McMullen and Leask’s contributions weren’t enough for Scotland to chase down 199
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jun-2025Opener Michael Levitt’s breezy 90 helped Netherlands beat Scotland by 17 runs in a high-scoring contest in the T20I tri-series in Glasgow on Wednesday. His 57-ball innings lifted Netherlands to 198 for 7 after they were asked to bat. In reply, Scotland managed only 181 for 9 on the back of Brandon McMullen’s half-century and Michael Leask’s quickfire 46.Netherlands lost Max O’Dowd and Teja Nidamanuru inside the powerplay but it was the 75-run third-wicket partnership off 45 balls between Levitt and Scott Edwards that steered Netherlands to a competitive total. While Levitt, who had scored a T20I century before, smashed six fours and five sixes in his knock, Edwards chipped in with a 21-ball 31. Fast bowler Charlie Cassell broke the threatening stand, trapping Edwards lbw in the 13th over. Three overs late, Levitt was dismissed by fast bowler Jasper Davidson. There were also handy lower-order contributions from Ryan Klein and Roelof van der Merwe that ensured Netherlands had enough on the board.For Scotland, Cassell and Davidson shared four wickets among them.In the chase, Scotland stumbled early, when opener Mark Watt was run out in the third over for a 9-ball 6. However, No.3 McMullen and George Munsey revived Scotland briefly with their 50-run stand for the third wicket. Offspinner Nidamanuru gave the breakthrough by ending Musney’s stay in the eighth over and dismissed captain Richie Berrington in his next over. McMullen too fell after a 27-ball 51 leaving Scotland in trouble.While No. 6 Leask stood up with his 46 off 23 – where he struck five sixes and one four – Scotland kept losing wickets regularly on the other end. From 151 for 5, Scotland lost the next four wickets for 30 runs to eventually finish at 181 for 9. Netherlands’ left-arm spinner Van der Merwe, though leaked 44 runs in his four overs, accounted for two wickets in the 17th and 19th over to halt Scotland. Nidamanuru finished with 3 for 30 from his four overs while Aryan Dutt and Daniel Doram also scalped a wicket each.With this victory, Netherlands have moved to top of the points table with four points from three matches. They will face Nepal on Thursday Scotland are second with two points from three matches.
Wolves are in the market for firepower and have now turned their attention to a Vitor Pereira favourite that he personally wants to bring to Molineux.
Wolves aim to bounce back after the international break
Admittedly, Wolves have suffered a poor start to the campaign, albeit draws against Tottenham and Brighton in the Premier League have provided more cause for optimism in the West Midlands.
Despite being rooted to the bottom of the table, the Old Gold have shown more resolve in recent times, though they are still to find that all-important victory to kickstart their campaign in earnest.
Speaking about his side’s recent form, Hugo Bueno believes his side will eventually find three points and has encouraged his teammates to look past the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser to the Seagulls last weekend.
He stated: “It was really painful, but I try to keep with the positives of this game and I think the team showed a really good character. I think we controlled the game, we played really well, so we have to keep going like this. I’m really proud of the team but we have to look forward to the next games and to the next points and hopefully we can win that one.”
With Matt Doherty set to spend a month on the sidelines, Wolves find themselves with a lack of depth at right-back. Either way, back-to-back fixtures against Sunderland and Burnley simply have to be a launchpad for climbing the Premier League table.
Avoiding relegation will be the first port of call for the Old Gold this term before other objectives are discussed, and they could now be set to target a prolific striker to help their bid for survival.
Vitor Pereira tells Wolves to sign Yuri Alberto
According to reports in South America via Sport Witness, Wolves boss Pereira personally wants to bring Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto to Molineux as he believes the Brazil international could add another layer to his offensive options.
The tactician is also said to have asked Wolves to sign Alberto, so it is clear Pereira is very keen on bringing the attacker to the Black Country.
The 24-year-old has registered 15 goals and two assists in 45 appearances over the current Brazilian campaign and was previously the subject of a failed loan bid with an option to buy from the Old Gold back in 2024.
