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Spending big money in the transfer market is something which is part and parcel of the modern game and needed to help bring about various levels of success.

Tottenham Hotspur have shown glimpses of splashing the cash in recent times, with the hierarchy spending over £400m in the last three years alone.

However, big spending doesn’t necessarily equate to success, with their latest investment in Xavi Simons appearing to be one that has struggled to hit the heights many expected.

The board forked out a fee in the region of £52m for the Dutchman’s signature, but he’s only registered one assist within his first eight outings across all competitions.

It may only be the early days of his stint in North London, but the 22-year-old desperately needs to find his best form to avoid being labelled a flop by the fanbase.

If Simons is unable to do so, he could be placed in the same category as one player who massively failed to deliver during his own stint in the Premier League.

The finances behind Tanguy Ndombele’s failed spell at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2019, excitement was at an all-time high at Spurs, after the hierarchy forked out a then club-record £63m on the signature of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.

The Frenchman joined from Lyon with real expectations of taking the first-team squad to the next level – understandably so given the nature of the transfer fee.

He was handed a five-year deal on a staggering £200k-per-week, but such a deal would turn out to be one of the worst in the club’s history due to the astronomical numbers involved, coupled with his lack of impact.

When combining the total spent on his signature and the wages the hierarchy paid him, such a deal ended up costing £104.2m, with the breakdown of such a cost highlighting how much money they wasted.

Ndombele only made 91 appearances for the Lilywhites during his five years in England’s top-flight – which works out at a staggering £1.1m per appearance he made in North London.

Transfer Fee

£63m

Wages (Total)

£200k (£41.2m)

Appearances

91

Cost per Appearance

£1.1m

Goals

10

Cost per Goal

£10.4m

Assists

9

Cost per Assist

£11.5m

Goal Involvements

19

Cost per Goal Involvement

£5.4m

He also only netted 10 goals and registered nine assists, with his total of 19 goal contributions seeing the club fork out a total of £5.4m per contribution he made.

To top off his dismal spell in North London, the 28-year-old would depart on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 – further showcasing how much money they wasted on his signature.

The Spurs player who could become as big a waste as Ndombele

In the present day, Thomas Frank has the opportunity to break new ground for Spurs and build on the Europa League triumph at the back end of last season.

As previously mentioned, Simons was brought into the club to provide a needed boost in the final third, with Mohammed Kudus another player to make the move to North London.

The hierarchy forked out £55m for the Ghanaian’s signature, a hefty figure, but one that has appeared worthwhile given his immediate form in 2025/26.

He’s currently sitting on one goal and four assists across all competitions – currently boasting the highest combined tally of any player within the first-team squad.

The same can’t be said for fellow winger Wilson Odobert, with the Frenchman ultimately struggling to match the excitement his arrival last summer generated.

His transfer to join the Lilywhites came out of the blue, as the board paid a reported £25m for his signature after Burnley were relegated back to the Championship at the end of 2023/24.

Injuries massively plagued him in 2024/25, with the 20-year-old restricted to 21 appearances across all competitions – scoring just one goal in the Premier League as a result.

However, Frank’s arrival could have handed Odobert a fresh lease of life this campaign, but he’s so far been unable to take the initiative with both hands.

He’s already racked up 10 appearances in 2025/26, but has so far been unable to register a single goal or assist in any competition, with his underlying stats further highlighting his lack of positive impact.

Games played

8

Minutes played

317

Crosses completed

0.5

Chances created

0.8

Dribbles completed

52%

Shot on target accuracy

28%

Goals & assists

0

Possession lost

4.8

The former Burnley star has only completed 0.5 crosses per 90, whilst only completing 52% of the dribbles he’s attempted – often being unable to beat the opposition defenders with the ball at his feet.

Odobert has also been wasteful in front of goal, only managing to place 28% of his shots on target to date – undoubtedly contributing to his disappointing return in the final third.

At 20, he still has bags of time to improve further, but it’s unclear if he will be able to do that in North London, given the pressure placed on his shoulders.

He’s been tasked with replacing Heung-min Son this campaign, so far to no avail, with such a deal being a waste of money if he’s unable to find the form that saw the club spend big money on his signature.

Their best CF since Kane: Paratici wants Spurs to sign £87m "freak of nature"

Tottenham Hotspur could try and land a new talisman for Thomas Frank in the months ahead.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 21, 2025

Liverpool are in talks with various companies over a new big-money kit deal at Anfield, according to reliable journalist James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Current deal expiring

The Reds are in a superb moment currently, still battling on all fronts for what would be an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s men currently don a Standard Chartered-sponsored kit but their current deal is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.

