With just five games remaining and three points standing between themselves and the relegation zone, Portsmouth have been dealt another ill-timed injury blow as they look to confirm their Championship safety.

Portsmouth facing crucial run-in

Having achieved promotion back to the Championship last season, it would be an incredible success if Portsmouth managed to stay afloat at the first time of asking. On that front, John Mousinho’s side have still got a job to finish, however. As things stand, they sit 17th and a precarious three points above the dropzone ahead of a crucial few weeks.

Portsmouth vs Derby County

12/04/2025

Norwich City vs Portsmouth

18/04/2025

Portsmouth vs Watford

21/04/2025

Sheffield Wednesday vs Portsmouth

26/04/2025

Portsmouth vs Hull City

03/05/2025

Squaring off against two of the eight sides currently below them in the Championship standings ahead of their final five games, Portsmouth will hope to get back to winning ways as soon as possible after losing in the 94th minute against Coventry City last time out.

Mousinho had his say on the devastating last-gasp defeat, telling reporters: “It was a really difficult one. I was going to say what a really good point away from home at Coventry, a very, very solid performance, we caused them problems and nearly caught them at the very back end of the game.

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“The difference between that – the positivity – to where we are now. It’s obviously a solid display and then 10 seconds of madness.We have to be realistic about that. We can’t have those moments in games where we make really, really poor decisions because the ball ends up in the back of the net.”

What certainly didn’t help Pompey was the fresh injury news that they suffered in the build-up to the Coventry game, adding to their list of absentees alongside the likes of Connor Shaughnessy, Rob Atkinson and Ibane Bowat.

Milosevic adds to Portsmouth's injury woes

Now without four central defenders, Mousinho confirmed that Alexander Milosevic is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury in the build-up to Portsmouth’s defeat against Coventry. Left to call on Connor Ogilvie, who can play left-back or centre-back, and Regan Poole, Pompey are one more defensive blow away from a makeshift backline.

Mousinho confirmed Milosevic’s injury, telling reporters: “Alex picked up an injury in training so we are going to scan that on Thursday and see how he is.”

Having arrived in March on a free deal, the 33-year-old is yet to make his Portsmouth debut and will now have to wait even longer just when Mousinho may have needed his services most amid an injury crisis.

Those around Fratton Park will simply be hoping to avoid another lengthy absence at a crucial time for the club. With just five games left to play, Portsmouth are so close to Championship safety and confirming that before a nervous game against Hull City on the final day would certainly come as a major relief.

Liverpool are the Premier League’s Champions-Elect, defeating Everton on Wednesday evening to restore their 12-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.

Eight games left. To fall now would be to become the biggest laughing stock in Premier League history, such is the gap which the Gunners surely won’t be able to bridge.

Arne Slot has been a revelation in the dugout, but his prowess in the coaching department must now be met by summer investment to ensure Anfield can do it all over again next season.

Sadly, FSG’s parameters can only stretch so far, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contractual renewal feels like an unattainable thing.

Liverpool's right-back conundrum

Alexander-Arnold was all smiles as Liverpool won the Merseyside derby at Anfield, beaming from the sidelines as he recuperates from an ankle injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last month.

But Real Madrid have come knocking and it looks like Liverpool’s vice-captain is going to answer the door. Approaching the end of his contract, Trent is expected to sign for the Spanish giants and end a lifelong affinity with Liverpool.

It’s a bruising blow, one that will sting for a while, but dismay is tempered somewhat by Conor Bradley’s emergence, the Northern Irish defender having been lauded by Alexander-Arnold for his “absolutely phenomenal” performances since breaking from the academy ranks.

Alexander-Arnold may need replacing, though, and reports suggest that Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is the man for the job; Sky Sports actually claim that direct contact has already been made between Liverpool and the player’s representatives.

Frimpong is expected to cost around £40m to prise away from Xabi Alonso, and given Liverpool’s need for sweeping changes this summer, Slot may be tempted to make do with his current options at right-back, even if the star player does indeed depart.

And yes, that is plural. Bradley isn’t the only man capable of a strong performance on the right wing of the backline, as we saw in the Merseyside derby.

