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Having officially signed Andres Garcia from Levante, Aston Villa are now reportedly racing to sign an attacking reinforcement ahead of Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have wasted little time this month, first welcoming Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund and then swiftly moving to sign young Levante right-back Garcia in two deals that should improve Unai Emery’s squad. It will certainly be interesting to watch on as Matty Cash and Garcia battle for that starting right-back role, with the former perhaps left to observe from the bench.

The Midlands club may not be done there when it comes to incomings either. The likes of Loic Bade have also been mentioned in recent weeks in a move that could see the departing Diego Carlos replaced.

The young Sevilla defender is certainly Champions League quality and the calibre of player capable of pushing Emery’s side back to their dizzying heights of the last campaign. It’s in the Midlands that he could also be joined by an exciting winger too.

Aston Villa now in advanced talks to complete £35m double deal for Emery

It would be a major statement of intent for the second half of the season.

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By
Ben Browning

Jan 20, 2025

According to O Jogo via Sport Witness, Aston Villa and NSWE are now eyeing a move to sign Geny Catamo ahead of Wolves this month in a deal that could also see them fend off any interest from Fulham.

After welcoming the versatile Malen, it wouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise to see Villa focus on other areas within their squad but interest in Catamo suggests that they’re still seeking attacking additions.

The £13,000-a-week Sporting Club winger is still just 23 years old and yet to reach the peak of his powers, but has shown glimpses of his potential in Portugal so far this season to attract the interest of the Premier League.

Catamo arrival could hand Emery selection headache

Whilst selection headaches are often seen as a positive for managers, especially those in the Champions League, Emery could do without a repeat of the situation he found himself in with Jaden Philogene. The young winger returned to Villa Park on a permanent basis last summer but instantly struggled for game time once again as the quality of Emery’s side grew.

After Philogene’s struggles, there’s no guarantee that a player of Catamo’s calibre wouldn’t face the same problem, particularly amid fresh competition from Malen in that role. At 23 years old too, the Sporting winger can’t afford to waste his time watching on from the reserves.

A big decision could still be looming for Catamo nonetheless if Villa, Wolves or Fulham do come calling in the summer. Whether he opts to stay put in a Sporting side he’s scored four goals and assisted another four with this season or moves on elsewhere remains to be seen, but Villa Park may not be his wisest choice at this stage.

There’s no doubting his potential, but Catamo needs game time to realise that potential which Aston Villa simply cannot guarantee at this stage.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been handed a potentially encouraging bit of transfer news from a reliable media source, with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou in urgent need of an outfield signing given the plethora of injuries which have swept through his squad.

Tottenham are working on two more major signings for Postecoglou

It is a sorry state of affairs at N17, with the Lilywhites languishing closer to relegation than a European qualification place. Postecoglou is under mounting pressure in the Spurs dugout as a result, and the Australian is badly in need of financial backing from the board.

Lange threatening to open "surprise" Tottenham talks for once-£84m striker

Spurs are yet to seal an outfield signing this window.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 25, 2025

Solanke’s absence is another huge blow for Tottenham, with the England international expected to miss six weeks of action after twisting his knee in training. Postecoglou is relying on Richarlison to get back up to speed quickly, but it is believed that Spurs are looking to sign a new forward to complement the Brazilian.

Following their £12.5 million deal for goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky right at the start of the window, Fabrizio Romano recently stated that Spurs still hope to get two more acquisitions through the door before deadline day on February 3rd.

“They’re working on it, Tottenham need players,” said Romano to GiveMeSport this week. “After Kinsky, they wanted to bring in (Randal) Kolo Muani, but as we know, he’s going to Juventus, so that was not possible. The idea remains to bring in at least two players from now to the end of the window.”

One target who’s been talked about as an option for the Lilywhites is Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, who stands out as one of the Saints’ star players despite being just 18-years-old.

The homegrown ace ticks many boxes for Postecoglou and the club in general, with Spurs potentially looking to snatch his signature in the coming days.

