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Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has defended his decision to call up Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for crucial World Cup qualifiers, stating he is in "perfect shape". The selection comes despite recent friction with Barcelona over the 18-year-old's pubalgia injury that has created tension between the Spanish national team and the Catalan club.

• 'He's in perfect shape' – De la Fuente defends Yamal selection

  De la Fuente has selected Yamal for his latest squad, confirming the Barcelona forward will be involved in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers despite recent injury concerns. The 18-year-old, who missed the previous international window with a persistent groin issue, has been recalled for the crucial fixtures against Georgia and Turkey.

  The decision to include Yamal comes amid a backdrop of friction with his club. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick previously criticised the Spanish federation (RFEF) for "failing to take care" of young players. De la Fuente, however, has vigorously defended the selection, citing the player's recent return to form and the high stakes of the upcoming matches.

  Speaking at the press conference, De la Fuente was adamant that the winger is fit to play and dismissed suggestions he was being rushed back. The manager cited Yamal's recent performances for Barcelona, where he has started the last six matches, as proof of his fitness.

  "I think the answer is obvious. I watched his last game, and I believe he’s in perfect condition," De la Fuente stated. "His coach said he was ready to play. He's getting back to being the player he always has been, and we celebrate that. He will stay with us as long as we consider it appropriate.

  "Watching the game the other day, Lamine is fit to play. We have two very important games and we need to field our best players. We have two hugely important matches to qualify for the World Cup, the stakes are massive and we want the best players with us."

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• Barcelona friction continues as Flick and De la Fuente yet to speak

  The call-up risks reigniting tensions between the RFEF and Barcelona. Flick had been vocally critical of Yamal's management during the last international break, though the Barcelona boss reportedly softened his stance this week, stating it was "not his problem" if the player was selected.

  When asked if he had spoken with Flick to clear the air or discuss Yamal's fitness, De la Fuente confirmed no such conversation had taken place.

  "No, we haven't spoken again, we've only spoken once, anyway," the Spain manager said. "I'm sure we'll speak at some point."

  De la Fuente also addressed the broader topic of managing the player's development under such an intense spotlight.

  "It's a natural process. He's 18. Any player would still be in development," De la Fuente explained. "I stand by what I said a year ago about Lamine. We have to support him in his development. Both from the club and here. Everyone who has a relationship with him. It's everyone's responsibility. At the club they'll advise him and direct him, and the same at the federation."

• Fornals returns as Morata and Rodri miss out

  The inclusion of Yamal was not the only headline news from the squad announcement. Real Betis midfielder Pablo Fornals has earned his first call-up since 2021, a reward for his excellent club form under Manuel Pellegrini.

  "I'm happy for Pablo because I consider him 'one of my own'," De la Fuente said. "He's a very well-liked player. He's earned it. He's doing an exceptional job at Betis. I don't think he'll have any problem being with us because of the knock he received."

  The most significant omissions were captain Alvaro Morata and Manchester City midfielder Rodri. De la Fuente confirmed Rodri's absence was to provide the key player with a rest.

  Morata's exclusion, however, appears tactical, with the manager opting to look at other forwards.

  "Morata remains just as important to us. He's a player for the future," De la Fuente clarified. "We wanted to look at other players. There's nothing wrong with him. He knows all this, he understands the situation."

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• Williams injury and Barcelona contingent detailed

  In Morata's absence, the attacking options include Mikel Oyarzabal, Yeremy Pino, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Samu Aghehowa, Borja Iglesias and Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, whose form was also highlighted by the manager.

  "We want to take advantage of the great form Fermin is in," De la Fuente noted. "He's a player who fits both Barcelona's style of play and ours."

  Athletic Club's Nico Williams misses out, reportedly suffering from the same groin issue that recently sidelined Yamal. Other notable injury absences include defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand.

  The squad features a heavy Barcelona presence, with Yamal, Torres, Olmo, Fermin and Pau Cubarsi all included, making it five players from the Catalan club. In contrast, Real Madrid are represented by a single player, defender Dean Huijsen.

Celtic had to compete against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday without Daizen Maeda, as the forward missed out on the match through injury.

