressing issues centrally.

As Brown mentioned, Calvert-Lewin’s injury record is far from clean and there is very little depth to cover for the Englishman. Neal Maupay has also had to deal with injuries as well as long spells without any real form in front of goal. After being on the verge of relegation last season, one would think that the Everton hierarchy would be prioritising a move for an out-and-out striker.

One man who could fill that void from within the squad, despite not being a striker, is Danjuma. He was one of the best assets that La Liga had to offer during his time with Villarreal and his struggles at Spurs shouldn’t shine a negative light on him in any way. He is a proven goal scorer and could make a huge difference for Everton if he receives adequate service.

West Bromwich Albion’s "Huge Problem" Set To Leave For Free

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper David Button is set to leave the club on a free transfer to join League One side Reading, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

When did David Button join West Brom?

Button first arrived in the Midlands from Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2020, but despite establishing himself as the club’s official number one during his three-year spell, he last season was significantly out of favour having been handed just 13 starts in the Championship.

England’s former youth international’s contract is also set to expire in less than a year so the ongoing transfer window is the ideal time for the Baggies to cash in should they not view him as part of their plans moving forward, which seems like the case.

The 34-year-old was dropped by Carlos Corberan for the 2-2 pre-season friendly vs Salford last month despite being fully fit and available for selection, and it’s not the first time that the boss has publicly made his feelings towards the shot-stopper clear.

Back in February, The Express & Star’s Lewis Cox revealed all on a conversation held with the Spaniard regarding the veteran’s performance during the 2-0 defeat vs Birmingham City where he was at fault. He said:

“We've had a chat with Carlos Corberan just there and he actually said an interesting thing in that that first goal really knocked Button and he was just unable to sort of recover, rediscover his composure – which says a lot.”

Is David Button leaving West Brom?

According to Football Insider, Button "will be allowed" to leave West Brom this summer and he's actually closing in on a free transfer to Reading, who are "poised to sign" him before the end of the window.

The Hawthorns goalkeeper is "not in" Corberan's plans for the future, hence why he is set to depart for nothing rather than the club demanding a fee for him.

Alex Palmer was named between the sticks for the Championship's opening day 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers, and moving forward, it's expected that Josh Griffiths is "set to battle him for the number one jersey".

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper David Button.

Firstly, Button will know that his lack of game time last season was an indicator that he doesn’t really have a long-term future at the club, but he hasn’t helped himself having kept just two clean sheets over the course of the previous second-tier campaign, so West Brom would be making completely the right decision by letting him go.

He also only made 17 saves from 37 shots on target against, giving him a success rate of just 51.4% which was noticeably lower than Griffiths’ 67.6% and Palmer’s 71.8%, via FBRef, showing that he is the weakest of all three goalkeeping options.

Standing at 6 foot 3, Button has been labelled a “huge problem” between the sticks by journalist Josh Bunting, and when you take into consideration the fact that he isn’t getting any younger, sanctioning his exit for any amount would be the best outcome for both parties.

Liverpool Want To Sign 21-Year-old Centre-Back Alongside Midfield Saga

Liverpool are interested in Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio this summer, and a journalist from Portugal has shared news on Twitter involving the player's release clause.

Are Liverpool signing more players?

The Reds are going through one of their more dramatic summers in recent times, with business tending to be relatively low-key during Jurgen Klopp's time at the club. There have been drastic changes to Liverpool's squad, however, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in and as many as five different midfielders leaving, including Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, who has departed for Saudi Arabia, along with Roberto Firmino.

There is also an ongoing battle with Chelsea over the signings of Brighter star Moises Caicedo and Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia, with more depth badly required in the middle of the park in 2023/24, in what remains a tense situation.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Liverpool could also do with signing a new left-sided centre-back, however – someone who can also play at left-back, in order to provide stern competition for Andy Robertson, who hasn't always looked at home in a tweaked role recently, sitter deeper to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to step into midfield.

Sporting CP youngster Inacio is one player who has been linked with a summer move to Anfield, with the 21-year-old a highly-rated prospect who will be available if his release clause is met.

Sporting centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

Will Liverpool sign Goncalo Inacio?