At that point, there could be a scramble to be Liverpool’s next sponsor, especially given their recent dominance, with a fresh update from Pearce bringing positive news on that front.

The Latest: Pearce makes new claim

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Pearce confirmed that there are interested parties in becoming the Reds’ new kit sponsors, sharing an article written by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein:

“Standard Chartered’s £40m a year shirt sponsorship deal with LFC runs out at the end of next season. No guarantees at this stage they will renew. Talks with a number of companies ongoing.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-29/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Thriving on and off the pitch

There was a point when Liverpool simply didn’t have the worldwide appeal they do today, with big companies not as interested in sponsoring the club even despite the large fan base across the globe.

Jurgen Klopp has transformed the Reds as a whole, however, and they are now one of the most appealing and valuable sporting teams in the world to be a part of.

For that reason, Liverpool’s next sponsor is sure to be a big hitter, if Standard Chartered don’t renew, which can only be positive in a financial sense, in terms of signing new players and continuing the impressive training ground and stadium renovations.

In other news, one Liverpool player has been backed to leave this summer. Find out who it is here.

Things are finally looking up for Sheffield Wednesday and three takeover candidates have now reportedly taken a £50m step towards purchasing the club.

The Dejphon Chansiri era is over at long last and those at Hilsborough can finally breathe again. Fans have flocked to the club shop in support of their side and both staff and players have even been paid a day early.

Even when sat on -6 points in the Championship after entering administration, the atmosphere at Hillsborough this weekend is set to represent a club coming together to at least celebrate the end of the worst times.

A statement from Kris Wigfield, of joint-administrators Begbies Traynor, thanked fans for how they’ve supported the club and played a major part in their successful attempt to pay players and staff on time.

Survival on the pitch is largely unthinkable given that they sit 14 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship, but there’s been major concern that the Owls wouldn’t survive off the pitch in recent months. Now, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Wigfield revealed earlier this week: “As always, you get a lot of interested parties that probably aren’t going to meet the criteria, but within the numerous inquiries we’ve had, we certainly think that there are already four or five interested parties that look like the real deal.

John Textor makes Sheffield Wednesday contact as EFL prepare to relax key rule

The Owls entered administration on Friday.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 29, 2025

“There are two criteria that new owners basically need to satisfy to then open dialogue and there to be an opportunity where they can make an offer.”

What’s more, reports are now suggesting that three interested parties have taken a crucial £50m step towards buying the club.

Sheffield Wednesday candidates take £50m step

According to BBC Sheffield’s Rob Staton, three candidates have now given proof of funds to Sheffield Wednesday worth £50m in what is a vital step towards a potential takeover.

It remains to be seen who those three candidates are, but two names that have been mentioned this week are John McEvoy and John Textor.

The latter sold his Crystal Palace shares in the summer and could now make a return to English football after reportedly making contact with those at Hillsborough. That said, the Owls should act with plenty of caution after the American billionaire very nearly took Lyon to Ligue 2 thanks to financial issues.

McEvoy, meanwhile, represents more of an unknown option. The American owns ice hockey clubs and baseball clubs and would be stepping into football for the first time. Alas, with more expected to provide proof of funds, he may have to get in line to buy Sheffield Wednesday.

John McEvoy: Who is the American billionaire looking to buy Sheffield Wednesday?

Aston Villa are slowly making strides in the transfer window and now look close to announcing their first signing of the month after a fresh development, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

Aston Villa's transfer activity so far

January can be a laborious window for many teams looking to do early business as clubs around the world look to keep hold of their star players at the mid-way point in the campaign, although some countries may run to an alternative schedule to that of the Premier League. This month has yet to ignite regarding big top flight arrivals and Aston Villa aren't exempt from that fact, which is reflected in the reality that Unai Emery's men have yet to announce any new signings.

Aston Villa to launch bid to sign their most exciting talent since Grealish

Unai Emery is eyeing up a move for a Turkish prospect who has a bright future.

ByTom Lever Jan 17, 2024

The Villans are known to be in the market for additional bodies though and FootballTransfers claim that Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Giovanni Reyna has emerged as a target in the West Midlands. Jadon Sancho's arrival at Signal Iduna Park has cast doubt on his future in Germany. Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastien Kehl has already acknowledged that the United States international may be dissatisfied with his current situation at the club.

