All posts by h79snht.top

Celtic were hit with a pretty devastating blow at the start of this month when it was confirmed that the knee injury sustained by Jota is going to keep him out for the best part of a year.

The Hoops winger hobbled off during the first half of the 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice, a result that won the Scottish Premiership title, with a knee injury.

Brendan Rodgers then confirmed that the Portuguese forward could be out for up to nine months with a cruciate ligament injury, which means that the attacker is unlikely to be fit for the start of next season.

Based on that timeline, there is a real chance that Jota will not play for Celtic again in 2025, with a return in the first couple of months of 2026 currently being projected, and that could force the club’s hand in the summer transfer window.

The Scottish giants are set to be without a key wide attacker for a huge chunk of the 2025/26 campaign, which could result in them swooping for another winger in the coming months.

With this in mind, we have taken a look at three potential signings the Hoops could make to replace Jota until he returns from his long-term injury.

1 Tyrhys Dolan

Firstly, Blackburn Rovers dynamo Tyrhys Dolan is an intriguing option for the Scottish giants because he is set to be out of contract at the end of June, and would be available as a free agent.

Celtic are reportedly interested in a bargain swoop to sign the 23-year-old star from the English Championship side and it is easy to see why he has emerged as an attractive target for the club.

As well as potentially being a cost-effective signing due to his contract situation at Ewood Park, Dolan is also an ideal fit for Celtic from a footballing perspective, because he can comfortably play on the right wing, on the left wing, as a centre-forward, or as an attacking midfielder, with at least 26 appearances in his career in each position.

This means that Rodgers could use him on either flank, as he did with Jota when the winger was available, which makes him a like-for-like replacement for the former Rennes man in that sense.

24/25 Championship

Tyrhys Dolan

Appearances

44

Goals

7

Conversion rate

14%

Big chances created

7

Key passes

44

Assists

6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Dolan also showed signs of promise in a midtable Blackburn team in the Championship, delivering 14 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in a team that did not finish inside the top six in the division.

The 23-year-old star has yet to prove that he can deliver goals and assists consistently, though, so there is still a question mark over whether or not his output would improve if he played in a better team.

2 Kwame Poku

Sticking with the lower leagues in England, Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku is another talented young prospect who has been linked with a move to Parkhead this summer.

The Hoops have reportedly sent scouts to watch the Ghana international in action this season, and he could be available for a compensation fee when his contract with the Posh expires this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

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Poku played in a lower division than Dolan, in League One, but did showcase his ability to deliver consistent quality in the final third as part of a team that was chasing promotion to the second tier.

The 24-year-old magician ended the season with a return of 12 goals, nine ‘big chances’ created, and eight assists in 27 matches in the league for Peterborough, whilst predominantly playing on the right flank.

Whilst he has shown promise as a winger who can deliver quality on a regular basis, Poku would not be a like-for-like replacement for Jota because he is a left-footed attacker who typically plays on the opposite flank.

This means that there could be better options out there to directly replace Jota, and one of those options could come from further afield, in Norway specifically.

3 Sondre Orjasaeter

Celtic reportedly had an offer turned down for Sarpsborg forward Sondre Orjasaeter in the January transfer window, as the Norwegian side were looking for a fee of £7m for the winger.

The 21-year-old star, once dubbed an “artist” by Havard Flo, could be the perfect replacement for Jota because of his age, his style of play, and his quality.

Whilst he is comfortably the most expensive player on this list, as the other two options are out of contract this summer, Orjasaeter could be worth the expense for the Scottish giants.

Stylistically, the Norwegian sensation would be an ideal fit for the Hoops because he is a right-footed attacker who predominantly plays on the left flank, just as Jota does.

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 caught the eye with his performances for Sarpsborg in the Eliteserien since the start of the 2024 campaign, with six goals and 19 ‘big chances’ created in 35 appearances.

This shows that he has the ability to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch, despite only being 21, from a left wing position, which is another reason why he could be an ideal signing to replace Jota this summer for Rodgers.

Orjasaeter, of course, is unproven in British football, unlike Dolan and Poku, and that is one thing that goes against him in this list, but the Hoops could gamble on his performances for Sarpsborg translating well to Scottish football, making him the dream signing to fill that left wing position.

