Liverpool are continuing to push to complete the signing of an “unbelievable” £25m-rated attacking player and could have an advantage over Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool transfer news
The Reds are being linked with plenty of potential new signings, with Ademola Lookman mentioned as a possible addition in recent times. The former Everton winger is currently thriving at Atalanta, famously scoring a hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Real Valladolid winger Raul Moro is also seen as a rumoured option for Liverpool, with Manchester City mentioned as suitors, too. The 22-year-old has scored three goals in La Liga this season and could be considered a long-term attacking wide addition, proving capable of thriving on either flank.
Andy Robertson’s hit-and-miss form so far this season has been well-documented, with his red card against Fulham in the Premier League last weekend a damaging moment for the Reds, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez continues to be mentioned as a long-term solution in that position.
Away from the incoming transfer news at Liverpool, the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah continues to be a major talking point. The club are said to have offered the former a new contract, as they look to ensure that his head isn’t turned by a move to Real Madrid next summer.
Liverpool pushing to sign "unbelievable" £25m ace
According to a fresh claim from Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are pushing to sign Lyon star Rayan Cherki in the January transfer window, looking to snap him up in a potential £25m deal.
The Reds are believed to be ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in the race to acquire the attacking midfielder’s signature, due to Lyon’s “frosty” relationship with their fellow Ligue 1 club.
Cherki has been seen as a target for Liverpool for some time and the idea of him in a Reds shirt is certainly exciting, given the talent and long-term potential that he possesses.
Granted, the 21-year-old is still a raw footballer who is learning his trade, but he has already bagged 22 goals and 32 assists for Lyon, despite his tender years, with journalist Dean Jones describing him as “unbelievable”.
To be able to sign Cherki for just £25m feels like a bargain, considering how high his ceiling is, so Liverpool could see it as an important piece of business to get done in January.
He plays like Saka: Liverpool want to sign "monster" £57m Nunez upgrade
Liverpool might need to strengthen their frontline in 2025.
ByAngus Sinclair Dec 19, 2024
Granted, Arne Slot isn’t exactly short of attacking options at the moment, but he could add extra quality in attacking midfield, putting pressure on the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott, having scored and assisted three times apiece in just seven Ligue 1 starts so far this season.
With the January transfer window now open and the chance for Paul Mitchell to earn redemption from the Magpies’ summer disappointment now underway, Newcastle United have already reportedly made their first move.
Newcastle transfer news
Those at St James’ Park endured a frustrating summer transfer window in Mitchell’s first few months in charge, with the sporting director unable to get deals over the line for the likes of Marc Guehi and Anthony Elanga. A slow start to the season then followed for Eddie Howe’s side, before returning players handed the former Bournemouth boss a much-needed boost to culminate in a run of five straight victories in all competitions.
That collective run combined with Alexander Isak’s recent form has not stood in the way of the transfer rumours arriving, particularly around the Swede and a potential move to Arsenal this year in what would be a major blow.
He’s not the only one who could be heading for the door, however, with Callum Wilson yet to sign a new deal and currently on course to become a free agent at the end of the season. Alas, if the experienced striker does depart, then it seems as though the Magpies already have a plan in place.
According to The Scottish Sun, Newcastle have made an official approach to sign Evan Mooney from St. Mirren, but are yet to submit their first offer in the race for his signature alongside Arsenal.
Newcastle now want to sign "truly magnificent" £55k-a-week attacking gem
His club are now ready to sell.
ByHenry Jackson Dec 31, 2024
Just 17 years old, Mooney is undoubtedly one for the future and a striker who would instantly learn from the likes of Isak if asked to take up Wilson’s role as deputy in that department.
Mooney is one for the future
Swapping the old for the new by potentially welcoming Mooney in preparation for Wilson’s exit, Newcastle would be planning ahead in an intelligent move. The teenager has impressed many in Scotland to earn four appearances for St. Mirren’s senior side in the Scottish Premiership, scoring once and assisting once in an excellent spell.
A player who can play on the right-hand side as well as in the leading role, Mooney’s arrival would kill two birds with one stone at St James’ Park for years to come, deputising for Isak and replacing Miguel Almiron.
It won’t be a simple race for the youngster’s signature with Arsenal interested, however. The Magpies must put together a strong pitch to lure Mooney away from the Gunners and towards Newcastle.
