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After more than two decades away from the Premier League, what’s another season in the Championship for Ipswich Town?

Kieran McKenna’s side haven’t been able to stave off relegation this year, but considering just how poorly their fellow promoted sides have fared, it would be fair to say that they’ve given it a real go.

Moreover, while goalscoring talisman Liam Delap is probably going to leave in the summer – for a tasty profit, hopefully – there is more than enough talent in this squad to come right back up again.

In fact, there’s even one signing made by the Northern Irishman who looks like a £43m star in the making, thanks to the comparisons he’s won this season.

The Ipswich players who could clinch promotion next year

So, before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at those in the squad who could be key to bouncing right back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, such as Leif Davis.

The former Leeds United star might not have had quite the impact in the top flight that some were hoping he’d have, but one thing is certain: he’ll thrive in the second tier.

For example, it was only last season that the Englishman racked up a simply superb tally of two goals and 21 assists in just 43 Championship appearances, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.91 games.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Likewise, while this year has been one blighted by injury, you’d be a fool to bet against Sammie Szmodics when he’s back to full fitness next year.

After all, when playing for Blackburn Rovers in the 2023/24 campaign, the Irishman was an unstoppable force of nature, racking up an outrageous tally of 33 goals and four assists in 48 appearances, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.29 games.

However, another Ipswich ace will almost certainly be playing alongside him, an ace signed by McKenna now being compared to some very valuable stars indeed.

Ipswich's £43m star in the making

While there are some other talented players at Ipswich who could help make a real difference next year, like Alex Palmer, Ben Johnson, and Conor Chaplin, the star we are talking about is none other than Omari Hutchinson.

The former Chelsea ace joined the Tractor Boys on a permanent £20m deal last summer, and while this season, like for most of his teammates, has had its ups and downs, we know he can perform in the Championship.

For example, he spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Portman Road, where he managed to rack up an impressive enough tally of 11 goals and six assists in 50 games, so with a year of Premier League football under his belt, there is every chance he does even better next season.

Moreover, while he’s not been as prolific as some would’ve hoped, his all-round performances have seen him win comparisons to some seriously talented players, such as Jacob Ramsey.

The comparison primarily stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in the Premier League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Aston Villa star is the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Blues gem.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.19

0.21

Non-Penalty G+As

0.20

0.24

Goals per Shot

0.08

0.06

Key Passes

0.93

1.09

Through Balls

0.16

0.18

Shot-Creating Actions

2.59

2.97

Carries

26.1

28.2

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected and actual goals plus assists, key passes, through balls, carries, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

While a comparison to a Champions League player is encouraging enough for the “fantastic” talent’s future prospects, as dubbed by McKenna, it’s also a positive indication of his future valuation.

For example, Football Transfers value the Villa ace at up to €50.3m, which converts to about £43m, and if the Tractor Boys star is so statistically similar to him, why shouldn’t his price tag eventually match as well?

Ultimately, while this season has not gone entirely to plan for Ipswich, they clearly have the talent to bounce right back up next year, and we do not doubt that Hutchinson will have an important role to play.

Worth more than Hirst & Broadhead: Ipswich have hit gold on "terrific" star

Ipswich Town have found themselves a gem with this terrific talent.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 15, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are in contact with a former Bayern Munich boss to potentially replace under-pressure head coach Ange Postecoglou, according to reports, with the clock seemingly ticking on his stay in N17.

Tottenham likely to part ways with Ange Postecoglou

The prospect of Postecoglou’s departure from north London is gaining more and more traction.

Jamie O'Hara thrilled by "brilliant" new manager Tottenham could appoint

He’s got credentials.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

This week, The Telegraph reported that Tottenham could relieve Postecoglou of his duties, regardless of whether the Lilywhites end their 17-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Europa League.

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Even an historic night in Bilbao may not be enough to save the Australian, with Spurs on course for their worst ever Premier League season to date. They’re just one loss away from equalling their record for most defeats in a single domestic season, and it is highly likely Postecoglou is bestowed with that dismal record as champions elect, Liverpool, await them next at Anfield.

The 59-year-old has faced an uphill battle all season long, having lost a plethora of key players to injury for extended periods on a consistent basis, but 16th in the table is arguably still nowhere near good enough – even when factoring in their serious bad luck.