It will now be interesting to see if Celtic go in for any of these three players, given that they are all reported to be of interest, or if they decide to look elsewhere to bolster their wide options.

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Posts ByDan Emery May 21, 2025

Arsenal have now made contact with the entourage of an “incredible” striker, who they are now seriously considering making a move for in the summer, according to a report.

Gunners stepping up striker pursuit

Mikel Arteta’s side have been heavily criticised for not signing a striker last summer or during the January transfer window, with Gary Neville describing the decision as a “mystery” earlier in the campaign.

Since then, the Gunners’ hopes of winning any silverware this season have gone up in smoke, with Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 aggregate victory in the Champions League semi-final sealing their fate.

As such, you would think that Arteta will finally bite the bullet and sign a top striker this summer, and recent developments indicate the Spaniard is going to do exactly that, with the north Londoners now advancing in talks to sign Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

There has since been another update on the pursuit of more of a left-field target, with a report from Spain revealing Arsenal are now seriously considering a move for Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, who is also being targeted by West Ham United and Aston Villa.

Jesus is protected by a €100m (£84m) release clause in his contract, but the Brazilian side are believed to be willing to sanction a departure for a lower fee, and such is the Gunners’ level of interest, they have now made contact with his entourage.

The Brazilian is now among the north Londoners’ priority targets, despite the deal for Gyokeres edging closer to completion, with the striker’s performances since signing for Botafogo putting him in the shop window.

Related Arsenal receive "major" Viktor Gyokeres update amid Sporting deal-breaker

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025 Jesus could be "incredible" signing for Arsenal

Journalist Zach Lowy branded the Botafogo forward as “incredible” back in December, having started 2024 with some impressive performances in the UAE, before forcing his way into the set-up of the Brazil national side after catching the eye in his home country.

The Cuiaba-born marksman led Botafogo to a league title triumph in 2024, and he has since started the new season in solid fashion, picking up three goals and one assist in eight Brazilian Serie A outings.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Liga Portugal

33

39

8

Champions League

8

6

0

Taca de Portugal

6

4

3

Allianz Cup

3

4

0

Supertaca

1

0

2

That said, Jesus’ lack of experience in Europe means it would be a risk for Arsenal to sign the South American this summer, and a move for Gyokeres could make more sense, especially considering the Swede’s fantastic record in front of goal this season, netting 53 goals across all competitions.

The mood at Liverpool right now is pretty good. Arne Slot’s side have been crowned Premier League champions, after all.

However, now that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave his boyhood club has been confirmed, that same mood has unquestionably soured, with the vice-captain expected to join European rivals Real Madrid when his contract expires in less than two months.

Monday morning’s announcement took the wind out of the fanbase’s sails; even the most optimistic of supporters will have known deep down that the 26-year-old was likely to join the Spanish giants, but FSG have the chance to make it all better in the coming weeks.

Yes, Liverpool are gearing up for a summer of significant spending, bolstering Slot’s squad ahead of next season’s title defence. The Reds are hoping to challenge for silverware across other fronts too.

The best way to help fans forget about the heartbreak of losing Trent to Jude Bellingham and Real Madrid? Bringing in some top-brass signings.

Sadly, Alexander Isak isn’t likely to be among such arrivals.

Liverpool's interest in Alexander Isak

With Darwin Nunez reportedly expected to be sold this summer, Liverpool are in need of a new striker. Newcastle United’s Isak is right at the top of the shopping list, but if financial plates fail to shift, FSG simply aren’t going to lodge a formal offer.

Mohamed Salah is the only player in the Premier League to have outperformed Isak in front of goal this season, so you can imagine how good Liverpool would be with both players combining for the same cause.

However, Liverpool’s interest is unlikely to advance to something more concrete, with reports suggesting that the Magpies will look for a payment in the £150m ballpark.

Premier League 24/25 – Most Goals + Assists

Rank

Player

Goals

Assists

G/A

1

Mohamed Salah

28

18

46

2

Alexander Isak

23

6

29

3

Bryan Mbeumo

18

7

25

4

Erling Haaland

21

3

24

4=

Cole Palmer

15

9

24

Stats via Transfermarkt

Liverpool need to strengthen across a range of areas, and signing Isak would be to the detriment of the greater vision. Jurgen Klopp’s decision to drop out of the race for Jude Bellingham and instead target multiple midfield additions would be something to recall at this point.

