Watching Marcus Rashford score an emphatic brace for Barcelona in the Champions League would have been a bitter pill to swallow for many Manchester United fans.

On the one hand, the England international is a cherished, homegrown part of the club, still a member of the club, in fact, and only out on loan with La Blaugrana. On the other hand, his permanent departure at the end of the campaign feels rather likely.

The 27-year-old’s relationship with Ruben Amorim quickly disintegrated last season, and then he was shipped out to Premier League rivals Aston Villa for a short-term stint.

Having sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea too, the Red Devils perhaps have something of a shortage of widemen, even having completed impressive summer deals for Prem-proven duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

INEOS probably needed to ship out more stragglers than they did this summer, but they were faced with a huge task. And, in fairness, Mbeumo may well have the goalscoring ability to replace Rashford at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why Man United signed Bryan Mbeumo

Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur. Just a few clubs who wanted to sign Brentford’s attacking talisman this summer. All failed, with Man United winning the race despite offering nothing on the European front.

One of the greatest clubs in England, if not the, United are still a dormant superpower and such signings are needed to bring them back to the fore.

Both Cunha and Mbeumo have entered the fray at a tumultuous period, but it is their quality which will help United steer through, having both been so potent in the Premier League last season.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

38 (38)

Goals

15

20

Assists

6

7

Shots (on target)*

3.3 (1.3)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

2

9

Pass completion

79%

74%

Big chances created

13

17

Key passes*

1.8

1.8

Dribbles*

1.8

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.8

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.7

Duels won*

5.5

4.7

However, Man United didn’t get it all right during the summer window, and they still need to get rid of several stars who have run past their sell-by dates.

The player of significance here has been at Old Trafford for quite some time, but just as Mbeumo’s £150k-per-week salary reflects the new, streamlined wage structure INEOS are trying to implement, so too does this undeservedly matching pay packet underline the failings of the past decade.

INEOS must sell high-earning Man United flop

One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s principal priorities upon assuming co-ownership at Manchester United was to rewrite the financial books and stop the rot that had led to incremental losses across an extended period.

The 33-year-old Casemiro, taking home £350k per week, is probably the most obvious member of the first team who needs to move on sooner rather than later, but the man in question here is Luke Shaw, whose £150k-per-week wage sits level with Mbeumo’s.

Had Shaw enjoyed a more fortuitous career on the fitness front, this likely wouldn’t be a conversation. When United signed the left-back from Southampton for £27m in 2014, making him the most expensive teenager of all time, it was widely recognised that the post-Fergie era would still see the development of some of the country’s finest prospects.

But Shaw’s has been a rocky road, and it may well be coming to an end, having been deployed by Amorim as the left prong of a three-part central defence, starting all four of United’s Premier League matches so far.

According to Sofascore, he has only won 44% of his ground duels, which hardly speaks of the defensive security the outfit needs to rise once again.

Moreover, given that Shaw’s incessant fitness issues have permitted more than 20 starting berths in any given top-flight season just twice across the span of his career, it’s hardly surprising that noise of a potential departure to welcome a new, hungry talent on a more affordable wage is rising.

Indeed, reports from the summer suggested that INEOS were open to the stalwart’s departure, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League interested, but nothing came to fruition. Still, it suggests that he could be shipped on for a modest fee next year, especially if he maintains a degree of fitness.

Content creator Dev Bajwa put it in no uncertain terms: “Luke Shaw should not have been playing at this football club for the past two seasons.”

He might be right. Aged 30, the England international has spent the lion’s share of his professional career in Manchester, playing 202 games for the club in total and notably winning silverware such as the Europa League and the League Cup (injuries prevented him from earning a medal when Erik ten Hag’s United won the FA Cup in 2024).

Shaw might have big ambitions, but sadly, he isn’t at the level required for a club who might demand a place challenging for the Premier League title, but presently face a battle to secure a place in any level of European competition next term.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester derby last weekend, pundit Gary Neville conceded that his countryman was “nowhere near it”, and the question now lingers as to whether he is fit for purpose in Amorim’s three-man backline.

Having entered the penultimate year of his deal at the club, it seems unlikely that technical director Jason Wilcox would renew terms for a struggling star who has been around for an age but hardly produces the consistency of performance to warrant a salary in line with a new superstar such as Mbeumo.

Shaw can hold his head high, especially due to all the fitness troubles he has been plagued by, but it’s time for the Three Lions star to move on.