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Strikers are needed, as is a left-back. Recent performances have perhaps shown us that Liverpool don’t pack a powerful enough punch in the middle of the park either, in spite of Slot’s midfield triumvirate being among the finest on the continent.

One of those midfielders is Curtis Jones, who doesn’t start every week but is a highly valued member of the squad. Events this summer may even see him take the mantle as Liverpool’s star and most experienced Scouser.

The 23-year-old has made 37 appearances this season, directly involved in ten goals and playing across a vast range of different positions. His tactical bendability is most impressive, making him a priceless part of the tactical process.

His most recent reshift came at right-back against Everton, a role that he performed with aplomb as Alexander-Arnold, Bradley and Joe Gomez all sat on the sidelines.

Central midfield

14

0

3

Attacking midfield

14

2

3

Defensive midfield

4

1

1

Centre-forward

1

0

0

Left midfield

1

0

0

Right-back

1

0

0

There’s little question that Jones is one of the most underappreciated players in the Premier League, ranking among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, and the top 1% for pass completion.

Not only is he creative, but he’s typically unerring in his distribution, maintaining a metronomic style while driving play forward with darting, energetic runs and a playmaker’s touch.

These are translatable skills, indeed convincing Slot to field him in defence against the Toffees. For extra context, this was not a hasty decision, with Liverpool’s boss revealing that “it’s something I’ve thought about” for a long time, suggesting that early tactical plans were mapped out “in the first-half of the season.”

Keeping a clean sheet, the England international looked composed and convincing in his makeshift berth, with The Liverpool Echo handing him a noteworthy 8/10 match rating and hailing the willingness to play out from the back while upholding a combative sheen.

Given that Bradley is on the cusp of a comeback and that Gomez (for now) and Quansah reside in the ranks too, it seems like Slot might have sufficient options to charge into the upcoming campaign with.

Frimpong’s a fine player, for sure, but is his signature actually necessary? Perhaps in more conventional circumstances, it would be, but Liverpool are about to attack the market with a vicious hunger, and resources may be better directed toward other areas.

Jones is underrated in some ways, but he’s also receiving new waves of recognition for his talents. Hailed as a “truly special” player by one hawk-eyed analyst, the versatile ace is everything you’d want in a midfielder.

He’s also on the rise from a financial standpoint, with Transfermarkt hiking up his projected market price of late to a valuation of about £42m. That’s more than the £40m-rated Frimpong, by the way.

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Whether Liverpool opt to enrich their Dutch contingency this summer remains to be seen, but Jones has proved that he’s a priceless part of this soon-to-be title-winning team, and financial attention might be better off turned elsewhere.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing an absolutely huge week in N17 amid mounting pressure on the Australian, with an all-important Europa League quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.

Ange Postecoglou facing key Tottenham decisions

However, before their most vital game of the season to date, Spurs must get past bottom side Southampton in the Premier League – and nothing but a win will do for Postecoglou as serious doubts surround his future.

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The 59-year-old must get supporters back onside and inspire unity once again – a mountainous task for Postecoglou considering his row with the Tottenham away end over Pape Matar Sarr’s introduction during their 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Thursday.

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Following a dismal campaign, with Spurs languishing fairly near the relegation zone after 16 league defeats, reports claim chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a new manager, and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is Tottenham’s top target.

“It’s been a ridiculously challenging season on all fronts and every fan has the right to show their frustration and again,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s disappointing 2024/2025.

“I think at times it has overstepped and when it oversteps, I will not stand for it because I am a little bit old school with that, but they have every right.

“I think I said before the game it is up to us to try and find a way to get them back on board with what we’re doing. I still can’t get away from the fact we have a real massive opportunity for ourselves between now and the end of the season.

“I think it would be different if that didn’t exist. It would be a tougher road to navigate, but I am hoping that irrespective of how the fans feel about me, what I’m doing and the project we’ve embarked on, I hope when the games come around, they just get behind the players and the team because they can make an enormous difference.”

Ahead of their clash with the Saints, a report by journalist Dan Kilpatrick has shared how Postecoglou is planning to shape up.