And anyway, it’s not like Isak’s the only exciting striker on the market.

Liverpool scouting new striker

According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko this summer, though Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on him.

Transfer Focus

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

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It’s understood that Liverpool had scouts present during Leipzig’s recent draw against Bayern Munich, in which Sesko scored, and though the Gunners have conducted extensive groundwork into the potential signing, a move to Merseyside definitely can’t be ruled out.

Indeed, it’s alleged that Liverpool and Arsenal have held talks with the player’s camp ahead of a possible summer switch.

Valued at £70m, Sesko – labelled “the new Erling Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – might be a raw talent but he’s one who could be willed into a world-class shape under the wing of Slot.

Why Benjamin Sesko is perfect for Liverpool

Sesko is only 21 but has already been making waves in the Bundesliga, hitting 27 goals and seven assists across his first 62 appearances.

In fact, Sesko has clinched 39 goals and eight assists across just two campaigns for Leipzig, hitting 21 goals in all competitions this year.

He’s got the trappings of something special, and it’s hardly surprising that FSG should want to pursue his signature instead of that of Isak, who would cost around £80m more than the Slovenia international.

Harking back to that earlier point concerning Bellingham: Liverpool pulled out of the race for Borussia Dortmund’s prodigious midfielder in April 2023, a decision met with dismay from many of a Reds persuasion.

Where was the ambition? How were Liverpool so resigned to their slumped position? After all, the 2022/23 campaign was one of endurance for a Liverpool side falling apart, ultimately failing to qualify for the Champions League.

But, FSG stuck by their guns and their decision proved the right one. Liverpool welcomed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo instead, four stars who have each played instrumental roles in winning the Premier League this season.

Back to the present, moving for Isak would leave to similarly anticipated financial ramifications, limiting Liverpool’s scope for improvement this year. And change is needed.

Not only is Alexander-Arnold’s departure going to raise questions about right-back depth, but Liverpool need a left-back, maybe a central defender too.

Moreover, with Diogo Jota joining Nunez in falling by the wayside this season, it wouldn’t be remiss for FSG to consider more than one attacking addition.

Sesko, have no doubt, would be Liverpool’s main man if he signed, though. The 21-year-old has already been remarked to be “rewriting the laws of physics” by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his extraordinary power and precision with both feet.

Sesko, as per FBref, ranks among the top 8% and 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-on and aerial duel success rates, his “elite athleticism,” as has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson, and tenacity lending itself to such metrics.

Not just a sharpshooter, and further evidence as to why he could be the perfect Isak alternative, who has been described as “the complete striker” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.

The Sweden star’s pace and link-up play is second to none, also ranking among the top 7% of strikers for progressive carries and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90.

While moving for Sesko would be something of a risk, he’s scored 13 Bundesliga goals this season having missed just ten big chances. He’s powerful and purposeful and intelligent besides, the perfect Isak alternative and for less than half the cost.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 4, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing a £100k-a-week striker who’s scored 57 Premier League goals, having identified him as their ideal target, according to a report.

Spurs set to pursue new striker this summer

Dominic Solanke returned to the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon, with the Englishman ending his seven-game drought in the Premier League, but Liverpool ultimately came out on top in a dominant performance at Anfield, securing the title with a 5-1 victory.

While Solanke may have found the back of the net against Liverpool, he hasn’t exactly been prolific in the Premier League this season, netting eight goals, and it is now looking increasingly likely that Spurs will attempt to bring in a new striker this summer.

Ange Postecoglou’s side are in a good position to win the race for Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond, while they are also looking to sign Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel on a permanent basis, and they will have the opportunity to do so for a fee of £43m.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 27, 2025

According to a report from Spain, however, Tottenham are also keen to sign a striker who has a plethora of Premier League experience, having identified Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the ideal option to bolster their frontline.

Spurs are closely monitoring Calvert-Lewin’s situation at Goodison Park, with the striker’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, which means he will be available on a free transfer.

The Englishman’s availability without a transfer fee is attractive to Spurs, who are looking to bolster their attacking options without spending a significant sum of money, and his refusal to sign a new deal up to this point suggests he is likely to be available this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Bodo/Glimt (h)

May 1st

West Ham United (a)

May 4th

Bodo/Glimt (a)

May 8th

Crystal Palace (h)

May 11th

Aston Villa (a)

May 18th

"Outstanding" Calvert-Lewin could be solid rotation option

The Everton marksman has proven himself in the Premier League over a number of years, scoring 57 goals in the competition during his time with the Toffees, while also receiving high praise from The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, who lauded him as “outstanding”.

