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Captain bats through another innings unbeaten before Mills and Briggs extinguish Fire

ECB Media05-Aug-2024Southern Brave 139 for 5 (Vince 73*) beat Welsh Fire 97 (Mills 4-16, Briggs 3-14) by 42 runsSouthern Brave made it four wins from five in the Hundred this year by thrashing Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens.James Vince’s match-winning 73 from 50 balls in the first innings set Fire 140 to win, and the home side never threatened to reach the target. The Brave ended the night top of the table.Jofra Archer missed his second game of the competition, with the ECB managing his workload closely, but the Brave cruised to victory regardless.”It was nice to get the win,” Vince said. “Batting first, we found it quite tricky. but at halfway you never quite know until both sides have batted. The way we bowled throughout, but particularly up front, was fantastic and proved it was reasonably tough out there.”The Fire won the toss and elected to field first, but the Brave’s batters worked well in partnerships with Alex Davies, Leus du Plooy and Kieron Pollard all supporting the in-form Vince’s superb 73 not out, which included seven fours and three sixes.A Chris Jordan cameo in the final 10 balls featured a 98-metre six, before he fell to the last ball, skying David Payne and being well caught by David Willey.Overseas quicks Haris Rauf (2 for 22) and Matt Henry (1 for 20) were the standout bowlers for Welsh Fire, with the home side hoping conditions under the lights might favour a big chase.Danny Briggs celebrates a breakthrough with his captainBut Luke Wells and Jonny Bairstow struggled to get opening bowlers Akeal Hosein and Craig Overton away, with just 29 scored from the first 30 balls and the bowlers making life difficult with significant swing.Both opening batters then fell in quick succession as the Brave took control, with Tymal Mills (4 for 16), Danny Briggs (3 for 14) and Jordan (2 for 19) running through the Fire’s batting order to seal a very comfortable victory.”Our bowlers have dovetailed really well: Akeal and Craig with the new ball and then CJ and Tymal through the back end,” Vince said. “They’ve done it so many times and we are in nice rhythm at the minute. The bowlers have been fantastic and I think the batters did a good job on that pitch as well.”

Having already sealed the series, India will be hoping to give the likes of Rinku, Samson and Parag more time in the middle

Abhimanyu Bose29-Jul-2024Big picture: Sri Lanka’s middle-order worries In the first T20I, Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for 30 runs. In the second, they lost seven for 32. This has been the theme for the hosts so far in Charith Asalanka’s first series as Sri Lanka’s full-time T20I captain. Asalanka himself managed just scores of 0 and 14 in the two games.The top three have fired in both matches, with Sri Lanka getting to scores of 140 and 80 at the fall of the second wicket. Pathum Nissanka is the leading run-scorer in the series. Kusal Perera has a half-century, while Kusal Mendis made 45 in the first match. But beyond them, it has been a bleak showing, with Kamindu Mendis’ 26 in the second T20I the highest score from the middle and lower orders.Sri Lanka will need to find a way out of their middle-order muddle and deliver on the platform being set by their top order.India would want some of their batters like Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Riyan Parag to get some more time in the middle, and having sealed the series with comprehensive performances, don’t have too much else they need to address.Related