Taking to Twitter, a Portuguese journalist claims that Liverpool are keen on making a move for Inacio in the near future, even reporting they are happy to pay his €45m (£38.8m) clause in the process:

"Excl: Liverpool want Goncalo Inacio from Sporting and accept to pay release clause (€45m)."

While so much focus has rightly been on Liverpool's midfield, given the changes that have taken place there since the end of last season, it is also essential that another central defender arrives, and Inacio could be the perfect option in that area of the pitch.

Not only is he a young player with an extremely high ceiling, but his price tag would also be relatively cheap in the current market because of the release clause, acting as an added bonus. Last season, he completed 90% of his passes in the Primeira Liga, showcasing his ability in possession, and he also averaged 1.9 clearances per game.

Inacio has been hailed as a "complete" centre-back by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and at just 21 years of age he is already a genuine key man and leader for Sporting, winning the league title with the Portuguese giants back in 2021.

The Portugal international would come in as an immediate improvement on both Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, neither of whom look like the players they used to be, and he would also put pressure on Robertson for minutes – particularly the latter, who hasn't always found it easy to stay fit in a Liverpool shirt.

Snapping up Inacio would be another massive step in the right direction for the Reds this summer, further suggesting they could mount a Premier League title bid, but at least one top-quality midfielder is needed for that to happen, if not two.

Newcastle Could Repeat Cabaye Success With "Complete" £43m Titan

Newcastle United may have just added another top young signing, but there is every chance that their summer business is far from concluded…

Who else are Newcastle United signing?

This is a claim that could be disproven by Eddie Howe himself, who noted just before the signing of Lewis Hall: "'I think if we were able to bring a player in, that would be our transfer business concluded unless there were injuries within our own players."

However, their untold riches and presence within European football this year suggest that they will have to continue bolstering their squad, no matter how impressive a start their other new faces have been.

Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes showcased their respective talents in midfield and attack, but the Magpies remain relatively threadbare at the back.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Perhaps the Tyneside outfit could be poised to make one final addition, with OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo representing a fine option for them to sign.

After all, their interest in the Frenchman is longstanding, and his reported €50m (£43m) price tag would represent a relative coup for the quality in depth his presence would provide.

What French players have played for Newcastle?

Newcastle have a lengthy relationship with French players, having enjoyed a steady stream of stars from a truly special part of the footballing world.

David Ginola likely reigns supreme among all who have graced St James' Park, supplemented by the likes of Laurent Robert, Hatem Ben Arfa and more.

However, a close second is Yohan Cabaye, who enjoyed three impressive years as a true favourite of the Toon Army.

A natural leader and metronome in possession, few could dictate a game as supremely as the 37-year-old, who retired from professional football in 2020.

The former LOSC Lille maestro accumulated just 93 appearances for the historic club before departing for Paris Saint-Germain, with his 32 goal contributions during that period an outstanding return for a central midfielder.

His consistently stellar showings were lauded back in 2013, as Alan Pardew noted upon his return to form: "The bottom line is that the player is a true character and has that X-factor. And when you’re at the top of the Premiership you can’t stay there without that and he really provided that for us."

So, to return to a lesser-known French outfit for another star, and the hope will be that Howe can emulate such success with Todibo.

How good is Jean-Clair Todibo?

Given the form the 23-year-old has maintained in recent years, there is precedent to believe he could follow successfully in the footsteps of Cabaye.

Last season saw the former Barcelona ace maintain a 6.94 average rating, buoyed by his 89% pass accuracy, 2.2 tackles and 3.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

jean-clair-todibo

For comparison, only Bruno Guimaraes record more tackles last campaign in the Premier League, with just Fabian Schar and Sven Botman posting more clearances too, via Sofascore.

He is already defensively sound but adds an element of creativity due to his proficiency in possession.

When compared to other centre-backs across Europe, Todibo sits in the top 19% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

It is no surprise to see Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig seek to praise him, branding the defender as the "complete package".

Todibo is certainly ready to compete with the aforementioned stoppers already starring under Howe, with the success of Cabaye likely a benchmark he will hope to surpass given the club's fine upward trajectory.

Leicester Can Land Dream Mavididi Partner With £7k-p/w Wizard

The summer transfer window officially slams shut on Friday and Leicester City could look to make further additions to their squad before the deadline passes.

Who have Leicester signed this summer?