Given that Wilson is on his way out, they can at least offer an instant path into the first-team to gain crucial minutes from the off. Arsenal, meanwhile, may not be able to offer such a role in their side.
The last week or so has been a roller coaster of emotions for Arsenal fans.
First, they had to deal with the demoralising 0-0 Premier League draw at home to Everton, then came the high of coming back from 1-0 down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the League Cup, and then Mikel Arteta’s side demolished the Eagles 5-1 at Selhurst Park, only to lose Bukayo Saka to a suspected Hamstring injury.
While the loss of the Hale End superstar is a massive concern, the game in South London did at least see the continuation of Gabriel Jesus’ incredible return to form.
Premier League
Crystal Palace (A)
5-1 (W)
League Cup
Crystal Palace (H)
3-2 (W)
Premier League
Everton (H)
0-0 (D)
Champions League
AS Monaco (H)
3-0 (W)
Premier League
Fulham (A)
1-1 (D)
However, based on recent reports, the club are still on the hunt for a new number nine, and the player being touted for a move to the club could be the perfect upgrade on the Brazilian.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in Juventus star Dušan Vlahović.
Alongside the Gunners, the report also claims that Manchester United are keen on the Serbian international and could rival the North Londoners for his signature next month.
A potential price for the player is not mentioned in the story, but according to reports from earlier this year, the Old Lady valued the dangerous striker at around £67m.
It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given Vlahovic’s incredible ability, one well worth pursuing, especially as he could be a dream Jesus upgrade.
How Vlahović compares to Jesus
So, based on Arsenal’s recent uptick in form going forward, it would seem that Jesus has reestablished himself as Arteta’s first-choice striker.
Therefore, if the club were able to get this transfer over the line, Vlahović would be in direct competition with the Brazilian for a starting berth in the team, so who comes out on top?
Unfortunately for the Gunners’ current number nine, when it comes to pure output over the last few seasons, there is a clear winner, and it’s not him.
For example, since moving to N5, he has made 91 appearances for the side, in which he’s found the back of the net on 25 occasions and provided 17 assists to boot, equating to an average goal involvement every 2.16 games.
In contrast, Juve’s goalscoring “machine,” as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has made 101 appearances for the Turin outfit, in which he’s scored 44 goals and provided nine assists, equating to a slightly more impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.90 games.
Appearances
42
33
Goals
14
11
Assists
4
7
Goal + Assists per Match
0.42
0.54
Appearances
38
36
Goals
18
8
Assists
3
8
Goal + Assists per Match
0.55
0.44
Appearances
21
22
Goals
12
6
Assists
2
2
Goal + Assists per Match
0.66
0.36
Moreover, while the former Fiorentina star hasn’t got a clean injury record, he has missed just 26 games for club and country across his entire career, while the former Manchester City ace has missed a whopping 88 matches.
Lastly, not only is Vlahovic more reliable than Jesus, but he’s also three years younger, meaning he could lead the line for at least the next six to seven years if he were to hit the ground running in North London.
Ultimately, Arsenal look to have rediscovered their attacking mojo somewhat in the last week or so, but to ensure they continue to improve and not stagnate, they need to add another talented forward, which is why they must do what they can to sign the Juventus star.
Arsenal target incredible £115m "nightmare" who's a bit like Mbappe & Kane
The sensational striker would supercharge Arsenal’s attack.
With 2025 underway and the January transfer window now open, Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign an £8m star for Mikel Arteta alongside interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Arsenal transfer news
The Gunners began 2024 with plenty of hope in the race to dethrone Manchester City, but once again ended the calendar year without a trophy to celebrate their progress. To make matters worse, they’ve now begun 2025 without star man Bukayo Saka in what is something that they’ll have to get used to in the coming weeks, as the Englishman recovers from a hamstring injury.
Whether Saka’s injury changes the Gunners’ transfer plan this month remains to be seen. Arteta’s side could certainly do with an injection of attacking impetus away from set pieces, given that they sit significantly adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
It’s not just their attacking problem that they could address this month, however, with another frustrating problem potentially reaching a resolution. According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are now racing alongside Manchester United to sign Senne Lammens, a young goalkeeper who Royal Antwerp value at just €10m (£8m) in 2025.
