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da betway： Arsenal have been handed a boost in the race to sign a prolific striker for manager Mikel Arteta, with the player apparently “sold” on joining them as the Gunners enter pole position for his signature.

Arsenal plunged into injury crisis as Havertz misses rest of 24/25

da realbet： On Thursday, Arsenal officially confirmed that Kai Havertz would miss the rest of this Premier League campaign, following David Ornstein’s exclusive report which originally broke the bad news (X).

Related Arsenal can sign once-£130m striker in emergency deal after Havertz blow

The German will miss the rest of this season.

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Havertz suffered a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s warm-weather training trip to Dubai, which will require surgery. The German is expected to undergo this procedure in the coming days, with Havertz then set to begin rehab which will extend into pre-season for 2025/2026.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Leicester City (away)

February 15th

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man United (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

As a result, the £280,000-per-week striker has played his last game of the campaign, leaving Arteta short of attacking options as he bids to catch Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are also on the treatment table right now, with the latter also set to miss the rest of this season (Sky Sports). Right now, Arteta has just Raheem Sterling as his sole senior striking option, and the lack of numbers in Arsenal’s final third could seriously threaten to derail their title chances – if they weren’t slim enough already.

Arsenal will be keen to avoid a similar scenario next campaign, and those around the club will be left disappointed by the fact they didn’t bring in another number nine when the January transfer window was open.

Arsenal had a bid rejected for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, and were linked with more high-profile forwards throughout the window. However, unless the north Londoners opt to sign an emergency free agent like Diego Costa, then they’ll have to wait until this summer to bring in another number nine.

Benjamin Sesko "sold" on joining Arsenal this summer

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking on the GiveMeSport Market Madness Podcast, RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko appears to be the main candidate to bolster Arsenal’s forward line.

Other reports have claimed that Arsenal are considered favourites in the race to sign Sesko, with Jacobs providing a further update on the £91,000-per-week striker’s future at Leipzig.

He says that Sesko is “sold” on joining Arsenal after already being convinced by the project, and Arteta’s side are confident they can strike a deal for the Slovenia international who’s scored 15 goals and bagged four assists in all competitions this season.

“Now, Chelsea also like Benjamin Sesko. The good news for Joel is that I think Arsenal are leading that race. So I can foresee a situation where everyone wants Alexander Isak,” Jacobs said.

“He doesn’t leave Newcastle. Arsenal go for Benjamin Sesko. Player’s sold on the project.

“He just wanted to wait and do an extra season at Leipzig. But when he was presented with that choice between Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Sesko picked Arsenal and then made a secondary choice that he was going to stay at Leipzig. So Arsenal are quite confident on Sesko.”

That being said, he won’t come cheap, with German media claiming Leipzig are holding out for £83 million as they anticipate a bidding war.

da wazamba： Leeds United could trigger the release clause of an “excellent” Premier League player, who is now likely to leave his club this summer, according to a report.

Leeds eyeing proven Premier League players

da imperador bet： The three sides promoted from the Championship last season look like they will all be going straight back down, with Southampton sitting rock bottom, while Ipswich Town and Leicester City are currently five points from safety.

As such, you can make a case for it being more difficult than ever to make the step up back to the top flight, after dropping to the second tier, and with Leeds in a very strong position to get promoted, they are now eyeing players who have Premier League experience.

Former Chelsea man Tammy Abraham is one of the names on the list of targets in attack, while they are also considering a move for Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters, who has made 140 appearances in the top flight.

Related Leeds expected to move for "fantastic" £15m striker; he's "keen" on joining

The Whites have been tipped to make a summer move for a forward who is excited by the prospect of moving to Elland Road.

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Walker-Peters is not the only Saints player Daniel Farke’s side have their eye on, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they could trigger the relegation release clause written into goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s contract.

Ramsdale joined Southampton from Arsenal in a £25m deal last summer, but he is now likely to leave in the summer, with relegation from the Premier League looking increasingly likely.

There may be widespread interest in the Premier League, however, with Chelsea, Brentford and Newcastle United also being named as potential suitors.

