All posts by z3u9t.icu

Nottingham Forest chiefs are switching their attentions to the summer already, as they are now monitoring a “big-name” player in Italy, according to a recent report.

Nottingham Forest prepare for Ipswich in FA Cup

The Reds are back in action on Monday as they welcome Ipswich Town to the City Ground as they look to book their place in the final eight of the FA Cup. Forest are still firmly in the race for a top four finish this season, but with no win in their last three, their lead over the teams behind them has been shortened and a domestic cup may become their best route into Europe.

Nottingham Forest plotting summer move to sign "superb" £17m Serie A winner

He’s scored more goals than Hudson-Odoi this season…

1 ByTom Cunningham Mar 1, 2025

Nuno has said that he is going to need all his players between now and the end of the campaign if they are to achieve their goal of qualifying for continental competition. “We are going to need all of the players. Nobody should disconnect, and we try to make sure that everybody is involved.

“There’s no other way. Players must be patient, responsible, and respectful for who’s playing.”

But while the boss is focusing on his current squad, Forest’s recruitement chiefs are beginning to look ahead to the summer, as Tuttosport state that they are now plotting a move to sign Alexis Saelemaekers from AC Milan.

Newcastle United are also interested in signing the attacking midfielder, who is said to be valued at £17 million. Nuno’s side will expect to have an edge in the race if they secure Champions League football for next season.

Nottingham Forest monitoring "big-name" £35m ace

As well as looking in Serie A for Saelemaekers, Nottingham Forest are also keeping a close eye on Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, who looks set to leave the Italian champions, according to ESPN.

The report states that Forest look to be in the market for a new midfielder for next season, and Frattesi, who won Serie A last season, has emerged on their radar. The 25-year-old was signed for around £20 million, and it is believed that Inter are willing to let him leave San Siro for a fee of £35 million.

However, Forest are not alone in their pursuit, as it’s been reported that Tottenham Hotspur have already made a bid to Inter to sign Frattesi. The Italy international, who has been dubbed a “big-name” player in Simone Inzaghi’s squad, joined Inter first on loan from Sassuolo before joining on a permanent basis in July last year.

Apps

74

Starts

21

Goals

12

Assists

9

Since joining the Serie A champions, Frattesi has been a key player for Inzaghi, playing 42 times in all competitions last season. However, he only managed 11 starts in those games, and that has continued into this campaign, starting 10 of the 32 games he has played overall.

His lack of starts means Frattesi is also probably open to a move elsewhere, and Forest could represent a good opportunity, especially if they secure Champions League football. His potential arrival would see him compete with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Danilo, Nicolas Dominquez and Ryan Yates for a starting spot in that midfield two.

Will a change of manager signal a change in fortune for Ibrox side Rangers?

On Sunday night, following the weekend home defeat at the hands of St Mirren, it was announced that Philippe Clement had been sacked as manager of the Gers, having been, as Findlay Marks of the Scottish Football Show put it, a “dead man walking” ever since the Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Queen’s Park.

The following morning, the club confirmed that former captain Barry Ferguson, who made 409 appearances for the Gers across two spells, would be in interim charge for the rest of the season, alongside Neil McCann, Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor, all of whom are also ex-players.

The Ferguson-era begins at Rugby Park on Wednesday, a ground at which Rangers have lost six of 12 visits since December 2017, so they certainly cannot take Kilmarnock lightly, and the new caretaker boss’ first big decision should be to drop a stalwart of the starting lineup.

The Rangers star Ferguson must drop

Jack Butland joined Rangers in June 2023, simply looking to reinvigorate his career, having played just 17 matches across the previous three seasons, spending the second half of the previous campaign bench warming at Manchester United.

Fair to say he made an instant impression in Glasgow, pulling off a string of outstanding saves, instantaneously known colloquially as ‘Super Jack Butland’.

That is because, Christopher Jack of the Rangers Review believeds he ‘has been a huge figure between the sticks’, asserting that Butland is ‘the best keeper in Scotland by some distance’, while Stephen Halliday of the Times simply labelled his performances as ‘outstanding’.