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Form guideSri Lanka LLWLL (Last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
India WWWWWIn the spotlight – Pathum Nissanka and Rishabh PantPathum Nissanka is the only batter to have gone past 100 runs in the series, and is striking at 154.16. He has been in sensational form in 2024, having scored 753 runs at a strike rate of 154.93 – well above his career strike rate of 123.90. He shone in the Lanka Premier League as well, and was the highest-scoring opener in the competition. With their wobbly middle order, the onus is on him now more than ever to keep producing big performances with the bat.After a life-threatening accident, Rishabh Pant made his return to competitive cricket in IPL 2024, and following a successful campaign, he was picked for the 2024 T20 World Cup. He made 42 off 31 in a low-scoring win over Pakistan, but failed to convert his starts after that, even as India went on to lift the title. In the first game of this series, Pant made 49 off 33, but he had a scratchy start and was dropped on 11. With Sanju Samson behind him in the pecking order, there is pressure on Pant to prove his credentials in the shortest format for India.Team newsSri Lanka are likely to play a similar XI to the one that turned out in the second game. However, one of Avishka Fernando or Dinesh Chandimal could come in for the misfiring Dasun Shanaka, who has three ducks in his last three T20Is. They brought in Ramesh Mendis for Dilshan Madushanka, with Asalanka claiming spin would get more help on a used surface, but in a rain curtailed game, Ramesh was not used at all. However, even though this match will be played on a fresh pitch, Sri Lanka are likely to continue with Ramesh, as he adds batting depth as well.Sri Lanka (probable XI): 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Kusal Mendis (wk), 3. Kusal Perera, 4. Kamindu Mendis, 5. Charith Asalanka (capt), 6. Dinesh Chandimal/Avishka Fernando, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Ramesh Mendis, 9. Maheesh Theekshana, 10. Matheesha Pathirana, 11. Asitha FernandoHaving played two matches in two days, India may rest one of the fast bowlers, with Khaleel Ahmed waiting in the wings. Washington Sundar could get a game as well, if India continue with the trend of trying to give a match to every squad member on a tour if possible, which was prevalent in Rahul Dravid’s tenure. Shivam Dube also could come in, but with Hardik Pandya not a part of the ODI squad, India may just stick with him so as to not chop and change too much. There is also no news on Shubman Gill, who missed the second game with a neck spasm. With Gill also set to play in the ODIs, India could persist with Samson, who was out first ball in the second T20I.India (probable XI): 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Sanju Samson, 3. Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Riyan Parag/Washington Sundar, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Rinku Singh, 8. Axar Patel, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Arshdeep Singh/Khaleel AhmedRishabh Pant will be looking to make more of his opportunities in the shortest format•Associated PressPitch and conditionsAfter two matches on the same pitch, this game will be played on a fresh surface in Pallekele. In the first two matches, batting conditions were the best earlier on and got tougher as the match progressed, bringing spinners into play and encouraging changes of pace from the quicks. The new pitch is not expected to play too differently.Stats and trivia Matheesha Pathirana has dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in all three T20 innings he has bowled to him. Sri Lanka could be encouraged to introduce Pathirana to the attack earlier than usual to try and target India’s skipper. Unlike in ODIs, where Sri Lanka are Mohammed Siraj’s favourite opposition, the fast bowler has struggled against them in T20Is. He averages 39 against them in the format, as opposed to 7.68 in ODIs, and has just three wickets in four matches. His lone wicket in this series was of Pathirana, and he would look to improve his numbers on Tuesday. Wanindu Hasaranga’s 15 wickets against India are the most he has taken against any opposition. In this series, he has dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal twice, and he would be a bowler the Indians will be wary of.Quotes”The obvious thing to say is that we don’t have enough power, but that’s not true. If you look at our stats this year, we’re neck-and-neck with other teams for six-hitting. If you hit it out of the stadium or just clear the boundary, it’s still a six. More than skills, I think handling situations and sticking around in tough situations have been the problems. ”

Wednesday night proved that this season could, in fact, get worse for Arsenal fans.

While the Gunners were just about coming to terms with another season without a trophy, they had to watch bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur win the Europa League and, in turn, book their place in the Champions League next year.

So, to ensure it’s the red side celebrating silverware next season, Andrea Berta and Co need to make sure they bring in some incredibly talented players who can make a real difference in the summer.

Fortunately, that looks like it may well happen, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the most exciting internationals on the continent, someone who could be the perfect upgrade on the underperforming Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal looking at Odegaard replacement

Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting players touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Rafael Leao and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former might have a release clause worth an astounding £145m, but he’s been in fine form this season, racking up a tally of 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances for AC Milan.

Mbeumo, on the other hand, appears far more attainable at around £60m, which could prove to be something of a bargain for a winger who has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 41 games for Brentford this season.

