Sadio Mane was able to show off his absolute skill as he led Al Nassr to a 2-0 win over Karim Benzema's Al Ittihad in a top of the table clash. Cristaino Ronaldo also got onto the scoresheet while his former Real Madrid teammate, Benzema, failed to turn up to the event. Al Nassr have now drawn out a three-point lead atop the Saudi Pro League standings.
حقق منتخب بوركينا فاسو الفوز على نظيره إثيوبيا، بنتيجة بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، في مباراة الجولة الأخيرة من عمر منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.
ليختتم منتخب بوركينا فاسو مواجهات في التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلي كأس العالم محتلًا المركز الثاني في المجموعة الأولى، برصيد 21 نقطة.
وتضم المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، كلاً من مصر وبوركينا فاسو وجيبوتي وإثيوبيا وسيراليون وغينيا بيساو.
طالع | ترتيب مجموعة منتخب مصر في تصفيات كأس العالم
وفي مباراة أخرى ضمن نفس الجولة ولنفس المجموعة، حقق منتخب سيراليون الفوز على منافسه جيبوتي بنتيجة 2-1.
لينهي منتخب سيراليون تصفيات كأس العالم متواجدًا في المركز الثالث برصيد 15 نقطة، بينما جيبوتي يتذيل الترتيب بنقطة واحدة.
وحسم منتخب مصر التأهل الرسمي إلى نهائيات كأس العالم من المجموعة، بعد تصدره برصيد 26 نقطة من الفوز في 8 مباريات والتعادل في مواجهتين.
Liverpool’s summer rebuild continues to gather momentum, with Arne Slot looking to add quality and depth across multiple positions.
Defence is the focus for the time being, as the club push to secure Parma’s Giovanni Leoni and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
The need for defensive reinforcements grew after Jarell Quansah’s sale to Bayer Leverkusen and Joe Gomez’s calf injury, leaving Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk as the only fit senior centre-backs.
Alongside this, Liverpool’s recruitment team have also been monitoring the Isak situation at Newcastle.
If any encouragement is given, they’re ready to return with another bid for the Sweden international.
Book EPL Tickets
Secure your matchday experience with Seat Unique.
Buy Premium Now Liverpool targeting new midfielder
The club are targeting reinforcements in another area of the pitch: midfield.
The player in question has drawn comparisons with some of Europe’s most refined passers, instead of the usual industrious English midfielders.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
To some, he is a throwback to the days when Xabi Alonso dictated the tempo at Anfield, switching play with metronomic precision and breaking lines with his vision.
That player is Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace’s rising star, described by Henry Winter as a “pressing machine” and by Oliver Glasner as someone whose “decision-making is amazing.”
Wharton first came to wider prominence after signing from Blackburn Rovers for an initial £18m in January 2024.
His adaptation to Premier League football has been seamless when fit.
Although a groin injury sidelined him for 17 games last season, he still made 27 appearances across all competitions, providing two league assists and showing the kind of game intelligence more often associated with one of La Liga’s most cultured midfielders.
His influence was particularly evident during Palace’s run to the FA Cup final, with his semi-final display against Aston Villa underlining his ability to dominate a game without fuss.
Liverpool are far from the only suitors. Indeed, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail, Real Madrid are understood to be monitoring the 21-year-old, while Tottenham made an inquiry before May’s FA Cup final.
Manchester United and Manchester City are also in the mix, though Liverpool’s long-standing admiration makes them one of the front-runners should Palace decide to sell.
Adam Wharton: Shades of Alonso
The Xabi Alonso comparison isn’t a lazy one.
Both players share a deep-lying playmaker’s instinct, operating where the pitch is in front of them, scanning before receiving, and hitting passes that slice through pressure.
Alonso’s Anfield legacy rests on his technical elegance and tactical intelligence.
Wharton is shaping into a midfielder of the same mould, blending defensive awareness with creativity. Statistically, the resemblance is striking.
According to Fbref, Wharton ranked in the 91st percentile for key passes per 90 (1.78), the 91st percentile for progressive passes per 90 (7.31), and the 93rd percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 last season (4.03).
Those numbers place him among Europe’s most incisive passers, with the 86th percentile for long passes completed (4.78 per 90) hinting at the kind of diagonal switches Alonso once made a trademark.
