All posts by h716a5.icu

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has revealed that Hannah Hampton could miss the rest of 2025 with a quad injury, potentially ruling her out of the Lionesses upcoming friendlies against China and Ghana later this month. The renowned shot stopper missed Chelsea's 6-0 win over St. Polten in the Women's Champions League, after picking up the injury during the Blues 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.

Hampton to miss big games for both Chelsea and England

Bompastor confirmed that Hampton will miss the next few weeks of action at the very least, ruling her out of key fixtures for both club and country. The 24-year-old completed her side's draw with rivals Arsenal despite the ailment, but was ruled out of their midweek demolition of the Austrian champions. 

Chelsea travel to Liverpool tomorrow in the Women's Super League, before hosting Barcelona in the Women's Champions League on November 20. The inaugural winner of the Women's Yashin Trophy would have been a nailed on starter for Sarina Weigman's side in the upcoming international window as the European champions work towards the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. 

Hampton was also absent from England duty last month with an elbow injury. She was replaced by Manchester City keeper Khiara Keating, who conceded twice in the first 20 minutes of her debut against Brazil. The Lionesses eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Selecao. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBompastor: Hampton will be out for a "few weeks"

In her pre-match press conference ahead of the Liverpool clash, Bompastor said: "Hannah won't be here. She picked up a quad injury.

"She will be out for a few weeks. We'll see if we see her before the end of the year but I'm not sure."

When the French manager was asked if that would rule the 24-year-old out of international duty, she simply replied: "It could be the case, yes."

Hampton injury presents an opportunity for Peng and Keating

Hampton's extended absence opens the door for Livia Peng to show her potential in the Chelsea goal. The Swiss stopper joined the Blues in the summer following an impressive two year spell with Werder Bremen. She was named to 's team of the season in 2024-25, as she kept seven clean sheets in 21 league games. The 23-year-old has cemented her spot as Switzerland's no. 1, starting all four of her country's during this summer's European Championship as the host nation was knocked out at the quarter final stage by eventual finalists Spain. She made her club debut in Chelsea's dominant win over St. Polten earlier this week. 

City's Keating will also have the opportunity to stake her claim to be Hampton's clear backup at the very least. The 21-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength since supplanting Ellie Roebuck as the City No.1 during the 2023-24 season. She would go on to win the WSL Golden Globe at the end of that campaign, making her the youngest player to pick up the award. Keating has been in impressive form again this term, keeping nine clean sheets in all competitions. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportInjury comes at challenging time for Hampton

After last season's resounding successes: winning the Euros, picking up the award for the best female goalkeeper in the game and winning the WSL for the second time, the start of the 2025/26 season has been a tough ride for Hampton. 

The protracted fallout from Mary Earps autobiography, in which the former Sports Personality of the Year accused her understudy of being "disruptive and unreliable" has been an unwelcome distraction. Hampton presumably would have hoped to move on from that saga by letting her play do the talking, especially with the Three Lions on her chest. While she has been in impressive form for her club, conceding just four goals in eight league appearances this term, missing her second international window in succession with injury, is a cruel blow. Hopefully, she can recover before the end of 2025. The league phase of Chelsea's Women's Champions League campaign concludes with ties against Roma and Wolfsburg in December. 

Arundhati and Co induced a collapse in the first innings, from which South Africa couldn’t recover