As such, the 28-year-old could be a decent rotation option for Spurs, and his availability on a free transfer is an added bonus, but there are doubts over whether the 11-time England international is capable of taking Ange’s attack to the next level.

Injuries have been a real problem for the £100k-a-week striker throughout his career, and they have continued to hold him back this season, missing the last 12 games due to a hamstring issue.

The last time Calvert-Lewin was on the scoresheet was against Tottenham back in January, bagging a goal and an assist in his side’s 3-2 victory, but constant injury problems mean the Sheffield-born forward can’t be relied upon as a consistent source of goals.

Newcastle United are striding ahead in Eddie Howe’s mission to secure Champions League football and may elbow one of their Premier League competitors aside to bring in a talented star once the window opens, per reports.

Newcastle United look to make summer transfer statement

With their pursuit of a top-five finish in the Premier League gathering momentum, there is no surprise that the Magpies have one eye on potential reinforcements ahead of the summer.

Alexander Isak is set to attract much speculation over his future in the North East, leading Newcastle to pursue Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis despite further interest from Chelsea in the Greece international.

Following the theme of prospective striking additions, Moise Kean is another target at St James’ Park after contact was made with Fiorentina regarding whether the Italy international would be within their reach.

Given the former Everton star has a release clause of £45 million, all signs point to an affordable deal should circumstances align. Even if Isak stays, Callum Wilson’s impending departure on a free transfer has made room for another centre-forward to enter the fold.

Eddie Howe is recovering from a recent illness. Nevertheless, his group will be desperate to book a slot in the Champions League to reinforce the 47-year-old’s excellent performance in the dugout this season.

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Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford Apr 11, 2025

The former Bournemouth boss has ended their 56-year trophy drought and looks on course to secure another tilt for the Geordies at Europe’s top table, which is bound to attract prospective recruits in the next few months.

Now, news has come to light revealing that Newcastle are in talks to sign a versatile star as they aim to beat one of their Premier League rivals to his signature.

Newcastle open talks to sign Marseille forward Luis Henrique

According to TBR, Newcastle have opened talks to sign Marseille forward Luis Henrique, who is also a target for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United ahead of the summer window.

The Magpies view the Brazilian as a winger, as opposed to their divisional rivals’ opinion that a deeper role on the right-hand side would suit best. This campaign, he has registered nine goals and eight assists across 31 matches encompassing all competitions.

Luis Henrique’s key statistics in Ligue 1 – 2024/25

Chances created

48

Successful dribbles

45

Shots

27

Shots on target

13

Successful crosses

26

Duels won

67

Dubbed “fantastic” by Roberto De Zerbi, the 23-year-old is also attracting interest from Nottingham Forest, creating a potential battle for his services that could go the distance in months to come.

Capable of featuring on either flank or even as a foil for the central attacker, his versatility would likely appeal to any side set to be involved in European competition.

Depth is the watchword for teams such as Newcastle moving forward to avoid injury concerns. Either way, the onus is now on chiefs behind the scenes to accelerate talks surrounding the potential transfer.

Sheffield United are going to need a huge end to the season, as well as a bit of help from other teams, to secure automatic promotion from the Championship.

The Blades are currently five points adrift of Burnley, who they still have to play, and Leeds United with just four matches left to play before the end of the campaign.

Chris Wilder’s side have lost their last three Championship games and scored just one goal in that time, which must be particularly frustrating after they splashed the cash on a new centre-forward in the January transfer window.

How much Sheffield United paid for Tom Cannon

The Athletic reported that Sheffield United agreed a fee of £10m to sign Tom Cannon from Leicester City earlier this year to bolster their attacking options.

They made that move off the back of his return of nine goals in 22 Championship matches on loan at Stoke City in the first half of the season.

Unfortunately, though, Cannon has failed to hit the ground running at Bramall Lane and has not been the boost to their promotion chances that supporters may have hoped that he would be at the time of his big-money move.

The 22-year-old attacker has failed to score in 12 league matches for the Blades to date, registering just one assist in that time, and it is fair to say that the striker has flopped due to his complete lack of goals.