Wharton also ranked in the 93rd percentile for dribblers challenged successfully (3.00 per 90) and the 96th percentile for ball recoveries (6.97 per 90).
He presses with purpose, tackles decisively, and anticipates danger early.
Liverpool’s current options in midfield – Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch – all bring individual strengths, but Wharton offers a rare combination.
The defensive capability to shield a back line and the technical vision to dictate from deep.
In that sense, he could be the missing link in transitioning Liverpool from one phase of play to the next, something Alonso did under Rafael Benítez.
There’s also a psychological element at play. Alonso was never flustered, and Wharton carries the same air of composure.
In big moments – like Palace’s equaliser in the Community Shield against Liverpool, which he set up – he seems to make the right choice more often than not.
That knack for calm decision-making in high-pressure situations is precisely what Liverpool need as they look to build on last year’s title.
The price tag could be the sticking point. Palace know they have a valuable asset, and interest from Madrid and multiple Premier League rivals will only drive his valuation up.
His current market value according to Transfermarkt is around £40m, but any deal would likely require a figure well beyond that, especially given his age and home-grown status. Some reports suggest the Eagles value him at £100m.
For Liverpool, the question becomes whether the cost is worth the potential Alonso-esque impact.
For now, Liverpool’s attention may remain divided between defensive targets and the Isak chase, but the temptation to secure their new Alonso will be hard to resist.
In Wharton, they wouldn’t just be buying talent – they’d be investing in a playing style that once underpinned one of the club’s most successful modern sides.
Readers like you help support FootballFanCast. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.
A dream partner for Isak: Liverpool in discussions to sign £87m winger
Liverpool could add one or two forward to Arne Slot’s frontline this month.
ByAngus Sinclair Aug 12, 2025
It’s a new era at Tottenham Hotspur, and the imminent departure of iconic captain Heung-min Son perhaps best encapsulates the changing of the guard.
After winning the Europa League in May, Daniel Levy decided to dismiss Ange Postecoglou and bring in Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who has done such good work in west London.
Ange left a hero, but it was probably the correct decision, for Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League and looked so susceptible defensively.
But he made a promise, and he kept that promise.
It’s a new era, but Tottenham’s pre-season preparations with Frank at the helm haven’t been without their disruptions. Son is set to play his football away from N17, and James Maddison faces a lengthy return to the infirmary.
Pre-season blows at Spurs
Son, having won silverware in his final competitive month at Tottenham, has established legendary status at the club. However, he will leave having restored title-winning success, closing in on a move to LAFC in the United States.
This has been coming, but the departure of a key attacking talent has been exacerbated by the cruel injury suffered by Maddison in pre-season last weekend, stretchered off against Newcastle United with a suspected knee injury.
Following the Morgan Gibbs White debacle, failing in their pursuit of the Nottingham Forest playmaker after being accused of an illegal approach, this is a bleak setback for Frank’s project in its infancy.
And Son’s exit too highlights the need for reinforcements, with the new Premier League season less than two weeks away.
All in all, though, banking £20m for a player who is on the decline, no matter how influential, is decent business for the Lilywhites, but they will need to sign a replacement, even having landed West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus for a £55m fee.
Spurs lining up deal for CL superstar
According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, 24, withis set for face-to-face talks with president Florentino Perez as his future continues to be a talking point amid Tottenham interest.
Despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool this summer, it’s beginning to look like Spurs are the most likely destination for the Brazil international, should he jump ship this summer.
Son’s departure opens up a window of opportunity for the outfit, who are now expected to formally pursue a deal and secure Frank a marquee man at the beginning of his tenure.
Why Spurs must push for Rodrygo
Kudus is a fantastic winger who will add some electric athleticism to Tottenham’s senior set-up, but he’s not yet proven himself to be a goalscoring presence in the vein of Son.
Rodrygo, however, is “terrifyingly good” in front of goal, so says Sky Sports reporter Sam Tighe, having scored 50 goals across the past three campaigns with Real Madrid despite having routinely played out of position on the right flank.
Because of this, Rodrygo’s natural aptitude for making the net bulge suggests that he could fit right into life at Tottenham as Son’s successor, for he actually clinched six goals and six assists apiece over just 12 games as a left-sided forward in 2024/25, limited in his natural position due to Vincius Junior’s presence.