Meantime, Ewan Murray of the Guardian notes the Englishman has been a ‘virtually an ever-present since joining’, while Archie Rhind-Tutt of ESPN & TNT Sports thought his ‘excellent form’ was going to earn him an England recall, having not featured for the Three Lions since September 2018, although this ultimately did not come to pass.

However, in more recent times, as Joshua Barrie of the Rangers Review puts it, ‘Butland’s form has suffered’.

Speaking on Sky Sports, new Rangers assistant manager Neil McCann described his performance at Motherwell in December as “unconvincing”, the goalkeeper’s ‘blushes spared’ by the fact the Steelmen had a late winner disallowed by VAR for rather soft foul by Tony Watt.

Butland has made a few high-profile mistakes, gifting Celtic the Scottish Cup back in May with former Rangers striker Ally McCoist describing his own goal at Old Trafford in January as a “howler”, leading to journalist Luke Hatfield labelling him ‘error-prone’.

This led to him being heavily criticised by supporters, so let’s analyse how Butland’s numbers compare this season to last.

Appearances

58

35

Minutes

5,220

3,180

Matches missed

1

9

Goals conceded

53

34

Goals conceded per 90

0.89

0.93

Clean sheets

25

14

Clean sheet %

43.5%

41.4%

Saves

105

62

Save %

73.9%

69.4%

Post-shot xG – goals allowed

+1.9

-1.4

Save % (Europa League only)

77.1%

63%

As the table outlines, Butland’s statistics are unanimously worse this season than last, with his post-shot xG – goals allowed figure having nosedived from almost +2 to around -1.5, this the biggest indicator of his drop-off in form.

So, should new manager Ferguson unleash Butland’s deputy at Rugby Park on Wednesday night?

Jack Butland's back-up ready and waiting at Rangers

Back in early January Butland missed the New Year’s Old Firm due to internal bleeding, a match in which Rangers demolished fierce rivals Celtic 3-0, putting in, by far, their best performance under Clement.

Deputising for Butland that day was Liam Kelly, who was described as ‘reliable’ and ‘assured with the ball at his feet’, while Laura Brannan of the Scottish Football Show believes the 29-year-old to be a ‘fantastic’ goalkeeper.

As well as a clean sheet in the Glasgow derby, Kelly also enjoyed shutouts against Dundee and Aberdeen leading to, as noted by Aasif Rahman of Football Insider, supporters questioning why Clement has restored Butland after the understudy had ‘proven himself’ during the Englishman’s absence.

Since arriving from Motherwell in the summer, Kelly has made seven appearances in a Rangers jersey, keeping three clean sheet and conceding just six goals, making nine saves, which translates to a save percentage of 69.2%, higher than Butland’s aforementioned season figure of 63%.

Kelly himself stated “I’ve done alright”, adding he is “looking to go under the radar” by doing “whatever I need to do when called upon.”

Thus, with little left to play for in the Premiership, Ferguson should certainly give his backup goalkeeper opportunities to prove what he can do.

5 Rangers youngsters Barry Ferguson can now unleash at Ibrox

With Ferguson replacing Philippe Clement, he could turn to the club’s youth ranks as Rangers look to salvage what they can from their season.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 26, 2025

Arsenal’s ambitions of ending their two-decade wait for a Premier League title have taken a huge hit in recent weeks, with various injuries and setbacks derailing their progress.

Whilst Liverpool have been the runaway leaders for the majority of the campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side have the quality across the pitch to mount a serious charge to close the gap.

However, the hamstring injury to winger Bukayo Saka has seen an understandable decline in goals within the final third, with the Englishman registering five goals and 10 assists before his spell on the sidelines.

He’s been missing since the triumph over Crystal Palace on the 21st of December, with the Gunners failing to win five matches across all competitions in that time frame.

Saka isn’t the only forward who’s been sat on the sidelines in recent weeks, as two other players have seen their season cut short by injuries over the last couple of weeks.

Arsenal’s injuries to Gabriel Jesus & Kai Havertz

Just a couple of weeks after the injury sustained to Saka, Arteta also saw Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus suffer his own setback, picking up an ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat against Manchester United.

