Amid rumours that they’ve already had to reject a bid worth £45m to sell Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly opened talks to sign a possible replacement.
Nottingham Forest reject Newcastle's Elanga bid
After securing a shock place in the Europa Conference League in an excellent season last time out, Nottingham Forest are in no position to sell key players. But that hasn’t stopped certain clubs from testing the waters. Among them, Newcastle United reportedly formalised their interest in Elanga with an offer worth £45m earlier this week, only to see that bid rejected by those at the City Ground.
There’s still plenty of time remaining in the summer transfer window, however, and Forest will be well aware that Newcastle could yet come calling a second time.
If that does happen, then preparing for Elanga’s exit in a worst-case scenario would not be a bad idea for all involved at the City Ground. Already, on that front, Forest have attempted and failed to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus and have also been linked with versatile AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah.
YunusMusahof the U.S. in action with England's Jude Bellingham
Whether either of those options possess the quality to replace Elanga is the big question. One man who is unlikely to face problems in that regard is Igor Jesus. The Botafogo forward is reportedly on his way to the Midlands alongside teammate Jair Cunha following their Club World Cup campaign.
The former has already stolen plenty of headlines with his winning goal against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain and is seemingly about to take the Premier League by storm.
Nottingham Forest open talks to sign "elite" new star after Weah rejection
They’ve instantly turned towards another option.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025
Jesus and Cuiabano may not be the only Club World Cup stars to arrive, either, amid reports that Forest have opened talks to sign another attacking target.
Nottingham Forest open talks to sign Pepe
According to ESPN Brazil, Nottingham Forest have now opened talks to sign Pepe from FC Porto, who are demanding over €15m (£12m) to sell their 28-year-old winger this summer.
An experienced winger who scored at the Club World Cup for Porto in a 4-4 draw against Al-Ahly this summer, Pepe would offer Forest instant depth and may even be asked to replace Elanga if the Swede joins Newcastle.
Minutes
1,991
2,501
Goals
3
6
Assists
2
11
Key Passes
31
50
The pressure would instantly be on Pepe if he did step in for Elanga and although his experience could prove to be invaluable, questions will be asked about his ability to match the 22-year-old’s output.
As a versatile backup who can play all across the frontline, however, the Porto man represents an ideal choice as Forest step into European football. At just over £12m too, it’s not a deal that Evangelos Marinakis will need to splash out on for Nuno Espirito Santo in the coming months.
2025 has been the year of the returning hero at Celtic Park so far.
Kieran Tierney has returned to Celtic, six years after departing, following in the footsteps of Jota, who re-joined the Hoops during the January transfer window.
So now, could Brendan Rodgers, who is no stranger to a Glasgow return himself, be re-united with a star he once labelled one of Europe’s best young players?
The reaction to Kieran Tierney's Celtic return
After completing his return to his boyhood club last week, Tierney said it “feels amazing” to be back, adding “my ambition is just for Celtic to be as successful as possible”.
Rodgers too exclaimed that he’s “delighted” to add a “talented and high-quality” player to his squad, while Tierney is unquestionably a fans’ favourite in Glasgow’s East End, having come through the academy to make 170 appearances for the club during his first spell, winning 11 major trophies.
So, while there is major excitement about seeing the left-back bedecked in green and white hoops once again, could an even bigger talent also be back later this summer?
Celtic's search for a new striker
Tierney’s return to Parkhead this summer has been met with glee, but when has a left-back ever been more exciting than a new striker? Arguably never.
The Scot has the potential to come back and be a roaring success down the left channels, carving out goalscoring opportunities at will for teammates, but who will be on the end of his teasing balls into the box? Well, another Celtic return could be on the cards and it’s more eye-catching than Tierney.
Indeed, as noted by Ryan McDonald of the Daily Record, Celtic could re-sign striker Odsonne Édouard this summer, with ex-Celtic midfielder Scott Allan believing the club shouldn’t think twice if they are able to add a “fantastic player” to their ranks.
The striker initially arrived at Parkhead on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, scoring on his debut against Hamilton Academical at New Douglas Park, before his move was made permanent the following summer, costing a then-club-record £9m.
In total, Édouard scored 87 goals in 179 appearances for the Celts, numbers that are comparable with the club’s other great centre-forwards of modern times.