Leeds United’s upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

West Bromwich Albion (h)

March 1st

Portsmouth (a)

March 9th

Millwall (h)

March 12th

Queens Park Rangers (a)

March 15th

Swansea City (h)

March 29th

Ramsdale has been "excellent" despite Saints' struggles

It has been a season to forget for Southampton, who have collected just nine points throughout the entire campaign, but their goalkeeper cannot be blamed for his side’s struggles, having been by far the most consistent performer in the squad.

Despite the Saints falling to a 3-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth earlier this month, Joe Hart lauded the 26-year-old’s performance as “absolutely excellent”.

The same can be said about the Englishman’s display against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, receiving by far the highest SofaScore match rating in the Southampton team after making eight saves, seven of which were from inside the box.

As such, although the former Arsenal man is set to have another relegation on his CV, he cannot be blamed for the Saints’ inevitable fate, and he deserves another chance in the Premier League.

There has been doubt about Illan Meslier for quite some time, with the Frenchman making some key errors this season, most notably in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in October, and there are plenty of indications Ramsdale would be a great replacement.

da betano casino： In a move that would get one over on North London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly battling to sign one particular La Liga winger for Ange Postecoglou this summer.

Tottenham transfer news

da dobrowin： The Lilywhites desperately need to enjoy a productive summer transfer window. Their season has been controlled by injuries and the glaringly true narrative that their squad simply lacks the necessary depth in quality needed to compete for Champions League qualification.

All across his side, Postecoglou has been forced to form makeshift partnerships at times, resulting in a season spent in the bottom half of the Premier League. It’s something that the Australian simply must not see a repeat of in the next campaign if Spurs are to set their sights on undergoing significant improvement.

Among Tottenham’s summer priorities should be signing an eventual replacement for Heung-min Son, who has fallen away from his best form this season to hand those in North London the awkward task of replacing a modern legend.

With that in mind, they’ve reportedly turned their attention towards La Liga. According to reports in Spain, Tottenham are now battling to sign Ferran Torres from Barcelona, who value their out-of-favour winger at just €40m (£33m) this summer.

Related Tottenham make contact to sign 11-goal striker alongside another sensation

They’re on the rise…

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At such a price, however, Spurs aren’t the only side reportedly interested with arch-rivals Arsenal also in the race to welcome the former Manchester City star back to the Premier League alongside interest from Serie A giants Napoli and AC Milan.

Given how Torres has struggled for starts amid competition from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha at Barcelona though, Spurs should aim to use game time as their biggest selling point this summer.

"Brilliant" Torres could replace Son

Whilst Torres’ progress has been stopped in its tracks by the rise of Yamal and fresh form of Raphinha at Barcelona, one swift move back to English football could ignite his best form once again. At just 24 years old, there’s still plenty more to come from the Spaniard, who should be among those topping Spurs’ list of candidates to replace Son sooner rather than later.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Ferran Torres

Heung-min Son

Starts

7

21

Goals

5

6

Assists

2

9

Expected Goals

3.7

5.7

Seven goal involvements in seven starts is far from a bad return from Torres, who’s outperformed his expected rate despite being forced to watch on from the bench more often than not in La Liga.

His ability to play all across the frontline mirrors that of Son’s and earned the praise of Pep Guardiola during his time at Manchester City. The Spaniard told reporters when asked about deploying Torres in a false nine role: “Yeah, he can be [a No 9]. We will use him, we used him and he was brilliant.

“His rhythm, especially defensively he has improved a lot. The game at Palace, he makes a turn [in his season] – so good. The movement he makes as a striker, for the [third] goal, it hits the bar and where it goes, he knew it.”

da dobrowin： Celtic are closing in on another title triumph and moves will already be accelerating behind the scenes as the foundations are laid for summer arrivals to sign on the dotted line at Parkhead.

Celtic plot strong domestic finish ahead of summer business

da brwin： Brendan Rodgers has had things mostly his own way in the Scottish Premiership amid the absence of a prolonged title challenge from Rangers this campaign.

The Bhoys retain a 13-point lead over their rivals heading into the latest round of league fixtures. At the same time, they only need a minimum of five more victories in the top-flight to mathematically secure a fourth crown on the trot.