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By the same token, Alberto has also created 11 chances on league duty, per Fotmob, illustrating his capacity to lead the line efficiently as Wolves look for someone to compete with Jorgen Strand Larsen and Tolu Arokodare for a starting place.
No official proposal has been made yet. Still, the Corinthians striker is now firmly in Pereira’s thinking, and his arrival could add some much-needed goals to a side who have been the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers thus far alongside Nottingham Forest.
Celtic and Brendan Rodgers have now reportedly made a significant decision regarding the future of a four-time Scottish Premiership champion.
Rodgers linked with foreign move away from Celtic
It hasn’t been the happiest start to the season for the Hoops, following a disappointing summer, with the 0-0 draw at home to Rangers proving to be a turgid affair.
All doesn’t appear to be well regarding Rodgers, having been frustrated during the summer transfer window, and journalist Alan Nixon believes a move to a foreign club appeals to the Northern Irishman next, despite links with the Nottingham Forest job.
It remains to be seen how long Rodgers’ second stint at Celtic lasts, but it is a tumultuous period in the club’s history, summed up by the statement they released days ago, with Michael Stewart calling it a PR disaster.
“Talk about not being able to read the room. Of course, they were under pressure and felt like they had to speak but they’d have been better just being quiet than coming out with that. At no juncture in that statement did the Celtic board actually say, ‘you know what, it’s not been as good as we hoped’. That statement could’ve been one word – ‘sorry’.”
Celtic make huge decision regarding "physical beast"
According to Football Insider, Celtic and Rodgers have decided that Daizen Maeda is not for sale when the January transfer window opens, despite him pushing for an exit which was blocked by Parkhead chiefs.
It is claimed that the Hoops have “blocked his potential transfer” away from Parkhead “due to their lack of depth in forward areas” between now and the end of the season, with Maeda himself admitting he wanted out of Celtic Park over the summer.
Maeda is contracted at the club until the summer of 2027, so time is running out if they want to eventually receive a fee for him, but keeping hold of him for the time being does make sense.
Celtic cannot afford to be in a position where they don’t have enough firepower in their ranks, following such a forgettable summer of attacking signings, and the £25m-rated Japanese is a player who has been lauded as a “physical beast” by coaches and also hailed by Rodgers in the past.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant wherever he’s played, however he’s played, he’s had an amazing season. He earns every penny and we feel as a club he deserves more. He doesn’t give away much, other than saying he’s very happy.”
Maeda is still searching for his first league goal of the season after four appearances, which is unlike him, but the four-time Scottish Premiership champion is too good a player not to find some form sooner rather than later.
Celtic struck gold signing £1.5m "beast" who's now worth more than Dolberg
Following Celtic’s failed pursuit of Kasper Dolberg, who joined Ajax instead, the Hoops do have an attacker with a higher value.
Sep 9, 2025
It could well be the 27-year-old’s final season in a Celtic shirt, however, in order to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2027, and Rodgers will hope he can see the best of him again before next May arrives.
Ruben Amorim has become a man under pressure at Manchester United in recent weeks after yet another dismal few weeks in charge at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils boss was given the benefit of the doubt during last campaign, after largely working with the players already at his disposal upon taking the reins in November.
However, he was handed the tools to do just that this summer, subsequently spending over £200m on the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha.
Big money, spent on big-name players, but yet still the same result, leading to questions being asked about the boss’s long-term future in the role.
The defeat in the Manchester Derby on Sunday made just one win from the opening four Premier League outings of the 2025/26 campaign – once again sitting just a couple of places above the drop zone.
Their tally of seven goals conceded is the fourth worst in the division, highlighting the need for added work in the defensive third – an area that was massively neglected during the off-season.
However, Amorim did decide to finally part ways with one player, but it’s evident that he wasn’t the only issue currently within that area of the pitch for the Red Devils.