It's not Hojlund: Man Utd let "incredible" Sesko upgrade go for just £16m

Manchester United may now be regretting letting go of one former star who’s better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

Rangers have made some high-profile signings over the years, with the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup going on to becoming Ibrox legends after heading to Glasgow.

Mikel Arteta, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ronald de Boer were just some other big names who decided to move to Scotland, but there could have been a lot more if the Gers got their way.

Rangers' top 15 goalscorers of all time

Rangers have had plenty of natural goalscorers at Ibrox over the last 150 years.

By
Ross Kilvington

Dec 26, 2024

From Lionel Messi to Ronaldo, Rangers nearly signed some legends of the game.

10 star players Rangers almost signed

10

Lionel Messi

Shortly before Lionel Messi made his Barcelona debut, Rangers and manager at the time Alex McLeish were alerted to the Argentine talent.

McLeish’s son, Jon, found Messi on Football Manager, with the Gers trying but failing to sign him on loan back in 2003.

9

Andres Iniesta

At the same time Rangers were trying to sign Messi, they also almost brought midfield maestro Andres Iniesta to Ibrox.

The Spaniard was a teenager at the time and nearly headed to Scotland on loan for regular game time as Rangers looked for their Barry Ferguson replacement. Unfortunately, Iniesta would get his chance in the Barca first-team shortly after and wouldn’t look back.

8

Ronaldo

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is arguably the biggest what if case when it comes to near transfer misses for Rangers.

The forward was wanted by the Gers, Lazio and Inter Milan in 1997 when he was still a Barcelona player. Ronaldo even had an offer from Rangers and former owner David Murray, but headed to Inter Milan instead.

7

Alan Shearer

Before becoming a goalscoring machine for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, Alan Shearer was a Southampton player.

The Premier League’s all-time record scorer caught the eye of Rangers boss Walter Smith in the early 1990s, however, those at Ibrox couldn’t persuade Shearer to head to Scotland.

6

Dennis Bergkamp

Smith certainly had an eye for a future attacking star, as, along with Shearer, also wanted to bring Dennis Bergkamp to Rangers in the 1990s.

Bergkamp was an Inter Milan player at the time, and after Rangers failed to put a proposal together, the skilful Dutch forward signed for Arsenal in a £7.5m deal and would go on to become a Gunners legend.

Bergkamp’s Arsenal stats
Games	422
Goals	120
Assists	116
Trophies	10

5

Samuel Eto'o

After struggling to break through into Real Madrid’s first team from their academy, Samuel Eto’o found a home with Mallorca, securing a permanent move to the Spanish side in 2000.

The Cameroon striker would star for his new side and was wanted by McLeish in 2002. Rangers missed out on Eto’o, who, two years later, would sign for Barcelona, where he won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.

4

Jaap Stam

It wasn’t just attacking stars who nearly signed for Rangers, with central defender Jaap Stam targeted by Dick Advocaat after he took over as Ibrox manager in 1998.

Stam was a PSV Eindhoven regular under Advocaat, but he couldn’t bring the towering centre-back with him to Scotland, with Sir Alex Ferguson and Man Utd winning the race.

3

Robin van Persie

A Rangers move for Robin van Persie was extremely close in 2003, with a deal even agreed with Feyenoord for the Dutch forward to move to Ibrox for just £3m.

Van Persie was persuaded to head to Ibrox by Advocaat, however, Rangers failed to raise the funds and the striker would sign for Arsenal a year later.

2

Emmanuel Petit

Rangers found themselves in a bidding war with Arsenal for Emmanuel Petit back in 1997, and if it wasn’t for the Gunners, the French midfielder could have easily been a major signing for the Gers.

Former owner Murray once lifted the lid on how close Rangers were to bringing Petit to Ibrox.

1

Luka Modric

Rangers could have signed Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric in the early stages of his career for just £3.5m, however, those at Ibrox didn’t have the funds.

Former Rangers assistant Ally McCoist was actually sent to watch Dinamo Zagreb right-back Vedran Corluka but was stunned at what he saw from Modric and urged the club to get a deal done.

Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their preparations for this week's Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, after the aircraft taking them to Germany was hit with a "technical issue", meaning that Arne Slot will not be able to conduct a press conference before the encounter in midweek. The Reds are aiming to break a streak of four successive defeats after their weekend loss to Manchester United at Anfield.