Srinidhi Ramanujam23-Jun-2024A Smriti Mandhana masterclass and Arundhati Reddy’s sharp bowling helped India beat South Africa by six wickets in the third and final ODI and seal the series 3-0 in Bengaluru.Playing in front of 15,000 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, crowd-favourite Mandhana led India’s small chase of 216 but narrowly missed out on a century, making 90 off 83 balls. She finished the series with 343 runs after two hundreds in the first two games. Mandhana’s total was also the highest in a three-match women’s series, as she surpassed Laura Wolvaardt’s 335 against Sri Lanka in April 2024.She put on 61-run and 62-run stands with Shafali Verma (25) and Priya Punia (28), India’s new no.3, to get the chase going. Seven of her 11 fours came on the offside, with six of them towards the cover region alone. Alongside Harmanpreet Kaur (42 0ff 48), she shared 48 off 47 to blunt the South African attack.Smriti Mandhana finished the series with 343 runs•BCCIAdapting to different pitches and situations, Mandhana has shown immense maturity and clarity to play long innings, not just once but thrice, in a row. However, a top edge to Ayabonga Khaka at short fine leg in the 31st over ended her knock. India needed 45 from the remaining 19 overs then and the rest of the batters completed the formalities with 9.2 overs to spare.The lack of a sixth bowling option hurt South Africa. Marizanne Kapp played all the matches as a specialist batter due to workload management after recovering from her back injury. Their premier spin-bowling allrounder Chole Tryon had to miss the tour due to recurring back injury.Despite Wolvaardt acknowledging this in the past, South Africa went in with a like-for-like replacement for Masabata Klass with another right-arm Tumi Sukhukhune. A few individual brilliance aside, South Africa had failed to fire in unison in the series.South Africa’s innings of two halvesAfter coming close to chasing India’s 325 in the second ODI, the visitors had an underwhelming outing with the bat after a brisk start from Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. They got through the first ten overs without losing a wicket, for the first time in this series, and added 46. Wolvaardt continued her purple patch, notching up her 32nd half-century in her 98th ODI.She started sedately, making 9 off her 15 balls and then targeted Pooja Vastrakar in the 10th over, hammering four fours with featuring gorgeous cover drives and pulls. A sweep and a pull off Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin fetched her two more fours, and she tapped a short and wide delivery off Smriti Mandhana to deep third.At the other end, Brits had a cautious start after getting out for 18 and 5 in the first two games of the series. On Sunday, there was intent to stay longer in her comeback series following a knee injury. A six over deep midwicket and fours to fine leg and deep backward point gave the impression of her getting her rhythm back.Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt added 102 for the first wicket•BCCIThe duo took the team past hundred in 119 balls and looked set to keep the momentum going. But an outstanding reaction catch from Reddy dismissed Wolvaardt for a 57-ball 61, ending the 102-run partnership in the 20th over.In the following over, Brits was run out for 66-ball 38 after a mix-up with Marizanne Kapp, who was promoted to no.3 after her century in the previous game.In her five-over third spell, Reddy produced another moment of brilliance, another catch in the follow-through to send Anneke Bosch back. Two overs later, Shreyanka Patil, who had come in for legspinner S Asha, dismissed Kapp caught and bowled for 7, by going around the wicket for the fifth ball after bowling the previous four from over the wicket.From 102 for 0, South Africa were left reeling at 120 for 4. Cameos from Nadine de Klerk and Mieke de Ridder helped them post over 200, but India’s tight bowling never let them into the game.On a pitch with cracks on one half and grass on the other, Harmanpreet opened the bowling with Patil and kept at least one spinner at play at one almost throughout the innings. Reddy was the best bowler of the day, finishing with figures of 2 for 36 in ten overs spread across four spells.Deepti Sharma, the most economical bowler of the day, also had her moment picking up two wickets in two balls bowling de Klerk and Nonkululeko Mlaba out in the 43rd over.There was slight drizzle after the first innings but it, too, fizzled out like South Africa’s batting, and did not result in overs being lost.

Newcastle United’s qualification for the Champions League next season will give Eddie Howe hope that he can lure some high-profile players to Stamford Bridge.

One player they are showing interest in is Jadon Sancho. The Manchester United winger looks set to depart Old Trafford this summer.

The Englishman could cost the club around £25m, and he would certainly bolster their wide options, given his return of five goals and eight assists for Chelsea this season.

It would be a massive statement of intent if Howe could secure a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund starlet. While adding wingers will help the club next season, perhaps it is other positions that require strengthening first.

Newcastle enter the race to sign Barcelona star

One position that Howe must improve is his goalkeeping department. The club conceded 47 Premier League goals last term, the worst defensive record out of any side in the top five.