Why Man Utd decided to offload Andre Onana
Goalkeeper Andre Onana is a player who has come under huge fire at United over the last couple of months for his lacklustre performances between the sticks.
Huge excitement was generated around his signature back in the summer of 2023, after the Cameroonian international joined in a £47m transfer from Inter Milan.
He was seen as the ideal replacement for the outgoing David de Gea, but it’s safe to say, two years on from his move to Manchester – the deal has been a disaster.
The 29-year-old has cost the side in key moments, with countless mistakes leading to goals – six of which came in the Premier League last season, subsequently contributing to the lowly top-division finish.
Even in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur, he was unable to keep out a routine effort from Brennan Johnson, with such a failure handing the European trophy to the Lilywhites.
Onana’s failures continued into 2025/26, arguably being at fault for both goals in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town – undoubtedly leading to his loan move to Trabzonspor over the last few weeks.
However, despite his temporary departure, there’s another player in the current side that Amorim desperately needs to axe if he is to have any chance of saving his job.
The United player who Amorim needs to axe
In his 47 games in charge of United, Amorim has suffered defeat on 20 occasions, resulting in the former Sporting CP boss achieving a measly 38% win percentage to date.
The recent defeat against Pep Guardiola’s men has raised further questions about his future in the role, especially given his reluctance to move away from his current 3-4-2-1 system.
The 40-year-old stated after the match at the Etihad that the club will have to change the man before he changes his ideas – a statement that has piled further pressure on his shoulders.
Within his back three at the Etihad, the manager utilised Luke Shaw, with the Englishman switching from a wing-back role that he operated in during the early stages of his career.
Injuries have played a massive part in the 30-year-old’s progress, only managing over 30 appearances across all competitions in one of the last five years.
He’s suffered 13 separate injury setbacks during the aforementioned timeframe – subsequently missing nearly 150 games of first-team action in the process.
However, Amorim has put faith in the Englishman to play a huge part in his backline – but his recent displays have highlighted the need for added investment in such an area.
Shaw, who’s been labelled “woeful” by one analyst, has only made 0.2 interceptions per 90 and has been dribbled past 1.2 times per 90 – highlighting his inability to regain possession for the Red Devils.
Games played
4
Minutes played
347
Pass accuracy
85%
Tackles won
50%
Interceptions made
0.2
Recoveries made
3.3
Dribbled past
1.2
Tackles made
0.9
Fouls committed
1.5
He’s also won less than one tackle per 90, at a success rate of just 50% – often being an unreliable option – as seen by the club’s measly defensive record.
Injuries in the backline have undoubtedly contributed to his run of games in the side, with Shaw likely to lose his place to the likes of Lisandro Martínez upon his return to first-team action.
With the 30-year-old having two years left on his current deal at Old Trafford, the hierarchy desperately need to offload the defender in the distant future.
His decline over recent years is there for all to see, with the manager desperately needing to replicate a deal for Onana and allow him to move on if he’s to have any chance of keeping his job.
Amorim wanted his own Donnarumma & Haaland but Man Utd got Altay & Sesko instead
It’s been yet another poor start to a Premier League season for Manchester United.
Manchester United are looking to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours under Ruben Amorim and could be set to up their pursuit of a midfielder in January, per reports.
Manchester United begin to take shape after transfer window
The transfer window has come and gone, leaving the Red Devils in a position to kick on after managing to secure several arrivals before the deadline earlier this week.
Coming in hours before the close of play, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens joined the club for £18.2 million from Royal Antwerp and could face a baptism of fire in back-to-back Premier League fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea.
FC Porto's Evanilson scores their first goal from the penalty spot past Royal Antwerp'sSenneLammens
Speaking about whether he could assume the number one jersey, Jay Motty of Stretford Paddock believes there is every chance the Belgian could get the nod over Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir.
He stated: “It was obvious we needed another option because neither Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir have covered themselves in glory.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure on a young goalkeeper coming in but hopefully he can rise to it because we knew we had to do something. I get that Emi Martinez has won a World Cup, but in the Premier League he can be erratic. Let’s not ignore his faults. With Lammens we don’t know if he’s going to be good enough for Manchester United, but there’s every reason to think he’s got a chance of that.”