Attention is already turning to who could succeed Postecoglou, and there is no shortage of candidates linked to the potentially vacant role.

Mauricio Pochettino would privately love a return to Tottenham, according to reports, while the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all been linked recently.

Now, a new name in the form of ex-Croatia captain and former Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovač has emerged as a managerial target.

Tottenham make contact with Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovač

The 53-year-old was appointed by Borussia Dortmund on an 18-month deal to replace the sacked Nuri Şahin, and he’s since done a solid job, as Kovac attempts to spearhead European qualification after a previously disappointing campaign for the Bundesliga heavyweights.

The tactician, who’s previously won a German title with Bayern and two German cups – one with the Bavarians and one at Eintracht Frankfurt – has now turned heads at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

According to newspaper Bild, via Sport Witness, Tottenham have made contact with Kovac, via an intermediary but not directly with the club, as chairman Daniel Levy casts his net to Europe in search of a new head coach.

Spurs are said to view him as a good fit due to his intense and aggressive style of play, but as things stand, he doesn’t have an interest in leaving Dortmund. If this stance changes, Kovac’s reputation as a true leader appears to be exactly what Tottenham are crying out for.

“He [Kovac] has experience, he was a very good player and was the captain of the Croatia national team,” said Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus.

“He has charisma, he has passion, he knows about football. He was a leader as a player and is showing this as a coach too.”

Celtic have the opportunity to claim a place in the final of the SFA Cup this afternoon when they face off against Scottish Premiership rivals St. Johnstone in the semi-finals.

The Hoops are aiming to retain their crown in the competition after they beat Rangers 1-0 in the final last season, thanks to a last-minute strike by Adam Idah.

Brendan Rodgers will want his team to secure the trophy once again as it is likely to complete a domestic treble for his side, as they are on the verge of winning the Premiership and have already won the League Cup.

The Scottish giants should also come into this game with a fair bit of confidence, despite losing 1-0 to St. Johnstone in the league recently, because they come into it off the back of a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the top-flight.

Two goals from Reo Hatate and strikes from Daizen Maeda, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Anthony Ralston secured all three points for the club in emphatic style last time out.

However, Rodgers should still look to make some alterations to his starting line-up for this semi-final clash with St. Johnstone, by bringing Jota and Nicolas Kuhn back in.

Why Nicolas Kuhn and Jota should start for Celtic

James Forrest started the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on the right side of the front three and failed to do enough to keep his place in the XI, as he ended his time on the pitch with zero goals, zero shots on target, zero key passes, and zero ‘big chances’ created.

The experienced Scottish forward did not provide enough quality at the top end of the pitch to justify his continued inclusion in the team, particularly when there is a player of Kuhn’s quality waiting in the wings to return to the line-up.

Appearances

28

18

Goals

10

0

Big chances created

10

3

Key passes per game

1.7

1.0

Assists

8

4

Completed dribbles per game

1.9

0.5

As you can see in the table above, the German attacker has offered significantly more in the final third than Forrest in the Premiership so far this term, with ten more goals and four more assists.

This suggests that Kuhn has a far greater chance of being a difference-maker in the clash with St. Johnstone this afternoon, because he has proven his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the right wing.

Meanwhile, Adam Idah should also drop out of the side in order for Jota to be brought back in, which would allow Maeda to play through the middle, on the left wing.

The Portuguese starlet has scored four goals, created three ‘big chances’, and registered two assists in six league starts for Celtic since his permanent return to the club from Rennes in the January transfer window at the start of the year.

Jota has shown that he can still make a big impact at the top end of the pitch in a Hoops shirt, which is why he should come in for Idah after the striker’s dismal showing against Kilmarnock.

The Ireland international started last time out and played the opening 60 minutes without managing a single effort on goal. He also failed to create any chances for his teammates or complete any dribbles, as the forward failed to offer much, if any, quality in the final third.

Therefore, Rodgers must brutally ditch Idah and Forrest from the starting line-up in order to bring Jota and Kuhn into the team on the wingers, whilst moving Maeda into the centre-forward position against St. Johnstone.

Making alterations to the attacking set-up should not be the only tinkering that the Northern Irish head coach does, though, as the manager must boldly unleash Maik Nawrocki from the start.