Kyōgo
165
85
126
Giakoumakis
57
26
97
Édouard
179
87
140
Dembélé
94
51
120
Griffiths
262
123
118
Hooper
138
82
136
The numbers above rubberstamp why he was more exciting than Tierney in green and white, with only Leigh Griffiths having scored more goals for Celtic since Henrik Larsson’s departure in 2004, with the Scotland international doing so in 83 more appearances.
Former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard.
Édouard ultimately departed for Crystal Palace in August 2021, costing around £18.5m, scoring 21 times for the Eagles, including bagging a memorable double on his debut against Tottenham, but his career has gone off the rails in the last year or so.
Not in Oliver Glasner’s pre-season plans, the Frenchman joined Leicester City on a season-long loan last summer, but this has to go down as one of the most disastrous loan spells of all time, now valued at just £7m by Transfermarkt.
Appearances
6
Minutes
113
Starts
1
Matches an unused sub
3
Matched not in the squad
31
Total matches
40
Édouard was completely frozen out by both Steve Cooper and Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leicester, most recently a substitute on Boxing Day, his last appearance coming on 10 November, while his one and only start for the club came in the Carabao Cup at Walsall in September.
Odsonne-EdouardOdsonne-Edouard
As outlined by John Percy of the Telegraph, having featured for both Palace and Leicester in 2024/25, FIFA regulations stipulate that he was unable to represent a third club in the same season.
Thus, Édouard remained stranded in the proverbial wilderness from January onwards, despite the fact the Foxes broke all sorts of records when it came to not scoring, most notably losing eight successive Premier League home games to nil, an unprecedentedly miserable run.
Nevertheless, still 27 years old, the striker certainly still has plenty to offer.
When Édouard signed permanently for Celtic in the first place, Rodgers labelled him one of European football’s “elite young talents”. While he may not still be too young, he still has elite potential, particularly if it took him to Scotland again.
Still searching for a Kyōgo Furuhashi replacement, if the Frenchman becomes available at a cut-price, this would surely be a no-brainer.
More exciting than Tierney: Celtic expected to complete "no-brainer" deal
Celtic are expected to seal the signing of a star who would be more exciting than Kieran Tierney.
Whilst Daniel Farke will want to keep the main ingredients of his Leeds United camp together, which just sealed a fantastic Championship title success, he will be very aware that some stars from that promotion journey might not be able to cut it in the intense environment of the Premier League.
After all, despite Ipswich Town cruising to automatic promotion alongside Leicester City during the 2023/24 campaign, both of those previously high-flying outfits have now been hit over the head with the reality of relegation, alongside an equally dire Southampton side.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match
Therefore, if there is an upgrade available to Farke, he should bring them into the building with open arms.
Leeds could consider loan swoop for Aaronson upgrade
As per a report from journalist Alan Nixon, Leeds have been ‘looking at’ signing long-term target £15m-rated Emiliano Buendia, with Aston Villa preparing to loan him out again this summer.
The report states that Unai Emery’s Villans are seeking out a fresh loan destination for Farke’s former Norwich City wizard, and this availability will surely pique the interest of the German situated in the Whites dug-out after promotion.
Nixon further elaborates that the Whites will wait it out, however, considering they are only allowed two Premier League loan arrivals. But, the silky South American has starred under Farke before, so the temptation will surely be palpable for a reunion.
Adding Buendia will also gift the former Canaries boss more freedom in the number ten spot in his starting lineups to come, with a worry that Brenden Aaronson just isn’t well-equipped to be a dangerous attacking midfield force up a level, having struggled in the elite league before.
How Buendia could be a huge upgrade on Aaronson
When Buendia has been injury-free at Villa Park, he has more than shown off his suitable nature for the testing division.
Indeed, minus picking up eight goal contributions for Norwich during his debut season at that level under Farke, a further 17 of the Argentine attacker’s goal and assist tally in the Premier League have come about when donning Villa claret and blue.
Unfortunately for Aaronson, away from just helping Leeds seal the title with a respectable nine goals and two assists, he can only boast one goal and three assists next to his name in the deep-end of the Premier League, with his spell so dismal that he was chucked out on loan to Union Berlin.
Therefore, if there is an opportunity to bring in one of Farke’s former Carrow Road favourites, Leeds should persist, with Buendia not just comfortable playing in a number ten spot to potentially usurp Aaronson, meaning he could also offer the Whites plenty of versatility ahead of the gruelling 38-game marathon to come.