Prior to the game, Brendan Rodgers confirmed the attacker’s absence: “Daizen Maeda will be out. He felt his hamstring a little bit towards the end of the last game against Motherwell. He went away internationally to see if it would get better, but he obviously didn’t play when he was away.

“So, he will miss this weekend, and we’ll assess it after that.”

The last line from the Celtic head coach means that it remains to be seen when the Japan international will be back and available for selection, with his availability for Thursday’s clash with Sturm Graz in doubt.

Maeda won the Premiership Player of the Year award in the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 16 goals and ten assists in 34 appearances in the division, per Sofascore, which is why his absence has been keenly felt.

Rodgers opted to go with Hyun-jun Yang in his place on the right wing for the clash with Dundee on Sunday, and it was not a call that paid off for the manager.

Why Hyun-jun Yang should be dropped by Celtic

The South Korea international, who held talks over a move to Birmingham near the end of the summer transfer window, started the match on the right flank, with Kelechi Iheanacho through the middle and Sebastian Tounekti on the left.

It only took 45 minutes for Rodgers to decide to withdraw him from the match, as the forward was hauled off at the break after a dismal opening half that saw the Hoops 1-0 down to Dundee.

Yang was incredibly ineffective in the first half. The winger, per Sofascore, missed a ‘big chance’ with his only shot and did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Vs Dundee

Hyun-jun Yang

James Forrest

Minutes

45

45

Shots

1

1

Big chances missed

1

1

Key passes

1

0

Big chances created

0

0

Dribbles completed

0/0

0/0

Stats via Sofascore

Unfortunately, as you can see in the table above, the player who came on in his place also failed to make an impact in the second half, as James Forrest produced a similarly dismal performance in the final third.

The lack of quality shown on the right wing from both players is a huge concern, given that it remains to be seen how long Maeda will be out of action for with his hamstring injury.

Yang’s only goal of the season so far came against Championship side Partick Thistle in the League Cup last month, as he has failed to provide a goal or an assist in seven outings in the Premiership and European competitions, per Sofascore.

This is why Rodgers should brutally ditch him from the starting line-up ahead of Thursday’s clash with Sturm Graz, as he has not done enough with the opportunities that he has been given.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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As Forrest also flopped against Dundee, and has not registered a single goal or assist this season, the Celtic head coach needs to get creative to solve the blow of losing Maeda to injury.

One inventive move that Rodgers could pull off would be to move Tounekti, who created four chances against Dundee, over to the right flank to occupy that space, with Marcelo Saracchi unleashed in a new role on the left wing.

Why Celtic should unleash Marcelo Saracchi in a new role

Tounekti’s 2.5 key passes per game in the Premiership, per Sofascore, show that he can provide quality and creativity in a wide position for the Hoops, which is why he should keep his place in the XI.

The Tunisia international could move over to the right wing, as Maeda did after playing on the left wing last season, to provide a threat in the final third on that side.

That would then allow Saracchi, who has played left-back for Celtic so far, to advance further forward into a left wing position, with Kieran Tierney behind him.

The Uruguay international, who was described as “very quick” by South American football expert Tim Vickery, has played 62 matches as a left midfielder in his career, per Transfermarkt, and provided nine assists in those games.

Saracchi has already shown Celtic supporters that he can offer quality at the top end of the pitch from a wide position, with his fantastic assist for Maeda against Kilmarnock last month.

The 27-year-old left-back’s attacking output across his four appearances in the Premiership for the Hoops since his move on loan from Boca Junior suggest that he could thrive in a left wing position as an emergency option on Thursday.

25/26 Premiership

Marcelo Saracchi per 90

Percentile rank vs LBs

Shots

1.17

Top 24%

xA

0.30

Top 7%

Assists

0.39

Top 1%

Chances created

1.57

Top 20%

Successful crosses

2.35

Top 1%

Cross accuracy

40%

Top 10%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed star has excelled as a creative force for the Scottish giants in his limited minutes on the pitch this season, particularly as a crosser from the left flank.

Meanwhile, Forrest has created 0.23 xA per 90 and Yang has created 0.12 xA per 90 in the Premiership, per FotMob, which shows that Saracchi has offered more quality than Celtic’s right wing options, whilst playing at left-back.