Arsenal contact club over signing £50m striker amid new contract standoff
The Gunners are ready to take advantage.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 31, 2024
Whilst the shot-stopper would be far from guaranteed regular minutes, he would at least have the chance to replace David Raya in cup competitions in place of Neto, who is cup tied for the Carabao Cup.
Much to the Gunners’ frustration, they welcomed a cup goalkeeper in the form of Neto only to quickly realise that their cup goalkeeper would not be able to play in the very competition that he arrived to feature in. Now, that same opportunity could fall Lammens’ way.
Lammens can end Arsenal's Neto frustration
With the fixtures coming thick and fast and Arsenal already paying the consequences for overplaying Saka, the last thing that Arteta needs is another injury to a key player, perhaps making Lammens’ potential arrival key. The 22-year-old has impressed at Royal Antwerp and could one day replace Raya on a permanent basis, given that the Spaniard is already 29 years old.
Starts
20
18
Save Percentage
80.6%
75.4%
Saves
82
45
Pass Accuracy
76.4%
72.8%
The numbers paint quite the picture and highlight exactly why Arsenal are reportedly interested in landing Lammens’ signature ahead of Manchester United. The Royal Antwerp star is a true all-rounder, whether that’s in the shot-stopping department or, just as crucially, with the ball at his feet.
Senne Lammens for Royal Antwerp.
It would represent significant planning if Arsenal managed to secure the heir to Raya’s number one role at this stage for just £8m. As January gets underway, it will certainly be interesting to see just how much of a priority the goalkeeper’s signature becomes at The Emirates with Arteta’s side eyeing a title comeback in the Premier League.
Celtic have been on fire in the Scottish Premiership so far this season and appear to be on course to land a fourth straight title in the division, and a second under Brendan Rodgers since his return.
The Hoops secured a 4-1 win over Ross County away from home on Saturday, with Kyogo Furuhashi scoring twice and Arne Engels and Luke McCowan getting themselves on the scoresheet.
It was a result that initially sent them 18 points clear at the top of the table, before Rangers cut the gap to 15 points on Sunday, and the Bhoys have a healthy lead to hold onto in the second half of the season.
This means that the Hoops could afford to concentrate their efforts on getting as far as possible in the Champions League and on winning the SFA Cup, potentially fielding stronger line-ups in those competitions and rotating players in league matches.
Rodgers will also have an eye on the January transfer window, which opened for business at the start of this month, with a view to potentially bolstering his squad.
In fact, the Premiership leaders are reportedly looking at a potential addition to their options at the top end of the pitch ahead of the second half of the season.
Celtic eyeing in-form striker
According to The Express, Celtic are eyeing up a possible swoop to bring Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden to Parkhead this month.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report claims that the Hoops have already made contact with the Danish star’s camp in January to discuss whether or not deal would be viable ahead of the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
It adds that Rodgers is looking to bolster his attacking options and the Superliga star, who was hailed as “phenomenal” and “super consistent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango earlier this season, has seemingly been identified as a potential recruit.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
The outlet adds that Celtic have been tracking the young star for the past 18 months and that there are also clubs in England keeping tabs on his situation, which means that they could face some competition for his signature if they decide to press ahead with a move.
It also reveals, though, that a January deal for Kvistgaarden is only likely if Kyogo Furuhashi exits Parkhead, amid interest from MLS side Atlanta United, as the Danish ace is seemingly viewed as a replacement for the Japan international.
Appearances
21
Goals
10
Big chances missed
17
Big chances created
0
Assists
3
As you can see in the table above, the current Celtic centre-forward, who scored twice against Ross County, has been wasteful in front of goal in the Premiership this season.
Kyogo has also been fortunate to record three assists in the division, with zero ‘big chances’ created for his teammates, and this suggests that there is the potential for the Hoops to improve their team by signing a more ruthless forward who also offers more creativity.
Why Celtic should sign Mathias Kvistgaarden
The 22-year-old attacker has been in fantastic form in the Danish top-flight this season and his form suggests that he could come in as an upgrade on the Japanese striker for Celtic.
Kvistgaarden produced eight goals and five assists in 18 Superliga starts in the 2023/24 campaign, and has taken his performances to another level this term.
The Denmark U21 international, who scored against Iceland in his last international outing, is a forward who combines clinical finishing with creativity for his teammates in the centre-forward position.