£10m was a big outlay for a centre-forward at Championship level, which is why more should be expected from him, and this is illustrated by the fact that United once sold Che Adams, who is now miles better than Cannon, for just £2m.

Why Che Adams is miles better than Tom Cannon

The Blades sold Adams to Birmingham for a reported fee of £2m in the summer of 2016 after he had scored 15 goals in 55 first-team matches for the club.

After scoring 38 goals in 123 games for the Blues, the English-born centre-forward signed for Southampton for a fee of £15m in the summer of 2019.

Following several seasons in the Premier League with the Saints, Adams went back down to the Championship last season and thrived in the second tier, before his move to Torino in the Serie A last summer.

Che Adams

23/24 Championship (Southampton)

24/25 Serie A (Torino)

Starts

25

25

xG

13.79

6.27

Goals

16

8

Conversion rate

20%

17%

Big chances created

7

5

Assists

4

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international was prolific for Southampton last season and has carried his impressive finishing over to Italy, outperforming his xG by almost two goals in the Serie A.

These statistics show that Adams is a clinical forward who is reliable in front of goal in one of Europe’s major leagues, whilst Cannon is currently goalless in 12 games for Sheffield United.

The Torino frontman is, therefore, currently significantly more effective than the Blades number nine, as he is thriving in a top European league, whilst the Ireland international cannot score in the Championship.

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Posts ByHenry Jackson Apr 13, 2025

Sheffield United once sold the attacker for a fee of just £2m and it currently remains to be seen if their £10m signing will ever reach the heights that the Scottish dynamo has hit in his career.

After scouts sent back impressive reviews, Sunderland are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a 13-goal striker who’d be getting the biggest move of his career this summer.

Sunderland face transfer concern

As impressive as Regis Le Bris’ side have been this season, that success will come at a price if Sunderland fail to achieve promotion to the Premier League. The vultures are already beginning to circle around several key men, with both Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg linked to the likes of Manchester United and RB Leipzig in recent weeks.

Players of such talent are often destined for Europe’s leagues and often the Premier League, more specifically, making it crucial that the Black Cats battle through the play-offs before achieving the ultimate Wembley success.

Related Summer move likely: UCL club open talks to sign "powerful" Sunderland star

His exit would deal Le Bris a major blow.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Mar 29, 2025

Despite recent reports, however, Le Bris has remained calm when it comes to both Rigg and Bellingham’s respective Sunderland futures. He told reporters back in March: “I think they are really mature, they are young but really mature because they didn’t show so far any weaknesses about their involvement in the club project.

“I think for young players it’s not obvious, it’s not easy because if you lose just one second in your mind the consequences on the pitch will be huge and so far they were still connected so they are really impressive.”

Of course, the other side to that problem is the fact that Le Bris has quite the side at his disposal. There’s a reason why both Rigg and Bellingham have been linked with some top clubs. The interest in their signatures simply reflect just how talented both young players are and if Sunderland can build around that talent for years to come, then they could achieve more than just promotion.

With that said, those at the Stadium of Light have already reportedly set their sights on one particular attacking addition.

Sunderland eyeing move to sign Tshegofatso Mabasa

According to South African news outlet Soccer Laduma, Sunderland are now plotting a move to sign Tshegofatso Mabasa from Orlando Pirates this summer after their scouts were left impressed by the striker.

At 28 years old, a move to Sunderland this summer would be the biggest of Mabasa’s career and one he would have undoubtedly earned after an excellent season in South Africa. The experienced striker has scored 13 goals in all competitions so far this season – following up on his 18-goal campaign last time out.

Mabasa’s arrival would instantly add key depth for Le Bris, who has recently played Rigg out of position next to Wilson Isidor in his Sunderland frontline. By signing another option, the Black Cats boss could quickly form a deadly strike partnership ready to either take the Premier League by storm or, indeed, take his side to promotion next season.

Whilst the Orlando Pirates striker wouldn’t steal too many headlines by completing a summer switch to the Stadium of Light, he could quickly emerge to become an unexpected boost if Sunderland make their move in the coming months.

It was recently reported that Tonda Eckert is in pole position to be named the permanent Southampton manager after an impressive performance as the interim head coach.

