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Hosts hold off Essex for one-run win, ending three-year T20 drought at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network19-Jun-2025

Kane Williamson scored his first Middlesex fifty•Getty Images

Tom Helm held his nerve in a nail-biting final over as Middlesex began the post Richard Johnson era with a one-run victory over Essex, three years to the day after their last Vitality Blast win at Lord’s.Forty-eight hours on from Johnson being relieved of duty, Helm (2 for 31) claimed the crucial wicket of Luc Benkenstein in defending 10 off the final six balls to see Middlesex home.Essex had appeared to be cruising at 106 for 2 thanks to a stand of 54 between Paul Walter and Jordan Cox, but Zafar Gohar’s 2 for 20 put the brakes on the chase, leading to the breathless finish.Middlesex earlier collapsed from 108 for 1 to 161 all out, failing to build on Kane Williamson’s 53 in 31 balls, the former New Zealand Test captain’s first half-century for the Seaxes. Simon Harmer (2 for 34) and Benkenstein (2 for 26) started the slide with Mohammed Amir polishing off the tail.Middlesex came out swinging at the start of the new era, but rather than aggressive, much of the batting was frenetic.Williamson swung one from Shane Snater over the short boundary, but among his other early fours was a top edge over wicketkeeper Cox’s head.Stephen Eskinazi, save for successive sweeps to the square boundary struggled to find the middle of the blade before being brilliantly caught down the leg-side by Cox.Williamson steadily found his groove, a glorious straight six helping him to 50, but once he departed to the next delivery caught at long-leg off Noah Thain the collapse was on.Ben Geddes was dropped off both his first two balls and lasted five in total before lifting Benkenstein to deep midwicket and Max Holden’s somewhat skittish effort was ended by Harmer as the Essex spinners ripped through the heart of the middle-order.Essex openers Dean Elgar and Michael Pepper came out in a big hurry to get the chase done, the latter planting successive deliveries from Naavya Sharma over the ropes. Elgar in his turned cracked a four to the fence at point as they rattled up a 50-stand in 27 balls.Pepper chipped Gohar to mid-off soon afterwards and Elgar sent the first ball of Helm’s next over to short third.Walter though clubbed Helm into the stands and expertly paddled the spin of Luke Hollman to fine leg for four, while Cox cut powerfully square of the wicket and through cover as another 50 partnership came in 35 balls. Again, both fell in quick succession, Walter undone by a Sharma bouncer while Gohar castled Cox.The hosts thought they had Benkenstein caught by Helm off Hollman, but after conferring the umpires ruled not out. Nevertheless, Matt Critchley holed out off Noah Cornwell as the tension mounted.Charlie Allison thick-edged and ramped Ryan Higgins for four leaving 10 needed from the last. Benkenstein went for glory but holed out to Geddes in the deep, and while two twos were scrambled four was needed off the final delivery. Thain clothed it to deep mid-off, where Geddes collected and returned to spark celebrations from the hosts.

It isn’t the wildest exaggeration to say that the promoted teams that climbed up to the Premier League last season struggled significantly in the unforgiving division.

Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton only amassed 59 points in total as they unsurprisingly made up the bottom three come May, having given up a ridiculous 248 goals along the way.

Thankfully, Sunderland are flying the promoted flag high at this point, with the Black Cats, Leeds United, and Burnley already up to 23 points between them so early into the brand new season.

Amazingly, Regis Le Bris’ men find themselves positioned in a fantastic fifth spot in the league after just six games, with their stern defensive record just one standout aspect of their well-oiled unit.

Sunderland's impressive defensive displays

Sunderland definitely had both Omar Alderete and Robin Roefs to thank for their last 1-0 win on the road at Nottingham Forest.

Away from heading home the match-winner, the Paraguayan defender – who was hailed as a “warrior” at the full-time whistle by journalist Andy Sixsmith – would come away from the tense contest with three duels won and nine clearances registered to preserve the Dutchman’s clean sheet.

Roefs has also been near faultless at the back for Le Bris’ men to ensure only four goals this season have been leaked, with a high average of 3.3 saves per Premier League game so far this campaign, showing off a goalkeeper who’s always alert to the danger.