Thus, bringing in a top-class goalkeeper ahead of another Champions League campaign makes perfect sense.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona’s keeper Marc-André ter Stegen could be set to leave the club following the arrival of Joan Garcia.

PSG, AC Milan, Manchester City, and Juventus have all expressed interest in the German international, but Newcastle are also entering the race.

Beating these clubs to the signature of Ter Stegen would be a major coup for Howe; that much is certain. Indeed, he would be an even better signing than Sancho.

Why Newcastle must sign Marc-André ter Stegen

Signing Sancho could prove to be a massive gamble. For Man United, the winger scored just 12 goals across 83 matches for the club. His loan spell at Chelsea didn’t exactly see him sparkle either.

His 41 matches for the Blues saw only five goals netted, and it was no surprise that they declined to sign him permanently. Given the fact that Newcastle can call upon players such as Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, and Jacob Murphy on the wing, do they need to splash out to sign Sancho? Especially with the risks involved with his lacklustre form.

In this instance, making a move for Ter Stegen would be seen as the smarter approach. That’s for sure.

Last season, Nick Pope kept just eight clean sheets from 35 appearances, while Martin Dubravka kept five clean sheets across ten domestic matches for the Magpies.

If Howe is serious about progressing far in the Champions League next season, making a move to bring Ter Stegen to England would be a very shrewd move indeed.

Metric

Pope

Dubravka

Clean sheets

8

5

Saves per game

3.1

2.9

Touches per game

34.8

38

Goals conceded

35

12

Goals conceded per game

1.3

1.2

Pass success rate

65%

76%

He played just nine games last season for Barcelona, keeping a solitary clean sheet. The German has been with the La Liga giants since the summer of 2014, playing over 400 competitive matches in the process.

A total of 175 clean sheets have been kept throughout that period. While he may not have featured much this term, in La Liga during 2023/24, he was excellent.

Across his 28 matches, Ter Stegen made 2.7 saves per game – a success rate of 74% – while he was also successful with 100% of his runs out per game.

He was comfortable on the ball, as evidenced by his average of 40 touches per game, while a 94% pass accuracy in his own half suggests the German moves the ball on effectively.

The player was lauded as “ice cool” by popular X page Goalkeeper.com for the way he snuffed out an opponent’s attack in the Champions League in September 2023.

Given the fact that he has a contract until 2028 with the Catalan giants, a move would cost the club, although it hasn’t been determined just how much Hansi Flick will demand for his player.

Sancho would be a fine signing, no doubt, but bringing Ter Stegen to the north-east would certainly turn heads.

Newcastle accelerate pursuit of £60m striker who now wants move to Tyneside

Eddie Howe could bring a clinical forward to Tyneside.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 13, 2025

Chelsea are now nearing an agreement to sign a “world-class” star, and the deal could be closed as soon as “tomorrow”, according to reporter Daniele Longo.

Blues set for yet another busy transfer window

BlueCo certainly haven’t been shy to splash the cash since arriving at Stamford Bridge, and it looks as though yet another summer of heavy spending could be on the cards, with targets being identified in a number of key positions.

Given that Nicolas Jackson has just one Premier League goal to his name in 2025, a new striker appears to be of particular interest to the Blues, despite having already signed Liam Delap, and an offer has now been made for FC Porto’s Samu Omorodion.

Robert Sanchez has also been less than impressive, with Filip Jorgensen replacing the Spaniard at times last season, which means Enzo Maresca has also set out to sign a new goalkeeper, and Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on their pursuit of Mike Maignan.

With an offer now on the table, the Blues are making progress towards securing Maignan’s signature, and Longo has now taken to X to report on a further development, stating the AC Milan goalkeeper has reached a full agreement on a multi-year contract.

Not only that, but the west Londoners are “close to an agreement with Milan”, and the deal could be closed by “tomorrow”, suggesting it could be finalised before the June 10th deadline, meaning the Frenchman would be available for the Club World Cup.