Why Maik Nawrocki should start

The Polish central defender has rarely been seen on the pitch for Celtic this season. He has played two matches in the Premiership and made one substitute appearance in the SFA Cup.

Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, and Dane Murray have been selected ahead of him at various points throughout the campaign in the centre-back positions, but he recently got two opportunities to shine against Rangers and Hearts in the league.

Injuries to Trusty, Scales, and Murray provided Nawrocki with a chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a key player for Celtic when called upon, which is exactly what he did.

Minutes

90

90

Clearances

7

9

Blocks

0

3

Tackles + interceptions

5

1

Duels won

7/10

8/9

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Pass accuracy

93%

98%

As you can see in the table above, the former Legia Warsaw star took his chance to prove himself in both of those matches, dominating the Rangers and Hearts attackers whilst being incredibly reliable in possession.

These statistics show that Nawrocki, who was once described as “aggressive” by Rodgers, has the defensive attributes to be a rock off the ball, as well as having the qualities on the ball that make him reliable in the build-up, and that is why the boss should use this cup match as an opportunity to bring him back in from the start.

Trusty and Scales, despite being naturally left-footed players who are more comfortable progressing the ball down that side, have shown that they have an error in them this season.

Scales has made one error that led to a shot and given away one penalty in the Premiership, whilst Trusty has made a staggering four errors that have led to shots and one that has led to a goal in the league.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This shows that both of them are capable of making mistakes that can let teams back into games, which was the case when Nawrocki was dropped for Trusty in the 1-0 loss to St. Johnstone. The USA international slipped up down the left and needlessly fouled his man, which led to the winning goal.

Nawrocki has not made a single error that has led to a shot, goal, or penalty in 12 league appearances since the start of last season, which is why Rodgers must boldly unleash him ahead of the two left-footed defenders this afternoon.

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It is now down to the manager to make that big decision to take Scales out of the XI to bring the rarely-seen Polish colossus back into the side today.

Sheffield United have clawed their way to the top of the Championship and could now be ready to pinch one of their rivals’ star assets should promotion be achieved at Bramall Lane, per reports.

Sheffield United look to build on slender Championship lead

Nerves are starting to kick in across the board in England’s second-tier as Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley battle it out for an automatic place in next season’s Premier League.

The Blades hold a two-point advantage at the Championship summit over their direct rivals for promotion, while Sunderland, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion occupy the remaining coveted playoff slots.

Since their agonising defeat at home to Leeds, Sheffield United have gone on a five-match unbeaten run at the perfect time and will take encouragement from monumental recent triumphs over Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry.

Coinciding with Daniel Farke’s Whites losing momentum, this period of the campaign may be looked back on as a sliding doors moment when all is said and done.

Nevertheless, Sheffield United are active in the transfer market and Jimmy Dunne is a target regardless of what division they end up in come May. Queens Park Rangers are holding out for £3 million after the Republic of Ireland international came close to joining the Blades during the January window.

Sheffield United’s run-in as Chris Wilder looks to secure promotion

Oxford United (A)

Kassam Stadium

Millwall (H)

Bramall Lane

Plymouth Argyle (A)

Home Park

Cardiff City (H)

Bramall Lane

Burnley (A)

Turf Moor

Stoke City (A)

bet365 Stadium

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Bramall Lane

Chancing their luck with divisional rivals’ star assets could be a running theme if promotion is achieved in Yorkshire, with Wilder now lining up a swoop for another proven Championship performer.

Sheffield United line up move for Sunderland star Ballard

According to Football League World, Sheffield United are chasing Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard’s signature and are ready to pounce for the Northern Ireland international if they manage to claim promotion to the Premier League.

Reported to earn around £25,000 at Sunderland, the Stevenage-born star has become a target due to Harry Souttar’s season-ending injury in Yorkshire, which has prompted Wilder to evaluate dipping into the market for defensive reinforcements.

Brewster included: Sheffield United must axe £88k-p/w quartet if they go up

Chris Wilder could have to be brutal with his Sheffield United team selections if promotion is reached.

1 ByKelan Sarson Apr 1, 2025

Despite being a leading light for the Black Cats, Ballard has been restricted to 19 appearances this term due to injury problems, yielding two goals and an assist across all competitions.

Labelled “a natural leader” by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, the central defender has been a dominant presence for Sunderland, winning 85 duels and making 42 recoveries in the Championship.