Roefs and Alderete aren’t the only striking partnership defensively that is being formed, however, with the ex-Getafe centre-back no doubt more at ease when settling into the heart of defence, knowing he has the imperious Nordi Mukiele next to him.

Games played

4

Wins

3

Draws

1

Losses

0

Team goals scored

4

Team goals conceded

2

It’s even clearer when looking at the table above that both the South American and the Frenchman have already formed a formidable working relationship, with Sunderland yet to lose when the dominant pair are side-by-side, as only two goals have also been given up across their four outings together.

This could, unfortunately, spell the end for a long-standing Black Cats servant, even after he played a vital role in Sunderland’s leap to the big time.

Sunderland star on borrowed time thanks to Alderete and Mukiele

Le Bris would, after all, be foolish to try and switch up his Sunderland starting lineups, knowing he has a duo at his disposal who look born to play alongside each other.

The Frenchman sticking with both Alderete and Mukiele for the foreseeable future will be unwelcome news for Luke O’Nien, though, with the much-loved Sunderland defender named in Le Bris’ squad for the first time this season after battling back from injury.

He could well be utilised as a utility figure moving forward, considering the no-nonsense titan can play as a full-back, a centre-back, and as a midfielder at a moment’s notice.

But, it’s far-fetched to assume he will be able to usurp either Alderete or Mukiele in the starting lineup now to take up his usual centre-back spot.

Indeed, the EFL veteran’s lack of experience at a top-flight level immediately places him below both the 28-year-old and the 27-year-old in the refreshed pecking order.

Games played

314

Goals scored

23

Assists

16

Promotions

2x

Still, nobody will ever be able to take away O’Nien’s whirlwind success story with the Black Cats up to this point, with the tough-tackling 30-year-old one key figure who helped pull Sunderland out of their League One mire to then set them on the route to competing in the Premier League right now.

Last season even saw the ex-Wycombe Wanderers battler pick up three goals to steer Sunderland to playoff final glory, away from also collecting a sturdy 16 clean sheets in league action.

However, O’Nien won’t want to overstay his welcome now if the Premier League is too gigantic a step for him to take, having already been lauded as a “remarkable” icon of the club by EFL pundit George Elek.

For the time being, O’Nien will be patient and hope Premier League opportunities fall into his lap, even if his minutes now look to be restricted by the emergence of Alderete and Mukiele.

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Russell Martin is on the hunt for something that can help kick-start Rangers’ season and ensure that his tenure in Scotland isn’t a black spot on his resume.

Near the bottom of the Scottish Premiership and having failed to qualify for the Champions League, the highlights of Rangers’ season so far have come in the Scottish League Cup. Ahead of the Cup win against Hibernian, Martin described what a positive result could mean for the team: “I think it is an amazing opportunity for us to come through this period as a squad, to grow through it and to be so strong from it, and hopefully at that point everyone will come together, we just need to win football matches.”

The 2-0 victory and the reintroduction of Nicolas Raskin into the first team could provide a much-needed boost, and the opportunity to knock Celtic out in the next round could bring something of a feel-good feeling to the team.

However, the side is still in desperate need of goals, and the 49ers group appear to have their eye on a youngster who could help Rangers with their goal scoring in the long term.

Rangers make first approach for Mexican youngster

The 49ers have their eyes on the Mexican league as they’re showing interest in a youngster from title contenders Cruz Azul. This comes in the form of 19-year-old attacking midfielder Amaury Morales.

The youngster’s appearances this season have been sporadic, but when given a chance, he has shown hints at why he is highly touted. In the Leagues Cup, when he was given a full hour to play, he helped his team by providing an assist when Cruz Azul were 2-0 down. His team then went on to score an equaliser and knock Colorado out on penalties.

Reports from Mexico, via Sport Witness, have indicated Rangers’ interest in the youngster isn’t just speculative, and they have made a first approach to Cruz Azul. The youngster’s contract lasts until 2029, and he is currently valued at approximately £1.85 million.

Rangers aren’t the only club interested in Morales, and Spanish side Espanyol have also been linked, although only the Scottish side are reported to have made contact. Rangers have a pre-existing relationship with Cruz Azul, as they loaned Carlos Peña to them back in 2018.

Big tournament for Morales

For the moment, Rangers will continue to monitor Morales with the hopes he’s given more chances to shine like he did against Colorado. Rangers fans will get a chance to see him at the international level as he will represent the Mexico U20’s at the Chile World Cup, where he will be competing with talented youngsters from Brazil, Morocco and Spain.