Following a convincing 5-1 victory over Aberdeen in midweek, Celtic travel to face St Mirren in Saturday’s late kick-off at the SMiSA Stadium carrying the omen that they have only lost out once in their last 20 visits to Paisley across all competitions.

While their Scottish Cup involvement could offer the chance for a domestic clean sweep, Rodgers will likely be plotting summer moves to equip his side for another crack at the Champions League if they can progress through qualifying later in the year.

Recently, Celtic’s interest in Norwich City forward Borja Sainz has come to light after the Spaniard’s run of 16 goals and four assists in 31 appearances this term.

Related Celtic now interested in signing "fantastic" 16-goal forward this summer

Brendan Rodgers is looking to add more firepower at Celtic.

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Statement arrivals will be on the agenda, and Rodgers has now confirmed the club are set for talks with another potential recruit as the wheels begin to turn on what is expected to be a busy summer window.

Brendan Rodgers confirms Jeffrey Schlupp Celtic talks

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to face St Mirren, Rodgers confirmed he will consult January loan signing Jeffrey Schlupp over a permanent Celtic move after his blistering start to life in Glasgow’s east end.

He explained: “I’ll have a chat with Jeffrey towards the latter part of the season. It was the case of him coming in and settling and getting to understand how he plays. I think we can all see he has that Premier League physicality and quality.

Schlupp’s immediate Celtic impact in numbers – Premiership

Tackles success

83.8%

Duels won

19

Pass accuracy

86%

Ball Recoveries

11

Shots

4

“He’s a guy that’s a top professional. That’s why he’s been over a decade in the Premier League, because you have to look after yourself. You’ve got to have the right qualities, not only as a player but as a person. We knew what we were bringing in. I’m really happy for him, because he’s settled into the group really well now.”

Dovetailing with Greg Taylor in the left-back position, Schlupp has made seven appearances since arriving from Crystal Palace last month on a temporary basis, when the boss hailed his “incredible pace and power”.

Earning 20 caps for Ghana, the 32-year-old is set to be a free agent in the summer and may be a cost efficient option to compete with Kieran Tierney after the Scotland international signed a pre-contract with Celtic.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the experienced full-back would be open to staying in Scotland long-term in spite of his initial impact in Glasgow.

da luck： Arsenal have already started talks to sign a key transfer target ahead of the summer window, with incoming sporting director Andrea Berta expected to launch a bid, according to a report this week.

Mikel Arteta says Andrea Berta will take Arsenal to the "next level"

da roleta： The pending arrival of Berta, who will commence his new role at the Emirates Stadium in the coming weeks (David Ornstein), brings plenty of excitement with it as Arsenal land a very capable replacement for Edu Gaspar.

Related Arteta asks Arsenal to sign proven striker as £54m star eyes move to London

The Spaniard has made a specific request.

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The 53-year-old spent 12 successful years at Atlético Madrid before departing the La Liga side in January, where he managed to sell Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona for £108 million in 2019 before re-signing the France legend for just £17 million three years later.

Berta also has connections to Wolves star Matheus Cunha through their time together at Atlético, and many have speculated that this could help Arsenal strike a summer deal for the Brazilian, who has a £62.5 million release clause in his contract.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

While Cunha could be pushed to Arsenal by Berta’s influence, there are also suggestions that the Italian has targets firmly in place ahead of the summer. GiveMeSport reported recently that RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Athletic Bilbao sensation Nico Williams are all on the Gunners’ radar, and Berta’s La Liga contacts may prove very fruitful.

Arteta, meanwhile, is thrilled by the arrival of Berta, with the Spaniard claiming he could help to take them up to another level.

“The best one for me is that ownership, board and everybody’s aligned that this is the right person to take us to the next level,” said Arteta on Berta’s appointment. “That’s the most important thing.”

Arsenal have also been linked with a potential new defender this summer, and it is believed that Bournemouth ace Dean Huijsen is firmly on Berta’s agenda.

Arsenal initiate talks to sign Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen

As per information from CaughtOffside, Arsenal have initiated negotiations over signing Huijsen, months before the summer window’s opening, and they’re one of a few Premier League sides expected to submit bids of up to £30 million.