The South Korean has been recorded to have been the statistical best finisher in football since 2014, one year before his Tottenham career commenced, and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous Premier League wingers of his generation.
Big boots to fill, but that’s why Rodrygo is perfect. The Brazilian is accustomed to pressure, having played out the lion’s share of his senior years at the biggest club in the world, and is dynamic enough that his goalscoring ability, described as “unstoppable” by Madrid columist Kiyan Sobhani when at its slickest, is built atop a wide-ranging skill set.
As you can see below, the two forwards actually rank up rather similarly over the past year, so he could dovetail right in, especially with Frank being something of an expert at raising the level of his wide forwards.
Goals
0.35
0.32
Assists
0.22
0.32
Shots taken
2.54
2.46
Shot-creating actions
4.56
4.89
Pass completion
85.7%
78%
Touches (att pen)
5.84
4.70
Progressive passes
4.69
4.28
Progressive carries
5.07
5.41
Successful take-ons
2.15
1.59
However, Rodrygo’s tactical dynamism and propensity for success across a range of positions have also seen him likened to Maddison by data-powered site FBref, along with Son.
Maddison, 28, faces the unknown once again, and the potential loss of his creativity and passing for a large chunk of the upcoming term is a concerning thought indeed.
However, Rodrygo has the skill set to add some sparkle to the playmaking side of the Tottenham system, averaging just north of a key pass per game across the entirety of his Real Madrid career, as per WhoScored.
Let’s not forget, Maddison blew the Premier League away upon signing for Tottenham, picking up the division’s Player of the Month award for August 2023 as he served as the fulcrum of Postecoglou’s staggering start to life at the helm.
The Real Madrid man’s 85.7% pass completion average further bespeaks his ability to promote fluency and control through deeper build-up phases of play, something Frank will undoubtedly look to capture and direct as he implements a slower, more controlled style of football than that of his predecessor.
Ultimately, Tottenham have suffered a setback through the injury to Maddison. It’s not what was needed as Son prepared for his poignant send-off.
However, there remains almost a month of the market being open for business, and if Levy can pull off a deal for Rodrygo, there’s no question that this football club will be primed for success on an even grander stage than the 2024/25 season.
لا يزال باريس سان جيرمان مهووساً بفريق برشلونة، وقد جذب الفريق الفرنسي عدة أسماء من النادي الكتالوني سواء على مستوى اللاعبين أو الجهاز الفني خلال السنوات الماضية.
وبحسب صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”الكاتالونية فإن آخر الأسماء التي أصبحت ترتبط بالانتقال من صفوف برشلونة إلى باريس سان جيرمان هي لاعبة فريق كرة القدم للسيدات أليكسيا بوتياس.
ويحاول باريس سان جيرمان إغراء برشلونة للتخلي عن اللاعبة التي تبلغ من العمر 31 عاماً، وتمتلك عقدًا حتى يونيو المقبل، مع خيار التمديد لعام آخر.
وأبدى باريس سان جيرمان استعداده لدفع مليون يورو كشرط جزائي للتعاقد مع بوتياس، على أن يمتد عقدها الجديد حتى عام 2030.
اقرأ أيضاً.. تشكيل برشلونة المتوقع أمام نيوكاسل اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا
ولكن صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أكدت أن برشلونة يتمسك بخدمات نجمته، مع العلم أن الأخيرة أوضحت للإدارة رغبتها في الاستمرار مع الفريق الكتالوني حيث لا تريد الرحيل رغم العرض المغري من باريس سان جيرمان حيث أن النادي الفرنسي كان مستعدًا لرفع راتبها مقارنة بما تتقاضاه حالياً مع البرسا.
وكان باريس سان جيرمان قد وجه بوصلته إلى برشلونة خلال السنوات الماضية، وقد تلقى الفريق الفرنسي أوامر عن بعد من قطر بإضعاف الفريق الكتالوني.
وكانت البداية عند فوز برشلونة بستة أهداف لهدف واحد وإقصاء باريس سان جيرمان من دوري أبطال أوروبا 2017، ليرد الفريق الفرنسي برئاسة ناصر الخليفي بالتعاقد مع نيمار دا سيلفا، الذي كان من المتوقع أن يخلف الأسطورة الأرجنتينية ليونيل ميسي على قمة هرم كرة القدم العالمية.