RW
129
25
43
AM
88
13
10
LW
44
9
7
RM
8
0
1
SS
4
0
0
CF
3
0
0
RB
3
0
0
LM
2
1
0
CM
1
0
0
Judging by the numbers, Buendia is actually more adept playing as a right winger than an out-and-out number ten.
Former Norwich midfielder Emi Buendia.
As a result, the “outstanding” South American – as Farke once waxed called him – could give the likes of Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto a run for their money, away from stealing the American’s starting space.
Having also played in the Champions League last season with Bayer Leverkusen, this could be just one temporary signing, alongside other new recruits entering Elland Road, that allows Leeds to compete in the big time, knowing he has what it takes to dazzle some tough defenders.
Former Norwich attacker Emi Buendia.
Whilst Aaronson didn’t miss a single game in the Championship last season, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether, as plans begin to be put in place to ensure Leeds upgrade all over the park.
Big upgrade on Piroe: Leeds in the race to sign £34m "monster"
Leeds United would land themselves a Joel Piroe upgrade if they successfully signed this goalscoring monster.
An “excellent” Newcastle United player is thought to be a priority target for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs this summer.
Newcastle players who could leave this summer
While the Magpies are expecting a busy summer transfer window in terms of new signings, especially if Champions League football is secured this weekend, there are plenty of current star names being linked with exits before next season gets underway.
Alexander Isak is the player that Newcastle will be most desperate to retain, but the Swede is believed to be the subject of interest from some huge clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Meanwhile, the Reds could reportedly be back in for Anthony Gordon this summer, having shown a willingness to snap him up last year. They see him as a potential replacement for Luis Diaz, although signing Florian Wirtz would surely put paid to their interest in the Magpies ace.
There are others who Newcastle want to ensure are still at the club in 2025/26, like Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali. However, another exit claim regarding another individual has emerged.
"Excellent" Newcastle player wanted by Man City
According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Manchester City are targeting a move for Newcastle defender Tino Livramento as their primary right-back target, with the 22-year-old potentially becoming the first player to leave St James’ Park this summer despite the rumours elsewhere:
Losing Livramento would be a setback for the Magpies, considering he has proven to be the natural heir to Kieran Trippier in his position, and still has his best years ahead of him.
The £50,000-a-week Englishman has enjoyed an impressive season for Newcastle, starting 31 of his side’s 37 Premier League matches and being lauded by Eddie Howe:
“Athletically, Tino’s excellent and we know that, and we’ve seen that since he’s come to the football club, but to have that responsibility of playing left-back on the opposite side to his natural foot and play the way he has and also build the relationship with Harvey [Barnes] that he has done.”
If Livramento ultimately decides that he would rather join City than stay at Newcastle, Paul Mitchell must do all he can to ensure that the club receives huge money for him in order to sign a top-quality replacement.
Appearances
36
Starts
31
Minutes played
2752
Goals
0
Assists
1
Clearances per game
2.5
Tackles per game
1.5
Pass completion rate
87.2%
The 22-year-old isn’t out of contract at St James’ until the summer of 2028, putting the Magpies in a strong bargaining position, but hopefully, he will feel that his future belongs with his current team, seeing plenty more success coming their way.
Nottingham Forest and Evangelos Marinakis could now imminently swoop to hijack Inter Milan’s deal for an in-form forward, according to reports in the last 48 hours.
Nottingham Forest in Champions League race as crucial summer looms
Despite wins for both Chelsea and Aston Villa on Friday night, which dealt a blow to Nuno Espirito Santo and their chances of a top-five finish, Forest remain outside contenders to qualify for next season’s Champions League draw.
Nottingham Forest want to sign 23 y/o captain with same agent as Gibbs-White
He could be their first signing of the summer.
ByTom Cunningham May 13, 2025
A win against West Ham on Sunday is absolutely non-negotiable, but three points from their clash with the Hammers will set up a mouth-watering final day tie at home to Chelsea, where victory over Enzo Maresca’s side could pay dividends if results elsewhere go Nuno’s way.
2. Arsenal
68
3. Newcastle United
66
4. Chelsea
66
5. Aston Villa
66
6. Man City
65
7. Nottingham Forest
62
Their race for Europe will have a pivotal knock-on effect when it comes to their summer recruitment plans, as the financial windfalls received from Champions League qualification could help Forest splash the cash without having to worry so much about FFP and PSR.
“FFP and PSR plays a big part in the daily talk at Nottingham Forest,” said journalist Pete O’Rourke to Football Insider this week.