The Spain Under-21 international has been a revelation under Andoni Iraola, alongside both Illia Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi in their central defence, and news of his £50+ million release clause, which will become active this summer, prompted links to a host of elite-level sides.

However, it appears Arsenal and Berta will first go in with a low-ball offer to test the water, but we believe it is quite unlikely they’ll be successful considering just how much Huijsen has impressed since his move from Juventus.

Even European champions Real Madrid are believed to be targeting Huijsen ahead of the summer, which sums up the 19-year-old’s serious potential. The defender has also been called a “sensational” prospect by members of the media (Ben Mattinson).

da dobrowin： Chelsea have now overtaken one Premier League rival in the race to sign a “world-class” striker, who has a release clause of £71m, according to a report.

Chelsea's top four hopes take blow at the Emirates

da 888： After a very strong start to the Premier League season, the Blues’ form has taken a nosedive since the turn of the year, and they now have a real battle on their hands to finish in the top four and secure Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign.

A 1-0 defeat away at Arsenal was the latest poor result for Enzo Maresca’s side, who struggled to produce any real chances in a drab affair at the Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Merino’s first-half goal for the Gunners proving to be the decisive moment.

Pedro Neto was starved of service in the unfavoured position of striker, with the 25-year-old leading the line due to the absence of Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu, who remain sidelined with injuries.

Related Chelsea also enquire over "monster" rival star alongside Mainoo interest

Enzo Maresca is plotting an ambitious swoop…

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The lack of striker options could be a sign Maresca needs to bring in a top forward in the summer transfer window, and there has now been a promising update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Blues have now overtaken Premier League rivals Liverpool in the race for Thuram, but there could be fierce competition from Arsenal, as the Gunners have also moved ahead of the league leaders.

Should any of the three Premier League clubs decide to formalise their interest with an offer, it could take a huge bid to prise the striker away from Inter, given that he has a £71m release clause incuded in his contract, although that could soon change.

Inter are currently trying to tie the Frenchman down to a new deal, given that he is a key part of their future plans, but it remains to be seen whether the widespread interest from the Premier League turns his head.

"World-class" Thuram impressing in Serie A and Europe

The 27-year-old was on fire in front of goal at the beginning of the campaign, and he received high praise from journalist Zach Lowy after scoring in his side’s 2-0 victory over Como back in December.

There are signs the Italy-born striker is now entering his prime, given that his attacking numbers have improved dramatically since moving to the Serie A, having previously played for Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany and Guingamp in France.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Serie A

63

26

12

Bundesliga

111

34

16

Ligue 1

64

12

2

Goals in both legs against Feyenoord in Inter’s recent Champions League round of 16 clash demonstrate Thuram has what it takes to compete at the highest level, indicating he could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, who will be hoping to return to Europe’s elite competition next season.

da cassino： Aston Villa are now plotting a shock move for a “dangerous” midfielder, who manager Unai Emery is an admirer of, according to a report.

Villans' summer transfer plans taking shape

da 888casino： With just nine games left to play in the Premier League, Villa still have everything to play for, as Emery’s side sit just four points adrift of the top four, while they will also still be dreaming of going all the way in the Champions League.

The Villans’ run to the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition may have hindered their Premier League campaign somewhat, however, given that they are not performing as well as last season, which indicates Emery needs to bring in additional depth this summer.

There is seemingly a focus on strengthening in attacking areas, with Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman and Chelsea winger Noni Madueke under consideration, while the Champions League quarter-finalists are also pushing to sign Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.

Related Aston Villa open contract talks with £150k-p/w ace who is key for Emery

Aston Villa chiefs are looking to tie down a player who Unai Emery is a big fan of.

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However, a new report from TEAMtalk has revealed Villa are also interested in signing a central midfielder, with a shock move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma now being plotted.

It is expected to be a busy summer transfer window for Villa, and the Tottenham midfielder is now a confirmed target, with Emery keen to bring in new options in the middle of the park.

Spurs are willing to part ways with Bissouma this summer, given the midfielder’s inconsistent form this season, and they are set to consider offers in the region of £35m.

Emery is said to be an admirer of the 28-year-old, with the Spaniard of the belief he can get the best out of him, and there is a feeling the Mali international could push Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana for a starting spot.