The German tactician has won four of his five Championship games in the dugout, notably beating Charlton 5-1 away from home, but did lose 3-2 to Millwall last weekend.

It would be understandable if Sport Republic feel that Eckert has done enough in his interim spell in charge to earn the job on a permanent basis, but there is cause for concern with the former U21s boss.

Why Southampton should not appoint Tonda Eckert

The Saints are in a position, having just come down from the Premier League, where this may be their best chance to return to the top-flight before they have to cash in on more of their top talents with parachute payments dwindling.

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This means that it would be a big risk to appoint a permanent manager based on five games as a first-team manager in England, as he had never managed a game at any level in any country before this run of matches, per Transfermarkt.

It is hard, therefore, to judge whether the first four wins were a byproduct of a ‘manager bounce’ or if they were down to his coaching, as he does not have a managerial history to back up his credentials.

Southampton need to find their next Nigel Adkins, who joined from Scunthorpe United to lead Saints to promotion from League One and the Championship and left the club in 15th place in the Premier League in his only season in the top-flight.

Instead of appointing Eckert, Sport Republic could hire their own version of Adkins by making a move for reported target and free agent manager Michael Carrick.

Why Carrick could be Southampton's next Adkins

Like Adkins, Carrick would arrive at St. Mary’s with a wealth of experience in English football already under his belt, thanks to his time with Middlesbrough.

The former Saints boss had managed Scunthorpe for four seasons, including two in the Championship, and won promotion from League One on two occasions, before taking Southampton from League One to the Premier League.

Carrick, of course, will not have to get the club out of the third tier, thankfully, but he is an English manager who has the potential to be a brilliant appointment.

Middlesbrough – 22/23

Pre-Carrick

Under Carrick

Matches

16

30

Wins

4

18

Draws

5

4

Losses

7

8

Points

17

58

Points per game

1.06

1.93

League position

18th

4th

Stats via Transfermarkt

One of the reasons why he could be a great hire for the Saints is that he has achieved success in the position that they currently find themselves in, as he took Boro from 18th to 4th in his first season with the club.

The former Manchester United midfielder then led Middlesbrough to 8th and 10th place finishes in the second tier, but they ranked 5th and 6th for Expected Points in those two seasons, per FotMob, which suggests that his coaching deserved higher league finishes than it got.

Carrick, who Tom Cleverley once claimed “oozes class” as a manager, is a proven Championship head coach who has shown, over three seasons, that he can coach a team to deliver play-off quality performances, which Eckert, through no fault of his own, does not have in his corner.

The ex-Boro boss also picked up seven points in two games as interim manager at Manchester United in the Premier League before his spell in the Championship, and played 481 games in the division as a player, per Transfermarkt.

This suggests that he could also be an appointment with the Premier League in mind, because of his experience at that level, whilst Eckert has never played, managed, or coached in that league.

Therefore, Carrick appears more likely to be Southampton’s next Adkins than Eckert is, because of both his proven quality in the Championship as a manager and his potential to be a successful Premier League boss.

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Posts ByDan Emery Dec 2, 2025

This is why Sport Republic should consider pushing to appoint the English tactician as their next permanent manager, rather than giving the interim German boss the job on a permanent basis.

While no official decision has been made, it is understood that the selectors are mulling changes

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Nov-2025

Charith Asalanka hasn’t been among the runs lately•MB Media/Getty Images

Sri Lanka may sack T20 captain Charith Asalanka two months out from a home World Cup. Chief selector Upul Tharanga insisted no decision over the captaincy had yet been made, but did confirm that the selectors were mulling changes.According to Tharanga, Asalanka’s poor form in T20Is has prompted this re-evaluation. That Asalanka was sent home ahead of the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan was only due to illness, or so at least team management has claimed. In any case, it is possible he has captained his last T20 match for Sri Lanka.”We have to weigh our best options after this series,” said Tharanga, when asked whether the selectors were considering a change in captaincy. “With a World Cup so close we can’t make a lot of big changes. The selectors, after talking to the coach, will have to make a decision on what’s best for the team.”Related