He stated: "Gio had a difficult time and was often injured. It's not easy because of the line-up we have in the middle. I can understand that he may be dissatisfied at the moment. But it's also important for him to step on the gas."

England Under-21 forward Jonathan Rowe, who plies his trade at Norwich City, is believed to be on Emery's transfer wishlist and is also being tracked by West Ham United. Now, white smoke has arisen and Aston Villa are close to completing their first acquisition of the January window, according to transfer guru Romano.

Aston Villa close to signing Kosta Nedeljkovic

Previously, reports suggested that Aston Villa were close to signing Red Star Belgrade full-back Kosta Nedeljkovic for a fee of just under €9 million after tracking the 18-year-old for a considerable period of time.

Kosta Nedeljkovic key statistics in 2023/24 – Mozzart Bet Superliga (Sofascore)

Tackles per game

1.5

Accurate passes per game

30.4 (86%)

Interceptions per game

0.9

Clearances per game

0.8

Errors leading to goal

0

Average match rating

7.04/10

Romano has now provided an exciting update on his prospective arrival and has given the Serbian defender the famous "here we go" treatment, signalling that he will indeed put pen to paper to join the Villans after his medical is completed, before returning to his homeland to see out the rest of the campaign.

The Italian journalist stated in full: "Kosta Nedeljković to Aston Villa, here we go! 2005 born right back will join the club from Crvena Zvezda! Medical tests will take place in the next days, travelling on Friday. He’s expected to stay at Serbian club until end of the season."

Labelled "aggressive" by Serbian Football Scout, the Serbia Under-19 international has made 26 appearances in all competitions this campaign, notching three assists (Nedeljkovic statistics – Transfermarkt).

Emery clearly has one eye on the future at Villa Park and NSWE now look to have got their man in an exciting transfer for all involved with the club.

Everton are now preparing a fresh offer for a player who is valued at £40m by his current club, according to a new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Everton "not ready" for new Premier League season

Blues supporters may be growing a little restless at the lack of activity on show at the club this summer, even though The Friedkin Group have made plenty of funds available for David Moyes.

While it is clearly a case of bringing in the right players rather than rushing into deals, Moyes has admitted that Everton are “not ready” for the start of the Premier League season currently, which may cause some alarm among the fanbase.

That’s not to say that the Blues haven’t already conducted some strong business, including Thierno Barry and Carlos Alcaraz, but more new faces are needed if the Merseysiders are to make a genuine impression next season.

Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling has emerged as a hugely exciting target, with the reliable Paul Joyce of The Times reporting that they have seen a £27m bid turned down for the Englishman.

Everton preparing second offer for "special" £40m star

According to Romano on X, Everton are now preparing a new offer for Dibling – one that is likely to be closer to the £40m that Saints reportedly value him at.

The idea of Dibling in a Blues shirt is mouthwatering, with the attacking midfielder one of the few bright sparks for a Southampton team that were comfortably relegated from the Premier League last season.

The 19-year-old popped up with two goals apiece in the league and the FA Cup, catching the eye with his left foot from either a right-sided or central role, both of which have to be areas of focus for Everton this summer.

Dibling has shown that he can excel in the Premier League in a struggling team, so hopefully, he will shine even more alongside superior players than at Southampton.

Everton pushing in race to sign "superb" Douglas Luiz alternative for Moyes

Moyes is still seeking reinforcements.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 31, 2025

If the Blues had Iliman Ndiaye on one flank and the Saints star on the other, it could make for highly entertaining viewing for supporters in their new stadium.

Newcastle United enjoyed a fantastic January transfer window as they made a number of key additions to Eddie Howe’s squad.

PIF brought in Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Chris Wood and they have all played a part in the club’s revival in the second half of the season.

The Magpies are now 14 points clear of the bottom three and look set for another campaign in the Premier League, with central defender Burn playing a huge role in their recent success.

He joined from Brighton in January and has averaged a solid SofaScore rating of 7.01 in the top-flight this season for the Toon and the Seagulls combined.

Forget Dan Burn

Whilst the giant Englishman has been an excellent addition to the team, the Magpies now have the chance to sign a player who will make the fans quickly forget about him.

German outlet Bild recently reported that Newcastle are interested in signing Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka, who is valued at £24m (€28m).

The French tank can be the club’s new defensive leader and be an upgrade on Burn or play alongside him as he has proven his quality in Germany this year.

Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter previously showered the gem with praise, saying: “I honestly have to say that I was surprised by his development. Evan has developed phenomenally. He’s very attentive in the analysis of his own game. He’s very modest and always takes a lot on board.”