Foxes boss Enzo Maresca has been backed by the board as the club have brought in Harry Winks, Conor Coady, Mads Hermansen, and Stephy Mavididi on permanent deals.

The Midlands outfit have also snapped up Yunus Agkun, Cesare Casadei, and Callum Doyle on loans from Galatasaray, Chelsea, and Manchester City respectively.

It remains to be seen whether or not the club will go back into the market for further reinforcements but one player the manager should push to sign is Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder Ilias Chair, who has been linked with a move to the King Power this summer.

How good is Ilias Chair?

The Morocco international is a proven Championship performer who has the ability to be an outstanding performer for Leicester and he could form an exciting link-up with Mavididi at the top end of the pitch.

Chair is capable of being deployed in a number of roles across the frontline as he has played at least 36 career matches as a central midfielder, number ten, or left winger.

This means that the 25-year-old wizard could play on one flank with Mavididi on the other or he could line up in a midfield role to create a direct link with the former Montpellier ace.

The summer signing has scored one goal and assisted one in four league clashes for Leicester so far and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.22, which is the sixth-best score within the squad and shows that he has hit the ground running as one of the top performers at the club.

Maresca could now secure a fantastic partner for the English whiz by swooping for Chair as the Moroccan technician has the quality to tear teams apart, which would make them a fearsome duo for opposition sides to defend.

Queens Park Rangers star Ilias Chair.

Last season, the QPR star showcased his sensational creative ability with 12 'big chances' created and 2.4 key passes per game for his teammates across 40 league appearances, which resulted in nine assists for the talented dynamo.

Meanwhile, no Leicester player managed more than James Maddison's 2.3 key passes per outing and the England playmaker – now at Spurs – was the only gem who provided more than five assists (nine).

After four games this season, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (four) is the only Foxes star with more than 1.5 key passes per game.

These statistics suggest that Chair could be an outstanding creator for the Foxes and provide the likes of Mavididi, who scored 21 goals in 98 matches for Montpellier, and Kelechi Iheanacho with the chances they need in front of goal to find the back of the net week-in-week-out.

The QPR maestro, who was once described as "lively" by journalist Josh Bunting, only scored five league goals last season but did manage nine goals throughout the 2021/22 campaign and could add a goal threat to go alongside his sublime playmaking from a midfield or wide position.

Therefore, Chair and Mavididi, based on his early form for Leicester, could be a lethal duo in the final third with their respective ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch, which is why Maresca must push for the club to sign the £7k-per-week maestro.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Head-to-head record, key stats & more

Arsenal and Manchester United is a fixture that largely defined the Premier League for over a decade. It doesn't quite have the same power now that it did at the turn of the century but make no mistake – this is one of the biggest games there is.

Especially with what the two teams want to achieve this season. Each want to start quickly and be the side (or one of the sides?) to compete with Manchester City at the top this season. Winning against their old rival would be an ideal jumpstart to that dream.

So what can we expect? This is one that goes back a long, long time in English football, to a time when neither were actually called Arsenal or Manchester United. We at Football FanCast have look at what's come before.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's the head-to-head record?

These two teams first met all the way back in 1894. Arsenal were 'Woolwhich Arsenal' at the time, while Manchester United were 'Newton Heath'. In fact, we wouldn't see the first 'Arsenal vs Manchester United' fixture until 1920.

To make things feel even more unusual, their first 20 meetings all came in the old Second Division. This was far from the massive game that it is today.

But there have been plenty of meetings since. They've competed 239 times over the years – United haven't faced anyone as often as that, while the Gunners have only faced Liverpool that often (also, strangely, 239 times).

And who comes out on top after all of that? It's United – just. They've won 99 of the 239 fixtures, to Arsenal's 86. They'll be going for no.100 this weekend, then.

Arsenal wins

86

Draws

53

Man United wins

99

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's the record at Arsenal?

113 of these fixtures have come at Arsenal – which includes Highbury and the Emirates, of course. As you'd expect, the Gunners boast the superior record there.

62 of the games have been Arsenal wins, meaning they do have a win-rate above 50%. They've also scored a whopping 218 goals, so not quite two per game but not exactly far off. It's worth pointing out that United have also scored plenty in away fixtures, though, with 139. It means that, for whatever reason, there have been a lot more goals at Arsenal than at United in this fixture.