However, if a player is going to come in and replace Odegaard, they need to be comfortable in the middle of the park and blessed with immense skill, which is where Xavi Simons comes in.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are one of several clubs interested in signing the RB Leipzig star.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Manchester United are also keen on the Dutch international, who could be sold for around £60m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer, but given Simons’ immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be an ideal Odegaard upgrade.

How Simons compares to Odegaard

So, the first thing to clear up is that while Simons can play in a number of positions – which is another reason Arsenal should sign him – attacking midfield is his second most played role, and with some of the other wingers linked to the club in recent weeks, we wouldn’t be surprised if that was where Arteta and Co would want to play him.

Therefore, his biggest competitor for game time would be Odegaard, so who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes to pure output, it’s the mercurial Dutchman who comes out way ahead.

In just 33 appearances this season, the 22-year-old has really showcased why he’s “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one analyst on social media, having scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games.

In contrast, the Norwegian ace has scored just five goals and provided 12 assists in 44 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.58 games.

The one-sided nature of the comparison only continues when we go back and take a look at their output from last season, when the Gunners captain was actually in form and won the team’s Player of the Year Award.

For example, he managed a respectable haul of 11 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.08 games.

Appearances

43

48

Goals

10

11

Assists

15

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.47

Appearances

33

44

Goals

11

5

Assists

8

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.38

However, the former PSV gem did even better and ended the campaign with a superb tally of ten goals and 15 assists in 43 appearances, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

Ultimately, while Odegaard remains an incredibly talented footballer, he’s been seriously underwhelming this season, and even when he was nearer his best last year, Simons outperformed him.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign the Leipzig star before someone else beats them to it.

He's like Isak: Arsenal plan talks to sign £105m Gyokeres alternative

The free-scoring forward would be perfect for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 22, 2025

Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit of a new striker, as a key target of theirs would apparently love to join them regardless of whether they achieve Champions League football for next season.

Chelsea seal huge Man United win in race for Champions League place

Marc Cucurella’s strike twenty minutes from full-time sealed a precious three points for Enzo Maresca on Friday night, with the Spaniard scoring Chelsea’s only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Man United.

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The victory at Stamford Bridge puts Chelsea in a very good position heading into their final Premier League game of the season against Nottingham Forest, and even if Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat West Ham on Sunday, Maresca knows that a win at the City Ground would guarantee Champions League football next season.

“Very important. At this stage of the season it’s important to win games,” said Maresca about Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Man United.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Chelsea

66

5. Aston Villa

66

6. Man City

65

7. Nottingham Forest

62

“We also pay attention in the way we win the game. I think tonight we struggled on the ball because we didn’t expect them to be so aggressive man-to-man. I used to watch five, six, seven games of the other team. I’ve never seen them so aggressive man-to-man. So they surprised us a little by that.

“I think between the first half and the second half we created enough chances to deserve to win the game.

“It’s very important for sure, but the reason why I was so happy at the end is because United beat City away, drew with City at home, drew with Liverpool, drew with Arsenal. So they know how to play against a big team. So I expected, drew with us away, so I expected a very tough game.

“The reason why I was happy was especially because we beat a team that against Arsenal, Liverpool, City, it was difficult to beat them.”

The importance of a top five finish cannot be understated, especially when it comes to the club’s transfer plans, and Maresca has already confirmed their European status will have a direct effect on their summer recruitment.

Victor Osimhen keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League football

That being said, there is one target who’d be eager to make the move to west London anyway – Napoli outcast Victor Osimhen.

The £172,000-per-week marksman, currently on loan at Galatasaray, was a top target for Chelsea last summer before his temporary switch to the Turkish Süper Lig giants, but a move ultimately failed to materialise.

As per journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea remain in the race for him this year, and it is believed that Osimhen would still love to join the Blues, even if they don’t end up qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious competition.