The centre-back has also received applause from former Frankfurt player Alexander Schur as he claimed the Frenchman “shows no nerves” and “plays with great authority.” 

In the Bundesliga this season, Ndicka has averaged a fantastic SofaScore rating of 7.14. He has made an impressive 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game and won 60% of his duels, showing that he has been putting in consistent performances and dominating opposition attackers throughout the campaign.

Ndicka also ranks higher than Burn for progressive passes, progressive carries, dribbles completed and pass completion per 90 mins over the last 365 days. This means that the Frankfurt man would be an upgrade on the current Toon star in terms of what he offers in possession, whilst his statistics in the Bundesliga in comparison to Burn’s in the Premier League suggest that his all-round displays would also be better.

Therefore, Howe can land a new defensive leader for Newcastle by bringing him to the club this summer. He has shown that he has the quality to be a major player at St. James’ Park and he has the potential to improve further at the age of 22, which means that he would be a sublime signing for now and for the future.

AND in other news, Bid planned: Howe must seal NUFC deal for £30m “monster” whose “simplicity is genius”…

Over the years, Liverpool have been blessed with numerous elite-level talents, helping them cement themselves as one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the Premier League.

It was only a couple of years ago that the Reds possessed one of the most potent attacking trios in world football, helping them secure Champions League glory back in 2018/19.

Sadio Mané was the main man off the left-hand side, rapidly cementing his place in Jürgen Klopp’s starting eleven after his £34m transfer from Southampton in 2016.

He registered a total of 120 goals during his time at Anfield, forming an excellent partnership alongside Roberto Firmino, who often featured in a false nine role – playing a crucial part in the club’s success.

The Brazilian made a total of 362 appearances on Merseyside, before leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 ending his eight-year stint at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah is the only survivor of the infamous trio, remaining a star man under new boss Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s summer appointment from Feyenoord.

He also has another huge talent on his hands, in his quest to secure another league title during his first season at the helm.

Luis Diaz’s stats for Liverpool

Colombian winger Luis Diaz arrived in a big-money deal rising up to £49m back in January 2022, looking to add further firepower to Klopp’s already impressive attack.

The 27-year-old made an immediate impact on Merseyside, registering ten goal contributions in his first 26 appearances with the Reds during his first six months in England.

Injuries massively hampered his first full season at Anfield, restricting him to just 26 appearances in all competitions as the club registered a fifth-placed finish – in an all-round disappointing campaign.

However, in the last couple of years, he’s nailed down the left-wing role once occupied by Mane, with the former Porto ace playing a significant part in the early season success with Slot in 2024/25.

He’s already scored nine times in 16 appearances, which includes a hat-trick in the latest Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen, which maintained their 100% record in their European campaign.

However, despite his recent excellent form, he may need to watch out for a talent potentially taking his starting place, with the Reds ace producing some phenomenal figures during his temporary stint in England’s second tier.

The player who could be Liverpool’s own Vini Jr

19-year-old attacker Ben Doak is one of the most promising talents within the Liverpool ranks at present, having a huge future ahead of him at the very top level.

Despite his tender age, he’s already made ten first-team appearances for the Reds, before linking up with Championship side Middlesbrough on loan for the 2024/25 campaign.

The Scottish international has wasted no time in catching the eye under former Manchester United ace Michael Carrick, playing an important role in their hunt for a return to the Premier League.

During his first ten outings at the Riverside, Doak has already registered one goal and three assists – capturing the hearts of the Boro supporters with his mazy runs and electric pace.

The “fearless” teenager, as dubbed by journalist James Pearce, has produced numerous underlying stats that are way beyond his years – outperforming numerous of Europe’s leading stars.

Games played

10

Goals & assists

4

Carries into the opposition area

39

Shots taken

15

Chances created

21

Successful dribbles

23

Pass accuracy

82%

He’s already managed a total of 39 carries into the opposition’s penalty area, with only Bradley Barcola and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior managing more than – with Doak able to be Liverpool’s own version of the Brazilian superstar who narrowly missed on the Ballon d’Or this year.

The ongoing season will allow for needed senior minutes to aid his development, potentially allowing him to challenge for a first-team spot ahead of 2025/26.

It could leave Diaz fearing for his position off the left-hand side, with Doak having the potential to become as big of a superstar as Vini Jr given his similar tally from the last couple of months.