• Travel disruption for Liverpool

  Liverpool face Frankfurt on Wednesday and were set to fly to the German city on Tuesday, with head coach Slot to address the media in the early evening. However, due to "technical issues" with the aircraft, the flight was delayed, and the meeting between the manager and the media has been postponed. It will also likely affect the club's pre-match plans, although the club did train at their AXA base on Tuesday morning.

  A statement from the Reds read: "Our pre-match press conference for the clash with Eintracht Frankfurt has been cancelled. A delay in the squad's scheduled flight out to Frankfurt, due to technical issues with the aircraft, means the briefing will now not be able to take place."

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  Reds in desperate need of a result

  While the Reds did win their opening Champions League game, a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, they were beaten by Galatasaray in their most recent European outing. They have also lost three Premier League games in a row, going down to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and, most gallingly of all, United at Anfield. Slot has accepted that there is pressure on him, and pundit, and Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher has urged the Dutchman to drop Mohamed Salah ahead of the encounter.

  He said: "I don't think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk where it's like 'first name on the teamsheet'. Liverpool have got two away games – in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don't think Salah should start both of those games.

  "He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today. But I do think in the away games and helping your full-back, I don't think Salah should be starting every game right now, certainly away from home, with the form he's in."

  He added: "Would he be OK with that? Probably not. But when you get to a certain age you have to understand that, especially when you're not playing well, where's your argument?

  "It's different if you're banging in the goals and your manager makes a tactical decision and you're frustrated. I don't think Mo Salah's in any position to complain if he was left out of one of the next two away games."

• Frankfurt in middling form

  Frankfurt have also endured a difficult start to the season in Germany, winning three, losing three, and drawing one of their opening seven games. Their last European outing resulted in a thrashing, as they were beaten 5-1 by Atletico Madrid in Spain. They also recently lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, meaning they are in dire need of a result, much like their opposition. 

  Liverpool have already been dealt a serious headache, with Ryan Gravenberch missing training before the midweek clash; it is unclear if the Dutchman will be able to slot into midfield once again for the Reds against their German opposition. 

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  What now for Liverpool?

  Liverpool have not lost five games in succession since the 1950s, and have not endured a run of four successive defeats since Brendan Rodgers was manager. 

  Slot has already spoken of the fact that he felt the Reds were hard done by against United, but he will be well aware of the need for three points on Wednesday. 

  He siad: "The result (is what went wrong). And the fact that we went 1-0 down so early. If you play United, with so many quality players they have – [and] brought in a few new ones this summer – and if they come to us in a low block, playing so many long balls, then the last thing you would want is going 1-0 down. Because that gives them even more belief. If you would have told me we are 1-0 down against a United team that played in the style they did, and you would have told me that we would create eight, nine, 10 open chances, then I would have said to you that I don't think that is possible. But it was possible.

  "So, the second thing that went wrong is that from all the chances we got, we only scored one goal. I have said it in Holland many times and maybe I've said it here as well, it's almost impossible to win a big game of football – and Liverpool v United is a big game with so many quality players on the pitch – to win it with a negative set-piece balance. We conceded another one and that led to us losing the game."

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in a tight spot under Vitor Pereira and need to find a run of form, though they could now shatter their transfer record to improve their lacklustre forward line.

Wolves looking to bounce back after another Premier League defeat

Molineux isn’t somewhere that supporters would describe as a happy environment at the moment, and it remains to be seen whether Pereira can turn the tide after a fifth successive Premier League defeat against Leeds United last weekend.

Despite Ladislav Krejci’s fine opener, a quickfire trio of goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor left fans leaving their feelings known at full-time as the Old Gold verged four points away from safety.

Even at an early stage, the Old Gold are playing with fire in their hunt for top-flight survival. Crucially, they have put their trust in Pereira with a new three-year deal, albeit his contract extension doesn’t come with an added compensation threshold should they opt to part ways with the Brazilian later down the line, per The Daily Mail.

Reacting to speculation over his future, he said post-match via Match of the Day: “I am not worried about my future. I don’t need to answer because I am not worried about my future. I am worried about the results. Of course I am confident I can turn it around.”

Speculation surrounding an out-of-window Wolves move for Dele Alli has seemingly died down, not that the England international appears to be a sole solution to their problems. However, he could help to plug a noticeable creativity void left by Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United.

With that in mind, they could now be about to back Pereira by pursuing an exciting attacker once the January transfer window opens.