وتبقى صفقة انتقال نيمار دا سيلفا من صفوف برشلونة لباريس سان جيرمان 222 مليون يورو، وهي أغلى صفقة في تاريخ كرة القدم.
وقد تعاقد باريس سان جيرمان مع ليونيل ميسي خلال 48 ساعة أيضاً بعد إخفاق برشلونة في تجديد عقد الأرجنتيني، وعلى العكس من ذلك فقد قوبلت كل صفقة حاول برشلونة القيام بها مع لاعبي باريس سان جيرمان بتردد من جانب الفريق الفرنسي.
وعلى الرغم من اتفاق برشلونة مع ماركو فيراتي لاعب خط الوسط الإيطالي في وقت سابق إلا أن باريس سان جيرمان منع اللاعب من الرحيل للبلوجرانا، وكذلك إدريان رابيو حيث أبعده النادي الفرنسي عن الفريق للضغط عليه للعودة للعب، ولم تكن هناك فرصة أيضاً ليتقدم البارسا في محادثاته لضم المدافع البرازيلي ماركينيوس.
It’s set to be a busy summer transfer window at Newcastle United.
Ahead of the Toon Army’s Champions League return, Eddie Howe will want to bolster his squad, to avoid the mass injury crisis he endured during the Magpies’ last continental campaign two seasons ago.
James Trafford is poised to arrive from Burnley for £40m, thereby seemingly taking over from Nick Pope as the number one goalkeeper, but could Newcastle be about to make some attacking additions too?
Newcastle targeting a new right-winger
As reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Newcastle have had a £45m bid rejected by Nottingham Forest for winger Anthony Elanga.
Meantime, speaking on the Totally Football Show, Daniel Storey outlines how Newcastle actually bid £5m more for the Swedish international last summer, who has since enjoyed a “really good season”, and that owner Evangelos Marinakis “will have absolutely none of that”, believing that the “proven, young” winger is worth closer to £60m.
So, with this deal seemingly unlikely to come to fruition, Steve Kay of Football Transfers claims that the Magpies are ready to submit a bid worth £50m to West Ham for winger Mohammed Kudus.
They add that Howe has identified the Ghanaian as a ‘key target’ amidst his ‘uncertain future’ in East London.
Meantime, Jacob Steinberg and Will Unwin of the Guardian note that Kudus’ contract contains an £85m release clause, although he could be available for closer to £60m, given the Hammers’ ongoing concerns surrounding Profitability & Sustainability rules, with Tottenham also looking to do a deal with their fierce rivals.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So, could Kudus swap the East End for the North East?
Why Mohammed Kudus would be a success at Newcastle
Since joining West Ham from Ajax for a reported fee of £37m two summers ago, Kudus has scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 80 appearances for the Irons.
His performances have come in for widespread praise, with host Dan Woffenden labelling him “electric”, while Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines describes him as an “explosive, skilful player”, adding that he possesses a “great burst of acceleration”, while his direct dribbling means he has the potential to become a “world-class winger”.
Adam Scully of Total Football Analysis agrees, asserting that Kudus’ primary attribute is ‘undoubtedly his dribbling ability’, impressed by his ‘sumptuous talents and low centre of gravity’.
Well, statistics from the Premier League since the Ghanaian’s arrival certainly back up these observations.
1st
Mohammed Kudus
221
Mohammed Kudus
208
2nd
Jérémy Doku
169
Jérémy Doku
201
3rd
Matheus Cunha
140
Morgan Rogers
160
4th
Luis Díaz
140
Iliman Ndiaye
143
5th
Eberechi Eze
140
Eberechi Eze
138
6th
Anthony Gordon
133
Rayan Aït-Nouri
137
7th
Bruno Guimarães
132
Matheus Cunha
137
8th
Raheem Sterling
132
Mohamed Salah
137
9th
Alejandro Garnacho
131
Omari Hutchinson
137
10th
Jordan Ayew
130
Antoine Semenyo
135
As the table outlines, since arriving in the Premier League, Kudus has topped the charts for attempted take-ons both seasons, while only Jérémy Doku, Eberechi Eze and Matheus Cunha have also featured in the top ten both times.