This will likely provide the Rangers scouts with a chance to see Morales’ potential, but with the calibre of nations in his group, he may end the tournament on the radar of a number of European clubs.

If things don’t turn around for Martin following the Hibs victory, and if the next few months see Morales receive more game time, then it’s possible that they roll the dice and bring him in during the winter transfer window.

Manchester United have now identified a “phenomenal” midfielder as their new dream target, and they are hoping to get a deal wrapped up before the transfer deadline, according to a report.

Man Utd halt Baleba pursuit with Brighton demanding £100m+

Man United were willing to break the bank to sign Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, despite being quoted over £100m, but they have now halted their pursuit of the midfielder, given that the Seagulls are extremely reluctant to sanction a departure.

Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler has also asserted that he is “very, very confident” Baleba will remain a Brighton player beyond the September 1st deadline, and United have now been forced to move on to alternative targets.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that United are well-placed to win the race for Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, despite rival interest from Juventus, but reports from elsewhere suggest INEOS are hesitant about spending £69m on the Danish midfielder.

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2

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However, according to a report from Spain, the United board ‘highly value’ Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, suggesting they are big fans of the Englishman, who has now emerged as the new dream midfield target.

Wharton is viewed as an alternative to Baleba, and INEOS are clearly looking to get a deal wrapped up soon, having formulated plans to sign him before the transfer deadline, rather than waiting until the January transfer window or next summer.

There is a belief the 21-year-old would be an ideal fit for Ruben Amorim’s side, having sought a player capable of providing balance in midfield for quite some time, and the youngster could even be brought in as a replacement for Casemiro.

However, a deal will not be easy, given that Palace are in no hurry to sanction a departure, with the Eagles looking to receive at least £40m for the England international, who is one of their key players.

"Phenomenal" Wharton could be exciting Baleba alternative

The former Blackburn Rovers man is certainly held in very high regard by the Crystal Palace faithful, with Dan Cook of HLTCO singling him out for high praise during the 2024-25 campaign.

However, there are doubts over whether the Palace star would be a like-for-like alternative to Baleba, given that he excels at creating chances and advancing the ball up the pitch, while the Cameroonian flourishes defensively.

Average per 90 (past year)	Adam Wharton	Carlos Baleba
Assists	0.13	0.03
Progressive passes	7.21	3.96
Tackles	2.09	2.64
Interceptions	1.35	1.62
Blocks	0.94	1.55

That said, Wharton is a different type of player to Baleba, he is Premier League proven, which aligns with the type of signing Man United are looking to make this summer, and the reported £40m asking price is very reasonable.

The ECB has charged Vikram Banerjee with accelerating the “global growth” of the Hundred, appointing him managing director of the tournament with immediate effect.Banerjee has been promoted from director of business operations after overseeing Project Gemini, the Hundred’s private investment process which saw the eight teams valued at a combined £975 million.His brief is to finalise the new joint-venture agreements between investors and host counties before working to “ensure alignment and deliver on the strategic growth” of the Hundred, the ECB said on Thursday.A key component of the Hundred’s pitch to prospective investors was a sharp projected increase in the worth of its overseas broadcast rights, which are currently valued at just £2m. The ECB said that Banerjee’s new role would see him responsible for “accelerating the competition’s global growth”.Related

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Several new investors in teams have media interests in India and the United States. “The overseas market is very important to us,” Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said earlier this month. “The fact that we have got such a wide ranging set of investors from around the globe will, I believe, help us to add extra value to our overseas broadcast rights.”Gould said in a statement on Thursday: “Vikram has led the work to attract new partners into the competition superbly, and is the perfect person to now conclude these deals and work with the teams and investors to take the Hundred to the next level over the coming years.”It’s testament to the work of many people within the ECB and across the cricket network that the Hundred has already achieved so much, and there was such an appetite from partners wanting to get involved in it.”Rob Hillman, the ECB’s director of major events, will retain control of the Hundred’s operations and delivery, with Banerjee designated as a “strategic lead” focused on the commercialisation and future of the tournament. The ECB intends to form a standalone Hundred committee this year, with representation from the eight franchises, board non-executives, and independent directors.Banerjee said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this new role, and to be able to drive the competition forward, building on the success of the competition so far and working with a new group of partners who bring such an impressive range of skills and expertise from the very best of global sport and industry.”I look forward to concluding these deals and beginning to work together to grow the Hundred, bringing fans even more of the world’s best players, delivering even more exciting cricket and great fan experiences, and creating more new cricket fans at home and around the globe. I am incredibly excited about what the Hundred can achieve in the future, and the good it can do for the whole of our game.”The Hundred runs from August 5-31 this year, with teams finalising their retentions earlier this week ahead of the draft on March 12.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin appears to be in a difficult position with his options at striker at Ibrox heading into next week’s transfer deadline.