The 27-year-old had previously had issues with his knee, but this time the issue appears to be way more serious, undergoing surgery to solve his latest issue – ruling him out for the remainder of 2024/25.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Kai Havertz recently picked up a torn hamstring injury during the warm weather training camp in Dubai, leaving the Gunners without a recognised senior centre forward.

His own setback will also see him miss the rest of the season, with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri the only attacking options left at Arteta’s disposal.

The decision not to sign a new attacker in January now looks to be a huge mistake, but it’s not the first time they may regret not landing a forward, after one former target’s rapid development on the European stage.

The player who Arsenal nearly signed & is now worth more than Saka

There’s no denying that Saka has been a sensational player for Arsenal over the last couple of years, registering 56 combined goals and assists over the last two years despite his recent issue.

However, he’s often needed the added reinforcement alongside him to help the club end their long wait for a Premier League title despite finishing runners-up in each of the last two seasons.

They may have been able to complete the task had the club completed a deal for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé, especially considering his form over the last couple of years.

Former boss Arsène Wenger revealed in an interview that he flew to speak to his compatriot during his time as a youngster at Monaco, but was unable to convince him to move to North London.

The 26-year-old has since emerged as one of the leading attackers in European football, impressing at Monaco, before a huge move to PSG back in 2017 – costing the Parisians a whopping £150m.

Mbappé, who’s since been dubbed “lethal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 256 times in just 310 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants, offering that clinical edge Arteta’s side have been craving.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2017/18

46

21

16

2018/19

43

39

17

2019/20

37

30

18

2020/21

47

42

11

2021/22

46

39

26

2022/23

43

41

10

2023/24

48

44

10

Total:

310

256

108

He’s since moved to Real Madrid in what’s dubbed the “most expensive free transfer in history” after the Spanish side had to pay the attacker a mammoth signing bonus after leaving PSG.

The forward has continued his goalscoring form under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring 24 times in his 36 appearances for his new side, creating a deadly partnership with Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.

As a result of his tremendous displays over the last few years, Mbappé is now valued at £133m by Transfermarkt – a figure higher than that of Saka, who’s valued at £125m after his own emergence in England.

There’s no denying that the Englishman is one of the Premier League’s leading attackers, as seen by his goal contributions before his injury, with Arteta certainly desperate for the youngster to return to action as soon as possible.

However, the thought of the academy graduate featuring alongside Mbappé is a scary one, but unfortunately for the supporters, it will always remain a case of what could’ve been had Wenger worked his magic during his time in charge.

His value has soared by £58m: Arsenal hit the jackpot on "phenomenal" star

Arsenal have conducted superb business in the transfer market over the last couple of years.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 14, 2025

The January transfer window officially slammed shut on Monday night and it ended with one new signing added to the Celtic squad in the form of Jeffrey Schlupp.

Brendan Rodgers swooped to bring the 32-year-old star in on loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace until the end of the season to bolster his options in midfield and at left-back.

The Ghana international came off the bench to make his debut for the Hoops in their 6-0 win over Dundee at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night.

Celtic will, now, be hoping that the former Premier League title-winner will prove to be an excellent addition to the group as they go in search of more pieces of silverware in the second half of the season.

It was not a perfect deadline day, though, as some supporters may have been left frustrated by the lack of a striker, after Kyogo Furuhashi moved on from Paradise.

Ligue 1 side Rennes swooped in to sign the Japan international on a permanent deal last month, and the Hoops opted against replacing him in the transfer window, despite interest in Mathias Kvistgaarden.

Celtic's failed pursuit of Mathias Kvistgaarden

The Scottish giants were interested in a deal to sign the Denmark U21 international from Superliga side Brondby in the January transfer window, but they were unable to strike an agreement to bring him to Parkhead.

It was reported that the two teams were in talks over a potential deal for the 22-year-old centre-forward, but those discussions reached an impasse over their respective valuations of the striker.

Brondby reportedly valued their star forward at a whopping £10m and Celtic seemingly decided that they were not willing to spend that kind of money on the marksman on deadline day, or before the last day of the window.

It would be understandable if any Hoops fans have been left frustrated by that because Kvistgaarden has been in terrific form in the Superliga this season.

The Danish sensation produced ten goals and seven assists in 28 appearances in all competitions for Brondby in the 2023/24 campaign, and has stepped his game up this time around.