Tottenham in "very concrete" talks with Tyler Dibling's camp

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Dibling remains high on Postecoglou’s agenda.

The reliable reporter previously claimed that Tottenham are the biggest competitors for Dibling’s signature, and Plettenberg has follows that up with news on their pursuit of the £55 million winger.

The Sky journalist says that Tottenham are in “very concrete” talks with Dibling’s camp, but they are by no means his only suitors, with RB Leipzig still very much in the frame and pretty keen to acquire his services.

The homegrown 18-year-old ticks many boxes for Spurs as a player with plenty of resale value and sky-high potential, with Dibling praised for his serious “quality” over the course of Southampton’s campaign.

Arne Slot sent good wishes to Pep Guardiola ahead of Manchester City's FIFA Club World Cup journey as Liverpool get the summer off.

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• Slot sent support to Pep
• Man City will travel to the US for FIFA CWC
• Liverpool will get the summer off

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Slot endured a remarkable journey as Liverpool boss in his maiden season in England as the Reds became the English champions for a record equalling 20th time after beating Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield last week. The Dutch manager is now looking forward to a well-deserved break in the summer, while clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City will head to the US to participate in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Slot cherished the idea that his players would get a break the entire summer before they prepare for their defending campaign next year. In comparison, the Blues and the City stars will see their holidays cut short due to participation in the new competition. The Dutchmen, however, wished Pep Guardiola and his team luck before they head to America next month.

• WHAT ARNE SLOT SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Slot said: "In this moment, eight out of ten people who work in this business – maybe even ten out of ten – will feel is it really necessary to have another tournament for these players that already had such a long season. I don't think it's healthy for players to only have maybe one week off, then go into the tournament, then have one week off and start the whole Premier League season again. That can never be good for the health of a player."

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  Guardiola had earlier criticised the packed schedule, which is taking a toll on the players' fitness, and Slot has now backed the Spanish coach's statement. The Reds boss added: "I think that is probably what most of us feel. Maybe when the tournament has been played or done well, we’ll all feel we would love to have been there, because what a great occasion. But now we have our opinion, and I think most people in football have the same opinion, pfft, another tournament. We have to wait and see what it means for the long-term for these teams, hardly having any days off."

Enzo Maresca will keep his job at Chelsea next season – even if the Blues fail to qualify for the Champions League.

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• Chelsea fighting for UCL qualification
• Aiming to win Conference League
• Blues make decision on his future

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  claims that head coach Maresca will remain at Stamford Bridge, whatever happens in their final three games of the season. The Blues sit fifth in the Premier League and two wins would seal their spot in next term's Champions League, but the report states the Italian will remain in charge even if Chelsea fall short.

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  Chelsea supposedly intend to give Maresca – who was appointed on a five-year deal last summer – at least two full seasons in charge before any sort of performance assessment is made. If they win the Conference League and qualified for the Champions League, the Blues hierarchy would reportedly see that as a very successful campaign.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  If Chelsea fell short of their main goal of qualifying for the Champions League, it would be seen internally as a 'disappointment' rather than a 'crisis demanding radical change'. The fans may not share that sentiment, however.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea round off their season with Premier League games against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, before taking on Real Betis in the Conference League final.

Shifting their focus towards the January transfer window, West Bromwich Albion are now reportedly racing to sign a 6 foot 5 rising star who’s scored four goals in his last five games.

West Brom transfer news

To say it’s been a chaotic couple of months for West Brom would be an understatement. After finding themselves in a unique run of draws, it was one point too many to keep hold of Carlos Corberan, who swapped the Midlands for Valencia.

A difficult man to replace even amid that run of frustrating draws, the Baggies then turned to a true veteran and a returning icon in Tony Mowbray, who picked up his second win in five games last time out against Sheffield Wednesday.

With Blackburn Rovers up next, those at The Hawthorns will have the chance to move as many as five points clear of their opponents in the race to secure a play-off place, representing just how important tonight’s clash within the Championship’s top six is.