This suggests that Rodgers would improve the creativity within his side if he moves Tounekti, who is a proven creative force, over to the right to unleash Saracchi in a brand-new role that he has yet to play for the Hoops.

It is now down to the manager to make the bold call to drop Yang and opt for Saracchi on the wing over bringing Forrest into the starting XI next time out.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola now personally wants to hijack Real Madrid and sign a “phenomenal” midfielder, who is valued at £87m.

Pep sets out to sign new midfielder amid Rodri concerns

After spending the majority of the 2024-25 season on the treatment table due to an ACL injury, Rodri has been eased back into the team by Pep, but the Spaniard suffered yet another setback in the 1-0 triumph at Brentford prior to the international break.

The central midfielder was ruled out of contention for Spain’s World Cup qualifiers, with Pep going on to express hope that it will be a matter of weeks, not months, before the 29-year-old returns.

He's perfect for Pep: Man City now rivalling Real Madrid for "pacy" £52m star

City are set to battle it out for a new defender, who is regarded as ideal for Pep Guardiola.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

The City boss also went on to add: “You asked me why I don’t play him 90 minutes all the time. The journalists always ask me why I substitute him. This is why we tried to be gentle and play [him] for 60-65 minutes.”

Amid concerns over Rodri, the Blues have set out to bolster his options in the engine room, submitting offers for two up-and-coming English midfielders earlier this week, and a Premier League star has also now emerged as a target.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Pep now personally wants to hijack Real Madrid and sign Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, with Man City expressing serious interest in securing his signature.

Manchester United have also set out to sign Wharton, off the back of the midfielder’s impressive performances for the Eagles, and sources suggest the south Londoners could hold out for a fee of around €100m (£87m).

However, with the Englishman contracted until 2029, and happy at Selhurst Park, Palace currently have no pressing need to cash-in, with a move more likely to transpire next summer than in January.

"Phenomenal" Wharton has earned move to top club

In many ways, it is a real surprise the 21-year-old has just one England cap to his name, given the impact the central midfielder has made ever since arriving at Palace, with Dan Cook of HLTCO being left particularly impressed.

In his only appearance for England, which came against Bosnia & Herzegovina just over a year ago, the youngster became the only midfielder to attempt 30+ passes on his Three Lions debut and complete each one, in what was an assured performance.

Given Wharton’s passing ability, he could flourish in a Pep system, and Man City should undoubtedly make a move in 2026.

MatériaMais Notícias

EInternacional e Corinthians se enfrentam neste sábado (5), às 18h30, pela 17ª rodada do Brasileirão, no Beira-Rio, em Porto Alegre.

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O Inter recentemente demitiu Mano Menezes e contratou Eduardo Coudet para o comando técnico. O Colorado não vence há cinco jogos e deve mandar um time reserva para o duelo no Campeonato Brasileiro, tendo em vista que a equipe está em desvantagem contra o River Plate, nas oitavas de final da Libertadores. A equipe ocupa a 12ª posição na tabela do Brasileirão.

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Já o Timão vive seu melhor momento no ano e vai para Porto Alegre defendendo uma invencibilidade de oito jogos sem perder. Com boa vantagem diante do Newell´s Old Boys, pelas oitavas de final da Sul-Americana, Luxemburgo vai com força máxima para o duelo. O treinador corintiano ainda não poderá contar com Lucas Veríssimo, Gabriel Moscardo e Matías Rojas. O Alvinegro ocupa a 14ª posição na tabela.

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As últimas cinco partidas entre Internacional e Corinthians terminaram empatadas.

INTERNACIONAL X CORINTHIANS – BRASILEIRÃO – 18ª RODADA

Local:Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (RS)
Data e hora:sábado, 5 de agosto de 2023, às 18h30 (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro:Wagner do Nascimento Magalhaes (FIFA-RJ)
Assistentes:Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha (RJ) e Alex dos Santos (SC)
Árbitro de vídeo:Wagner Reway (FIFA-PB)
Onde assistir:Premiere (para todo o Brasil); tempo real no Lance!