“Without Champions League football, it could be difficult for them to hold on to their best players. If somebody comes in with a big bid, and they’re not in the Champions League, it’s going to be very difficult for Nottingham Forest.
“They’ve got an owner who is financially sustainable and very willing to compete at the top. If players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Murillo were to leave the club, their recruitment is going to have to be good, and they’re going to have to pump some money in.
“They’ve got to toe the line with FFP and PSR rules. Gibbs-White may just fall foul of that, and he has been hand-picked by bigger and better clubs across Europe, not just in England.”
Nottingham Forest could "soon" move for Marseille star Luis Henrique
Amid the threat of a sell-to-buy summer, Marinakis and co are on the hunt for astute, quality potential new additions, and Marseille forward Luis Henrique certainly falls into that bracket.
The Brazilian has racked up nine goals and 10 assists under Roberto De Zerbi this season, and it is believed he’d cost around £25 million, which is affordable from the perspective of a Premier League side.
Olympique de Marseille'sLuisHenriquein action
While Inter Milan have been in talks with Marseille over a move, the Champions League finalists are currently falling below Henrique’s price tag in terms of offers, leaving the door open for Forest.
That is according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, who reported on X that Forest could “soon” move for Henrique and hijack Inter’s deal.
Called a “complete player” by De Zerbi, the 23-year-old Henrique is exactly the calibre of star required by Forest to keep competing at the very top.
Leeds United had to put out a statement to defend their captain, Ethan Ampadu, after his former partner posted a picture of their child in a Galatasaray shirt.
The Whites pointed out that they are separated and that the Wales international is sensitive to the situation, and that he did not have any responsibility for the image being published on social media.
It is a shame that this situation has created problems for Ampadu after what was a truly brilliant season from the versatile star, who is now a hugely valuable asset for the club.
Ethan Ampadu's current market value
At the time of writing (19/06/2025), the Welsh star is valued at €16m (£13.4m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the fee the Whites paid for him in the summer of 2023.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £7m to sign the defensive midfielder from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is now worth almost twice as much, thanks to his form for the club in the Championship.
Ampadu has made 84 appearances in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit in that time, helping the team to keep 35 clean sheets in the second tier.
There is a former Leeds defender, though, who is now worth even more than the Wales international, having left the club on a free transfer last year – Robin Koch.
Robin Koch's current market value
The Whites swooped to sign the German defender from Freiburg for an initial fee of £11.5m in the summer of 2020 and he went on to play 77 times for the club across three seasons at Elland Road.
After Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, Koch opted to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the 2023/24 campaign until his contract ran out in the summer of 2024.
Leeds defender Robin Koch.
This meant that the towering centre-back, once dubbed a “monster” by winger Vincenzo Grifo, left to sign for Frankfurt on a free transfer last year, and that has turned out to be an absolute bargain for the German side.
Appearances
36
30
Goals
0
3
Dribbled past per game
0.9x
0.4x
Clearances per game
4.1
6.5
Aerial duel success rate
62%
67%
Duels won per game
5.2
4.7
As you can see in the table above, Koch’s performances for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season have been far more impressive than his displays for Leeds in the Premier League were, which has led to interest from elsewhere.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently reported that Bayer Leverkusen are prepared to trigger his release clause, which is worth up to €20m (£16.8m), whilst Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also interested in signing him.
This shows that Koch’s value has soared since his exit from Leeds because he is now worth far more than the £11.5m that the club paid for him in 2020, and obviously more than the £0 they got back for his services in 2020.
The Whites, therefore, may rue how his situation unfoded because they were unable to extract a transfer fee from his exit, as he ran his contract down, and now he is closing in on a big-money move for even more than club captain Ampadu is worth.
Big Piroe upgrade: Leeds leading the race to sign "outstanding" PL star
Leeds are leading the race to sign a Premier League star who would be a big upgrade on Joel Piroe.
Leeds United left it late on the final day of the Championship season but Manor Solomon’s dramatic strike right at the death would secure Daniel Farke’s men the title.
Amazingly, both the Whites and their nearest competitors in Burnley would end their mightily impressive campaigns on 100 points each, but Leeds’ sturdy goal difference would hand the esteemed honours over to Farke and Co, instead of more party celebrations taking place at Turf Moor.
But, as much as the West Yorkshire titans have been able to blow teams away with ease in the second tier, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether.
Therefore, some potential attacking recruits are now being linked with a switch to Elland Road to help navigate the tricky step-up in quality.