Wolves want to meet Yeremay Hernandez release clause

According to reports in Spain, Wolves want to meet Deportivo La Coruna star Yeremay Hernandez’s £52.3 million release clause and feel confident they can seal an agreement to bring the Spain Under-21 international to the West Midlands.

Approval ratings for the Old Gold’s ownership are low among supporters, prompting club chiefs to show ambition in the market by looking to complete what would be a club record deal, exceeding Cunha’s arrival from Atletico Madrid by quite a distance.

Wolves bid for star rejected but he's now up for sale and could join in January

The Old Gold could look to pounce for his signature.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Sep 8, 2025

Following a return of 15 goals and five assists in 39 appearances last term, Yeremay has registered a goal inside his first six outings for Deportivo in 2025/26. He has previously been lauded for his “creative” qualities by Ben Mattinson.

Capable of playing on either flank, the 22-year-old is viewed as someone who could turn Wolves’ poor start to the campaign around. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether they can force a deal through in January.

Blaze fail to close out run chase as Bears sneak a share of the spoils

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-May-2025

Charis Pavely top-scored for Bears Women with 46 off 34 balls•ECB via Getty Images

The Blaze 160 for 4 (K Bryce 60*, Elwiss 52) tied with Bears 160 for 8 (Pavely 46, Gordon 2-26)The Blaze and Bears Women shared the points after opening their Vitality Blast season with a tie at Trent Bridge.Charis Pavely, who hit a career-best 46, shared a 75-run partnership with Katie George as Bears Women finished on 160 for 8 from 20 overs.Kathryn Bryce, who top-scored with 60 not out after being dropped on 5, and Georgia Elwiss looked to have set the home side, who were the final 20-over champions in the regional women’s professional game, on course to open with a victory.But, needing nine off the last over, bowled by England seamer Issy Wong, they were able to manage only eight, crucially losing Sarah Bryce, who had hit 27 from 18 balls, to a slower ball off the penultimate delivery.Bears opted to bat and clocked up a respectable 45 in the powerplay, losing two wickets as Abbey Freeborn was beaten by Maddy Green’s pinpoint throw as she chanced a leg-side single off Grace Ballinger, who had Davina Perrin caught at extra cover and should have had a second wicket when Sterre Kalis was dropped at square cover on nought.More casualties swiftly followed as the dangerous Wong was well taken at extra cover off Elwiss and Kalis was bowled by Kirstie Gordon in a stump-exposing attempted sweep.But from 61 for 4, the Pavely-George partnership gave the innings much-needed substance, England Under-19 allrounder Pavely surviving an early chance on 4 to lead the way as the fifth-wicket pair added 75 from 55 balls, hitting five fours and a sweetly-timed six over midwicket off Elwiss before she was bowled by Gordon, sweeping.Explosive Aussie batter Laura Harris clubbed Elwiss for another six but was caught at short fine leg without adding to it, Amu Surenkumar was bowled by Kathryn Bryce and George was run out off the last ball as Bears set The Blaze 161 to win.Marie Kelly, bowled by seamer Surenkumar, fell in the third over of the chase, but The Blaze were 43 from six overs without further loss and were well placed at 71 for 1 at the halfway stage, although only after Kathryn Bryce had ridden her luck on 5 and 13 as chances off Wong and Hannah Baker went down, the first a straightforward one at gully.They were proving increasingly costly as the experienced second-wicket pair began to accelerate, the frustration for Bears compounded as Elwiss had an escape on 45 before completing a ninth career half-century in this format from 36 balls. The partnership moved into three figures in the same over.Elwiss was bowled going down the track to Pavely’s left-arm spin. Joined in the middle by sister Sarah, Kathryn Bryce completed her fifty from 44 balls, but with 26 still needed from 18 balls, a tight finish was in the offing.It came down to nine off the last over and four off four balls after Sarah Bryce had picked off a fourth boundary in 17 balls but with two needed from two Bryce miscued to be caught at mid-off and Green was run out going for a second off the last ball, leaving the match tied.

After joining Pumas UNAM to be closer to his family and move on from a tough stint in Argentina, Keylor Navas opened up about his early football dreams – revealing he once wanted to lead the attack instead of guard the net. The 38-year-old Costa Rican legend, who starred for Real Madrid and PSG, has quickly become one of Pumas’ key figures in Liga MX.