After the 1-1 draw with St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership last time out, the Gers manager revealed that Hamza Igamane was unable to come off the bench to help the team.

Martin said: “He wouldn’t be on the bench if he’s not fit. So he said he’d done it warming up. We turned down a bid this week, but we’ll assess his injury and I have to trust Hamza so we’ll see what happens.”

The boss went on to speak about Cyriel Dessers’ situation, saying: “I think it happens in football, but I’ll go back to Cyriel (Dessers) again. He’s worked really hard to get fit, hasn’t quite been fit, he’ll probably be fit for Wednesday.

“So whilst he’s made it really clear what his intention would be or what his desire would be, there’s been no problem, none. He trains properly, performs with the team, been great, but everyone’s different.”

It has since been revealed that Lille have had an offer accepted for Igamane, who is now due to depart for £10.4m, which may explain recent links to Bojan Miovski.

Why Rangers are interested in Bojan Miovski

It was recently reported that the Gers are interested in a deal to sign the centre-forward from Girona on a season-long loan deal to bolster their squad.

Their interest in the Macedonia international could be connected to the interest in Dessers and Igamane from elsewhere ahead of next Monday’s transfer deadline, because an exit from Ibrox for either of them would leave the squad short in the striker department.

This is why the 26-year-old star arriving at Ibrox in the coming days could make a lot of sense for Rangers, because would slot into the centre-forward position and fill any hole that could be created by a departure for Igamane or Dessers, or both.

The Girona outcast is also be an attractive target for the Scottish Premiership giants because he is a proven performer in Scotland. During his two-year stint with Aberdeen, Miovski showed that he can score goals on a regular basis in the Scottish top-flight.

xG

15.60

17.08

xG on target

18.36

17.60

Goals

16

16

Shots on target

36

44

Chances created

27

23

Assists

2

2

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed marksman scored 32 goals in two league seasons with Aberdeen, who finished behind Rangers in both of those campaigns, and overperformed his xG when you take his xG on target into account.

These statistics show that he is almost guaranteed to be a reliable goalscorer for Rangers in the Premiership, because he has been there and done it in the division in two of the last three years.

However, on the flip side of it, a season-long loan deal for Miovski would only be delaying the need to sign a permanent replacement for Igamane or Dessers.

On top of that, the striker has only scored four goals in 25 matches for Giorna since the start of last season and would need to find his confidence in front of goal again, which may be a struggle in a Rangers team that is currently in a difficult place after three draws in three league games.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Rangers are one of a number of sides interested in a deal to sign Villarreal’s £4m-rated centre-forward Karl Etta Eyong to bolster their attacking options.

Transfer Focus

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

It was also reported that the Gers were in talks with Villarreal over a potential permanent deal for the forward, although there has not been any recent updates on that, and he could be an even better signing than Miovski.

Why Rangers should sign Karl Etta Eyong

Whilst Miovski has the potential, given his form for Aberdeen in the past, to be an exceptional addition to the squad in his own right, Etta Eyong could be a better signing because of his recent form and the structure of the possible transfer.

Signing the Villarreal star, who is only 21, on a long-term deal as part of a permanent transfer could be a much better move for the club than a short-term loan for Miovski, because it could sort out the team’s striker problem for multiple seasons, rather than just one.

By signing Etta Eyong, if all goes well, the Gers would not have to invest millions in another new striker next summer. Whereas, Miovski going back to Girona, or going elsewhere, at the end of his loan would mean that the Light Blues would be back at square one and needing to find another forward.