“Chelsea are ‘still there’ for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen,” said Phillips. “The player has always been keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League football, and he is still keen now. The deal was worked on hard last summer, and the belief from our insiders is that his wage demands would not be as astronomical as the media are portraying.

“Chelsea can easily go back into the deal and our sources believe that it wouldn’t even be that difficult to come to an agreement.”

The 26-year-old would still be expensive, though, and Chelsea would still have to break their wage structure to seal a deal, Phillips later explained.

Even so, Osimhen’s goalscoring form over the last few seasons heavily suggests he’d upgrade Maresca’s striker options.

da pinnacle： Have you ever seen an end to the season like this? For Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side, it was more stressful than they ever hoped for.

da heads bet： After being sent out of the Champions League by PSG, they have been left to bemoan a run of awful results in the Premier League, putting their hopes of qualifying for a place at Europe’s top table next season in danger.

The 4-0 win over Ipswich Town aside, the Gunners have not picked up all three points in the top-flight since the very first day of April when they defeated Fulham.

So, their 1-0 win over Newcastle United, their top four rivals on Sunday, was rather timely. While Arteta’s side haven’t sewn up second place just yet, they have confirmed their participation in next season’s Champions League.

Behind them, there’s an almighty battle taking shape to finish inside the top five. Thankfully, Arsenal can go to Southampton next weekend with nothing riding on it.

The battle for a top five spot

Team

Games

Wins

Draws

Defeats

points

2. Arsenal

37

19

14

4

71

3. Newcastle

37

20

6

11

66

4. Chelsea

37

19

9

9

66

5. Aston Villa

37

19

9

9

66

6. Man City

36

19

8

9

65

7. Nottingham Forest

37

19

8

10

65

So, who stood out in the new red home strip on Sunday?

How Arsenal beat Newcastle United at the Emirates

When Alexander Isak, William Saliba’s nemesis, was not named on the Newcastle teamsheet due to injury, Arsenal knew they were in for an easier ride.

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Yet, during the first half, they had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the game.

This certainly wasn’t a straightforward win, particularly for those at the back who worked tirelessly to preserve the club’s clean sheet.

While Raya’s passing was rather errant inside the opening half, he made up for it with a string of superb saves, the two most notable of which saw him the Spaniard sprawl down low to his left to deny Harvey Barnes and then again to his left to keep out Dan Burn’s header from a corner.

Handed the Player of the Match award by Sky Sports after the game, Raya certainly proved why he’s one of the division’s best stoppers.

That being said, it wasn’t Raya who had the most decisive of says. That was Declan Rice who with a swish effort from outside the box, gave Arsenal the win.

It was a peach of a goal from a man who is only going from strength to strength in the final third. He is the Granit Xhaka replacement everyone at the Emirates hoped they’d find.

Raya and Rice were certainly the best players in Arsenal red and will play a crucial part in rebuilding next season. That said, there are some who won’t be around to see the stadium again as a home player.

The players who featured in their last home game for Arsenal

The raucous reception that Kieran Tierney was given as a late second-half substitute was joyous. The Scot has had an injury-hit time in north London and this was sadly the last we will get to see of him as an Arsenal player at home.

The left-back’s contract is expiring at the conclusion of the campaign and it’s widely expected that he’ll head back to Celtic, the side who sold him for £25m.

Also likely playing their last home game was Jorginho. Another of Arsenal’s out-of-contract stars, it looks as though he’ll be going off to end his playing days in Brazil.

Jorginho’s fellow midfielder in Thomas Partey would also be fortunate to be back at the Emirates next season.

The £45m signing from Atletico Madrid has had his days in the famous red and white but Arsenal need fresh blood, and that was certainly evident against Newcastle.

Partey’s day certainly wasn’t disastrous, but it was a shoddy display nonetheless, with the Standard handing him a 5/10 match rating, writing that he was ‘one of Arsenal’s sloppiest players during a poor first half and he was caught in possession a few times’. Meanwhile, one content creator and podcaster, Le Grove, even suggested it looked like the midfielder “was already on the beach.”