This goal against Freiburg in the Europa League is rather reminiscent of former Newcastle United hero Hatem Ben Arfa.
During his time on Tyneside, the Frenchman scored 14 goals in 86 appearances, but his occasional flashes of brilliance made him, as noted by Louise Taylor of the Guardian, ‘the sort of footballer fans adore’, praising his ‘exquisite touch… superior vision, perfect balance and elusive movement’.
Meantime, Jean-Baptiste Caillet of Opta’s the Analyst asserted that he was ‘France’s best dribbler since Zinédine Zidane’, while Peter McVitie of Goal will always remember his ‘dazzling firepower’ and ‘awesome displays of skill’.
All of Ben Arfa’s talent was never made more abundantly clear than during this goal against Bolton Wanderers in April 2012.
Fair to say, Kudus and Ben Arfa – both left-footers who can operately centrally or on the flanks – share similar characteristics. Both could be described as precocious talents, who are occasionally unstoppable but often lack consistency.
Thus, if Elanga proves unattainable, Newcastle should do all they can to snap up Kudus, given that the Ghanaian would get Geordie supporters off their seats, if nothing else!
He'll take Isak to new levels: Newcastle set to launch bid for £60m star
Newcastle are hoping to make an attacking signing after missing out on Joao Pedro.
ByAngus Sinclair Jul 1, 2025
Newcastle United are starting to click into gear in the summer transfer market, launching a triple bid for some top targets: Joao Pedro, Anthony Elanga and goalkeeper James Trafford.
Frustratingly, all three offers have been rejected. The Telegraph have actually reported that the total package, put aside to reel in the targets, came in at £125m. What comes next is uncertain, but all three players are interested in making the move to St. James’ Park.
In particular, the Magpies could do with some more strength across the frontline. Eddie Howe worked wonders in guiding United back into the Champions League and picking up a Carabao Cup title last season, but Newcastle cannot afford to suffer another frustrating summer transfer window.
While efforts in the aforementioned will be redoubled, Newcastle have also covered their six, earmarking one of the Premier League’s most prominent forwards as a backup.
Newcastle chasing Premier League star
According to Caught Offside, Newcastle continue to monitor Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, with sources even claiming the Toon are putting serious consideration into making a concrete move.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Valued at £40m, the England international returned from a promising loan spell with Aston Villa last month but is not expected to remain at Old Trafford after falling out with Ruben Amorim.
Rashford’s preference is to sign for Barcelona, but with the La Liga champions prioritising the signing of Nico Williams, Newcastle are primed to complete their swoop.
Howe would like a loan move, so it remains to be seen how this one will pan out.
What Marcus Rashford would bring to Newcastle
Rashford is one of the most talented footballers to have emerged from the English production line in modern times, though he’s fallen by the wayside over the past couple of years and could do with a career change away from Man United.
The 27-year-old hasn’t reached the last-chance saloon yet, but he’s riding through his ostensible best years and won’t want to see them go to waste.
At his rip-roaring best, the wide forward – who can also play centrally – is a robust and dangerous player indeed, with his proven ability to score significant hauls across any given campaign even suggesting he could be a better signing than the likes of Pedro and Elanga.
24/25
25
6
4
23/24
33
7
3
22/23
35
17
6
21/22
25
4
2
20/21
37
11
13
19/20
31
17
9
There’s definitely an ebb and flow to Rashford’s top-flight career, but who can dispute the forward’s prowess when he’s on his A-game? Indeed, only two years ago, journalist Mazola Molefe declared him a “goal machine” for the Red Devils.
Pedro, who is 23, hasn’t yet demonstrated quite the same clinical aptitude. Indeed, the versatile forward has fired home 30 goals from 70 matches for Brighton, also laying on ten assists, but 16 of his strikes have come from the penalty spot, and with Alexander Isak assigned the spot-kick role for Howe’s outfit, there’s no guarantee that the Brazilian will hit the ground running.
As far as Elanga’s concerned, a deal for either Pedro or Rashford wouldn’t directly affect him, for the Sweden international plies his trade on the right flank, and thus would contest Jacob Murphy for a starting berth.