AFP"Throughout the entire week I was a striker"

During a recent appearance on the YouTube channel hosted by fellow Costa Rican and football icon Hugo Sánchez, Navas surprised fans by revealing a lesser-known story from his early years in the sport.

The conversation took a humorous turn when Sánchez asked him what his career might have looked like had he played in a different position-specifically as an attacker. That’s when Navas admitted that scoring goals once felt just as natural as stopping them.

“When I was a kid, I always played as a goalkeeper," Navas said. "We played the match on Saturdays at the football school, but throughout the entire week I was a striker." 

He explained that between the ages of eight and 14, he would split matches between goal and attack. 

“And when I played as a striker, I took advantage of certain situations. I always thought, ‘When you're standing there and the forward is so close, if he doesn’t shoot, that’s a great chance, because if he does shoot, it would be very hard to stop it.’”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDestiny led him down a different path

That striker’s mindset stayed with him even as he evolved into one of the world’s top goalkeepers. 

“That was my mentality as a forward – a killer,” he said. But in the end, a bit of divine guidance-led him as he leaned on his faith to go in a different path. 

“I would never have had the kind of career you had,” Navas said to Sanchez. 

AFPImmediate impact since arriving in Mexico

Now under the guidance of Efraín Juárez, Navas has taken on a leadership role as Pumas chase a Play-In spot. The team sits 10th in Liga MX with four matchdays remaining.

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Pumas will face Atlético de San Luis this Wednesday determined to secure three crucial points and continue climbing the table. A loss could jeopardize their position in the Play-In race with only four Matchdays remaining in the tournament.

Celtic’s dominance in Scotland has continued under Brendan Rodgers, and the Northern Irishman has worked with a number of star players at Parkhead during his two stints as manager who have gone on to bring in huge transfer fees for the Hoops.

But who is the club’s record departure? Here’s a look at Celtic’s most expensive sales in their history, as per Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

=1

Matt O’Riley

£25m

Brighton

2024

=1

Jota

£25m

Al-Ittihad

2023

=1

Kieran Tierney

£25m

Arsenal

2019

4

Moussa Dembele

£19.7m

Lyon

2018

5

Nicolas Kuhn

£16.5m

Como

2025

6

Odsonne Edouard

£14m

Crystal Palace

2021

7

Kristoffer Ajer

£13.5m

Brentford

2021

8

Virgil van Dijk

£13m

Southampton

2015

9

Victor Wanyama

£12.5m

Southampton

2013

10

Jeremie Frimpong

£11.5m

Bayer Leverkusen

2021

=11

Liel Abada

£10m

Charlotte FC

2024

=11

Kyogo Furuhashi

£10m

Rennes

2025

=11

Josip Juranovic

£10m

Union Berlin

2023

=11

Fraser Forster

£10m

Southampton

2014

15

Aiden McGeady

£9.5m

Spartak Moscow

2010

=16

Stuart Armstrong

£7m

Southampton

2018

=16

Mark Viduka

£7m

Leeds

2000

18

Stiliyan Petrov

£6.5m

Aston Villa

2006

=19

Ki Sung-yueng

£6m

Swansea City

2012

=19

Adam Idah

£6m

Swansea City

2025

Here's a detailed look at Celtic's top 10 sales… 10 Jeremie Frimpong £11.5m to Bayer Leverkusen, 2021

Jeremie Frimpong has had one of the more impressive post-Celtic careers, as his £11.5m move to Bayer Leverkusen has certainly worked out for the Dutchman.

Frimpong was a key part of the Leverkusen side which went unbeaten in their double-winning season in 2023/24, as well as reach the Europa League final, which proved to be their only defeat of the campaign.

Not only did Celtic receive a handsome fee following Frimpong’s departure, but they also had a 30% sell-on fee is in his Leverkusen contract, where he was sold to Liverpool for £30m in 2025.

9 Victor Wanyama £12.5m to Southampton, 2013

Celtic really found a gem in powerful central midfielder Victor Wanyama, making a huge profit on the fee they paid Beerschot in 2011, with Southampton paying £12.5m to take the Kenyan to the Premier League.

Wanyama made more than 90 appearances for Celtic in his two-year stay, starring in the Champions League before moving to the south coast.

8 Virgil van Dijk £13m to Southampton, 2015

Yet another player to depart for Southampton in the top 10 list is Virgil van Dijk, who is now regarded as one of the best centre-backs of the modern era.