Alongside Gittens: Chelsea submit bid for £63m star who's Mata 2.0

Chelsea have reportedly lodged another bid, alongside their pursuit of Jamie Gittens

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 7, 2025 "World-class" Maignan could be exactly what Chelsea need

With the Blues set to return to the Champions League next season, it would make sense to bring in a goalkeeper who is proven at the top level, and the Milan shot-stopper certainly fits the bill in that regard.

The France international has 32 appearances to his name in Europe’s elite competition, while also catching the eye over a sustained period of time in the Serie A, once being lauded as “world-class” by writer Carlo Garganese after impressing in the Milan derby.

Maresca is also well-known for playing out from the back, which means it is important for his goalkeeper to be comfortable in possession of the ball, and the 29-year-old ranks in the 91st percentile for touches per 90 in the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

All the signs indicate that Maignan could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, but it remains to be seen whether they are willing to stump up Milan’s valuation of €30m (£25m), given that the Cayenne-born goalkeeper will turn 30 in July.

Questions have been asked about Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca during his spell in charge after being appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor last summer.

The Italian led Leicester City back to the Premier League, but jumped ship to take over at Stamford Bridge, with many wondering whether he would be the right man for the job.

However, nearly 12 months on from his appointment, he’s exceeded all expectations, showcasing he’s the right man for the job based on his success to date.

The 45-year-old has secured the Blues a place in the Champions League for next season, whilst also claiming Europa Conference League glory against Real Betis on Wednesday night.

It’s been a campaign to remember for Maresca, but if he wants to continue his progress in the role, he will need added funds provided by the hierarchy to help him in his quest.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last couple of hours, Chelsea have made huge strides in a deal to sign Liam Delap, with the 22-year-old agreeing to a move to join the Blues this summer.

It was confirmed that he has rejected offers from multiple other Premier League sides, leaving Maresca’s side to trigger his release clause and complete the formalities before announcing his move to West London.

However, despite the progress made on a deal for the Ipswich Town star, another name in the form of Viktor Gyokeres has once again entered the mix, according to Record Portugal.

The report claims that the Blues have made an enquiry to sign the 26-year-old this summer, after his stupendous record of 54 goals in just 52 matches across all competitions.

It also states that they face stern competition from Juventus for the Swedish international’s signature, with Sporting CP demanding a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with the talisman this window.

Why Chelsea’s £60m target would be a better signing than Delap

With Delap’s move appearing to be moving closer to completion, Maresca could finally be about to land the new striker that he’s been craving in recent months.

Nicolas Jackson has been his main talisman since his arrival, with the Senegalese international scoring 10 times in the Premier League during the Italian’s first year in charge.

Such a record is respectable, but if the side are to reach the next level under his guidance, they will need that proven goalscorer to fire them towards the top end of the table.

Delap has shown he’s capable of doing just that, scoring 12 times in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys, with such a record being an impressive one given their relegation this season.

However, when comparing his stats to those of Gyokeres, the Swede has showcased that his performance levels are night and day – proving that he would be a far better addition than the Englishman.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has massively outscored him in 2024/25, whilst also posting a higher shot on target rate – showcasing the clinical nature he possesses.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also registering more progressive carries per 90 – having the skillset to hand other players around him the best chance of improving their own tallies.

Games played

33

37

Goals & assists

46

14

Shot-on-target accuracy

52%

43%

Pass accuracy

72%

61%

Progressive carries

4.3

2.1

Take-ons completed

1.9

1.3

Aerials won

51%

42%

Fouls won

2.5

1.7

Gyokeres has also won more of the aerials he’s entered and draws more fouls, offering Maresca that focal point he’s craved, something which Delap may struggle to provide.

Given the progress on the deal for the Ipswich talisman, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to complete a deal for Gyokeres, or they could potentially miss out on his signature.

Nothing suggests that the club may not target both talents in the coming months, handing the Blues an added dimension in forward areas that could bolster their title charge in 2025/26.

As bad as Gusto: Chelsea's 4/10 flop must never play for the club again

Chelsea secured the Europa Conference League last night, but multiple players failed to deliver.