INTERNACIONAL
Rochet; Igor Gomes, Vitão, Nico Hernández e De Pena; Gabriel, Bruno Henrique, Matheus Dias e Maurício; Pedro Henrique e Luiz Adriano.Técnico:Eduardo Coudet

Desfalques:Mercado (suspenso)
Pendurados:Bustos, Renê, Johnny, Carlos de Pena, Mauricio, Matheus Dias e Alemão.

CORINTHIANS
Cássio; Fagner, Gil, Murillo e Fábio Santos; Maycon, Fausto Vera e Renato Augusto; Adson, Yuri Alberto e Wesley (Biro). Técnico: Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

Desfalques:Rojas (entorse e trauma no pé esquerdo); Moscardo e Lucas Veríssimo (recondicionamento/trabalho em campo); Gustavo Mosquito (transição física) e Paulino (ligamento joelho)
Pendurados:Cássio, Gil, Matheus Bidu e Fausto Vera

The LSG captain said they were “20-25 runs short” after making 171 at the Ekana Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-20252:13

Rapid Fire: How big a concern is Pant’s form?

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) started IPL 2025 with two big totals in away games – even though one resulted in a very slim loss – but when they got to Lucknow for their first home game, they fell “20-25 runs short” after they were put in to bat because they are “still assessing” the conditions at the Ekana Stadium and captain Rishabh Pant said he is “still figuring out a lot of things for the team.”LSG managed 171 for 7 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and saw the visitors chase that down in just 16.2 overs with eight wickets in hand.”Definitely [our total] wasn’t enough, we were like 20-25 runs short but that’s part and parcel of the game,” Pant said after the game. “It’s our first home game so still assessing the conditions.”LSG went for a track on the slower side, but it came back to bite them after they were asked to bat by PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer. The hosts stuttered to 35 for 3 in the fifth over as Pant fell for a third low score of 2 off five balls to follow a duck and 15 in the first two outings, and finished the first six overs with just 39 on the board, their slowest powerplay of this IPL.”Definitely it’s always going to be tough to get a big total when you lose early wickets, but that’s how the game progresses every day, like you can’t control everything,” Pant said. “Each and every player is trying to take the game forward from there.”When it was time for LSG to defend their below-par total, Pant used three overs of spin – two from Digvesh Rathi and one from Ravi Bishnoi – hoping that the slowness of the track would get him success, but only Rathi got the wicket of Priyansh Arya while Bishnoi was taken apart for 15 runs by Prabhsimran Singh.”The idea was to get a slower wicket because we felt that it was a home game, it’s going to stop a little bit. And I think when you were bowling slow into the wicket, they were still sticking in but we weren’t good enough on the given day. We going to learn from it and move forward.”LSG now have two losses from their first three games but have three more home games out of their next four to get used to the conditions at Ekana.”It’s early in the tournament, can’t say much, still figuring out a lot of things for the team but hopefully it’s going to come nicely for us.”2:11

Aaron: Bishnoi needs to take more responsibility

After Prabhsimran set the base with a 34-ball 69, Iyer sealed his side’s second straight victory, staying unbeaten on 52 off 30 balls. Nehal Wadhera, who was not out on 43 off 25 at the other end, said “all the credit” went to Iyer for the way he is leading them.”All credit goes to the way he’s captaining us and also the way he is boosting our confidence and the way he was telling me things, like, ‘play your natural game, just go with the flow,’ and I just love playing like that,” Wadhera said.Wadhera came on as an Impact Player, in place of Yuzvendra Chahal after he had bowled out, and said he didn’t even know when he reached he ground that he was going to play and was carrying just the one kit for the day. Wadhera was bought by PBKS after playing for two seasons for Mumbai Indians, and is now under a new captain and a new coach, Ricky Ponting.”He’s one of the best coaches I have ever worked under,” Wadhera said. “I’ve never heard any negative talk ever from his mouth and that’s the best thing about him. He just talks positive and when a coach gives you such positive remarks, that automatically boosts your confidence.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Cruzeiro e São Paulo se enfrentam neste sábado (24), às 21h (de Brasília), no Estádio Independência, em Belo Horizonte. A partida será válida pela 12ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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O Tricolor vem de uma vitória importante, contra o Athletico-PR, por 2 a 1, no estádio do Morumbi. Graças ao resultado, chegou a 18 pontos e hoje ocupa a 7ª colocação da tabela. Para o duelo contra o Cruzeiro, o São Paulo contará com dois retornos importantes: Arboleda (que estava convocado) e Pablo Maia (que estava cumprindo suspensão). Entretanto, Alexandre Pato ainda não deve estrear e Gabriel Neves também estará suspenso.