"Dangerous" Bissouma could reignite career at Villa Park

The central midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham this season, failing to complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League in 2025, but there are still signs he could be a solid signing for Villa.

Despite failing to hold down a regular starting spot as of late, the former Brighton man ranks highly across some key metrics for midfielders over the past year, most notably impressing with his tackling ability.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

63.85 (84th percentile)

Pass completion %

89.8% (92nd percentile)

Tackles

3.15 (90th percentile)

Clearances

2.19 (85th percentile)

Having also been lauded as “dangerous” on the front foot by journalist Nizaar Kinsella, there are plenty of signs the Malian is a well-rounded midfielder, who could at the very least provide depth for Emery in midfield.

That said, a fee of £35m for Bissouma is too high, given that his contract is set to expire in 2026, and he only cost Tottenham £25m back in 2022, so Villa should try and negotiate a lower fee.

da betobet： Birmingham City are preparing for a return to the second-tier of English football and have now cast their eye to the continent for a potential bargain signing.

Birmingham City's summer activity ahead of Championship return underway

da brwin： Quick off the mark after securing the League One title in remarkable fashion, Birmingham have already wrapped up the permanent signing of Phil Neumann.

Speaking ahead of featuring at St Andrews, German defender Neumann believes that the Blues can earn promotion to the Premier League following his move from Hannover on a free transfer.

He stated: “I always wanted to play in England. Birmingham is such a big club with a big history, and they fought hard for me and gave me a good feeling. I can’t wait to play my first game here, meet the fans and also meet my team-mates. It’s a nice stadium, a really nice pitch and I’m really happy to be here.

“I think the club is not where it belongs and hopefully I can help the club get back to the Premier League.”

Kwame Poku, Mark Travers and Harry Darling are all reported Birmingham targets, which lends credence to Neumann’s opinion that Birmingham have the power to become a Premier League force before too long.

Related Birmingham can make Stansfield better by signing "outstanding" EFL star

Birmingham City would look immediately more confident in attack in the Championship if they signed this outstanding forward.

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Nevertheless, the Championship is a major step up in quality for Chris Davies, who still has to make decisions on the future of Grant Hanley and Lee Myung-jae ahead of next campaign.

While he takes his time over potential departures, Birmingham are continuing to be active on the transfer front and are now advancing in their pursuit of a top-flight midfielder.

Birmingham in advanced talks for Kanya Fujimoto after offer

According to journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto on X, Birmingham have submitted an offer for Gil Vicente attacking midfielder Kanya Fujimoto and talks are believed to be at an advanced stage.

It isn’t yet certain that he will end up at St Andrews, but steps are moving in the right direction to close a deal that would see him arrive on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at the Primeira Liga outfit.

What can Birmingham City expect if Kanya Fujimoto arrives? (top-flight statistics)

Chances created

35

Successful dribbles

19

Touches in opposition box

74

Duels won

61

Shots

40

Shots on target

14

Earning a reputation as a forward-thinking asset, Fujimoto, 25, has registered five goals and six assists across 33 matches in all competitions this season.

Ultimately, Birmingham will need to balance spending considerable fees with finding value for money on the market in order to fulfill their aspirations of being a competitive force in the second-tier.

Fujimoto, who shares the same CAA Base agency as Ben Davies, is operating at a distinguished level and would be seen as a coup by many Championship onlookers, though it now remains to be seen whether the Blues can push a statement deal over the line.

da betway： Celtic ended their season on Saturday and the attention will now turn to the summer transfer window and what they need to improve the squad to go again next term.

da esoccer bet： The Hoops already know that they might have to bolster their options out wide after Portuguese winger Jota suffered an injury that is set to keep him out for a large chunk of the 2025/26 campaign.

He was forced off with a knee injury during the first half of the 5-0 win over Dundee United and is now set for between six and nine months on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury.

This means that the attacker, who rejoined the Hoops from Rennes on a permanent deal in January, could miss most or all of the first half of next season.

Jota had produced four goals and two assists in seven starts in the Scottish Premiership prior to his injury blow, which illustrates the kind of quality that Brendan Rodgers has lost because of this news.