ByEthan Lamb May 29, 2025

After such a dismal season in 2024/25, Manchester United have a huge opportunity to end the campaign on a high with the Europa League final on the horizon.

Ruben Amorim’s men face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday night, looking to claim his first trophy in charge and secure a place in the Champions League next year.

Such an achievement could be vital in their pursuit of landing new talent this summer, with the manager already targeting new additions to help revitalise his current squad.

Qualifying for the biggest club competition in Europe could hand the Red Devils a boost of offering top-level talents an exciting project despite their lowly Premier League standing.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work has already been done behind the scenes to hand Amorim with the tools needed to be a success at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new talents this summer

Matheus Cunha appears to be edging ever closer to completing a switch to join United this summer, with the deal entering its final stages, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 25-year-old has already accepted a proposal to move to Old Trafford this summer, with the hierarchy ready to trigger his £62.5m release clause in four instalments.

However, he could be joined at the Theatre of Dreams by one of his compatriots, with Atalanta’s Ederson the latest player on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with a move to land the Serie A star, currently having the advantage over Manchester City and Juventus in the race for his signature.

The journalist also confirmed that the 25-year-old would cost a fee in the region of £50m this summer, but that the hierarchy are set to enter negotiations after the Europa League final.

Why United’s £50m target could be Amorim’s own Pogba

Paul Pogba still holds the club-record for the highest fee paid for a player, costing £89m from Juventus back in the summer of 2016, just a couple of years after departing on a free transfer.

The Frenchman made over 200 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford, helping them win the Europa League – something which Amorim could hope to replicate this week.

The midfielder caught the eye in his box-to-box role for the Red Devils, often producing a moment of magic with the ball at his feet, resulting in countless excellent strikes in the North West.

Despite leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, his spell at the club was a success, potentially replicating such a deal with a move for Ederson in the coming months.

The Atalanta star could follow in Pogba’s footsteps by completing a switch from an Italian outfit, also possessing a similar skillset, which could make him a key component in Amorim’s overhaul at the club.

When comparing his stats to those of Pogba’s from his first year at United, the Brazilian has managed to star at both ends of the pitch, making him a superb option as a box-to-box in the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “monster” by The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, has achieved a higher pass completion rate, handing other players at Old Trafford the chance to improve their own tallies.

Games played

36

30

Goals & assists

5

9

Shot-on-target accuracy

31%

23%

Goals per shot-on-target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

86%

83%

Tackles won

1.6

1.3

Interceptions made

1.2

0.8

Despite registering fewer combined goals and assists, the Brazilian has notched a higher shot-on-target rate along with a better goal-per-shot-on-target rate – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also won more tackles per 90 and completed more interceptions, offering Amorim the added defensive cover he needs within the midfield department at Old Trafford.

£50m may seem to be another hefty investment from the hierarchy this summer, but it’s one that would drastically improve the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

Should he manage to reach similar levels to those produced by Pogba, it would be an excellent pickup, potentially playing a key role in any success down the line under the current management team.

Man Utd flop who should be "fourth choice" has been even worse than Onana

This Manchester United flop has been an even worse signing than Andre Onana.

ByDan Emery May 20, 2025

Glasgow Rangers already know that they will finish the Scottish Premiership season in second place after their city rivals won the title at the end of last month.

The Light Blues held Celtic to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on Sunday in a game that was meaningless in terms of the league table, but still meant a lot to the fans who saw their team put in a spirited display to avoid a defeat.

Rangers will want to put up more of a fight overall in the Premiership next season, though, as they bid to avoid finishing second for the fifth year in succession.

Appointing the right manager to lead the club forward is pivotal, and it does not look like Barry Ferguson will be that man, as the team are currently on a winless run of six matches under his management.

The Light Blues have been linked with external appointments to replace the Scottish boss, who is currently in interim charge after Philippe Clement was sacked earlier this year.

Gerrard lined up for Rangers return

It was recently reported by Football Insider that the English manager is the ‘favourite’ to return to Ibrox to replace Ferguson in the dugout this summer.