With the Red Devils set to return for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba in 2026, their mission to build a talented squad appears far from finished, and they now have another midfield operator in their sights should the opportunity arise.
Manchester United plotting new move for Conor Gallagher
According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are plotting a January move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher and will consult several avenues to try and bring the former Chelsea star back to English shores. The Red Devils are considering a both loan with an option to buy and a permanent deal if circumstances align, with the La Liga giants willing to offload the England international to offer themselves financial flexibility in the market.
Conor Gallagher in the Premier League
Appearances
136
Goals
18
Assists
13
Viewed as the main candidates to offer him a route back into English football, United are moving ‘increasingly close’ to his signature, and it remains to be seen whether they can offer a package to match his demands.
Registering four goals and six assists in 53 appearances for Atletico Madrid, Gallagher imposed himself in La Liga last term by winning 110 duels, per Fotmob, although he has only started one match in 2025/26. Labelled “priceless” by Mauricio Pochettino despite Chelsea sticking a £50m valuation on him at the time, his experience in the top-flight speaks for itself, and it may only be a matter of time before the Cobham graduate returns to familiar surroundings.
واصل بول سكولز لاعب خط وسط مانشستر يونايتد السابق، الإشادة بأحد لاعبي برشلونة، بعد تألقه هذا الموسم مع البلوجرانا ومنتخب بلاده.
ولا يزال بيدري لاعب خط وسط برشلونة، يثير إعجاب بول سكولز أسطورة مانشستر يونايتد، منذ تألقه ضد نيوكاسل يونايتد في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
واعترف بول سكولز لاعب خط وسط مانشستر يونايتد السابق بأن بيدري هو لاعبه المفضل الجديد، وعلق على أدائه في وقت سابق: “اللاعب رقم 1 بالنسبة لي هو بيدري، عندما رأيته ضد نيوكاسل قلت إنه رائع، هو مزيج بين تشافي وإنيستا”.
وذهب سكولز إلى ما هو أبعد من ذلك، حيث لم يكتف بالإشادة بلاعب خط وسط برشلونة بيدري، بل قام بتصنيفه بين أفضل 5 لاعبي خط وسط في العالم.
اقرأ أيضاً.. بسبب ليفاندوفسكي.. برشلونة يحسم قراره بشأن ضم راشفورد نهائيًا
وقال سكولز في تصريح نقلته صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية حيث سئل عن أفضل 5 لاعبين خط وسط في العالم: “بيدري ورودري وفيتينيا وماك أليستر وفرينكي دي يونج”.
وأضاف لاعب خط وسط مانشستر يونايتد السابق: “لا نتحدث فقط عن قدمي بيدري ولكن عن ذكائه الكروي قبل كل شيء”.
وواصل سكولز الثناء على بيدري، حيث قال: “إنه يجد نفسه أحياناً في مواقف صعبة، ولكنه يتغلب على هذه المواقف بحركة واحدة أو خدعة كتف مذهلة، أسلوب بيدري رائع”.
After a summer of waiting for the Premier League to return, that was not the performance Chelsea fans were hoping to see this afternoon.
Instead of playing the high-energy, exciting and effective football they did in pre-season, Enzo Maresca’s side looked lethargic and largely out of ideas against Crystal Palace.
Moreover, if it wasn’t for VAR stepping in and ruling out Eberechi Eze’s free-kick, the West Londoners could have started their campaign with a loss.
Unsurprisingly, there were lacklustre performances pretty much across the board for the hosts, but two really stood out to us, including Cole Palmer.
Palmer's performance against Palace
Following his brilliant performances at the Club World Cup and the time he has had since then to better understand his new teammates, we were expecting a great performance from Palmer today.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get one, and instead, the Englishman looked unsure of what to do for the vast majority of the encounter.