Tottenham to recall Porro whilst dropping Maddison and Son

According to the Standard Sport reporter, Postecoglou will likely completely overhaul his starting eleven and drop key men, with their European bout against Eintracht firmly in the tactician’s thinking.

It is believed the Spurs boss will recall right-back Pedro Porro to the starting lineup versus Southampton, having recently lost his place to the rejuvenated Djed Spence, while big-name duo James Maddison and Son Heung-min will be dropped and rested for Frankfurt.

Criticism has centered on Son this season, with the South Korean megastar failing to replicate his best form this term and talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara questioning his leadership qualities.

“Son Heung-min did not show the demeanour of a captain,” said O’Hara on Son after the defeat to Chelsea.

“Son Heung-min is a player who sets an example, and he did so in the past, but that is no longer enough. Son Heung-min cannot dominate opponents and his sharpness has diminished, failing to make a difference.”

Maddison, meanwhile, has been in and out of the line-up recently despite bagging 11 goals and seven assists this term.

Sheffield United have clawed their way to the top of the Championship and could now be ready to pinch one of their rivals’ star assets should promotion be achieved at Bramall Lane, per reports.

Sheffield United look to build on slender Championship lead

Nerves are starting to kick in across the board in England’s second-tier as Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley battle it out for an automatic place in next season’s Premier League.

The Blades hold a two-point advantage at the Championship summit over their direct rivals for promotion, while Sunderland, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion occupy the remaining coveted playoff slots.

Since their agonising defeat at home to Leeds, Sheffield United have gone on a five-match unbeaten run at the perfect time and will take encouragement from monumental recent triumphs over Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry.

Coinciding with Daniel Farke’s Whites losing momentum, this period of the campaign may be looked back on as a sliding doors moment when all is said and done.

Nevertheless, Sheffield United are active in the transfer market and Jimmy Dunne is a target regardless of what division they end up in come May. Queens Park Rangers are holding out for £3 million after the Republic of Ireland international came close to joining the Blades during the January window.

Sheffield United’s run-in as Chris Wilder looks to secure promotion

Oxford United (A)

Kassam Stadium

Millwall (H)

Bramall Lane

Plymouth Argyle (A)

Home Park

Cardiff City (H)

Bramall Lane

Burnley (A)

Turf Moor

Stoke City (A)

bet365 Stadium

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Bramall Lane

Chancing their luck with divisional rivals’ star assets could be a running theme if promotion is achieved in Yorkshire, with Wilder now lining up a swoop for another proven Championship performer.

Sheffield United line up move for Sunderland star Ballard

According to Football League World, Sheffield United are chasing Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard’s signature and are ready to pounce for the Northern Ireland international if they manage to claim promotion to the Premier League.

Reported to earn around £25,000 at Sunderland, the Stevenage-born star has become a target due to Harry Souttar’s season-ending injury in Yorkshire, which has prompted Wilder to evaluate dipping into the market for defensive reinforcements.

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Despite being a leading light for the Black Cats, Ballard has been restricted to 19 appearances this term due to injury problems, yielding two goals and an assist across all competitions.

Labelled “a natural leader” by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, the central defender has been a dominant presence for Sunderland, winning 85 duels and making 42 recoveries in the Championship.

Ultimately, Sheffield United will have to be creative when tasked with where to utilise their resources if they end up in the Premier League next term, so it makes sense to target players whom they have already had the opportunity to profile at close quarters.

Manchester United are now ready to send a “big” offer to sign a teenager who is also being eyed by Chelsea, according to a new report.

Bruno calls to repay fan support after dismal season

It was another weekend to forget for the Red Devils, as they suffered their 14th defeat of the Premier League season against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. It was a game that had nothing on it for United and everything on it for the Magpies, and that showed, as Ruben Amorim made changes before a ball was kicked.

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Despite the game being over with 20 minutes left to play, United supporters continued to sing from the famous sky-high St James’ away end, and manager and captain Bruno Fernandes feels it is time they reward the support that has been shown to them.

“There’s not much to assess; we lost the game. In the first half we did good, in the second half we couldn’t keep up the way we wanted to play.

“We know that it’s been a tough season; nothing to add to that. Our position in the table is not where this club belongs, but unfortunately we are not getting the results. We need to look forward, as we have a big game coming up; we need to clear our heads and go for it.