The next Suarez: Liverpool have found a new £100m + star in the making

Liverpool have created their next Luis Suarez in “incredible” £100m star in the making

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 13, 2024

Glasgow Rangers and new technical director Nils Koppen are now leading the race to sign a £3 million “ruthless” player in January, according to a new report.

The Scottish giants returned to action on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t a game to remember fondly for supporters as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Dundee United.

3 passes, 0 duels won: Clement must now ditch Rangers' 8-touch liability

Rangers dropped more Premiership points on Saturday afternoon

1 ByRoss Kilvington Nov 23, 2024 Pressure mounts on Philippe Clement at Rangers

The draw against Dundee United means it is just two wins from their last five games in all competitions for the Gers. That draw, plus Celtic’s 4-1 smashing of Hearts, now means that Philippe Clement’s side are 11 points adrift of the Hoops after 12 games and eight behind second-place Aberdeen.

That result is going to see Clement, who is already under pressure to deliver, under even more pressure, as Rangers look to end Celtic’s dominance in the league. Clement believes now is the time the club needs to raise their levels and states losing 13 points already “is not acceptable.”

Clement said: “We don’t need to speak about titles now; we need to speak about raising our level because we don’t have control over how many points other teams take. It’s totally not acceptable to lose that many points [13 so far this season]. We all know, I know, the players know, so there’s hard work to be done to make that better the next couple of months.

“Frustration about losing points in a game where you have much more chances than the opponent, much more possession also. But also frustration about our first half and the performance there. That was not good enough, with not enough quality in the final third, not enough initiative there, and not enough availability also for some players.

“I’m much more pleased about the second half because in the second half, we see the football that I want to see and that we produced in the past, that we can do, but we need to get that kind of performance 90 minutes long, and then you win all these kind of games – what we did in the past.”

Rangers and Koppen now leading race to sign £3m player in January

Ahead of the January transfer window opening, Rangers and Koppen are leading the race to sign Lawrence Shankland from Hearts, according to Football Insider. The 29-year-old has been with the Jambos since July 2022, and he has been a key player for the side, scoring 20 or more goals twice in two recent campaigns.

The Scotsman, who has been described as “ruthless” by Chris Sutton, hasn’t had quite the same luck in front of goal so far this season, as he’s just got one goal to his name in 14 league appearances and has so far yet to score a goal in the Europa Conference League.

This report states that Rangers are now in pole position to sign Shankland in January, as Hearts could look to cash in on the striker, as he will leave the club for nothing come the end of the season if a new contract isn’t agreed. Hearts have been keen to keep Shankland for the long-term, but a new deal doesn’t look to be any closer to being agreed.

Apps

113

Goals

60

Assists

16

Rangers are leading the race for his signature at the end of the season, but Hearts could see January as an opportunity to get some money for the forward, who Rangers wanted to sign for £3 million during the summer transfer window. A move in January is seen as a “win-win” for both, as Rangers bolster their attacking options and Hearts get money for a key individual. However, if a deal cannot be agreed upon, Rangers are expected to still be there come the summer, when he can be signed for a free transfer.

Arsenal are set to come up against several former players this weekend when they face Fulham. The Cottagers’ side has several players who used to ply their trade in North London rather than West London, and they are in contention to face their old club on Sunday afternoon.

One of those players is former goalkeeper Bernd Leno. He cost Fulham £8m in 2022, making the move directly from Arsenal. Two of the other players are former academy stars, Alex Iwobi and Reiss Nelson, with the latter departing the club over the summer.

Arsenal will also come up against another academy graduate who recently left the Emirates Stadium, Emile Smith Rowe.

Smith Rowe’s career before and after leaving Arsenal

The versatile attacking player has had something of a frustrating career. He was meant to be tearing things up for the Gunners alongside Buakyo Saka, but things did not quite work out how he nor every Arsenal fan had hoped.

The England international made 115 appearances for the club that helped bring him through, scoring 18 goals and grabbing 13 assists. He spent six seasons in the first team at the Emirates Stadium, intertwined with two loan spells at German outfit RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town.

It was an impressive campaign for the attacking midfielder in 2021/22 when he scored ten goals and grabbed two assists in 33 Premier League games.

However, he did not have many opportunities in an Arsenal shirt after that. Injury was part of the reason why he played just 25 Premier League games in the two seasons that followed.

That said, the attacker’s career at Fulham so far has been fantastic. In 14 top-flight games under Marco Silva, Smith Rowe has three goals and two assists to his name. His former boss Mikel Arteta explained before the game he is “really happy” the Hale End star is playing so well because he is “a very special talent”.