Now, the former Manchester City prospect did not make any huge mistakes to cost his side the game, but he didn’t have any positive impact on proceedings either and, as he’s unquestionably the Blues’ best player, that is a massive problem.
We weren’t the only ones disappointed by his performance, either, as the Standard’s Dom Smith awarded him a rather generous 6/10 match rating at full-time.
We say generous, as on top of failing the eye-test today, the midfield maestro’s statistics make for some unpleasant reading.
Palmer’s game in numbers
Minutes
96′
Expected Goals
0.21
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.03
Assists
0
Touches
48
Passing Accuracy
26/33 (79%)
Key Passes
1
Crosses (Accurate)
4 (0)
Long Balls (Accurate)
2 (1)
Shots on Target
0
Lost Possession
14
Dribbles (Successful)
1 (0)
All Stats via Sofascore
For example, in his 96 underwhelming minutes, he amassed a combined expected goals and assists tally of just 0.24, played just one key pass, misplaced 100% of his crosses, didn’t take a single shot on target, failed in 100% of his dribbles and lost three of four ground duels.
In all, it was a bad first showing of the season from Palmer, although one of his teammates was even worse.
The Chelsea star worse than Palmer
Unfortunately for Maresca and Co, there were several starters who could take this spot, but for our money, Joao Pedro has it.
Like Palmer, the Brazilian forward came into the game off a sensational pre-season with the Blues, but looked an entirely different player against the Eagles.
In fact, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star was so disappointing that it was easy to forget he was even playing in the first place, which is not how you want your league debut for your new side described.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
It might sound harsh, but once again, we are not alone in this opinion as Smith gave the 23-year-old a 5/10 match rating, writing that he was ‘frustrated by centre-backs Marc Guehi and Chris Richards’.
Unsurprisingly, the Ribeirão Preto-born poacher’s statistics from the game more than demonstrate just how underwhelming a performance it was.
Pedro’s game in numbers
Minutes
73′
Expected Goals
0.30
Goals
0
Expected Assists
0.02
Assists
0
Shots on Target
0
Dribbles (Successful)
2 (0)
Touches
23
Passing Accuracy
10/12 (83%)
Key Passes
0
Long Balls (Accurate)
1 (0)
Ground Duels (Won)
4 (1)
Aerial Duels (Won)
5 (2)
Lost Possession
7
All Stats via Sofascore
In 73 minutes of inaction, he registered a combined expected goals and assists figure of 0.32, had no shots on target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, took just 23 touches – 19 fewer than Robert Sanchez – lost six of nine duels, lost the ball seven times and completed just ten passes.
Ultimately, it was not a performance to remember from Pedro today, but thankfully, it’s just the first game, and if pre-season is anything to go by, he’ll eventually come good and potentially form a dangerous partnership with Palmer.
Chelsea verbally agree deal for £192k-a-week star but need Nkunku to leave
It’s a case of one in, one out at Stamford Bridge.
Cast your mind back to the summer deadline day of 2024 and you may remember Edu standing outside Arsenal’s Colney training base in the dark.
It was late, so late in fact that the window had closed.
Edu was providing a rundown of why the Gunners signed Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea. “It was never the plan,” the Brazilian said.
Well, nearly a year on, Edu and Sterling have gone. Andrea Berta and Noni Madueke have replaced them.
When Berta arrived at the Emirates Stadium, supporters were keen to understand his practices, keen to see him get to work in the window.
Well, it’s safe to say he’s done a fabulous job so far, bringing in the aforementioned Madueke alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.
Viktor Gyokeres is also set to join once the add-ons of his move from Sporting have been finalised.
But Gyokeres aside, what else is happening this summer?
Arsenal's plans for the rest of the window
It’s safe to say that the Gunners have been particularly active in the market this window but they don’t have a bottomless pit of cash, and if and when Gyokeres finally arrives, it’s likely the focus will turn to outgoings.