His numbers certainly weren’t the finest either, chiefly losing four of his five battles in the air.

Partey vs Newcastle

Minutes played

90

Touches

61

Accurate passes

40/49 (82%)

Key passes

1

Long balls completed

4/8

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

0

Dribbles

0

Ground duels won

4/7

Aerial duels won

1/5

Possession lost

11x

Tackles

3

Interceptions

0

Stats via Sofascore.

The 31-year-old is usually a monster in the duel but his lack of pace and athleticism in the transitional phases of the game is becoming a concern.

He’s quick to get the ball out of his feat but he lacks the drive to get forward and then doesn’t have the speed required to track back if Arsenal get done in the press. He’s the polar opposite to Rice in that regard.

As a result, with Partey’s contract due to expire in a few months, now is surely the time to sever ties with a player who isn’t going to get any better.

There is a reason the club plans to sign Martin Zubimendi this summer. Let him be Rice’s partner next season, please Mikel.

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The former Australia allrounder leaves his role as an assistant coach with Sydney Sixers

AAP14-Jun-2024

From player to coach: Cameron White is back at Melbourne Renegades•Getty Images

Former Australia white-ball captain Cameron White has been identified as the man to coach the Melbourne Renegades back into contention in the BBL.White has signed a three-year deal to replace David Saker, who moved on in May after a disappointing seventh-place finish in his third season at the helm.The 40-year-old White is taking on his first head-coaching job but has worked under Sydney Sixers boss Greg Shipperd for the past two years and was previously an assistant at the Adelaide Strikers.Related

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He inherits a Renegades roster that includes white-ball run-machine Jake Fraser-McGurk, superstar spinners Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon and prized recruit Josh Brown.”I’ve got so many great memories here as a player and achieving success, so to be back in Renegades colours several years later is a thrill,” White said. “The idea of working with this playing group – some really exciting players there, both young and experienced – is really exciting. I’m really looking forward to ripping in and starting my journey as coach.”Renegades came out with pick two in the BBL overseas draft order announced on Thursday.As a player, White represented Australia 142 times across all three formats.  He was best known for his contributions as a middle-order batter in the white-ball sides.While his Test career was limited to four appearances on a 2008 tour of India, White captained the T20I side six times and the ODI side once, in 2011.He was also a member of the Australia side that beat New Zealand in the final to win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009. Domestically, White played during the Renegades’ only BBL championship in 2019.Victoria’s longest-serving Sheffield Shield captain, White amassed more than 7000 first-class runs between his debut as a teenager in the 2000-2001 summer and his final match in 2019.

Last night’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain was a game to forget for Arsenal fans.

While Mikel Arteta’s side are still just about in the tie, they were incredibly disappointing against the French Champions, and failed to show any of the grit and determination that saw them get past Real Madrid earlier this month.

There were lacklustre performances across the pitch from the hosts, but arguably the most underwhelming starter was Martin Odegaard, who picked up a 4/10 match rating from the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood and amassed a combined expected goal plus assists figure of just 0.08, which is unacceptable from the team’s supposed chief creator.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports that have linked the club to one of the most exciting players in Europe, someone who could be a massive Odegaard upgrade.

Arsenal could sign £30m Odegaard upgrade

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other midfield talents linked with a move to Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window, such as Oihan Sancet.

Transfer Focus

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

The Athletic Bilbao ace was touted for a move to the Emirates earlier this month, and it’s not hard to understand why he’d interest the club, as in just 32 appearances this season, he’s scored 17 goals and provided three assists.

In what would be a summer-defining move, the Gunners have also been linked with Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz this month.

The German international has already racked up a sensational haul of 15 goals and 13 assists in just 42 games for the reigning champions of Germany, although, with a reported price tag of at least £111m, this feels like more of a pipe dream than a realistic transfer, unlike stories around Rayan Cherki.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the French phenom, including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and more.