Ultimately, Sheffield United will have to be creative when tasked with where to utilise their resources if they end up in the Premier League next term, so it makes sense to target players whom they have already had the opportunity to profile at close quarters.

During Chris Wilder’s two stints as manager of Sheffield United, he’s had some fantastic players at his disposal.

From goalscoring hero Billy Sharp to the likes of John Egan and John Fleck.

Fleck, a free transfer from Coventry City in the summer of 2016, was a rather understated at the time but quickly became a mainstay in many a Blades lineup with United jumping all the way up from League One to the top-flight under Wilder.

John Fleck's heroics at Sheffield United

It all began with that free-kick against Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby in 2017. Since that moment, he became a firm fan favourite at Bramall Lane.

Fleck quickly turned into a Premier League capable performer at Bramall Lane, with the now 33-year-old ace going on to immortalise himself as a United great across a hefty 278 appearances.

The Glasgow-born ace would effectively become an honourary citizen of the Steel City by the time of his exit to Blackburn Rovers last year, having tallied up a mighty impressive 16 strikes and 48 assists across those games, culminating in two promotions also coming his way.

Many players in Wilder’s camp now will be hoping they can follow in the footsteps of the former number four, with Fleck managing to end his long-standing association with the Blades by notching up a fine nine top-flight goal contributions.

In particular, one holding midfielder – the same role Fleck regularly lined up in – will be taking direct inspiration from the now Chesterfield man.

Wilder's new Fleck at Sheffield United

Originally hailing from Enfield, United number 42 Sydie Peck might not have expected Sheffield to become his permanent footballing home during the early days of his playing career.

But, the emerging talent has now become a first-team regular under Wilder this campaign and for good reason, with his full-blooded yet composed displays centrally meaning his senior minutes have rightly been bumped up.

Games played

35

Games started

26

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches*

48.8

Accurate passes*

29.9 (82%)

Big chances created

4

Duels won*

3.7

Whilst he isn’t anywhere near Fleck’s creative best just yet, Peck has shown signs of promise in an attacking capacity, considering this is his first daunting senior season with the side, resulting in four big chances being created away from his singular assist.

Despite deficiences being present in his growing game, Peck is slowly but surely becoming a fan’s favourite at the Championship high-flyers, with one Blades based content creator in Nick Ingood even heralding the 5 foot 8 engine as a “superstar” off the back of another well-rounded display against Coventry to close out March.

It will be up to Peck to deal with the harsh step-up in quality if Premier League action returns to the red and white half of Sheffield, but if he is aiming to follow Fleck’s upward trajectory, he should be able to deal with the gulf in class in his stride.

After all, the four-time England U20 international – who has been further lauded as “outstanding” by his passionate head coach – already has a Premier League appearance next to his name, with the potential here for Peck to become United’s next modern hero in the middle like Fleck.

Brewster included: Sheffield United must axe £88k-p/w quartet if they go up

Chris Wilder could have to be brutal with his Sheffield United team selections if promotion is reached.

1 ByKelan Sarson Apr 1, 2025

It wasn’t a classic, but Arsenal did what they had to in their League Cup clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta named a significantly changed team to the one that beat Crystal Palace, and still ran out 2-0 winners, and are now set to face the Eagles again in the quarter-finals.

With all that said, while it wasn’t the most thrilling of games, the Gunners did play reasonably well, and aside from a few moments early on, were far and away the better team.

Moreover, there were a few starters who made a strong case for staying in the side, including two gems who are looking like the new Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.

Arsenal's standout performers vs Brighton

One player who should not be in the team for Burnley this weekend, but still made a good impression on Wednesday night, was Andre Harriman-Annous.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The academy gem was handed his first senior start for the side, and while he didn’t score a goal, he was a handful all night and made several intelligent runs.

Moreover, it was his shot that led to Saka scoring his goal and sealing the deal for the side, so even though he should not play at the weekend, the 17-year-old is someone to keep an eye on.

A youngster who does deserve to make it into the travelling squad for Saturday is, of course, Max Dowman.

The “certified worldie of a talent,” as dubbed by analyst Rohan Jivan, was utterly incredible in his first senior start, and the Seagulls had no option but to double- and triple-team him when he had the ball, he was so dangerous.