Starts
12
Goals
10
Big chances missed
6
Big chances created
4
Assists
4
As you can see in the table above, Kvistgaarden has contributed to a whopping 14 goals in 12 starts in the Danish top-flight so far this season, with only six ‘big chances’ missed to go along with his ten goals.
These statistics show that the Celtic target is a ruthless and consistent finisher who can also create high-quality opportunities for his fellow forwards, which Kyogo has failed to be this season.
Celtic'sKyogoFuruhashi celebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
The Brondby star is not the only forward linked with a move to Parkhead, though, and he could thrive as part of a double deal for the Hoops this month, alongside Sarpsborg winger Sondre Orjasaeter.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph recently reported that Celtic are in talks with the Norwegian side over a potential deal for the left-sided attacker, who could join to form a partnership with Kvistgaarden if the stars align.
Why Kvistgaarden and Orjasaeter could be an exciting pairing
Celtic could have an exciting and new-look front three in the second half of the season if all the pieces fall together and Kyogo moves on, followed by Kvistgaarden and Orjasaeter coming through the door.
As aforementioned, the potential Kyogo replacement has the potential to be a lethal number nine for the Scottish giants, given his goals to ‘big chances’ missed ratio in the Superliga this season.
The Brondby striker could thrive at Parkhead if the team is able to provide him with ‘big chances’ on a regular basis and that is something that Orjasaeter could help with, as he is a creative winger who looks to cut inside off the left to provide his teammates with opportunities to score.
In the 2024 Eliteserien campaign, the Hoops target showcased his creativity quality and the direct threat he can provide on the left flank, as shown in the table below.
Appearances
28
Goals
5
Big chances missed
5
Assists
5
Big chances created
12
Dribbles completed per game
2.4
Orjasaeter created a whopping 12 ‘big chances’ in 28 matches for the Norwegian side, whilst no current Celtic winger or midfielder has created more than eight this season.
This suggests that the winger has the qualities required to form a lethal partnership with Kvistgaarden in the final third, because he could consistently create chances for the striker to find the back of the net.
Bigger deal than Engels: Rodgers plots Celtic move for Kuhn 2.0
Celtic are reportedly interested in the star who would cost more than Arne Engels did.
ByDan Emery Jan 10, 2025
Therefore, Rodgers could overhaul his attack and find a new star duo for Celtic by signing both of them in the January transfer window, or by waiting until the summer to bring them in.
French heavyweights PSG are willing to offer one of their own forwards in an exchange for sought-after Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, and Luis Enrique’s side appear determined to strike a deal for the Colombian.
Jhon Duran attracting late January interest
West Ham are widely reported to have failed with a £57 million bid to sign Duran recently, with manager Unai Emery and co not keen on letting go of a very capable back-up star who’s scored 12 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Aston Villa set to make fresh bid for £25m Olympian after January talks
Unai Emery’s side have been in negotiations for another signing.
ByEmilio Galantini Jan 25, 2025
Villa apparently have zero intention of green-lighting a January exit for Duran, with the 21-year-old also recently putting pen to paper on a contract extension following his sensational start to the Premier League campaign.
However, this firm transfer stance hasn’t stopped suitors from contemplating whether to test NSWE’s resolve when it comes to doing business.
West Ham United (home)
January 26
Wolves (away)
February 1
Ipswich Town (home)
February 15
Chelsea (home)
February 22
Crystal Palace (away)
February 25
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are emerging as very serious contenders for Duran’s signature as we enter the final stage of this January window, with the Saudi Pro League side apparently considering a winter bid.
Broadcast giant talkSPORT backs other reports of Al Nassr’s interest in Duran, with Villa apparently braced for an offer from the Middle Easterns. However, Emery’s side are very ready to play hard-ball, and could demand in excess of £85 million to let him go.
Other suitors are beginning to join the potential auction as well, and one of Duran’s mooted landing spots is PSG, who are willing to push the boat out.
PSG prepared to offer Asensio in bid to sign Duran from Aston Villa
According to CaughtOffside, Enrique and co may well hand Villa the chance to sign out-of-favour £236,000-per-week forward Marco Asensio.