Appearances

15

Goals

10

Big chances missed

6

Conversion rate

26%

Assists

4

As you can see in the table above, Kvistgaarden has been in lethal form in the Superliga this season, with ten goals in 15 appearances, and has offered his team creativity at the top end of the pitch.

These statistics show that the £10m-rated Celtic target had the potential to arrive at Parkhead as a clinical, given his lack of ‘big chances’ missed, striker who can also create chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.

However, Rodgers may be able to unearth his own version of Kvistgaarden by offeringJohnny Kenny the chance to develop into a first-team regular in the second half of this season.

Johnny Kenny's form for Shamrock Rovers

The Ireland U21 international spent the 2023 and the 2024 campaigns on loan with Shamrock Rovers in his home country and it went almost as well as Celtic could have hoped for.

In the 2023 season, the then-teenager racked up five goals and four assists in 30 appearances in the Premier Division for the Irish side, which was a solid, but unspectacular, return in front of goal.

The young marksman returned to Shamrock Rovers for the 2024 campaign and improved his output in the final third with a return of 13 goals and two assists in 18 starts in the Premier Division.

Kenny scored two goals in three Champions League qualifiers, including the goal above, but that was not enough to prevent the team only qualifying for the Conference League.

Appearances

6

xG

3.78

Goals

5

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old striker was on fire in Europe for Shamrock Rovers, showcasing his clinical finishing by overperforming against his Expected Goals tally.

Overall, Kenny scored 20 goals in 27 starts across the Premier Division, the Conference League, and the Champions League qualifiers in 2024 for the Irish team, which shows that the potential is there for him to be a reliable goalscorer at senior level.

What should happen next for Johnny Kenny

Celtic brought him back to the club at the start of January and integrated him into first-team training, at which point Idah and Kyogo were both there and ahead of him in the pecking order.

In The Pipeline

Now that the Japan international has been sold to Rennes and the Hoops failed to sign Kvistgaarden from Brondby, Kenny is the second-choice centre-forward behind Idah at this moment in time.

Rodgers should, now, utilise Kenny as the back-up to the Ireland international in the second half of the season and offer him plenty of chances, whether that be off the bench or as a starter when the ex-Norwich man needs a rest, to allow him to gain valuable experience in a Celtic shirt.

This next three or four months should be used as time for the youngster to adapt to life in the Premiership and as a first-team player for Celtic, hopefully providing him with the experience required to kick on and hit the ground running next season.

Appearances

2

Minutes played

35

Goals

0

Big chances created

1

Assists

1

Dribbles completed

1/2

As you can see in the table above, Kenny has already made two substitute appearances for the Hoops in the Scottish top-flight and registered his first goal contribution with an assist for Luke McCowan against Ross County last month.

After that moment, the Celtic manager described him as “absolutely brilliant” and claimed that the young attacker helped to energise the match for the team.

It is now down to the Ireland U21 international to keep taking his chances when they come and to show Rodgers signs that his development is heading in the right direction, as it did during his two seasons with Shamrock Rovers.

86% duels won: Celtic ace has just rescued Lawwell's Deadline Day disaster

Celtic did not get what they wanted from their deadline day business on Monday.

ByDan Emery Feb 6, 2025

His form for Celtic and Shamrock Rovers suggest that the potential is there for him to be a Kvistgaarden-esque forward who can provide clinical finishing and creativity as a number nine, but it is now down to all parties to work hard to ensure that the potential is fulfilled at Parkhead.

When it comes to their summer recruitment drive, Chelsea haven’t been distracted by the ongoing Club World Cup campaign.

Enzo Maresca and co are looking to mount a serious CWC challenge in the States with as much as £97 million worth of prize money on offer, but in the background, Stamford Bridge chiefs are working to strengthen ahead of a pivotal next season.

Tottenham hold talks to sign £65m star, but his club prefer he joins Chelsea

Spurs are set for a transfer tussle with their London rivals.

6 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

As things stand, Chelsea are prioritising a new winger right now, with the club back in talks over a potential deal for Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens after seeing three June 10 deadline bids rejected for the Englishman.