The Villarreal starlet’s performances at youth and senior level in Spain in the last 12 months or so also suggest that he could hit the ground running with confidence behind him, which may not be the case for Miovski due to his struggles in Spain.

Minutes

90

90

Shots on target

1

2

Goals

1

0

Key passes

0

2

Assists

0

1

Pass accuracy

80%

80%

Possession lost

4x

8x

As you can see in the table above, Etta Eyong has made a strong start to the current LaLiga campaign with a goal and an assist in two matches, with the assist coming against Miovski’s Girona side.

Meanwhile, the Macedonia international did not register a shot or a key pass in 45 minutes against Rayo Vallecano before being left out of the squad for the defeat to Etta Eyong’s Villarreal, per Sofascore.

The £4m-rated star, who was described as a “powerful” striker by writer Kai Watson, also scored 18 goals, finishing 25% of his chances, in 29 starts in the Spanish third tier for Villarreal’s B team in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he can also score goals consistently when given regular game time.

Etta Eyong scored goals against Leeds and Arsenal in pre-season before starting the LaLiga campaign on fire for Villarreal, and all of these statistics suggest that he has the quality to be a quality operator up front for Rangers.

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This is why Etta Eyong would be an even better signing than Miovski for the Gers, because he is in-form and currently playing better in the same league, and would arrive on a permanent basis instead of as a loan player.

There is still well over a month left before the end of the summer transfer window and it remains to be seen whether or not Cyriel Dessers will still be a Glasgow Rangers player when it slams shut.

Russell Martin confirmed that the club rejected an offer from a club for the Nigeria international earlier this month, and he has been linked with a move to Greek side AEK Athens.

The 30-year-old striker has scored 34 goals in two seasons in the Scottish Premiership for the Light Blues, but the experienced forward has also missed a whopping 47 ‘big chances’ in that time.

If Dessers moves on from Ibrox this summer, whether that is to AEK Athens or another club, Rangers will need a new striker to potentially lead the line.

Rangers considering move for free agent centre-forward

Despite the Nigerian forward still being at the club, as well as Danilo and Hamza Igamane, the Scottish giants are reportedly looking at another experienced number nine signing.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Football Insider, Rangers are considering a swoop to sign out-of-contract centre-forward Luuk De Jong, who moved on from PSV at the end of last month.

The report claims that the Gers are giving serious ‘consideration’ to the possibility of a deal for the 34-year-old attacker, as they weigh up the kind of contract that they would be willing to put on the table for the free agent.

Speaking to Football Insider, scout Mick Brown added that it would be an “ambitious” signing for the Light Blues, as they would be bringing in a “proven player”.

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Premiership side are going to press ahead with a deal for the striker, as they are currently only considering a move.

Why Rangers should sign Luuk De Jong

If Rangers have the opportunity to snap De Jong up on a one or two-year contract to bolster their centre-forward options, Martin and Kevin Thelwell must push for a move to go through because he would come in as an upgrade on Dessers.

De Jong’s experience in Europe could be particularly useful for Rangers if they make it through their second qualifying round against Panathinaikos, which he would not be eligible for were he to sign in the coming days, as he has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 16 Champions League qualifiers in his career.

Meanwhile, Dessers has scored three goals in eight Champions League qualifiers in his career, which suggests that the Dutchman may have a greater chance of helping Rangers to qualify for the league phase.

De Jong’s form for PSV in the Eredivisie over the past two seasons also suggests that he would offer more to Martin at the top end of the pitch at league level than the Nigerian forward.

Last 2 seasons	De Jong (Eredivisie)	Dessers (Premiership)
Appearances	65	70
Goals	43	34
Headed goals	14	6
Big chances created	34	10
Assists	23	6
Duel success rate	54%	33%
Aerial duels won per game	4.3	0.9
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 34-year-old scored nine more goals and delivered 17 more assists than Dessers, despite playing five fewer league games, which speaks to the kind of quality that he can offer in front of goal.

Former Dutch international and ex-PSV manager Mark Van Bommel described him as one of the best three players in Europe at scoring headers and claimed that the striker “always delivers”, which is hard to disagree with when you look at his output.

Overall, the potential is there for De Jong to be an upgrade on Dessers as a scorer and a creator of goals at league level, whilst also having more experience in the Champions League and in qualifiers, which could improve the club’s chances of making it through to the league phase.