The Nottingham Forest star has been fantastic since leaving Man United, notching six goals and 12 assists for a high-flying team last year.
But even still, Rashford’s arrival would signify something more exciting than either deal, for if Howe can manage to get a tune from the fallen superstar, he would have a most invaluable attacking asset indeed as the club step back into Europe’s elite sphere.
Ultimately, Newcastle’s above-mentioned transfer offers suggest that Rashford is not at the top of the shopping list right now. Perhaps that’s because a loan move is indeed preferred for the £300k-per-week winger.
However, if Newcastle do end up signing him, Howe’s tactical grasp might just see Rashford return to his finest form and spearhead the next chapter in his thrilling Tyneside journey.
Better than Elanga: Newcastle exploring move for "unstoppable" £43m winger
Newcastle are looking for a new right-winger this summer
1 ByJoe Nuttall Jun 26, 2025
Will Celtic enjoy a strong end to yet another memorable season?
On Saturday, the Hoops fought back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Parkhead; Nicolas Kühn, Adam Idah and then Reo Hatate the scorers for Celtic.
As a result, Brendan Rodgers’ side could conclude the campaign with as many as 94 points, travelling to Pittodrie on Wednesday, before facing St Mirren on trophy presentation day, which has become a near-annual event, on Saturday.
They’ll then face Aberdeen again the following weekend at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final, seeking to secure a sixth domestic treble in just nine seasons.
Despite their continued domination of Scottish football, Rodgers is not satisfied and always demands improvement, so could Celtic sign a highly-rated defender in a deal that would be reminiscent of Josip Juranović’s move from the not-too-distant past?
Josip Juranović's impact at Celtic
As part of the major summer rebuild when Ange Postecoglou first arrived at Celtic in the summer of 2021, 14 senior players were signed, including Juranović, joining from Legia Warszawa for a reported fee of £2.5m.
Well, despite actually only making 53 appearances in hoops, the Croatian international certainly proved to be fantastic value for money, describing his 18 months in Glasgow as “the best of his life”.
Juranović quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite, with Total Football Analysis praising his ‘versatility… aerial ability and physicality’ as well as his leadership qualities.
Thus, in January 2023, shortly after helping Croatia reach the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, Juranović joined Union Berlin for a reported £10m, representing a 400% return on investment in just a year-and-a-half.
It’s safe to say that Celtic’s recruitment when it comes to plucking hidden gems has worked well and they could repeat that trick here, luring another defender from the continent to Scottish shores.
Celtic targeting a new defender
As previously reported by Mirko Marković of Maxbet Sport earlier this month, Celtic are ‘very interested’ in signing defender Veljko Milosavljević from Serbian champions Crvena zvezda, adding that the youngster has shown great ‘potential’ this season.
Milosavljević, who is just 17-years-old, made his senior Super liga Srbije debut for Red Star Belgrade against Radnički Niš as recently as December, with the table below outlining his career statistics so far.
Appearances
17
Minutes
1,189
Starts
12
Super liga Srbije apps
13
Super liga Srbije starts
10
Despite his lack of first-team experience, Milosavljević has earned rave reviews.
Aleksandar Radonić of Serbia outlet Kurur labels him ‘one of the most talented’ youngsters to come through Red Star Belgrade’s academy in recent times, adding that the centre-back, who stands at 6 foot 3, was ‘especially impressive’ during a recent eternal derby victory over Partizan, claiming he is now valued at around €4m (£3m).
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Meantime, scout Gianni Bellasi describes him as a “physically imposing” defender who is a “reliable presence”, while Blair Meikle of the National believes the teenager is one of the ‘hottest young prospects’ in European football right now.
So, where would he fit into Celtic’s team?
Well, for four seasons now, Cameron Carter-Vickers has been the club’s undisputed first-choice central defender, racking up 157 appearances since arriving from Tottenham, despite a few injury problems.
This season, fellow-American international Auston Trusty as well as Liam Scales have been vying to be Carter-Vickers’ partner, but that position is certainly up for grabs, and Milosavljević more than appears to have all the attributes and qualities to come in and make that position his own.
Given that, as noted by teammate Kasper Schmeichel, Carter-Vickers’ qualities lie “with the ball at his feet”, Milosavljević’s physical profile suggests he would be a dream centre-back partner.