Leeds' list of attacking targets
Already, Leeds have been linked with a whole host of new faces up top, with reports suggesting that the newly crowned champions might look to snap up Omari Hutchinson from recently relegated Ipswich Town.
Moreover, other rumours indicate that Leeds are intrigued by the prospect of bringing AZ Alkmaar goal machine Troy Parrott back to England, meaning the striker department would also be given a potential facelift.
Yet, there’s one name that sticks out as a top buy away from both Hutchinson and Parrott, with TBR Football revealing that Farke and Co are looking at a number of targets from Celtic, including Hoops attacking hotshot Nicolas Kuhn.
The Whites have had success when shopping from the Glasgow giants in the past, with Whites legend Mark Viduka once plying for his trade for the Scottish titans before becoming a fan’s favourite at Leeds. So, there’s clearly a proven recipe for success right here.
How Kuhn could be even better than James
If Kuhn can lift his game to be on the same level as Viduka’s – who would score a colossal 72 strikes for Leeds – he would further go down as a more impressive winger than Dan James over time, even with the Welshman fresh off just winning the Whites’ Player of the Year accolade.
James should be commended for how he’s managed to turn around his up-and-down stay at Elland Road, with the ex-Manchester United attacker undoubtedly a top-drawer talent in the EFL having previously struggled in the top-flight.
Indeed, the blistering number seven has tallied up a sizeable 41 goal contributions in league action over the last two seasons, but there will be a concern in the air lingering that the 56-time Wales international isn’t cut out for the bright lights of the Premier League.
Indeed, his best tally for a campaign up a division currently sits at a mere four goals and five assists.
On the flip side, Kuhn has proven again and again for Brendan Rodgers’ men – albeit in a far less strenuous top division in the Scottish Premiership – that he can dazzle defences under immense pressure. He’s even scored in the Champions League.
Staggeringly, across all competitions this campaign, including on Europe’s grandest stage, the German forward has amassed a bumper 34 goals and assists from 47 clashes, with a chance in the Premier League to come a deserved next step for the former RB Leipzig winger.
SPL
29
12
8
Champions League
10
3
1
SFA Cup
4
0
1
League Cup
4
5
4
In contrast, James accumulated a lesser 21 from ten fewer clashes, meaning he could take a back-seat now down the right flank for the “breathtaking” winger, as he’s been lauded in the past by pundit Marvin Bartley, to take over.
Obviously, it isn’t set in stone that Kuhn will be able to instantly acclimatise to the pressures of the Premier League, but history might well repeat itself here, especially if the Hoops number 10 can prove he belongs at the daunting level like Viduka before him.
Rio Ferdinand 2.0: Leeds want to sign "extraordinary" £20m defender
Leeds United are keen on signing a £20m star who could be the next Rio Ferdinand at Elland Road.
Burnley are now interested in signing an “outstanding” Fulham player who has worked and won promotion under Scott Parker before, according to a recent report.
Burnley already planning summer transfers
The Clarets confirmed their promotion to the Premier League on Monday evening after beating Sheffield United, and not even 48 hours later, already Burnley’s chiefs are working on transfer business ahead of the summer transfer window opening.
Sky Sports: Burnley set to sign 25 y/o after promotion in new £8m update
Burnley are now set to sign an exciting forward with a new price-tag emerging.
ByBrett Worthington Apr 23, 2025
It’s been claimed by former footballer Lee Hendrie that midfielder Jonjo Shelvey won’t be at Turf Moor next season. Shelvey’s contract expires at the end of the season, and Hendrie believes a new deal will not be offered.
Hendrie told Football League World: “I’m not sure that they will secure a deal for him. To be quite honest, I think that going into the Premier League, I think that the squad has to be a lot stronger. Jonjo obviously hasn’t featured too much, so I don’t think that will be one that they’ll be looking to make permanent and keep him there again. With his contract expiring, I think he’ll move on.”
Meanwhile, it’s been reported by Sky Sports that Burnley are now set to sign Jaidon Anthony on a permanent basis, with the Clarets securing his services for £8 million, rather than the £10 million that was originally reported during the summer transfer window.
Burnley want to sign Fulham ace who has worked with Parker
Anthony could be the start of a long list of players potentially arriving at Turf Moor during the summer. According to Give Me Sport, Burnley now want to sign Harrison Reed from Fulham, a player Parker knows very well.
Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed.