The former Real Madrid ace joined PSG on a free transfer from La Liga in 2023, but has since been relegated to the fringes of Enrique’s plans. They could now use his situation as an opportunity to land Duran, as PSG plot an intriguing proposal.
It is believed PSG are prepared to offer Villa the chance to sign Asensio in a part-exchange bid for Duran. In terms of cash, the highest PSG are willing to climb right now is £59 million, which is nowhere near enough and just £2 million more than West Ham’s rejected approach, so they could use Asensio as a sweetener in the deal.
It is added that they will put Villa under severe pressure to sell Duran in the final days of the window, so PSG appear very eager to beat Al-Nassr to his signature.
Following a January transfer window full of exciting incomings, Aston Villa have now been backed to sell one of Unai Emery’s attacking stars when the summer arrives even after they rejected earlier interest in his signature.
Aston Villa transfer news
Welcoming Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Axel Disasi, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, it’s fair to say that Aston Villa were in no mood to let the January transfer window go to waste – especially after selling Jhon Duran for a hefty fee to Al-Nassr. Emery’s side are now reinforced and ready to go all guns blazing towards Champions League qualification once again with a number of big names in tow.
Speaking about completing the move for the first time, Rashford wrote on Instagram: “I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen.
“I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s ambitions. I just want to play football and am excited to get started.
“I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season.”
Revealed: Why Aston Villa missed out on £365k-p/w trio before Disasi loan
It was a busy and hectic winter window at Villa Park as they tried for several new signings.
ByBen Browning Feb 4, 2025
Meanwhile, as so much talent arrives, those at Villa Park could yet show the door to one particular attacking ace. In fact, former Premier League scout turned insider Mick Brown has now backed Aston Villa to sell Leon Bailey this summer despite rejecting late interest from Manchester United last month.
The sale would certainly make sense too, given that the Midlands club now have a wealth of attacking options which range from Malen all the way to Rashford, who’s permanent future is still under question.
Bailey "probably looking to move on"
The move itself could be made fairly simply by Bailey’s own desire to leave. Backing Villa to show the winger the door, Brown told Football Insider: “Emery is a manager who knows what he wants from his players.
“He wants somebody who gives him a consistent level of performance every week. The concern about Bailey is that consistency. He can be hit and miss. When he’s a hit, he can be devastating, but he can also go the other way. He’ll have games where he completely fades out of it. That’s not what you need while you’re in the Premier League and trying to compete in Europe.
Leon Bailey
“But yes is the answer, I think he’ll probably be looking to move on in the summer and I think that’s something Villa would be open to as well. Particularly with the signings they’ve made in January, his place in the team is under question.”
Recently praised by Emery for his “fantastic” work to break his goalscoring drought and find his first Premier League goal of the season, Bailey is undoubtedly in trouble of becoming lost in the face of sudden attacking depth at Villa Park.
Glasgow Rangers have little over 24 hours left to make further additions to strengthen their squad before the January transfer window officially slams shut.
The Light Blues have only brought Rafael Fernandes in on loan from Ligue 1 side Lille, with an option to make it permanent, but they have been linked with other players.
A new central midfielder appears to be on the agenda for the Ibrox giants amid links to Dundee maestro Lyall Cameron and RB Leipzig midfield ace Bobby Clark.
Liverpool player Bobby Clark warming up.
However, performances by two Rangers stars on Sunday in the 4-0 win over Ross County potentially just saved Nils Koppen from spending millions on a new midfielder on deadline day.
Ianis Hagi's match-winning display
Ianis Hagi started the match as part of the attacking midfield trident behind Cyriel Dessers and played a huge role in the victory with his first-half brace.
The Romania international was the first to react after Vaclav Cerny’s shot was parried out into the middle of the box and he provided a calm finish to hand Rangers the lead in the match.
Ianis Hagi
His second goal of the game, however, was slightly more fortunate as his well-hit free-kick spun off the wall and went into the opposite corner that it was initially heading towards to make it 2-0.
Hagi was also involved in the third goal of the match as it was his left-footed corner that Nicolas Raskin flicked on to John Souttar to further extend the lead.
His contract is up at the end of the season and Sky Sports recently reported that he has not been offered a new deal as of yet, but another excellent performance should convince the club to save millions on a new signing by extending his tenure.