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Tharanga indicated that the selectors had been mulling a change to the leadership even before the ongoing tour of Pakistan, which is why they had appointed Dasun Shanaka – who has captained Sri Lanka before – vice-captain for the tour. “That was to give us another option,” Tharanga said.Still, no firm decision has been made, he said.”Still Charith is our captain. It’s because of an illness to Charith that we appointed Dasun as our stand-in captain. Charith is still the captain in our plans. We haven’t made a decision to change that. We’ve planned all along for Charith to captain this World Cup. We’ll see what happens. We haven’t made a decision about that yet.”Charith hasn’t been among the runs in T20s, and because of an illness he was forced to return home, unfortunately.”Asalanka had never quite established himself as a reliable T20I batter, with a strike rate of 126 across 68 innings. He’s been modest in 2025 too, having scored only 156 runs in 12 innings this year, with a strike rate of 122. Sri Lanka have won 11 and lost 14 matches under Asalanka’s captaincy.Still, his return from Pakistan ahead of the tri-series serious prompted speculation in local media. One theory suggested Asalanka had been among the players who opposed remaining in Pakistan following a suicide bombing in Islamabad, and that his being sent home was punishment for voicing opinions that ran counter to board wishes. As the tri-series runs for two weeks, teams would generally keep a player in the squad until they make a recovery, especially if that player is captain.Tharanga said it was illness that forced the selectors’ hand.”He had a viral fever, and he had body aches,” Tharanga said of Asalanka. “The physio told us that it’s hard for him to predict when Charith would get better, and that’s why we had to make that decision.”We’ve also had a problem in the middle order, and we’ve not been consistent there. If he couldn’t play, we needed to have someone else there. That’s why we brought Charith to Sri Lanka.”Tharanga envisioned Asalanka playing a role in Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign with the bat.”Charith is a very talented cricketer, with a lot of experience. I’m sure he’ll be an important cricketer for Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup. We’ve seen what he can do in the middle order, where sometimes he’s won games by himself. He’s in our World Cup plans.”

Leeds United have their eyes on a “fascinating” Brazilian forward in January after his name came up in “conversations with Red Bull”.

Leeds’ lack of goal threat in the Premier League

The Whites have struggled in front of goal so far in the Premier League, having the joint second-worst attack in the top-flight. Daniel Farke’s side have only scored 10 goals in 11 games, with bottom of the table Wolves the only team to score fewer (7).

The 49ers Enterprises didn’t exactly splash the cash in the final third over the summer either, with strikers Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both joining on free transfers.

Leeds’ summer signings

From

Fee

Noah Okafor

AC Milan

£18m

Anton Stach

Hoffenheim

£17.4m

Jaka Bijol

Udinese

£15m

Lucas Perri

Lyon

£13.9m

Sean Longstaff

Newcastle

£12m

Gabriel Gudmundsson

Lille

£10m

James Justin

Leicester City

£10m

Sebastiaan Bornauw

Wolfsburg

£5m

Louis Enahoro-Marcus

Liverpool

Undisclosed

Lukas Nmecha

Wolfsburg

Free

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Everton

Free

Noah Okafor was the most expensive attacking addition from AC Milan, and he has been one of a few bright sparks for Leeds going forward this season.

Centre-back Joe Rodon is Leeds’ joint-top goalscorer so far with two goals, highlighting the fact that the Whites need more firepower in the second half of the season to help their push to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Leeds looked at and failed with a deadline day move for Fulham attacker Harry Wilson, and now a new attacking target has emerged.

Leeds keen on signing Jhon Jhon

According to reports from Leeds United News, Leeds are eyeing up a move for Jhon Jhon, a versatile attacker who plays for Red Bull Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A.

Journalist Graeme Bailey called Jhon a “fascinating player” and said that his name “has come up in conversations with Red Bull”.

“He’s a fascinating player. Very interesting. A bit of an attacking midfielder, can play as a forward. His name has come up in conversations with Red Bull, and he’s within the Red Bull name. He’s a good age, good player. Ticks a lot of boxes.

“Leeds aren’t the only ones looking. He’s come up in conversations, and one I’d not heard before until recently.”

The 23-year-old previously played for Palmeiras, but it is with Red Bull Bragantino where has has gone from strength to strength.

Jhon now holds a career-high €9m Transfermarkt valuation and has scored 15 goals in 69 appearances for his current employers, registering 12 assists.

2025 has also been Jhon’s best ever year in front of goal, and for the right price, he could be an interesting addition for the Whites.

The 49ers will more than likely need more firepower than just Jhon, though, but by the looks of things, his name will be one to watch heading into 2026.

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