Finally, even though they lacked some synergy in the first half, the entire backline came out of the game looking good, with the centre-back pairing of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie looking particularly sturdy.

With all that said, there was another duo who did themselves proud, a duo who could be the new Saka and Smith Rowe.

Arsenal's new Saka and Smith Rowe

With Dowman already mentioned, it will come as no surprise that the two youngsters who could be Arsenal’s new Smith Rowe and Saka are, of course, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Now, this doesn’t mean the pair exactly mirror the former Hale Enders, nor does it mean they’ll follow their exact footsteps, especially as injuries unfortunately saw Smith Rowe left behind by the project.

However, like the duo that came before them, the two 18-year-olds are of the same academy cohort and, most importantly, play incredibly well together.

For example, it was the Gunners’ exciting young left-back that provided the assist for Nwaneri to open the scoring midway through the second half.

Moreover, while they only combined for a single goal, there were other moments in the game in which the “fearless” Lewis-Skelly, as dubbed by Declan Rice, charged into the middle of the park and played some quick passes with his “phenomenal” teammate, as dubbed by former professional Stephen Warnock.

Games

28

Minutes

765′

Points per Game

2.14

Goals

2

Including Wednesday night’s game, the pair have now made 28 senior appearances together, totalling 765 minutes, in which they’ve combined for two goals and averaged 2.14 points per game.

Finally, on top of their connection on the pitch, the youngsters have made it clear in numerous interviews that they are incredibly close friends, which can surely only improve their in-game synergy.

Ultimately, it’s still early in their careers, but it looks like Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly could be Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe.

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The international monster has been one of Arteta’s best signings at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 29, 2025

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is stuck between a rock and a hard place after Mohamed Salah’s extraordinary outburst in the wake of the Reds’ 3-3 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Having led 2-0 after the hour mark, Liverpool succumbed to recurrences of fragile defending and weak mentalities, and Salah’s comments were fuelled by frustration after sitting on the bench for the third successive game, this time not entering the field at all.

But the Egyptian attacker’s narrative-stealing invective has turned attention away from the latest woes from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, the former making yet another mistake and the captain’s collapse in confidence and composure laid bare – barer – at the weekend.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp believes the centre-backs are “playing like they’ve never met each other before”, and it’s crucial that Slot finds a way to solve this problem that is threatening to swallow the Premier League champions whole.

Liverpool need to fix their defence

With Liverpool’s star defenders flattering to deceive, it’s only natural that FSG should consider signing a new man this winter. That botched bid for Marc Guehi at the end of the summer transfer window continues to look more detrimental for Slot and Liverpool’s season.

The need for a centre-back is great, but Liverpool’s midfield has been well below standard this season, and a robust and physical force might bear dividends in Slot’s plan to rekindle balance and make his side more compact, harder to play through.

As per Football Insider, Atalanta’s Ederson has been earmarked as the candidate, FSG having been informed they could strike a deal for the 26-year-old in January.

A bid worth £50m could do the trick. Liverpool have the facilities for such an offer, and it is one they must make to arrest this disastrous slump.

What Ederson would offer Liverpool

Slot is a man on the brink. What only months ago looked like the foundation of a dynasty could now collapse like a house of cards, with so many things having gone wrong at Anfield.

In isolation, Ryan Gravenberch hasn’t been poor this season, but he’s struggling to combine with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and create a balanced and efficient central unit.

This is one of the many issues Slot has yet to find the answer for, and if he is to restore Liverpool’s equilibrium and get the centre-backs operating at their maximum once more, it might be a centre-midfielder who needs to be signed.

Ederson could be the perfect man for the job. Reporter Carlo Garganese described the Brazilian as a “machine” of a midfielder when Gian Piero Gasperini led Atalanta to the Europa League title, severing Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten run.

The South American enforcer packs a more powerful punch than any of Liverpool’s current midfield options, and he’s mobile and balanced in his midfield performance too, ranking among the top 8% of Serie A midfielders this season for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

He is a combative, ground-covering midfielder, and his impetus on progressing play could see him provide the coating Liverpool’s defence needs to turn things around, helping cover Konate’s weakness in the build-up and providing legs to ensure Van Dijk, 34, can settle in his defensive berth.