The report states that Burnley are keen to land the 30-year-old midfielder if Fulham are willing to do a deal. The Premier League side do have a few options in the middle of the pitch, and that has resulted in Reed falling down the pecking order this season, playing just 11 times in the league.
It’s claimed that Fulham and Marco Silva are looking to strengthen their midfield once again this summer, and therefore, Reed could be one that is moved on to make room in the squad.
Given his status in the Fulham team and the fact he has worked with Parker before, during his time in charge at Craven Cottage, Burnley are keen to explore a deal, but at this stage it remains unclear how much Fulham will want for the midfielder, who is under contract until 2027. During the 2019/20 campaign in the Championship, Reed played 28 games, including the play-offs for Parker, as he played an important role in the Cottagers’ promotion.
Apps
123
Goals
3
Assists
8
In that promotion-winning campaign, Parker labelled Reed “outstanding” for his performances. He said: “I was really impressed with him. I thought he was outstanding. We brought him in against Cardiff last week – a tough team – and it was difficult for him, and I thought against WBA he was immense, really.”
Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany is now very eager for the Bundesliga giants to sign a top Chelsea transfer target, with Enzo Maresca’s side facing even more competition for one player they are seriously pursuing.
Chelsea target new centre-back with summer names identified
The Blues are reportedly planning to reinforce the centre-back area this summer, following Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury and an evident shortage in that position.
Chelsea now very keen on signing "superstar" striker; may submit £39m offer
The Blues could be willing to launch a move for a forward, who may now be allowed to leave his club this summer.
ByDominic Lund Apr 15, 2025
Chelsea activated the recall clause in Trevoh Chalobah’s loan deal at Crystal Palace to bring him back to Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window, rather than sign a completely new name mid-season, but the Cobham academy graduate isn’t expected to have a long-term future under Maresca.
Fulham (away)
April 20th
Everton (home)
April 26th
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 10th
Man United (home)
May 18th
It is believed Chelsea are likely to let Chalobah go permanently in the summer (BBC), so the west Londoners will be in need of another centre-back to reinforce Maresca’s defensive options, ahead of his second season in charge, where they could be competing in the Champions League.
According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are expected to ‘go big’ on the signing of a new defender, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen on their radar.
Stamford Bridge chiefs, according to The Mirror, are even contemplating the possibility of a £50 million part-exchange bid for the former, and could offer Chalobah as part of the deal to re-sign their ex-player.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
Meanwhile, Huijsen’s excellent season at Bournemouth, combined with the fact he’ll be available for the value of his £50 million release clause this summer, has piqued interest from Chelsea and other elite Premier League sides.
According to the reliable David Ornstein, Chelsea have reached out to Huijsen’s camp for talks ahead of the summer window, so it appears the Spain international is a firm target for Maresca.
However, following these discussions with Chelsea, competition is growing for the “sensational” 20-year-old’s signature, and Maresca now faces a serious threat from Bayern in pursuit of Huijsen.
Vincent Kompany tells Bayern Munich to sign Dean Huijsen
According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Kompany is “pushing” Bayern to sign Huijsen this summer, and the Bavarians have joined the hotly-contested race for his services as a result.
Kompany is said to be a “huge fan” of the former Juventus defender, and they’re believed to be really pressing for Huijsen alongside Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle – with Tottenham also believed to have made contact (David Ornstein).
However, all of them may even be left disappointed, as Huijsen reportedly favours a move to Real Madrid.
In any case, the Spaniard’s next destination is fast becoming one of this summer’s most intriguing transfer stories, and it isn’t hard to see why so many clubs are keen on him after his hugely impressive debut season in the Premier League.
“He is one of the highest quality prospects in European football at this age level,” said Fenerbache boss and former Blues manager José Mourinho.
Celtic made a bold decision in the January transfer window when Rennes came knocking to sign their star striker Kyogo Furuhashi on a permanent deal.
The Japan international had scored 85 goals and provided 19 assists in 185 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, including an incredible return of 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
Despite his fantastic record for the club, Celtic agreed to sell the Japanese centre-forward for a reported fee of £10m to the French side, leaving Adam Idah as the team’s only natural number nine.
Instead of dipping into the market before the end of the January transfer window, Brendan Rodgers opted to put his faith in Daizen Maeda as a striker, saving the club millions on a new signing.
The Japanese forward has stepped up to be the alternative to Idah up front, whilst also still being an option on the flanks when needed, and has been a star for the Hoops with his goals this season.