Celtic may, therefore, be in the market for a new winger in the summer transfer window, which officially opens for business next month, and one forward who is of interest to the club is Sondre Orjasaeter.

Why Sondre Orjasaeter could be a good signing for Celtic

Writing for Sky Sports on Saturday, journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the club could go back in with a move for the Sarpsborg star this summer.

The reporter added that the Premiership champions had multiple bids turned down for the Norway youth international, before they eventually signed Jota from Rennes.

67HailHail reported during that window that the Hoops had an offer of £4.4m turned down for the 21-year-old starlet because the Norwegian side were holding out for a fee of £7m.

£7m is a significant amount of cash to splash on a young talent who has not proven himself outside of his own country, but his form for Sarpsborg does suggest that the potential is there for him to be an exciting signing for Celtic.

Sondre Orjasaeter (Eliteserien)

2024

2025

Appearances

28

7

Goals

5

1

Big chances missed

5

2

Big chances created

12

7

Key passes per game

1.9

2.0

Assists

5

2

Dribbles completed per game

2.4

2.7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Orjasaeter has provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, mainly the latter, in the Eliteserien since the start of last year, which is why he could be an excellent signing to fill the void left by Jota’s injury.

However, the £7m price tag could be a sticking point, particularly with Jota due to return at some point next season, and that is why they could look to an alternative option to forget about Orjasaeter.

Celtic could return for Belgian star

In the aforementioned article for Sky Sports, Anthony Joseph also reported that Royal Antwerp attacker Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been a long-term transfer target for Celtic.

The journalist added that the 24-year-old wizard has been highly recommended to the club by their scouts, who have been impressed by his performances in Belgium.

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Joseph claimed that the Scottish giants could go in with a swoop for the Pro League star in the upcoming summer transfer window, and he could come cheaper than Orjasaeter would.

The Scottish Sun reported in April that the impressive winger is currently valued at £5m by Royal Antwerp, which means that he could be £2m cheaper than the Norwegian whizkid.

With this in mind, Rodgers could forget all about Orjasaeter and save the club £2m in transfer fees by pushing for the board to sign Balikwisha as an emergency replacement for Jota this summer.

Why Celtic should sign Michel-Ange Balikwisha

As per UEFA, Belgium is currently ranked the eighth best European league based on the coefficient rankings, three places above Norway in 11th. This suggests that the standard in Belgium, at least among the top clubs, is better than the standard in Norway.

You could, therefore, put more weight behind Balikwisha’s performances in the Pro League than Orjasaeter’s in the Eliteserien when judging how effective they could be at making an impact at Celtic, particularly in the Champions League, next season.

Whilst the Norwegian starlet has caught the eye with six goals and seven assists in his last 35 Eliteserien games for Sarpsborg, the Belgian ace has delivered similar levels of quality whilst playing in a more challenging league.

One scout, Emir, on X, described the £5m-rated star as a winger who “wins games on his own” and a “no-brainer” signing for top teams because he is ready to take the step to the next level.

Balikwisha’s performances in the Pro League suggest that he is a player who can be a difference-maker in the final third to win matches for his side, with goals and assists.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Pro League)

23/24

24/25

Starts

27

11

xG

6.46

2.26

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

6

7

Key passes per game

1.5

1.6

Assists

5

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian gem has produced 11 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 11 starts in the Pro League this season since returning from injury, which speaks to the kind of quality he can provide at the top end of the pitch.

Balikwisha, who is a right-footed left-winger, has also outperformed his xG in each of the last two seasons in the Belgian top-flight, which shows that he can be an effective and efficient finisher in front of goal.

The Celtic target also produced one goal and one assist in two Champions League qualifiers to help his side qualify for the group stage in the 2023/24 campaign, before scoring one goal in five matches in the group stage.

This shows that, unlike Orjasaeter, he also has experience on the top stage of European football, which could be useful ahead of Celtic’s qualifiers for the competition later this year.