A place in the play-offs and then possibly the Premier League would certainly leave the Baggies in good stead to welcome reinforcements this summer too, including one young forward.

Special West Brom star is becoming Mowbray's answer to Matheus Pereira

Tony Mowbray will hope this West Bromwich Albion star can fire his new side to promotion.

By
Kelan Sarson

Feb 11, 2025

According to Football Insider, West Brom are now racing to sign Oliver Lynch after sending scouts to watch the 6’5 forward on loan from Luton Town at Hemel Hempstead.

The young striker has scored four goals in five games for the National League South side and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon. With West Brom and a number of EFL clubs now reportedly interested in his signature, he will undoubtedly be one to watch as his impressive campaign continues on loan from the Hatters.

"Immense" Lynch is one for the future

At just 19 years old, Lynch is doing everything right in front of goal in the National League South and has deservedly earned the praise of Lee Allinson.

The Hemel Hempstead boss told reporters afer Lynch scored in a victory against Farnborough Town: “We do our due diligence on players and Lynchy was one I kept my eye on after I’d faced him with Hendon against Dulwich.

“I like him, he’s a handful and I thought he was immense today and him and Joe [Iaciofano] worked tirelessly to give people a moment’s rest. He also scored an unbelievable goal and could have had another one just before half-time as well.”

As for West Brom, they could certainly do with a permanent solution to their striker problem with Adam Armstrong only arriving on loan during the January transfer window. At such a young age, Lynch is exactly the type of rising star that The Hawthorns could enjoy for years to come.

There’s certainly plenty of competition for the forward’s signature, however, which makes promotion to the Premier League all the more important for West Brom this season.

Southampton are now in the race to sign a “rising star”, who is set to be available for a bargain fee in the summer, according to a report.

Saints face uphill battle to avoid relegation

In truth, there is a very good chance the Saints will be playing Championship football once again next season, having won just two league games all season, with Ivan Juric’s side still sitting bottom of the Premier League table.

Juric is likely to be under even more pressure after the FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship promotion-hopefuls Burnley last weekend, and there are some tricky fixtures on the horizon.

As such, Southampton fans may already be mentally preparing for life in the second tier, but club chiefs are continuing to identify potential targets for the summer, although the calibre of players they are able to bring in will depend on what division they are in.

According to a report from SportBILD, one player the Saints have in mind is Hertha BSC forward Ibrahim Maza, who is a subject of interest for seven Premier League clubs.

AC Milan and FC Porto also made approaches to sign Maza this winter, but Hertha knocked back the offers, having been keen to receive over €20m (£16.7m) for his services.

That asking price is set to drop in the summer, however, as a special clause in the Algerian’s contract means the figure will have to be halved, indicating he could be available for around £8.3m.

Southampton now considering loan exit for "promising" deadline day signing

He’s only just arrived…

By
Tom Cunningham

Feb 7, 2025

Maza is a "rising star" after excelling in Germany

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has previously lauded the forward as a “rising star”, and he is enjoying a real breakthrough season in Germany, picking up seven goals and four assists in 24 appearances in all competitions.

The young number 10 has also received praise from freelance scout Ben Mattinson, who likened his deceptive strength to that of Gabriel Carvalho and Ethan Nwaneri.

Although he is yet to prove himself in a major league, with Hertha currently in the Bundesliga II, Maza clearly has a lot of potential, and he could be a fantastic acquisition for the Saints.

The only issue is Southampton will find it very difficult to win the race for the starlet’s signature if they are relegated from the top flight, given the level of interest, although the recent 2-1 win at Ipswich Town gives them a glimmer of hope in the relegation battle.

Yann Sommer hails 'one of the most important saves' of his career after denying Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as Inter reached the Champions League final.

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• Sommer protected Inter's advantage deep into extra time
• Swiss goalkeeper was in inspired form over two legs
• Inter will face PSG or Arsenal in the final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As a classic Champions League semi-final tie drew to a conclusion, Inter had established a 4-3 lead when Yamal began charging towards Sommer's goal in the 114th minute. The young Spaniard cut in from the right and fired a curling shot towards the far corner, but Inter's goalkeeper pushed the effort wide to maintain his side's advantage.