United have translated those goals into a reasonable number of wins, too. 31, to be exact, while they've secured 20 draws. It's a very solid record and we can't imagine many clubs can boast one as strong as that when playing away at Arsenal.

Arsenal wins

62

Draws

20

Man United wins

31

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's the record at Old Trafford?

The stronger of the two home records does belong to United, which isn't really a surprise given they lead the overall head-to-head record. They've also had one more home fixture – 114 to 113 at Arsenal.

And in terms of wins, they narrowly beat the Gunners' own home record with 66 at Old Trafford. Though, they haven't scored as many home goals, falling eight shy of Arsenal's home tally at 210.

Arsenal, though, have struggled to secure wins at United. They've only managed 19 in the near-140 years of this fixture, and have scored under a goal per game with 101. But they have managed to scrape a draw on 29 occasions.

Arsenal wins

19

Draws

29

Man United wins

66

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's the record at neutral grounds?

Given the standing of these two clubs, it's probably not a shock that they've had quite a few meetings on neutral grounds. They are the two leading FA Cup winners, after all.

Six of these have been in the Community Shield – again, not really a shock. Arsenal boast the best record in that particular competition, with four wins to United's two. However, both of the latter came through penalty shoot-outs.

The other six have all come in the FA Cup. The first was in the 1979 final, which Arsenal won 3-2 on a dramatic day. They'd then meet in a semi-final four years later – United won that one 2-1.

It would be another 16 years before they met in another FA Cup semi-final and it's an all-time famous one. United and Arsenal drew 0-0 after extra-time in 1999, forcing a replay. That one was heading towards a draw after extra-time, too, only for Ryan Giggs to score a spectacular goal and send United into the final, where they'd complete one step of their historic Treble.

Fast-forward to 2004 and they met in another semi-final, with United again coming out on top (1-0). The following year, the two sides would play out one of the worst FA Cup finals of all-time, finishing 0-0 before the Gunners won the cup on penalties.

Arsenal wins

6

Draws (forced replay)

1

Man United wins

5

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's their Premier League record?

This has been an ever-present fixture in the Premier League, of course, and consistently one of the biggest. Both teams have fought towards the top of the table for 30 years now – and that means their record in the Premier League years is relatively even.

United do have a stronger record, however, as you'd expect. They've won 26 of the 62 games, so not exactly a dominant return. Arsenal have won 18, while the two sides have also drawn 18 times.

And, because, it's the Premier League, we can put those numbers into points for you. Out of a possible 186 points, United have picked up 96, while the Gunners have 72.

Arsenal wins

18

Draws

18

Man United wins

26

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Which team has the most goals?

There have been an awful lot of goals across this fixture – exactly 700. It means we're falling just shy here of an average of three goals per game across the 239 fixtures (2.93, if you want a number).

There's no runaway scorer here, either, and the two clubs are about as well-matched as it gets across this number of games. United have 362 goals in 239 games, Arsenal have 338. So again, another United win there, but not a dominant return.

However, the incredible goal return notably slows down in the Premier League era. United boast 87 goals in 62 PL meetings, Arsenal have 70. That creates an average of 2.53, which is a fair drop-off – but that's probably to be expected when these two have been as good as they have been for that long.

Arsenal goals

338

Man United goals

362

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's Arsenal's biggest win?

You have to go back a very long time to find Arsenal's biggest win in this fixture. It happened in an FA Cup in 1937 – a season that is up there with the worst in United's history.

They were relegated in the campaign, while Arsenal finished third in the First Division. To make matters worse, Manchester City would finish as champions for the very first time in their history.

We can't imagine you're overly familiar with the goalscorers in the 5-0 but here they are anyway: Robert Trimming Davidson, Cliff Bastin, Ted Drake, Alfred Kirchen, and an Own Goal.

Nearly a century later, Arsenal haven't actually found a way to inflict that level of misery on United. Other than beating them in cup finals, of course.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What's United's biggest win?

We're not going nearly as far back for this one. In fact, several of the players on that day are still active in the Premier League.

It happened in August 2011 at Old Trafford as United smashed Arsenal 8-2. The summer, to that point, had been a nightmare for the Gunners as they lost Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri to Man City, while, more importantly, Cesc Fabregas left for Barcelona.