While the level of competition is far from ideal, the good news is that this wouldn’t be a particularly expensive transfer to get done, with the report claiming that Lyon value their star at up to €35m, which is about £30m.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Cherki’s immense ability and potential, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he could be the perfect Odegaard upgrade.

How Cherki compares to Odegaard

So, the first thing to say is that while Cherki has primarily played off the right this season, his most played position across his whole career is attacking midfield, and with Bukayo Saka currently Arsenal’s best player, the Frenchman would almost certainly join the club to play in the middle of the park.

Therefore, his primary competitor for game time would be Odegaard, but how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to their pure output, it’s hardly fair to call it a competition, as the Lyon gem comes out miles ahead.

For example, in just 41 appearances, totalling 2894 minutes, the 21-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided 19 assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.32 games or every 93.35 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain has scored five goals and provided ten assists in 40 appearances, totalling 3072 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.66 games, or every 204.8 minutes.

Things don’t get any better for the Norwegian international when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers either.

For example, in practically every metric, the “future Ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, comes out on top.

Delving into the other stats, Cherki also comes out on top in metrics such as progressive carries, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90 minutes.

Progressive Passes

9.31

10.2

Progressive Carries

4.17

3.48

Key Passes

3.33

2.47

Shot-Creating Actions

6.23

4.95

Goal-Creating Actions

0.93

0.57

Ball Recoveries

3.92

3.79

Finally, the Lyon-born dynamo is ambipedal, meaning he can use both feet, so he’d be able to effect play across the entire frontline from the attacking midfield role, which in turn could see Gabriel Martinelli get better service out on the left.

Ultimately, Cherki is younger, has better underlying numbers, is an output machine and has the added benefit of being able to use both feet, so if Arsenal have the opportunity to sign him this summer, they should, as he’d be an incredible Odegaard upgrade.

£21m star who agreed to join Arsenal last year teases potential 2025 move

He’s refused to rule out a summer switch.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025

Celtic’s dream of winning the domestic treble this season is still alive after they hammered St. Johnstone 5-0 at Hampden Park in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup.

The Hoops already won the League Cup earlier this season, and they are a win away from sealing the Scottish Premiership title, which means that the SFA Cup is the last trophy that they need to clinch to seal the treble.

Brendan Rodgers was unable to win all three domestic competitions in his first season back at Parkhead, as his team lost to Kilmarnock in the early stages of the League Cup in August 2023.

The Hoops are well on course to enjoy a perfect domestic campaign this time, however, after a fantastic performance and result against the Saints on Sunday.

Two goals from Daizen Maeda and strikes from Adam Idah, Jota, and Callum McGregor sealed the win for the Scottish giants, with four of the goals scored in the first half.

Idah was given the nod in the centre-forward position despite enduring a fairly difficult first full season at Parkhead since joining on a permanent deal last summer.

Adam Idah's Celtic struggles this season

The Ireland international scored eight goals in 15 Premiership games and scored a last-minute winner against Rangers in the SFA Cup final during his loan spell in the second half of last season.

His impressive displays during that loan spell led to Celtic making the decision to pay a reported fee of £8.5m to Norwich City to sign him permanently, with add-ons that could take the deal to £9.5m.

It was a huge amount of money to spend on the striker, when you consider that Odsonne Edouard was the most-expensive striker signing in the club’s history at £9m prior to that deal, and he has yet to justify the price tag with his performances this term.

Idah has only started 16 of his 30 appearances in the Premiership this season, scoring eight goals, as Maeda has been preferred ahead of him in the number nine role more often than not since Kyogo Furuhashi’s move to Rennes in January.

The former Canaries marksman had a chance to step up as the first-choice centre-forward after the Japan international moved on from Parkhead at the start of the year, but he has failed to take that opportunity.

Appearances

30

Starts

16

xG

10.7

Goals

8

xG differential

-2.7

Big chances missed

13

Conversion rate

14%

As you can see in the table above, Idah has underperformed against his xG by almost three goals and missed a whopping 13 ‘big chances’ in 16 starts in the league.