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  Inter had needed a late Francesco Acerbi equaliser to force extra-time, with the second leg ending in another 3-3 draw at full-time. Substitute Davide Frattesi then put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 99th minute which ultimately proved to be the winner, but Simone Inzaghi's outfit still needed seven saves from Sommer on the night to scrape through and reach Munich's final.

• WHAT SOMMER SAID

  Speaking after the game, Sommer said: "He's [Yamal] difficult to read, I am happy I was quick enough. For sure, one of the most important saves of my career.

  "It gave us energy. We believed after this. We said now we have to do it, have to bring it home."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SOMMER AND INTER?

  Sommer and Inter will now await the result of the second semi-final tie between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain to discover their opponents in the final. Their next outing comes on Sunday in Serie A where they will hope to cut Napoli's lead at the top of the table with victory over Torino.

The Clausura 2025 champion will be decided Sunday in the second leg at Estadio Nemesio Diez

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• Ramón Juárez played just 13 minutes in the first leg
• César Arturo Ramos has been appointed as the referee
• Jardine, Toluca’s Mohamed both aiming for fourth Liga MX title

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of the decisive second leg of the Clausura 2025 Final between Club América and Toluca, defender Ramón Juárez expressed hope for better officiating after a controversial first match.

  Speaking after the goalless draw at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Juárez noted that América left the pitch with a sense of frustration, pointing to several moments that could have warranted penalties – or even a red card – particularly a dangerous foul by Alexis Vega on Kevin Álvarez.

  "There were a couple of incidents that, beyond complaints, really put a player’s safety at risk – like the kick on Kevin," Juárez told reporters. "It’s already done and noted, but hopefully we see solid refereeing in the return leg."

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  César Arturo Ramos, a referee often at the center of debate, is set to officiate Sunday’s clash at the Estadio Nemesio Diez, where the 2025 Clausura champion will be crowned.

  Despite his remarks, Juárez refrained from directly criticizing the referees, instead choosing to focus on what lies ahead.

  “You always feel a bit of frustration when clear plays go unnoticed, but in the end, it's in God's hands, and we trust things will be fair,” he added.

  On the field, América found it difficult to break down Toluca’s defensive setup in the first leg, managing just one shot on target. Juárez acknowledged the Red Devils’ strategy and credited them for their discipline.

  “It was a tight, physical match. They came in with the goal of keeping a clean sheet and didn’t give us many openings,” he said. “We played a decent game, and now we’ll analyze what needs improvement for the return leg. It’s all or nothing now.”

  While recognizing the tactical approach of Antonio Mohamed’s side, Juárez hinted that the narrative of the final will be written in the second leg.

  “Their strategy is valid – maybe it was to sit back and avoid conceding," he said. "That’s football. But we’ll see who really dictates terms when it’s all settled in the second leg.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  América's André Jardine and Toluca's Antonio Mohamed are both aiming to further cement their legacies in Mexican football, each seeking a fourth Liga MX title. For Jardine, a win would mark his fourth consecutive championship, while Mohamed is looking to claim his fourth title with a different club – having previously won with Xolos, América, and Monterrey.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?

  The Clausura 2025 champion will be decided Sunday at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca. América is chasing a historic third straight title, while Toluca looks to end a 15-year championship drought and claim their 11th league crown.

Celtic supporters have plenty to look forward to for the remainder of this season.

In mid-week, the Hoops’ Champions League campaign heartbreakingly came to an end, ousted by Bayern Munich, leading on the night in Bavaria thanks to Nicolas Kühn, making it 2-2 on aggregate, only for the Bundesliga leaders to snatch victory deep into stoppage time.

Domestically meantime, having already hoisted aloft the League Cup in December, the Celts are on course for a sixth treble in nine seasons.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are through to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals while, ahead of Saturday lunchtime’s visit to Hibernian, sit a ginormous 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Meantime, a former Celtic flop is flying south of the border, currently out-scoring Adam Idah in the EFL Championship.