Surprise star for Rangers
Another player who could save Koppen millions is 18-year-old central midfielder Bailey Rice, who was given a huge chance to impress in the second half by Philippe Clement, after he was a surprise star on Sunday.
Performance in Numbers
Sometimes you just need to give a young player an opportunity to see what they can do and the Scottish youngster may have just proven that the club do not need to go and splash millions on a new midfield talent on deadline day, or the summer.
It was Rice’s first Premiership appearance of the season, after he played in the Europa League and created one ‘big chance’ against Manchester United earlier this month, and he stepped up with an impressive showing.
Minutes
45
Pass accuracy
86%
Duel success rate
71% (5/7)
Tackles won
2
Dribbled past
0x
As you can see in the table above, the teenage titan was dominant in his physical battles, despite his young age, by winning five of his seven duels.
He was also reliable in possession, as evidenced by his pass success rate, and did not allow any Ross County players to dribble past him in the second half.
These statistics suggest that the Scottish ace is ready to play first-team football for Rangers and has the technical and physical attributes required to play Premiership football. With this in mind, Clement should look to hand him more chances to play instead of pushing Koppen to spend millions on a new midfielder on deadline day.
Propper upgrade: Rangers chasing late move for "complete & dominant" star
Rangers are reportedly interested in a swoop for the central defender.
As concerns over Mohamed Salah’s future continue to increase, Liverpool are reportedly lining up a move to sign a summer replacement in the form of a Bundesliga winger.
Liverpool transfer news
At the end of last season, there were some doubts over Salah’s ability to maintain his incredibly high standards. Just nine months and a fresh look later, however, the Egyptian is looking more complete than ever and is undoubtedly an early favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
Liverpool, meanwhile, sit top of the Premier League and finished top of the Champions League group phase all whilst booking their place at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final. There remains no question over Salah’s ability. Instead, the power is in his hands, with just a matter of months remaining on his current deal and a new contract yet to be agreed.
To lose arguably the world’s best player this summer would be a true nightmare for the Reds. To lose that same player for free, however, would represent the ultimate failure for all involved at Anfield.
As things stand, the Premier League leaders must prepare for the worst and that has seen ‘one of the summer’s big stories’ come their way. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now lining up a move to sign Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund this summer in an attempt to replace Salah should they need to do so.
Liverpool now seriously interested in forward Everton let leave for £0
The Reds could get one over on their rivals…
ByTom Cunningham Feb 12, 2025
Adeyemi, himself, is reportedly keen to complete a move to the Premier League and has changed his agent in an attempt to make such a move. Whether the Reds come calling in the summer in an attempt to replace Salah remains to be seen though.
"Incredible" Adeyemi doesn't have the output to replace Salah
The reality for Liverpool right now is that a replacement for Salah simply may not exist – or one that is feasible this summer at least. The Egyptian is one of the best goalscorers in the world and one of the best creators. To replace both of those traits, the Reds will arguably need to sign two separate stars, such is the rarity of those two abilities combined at the highest level.
They’re two traits that, in truth, Adeyemi lacks. Whilst the 23-year-old has previously been dubbed “incredible” by former Red Bull Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle, the winger’s output is no match for Salah’s.
Minutes
608
2,029
Goals
2
21
Assists
3
13
Expected Goals
1.8
18.1
In the equivalent of almost seven games, Adeyemi has maintained a respectable goal involvement rate, with five to his name. Compared to Salah, that number is still a world away from the Liverpool star’s incredible numbers.
Not many, if any, have been able to match Salah so far this season and not many, if any, will be able to replace Liverpool’s Egyptian King this summer if he fails to sign a new contract.
Celtic are enjoying a phenomenal season as they sit 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, are in the play-off phase of the Champions League, and have already won the League Cup.
Youth has not played a significant role in their success, though, as 31-year-old midfielder Callum McGregor is the only academy graduate to have started matches on a regular basis for Brendan Rodgers this term.
Callum McGregor
The Hoops have not been adept at bringing through academy talent into the first-team in recent years, as they lost Daniel Kelly and Rocco Vata to Millwall and Watford respectively last summer.
Possibly the biggest example of a prodigious talent that got away, however, is Scotland international Ben Doak, who came through the youth set-up in Glasgow before sealing a move to England.
Ben Doak's untapped Celtic potential
The teenage sensation made his way through the academy ranks at Parkhead before he made two first-team appearances under Ange Postecoglou at the age of 16 in the 2021/22 campaign.