Why Daizen Maeda is Celtic's most important player
The Celtic star, who was described as “electric” by John Collins, is the team’s most important player because of the quality he can provide in front of goal, as well as his incredible work rate out of possession.
Last season, Rodgers claimed that the forward “has the work rate of two players” and this speaks to how important he is to the side off the ball, as the versatile attacker can constantly close down opposition defenders and midfielders when they have the ball to win it back for the Hoops.
The 27-year-old attacker has also been the biggest threat at the top end of the pitch for the Scottish giants, with 30 goals and nine assists in 44 matches in all competitions.
He has scored at least 12 more goals than any of his teammates, with Nicolas Kuhn in second with 18, and has been directly involved in at least seven more goals than any other player in the squad, with Kuhn in second again with 32 goal contributions.
Appearances (starts)
29 (25)
Goals
15
Big chances missed
15
Conversion rate
30%
Key passes per game
1.2
Big chances created
8
Assists
7
As you can see in the table above, Maeda has provided a constant threat in the final third in the Scottish Premiership, with 23 goals and assists in 25 starts.
These statistics illustrate how important the Japan international is to Rodgers’ side with his contributions at the top end of the pitch, which is why he is the most important player in the squad when you couple that with the work he does off the ball to help out defensively.
Despite his importance to the side and his sensational performances on the pitch in all competitions this season, Maeda is not currently in the top three earners at Parkhead.
The top ten earners at Celtic
Per Salary Sport, Kyogo was in the top three with £19k-per-week before his £10m transfer to Rennes was completed in January, whilst Maeda is currently on £18k-per-week.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor are reportedly the two highest-earning stars at Parkhead on £37k-per-week, significantly more than the Japan international’s £18k-per-week.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
£37k
Callum McGregor
£37k
James Forrest
£19k
Daizen Maeda
£18k
Alistair Johnston
£16k
Reo Hatate
£16k
Arne Engels
£16k
Adam Idah
£16k
Luis Palma
£16k
Greg Taylor
£15k
As you can see in the table above, Maeda is currently fourth in the wage bill, still ahead of the likes of Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, and Alistair Johnston, and is behind James Forrest.
The long-serving academy graduate is reportedly on a wage of £19k-per-week, earning more than a handful of first-team stars, despite being a squad player, at best, this season.
Celtic winger James Forrest.
With this in mind, Rodgers must consider ruthlessly axing the Scottish forward from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, as there could be a better use for the money they are spending on his wages.
Why Celtic should move on from James Forrest
The 33-year-old winger is heading into the final year of his current contract at Parkhead and it may be best for the club to either move him on permanently or to send him out on loan for the season to go and play regular football, recouping a percentage of his wages for the campaign in the process.
Forrest has not done enough on the pitch in the current term to justify being one of the top three earners at the club, or to justify a regular place in the team in the 2025/26 campaign, which is to be expected at his age.
Celtic winger James Forrest.
The experienced dud showed signs of life in the 2023/24 season, with a very respectable return of seven goals in 28 appearances in all competitions, but he has failed to deliver on the pitch this year.
Forrest cost his side in the 1-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-table St. Johnstone last weekend when he failed to beat the goalkeeper from close range after Adam Idah put the ball on a plate for him in the middle of the box, with Celtic losing 1-0 at the time.
Appearances
22
17
Goals
6
0
Big chances missed
6
3
Conversion rate
16%
0%
Big chances created
3
3
Assists
1
4
As you can see in the table above, the Scottish forward has not scored a single goal in the Premiership this season, despite having three ‘big chances’ to find the back of the net.
In fact, Forrest has not scored a single goal in 25 appearances in all competitions this term. The likes of Greg Taylor, Auston Trusty, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Alistair Johnston – who all play in defence – have outscored him by scoring once in all competitions.
Celtic winger James Forrest warms up with Kyogo Furuhashi.
This illustrates just how poor the experienced winger has been in front of goal, which was on full display when he missed a chance to draw Celtic level at the weekend.
There is no doubt that Forrest has been an excellent servant for the club, scoring 109 goals in 520 matches to date, but his form this season suggests that this summer would be the right time to ruthlessly ditch him, whether permanently or on loan, due to his high wages compared to other players who play week-in-week-out and contribute more in the final third.
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When you consider that Maeda has scored 30 goals in all competitions, playing in a similar position, and reportedly earns less than him, it seems to be the right call to move on from Forrest this summer.