Celtic's best centre-forwards

Celtic supporters have been treated to a fair few high-quality centre-forwards over the years.

Right now, their attack is being spearheaded by Daizen Maeda, who’s now scored 51 goals in 144 appearances for the Hoops while, considering he’s bagged 11 goals since Christmas, current teammate Alistair Johnston recently described him as “one of the most in-form players in Europe”.

Meantime, the Japanese striker’s close-range header in the first leg against Bayern Munich saw him become the first Celtic player since Joe Craig in 1977/78 to score four+ goals in a single Champions League season.

Maeda got the nod in Munich to lead the attack, chosen over Adam Idah, whose statistics aren’t too bad either, having netted 13 times so far this season, including three in the Champions League, so let’s see how both compare to some of the great Celtic strikers of the not too distant past.

There are certainly some legendary centre-forwards on that list, all of whom have produced massive moments in a hooped jersey, but right now it’s Idah who has the best minutes-per-goal ratio, possibly helped by his significantly smaller sample size.

One striker who certainly did not make the cut, scoring just two goals for the club, has probably been completely forgotten about by the majority of the Celtic supporters, but is currently outscoring Idah in the league.

Celtic flop turned Championship star

Vakoun Issouf Bayo joined Celtic from Slovakian side FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda for a reported fee of £2m in January 2019, with club-legend Ľubomír Moravčík describing him as a “proven” goalscorer upon his arrival.

Fair to say, he did not live up to this hype, scoring just two goals in 17 appearances for the Celts, labelled a ‘flop’ by Joe Donnelly of the National, thereby loaned out to Toulouse, before being sold permanently to Gent for £1.4m.

After catching fire at fellow Belgian outfit Royal Charleroi, scoring 14 times in just 26 outings for les Carolos, Bayo joined Watford for £5m in July 2022, and has really found a home in Hertfordshire.

The Ivorian has scored 21 times in his career for the Hornets, ten of which have come in the EFL Championship this season, including bagging four as Tom Cleverley’s team smashed Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in November. That places him ahead of Idah with regard to league goals, with the Irishman netting just eight times in the Premiership.

This, according to Andrew French of the Watford Observer, makes him the first Watford player to score four in a match since Odion Ighalo in 2015, and only the seventh player to do so overall. It’s no wonder Cleverley dubbed him the “complete striker”.

For comparison, during his final half-season at Norwich, Idah scored just six goals in one fewer appearance, so, while you’ll be hard-pushed to find a Celtic supporter who believes they should’ve kept hold of Bayo, his form in England’s second-tier is something that surely no one at Parkhead could’ve seen coming.

Celtic have secured their biggest bargain since Maeda in "amazing" star

Celtic have secured a fair few bargain signings in recent seasons, but one “amazing” star continues to shine.

By
Ben Gray

Feb 20, 2025

Manchester United have been urged to sign Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, who is seen as a "mixture" of club legends Roy Keane and Bryan Robson.

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• Man Utd told to sign Bellingham
• Hailed as "out of this world"
• Like a "mixture" of Keane & Robson

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former United player Quinton Fortune says that if his old club had unlimited resources, they should sign the England international. The South African believes the 21-year-old is exactly what the Red Devils need and is similar to Keane and Robson.

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  WHAT FORTUNE SAID

  He told Boyle Sports: “I would say that Jude Bellingham is a mixture of Roy Keane and Bryan Robson but in his own right. I would love to see him at Old Trafford. It would work well for the English national team too. If United had a bottomless budget, I’d tell them to go and get Jude Bellingham. He is out of this world, a proper player that is exactly what United need.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United have just finished a dismal season, coming 15th in the Premier League and failing to win any silverware. Ruben Amorim's side needs seismic changes but not even Bellingham is likely to help them out of their current bind.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While United are currently taking in a post-season tour of Asia, midfielder Bellingham could feature for England next month against Andorra and Senegal, and then again for Madrid in the Club World Cup.