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Therefore, Rangers should be pushing to get a deal for the former PSV star over the line because he could come in as a proven striker who has the quality to be an upgrade on Dessers, as a goalscorer, a creator, a Champions League performer, and an aerial presence in the number nine position.

No play possible at Headingley, Hove, Grace Road or Cardiff after persistent rain

ESPNcricinfo staff and ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2024Sussex tightened their grip at the top of the table while Yorkshire edged closer to promotion at the expense of Middlesex, after a complete washout on the opening day of the final round of fixtures in Division Two of the County Championship.With promotion already sealed and a 20-point cushion at the top, Sussex need only to avoid defeat against third-placed Middlesex to ensure they return to the top flight as champions. A haul of five bonus points from a possible eight would also suffice.Though there was no chance to pick up any points at Hove, with persistent rain forcing an early abandonment, the lack of play was far more damaging to Middlesex. They now have just three days in which to force victory, without which they have no chance of closing their 15-point deficit on second-placed Yorkshire. Although Friday’s forecast is slightly better, the outfield was saturated by the time of the abandonment at 1.05pm, and it will take a prolonged spell of dry weather to get the ground playable.As for Yorkshire, play in their final home fixture against fourth-placed Northamptonshire was also abandoned by lunch on the opening day, with the only moment of note coming when their young batter, George Hill, was presented his county cap by his team-mate, Jonny Bairstow, who has been a fixture of their promotion push since being overlooked across formats by England.Yorkshire need just 10 points to guarantee their return to the top flight, following their relegation in 2022, and are currently on a run of five wins in their last six games, having had to wait until the competition’s sixth round in May to register their first win.”It’s hard not to enjoy it,” Bairstow told the ECB Reporters Network. “Naturally, it’s been a pretty disappointing summer for obvious [personal] reasons, and I don’t need to get into that at the moment.”I’ve been happy. I got asked to show some form, and I’ve been pleased with the way I’ve kept as well,” he added. “I’ll do what I can with this group, and the first thing is to get promotion.””It will be a very nice way to finish the summer if I can be a part of that group that goes up with a record in the last five or six games that’s been outstanding. Most of all, it’s been great fun with a good bunch.”In the unlikely event that Yorkshire and Middlesex finish level on points, the tiebreakers of most wins, then fewest losses and then head-to-head record would come into the equation. Both teams are level on most wins and fewest losses – five wins, two defeats – but Middlesex have the advantage on head-to-head having won at Lord’s and drawn at Headingley.There was no play possible in either of the Division’s two remaining games, Leicestershire versus Derbyshire at Grace Road, and Glamorgan versus Gloucestershire at Cardiff. Each of the four teams concerned are in the bottom half of the table, with Derbyshire – 19 points adrift – all but guaranteed to finish bottom.

Celtic are moving forward in their efforts to bring new faces to Parkhead, but may also be willing to let one of their fringe players depart following recent reports.

Celtic continue summer recruitment drive

Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren, Ross Doohan, Hayato Inamura and Callum Osmand have successfully entered the fold at Parkhead, but they could be joined by a familiar face by the time the Hoops kick off their competitive campaign against St Mirren in early August.

Reports suggest that Celtic have placed Jeffrey Schlupp back on their radar after his release from Crystal Palace. The Ghana international spent the second half of last campaign on loan at the club and is now available to move elsewhere on a free transfer.

Finding a solution to their striking needs, the Bhoys are also expected to imminently announce Kawasaki Frontale forward Shin Yamada after his current employers confirmed he would be moving to an ‘overseas club’, which would make him the sixth addition of the summer window.

Ultimately, the feeling among supporters is that there is plenty more to come over the next few weeks, though Odsonne Edouard is unlikely to join Celtic after Brendan Rodgers addressed rumours of the Frenchman making an emotional return to Parkhead.

He stated: “Odsonne hasn’t been on my radar, to be fair. I obviously know him but it’s about a player who will fit into the structure of the team. I’m not worried so much about a big name. It’s about the collective of the team.”

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Either way, additions need to have adequate space to settle into their new environment, and Celtic are now set to offload a fringe star to make room for reinforcements.

Celtic set to offload Luis Palma to Lech Poznan

According to Football Insider, Celtic winger Luis Palma is set to join Lech Poznan on loan after he returned from a similar spell at Olympiacos during the second half of last term.