Perhaps Arteta regrets letting his former number ten leave this summer and might wish he gave him one more season to get back to his elegant best. However, there is a new kid on the block for the Gunners, who could be their new Smith Rowe.

Arsenal’s new Smith Rowe

The youngster in question here is the impressive Ethan Nwaneri. It has been a real breakthrough season for the Premier League’s youngest-ever player. He made his debut in 2022/23 at the age of 15 years and 5 months old.

After fleeting performances last season, Nwaneri has become a more prominent fixture in Arteta’s squad this term. He has played 11 times in all competitions, scoring his first goals in that famous Red shirt against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, and his first top-flight goal against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 thrashing.

It was a fantastic performance from the talented young winger against Preston North End, a game in which he also scored. As per Sofascore, the youngster, who played as an advanced number eight, completed 98% of his passes and two out of three attempted dribbles.

Stat

Number

Touches

73

Pass accuracy

98%

Passes completed

55/56

Ground duels won

4/6

Dribbles completed

2/3

Tackles won

2/2

Number of times hit woodwork

1

Nwaneri is a player who is highly rated amongst Arsenal fans. Football analyst and Gunners supporter Ben Mattinson described him as a “special” player after his performance against the Lilywhites in the Carabao Cup.

Interestingly, “special” was a word Jamie Carragher used to describe Smith Rowe back in 2021 after a Premier League win over Crystal Palace. Although he was a few years older at the time than the 17-year-old Nwaneri, it is fascinating to see that he was rated just as much when he began to break into the first team.

There are certainly similarities that can be drawn between Smith Rowe and Nwaneri. Not only are they both well-loved and highly rated by Arsenal fans and pundits alike, but both are products of the esteemed Hale End academy.

Gunners fans may well look back on Smith Rowe’s time at the club and wonder what could have been if he could have recaptured his form. However, with Nwaneri, they can certainly get excited about the future.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Perhaps now, with games coming thick and fast, it could be the perfect time for Nwaneri to be unleashed from the start…

Arteta has found Arsenal's new Ozil & Sanchez in unreal "future legend"

The incredible talent has a bright future at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 6, 2024

Celtic could be about to see one of their top academy talents walk out the door for nothing in 2025, with reports confirming the Hoops are yet to offer a new deal to a teenager being scouted by several European clubs.

Celtic latest news

Celtic kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout phases earlier this week with a 0-0 draw against Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadion Maksimir. The result means Brendan Rodgers’ side are now undefeated in four games in the competition, and leaves them 21st in the new-look group phase with two games to play.

Teams who finish in the top eight will automatically qualify for the last-16, while those in ninth to 24th enter a round of two-legged play-offs in February, with the winners filling up the remaining eight spots in the round of 16.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the draw against Zagreb, Rodgers described it as a “good point,” but was disappointed his side didn’t take all three.

“I think we missed an opportunity this evening, if I’m being honest, to win the game. We needed to do more in the attacking side of the game,” he explained, adding: “We’d have loved to have given the supporters the victory for making it all the way out here, but they’ve seen the team taking a step closer to that qualification.”

Celtic could lose Cummings

With Celtic also nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, all appears to be grand for Rodgers and his team. One negative for the Bhoys, however, is that they could be about to lose one of their best young players in the form of Daniel Cummings.

According to Scottish journalist Anthony Joseph, Bologna, Club Brugge, and RB Salzburg have all sent officials to watch the striker in action in recent weeks ahead of a potential move. Joseph claims that a number of Premier League clubs are also monitoring the 18-year-old, whose contract at Celtic Park runs out at the end of the season and is yet to be offered a new deal.

Cummings has scored 23 goals in just 22 games for Celtic B this season, including 17 in 15 in the Lowland League – a figure that makes him the division’s second-top scorer. Earlier this year, The Young Team, who scout Scotland’s next top stars, described Cummings as “too good for the Lowland League,” and praised him for his “great runs” and “spectacular strikes”.

Though his future at Celtic Park is up in the air, Rodgers recently suggested that Cummings could soon be given a chance in the club’s first-team.

“In terms of Daniel’s output, his goals in his games, he’s done very well,” Rodgers said. “But there are a lot of factors I consider when bringing in a young player.

“Ability is the first thing I look at, but your attitude and application are just as important. Young players will always get a chance here and there’s always a number of factors why they can or can’t get a chance, but the first one is normally ability. If they’re good enough, they’ll get a chance.”