Should they raise more cash there, it would not be a surprise to see Arsenal lodge a formal approach for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzecelebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup
The hierarchy at Arsenal have already held talks with the player’s agent and it’s believed that personal terms have already been agreed.
Still, he’s not the only player with whom things feel more advanced.
According to reports from Spain, Arsenal have now finally “completed” a move to sign Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The centre-back has been widely expected to move to England after he was spotted leaving Valencia’s training ground earlier in the week.
A leaked image even surfaced online of the player carrying out his media duties with Arsenal.
Yet, complications with the medical have allegedly led to a delay in the deal being confirmed. Alas, confirmation is now expected shortly.
That report from Spanish media suggests that all documents have been completed with only the player’s signature to be confirmed.
Why Mosquera is a good signing for Arsenal
This 21-year-old defender certainly isn’t a household name just yet but his education has been impressive and he’s got an old head on young shoulders.
Despite his age, he’s already played 90 times at senior level and he’s remarkably consistent too. No U21 player in Europe’s top five leagues played more minutes than him last season.
Mosquera’s availability is seriously impressive, as is the pressure that the centre-back’s been playing under.
Having come through the young ranks, he was thrown into the deep end of a relegation battle. One of Spain’s top sides, a former Champions League winner, were in deep trouble during the first half of 2024/25.
Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.
After 17 games, Mosquera and his teammates sat 19th in LaLiga, having won just two games. Yet, he managed to help dig his side out of a hole and was seen as a saviour come the end of the campaign with Valencia finishing 12th.
Coming into the squad amid a crisis, becoming a fan favourite and playing a huge amount of minutes, there are certainly comparisons with Bukayo Saka’s rise at Arsenal.
While Mikel Arteta’s side have never been close to relegation, Saka was seen as a saviour when the Spaniard first became manager. Arsenal had endured several years away from the Champions League and never looked like competing for a title before the duo emerged on the scene. Yet, just like Mosquera, the young Saka carried the club on his shoulders.
Real Betis' Vitor Roque in action with Valencia'sCristhianMosquera
So, he’s clearly got elite mental fortitude, but how about his technical attributes? Well, he’s a lot like William Saliba in that regard.
Bothstanding at around 6 foot 3, they have a slightly gangly yet graceful play style.
Mosquera vs Saliba in 2024/25 – League only
Stat (per 90 mins)
Mosquera
Saliba
Pass success %
90.5%
94.3%
Medium pass success %
93.9%
96.1%
Long pass success %
68.1%
79.9%
Progressive passes
3.33
4.08
Progressive carries
0.95
0.47
Tackles won
0.98
1.09
Interceptions
0.95
0.62
Aerial duels won
1.11
1.80
Stats via FBRef.
They are competent in the air but it’s in possession where they are most alike. Indeed, one analyst on social media notes how Mosquera is “Saliba-esque” when it comes to dribbling.
The clip below highlights this superbly well. In fact, if your vision was a little blurred, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was actually Saliba.
The way he holds the ball, rolls it forward and then bursts between the press is identical to Saliba who has made a living out of his supreme ball-playing confidence in an Arsenal shirt.
Long have the Gunners needed someone to play second fiddle to Gabriel and Saliba and in Mosquera, “an elite level prospect” in the words of analyst Harvey Diamonds, it looks as though they’ve found the ideal profile.
He’s got the mental stability of a young Saka and the technical defensive qualities of Saliba. That sounds like a lovely combination.
He's Cazorla 2.0: Arsenal make £100k-p/w "superstar" their new top target
The incredible international could be Arsenal’s new version of the Spanish magician.
It’s nearly a month now until West Bromwich Albion gets their brand-new Championship campaign underway.
At this stage, Ryan Mason might well be a little nervous about his squad heading into the hustle and bustle of the second tier, with Nathaniel Phillips the only signing he’s managed to add to his camp since taking on the managerial reins.
Coventry City’s Tatsuhiro Sakamoto in action with Derby County’s Ebou Adams andNathanielPhillips
Between now and Blackburn Rovers coming to the Hawthorns on the 9th of August, expect the Baggies to be very busy refining their squad, as an intriguing signing edges ever closer to relocating to the Hawthorns to join Phillips.