Minutes played

90′

90′

Touches

62

83

Shots (on target)

1 (1)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

40/49 (82%)

57/62 (92%)

Chances created

0

0

Dribbles

0/0

0/0

Ball recoveries

4

1

Tackles won

1/2

0/0

Interceptions

0

1

Clearances

4

15

Duels won

7/10

12/14

Italian content creator Damiano Coccia has even claimed that Ederson is “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, so it’s clear to see why he would be such a brilliant addition for an Anfield side in disrepair.

Against Leeds, Van Dijk and Konate combined for an abject second-half display, and this is exactly the type of player who would stop the rot and bring Liverpool back into the ascendancy.

His athleticism and tough-tackling nature would help Van Dijk and Konate play their way back into form.

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ByAngus Sinclair 4 days ago

Tottenham Hotspur improved their chances of securing automatic qualification from the Champions League table after a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague.

Thomas Frank’s men produced a dominant display in North London last night, as seen by the incredible stats behind the three-goal triumph over their Czech opponents.

The Lilywhites registered a total of 10 shots on target during the victory, subsequently achieving an xG of 2.56 and having five big chances fall their way in front of goal.

Frank’s side also registered over 50 passes than the visitors, whilst notching nearly double the amount of touches in the opposition box – reaffirming the dominance during the win.

The result was an excellent team performance, one that was certainly needed after the last European outing against PSG, with two players massively shining in the win.

How Simons & Kudus downed Slavia Prague

After scoring against Brentford in the Premier League at the weekend, Xavi Simons was rewarded with another start for Spurs – something which he took full advantage of.

The Dutchman featured for 90 minutes in the triumph, impressing throughout and managing to get on the scoresheet for the second successive match.

His underlying stats further highlighted his superb showing, with the 22-year-old completing six passes into the final third, whilst being fouled three times – the most of any player on the pitch.

He wasn’t alone in starring in North London against Jindrich Trpisovsky’s men, with Mohammed Kudus having yet another night to remember for the Lilywhites.

The Ghanaian international started for the fourth successive match and managed to net his second goal for the club, after tucking home a penalty in the 50th minute.

Like Simons, he also produced some magnificent figures, subsequently completing two successful dribbles, whilst registering six touches in the opposition box – offering a constant threat to the visitors.

Spurs star is becoming a future £100m talent

Spurs have a plethora of young talents on their hands who can certainly make a huge impact on their chances of success between now and the near future.

Simons is no doubt a player who can thrive for many years to come in North London, especially if he can adapt to the demands of the Premier League after his big-money transfer.

Kudus is another player who has the quality to be a leading talent for the Lilywhites, with his tally of eight combined goals and assists in 21 matches evidence of the levels he’s capable of producing.

Frank has already assembled a young and promising squad, especially after forking out a reported £100m for the aforementioned duo during his first window.

However, numerous other youngsters were already on the books before the Dane’s arrival, with Archie Gray one player who has had to patiently wait for his chance to shine for the Lilywhites.

The 19-year-old joined in a £40m deal back in the summer of 2024, but has often had to bide his time under Frank, with the Englishman finally getting the run he deserves in the first-team.

He’s now started the last two games in a row, just like Simons, with the teenager now deserving of an extended run as a regular starter to help aid his development.

Gray’s showing against Slavia Prague was yet another example of the talent he possesses, but it’s safe to say he’s only going to get better as he progresses in his career.

He featured for 59 minutes against the Czech opposition, but managed to produce numerous incredible figures which should keep him in the side at the weekend.

Minutes played

59

Touches

34

Passes completed

92%

Tackles won

2

Long ball accuracy

100%

Recoveries made

2

Duels won

75%

Interceptions made

1

The youngster completed 92% of the passes he attempted, whilst posting a 100% long ball accuracy rate – showcasing his incredible ability with the ball at his feet.

He also won two tackles, made two recoveries and came out on top in 75% of the duels he entered, even managing to dominate without the ball despite his tender age.

Gray’s 34 touch display wasn’t one that will set the world alight, but it’s one that should certainly keep his starting position at the base of Frank’s side in the months ahead.

He’s previously been labelled a “future £100m” star by Ben Mattinson, which is certainly a bold statement, but one that can come true if he continues on his current trajectory.

Simons and Kudus will no doubt get the majority of their credit after their respective goals, but Gray is also deserving of massive credit for his recent form – especially after barely featuring in the early months of the season.