The Hoops signed Van Dijk in 2013 from FC Groningen, and after winning back-to-back titles in Glasgow, he caught the eye of the Saints, who were managed by fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman.

The south coast side paid £13m to lure Van Dijk to St Mary’s, before they received a then-world-record fee for a defender when Liverpool came calling in late 2017.

7 Kristoffer Ajer £13.5m to Brentford, 2021

Signed as a teenager after a trial with Celtic in 2016, Kristoffer Ajer grew into one of the best defenders in the Scottish Premiership.

The Norway international won three trebles in a row with Celtic between 2018 and 2020 before leaving the club in 2021 for London and Brentford. The Bees spent an initial £13.5m to bring him to the Gtech Community Stadium.

6 Odsonne Edouard £14m to Crystal Palace, 2021

One of Celtic’s record signings, Odsonne Edouard scored goals for fun at Parkhead after joining permanently from PSG.

In total, Edouard scored 87 goals in 179 games for the Hoops and was too good for the division when he left for Crystal Palace on deadline day in the summer of 2021, with the Eagles sealing a £14m deal.

5 Nicolas Kuhn £16.5m to Como, 2025

Nicolas Kuhn was Celtic’s high-profile transfer saga in the summer of 2025, with the Hoops not exactly splashing the cash despite receiving £16.5m for their star winger.

Serie A side Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, struck a deal with Celtic for Kuhn, who spent just £3m on the forward in January 2024.

4 Moussa Dembele £19.7m to Lyon, 2018

Another free-scoring French striker who brought in plenty of money was Moussa Dembele, who left three years before Edouard in 2018.

Dembele netted 51 times in 94 Celtic appearances and went on to be successful in a Lyon shirt. The Ligue 1 side paid close to £20m for the striker, with Celtic making a handsome profit in the process having signed him for around £500,000.

3 Kieran Tierney £25m to Arsenal, 2019

Kieran Tierney holds the record as Celtic’s joint-most expensive sale, as well as the outright record for an academy player, with the boyhood Hoops fan bringing in an eye-catching £25m in his move to Arsenal back in 2019.

The left-back fell out of favour at the Emirates and made the surprise move back to Celtic Park in 2025 on a free transfer.

2 Jota £25m to Al-Ittihad, 2023

After a memorable loan spell from Benfica, Celtic activated their option-to-buy clause to sign Jota in 2022.

However, after another impressive campaign at Parkhead, the Portuguese winger attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad making him their club-record signing for £25m. Things didn’t work out for Jota with Al-Ittihad, signing for Rennes a year later before re-joining the Hoops.

1 Matt O’Riley £25m to Brighton, 2024

Also top of the charts as Celtic’s most expensive sale is midfielder Matt O’Riley, who cost the Hoops a tiny fee in comparison to what they sold him for this past summer.

Signed from MK Dons, O’Riley starred at Celtic Park and won his first caps for Denmark as a result, with Brighton spending £25m on his signature in 2024.

Nottingham Forest are suffering a mini-crisis right now and under-fire new boss Ange Postecoglou is under significant pressure, despite being just six games into his tenure.

Ange Postecoglou already facing calls for Nottingham Forest sack

Appointed just under one month ago after Forest parted ways with Nuno Espírito Santo, Postecoglou was brought in on the promise of a new attacking direction and a more positive, high-pressing brand of football.

So far, though, results have been extremely disappointing and dissatisfaction is mounting in the stands.

Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ rang around the City Ground when Danish minnows FC Midtjylland secured a surprise 3-2 Europa League win in Nottingham on Thursday – a match which best summed up Forest’s serious fragility since Postecoglou took charge.

Forest remain winless under Postecoglou after six matches in all competitions, a stretch that has seen them lose four and draw two.

It’s the worst start by any Forest manager in 100 years, and frustration has spilled over into disdain among supporters.

Postecoglou’s trademark ‘Angeball’ — a philosophy built on possession, quick transitions, and aggressive pressing — has struggled to translate into needed results.

Forest’s squad, accustomed to a more pragmatic, counter-attacking style under Nuno, have looked pretty uncomfortable adjusting to the new approach so far — despite some flashes of brilliant play against the likes of Real Betis — where they really deserved to win that game.

Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at Nottingham Forest so far

Competition

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Premier League

Swansea 3-2 Forest

Carabao Cup

Burnley 1-1 Forest

Premier League

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

Europa League

Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Premier League

Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

Europa League

Defensive frailties have been majorly exposed, with the team conceding crucial goals from set pieces and counter-attacks.