As well as Gittens, Chelsea have their eyes on West Ham star Mohammed Kudus (Simon Phillips), not to mention Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho, so supporters can fully expect at least one new wide player to come in.

However, they’re also believed to be targeting a new centre-back.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Uncertainty surrounds the long-term futures of Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and even Wesley Fofana (Foot Mercato), who’s suffered from repeated injury problems since his £75 million move from Leicester City.

This has resulted in Chelsea considering Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, among other names, but the Toffees could demand up to £80 million to part company with the commanding centre-half before deadline day on September 1.

“Chelsea intend to push for him [Branthwaite] again and there is a possibility that they offer players to Everton in an attempt to get the fee down and make the deal more appealing on both sides,” said journalist Simon Phillips recently, via his Substack.

“The other further info we have received from SPTC sources is that there’s a feeling now that Branthwaite could actually leave Everton this window for a Champions League club – which puts Chelsea in a strong position.”

However, a far more obtainable defender, who comes with a £68 million release clause, is starting to turn Chelsea’s head as well.

Enzo Maresca wants Ousmane Diomande at Chelsea

As per TEAMtalk and journalist Rudy Galetti, Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande is “firmly” on their shortlist, despite both Real Madrid and Newcastle’s serious interest in signing the Ivorian.

The 21-year-old was a mainstay under both Ruben Amorim and Rui Borges last term, making 46 appearances in all competitions and helping the Primeira Liga heavyweights to their first domestic double in two decades.

Maresca is a “huge fan” of Diomande, and has personally listed the African as one of his top defensive targets for the summer, so this could be one to watch as Chelsea seek a good-value backline addition without paying over the odds.

Sporting are apparently braced for a ‘bidding war’, though, and Chelsea will be hoping that no other suitor decides to go beyond Diomande’s release clause so they can win the race for his signature.

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted he was an “inch” away from signing a player who would go on to become an “all-time great” at Arsenal.

Mourinho is already regarded as one of the best bosses there has ever been, enjoying plenty of success and winning major honours with FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Man Utd and AS Roma.

FC Porto

Champions League

2004

UEFA Cup

2003

Liga Portugal

2003, 2004

Taça de Portugal

2003

Portuguese Super Cup

2003

Chelsea

Premier League

2005, 2006, 2015

FA Cup

2007

League Cup

2005, 2007, 2015

Community Shield

2005

Inter Milan

Champions League

2010

Serie A

2009, 2010

Coppa Italia

2010

Italian Super Cup

2008

Real Madrid

La Liga

2012

Copa del Rey

2011

Spanish Super Cup

2012

Manchester United

League Cup

2017

Community Shield

2016

AS Roma

Europa Conference League

2022

Cristiano Ronaldo even called Mourinho the best manager he has ever worked with back in 2015, saying: “I would put him at the top, I always say that. He’s a good coach, he did many good things and won many trophies for other clubs.”

During his career, the Portuguese tactician has entertained the footballing world with some brilliant quotes and touchline moments, and he has also struck gold on numerous players in the transfer market.

Jose Mourinho’s best signings in pictures

From defensive stars at Chelsea in Ashley Cole and Petr Cech to attacking icons in Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, there have been plenty of high-profile names Mourinho has persuaded to join him down the years.

However, one of the near-misses Mourinho had in the early days of his coaching career was with Thierry Henry, who would go on to become an Arsenal icon.

9 of the best Jose Mourinho quotes

The Special One has had a way with words over the years.

ByBarney Lane Dec 2, 2024 Mourinho and Robson nearly signed Henry for Barcelona

Now Arsenal’s record goalscorer after a memorable eight-year spell in north London, Henry was signed from Juventus in 1999.

He won two Premier League titles at Highbury and lifted the FA Cup on three occasions, going down as one of the best players the top flight has ever seen.

Juventus only had the French forward for a matter of months before selling him to the Gunners, and they signed him from AS Monaco.

It could have been so much different, though, with Mourinho revealing in 2014 that during his time as Barcelona assistant manager to Sir Bobby Robson, the Catalan giants were an “inch” away from signing Henry from Monaco.

Henry would come up against Mourinho on numerous occasions but never worked under the Portuguese boss, who called Henry “one of the all-time greats”.