The outlet revealed that he is currently the leading candidate to take the job ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell look to find the club’s new head coach.

It was claimed that Gerrard is at the top of the club’s shortlist of managerial options to come in, ahead of former RB Leipzig tactician Marco Rose.

Of course, it would be the iconic former Liverpool midfielder’s second stint at Ibrox, having left the Glasgow giants to manage Aston Villa in 2021, after he had joined the Light Blues from working in academy football at Anfield down south.

Matches

38

12

Wins

32

8

Draws

6

3

Defeats

0

1

Points

102

27

Points per game

2.68

2.25

League position

1st

1st

As you can see in the table above, Gerrard’s last 50 matches in charge of Rangers in the Premiership were nothing short of extraordinary, with just one defeat and 40 wins, including an unbeaten title-winning campaign in the 2020/21 season.

The Gers boss had some terrific players to work with during that period in the club’s history. One of the key players in that title success was, for example, central midfield star Glen Kamara, who provided a metronomic presence in the middle of the park.

Why Glen Kamara was important for Steven Gerrard

The impressive central midfielder, who signed for Gerrard’s side in January 2019 from Dundee, played a pivotal role in midfield in the 2020/21 campaign.

Kamara played 33 of the 38 league matches, starting 29 of those games, and provided quality in and out of possession for the English tactician in his 4-3-3 system.

The Finnish star only scored one goal in the Premiership that term, as shown in the clip above, but he contributed in other ways with his brilliant midfield performances.

Kamara utilised his physicality, mobility, and technical quality to dominate the middle of the park by winning his duels and being incredibly reliable with the ball at his feet in the Premiership.

Appearances

33

Goals

1

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

91%

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.0

Ground duel success rate

59%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

As you can see in the table above, the Finland international won the majority of his battles on the ground and in the air, whilst rarely giving the ball away with his passes.

These statistics illustrate how important Kamara was to Gerrard’s side because he could combine technical quality with physical robustness to provide balance in midfield for the Light Blues.

Now, Rangers have a promising young talent on their hands who could develop into being Gerrard’s new version of Kamara, if the Gers appoint the English head coach for a second time, in the form of Bailey Rice.

Why Bailey Rice could be the new Glen Kamara

Like the Finnish ace, the 18-year-old midfielder is a player who has the potential to provide technical quality in possession with strong defensive qualities in the middle of the park.

Of course, Rice is not the finished article and should not be expected to be, at the age of 18, and is a starlet who could develop and improve under Gerrard’s management, with a view to him becoming a star further down the line.

The teenage dynamo has played 12 times for the first-team so far in his young career, and nine of those games have been in the current campaign.

In those matches, Rice has shown glimpses of the kind of quality he could consistently provide in the future if his development continues on the right track, and he is given enough opportunities by managers moving forward.

The Rangers starlet did enough to leave TNT Sport pundit and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand in awe against the Red Devils in the Europa League earlier this term, as the former England international hailed his “wonderful” pass and how “composed” the midfielder was, whilst admitting that he liked the look of the youngster.

Rice won 75% of his aerial duels and created one ‘big chance’ for his team in his three appearances in Europe this term, whilst he has also shown glimpses of quality in the Premiership.

Appearances

4

Starts

1

Pass accuracy

80%

Long pass accuracy

67%

Duels won per 90

5.93

Duel success rate

60%

Aerial duel success rate

70%

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues teenager has showcased his defensive ability for the Gers by winning the majority of his physical battles, despite being just 18, and almost won six duels per 90.

Analyst John Walker claimed that one of Rice’s qualities is his “aggressive nature to break lines with forward passes”, but his 80% pass accuracy suggests that there is still work to be done to translate that to first-team level effectively.

Therefore, the qualities are all there for the young midfielder to develop into a star who can play in a similar way to how Kamara did for Gerrard in the 2020/21 campaign, due to his ability in and out of possession.

If Gerrard is the next Rangers manager, the former England international, who played in midfield in his playing career, could work with Rice on the training pitch to turn him into his next version of Kamara at Ibrox in the years to come.