They would go out and find five more signings after the drubbing (including Mikel Arteta) but going into this one, Arsenal looked poor on paper. United made things look even worse.

Looking back, though, the most shocking thing here is just how average United's team looks. They won 8-2 with a midfield of Ashley Young, Nani, Anderson and Tom Cleverley. They had Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and a young Chris Smalling at the back. They did have Wayne Rooney, at least.

Danny Welbeck, Young and Rooney all scored to make it 3-0 before Theo Walcott pulled on back right before half-time. It only got worse after half-time, though, as Rooney, Nani and Park Ji-Sung scored three in six minutes to make it 6-1 on 70. Robin van Persie (who jumped ship after this season) pulled another back on 74 but Rooney and Young each grabbed another to round it out.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: What is the recent history?

The recent history looks pretty poor for United. Of that last 10 Premier League meetings, they've only won two – 3-2 and 3-1 in their last two home fixtures. Arsenal, on the other hand, have won five, with three draws.

Perhaps tellingly, the last two seasons have been very similar. They've each won their home games, both 3-1 and 3-2. It feels like there's a real balance between the two at the moment, at leas when they're facing one another.

And so with that in mind, you'd have to back Arsenal in the upcoming fixture, simply because they're at home. And they'll probably score three, if things are extra predictable.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: How have they started the season?

Arsenal haven't started the season in the form they'd have hoped for. They are one of six teams yet to lose a game in the Premier League, but they have also been scraping by over the first three games.

A 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at home wasn't a dream start, but they did get the points. They then beat Crystal Palace 1-0 away to maintain a perfect record. However, a late equaliser cost them two points at home to Fulham, who also played the final 10 minutes with 10 men.

United haven't been particularly good, either, and sit one point behind Arsenal on six. They have lost a game, though, as Tottenham Hotspur beat them fairly comfortably at home. Other than that, they did beat Wolves 1-0 on the opening weekend, but perhaps should have conceded a late penalty. A 3-2 win over 10-man Nottingham Forest – having gone 2-0 down inside five minutes – sent mixed messages, too.

Arsenal vs Manchester United: When is it?

Arsenal will host Manchester United on Sunday, September 3rd at 16:30 UK time. It's a game where both teams are desperate for a statement win that could steady the course after a rocky start to the campaign.

That said, each have won two of their opening games and sit in decent positions. Their wins just haven't been all that convincing and a win in this one would feel like a strong statement from either side.

So you can expect a big-match feel for this one, as usual. A win feels fairly vital already and we fully expect both teams to go all-out to find it.

Celtic already have big Maeda upgrade in 5 ft 7 magician

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was backed by the board throughout the summer transfer window as they brought in nine new signings to bolster the squad.

How much are Celtic's signings worth?

The Hoops brought in seven permanent additions and two loan deals, with Nat Phillips joining from Premier League side Liverpool until January and Paulo Bernardo coming in from Benfica for the entire campaign.

New signing

Fee signed for

Maik Nawrocki

£3.4m

Gustaf Lagerbielke

£1m

Nat Phillips

£3.4m

Hyeok-kyu Kwon

£470k

Paulo Bernardo

£2.6m

Odin Thiago Holm

£2.1m

Luis Palma

£2.1m

Hyun-jun Yang

£600k

Marco Tilio

£860k

Valuations via Transfermarkt.

The Bhoys head coach will now be hoping that these signings improve the side to help him achieve his goals throughout the 2023/24 season as trophies look to be secured whilst also being competitive in the Champions League.

One player whom the Northern Irish tactician could be looking to replace within the starting XI is Japan international Daizen Maeda, who has had a difficult start to the season.

How many goals has Daizen Maeda scored this season?

The 25-year-old is yet to find the back of the net this term despite starting all five of the club's matches in all competitions so far.

Maeda has produced zero goals and one assist in those five outings, with that assist coming in the 3-1 Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen last month.

This form comes off the back of a solid, if unspectacular, year for the Hoops last term. The winger averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.78 across 35 league appearances for the Bhoys as he scored eight goals and provided five assists from a wide position in 25 starts.

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda.