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Rangers’ wait for a first victory in this season’s Europa League goes on.

Prior to Thursday night, the Gers had lost seven successive European matches for the very first time and, while that streak has come to an end, they did not claim a much-needed victory, held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Braga.

James Tavernier broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, equaling Ally McCoist’s tally of 21 European goals for the club, chasing down Alfredo Morelos’ all-time record of 29.

This looked like being the decisive goal on the night, especially when Rodrigo Zalazar was sent off for gently headbutting Nicolas Raskin, only for Gabri Martínez to equalise for the ten-men Arsenalists soon after.

The match would end ten vs ten, Mohamed Diomandé rather softly shown a second yellow card by referee Allard Lindhout in injury time, as Rangers were booed off once again.

So, after five Europa League matches, the Light Blues have just one point on the board, probably needing to win their final three fixtures, against Ferencváros, Ludogorets Razgrad and Porto to avoid an ignominious early elimination, having finished all the way up in eighth in last year’s league phase.

This was only new manager Danny Röhl’s eighth match in charge, and he certainly has a tough job on his hands, so which summer recruits underlined why they cannot be trusted by the German coach during this latest poor result?

Nasser Djiga's poor Rangers form

With both John Souttar and Derek Cornelius suffering long-term injuries on international duty last week, Danny Röhl has no choice but to keep picking Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga at centre-back, even though the latter once again let him down.

The Burkinabé international has, fair to say, not impressed since joining on loan from Wolves in the summer, very much at fault for Braga’s equaliser on Thursday, completely misjudging a ball into the box and allowing Martínez to slot the ball past Jack Butland.

Speaking during TNT Sports post-match coverage, former Celtic defender Johan Mjällby asserted that he would expect better from a 12 year old.

This though is not Djiga’s first high-profile error.

He was sent off on his home Premiership debut against Dundee before, later that month, running in the complete opposite direction as Romeo Vermant broke the deadlock just three minutes into the Champions League play-off tie, the first of nine goals Club Brugge would bag across the two legs.

Also speaking during commentary on TNT Sports on Thursday, when asked which position Rangers most urgently need to improve in the January transfer window, McCoist quickly answered centre-back, with Djiga clearly not at the required level, but which other summer recruit did not impress against Braga?

Rangers flop struggles again vs Braga

On Monday, Rangers confirmed that chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell had both been sacked, the pair widely blamed by supporters for the clubs, how shall we put this diplomatically, puzzling summer recruitment?

The most bewildering of their 13 new signings was the arrival of Youssef Chermiti for £8m, potentially rising to £10m with add-ons, making him the club’s most expensive signing of the post-liquidation era, having scored a grand total of, let’s count them up here, zero goals in two seasons at Everton.

The Portuguese under-21 international has got off the mark north of the border, on target during a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, Röhl’s first Premiership match in charge, and the German coach has shown Chermiti plenty of faith thus far, making him a regular starter.

However, that could soon change, with the table below underlining that he did not impress against Braga.

Shots on target

Zero

10th

Shots off target

1

1st

Shots blocked

2

1st

Expected goals

0.09

8th

Attempted dribbles

4

5th

Successful dribbles

Zero

10th

Accurate passes

11

21st

Key passes

Zero

10th

Duels contested

15

3rd

Duels won

6

9th

Possession lost

18

4th

Touches

39

16th

SofaScore rating

5.9

28th

The table emphasises Chermiti’s difficult night.

He was successful with none of his four attempted dribbles, completed just 11 passes and lost six of the 15 duels he contested, as well as turning over possession on 18 occasions from 39 touches – essentially losing the ball every 2.2 touches.

Unlike at the back, Röhl does have options for his forward line.

Danilo and Djeidi Gassama were chosen to complete the front three on Thursday, with Oliver Antman, Theo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski all introduced as substitutes, while Mikey Moore is nursing a knock.

Thus, while Chermiti continues to offer very little, he surely should be left on the bench for Sunday’s clash with Falkirk.

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ByBen Gray Nov 27, 2025

It remains difficult to piece together just where the blame lies for Celtic’s current slump – is it the board, is it Brendan Rodgers, or is it a period of dismal recruitment?