ATUAÇÕES: Gabriel Neves vai do inferno ao céu e Luciano comanda virada do São Paulo contra o Athletico-PR

Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

Já o Cruzeiro vem de uma derrota por 1 a 0 contra o Fortaleza. A equipe soma 14 pontos e está na 12ª colocação na tabela. Pepa terá dois novos desfalques: Luciano Castán e Wallisson, que estarão suspensos. A equipe celeste não vence há sete jogos.

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Veja todas as informações sobre a partida

CRUZEIRO X SÃO PAULO
Local: Arena Independência, Belo Horizonte (MG)
Data/Horário: 24/6/2023, às 21h (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Ramon Abatti Abel (SC)
Assistentes: Bruno Raphael Pires (GO) e Alex dos Santos (SC)
VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (RS)
Onde acompanhar: Premiere e Sport TV e Tempo Real na parceria LANCE!/Voz do Esporte

SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Dorival Júnior)
Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Beraldo e Caio; Pablo Maia, Luan e Rodrigo Nestor; Alisson (Wellington Rato), Luciano e Calleri.
Desfalques: Ferraresi (cirurgia no joelho direito), Talles Costa (transição física), Moreira (transição após cirurgia no joelho esquerdo), Igor Vinícius (transição após cirurgia no púbis), Welington (transição física após cirurgia no tornozelo esquerdo), Galoppo (cirurgia no joelho esquerdo), Michel Araujo (estiramento na panturrilha), Gabriel Neves (suspenso)

CRUZEIRO (Técnico: Pepa)
Rafael Cabral; William, Lucas Oliveira, Reynaldo (Neris) e Marlon; Filipe Machado, Neto Moura e Mateus Vital; Bruno Rodrigues, Wesley e Gilberto.
Desfalques: Wesley Gasolina, Rafael Bilu, Ramiro (lesionados), Nikão (gastroenterite), Luciano Castán e Wallisson (suspensos)

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes wantaway striker Alexander Isak needs to “sack” his agent immediately after his recent statement.

Isak and Newcastle transfer latest

The Swedish striker has been trying to force a move out of St James’ Park all summer but was frustrated earlier this month when the Magpies rejected an offer from Liverpool, reportedly worth £110m plus add-ons.

Isak missed Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa last weekend and looks set to be absent once again as the Reds visit St James’ Park on Monday evening.

Earlier in the week, Isak put out a statement, believing Newcastle have “broken” their promise this summer and the “trust is lost”.

“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To act now as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.”

Newcastle responded by denying that Isak had been granted any assurances over a potential move. “We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.”

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The transfer window shuts on September 1, so there could be more to this transfer saga before the deadline, although Newcastle are now adamant selling Isak is now not possible, despite bidding for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Shearer reacts to Isak and Newcastle latest

Speaking this week, relayed by PA Media, Shearer said the situation is now an “absolute mess” as he pointed the finger at Isak’s agent Vlado Lemic.

Isak’s current contract runs until 2028, and with no release clause, Newcastle hold all the cards in the final days of the window.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers wants the club to bring in new attackers to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch before the end of the summer transfer window.

Speaking after the 2-0 win over Aberdeen, the boss said: “Listen, there’s no doubt that we need to reinforce the top line. There’s no doubt, I’m really pleased with where we are structurally in defensive numbers.”

He added: “But I think we need competition at the top end of the field. So, yes, for Adam, he’s a big, honest boy. He was at his best here when was really challenging with Kyogo for the position. And that is something that is important, I think, for us to get.”

This shows that the Hoops want to strengthen their options in the final third, despite winning both of their opening matches in the Scottish Premiership this season.

It will now be interesting to see where Celtic go to find reinforcements for their attack, whether they go big with a huge money signing, a player from a major league, or an unknown gem.

One of Celtic’s most successful striker signings in the last decade is Odsonne Edouard, who joined in an interesting move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

How Celtic hit gold with Odsonne Edouard

The Hoops swooped to bring the French marksman to the club for the 2017/18 campaign on an initial season-long loan, in what was not a marquee addition at the time due to his lack of first-team exposure.