West Brom's transfer latest
Indeed, after uncovering a gem from Scandinavia in the form of Torbjørn Heggem last summer, the Baggies are now closing in on the signing of another potential Nordic diamond in Aune Heggebø.
Netting a bumper 51 goals from 146 clashes for Brann, this is a pick-up that will pique the curiosity of West Brom supporters far and wide, with Heggebø capable of offering Josh Maja plenty of competition down the line in the attacking positions if he can show off his goalscoring prowess in England.
Midfield competition could also come, too, by landing the signature of Preston North End star Ali McCann, with journalist Alan Nixon revealing recently that West Brom are interested in securing the Lilywhites midfielder’s services.
There is a hurdle for the Baggies to overcome here – with McCann reportedly closer to penning a new deal at Deepdale over leaving the club – but he could well be West Brom’s next version of Chris Brunt if a move does suddenly accelerate into motion, with McCann a versatile, tough, yet goal-and-assist heavy option centrally much like the adored Brunt once was.
How McCann could be West Brom's next Brunt
Of course, the most obvious similarity hasn’t been shared yet, with both the 25-year-old and the retired Baggies legend sharing the same national allegiance to Northern Ireland.
But, there is far more than just their geography that glues them together, with McCann able to boast an impressive 11 goals and eight assists from 242 career games, 119 of which have come about in the demanding division of the Championship.
His now 40-year-old counterpart is equally well-versed in what it takes to be a consistent performer at such a gruelling level, with the ex-Baggies number 11 going on to amass 214 career Championship games, a total which McCann will surely hit either for Preston or when moving on.
Brunt does have far heftier numbers in the goal and assists department when comparing side-by-side with the ex-St Johnstone midfielder, with a stunning 73 of his overall 132 goal contributions at Hawthorns coming in the second tier, but McCann will hope he can elevate his game further in his new surroundings as an option Mason can rely upon in several different positions in the middle of the park.
McCann’s career numbers by position
Position played
Games
Goals
Assists
CM
120
9
4
DM
60
1
2
AM
22
1
1
RM
5
0
0
LM
2
0
0
SS
1
0
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Whilst still in his prime in the West Midlands, Brunt would gain a notorious reputation for being an adaptable presence for his beloved Baggies, with the Belfast-born icon even lining up as a makeshift centre-forward on one occasion, away from slotting into the team in a hefty eight different positions.
As can be seen looking at the table above, the new Baggies target also possesses that same adjustable nature for his side’s cause, with McCann further unafraid to slot into an XI in the striker spot if needed, much like Brunt before him.
McCann was once hailed as “phenomenal” by his former St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson, with Mason more than welcoming this as his next buy after Heggebø, safe in the knowledge that McCann knows the EFL’s elite league inside and out.
On top of that, if all goes to plan, the 25-year-old might well be West Brom’s next dependable hero, much like Brunt, especially if a promotion is triumphantly won during his debut campaign.
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Liverpool won the Premier League last season, but Arne Slot doesn’t seem like one to rest on his laurels, and is set on making the forthcoming campaign one of an even more significant triumph.
While the Reds were incredible across the league term, they left plenty to be desired through the season’s offshoots, losing an FA Cup tie to Plymouth Argyle, who were ultimately relegated from the Championship, and falling against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final and eventual Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool manager ArneSlotlooks on before the match
Not too shabby, all told. Premier League rivals Arsenal finished ten points behind Liverpool in second, after all. But there’s little question that Slot lacked depth, for the Dutch coach was hesitant in enforcing rotation to a fault, though this illustrates his frustrations regarding some of Anfield’s wider members of the first-team squad.
At the front of his issue was Darwin Nunez, who, as Liverpool’s star striker, only scored seven goals across all competitions, with Slot even stating he “can’t accept” the Uruguayan’s work-rate across a string of matches.