Of course, it is likely a mixture of all of those factors, with the latter point particularly key. Indeed, of those signed amid Rodgers’ return in the summer of 2023, only Paulo Bernardo and Yang Hyun-jun remain part of the current first-team squad.

Far too many deals have backfired over the past two years, although that’s not to say that the departed coach is himself free of criticism, having not exactly got the best out of those at his disposal.

You only have to look at the case of Callum Osmand, a player largely ignored by the Northern Irishman, to see where Rodgers was misguided. While now cruelly struck down by injury, the Wales youth international was the hero at Hampden, before winning a penalty during his lively, albeit brief cameo at FC Midtjylland.

Although Rodgers’ return did see two further Premiership titles secured, prior to him walking away for the second time, the magic of his first spell in charge didn’t appear to be there.

The Hoops, hopefully, will be targeting a figure who can replicate that first version of the former Liverpool boss at Parkhead.

Celtic's ongoing manager search

A clear frontrunner has yet to truly emerge with regard to Celtic’s managerial vacancy, with a romantic return for Ange Postecoglou having been deemed ‘very unlikely’, despite the Greek-Aussie now out of work following his dismissal from Nottingham Forest.

Interim boss Martin O’Neill does remain an option to see out the season, alongside Shaun Maloney, although such a decision would likely be a last resort considering the 73-year-old last took on a top job back in 2019, following his own brief stint at the City Ground.

The nature and timing of Rodgers’ shock resignation has no doubt complicated matters, although with the international break now to come, it presents the perfect time to finally nail down a preferred pick.

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According to Football Insider, one of the current frontrunners is Ipswich Town boss, Kieran McKenna, with the 39-year-old deemed to be the “number-one target”, albeit with a potential obstacle likely to be his “big compensation package”.

As the report notes, it is believed that it would take a fee of around £5m to prise McKenna from Portman Road, with it yet to be seen whether the Glasgow side would be willing to fork out such a figure to get their man.

McKenna, for what it’s worth, did not wholly shut down talk of the move when quizzed on the speculation in recent weeks, having described Celtic as a “really big club”, amid suggestions that he is a rumoured Hoops supporter.

Why Celtic could be targeting the next Brendan Rodgers

An exciting young Northern Irish coach with a potential affinity to the Scottish champions – that certainly sounds familiar?

Yes, there are certainly real similarities between McKenna and his compatriot Rodgers, with Celtic no doubt hoping that the in-demand Ipswich coach can replicate the success that the latter man enjoyed following his first move to Parkhead in 2016.

While the ex-Swansea City, Liverpool, Watford and Reading boss had garnered far more experience at the time of his move north of the border, he had made the first major stride of his coaching career in the youth ranks at Chelsea, having been given the backing of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

McKenna – who initially worked in the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur – was also something of a favourite of Mourinho at Manchester United, having eventually become an assistant to the Portuguese coach in 2018.

Like Rodgers, the rising star had seen his own playing career cut short by injury, with the pair seemingly following in Mourinho’s footsteps by trying to make up for that on-field disappointment by shining in the dugout – as McKenna himself has admitted:

While Rodgers first truly made a name for himself by steering Swansea into the Premier League, the 4-2-3-1 coach has enjoyed similar success in the EFL with his current club, having claimed back-to-back promotions in what is his first managerial role.

Days in charge

1419

Games

187

Wins

87

Draws

50

Losses

50

Points per game

1.66

Players used

81

Promotions

2

Relegations

1

Although the Tractor Boys’ stay in the top-flight was short-lived, that hasn’t stopped interest mounting in this “incredible” coach – as hailed by Ipswich’s Wes Burns – with former club Man United believed to have been considering him in the summer of 2024.

That would’ve been like Rodgers’ own Anfield switch, although perhaps McKenna can skip a step and head straight to Celtic instead, with the Glasgow outfit no doubt in need of an exciting, young and fresh voice to try and reinvigorate the current first-team crop.

For all the frustration over his decision to twice leave his post at Celtic Park, it’s worth remembering the glittering success that Rodgers has achieved when at the helm, namely overseeing that invincible domestic season in 2016/17.

With a raft of promising young talents, and with an attractive, front-foot style of play, the now 52-year-old was just what was needed to breathe new life into the club, amid the mixed stint of Ronny Deila.

Now, again, Celtic need to be revitalised. Can the next bright young manager, McKenna, be the man to do just that?

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