“We are in this position because we have not been consistent in the performances we put out. We lack being more fearless, being more brave. Today this was not the case because we ended up conceding goals by trying to be brave.

“It’s easy to criticise because this club has never suffered like this, so it’s normal. You have to be aware you play for United, and criticism will be there. Our fans have been there all season during bad moments; today they were there at the end trying to cheer us up. It’s time we give something back.”

Man Utd now "ready" to send "big" offer for £75m ace

As Fernandes focuses on what remains of this season, the Red Devils leadership are looking ahead to the transfer market already. According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are “ready” to make a “big investment” and sign Kenan Yildiz from Juventus.

The report states that while Juventus want to keep hold of Yildiz and the winger is happy in Turin, a sale may happen this summer if the Italian giants do not qualify for the Champions League. This opens the door for United, who are ready to make a move and sign the Turkey international but don’t state how much they are willing to spend.

However, the Red Devils are not alone in their pursuit of the exciting attacker, as Chelsea and Manchester City are also willing to make offers to secure a transfer.

Kenan Yildiz’s Juventus stats

Apps

76

Goals

12

Assists

6

Since joining Juventus’ academy in July 2023, Yildiz’s market value has continued to climb and climb. In July 2023, Yildiz was valued at one million euros; that rose to 10 million euros in January 2024 and now sits all the way at 45 million euros – Yildiz’s market value has risen by 4,500% over the year and a half he’s been at the club.

It’s even been reported that he could cost much more than that, with a figure of £75 million being mentioned in the Italian press.

Despite PSR concerns, Aston Villa have now reportedly joined a hectic race to sign a Bundesliga defender ahead of a number of Premier League rivals for Unai Emery this summer.

Aston Villa's PSR concern

On the pitch, Aston Villa are a side competing for consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League and find themselves in the last eight of the Champions League and the last four of the FA Cup. It seems as though things can’t get much better.

In reality, however, as successful as they have been on the field, concerns are reportedly emerging over profit and sustainability rules behind the scenes.

Questions will be asked over just how a side of such recent success have struggled to stay in line with the rules, especially after the big sale of Jhon Duran to Saudi Arabia in January, but it looks as though Villa could be in for a cautious summer.

Whether those concerns will result in player sales or limited spending remains to be seen. However, reports are emerging on both the incoming and departure fronts.

On the departure front, it’s Boubakar Kamara who has attracted attention in recent days with Liverpool reportedly eyeing a move to sign the Aston Villa midfielder.

Meanwhile, if the Villans choose to run the risk of spending once more this summer, names such as Marc Casado and Andreas Christensen could steal the headlines fresh from Barcelona, according to recent reports.

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The same can also be said for one Bundesliga talent, as Aston Villa look to reinforce their backline and beat Liverpool and Manchester City to the signature of a talented defender this summer.

Aston Villa battling to sign Sildillia

Putting their financial concerns to one side, those in the Midlands have reportedly joined a hectic Premier League race. According to CaughtOffside, Aston Villa are now battling to sign Kiliann Sildillia from SC Freiburg ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool and Man City.

The Bundesliga side are reportedly valuing their right-back at just €16m (£14m) this summer – a price Villa may be able to match even amid their PSR frustrations.

At just 22 years old, the Bundesliga right-back has earned plenty of praise in recent years – including from Antonio Mango. The U23 scout took to X to describe Sildillia as an “extremely athletic” defender “who possesses a great burst of pace and acceleration”.

However, whether those are traits Aston Villa are left to benefit from remains to be seen as Premier League clubs race to sign the talented right-back.

Daizen Maeda added another two goals to his tally in Celtic’s 3-0 win at Parkhead in their Scottish Premiership clash last weekend.

The Japan international has now racked up 30 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops so far this season, as he has proven himself to be a reliable figure in front of goal for Brendan Rodgers.

TEAMtalk recently reported that teams from Italy and Germany, as well as elsewhere across Europe, have taken an interest in the Japanese forward ahead of the summer transfer window.

The outlet did not name any of the interested clubs but did reveal that it would take significantly more than £10m to prise him away from Parkhead, which could result in him being one of the most expensive sales in Celtic’s history if he moves on later this year.