A trip to Newcastle awaits Postecoglou next, but while Forest are remaining patient with the 60-year-old (Fabrizio Romano), this could now change pretty quickly.

A loss at St. James’ Park could even spell the end for Tottenham’s former boss, who ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for major silverware at the end of last season.

Fabrizio Romano reported this week that Ange will be given time at Forest, but according to TEAMtalk, ruthless Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis is already considering a bold replacement.

Oliver Glasner emerging as "prime candidate" to replace Ange at Forest

According to their information, as sourced by journalist Fraser Fletcher, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is now among the top contenders to succeed Postecoglou if he is sacked.

Glasner helped to end Palace’s history-long wait for a major trophy last term, guiding them to a 1-0 win over Man City in the FA Cup final, and the South Londoners are currently on an unprecedented 19-game unbeaten run.

The Austrian has also worked wonders on a limited budget despite losing the likes of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, which has prompted links to the Man United job as pressure also mounts on Ruben Amorim.

It is believed that Glasner is emerging as a “prime candidate” for the Forest job now too, but it remains to be seen whether the Europa League-winning tactician would swap high-flying Palace for Forest given their contrasting fortunes.

That being said, Glasner’s proven track record of consistently overachieving with less-fancied squads in the Bundesliga, Austrian Bundesliga and, now, the Premier League, makes him a pretty exceptional option.

The 51-year-old’s flexible tactical approach has earned serious plaudits, and he’s known for building compact, organized teams that defend as a unit, which could address Forest’s vulnerabilities under Postecoglou.

Glasner was named as a managerial target for Tottenham at one point as well, with pundit John Wenham calling him a potentially “exciting” appointment.

While Glasner is currently employed and Palace will likely fight to keep him, reliable reports claim that he is hesitating on signing a new deal after being offered one in the summer, with his current contract due to expire in 2026 (BBC).

استمر محمد صلاح، نجم نادي ليفربول، في الاستفاقة والسعي نحو استعادة مستواه خلال الفترة الأخيرة، حيث قاد الريدز إلى الانتصار على أستون فيلا أمس السبت بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

محمد صلاح سجل هدفًا في مرمى أستون فيلا، ليقود ليفربول للفوز على رجال المدرب أوناي إيمري بهدفين دون رد، ضمن منافسات الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ولعب محمد صلاح بشكل جيد أمام أستون فيلا، وهو الأسبوع الثاني على التوالي الذي يتمكن فيه الدول المصري من تسجيل هدف.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لاعب ليفربول: محمد صلاح أسطورة وأتعلم منه الكثير

وصنع محمد صلاح التاريخ في لقاء الأمس، حيث وصل إلى هدفه الـ250 مع ليفربول في كافة المسابقات، وهو إنجاز غير مسبوق لابن الـ33 عامًا ، والذي يمضي عامه التاسع في النادي الإنجليزي.

لكن محمد صلاح لم يحقق هذا الإنجاز فحسب، حيث ذكرت شبكة “سكاوكا” للإحصائيات، أن محمد صلاح قد رفع عدد الأهداف التي سجلها مع ليفربول في ملعب أنفيلد بالدوري الإنجليزي إلى 107 أهداف، ليتجاوز الملك المصري أسطورة مانشستر سيتي، سيرجيو أجويرو، والذي سجل 106 أهداف مع السيتيزن بملعب الاتحاد.

وأصبح محمد صلاح ثاني أكثر لاعب في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والذي يسجل أهدافًا على ملعب فريقه، حيث يحتل تييري هنري، نجم آرسنال السابق، المركز الأول في تلك القائمة برصيد 114 هدفًا.

وسوف ينتهي عقد محمد صلاح مع ليفربول بنهاية الموسم المقبل، ما يعني إمكانية تحقيق النجم المصري لهذا الإنجاز وكسر رقم هنري.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is under immense pressure heading into the clash with Hibernian at Ibrox in the latest round of the League Cup.

It feels like a huge game for the former Scotland international after a tricky start to life in Glasgow, losing 2-0 to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox last weekend.

As the title of the highlights above suggests, the pressure is mounting on the Rangers manager due to the poor start to the season, with no wins in their first five league games.

The Scottish giants were also knocked out of the Champions League at the play-off phase with a 9-1 defeat to Club Brugge, which did little to help supporters warm to the new head coach.