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Therefore, Rodgers must urge Celtic to forget about Orjasaeter by signing Balikwisha, who could provide more quality and experience whilst costing £2m less this summer.

da dobrowin： As Ruben Amorim has been at pains to stress, this is no vintage Manchester United side, with even Europa League glory unable to plaster over the damage of yet another miserable Premier League campaign.

da premier bet： A key crux of the issue has been the lack of attacking quality at Old Trafford, with Amorim left to rely on a misfiring forward line that could hardly lace the boots of the figures of years gone by.

In 1968, for instance, Sir Matt Busby’s side were blessed with Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton. In 1999, Alex Ferguson had the likes of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to call upon, alongside Ryan Giggs and David Beckham.

Fergie’s next great side – the 2008 Champions League winners – also boasted devastating brilliance in the form of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. How the mighty have fallen.

At centre-forward, for instance, United’s sole senior option is that of Rasmus Hojlund, with the 22-year-old Dane having scored just nine times in all competitions in 2024/25 to date.

Perhaps, the presence of the former Atalanta man will still be enough to steer the Red Devils to their latest European triumph, but something needs to give this summer.

The Latest on Man Utd's striker search

Alongside the addition of a new number ten, in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers man, Matheus Cunha, the signing of a new striker appears high on the agenda for Amorim and INEOS, despite bringing in Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in successive summers.

One name widely tipped to follow Cunha to the Theatre of Dreams is Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, with the England U21 international available for just £30m following the Tractor Boys’ recent relegation.

The Manchester City man has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, although there could be a sense that he is simply just another Hojlund, a player of potential rather than proven quality.

Transfer Focus

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It is with that in mind that United are said to have set their sights on a more experienced, left-field option in the form of Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick, with both Arsenal and Chelsea also battling for his signature.

That’s according to Caught Offside, who have reported that the Bundesliga outfit would be willing to listen to offers in the region of €30m-€40m (£26m-£34m), ensuring that the Premier League trio could see a bid accepted if they step up their interest.

With all three sides set to be keeping close tabs on the 29-year-old’s situation – with just two years left on his current deal at the BayArena – the race is on to see just who will win the race for his signature.

How Schick compares to Rasmus Hojlund

The relief was palpable as Hojlund prodded home against Bournemouth in the dying embers late last month, with the £64m signing notching what was just his fourth league goal of the season.

While the struggling striker had ended last term as United’s top scorer across all fronts, it’s worth remembering that it took until Boxing Day for him to break his top-flight duck, with seven of his ten total league goals coming in a subsequent six-game run.

With only nine Serie A goals to his name in the previous campaign, the 6 foot 4 speedster has hardly showcased that he can be a reliable goalscoring presence during his senior career thus far. There is a player in there somewhere, but can Amorim afford to wait?

Those woes have heightened the need for a ready-made upgrade this summer and Schick certainly fits the bill. While Hojlund has toiled, the Czech international has been in lethal form for Xabi Alonso’s side, having scored 19 league goals this season – 15 more than his United counterpart.

Even during an injury-impacted campaign last term, Schick still managed to score on 13 occasions across all fronts, with his total tally for the German outfit standing at 79 goals in 166 games. Hojlund, meanwhile, has just 25 goals in 90 games at Old Trafford.

Hojlund vs Schick – 24/25 League stats

Stat (*per game)

Hojlund

Schick

Games

29

29

Goals

4

19

Goal frequency

440min

83min

Big chances missed

4

7

Goal conversion

16%

29%

Shots on target*

0.3

1.1

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

3

1

Key passes*

0.5

0.4

Total duels won*

29%

40%

Stats via Sofascore

Described as an “incredible” talent in past by members of the media, the former RB Leipzig man has been head and shoulders above Hojlund in 2024/25, as indicated in the table above, thus representing just what a huge upgrade he would be. Indeed, the contrast in their goal frequency record says it all.

Yes, the signing of a player approaching 30 – in the mould of a Robin van Persie deal – may go against the INEOS model of targeting up-and-coming stars, although for a potential fee of just £34m, Shick could be too hard to ignore.

Of course, as United have seen with the case of Jadon Sancho, who now plies his trade away from Old Trafford, signing players from the Bundesliga is not without its risks, although for that relatively modest asking price, the Leverkusen monster looks like a gamble worth taking.

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