That score placed him 23rd within the Celtic squad, out of 30 players, suggesting that there is plenty of room for Rodgers to find a better option to consistently start on the left flank.

The Hoops brought in Luis Palma from Aris FC for a reported £3.5m to bolster their options out wide towards the end of the summer transfer window but the former Leicester City boss already has an upgrade on Maeda in Marco Tilio.

How many goals did Marco Tilio score last season?

Celtic signed the Australia international from Melbourne City earlier this year as he became the second signing of Rodgers' next spell in charge of the club, after Norwegian talent Odin Thiago Holm.

He is coming off the back of an impressive campaign with his former club in the 2022/23 A-League campaign, in which the talented forward scored an excellent ten goals in 29 matches.

Tilio averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 over those outings as he contributed with ten goals and five assists in total, whilst he created four 'big chances' for his teammates.

Australia forward Marco Tilio.

That came after he produced five goals and five assists, along with an impressive nine 'big chances' created and 1.6 key passes per game across 13 A-League starts and 23 appearances in total during the 2021/22 season.

The 22-year-old, who was hailed as a "phenomenal" player by former A-League striker Bruce Djite, also showcased his defensive qualities with 1.8 tackles and interceptions and 4.7 duels won per game last term.

Evidently, the left-footed attacker is willing to put in the hard yards out of possession to compete for the ball, instead of leaving that work solely to the defensive players.

How many goals did Luis Palma score last season?

Palma, by comparison, caught the eye with his performances for Aris in the Greek top flight as he plundered 11 goals in 29 league appearances.

The Honduras international managed 11 goals and four assists in those matches, whilst he was also able to create four 'big chances' for his teammates and provided 1.4 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

Honduras international Luis Palma.

However, his defensive work was not up to Tilio's standards as he only made 0.7 tackles and interceptions and won 2.5 duels per game for the Greek side, proving that he rarely helped his full-back out.

This came after the 23-year-old produced two goals and zero assists in 11 league outings for Aris throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

Who should start over Maeda?

In total, Tilio racked up 15 goals and ten assists, along with 13 'big chances' created in 52 A-League matches over his last two seasons with Melbourne.

On the other hand, Palma scored 13 goals and assisted four, to go with four 'big chances' created, in 40 league clashes for Aris during the same period of time.

The Honduras international provided a goal or 'big chance' every 2.35 appearances on average, whilst Tilio managed one every 1.86 for his former club as a winger.

The numbers suggest that the Australian has the potential to offer more quality at the top end of the pitch as someone who can score goals and provide their teammates with presentable opportunities in front of goal on a regular basis from out wide.

Maeda averaged a goal scored or 'big chance' created every 2.5 league matches for Celtic last term as he found the back of the net eight times and fashioned six 'big chances' in 35 games.

The Japan international also made 1.5 tackles and interceptions and won 2.8 duels per game, as per Sofascore, offering excellent work rate and a defensive presence to go along with his threat in the final third.

This suggests that Tilio would be the perfect fit to take his place on the left flank as the 5 foot 7 gem has proven himself to be capable of tracking back to make vital interventions to win possession back, whereas Palma rarely contributes at that end of the pitch.

Therefore, the former Melbourne City star could be the ideal upgrade on Maeda that Rodgers needs due to his ability on and off the ball.

He has superior attacking and defensive statistics in comparison to Palma over the last two seasons and could be a fantastic option for the Hoops to call upon this season if the talented gem can translate that form in Scottish football.

Fabrizio Romano: Newcastle sign new "really exciting young player"

Newcastle United have brought a new exciting youngster into the fold under Eddie Howe despite the transfer window being closed, as per reports.

What's the latest Newcastle news?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is close to signing a new deal at St James' Park that would make him the highest-paid player in club history.

The report states that the new deal will be worth around £200k-a-week and will also put an end to speculation linking Guimaraes with moves to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid. No release clause will be present in the Brazil international's new contract as the Saudi Public Investment Fund have refused to include them in any negotiations since taking over in the North East.

In some international break-themed news involving the Magpies, Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes is considering changing his international allegiance from England to Scotland after being snubbed once again by Gareth Southgate, as per The Times.