These statistics show that the £8.5m signing has been wasteful with the chances that have come his way in the Premiership, which is why he has yet to justify the money spent on his services so far.

Kyogo, who cost the club a reported £4.6m from Vissel Kobe, scored 63 goals in 116 Premiership games for the club and Idah is yet to prove that he can deliver that kind of quality or consistency for the Hoops in the final third.

Of course, the Ireland international only turned 24 in February and still has time left ahead of him to develop and improve, but the club may have hoped for more instant success on the pitch for the money that was spent on him.

Idah’s struggles since joining for a deal that could rise to £9.5m may be particularly frustrating when there is a former Celtic forward out there who could have been an upgrade on him, and a perfect replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi.

Celtic sold their perfect Kyogo replacement for £400k

Attacking midfielder Lewis Morgan joined the Hoops from St Mirren at the start of 2018 and went on to score just two goals in 31 first-team appearances for the club.

The versatile attacker also had loan spells with St Mirren and Sunderland during his time with Celtic, before being sold to Inter Miami for a reported fee of £400k at the start of 2020. Before Lionel Messi, they had Lewis Morgan.

He produced seven goals and seven assists in 58 matches for Inter Miami, a respectable return for a player who played in midfield or on the wing, before being sold to New York Red Bulls at the end of 2021.

Since his move to the Big Apple, Morgan has mainly been deployed as a centre-forward in what has been a big positional shift in his career, from being a midfielder by trade to leading the line in the MLS.

His performances for New York Red Bulls in comparison to his form for Inter Miami and Celtic suggests that he should have been playing as a striker earlier on in his career.

Morgan missed 31 matches in the 2023 MLS season, due to a hip injury, but excelled at the top end of the pitch in the 2022 and 2024 campaigns either side of those injury woes.

Appearances

33

34

xG

N/A

13.40

Goals

15

13

Big chances missed

1

10

Big chances created

7

13

Assists

3

5

As you can see in the table above, Morgan scored 28 goals and only missed 11 ‘big chances’ in those two seasons combined, whilst Idah has missed 13 ‘big chances’ and only scored eight goals in the current Premiership this season.

This suggests that the Scottish attacker is more clinical, and more creative with his 20 ‘big chances’ created, than the Irish marksman, and that he could be an upgrade on him in the present day.

Morgan did not get the chance to showcase his quality as a striker during his time at Parkhead, which is something that the coaches may look back on with regret, as his form since playing that role suggests that he could have been the ideal long-term replacement for Kyogo.

Like the Japanese forward, the right-footed ace does not have a traditional number nine build, standing at 5 foot 10, but he has the mobility, the movement, and the quality on the ball to make things happen, as shown by his form in America with a regular stream of goals when fit.

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Therefore, Celtic accidentally binned their perfect replacement for Kyogo for just £400k because they did not see the potential for him to play as a centre-forward, and they now have an £8.5m signing who has yet to prove himself on the pitch in that role.

Celtic got a glimpse of what life could look like after club captain Callum McGregor moves on from Parkhead when he was absent for the loss to their city rivals last weekend.

The Hoops were beaten 3-2 by Rangers at Paradise in the Scottish Premiership, cutting their lead at the top down to 13 points, and it came with Belgian starlet Arne Engels in the number six position.

An attack-minded midfielder by trade, the former Augsburg man did not control the game in the middle of the park – losing four of his five ground duels in total.

McGregor has won 58% of his ground duels and completed an eye-catching 94% of his passes in the Premiership this season, which suggests that the Hoops missed his presence against the Gers as Engels failed to offer the same mixture of strength and composure.

Brendan Rodgers may look to address that position in the summer transfer window to ensure that he has competition and depth in that area, potentially looking to replicate what his squad looked like during his first spell.

Between 2016 and 2019, Celtic had a younger McGregor as well as impressive defensive midfielder Nir Bitton at the base of the midfield as an option.