On top of the poor results on the pitch, both domestically and in Europe, Martin has ousted Nicolas Raskin from the first-team squad for the last two matches.

The Belgium international did not feature at all in the 0-0 draw with Celtic or the 2-0 defeat to Hearts either side of the international break, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will get any minutes against Hibernian this weekend, although it has been confirmed that he will be a part of the squad.

Why Russell Martin is making a mistake with Nicolas Raskin

Before the defeat to Hearts, Martin said: “Nico is back training with the group but he won’t be in the squad. He has a duty to make sure he earns the trust of all his other team-mates.”

Of course, we are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes. Martin could be in the wrong. Raskin could be in the wrong. Both parties could be in the wrong. What is for sure, though, is that this situation does not benefit the football club.

Legendary Rangers striker Ally McCoist said “you cannot bite your nose off to spite your face” when asked about the situation with the midfielder. He is spot on.

Raskin has proven that he can be a difference-maker for the Gers, as shown in the clip above, after a return of five goals and 11 assists in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

Rangers have scored two goals in their last five matches in all competitions, failing to score in any of their last three, and this shows that they are lacking his quality in possession at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

33

12

Tackles per game

2.8

3.7

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

5.6

7.4

Ground duel success rate

57%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

55%

As you can see in the table above, Raskin also brings defensive quality to the pitch that could have helped the Gers in their 2-0 loss to Hearts and the first half against Club Brugge, when they conceded five before only letting in one with him on the pitch in the second half.

Ultimately, performances and results have not been good enough for Rangers. Another loss, particularly if Raskin is not involved as a starter, should force the board to part ways with the boss.

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With this in mind, Kevin Thelwell and the board must consider swooping to appoint Kevin Muscat, whose contract at SH Port expires at the end of this year, per Transfermarkt.

Rangers Journal’s Kai Watson described the English-born head coach as a “perfect” choice and one the fans have “wanted” for several seasons earlier this month. He has been linked with the Ibrox post in previous years as well.

Why Rangers should appoint Kevin Muscat

Unless Martin can turn things around, starting against Hibernian on Saturday, the Light Blues should fire their head coach to appoint Muscat because he could resurrect Raskin’s Ibrox career and get the team back on track this season.

Above all else, the 52-year-old manager has proven that he can win trophies. He has won a league title and a domestic cup with SH Port, on top of two league titles and one cup with Melbourne Victory and one league title and a super cup with Yokohama F. Marinos, per Transfermarkt.

This shows that he knows how to build teams that can win major trophies. Perhaps the most impressive part of his record is that he has done it in three different countries: Australia, Japan, and China. This shows that he can adapt to different cultures and ways of playing and still build a side to win consistently.

2025 (24)

2.13

2nd

2024 (30)

2.60

1st

2023 (34)

1.88

2nd

2022 (34)

2.00

1st

2021 (18)

1.83

2nd

As you can see in the table above, Muscat has won two league titles in the last four seasons, and still has six games left of the current campaign to make it three in four.

Rangers could tempt him to give up on a chance to turn things around and win the league title with SH Port by offering him the job at Ibrox, should they decide to part ways with Martin.

As well as being a winning manager, Muscat also has a style of play that could get the best out of Raskin. The aforementioned Kai Watson claimed that the manager plays “fast attacking football” with “relentless pressing”.

This suggests that he would be the perfect head coach to get the best out of Raskin because that combines the two parts of his game that he thrives on, fast attacking play and pressing to win possession back.

As aforementioned, the Belgium international is a creative midfielder who can set his teammates up for high-quality chances on a regular basis, but he is also a combative and tenacious defender who wants to get stuck in and win the ball back high up the pitch.

Putting him in Muscat’s favoured 4-3-3 formation, per Transfermarkt, could allow him to thrive both in and out of possession at Ibrox once again, rather than having to sit at the base of a ball-dominant Martin side that does not give him as much freedom to burst forward or to get up the pitch to be combative off the ball.

Once worth £30m, Rangers flop now looks like he's worth less than Tavernier

This Glasgow Rangers flop who was once valued at £30m now looks worth even less than James Tavernier.

ByDan Emery Sep 17, 2025

Therefore, Rangers could revive Raskin’s Ibrox career by firing the underperforming Martin and appointing a head coach whose system and style would maximize the midfielder’s potential, while also enhancing the team’s overall winning culture.