As you can see in the graphic above, an exit for more than £10m would place him among the top ten biggest sales in club history, alongside the likes of Jota, Virgil van Dijk, and Jeremie Frimpong.

Of those ten sales, Celtic may rue not being able to cash in on van Dijk for even more money than the £13m they did get from Southampton for him, given what the centre-back has gone on to achieve.

Virgil van Dijk's soaring market value since leaving Celtic

The Netherlands international joined the club from Groningen in the summer of 2013 and went on to score 15 goals in 115 first-team appearances for the Hoops across two seasons in Glasgow.

Van Dijk’s form at the heart of the Celtic defence earned him a £13m move to Premier League side Southampton in the summer of 2015, and that was a significant profit on the £2.6m that they had paid Groningen for his services.

However, it was the Saints who ended up landing the biggest profit of the Dutchman’s career as they went on to sell him to Liverpool for a reported world-record fee – for a defender – of £75m in January 2018.

This meant that Southampton made a mind-boggling profit of £62m on the central defender, compared to the £10.4m profit that Celtic made on him after two years in Glasgow.

As you can see in the clips above, Van Dijk has gone on to become a terrific defender for Liverpool over the years, racking up 311 appearances in all competitions and winning a Premier League and a Champions League trophy.

Celtic may, now, look back on their deal to sell the Dutch colossus to Southampton and wonder if they could have held out for more money, given the incredible value that he went on to accrue.

Several years after van Dijk’s departure from Parkhead, the Hoops had a centre-back on their hands who was tipped to be the club’s next version of the Liverpool superstar.

Celtic star who was tipped to be the next Virgil van Dijk

The Scottish giants had signed Leo Hjelde from Rosenborg’s academy at U18 level in the summer of 2019 and the young defender came up through the ranks before eventually getting his senior breakthrough on loan at Ross County in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.

In those five months, the Norwegian central defender, who was born in Nottingham, started ten of his 11 appearances for the club at the age of just 17.

Appearances

11

Starts

10

Interceptions per game

1.8

Tackles per game

1.7

Clearances per game

3.3

Ground duel success rate

51%

Aerial duel success rate

38%

As you can see in the table above, Hjelde got stuck in during his time at Ross County, making plenty of tackles, clearances, and interceptions each match, although – as expected at the age of 17 – he did struggle a bit with his physical duels.

Ross County manager John Hughes saw enough from the Norway youth international to compare him to Virgil van Dijk, adding that he hoped that the defender would go on to be a regular at Parkhead.

He told the Press and Journal: “One hundred percent, Leo is going to be the next Van Dijk. Trust me on that. I would love to see him make his debut for Celtic and become a regular. I would love nothing more to see him running out there.”

These quotes, and his form in the Premiership at such a young age, suggested that Hjelde had a bright future in Glasgow, but that is not how it worked out.

What happened to Leo Hjelde

Instead of getting a chance in the first-team under Ange Postecoglou, who arrived at Celtic in the same summer that the centre-back returned from his loan spell, the defender was sold.

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Towards the end of August in the summer transfer window, Hjelde was sold to Premier League side Leeds United for a reported fee of £1m, without making a single first-team appearance for Celtic during his two years at the club.

Postecoglou brought Cameron Carter-Vickers, who remains a key first-team figure to date, in on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and signed Carl Starfelt on a permanent deal from Rubin Kazan, which made Hjelde’s task of breaking into the senior side all the more difficult.

Unfortunately, though, the 21-year-old defender has not had much more luck elsewhere in his career. He only played eight first-team matches for Leeds before his permanent move to Sunderland in January 2024.

Appearances

12

10

Starts

11

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

0.9

Clearances per game

2.6

1.2

Ground duel success rate

51%

43%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

63%

As you can see in the table above, Hjelde seemed to hit the ground running as a regular starter in the second half of last season, only to lose his place in the side in the current campaign.

The 21-year-old, who can play at centre-back or left-back, has been an unused substitute for 25 Championship games under Regis Le Bris, which suggests that he has not done enough to impress the manager to earn more minutes on the pitch.