Why Nir Bitton was an important player for Rodgers

The Israel international made 67 appearances in less than three seasons under the Northern Irish head coach, but he was not signed by the former Liverpool and Leicester City chief.

Celtic signed him from FC Ashdod in the summer of 2013 and got nine years of service out of the versatile star, who caught the eye under several managers – including Rodgers.

The 6 foot 4 colossus made 39 appearances in all competitions in Rodgers’ first season at Parkhead in the 2016/17 campaign, starting all of his matches as a defensive or central midfielder.

Interestingly, however, all 16 of his starts in the following season came as a centre-back – even starting in that role against Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Nir Bitton’s Celtic career
Position	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Defensive midfield	138	13	12
Centre-back	59	1	3
Central midfield	9	1	1
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Bitton had plenty of experience as both a defensive midfielder and a centre-back during his nine-year stay in Glasgow.

This shows that the towering titan offered positional and tactical flexibility to Rodgers because he could play as part of a midfield three or two, or in the defence in a four or a three. This allowed the manager to change the system and tactics mid-game without making any substitutions, because Bitton could alter his role on the pitch due to his versatility.

The Celtic boss could, now, find his next version of the Israel international by swooping to sign a player the club are reportedly targeting this summer.

Celtic targeting defensive midfield star

According to Football Insider, the Scottish Premiership leaders are planning to bolster their options in the middle of the park in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops are plotting a ‘busy’ summer of business because Rodgers has called on the owners to improve the squad in order to push the team to the next level in the 2025/26 campaign.

Football Insider reveals that Guingamp defensive midfielder Kalidou Sidibe is one of the names on their shortlist, as they plot a swoop for his services later this year.

Rodgers is eyeing the 26-year-old star in what could be a ‘cut-price’ deal due to his contract situation with the French club. The former PSG midfielder’s current deal with Guingamp is until the summer of 2026, which means that he will only have a year left on it at the end of this season.

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This means that the Ligue 2 outfit could be tempted to cash in on the French colossus this summer unless they can agree to fresh terms with him, which could open the door for the Scottish giants to swoop in with an offer.

Why Kalidou Sidibe would be the next Nir Bitton for Celtic

Rodgers must push for the club to get a deal done for Sidibe when the summer transfer window opens for business because he has the quality and the versatility to become the manager’s new Nir Bitton at Parkhead next season.

Firstly, the 26-year-old star has a similar physical frame and could offer the same presence at the base of the midfield, as he stands at a staggering 6 foot 7, even taller than the 6 foot 4 former Celtic titan.

Secondly, Sidibe has started 88 times as a defensive midfielder and 20 times as a centre-back in his club career to date, which suggests that he shares Bitton’s positional flexibility.

This means that Rodgers, as he did with the Israel international, could use him in a multitude of ways as part of a midfield or defensive structure, thanks to his ability to play in either role.

Finally, his performances in Ligue 2 for Guingamp this season suggest that he has some excellent attributes that could make him an interesting stand-in for McGregor when needed next term and beyond.

24/25 season	Kalidou Sidibe (Ligue 2)	Callum McGregor (Premiership)
Appearances (starts)	26 (25)	27 (26)
Goals	1	8
Assists	4	1
Tackles + interceptions per game	2.1	1.7
Dribbled past per game	0.3	0.4
Duels won per game	7.3	3.0
Duel success rate	62%	56%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Sidibe has outperformed McGregor in several categories this season, winning more duels and making more tackles and interceptions, despite being dribbled past less often.

This suggests that the French colossus could offer more defensive security in that role when required, as he does not get beaten by opposition players as easily in duels and makes more defensive interventions each match.

Therefore, Sidibe could become Bitton 2.0 for Rodgers by offering a similar option in the squad as a versatile and towering defensive midfielder who can step in for McGregor, or alongside him, when needed.

It is now down to the recruitment team to ensure that they win the race to land the 6 foot 7 titan when the summer transfer window opens for business later this year.

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