Edouard had only played 17 matches at senior level, scoring one goal, on loan at Toulouse in the previous season, which meant that Celtic had not brought in an established star who looked primed to be a prolific scorer for the club.

The young marksman, though, did enjoy a successful season on loan with the Scottish giants with a return of 11 goals in 29 games in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, for the Hoops, which convinced the club to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer of 2018.

Celtic reportedly splashed out a record fee of £9m to sign Edouard after his loan came to an end, and that turned out to be money well spent by the Bhoys.

Celtic’s top scorers (all comps)

Season

Top scorer

Goals

24/25

Daizen Maeda

33

23/24

Kyogo Furuhashi

19

22/23

Kyogo Furuhashi

34

21/22

Kyogo Furuhashi

20

20/21

Odsonne Edouard

22

19/20

Odsonne Edouard

29

18/19

Odsonne Edouard

22

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the Frenchman scored 22 goals or more in all three of his seasons at Parkhead as a permanent player, and no player has scored 20 goals or more in three successive seasons since he left.

Premier League side Crystal Palace reportedly agreed a deal worth up to £18.5m to sign the striker from Celtic in the summer of 2021, which meant that the Hoops made a significant profit on the £9m that they paid.

The Scottish giants are now reportedly looking at a potential deal to sign a player who could come in as a repeat of this Edouard masterclass, albeit in a different position.

Celtic have £13m star on their radar

According to Football Insider, Celtic and Rangers are both interested in a deal to sign AS Monaco left-back Kassoum Ouattara to bolster their respective squads.

The report claims that the Ligue 1 side are set to demand a fee of £13m to sell the player on a permanent basis, and both Scottish teams are unwilling to pay that price 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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Journalist Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider: “Ouattara is somebody who has emerged on their radar. Right now, the big question mark is whether it would be a loan or a permanent deal. I think if it’s a permanent deal that Monaco are only considering, that might just be too pricy for both Rangers and Celtic.

He added: “It’s not going to be a straightforward deal for Rangers or Celtic, but it’s definitely a position both clubs are looking at as they want to strengthen their options.“

This suggests that an initial loan deal with an option or an obligation to make it permanent next year, similar to the Edouard deal, could be the route for Celtic to go down.

Why Celtic should sign Kassoum Ouattara

The Hoops should push to sign the French left-back to compete with Kieran Tierney because he is an exciting young talent who could be an Edouard repeat.

Like the former Celtic marksman, the Monaco youngster would arrive at the club on an initial loan, if that is the deal they can agree, from a Ligue 1 team after only playing 16 times at first-team level last season.

Ouattara, who was hailed as “seriously talented” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a player who has the potential to enjoy success at Parkhead in the same way that Edouard did, albeit in a different position.

In his limited game time in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 campaign, the 20-year-old starlet showed great promise as an offensive option from left-back, whilst playing at a good level in one of Europe’s major leagues.

24/25 Ligue 1

Kassoum Ouattara per 90

Percentile rank vs full-backs

xA

0.29

Top 5%

Chances created

1.38

Top 17%

Successful crosses

1.62

Top 7%

Cross accuracy

41.2%

Top 9%

Successful dribbles

1.15

Top 12%

Assists

0.23

Top 9%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Ouattara ranked highly among his positional peers when it came to creating chances for his teammates, and getting his side up the pitch with dribbles.

These statistics suggest that the youngster would be well-suited to playing in a Celtic team that dominates games week-in-week-out, given that they have won the league in each of the last four seasons and won their first two games without conceding a goal.

This means that Ouattara would have the license to constantly bomb on and attack down the left flank, overlapping the winger, to showcase his creative qualities in the final third.

Therefore, the 20-year-old talent would have the perfect platform to show other teams what he is about to attract interest from elsewhere, which is what Edouard had when he scored 22 goals or more in three straight seasons to earn a big move to Monaco.

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Celtic could, therefore, repeat their Edouard masterclass by signing Ouattara on loan before bringing him in permanently next year, with a view to him being sold on for a profit in the future.