Thus, if Celtic can secure his services for as little as £4m, that would appear to be a fantastic investment.
Perfect McCowan repeat: Celtic plotting move to sign "brilliant" SPFL star
With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Celtic are considering a move to sign a “brilliant” Scottish Premiership star on a free.
May 7, 2025
A former Premier League manager is interested in taking over at Rangers, and is now just awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about a move to Ibrox, according to a new report.
Rangers slip up again as Celtic claim Scottish Premiership title
It was a weekend to forget for Rangers fans as rivals Celtic clinched their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title — and a 13th in 14 seasons — while the Gers slipped to another draw.
Celtic cruised to a 5-0 victory over Dundee United to seal the title, while Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling St. Mirren — results that highlight the contrasting fortunes of the two sides this season.
After the draw with St. Mirren, Rangers caretaker boss Barry Ferguson described his team’s performance as “not good enough.”
“I know it’s a difficult place to come, but when you take the lead twice, you need to maintain that lead,” he told BBC Scotland. “That’s been a problem all season, and that’s the reason we have not been challenging. You can do all the work on the training ground and say all the right things in meetings, but when you cross that white line, you have to deal with it yourself.”
On Celtic’s title triumph, he added: “It’ll be painful for my staff, it’ll be painful for the supporters. And I want it to be painful for my players. Because you’re at Rangers, and we need to start challenging, properly challenging, for trophies.”
Martin "interested" in Rangers move
Though Ferguson has undoubtedly been an improvement on former boss Philippe Clement, he may not stay in charge beyond the end of the season — meaning the Gers and the 49ers will need to find a new man to take the reins at Ibrox.
According to The Scottish Sun, that man could be former Southampton boss Russell Martin. Martin was sacked by the Saints earlier this season after a disastrous Premier League campaign that ultimately ended in relegation. However, he is a target to take over from Ferguson at Rangers.
The Sun reports that Martin is very interested in the job and is simply awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about filling the position.
Despite his poor record with Southampton, Martin received heavy praise from one of the game’s greatest managers — Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Speaking after City’s 1-0 win over Southampton back in October, Guardiola said of the former MK Dons boss: “It’s a good game to learn as a manager. I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well.”
On how Martin set Southampton up that day, Guardiola added: “They are really good. I’m a spectator. I prefer the players to get the ball to feet, not the teeth.
“When I see the opponent do the things I like to do with my team and they do it really well, I make a compliment. I’m sure I will learn; there were some movements, the reasons why they do things, the movements they make to link to the striker. It’s not easy.”
He showed his hitting skills at the death once again, scoring an unbeaten 57 off 25 balls to take DC to a winning total
Abhimanyu Bose15-May-20243:13
Moody: Stubbs is a ‘must-keep’ for Delhi Capitals
If you were told at the start of IPL 2024 that a South African batter, who can keep wickets no less, would be the fastest striker at the death this season, you wouldn’t be blamed for guessing Heinrich Klaasen. And you wouldn’t be too far off with that guess, but it’s Tristan Stubbs who has emerged as the premier finisher (minimum 100 runs). Oh, and he is also the first, and so far the only, player to score 200 runs in the last four overs this season.He achieved that distinction with a match-defining 57 not out off 25 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in DC’s last league game.Stubbs finished the season with a death-overs strike rate of 297.33 – the highest in an IPL season ever for a minimum of 100 runs. He faced 75 balls in this phase, of which only two were dots.But the season could have gone very differently for Stubbs if DC had stuck to their Plan A. England batter Harry Brook, who was bought at the auction for INR 4 crore, was the first choice in the middle order.Related
Amre on Shaw's exclusion: 'If you're not in form, you can't keep your place'
Tristan Stubbs – superb against spin, destructive at the death
LSG's playoff hopes all but gone as Capitals sign off with win
'Want to stay on the field all the time' – Pant on his comeback season