Bad news for Dessers: 4-3-3 boss becomes leading candidate for Rangers job

Rangers have identified their leading candidate to replace Barry Ferguson at Ibrox.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

Celtic have made a habit of bringing back former players in recent times and could now be set to repeat the trick in surprise fashion, according to a report.

Celtic look to kickstart summer transfer business

Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed another supremely successful season at Parkhead and stands only one game off completing a domestic treble, coming against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final.

The Bhoys have already won the Premier Sports Cup and Scottish Premiership title, setting the scene for a summer that could see some exciting arrivals at Parkhead.

Club icon Kieran Tierney will return to Celtic on a free transfer once his Arsenal contract expires next month, completing a whirlwind comeback after leaving for the Gunners back in 2019.

With Jota set to miss up to nine months of action, the Bhoys could also look to bring in Stoke City winger Million Manhoef. However, the Dutch star may cost around £10 million to prize away from the bet365 Stadium.

Scottish talent Lennon Miller is also on Celtic’s radar and is set for a summer of speculation following a fine couple of years at Motherwell, even if the Scottish Premiership champions are likely to be one of a number of clubs interested in his services.

Celtic could sign a perfect £7m Jota replacement this summer

Celtic may be in the market for a new winger after they lost Jota to a long-term injury.

ByDan Emery May 5, 2025

In a global marketplace, homegrown signings are important for the Bhoys to ensure they can meet squad quotas for European competitions.

Ultimately, Scottish players have always formed a strong part of Celtic’s backbone and club culture. Callum McGregor and James Forrest are shining examples, though they are rare examples from the academy set-up in recent years.

Now, the Hoops could be set to turn to one of their former youth graduates in a surprise move, per recent developments.

Celtic eye surprise move for Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan

According to The Herald, Celtic are lining up a surprise move for Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan, who spent seven years coming through the ranks at Lennoxtown before signing for Tranmere Rovers in 2022. Since then, the 27-year-old has featured for Forest Green Rovers before pitching up at Pittodrie, where he has filled in at times for Dimitar Mitov this campaign.

Ross Doohan’s season at Aberdeen – all competitions

Appearances

18

Goals conceded

27

Clean sheets

5

Labelled “brilliant” by Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie, his final match with the Dons could come against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final before a move if the scenario were to materialise. Third-choice Hoops stopper Scott Bain could leave with only a year on his deal left, opening up a slot for Doohan to make his way back to Glasgow as he features on a list of potential alternatives.

Celtic are required to have four club-trained players and the former Scotland Under-21 fits the bill, making it easier for Rodgers to piece together his final 25-man squad for whatever European league phase his side end up in.

Admittedly, Doohan wouldn’t be a signing that would attract much fanfare, but his arrival could be beneficial in light of quota requirements.

Celtic are enjoying their renewed status as Scottish Premiership champions and could now strike to beat their rivals to the signing of a highly-rated youngster, per reports.

Celtic probe ahead of summer transfer window

The Bhoys are basking in the glory of a fourth successive league title and will look to hammer home their supremacy this season when they travel to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

However, their rivals have claimed victory in their last two Glasgow Derby encounters, leaving Brendan Rodgers with a point to prove against his opposite number, Barry Ferguson.

Truthfully, the Irishman can put forward a compelling argument that he has already met his remit with flying colours. He is now the third-most successful manager in Celtic history; trophies are the bottom line in Glasgow after all.

In light of this, Rodgers is likely to gain significant backing from the Hoops hierarchy this summer. According to reports, AC Ajaccio striker Moussa Soumano has emerged as a target at Parkhead, even if Brentford are deemed to be leading the race for his signature.

Crystal Palace winger Jesse Derry is also on Celtic’s radar, but he is likely to be one for the future should he join the club for a compensation fee after refusing to pen a new deal at Selhurst Park.