At his young age, there is still plenty of time left for Hjelde to turn his career around, whether that is at Sunderland or elsewhere, to deliver on the early promise he showed to earn a comparison to Van Dijk at the age of 17.

However, at this moment in time, Postecoglou’s decision to allow the promising young centre-back to move on from Celtic for £1m appears to have been a fair decision, as the Norwegian youngster is yet to prove the Australian manager wrong by fulfilling his potential.

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Chelsea are now going all out to sign a “stunning” winger, and they may be willing to trigger the £42m release clause in his contract, according to a report.

Blues keen to strengthen in attack

Nicolas Jackson made a flying start to the campaign, but the 23-year-old is still without a Premier League goal in 2025, having now failed to score in his last 11 matches, most recently drawing a blank in the 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.

The Blues’ disappointing draw against Ipswich may have significantly dented their Champions League aspirations, while also underlining the need for Enzo Maresca to strengthen his squad this summer, and new forwards are of particular interest.

Ipswich star Liam Delap is one of the main targets at striker, with the west Londoners recently opening talks over a deal for the Englishman, while they could also consider a move for Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.

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Not only is signing a new striker on the agenda, but there may also be a need to bring in a new winger, given that Noni Madueke has widely been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

According to a report from Spain, a new target has now entered the frame, with Chelsea going all out to sign Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez, who has a £42m release clause included in his contract with the Spanish side.

The Blues are yet to make an official bid, but they are considering stumping up the release clause to ensure they win the race for Rodriguez’s signature, amid interest from other unnamed clubs.

Betis hope to keep hold of the winger for at least one more season, but they are powerless to prevent his departure, should any of the interested parties be willing to fork out the release clause.

"Stunning" Rodriguez enjoying breakthrough season

The ongoing campaign has been a real breakthrough season for the 19-year-old, having made 24 appearances in all competitions, picking up two goals and two assists in the process.

The teenager has certainly managed to impress the Spanish media with his performances, having been lauded as “stunning” by journalist Alvaro Borrego, who adds the youngster will soon be part of the Spain national team set-up.

The Spaniard’s performances over the past year indicate he is a well-rounded winger, who is effective on the front foot, but also willing to pitch in defensively.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

0.64 (83rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

2.78 (90th percentile)

Progressive carries

4.59 (77th percentile)

Blocks

1.39 (94th percentile)

That said, while Rodriguez is showing very promising signs at such a young age, his attacking numbers are yet to justify a £42m outlay, and Chelsea should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

Leeds United have fallen into a sticky predicament within their promotion push, but that hasn’t stopped the club in pushing to land a high-profile summer target, per reports.

Leeds United risk failing to claim automatic promotion

Despite claiming a point at Luton Town courtesy of Daniel James’ first-half strike in a 1-1 draw, the Whites have won one of their last six Championship matches under Daniel Farke.

Frustratingly, Burnley now sit at the summit following their narrow victory over Coventry City, while Sheffield United remain in contention even after a shock loss to Oxford United on Saturday lunchtime.

On the eye, a sense of fragility has crept in at the wrong time for Leeds United. The situation is still salvagable as it stands, but they will certainly want to rectify their on-field issues to put forward the best picture possible to potential targets come the summer window.

Providing a marker of their ambitions in the market, the Yorkshire giants have made an opening approach for West Ham star Tomas Soucek in a deal that could see the Czechia international earn £120,000 per week.

Premier League promotion would need to be a certainty for the veteran to entertain the possibility, and the same goes for Leeds United’s pursuit of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

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Illan Meslier has been dropped due to a string of erratic performances, so it only makes sense that their recruitment team begin to do their homework on stoppers far and wide that could replace the Frenchman.

Looking to rectify the problem, Farke and company have now cast their eye on a Premier League veteran who could be on the move this summer.

Leeds United eye surprise move for Newcastle United stopper Nick Pope

According to The Sun, Nick Pope is being lined up by Leeds United as a replacement for Meslier following question marks over his form since recovering from injury.

Intriguingly, the Magpies’ pursuit of James Trafford could put the England international under ‘serious pressure’ at St James’ Park. However, the Whites also have Trafford in their sights should promotion occur at Elland Road.