However, the Scottish giants were unable to convince the young winger to remain at the club beyond his contract at the time and Premier League side Liverpool swooped in to secure his services for a reported compensation fee of £600k in the summer of 2022.
Doak racked up ten first-team appearances in his first two seasons with the Reds before being sent out on loan to Middlesbrough, where he has produced three goals and seven assists in 24 Championship matches in the 2024/25 campaign.
These statistics show that the 19-year-old whiz has made a big impact at the top end of the pitch in the second tier of English football, and that indicates that he could have been a great option for the Hoops to have in their current squad.
Liverpool reportedly put a £30m price tag on his head in the January transfer window, amid interest from Premier League side Crystal Palace, which illustrates how much untapped potential there was for the Hoops with the forward.
They missed out on a terrific talent and a hugely valuable asset by failing to convince him to turn down a move to Anfield to stay in Glasgow and compete for a place under Postecoglou.
Doak, who has been capped six times by Scotland at senior level, has quickly developed into an excellent player at first-team level since his move away from the Hoops.
Transfer Focus
Celtic are now facing an awful repeat of this situation – losing a talented youngster who could go on to great things – as one of their B team stars is set for a move to the Premier League this summer.
Celtic set to lose teen star
According to ExWHUEmployee, on TheWestHamWay’s Patreon, Celtic centre-forward Daniel Cummings is in the process of completing a medical with West Ham United.
The report claims that the Scottish youngster started parts of his medical with the Premier League side on Sunday and that it has continued on Monday, ahead of a summer switch to the London outfit.
Cummings is out of contract at the end of the season and it was reported, in January, that Celtic were due to offer him a new contract to remain at Parkhead on fresh terms.
ExWHUEmployee’s report adds that the Hammers are due to pay a compensation fee for the teenage striker, as he has been trained by the Hoops, but it is unclear as to how much that will be at this point.
It also reveals that West Ham chief Mark Noble, who previously captained the Hammers in the Premier League, was ‘influential’ in convincing the forward to pick a move to the London Stadium.
The Hoops appear to have left it too late to decide to offer the young attacker a contract extension, waiting until the last five months of his deal, and it looks set to sting them as Cummings is now close to a move to England, and it could be an awful repeat of the Doak situation.
Why Daniel Cummings could be Ben Doak 2.0
The former Celtic winger, as aforementioned, has gone on to become a £30m-rated talent who has proven himself at first-team level in the Championship in England, after leaving Parkhead for a paltry £600k.
Whilst it remains to be seen how much compensation West Ham will have to pay for Cummings, the Hoops are not going to get a multi-million-pound sum for the 18-year-old marksman, but he has the potential to become a hugely valuable asset in the future.
The Scotland U19 international has been in incredible form in all competitions for the academy this season, with a staggering return of 25 goals in 28 matches.
Cummings has been a prolific centre-forward for the B team and U19 side, with 19 goals in 20 Lowland League games and six goals in seven UEFA Youth League outings, and was rewarded with a first-team debut against Aston Villa off the bench at the end of January.
24/25
20
19
0
23/24
19
12
0
22/23
10
3
0
As you can see in the table above, the 18-year-old attacker has continually improved his output in the final third season-on-season in the Lowland League for the B team.
These statistics show that Cummings is on an upward trajectory and that is improving as a player each year, which is a promising sign for West Ham as they are set to sign a prolific teen who is just getting better and better.
Whilst there is no guarantee that the young marksman will go on to become a star in the Premier League for the Hammers, or go on to be valued at £30m like Doak, his incredible form and development for Celtic suggests that the potential is there for him to do so.
Therefore, the Hoops are on the verge of an awful repeat of the Doak situation as they could watch Cummings go to England to thrive, instead of convincing him to stay and eventually emerge as a star in the first-team for Rodgers.
Now worth less than Taylor: Celtic struck gold selling Ange favourite
Celtic appear to have made a wise move by cashing in on one former hero
ByRobbie Walls Feb 17, 2025
There is a worrying trend emerging of young players deciding that moving down south to develop in England is better for them than staying at Celtic and the Bhoys need to find a way of convincing their best talents that their development is best served at Parkhead if they want to produce quality academy graduates.