“If Harry Brook would have been there then Stubbs’ chances [would have been reduced]. Stubbs was actually a back-up,” DC assistant coach Pravin Amre said at the post-match press conference. “But it was important that we picked a good back-up. In SA20, he had done very well, he contributed to the winning team there, and we were very hopeful that he could do [well], because he got a triple-hundred in first-class cricket also.”He is a cricketer who can play well against spinners also and that is the biggest plus we saw. And he also looks like he is very hungry for success, very composed. He always makes his routine very well, and is very focused.”Stubbs came to DC having spent two years as a back-up option at Mumbai Indians. He made just four appearances across those two seasons.But Brook pulled out of the IPL following his grandmother’s death, and that opened up a slot for Stubbs, who cemented it with his exceptional hitting abilities at the death.Stubbs was one of the few positives amid a dreadful start to DC’s season, which saw them win just one of their first five games. It was only fitting that he finished the season with a knock that helped them go past the 200 when at one point it looked like they would finish closer to 180.Coming out to bat in the 12th over on Tuesday, Stubbs started slow, getting to 7 off his first nine balls.”It was quite tough when I walked in,” Stubbs told the host broadcaster between innings. “I didn’t feel like I could get myself any intensity. But we got a bit of flow going and we managed to put some runs on the board.”Tristan Stubbs brings out the reverse scoop•BCCIStubbs got going in the 16th over, pumping an Arshad Khan length ball down the ground for six. With the left-arm seamer angling it across him, Stubbs stood with his back foot outside off stump, and his front foot around middle and leg. This allowed him to access balls going outside off. Two balls later, Arshad again angled it away from him, and Stubbs hit it straight of the long-off fielder for four.His first two boundaries came in the V, but he was about to start expanding his range. The next ball was an attempted yorker outside off and Stubbs was quick to launch a reverse scoop over the wicketkeeper and a very fine short third for another boundary.When Mohsin Khan tried to go full and wide, Stubbs was again able to get close enough to the line due to his stance and loft it for a six over long-off, despite not middling it.Then came the all-important 19th over. Against Naveen-ul-Haq, Stubbs ditched his back-and-across stance. When Naveen dug in a slower one outside off, Stubbs stayed leg side of the ball and flat-batted it wide of long-on for four. Another back-of-length slower ball was hit high onto the second tier of the pavilion over long-on for a 101-metre monster.His most elegant shot was perhaps the one that brought him his half-century, off 22 balls, as he leant into a full delivery and lofted it wide of long-off.”I always feel I can give myself a bit of time and then can catch up later on,” Stubbs said. “Especially if you get one or two away and the bowler feels some pressure, then you’ve got a lot of momentum.””I can see that this is a player for the next five years if we can go there,” Amre said. “And the temperament he has shown. Even after ten balls, he was 6-7 runs. But so many times he has done that. [In] 22 balls he got a fifty. In today’s game, 19th over he got 21 runs. That really mattered for our victory.”Tristan Stubbs is elated after the wicket of Ayush Badoni•BCCITom Moody, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, said that Stubbs was playing the finisher’s role like an experienced player.”The way he is finishing games, it’s like he’s been doing it for ten years,” Moody said. “He’s been composed, his shot selection is absolutely bang on and he’s not trying to overhit the ball, but he still hits it for miles. So he’s been a real find for Delhi Capitals.”I think he didn’t get a regular opportunity and he was quite young when he was in the Mumbai squad; he was an evolving player. He was still finding his way. Where he really took off was the SA20, and he had a good season for the championship-winning side. So I think he has gained confidence, he is getting more opportunities. With opportunities, he is repaying that faith.”In SA20 2024, Stubbs made 301 runs for Sunrisers East Cape at a strike rate of 168.15. Only two players who scored more than him scored quicker. In the IPL, he took his finishing game to a different level.Moody, who has plenty of experience coaching in franchise leagues, suggested that Stubbs should be high on DC’s list of players they want to retain ahead of next year’s mega auction.”At the end of the day, when you look at retentions, whether it is overseas or Indian players, you look at the supply and demand, and there are not too many players in world cricket who can finish like that. So it makes him exclusive. So he is a must-keep.”And it’s not just his finishing skills. He is an excellent fielder and can also roll his arm over if needed. On Tuesday, he took just three balls to get Ayush Badoni holing out in the eighth over.He has bowled just two overs of his part-time offspin this season and picked up three wickets for 15 runs, which means he finishes with the best batting and bowling average for DC.Stubbs came into the season not guaranteed opportunities. By the end of it, he became someone DC would hate to have to let go.