Nick Pope key statistics in 2024/25 – Premier League
Saves	61
Save percentage	69.3%
Goals conceded	27
Error which leads to goal	2
High claim	28

Labelled “brilliant” by Pep Guardiola, there is no doubt Pope has lived up to that billing since arriving in the North East. The former Burnley man has kept 31 clean sheets in 86 appearances, playing his part in a top-four finish and EFL Cup triumph under the stewardship of Eddie Howe.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old, who is a CAA Stellar client alongside Leeds United pair Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle, may feel his best chance of continuing to receive first-team football could come elsewhere amid Newcastle’s desire to land a younger profile.

Saying that, it does feel unlikely that the £60,000 per week earner would drop down to the second tier, making promotion a necessary development before any serious talk of a move can take place.

Can Celtic get back to winning ways?

Last Sunday, the Hoops were beaten by the side bottom of the Scottish Premiership for the first time since November 2005, shockingly defeated 1-0 by struggling St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Considering Rangers also lost a day earlier, Hibs claiming a 2-0 win at Ibrox, it mattered very little, and Celtic could be crowned champions as soon as this weekend.

If Brendan Rodgers’ team beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, and then their fierce rivals are defeated at Pittodrie a day later, a record-equalling 55th top division title will be rubber-stamped.

As the Hoops target victory over Derek McInnes’ Killie, Rodgers must drop his club-record signing and unleash a fit again star instead.

Arne Engels mixed first season at Celtic

Last summer, after selling Matt O’Riley to Brighton for a reported £25m fee, Celtic broke their club record to replace him, with Arne Engels arriving on deadline day from Augsburg at the cost of £11m.

Upon his arrival, Rodgers labeled the Belgian a “young player of real quality”, while Graeme McGarry of the Herland claims the 21-year-old has ‘huge potential’.

To date, Engels has scored ten goals and registered 12 assists across all competitions, with 32 of his 45 appearances coming from the start, underlining that he has been a mainstay.

However, in more recent times, Joe Donnelly of the Glasgow Times notes that Engels has regularly ‘failed to make a significant impact’ in many Celtic matches, scoring only once in his last 12 appearances, hooked after 66 minutes in Perth last Sunday.

Thus, Rodgers must, now, ruthlessly ditch the Belgium international from the starting line-up due to his recent lack of impact at the top end of the pitch, and his dull display last time out.

The Celtic star who should replace Arne Engels

Back in February, Paulo Bernardo suffered an ankle injury during a Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers that saw him sidelined for five weeks, heartbreakingly missing out on the two-legged Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Since then, the Portuguese U21 international has seen just 28 minutes of action, coming off the bench during the 3-0 rout of Hearts a fortnight ago, before remaining an unused substitute against St Johnstone last time out.

Bernardo himself said “I can play football again, so I’m really excited”, describing the injury he suffered as “bad” but stating he will do his best and give his all during the remainder of the campaign.

Bernardo initially joined Celtic on loan from Benfica, before making the move permanent for a reported £3.5m fee last summer.

So far, he’s scored just seven goals and registered only seven assists in 70 outings in hoops, but let’s take a deeper dive into his statistics when compared to Engels.

Appearances

37

45

Minutes

1,544

2,800

Goals

3

10

Assists

4

12

Chances created

30

64

Big chances created

5

14

Passing accuracy %

87.95%

84.64%

Through-balls

2

12

Ball recoveries

74

109

Touches per 90

79

72

The table shows that, throughout the season, Engels’ statistics are better, albeit he has played around 1,300 minutes more across all competitions, which certainly skews the data.

Bernardo meantime, boasts a higher pass completion percentage, more ball recoveries per 90 minutes, and registers marginally more touches per game.

Thus, the Portuguese midfielder definitely deserves a shot against Kilmarnock, building up his match-sharpness ahead of a Scottish Cup semi-final against the side who have just beaten Celtic, namely St Johnstone, at Hampden on Easter Sunday.

Rarely-seen Celtic flop is fast becoming their new James McCarthy

The rarely-seen Celtic flop could end up becoming the new James McCarthy at Parkhead.

ByDan Emery Apr 10, 2025