Barnes is eligible through his grandparents and could opt to work under former Newcastle United assistant Steve Clarke, who is in charge of the Scottish national side. Scotland stand on the brink of securing EURO 2024 qualification following a run of five wins from their first five group fixtures, as per Sky Sports.

In a separate piece from Football Insider, it has been revealed that Fabian Schar could be handed a new contract at Newcastle United, with his current terms set to run out at the end of this campaign.

Former Bournemouth boss Howe is keen to keep hold of Schar despite being in the market for another central defender in the summer. Crystal Palace's Joachim Anderson was targeted by the Magpies and it is believed that the Eagles threw out a late deadline day bid for the Denmark international worth over £30 million.

Who have Newcastle signed?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has taken to social media platform X to share that Newcastle United have brought in a new talent despite the transfer window closing in England. Romano stated:

"Official, completed. Talented 2007 born winger Trevan Sanusi joins Newcastle from Birmingham City. Newcastle won competition to sign Sanusi as more than five clubs were involved in the race."

Trevan Sanusi, who has been described as a "really exciting young player" by Birmingham boss John Eustace, has yet to make a senior appearance in his career; however, he has trained with Birmingham City's first-team on several occasions and has a growing reputation as a rising star in the English game.

What now for Newcastle?

Newcastle United will wait for the rest of the international break to play out before returning to action next weekend on September 16th against Brentford in the Premier League.

In the summer, CaughtOffside claimed that Newcastle were rebuffed in an approach to try and bring in Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella; however, he could be available for around £77 million next year.

nicolo-barella-transfer-gossip-arsenal-inter-milan-edu-arteta-declan-rice

Football Insider report that Newcastle United may look to expand their portfolio abroad by purchasing a top-division Belgian club and they have already held talks about the possibility of doing so.

Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly is on the radar at St James' Park and could be courted in January as a potential addition to Howe's defensive ranks, so it could be a bust few months for the Magpies.

Man United: Club officials on their way to scout "amazing" new target

Manchester United scouts have travelled today to watch an exciting talent who has also attracted interest from a number of clubs in England and around Europe, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

Speaking to The Athletic, former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has criticised some of his ex-players and their character in times where the going got tough, stating: "Some weren't as good as their own perception of themselves. I won't name names, but I was very disappointed when a couple turned down the chance to be captain. I was also disappointed when others said they wouldn't play or train because they wanted to force their way out."

He then added: "When you have a group you need everyone to pull in the same direction. When things didn't go right, you could see certain players and egos came out."

Of course, Manchester United have now lost their last three successive fixtures in all competitions against Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bayern Munich, respectively, which has piled the pressure on Red Devils' boss Erik Ten Hag to turn things around following a poor start to this term.

On the takeover front, Sky Sports report that both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani are still keen to purchase the club despite complications in the takeover process.

United midfielder meanwhile Scott McTominay could be allowed to push through an exit from Old Trafford in January as he is not believed to be pivotal to squad plans at the Premier League giants, according to Football Insider. Bayern Munich were linked with a swoop for the Scotland international in the summer and the 26-year-old is reportedly keen to force a move to ensure he is regularly involved at first-team level ahead of EURO 2024.

Who could Manchester United look to sign?

According to HLN via Sport Witness, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs to have sent scouts to watch Club Brugge attacker Antonio Nusa in the flesh against Besiktas on Thursday, who will also be observed by Premier League pair Chelsea and Arsenal.

Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid will also send officials to watch the highly-rated Norway international, who has been described as "amazing" and dubbed "The Norwegian Mbappé" by Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

Club Brugge'sAntonioNusacelebrates scoring their fourth goal with Casper Nielsen

Primarily operating off the left-hand side, Nusa has managed to register two goals and three assists from 11 appearances in all competitions this term, as per Transfermarkt. In the Jupiler Pro League, Nusa has been able to emphasise his excellent ball-carrying skills so far in 2023/24, averaging around four dribbles per 90 minutes in the Belgian top-flight, according to WhoScored.

Manchester United are in a predicament regarding their options on the flanks, with Antony and Jadon Sancho both not in the first-team picture for reasons that have been well-documented in media circles. Facundo Pellestri started for the Red Devils against Bayern Munich in the Champions League; nevertheless, it is clear that Manchester United could use some depth in the wide areas and Nusa could be an exciting addition to the ranks.

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