The Honduras international has turned down interest from EFL Championship, Turkish and MLS clubs to secure a switch to the Champions League newcomers, with a deal now agreed and an official announcement soon to come.

Luis Palma at Celtic – should he be allowed to leave?

Appearances

48

Goals

10

Assists

10

Journalist Stebastian Staszewski has confirmed Lech Poznan will have an option to purchase Palma for £3.8 million at the end of the loan agreement, potentially offering a tidy profit on the £3.5 million Celtic shelled out for the 25-year-old back in 2023.

Admittedly, he didn’t set the heather alight in Greece last term, scoring once and claiming a solitary assist in 12 appearances across all competitions. Nevertheless, he has previously been labelled a ‘very good technician’ by Rodgers.

However, Celtic being able to net a slight profit, if he joins Lech Poznan permanently, alongside clearing some of his £16,000 per week wage bill would have to be considered a successful outcome given that he isn’t forecast to play an important part in Glasgow moving forward.

Manchester United’s side is one that has massively struggled over recent seasons, struggling to match the levels that were produced during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.

The Red Devils have now gone 12 whole seasons without a Premier League triumph, with current boss Ruben Amorim the latest to try his luck at Old Trafford.

However, so far, the 40-year-old has been unable to transform the situation, achieving a 40% win rate in his 42 games in the role, leading to a 15th-place league finish this season.

Leeway should be handed his way, however, only having the January transfer window earlier this year to make the additions he wanted to help him in his quest at the club.

However, this summer is a huge period in his stint in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, needing to find the right players for his system if he is to be a success in the role.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions

Viktor Gyokeres is a player who has been firmly on their radar over the last couple of years, but United now appear to be in pole position for his signature after the latest update on his future.

Warren Zaire-Emery is another surprise name on the club’s shortlist, after the hierarchy made an enquiry to sign the PSG youngster, who’s currently valued at £85m.

However, a new name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with Borussia Dortmund’s midfield star Felix Nmecha on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that the Red Devils are preparing an offer to land the 24-year-old this summer, with a £28m price tag mooted for his signature in the coming months.

It also states that the former Manchester City academy star could have his head turned by the Red Devils ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but that the Bundesliga side have no intention of offloading him.

Why United’s £28m target would be perfect for Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo has been a name on the lips of all supporters over the last couple of weeks, understandably so given the keen interest in his signature.

The 25-year-old has been a player who’s thrived in the division over recent years, but he produced his best-ever campaign last time around, scoring 20 times in the Premier League for Brentford.

However, a deal hasn’t been easy up until now, with the Red Devils having two separate offers rejected, the latest being a fee in the region of £60m.

A deal should be completed smoothly if a fee is agreed, after the Cameroonian international has agreed personal terms with Amorim’s side over a move to Old Trafford.

He could be boosted in his chances of success should Nmecha move to the club, as the German possesses a lot of qualities that would aid the forward in attacking areas.

When delving into his stats from this campaign, he’s thrived in numerous key areas, making him the perfect box-to-box option within Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Nmecha, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by former boss Nuri Şahin, has registered an 88% pass accuracy along with 5.1 progressive passes per 90 – subsequently showing why he’d be perfect for Mbeumo and having the tools to provide him with the opportunities needed.

Games played

26

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

88%

Progressive passes

5.1

Passes into final third

5.4

Progressive carries

1.3

Take-ons completed

65%

Tackles won

1.3

Interceptions made

1.4

Aerials won

1.4

He’s also completed 65% of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst also registering 1.3 progressive carries per 90, further demonstrating his desire to take the ball into forward areas.

The German has also starred without the ball, winning 1.3 tackles per 90 and 1.4 interceptions per 90, making him the perfect ball-winning option in the middle of the park.

£28m for a player of Nmecha’s calibre could prove to be one of the bargain additions of the summer, offering Amorim a new dimension to his midfield and taking the side to new heights.

If he can excel without the ball and provide Mbeumo with added chances in front of goal, it would be a sensational signing and one that could push them back up the table in 2025/26.

Bruno will make him world-class: Man Utd hold talks for "phenomenal" star

Manchester United appear to be making a move in a deal to sign a new talisman.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 28, 2025