Though a move to Napoli fell through this week, FSG still expect to cash in on Nunez this summer, having already moved to sign his replacement.
Why Liverpool are signing Hugo Ekitike
Liverpool have stolen ahead of Newcastle in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, with the French forward having submitted a transfer request to push negotiations closer toward the finish line.
Ekitike is only 23, but he’s established himself as one of Europe’s top young forwards, with journalist Graeme Bailey even coining him “the next Mbappe” for his blend of pace, physicality and potency in the final third.
However, the dynamic talent wasn’t Liverpool’s first choice. That would be Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. However, FSG’s formal efforts to prise him away from St. James’ Park proved fruitless.
It’s a shame, but Ekitike’s arrival would cushion the blow and then some, for he has the makings of a truly world-class superstar.
With suitors in the Saudi Pro League eager to snap Nunez up in the coming weeks, Ekitike’s prospective arrival will be an elating thing, having notched 40 goal involvements across a season-and-a-half with Frankfurt.
His silky, fleet-footed movements and dogged approach in the final third have led FBref to record him as one of Isak’s most comparable players, so you can certainly see the vision.
And for a cheaper sum too. Isak would have cost upwards of £120m to bring over to Merseyside, and would that truly be tenable? With a central defender still required and maybe a winger too, perhaps not.
Though Isak would have been an incredible addition, Liverpool fans have already been bestowed one earth-shattering acquisition by the ambitious owners this summer.
And Florian Wirtz might even prove the cream of a crop that, hypothetically, contained Isak in a Liverpool shirt too.
Liverpool have already struck gold on Florian Wirtz
Wirtz doesn’t need to kick a ball in a competitive setting for Liverpool fans to know that Slot has struck gold with this signing, owing to the diligence and perseverance of sporting director Richard Hughes.
Wirtz, 22, joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £100m last month. If potential add-ons are met, this fee will stretch higher still and extend to £116m, past Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, the current record holder at £115m.
Despite his relative youth, the German midfielder has already established quite the résumé, having been awarded the Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2023/24, when Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen dethroned Bayern Munich as invincibles, previously rebounding with vigour from an ACL injury.
Florian Wirtz
Last season yielded nothing on the trophy front, but Wirtz still maintained his world-class level, hailed as a “truly generational talent” by sports media professional Cristian Nyari, who believed the creative star was performing at a level higher even than Harry Kane in Germany’s top flight.
What about across Europe’s top five leagues? Well, as per FBref, Wirtz ranked among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers last season for goal involvements, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 7% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
He’s a rather efficient playmaker, and with Liverpool having parted with Trent Alexander-Arnold, now Real Madrid property, it’s vital that Slot and co maintain the squad’s peerless creative levels. Wirtz has been picked as the man for that task, it appears.
24/25
Liverpool
112
23/24
Liverpool
102
22/23
Liverpool & Man City
103
21/22
Liverpool
97
20/21
Liverpool
82
You get the picture; Liverpool have signed a sensation. This marquee man’s ability is better defined, perhaps, through the lens of CIES Football Observatory’s player-valuing system.
Indeed, according to the renowned research site, Liverpool’s record signing is actually worth £150m, a stratospheric figure. Pundit Paul Robinson felt previously that this was an accurate figure when considering the player’s worth.
Isak, however, comes in at a ‘lowly’ £95m.
Of course, that is not a fair reflection of Isak’s value in the modern market, but it does serve to illustrate exactly how incredible a signing Liverpool have pulled off by signing Wirtz without breaking the British transfer record (yet).
Already, Liverpool fans have been gifted a glimpse into the playmaker’s winger footwork, seemingly fitting right in as pre-season preparations get underway.
Slot’s side is replete with high-level quality, and though Isak would have been a wonderful addition this summer, those of a Reds persuasion can take more than a measure of solace in having sealed a signing already, which may break the English transfer record.
In any case, given that Wirtz is considered to be the more valuable player, have Liverpool not hit the jackpot?
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