Celtic set to lose "fantastic" player until 2025/26 after painful injury

The Bhoys will have to do without one of their star men.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 28, 2025

In the background, plenty of groundwork will be ongoing to ensure the Bhoys have adequate quality present to combat the challenge of competing in the final Champions League qualifying round next term.

Homegrown players will be needed to meet squad quotas regardless of what league phase they end up in, so it won’t be a surprise that they are now battling their rivals for one of Scotland’s brightest young talents.

Celtic and Rangers race to sign Hearts forward James Wilson

According to Chronicle Live, Celtic and Rangers are both racing to sign Heart of Midlothian forward James Wilson alongside Premier League outfit Newcastle United.

Becoming a regular at Tynecastle, the 18-year-old earned his first Scotland cap against Greece earlier this year and has been scouted by either side of Glasgow’s divide, while the Magpies have sent representatives to watch the youngster several times.

James Wilson’s breakout season at Hearts – first-team and B team level

Appearances

37

Goals

11

Assists

2

Impressive at senior level, Wilson has netted six times in 31 appearances and is capable of playing either on the right flank or as a central striker.

Lauded for his “brilliant” campaign by James Penrice, the prodigious talent has also managed to create 11 chances on Scottish Premiership duty.

Evidently, Wilson still has plenty of growth to come in the next few years, but all the telltale signs are there that he could go on to be a star of Scottish football with the correct development plan.

Celtic will hope they can convince him that Parkhead is the place to achieve that feat, though he would likely be met by stiff competition for his place.

Chelsea are now looking at signing a Netherlands international, who Arsenal have watched since he was 16, with Enzo Maresca’s side threatening to snatch a very long-term Gunners transfer target.

Chelsea targeting new defenders this summer

A new defender or two is reported to be high on BlueCo’s transfer agenda this summer, and a few high-profile names are already being mentioned ahead of the first window’s opening on June 1st.

Chelsea will now sell player who Maresca is "crazy" about for just £30m

It could be very unpopular with their manager.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

The Premier League confirmed that 2025 will have two summer windows (one open from June 1st to June 10th, and the other from June 16th to September 1st), which allows the likes of Chelsea and Man City to bring in new players before the Club World Cup.

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 10th

Man United (home)

May 18th

According to reliable Stamford Bridge journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are expected to invest significantly in a new centre-back, with Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and Bournemouth sensation Dean Huijsen both mentioned as top targets.

Guehi is entering the final 12 months of his Palace contract, and Chelsea are believed to be seriously considering the prospect of re-signing the Cobham academy graduate, who departed for Selhurst Park in 2021 (The Mirror).

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Huijsen is expected to depart the Vitality Stadium this summer, with his £50 million release clause attracting attention from a host of top Premier League sides, including Chelsea.

As reported by David Ornstein, Chelsea have held talks with Huijsen’s representatives, alongside the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal, as England’s elite bid to battle for the Spaniard’s in-demand signature. However, there is also competition from abroad, as Vincent Kompany reportedly tells Bayern Munich to move for Huijsen as well (Football Insider).

Amidst their hot pursuit of the 20-year-old, Maresca’s side may also bolster their full-back options.

Jules Koundé was mentioned as a Chelsea target this week, according to reports in Spain, but they’ve also got their eyes on Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.

Chelsea eye Ajax defender and long-term Arsenal target Jorrel Hato

As per The Mail, Chelsea are now considering a move for Hato, who has become a mainstay for the Eredivisie side and one of the Netherlands’ rising stars.

The 19-year-old has been scouted by London rivals Arsenal since he was 16, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, so he has a big admirer in Arteta.

“Jorrel Hato is still a player they love – they’ve done all the work on him for years – they’ve been following him since he was 16,” said Bailey to The Boot Room recently.

“Liverpool like him as well. It wouldn’t surprise me if Hato came to England this year.”

The price of his signature, according to other reports, sits at around £40 million – which could be a bargain where Chelsea are concerned.

The versatile teenager can play at both left-back and as a left-sided centre-back when required, plugging two different gaps for Maresca, and there is a reason that no Ajax player has been handed more league minutes than Hato this season (WhoScored).