In an attempt to kickstart what has been a quiet summer transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly entered the race to sign a Bundesliga winner ahead of rival interest from West Ham United.

Aston Villa's difficult summer

When they failed to defeat Manchester United to secure Champions League football on the final day of the season, it was always going to be a difficult summer for Aston Villa. Their European fortunes ensured that they would have to face up to their PSR struggles and endure a window without spending big unless a number of stars went in the other direction.

To that end, the Villans have so far prioritised keeping hold of current stars rather than going in search of fresh faces. There has been interest in both Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez, for example, but the stance in the Midlands has remained ‘not for sale’. Whether that changes as Villa become desperate to act in the market remains to be seen, however.

The signings that have arrived, meanwhile, are young centre-back Yasin Ozcan, who is unlikely to break into Unai Emery’s best side at this stage, and backup goalkeeper Marco Bizot. To say Villa’s window has so far lacked excitement would be an understatement.

With a month remaining until the window slams shut though, that could yet change. The transfer rumours are still coming thick and fast even as those at Villa Park look to navigate PSR.

Among those mentioned has been Lois Openda. The RB Leipzig forward, whether in years to come or this summer if Manchester United get their wish, would be the perfect replacement for Watkins and an excellent signing.

The same can be said for another Bundesliga star too, as Aston Villa set their sights on getting their summer up and running at long last.

Aston Villa firmly in the mix to sign Adli

As reported by Caught Offside, Aston Villa are now firmly in the mix to sign Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder reportedly wants to leave the German club in search of consistent minutes and, although West Ham hold concrete interest, Villa could yet hijack the Hammers’ move.

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Valued at around €25m (£22m), Adli’s arrival would likely keep Aston Villa within the lines of PSR whilst handing Emery a much-needed boost in the form of a Bundesliga winner.

Labelled a “sensational talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango in 2022, Adli still has every chance of reaching that level again by joining Aston Villa and Emery. The midfielder has experience at the very top level as a title winner and, at just £22m, could quickly become an undeniable bargain this summer.

كشفت تقارير صحفية سعودية، أن نادي أهلي جدة تقدم بطلب إلى الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، قبل مباراة بيراميدز في كأس إنتركونتيننتال.

ويلعب نادي بيراميدز ضد الأهلي السعودي، في إطار مواجهات دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس الإنتركونتيننتال، والمنافسة على لقب كأس القارات الثلاثة.

وخاض بيراميدز مواجهة الدور التمهيدي الأول في بطولة كأس الإنتركونتيننتال، بمواجهة أوكلاند سيتي النيوزيلندي يوم الأحد الماضي، وانتصر بنتيجة 3-0، ليتأهل لمواجهة الأهلي بطل دوري أبطال آسيا في السعودية.

طالع| فيفا يعلن موعد مباراة بيراميدز والأهلي السعودي في كأس الإنتركونتيننتال

وقالت صحيفة الرياضية السعودية، إن رابطة النادي الأهلي وجهت طلبًا إلى فيفا لاعتماد “تيفو وبنر” لمباراة الفريق أمام بيراميدز ضمن كأس القارات الثلاث.

وتابعت الصحيفة: “تعتزم الرابطة دعم اللاعبين قبل اللقاء بيومين عبر التجمّع أمام مقر النادي لتحفيزهم عند خروجهم من التدريبات، كما ستتمركز جماهيريا في واجهة ملعب الإنماء خلال المباراة”.

وتقرر إقامة مباراة بيراميدز أمام الأهلي السعودي، في مدينة جدة بالسعودية، للمنافسة على لقب كأس القارات الثلاث (آسيا – إفريقيا – المحيط الهادي) في إطار مشوار بطولة كأس الإنتركونتيننتال.

وتنطلق المباراة في التاسعة من مساء يوم الثلاثاء 23 سبتمبر الجاري (بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية) على استاد الإنماء بمدينة الملك عبد الله الرياضية في جدة.

يذكر، أن المتأهل من الأهلي السعودي وبيراميدز، سيلعب ضد الفائز من ديربي الأمريكتين (لم يتحددا حتى الآن) في دور نصف النهائي، ثم المتأهل يلاقي باريس سان جيرمان في المباراة النهائية.