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Celtic won their fourth game in five pre-season matches on Saturday when they put Premier League side Newcastle United to the sword at Parkhead.

The Hoops ran out 4-0 winners against the Magpies in front of their supporters, thanks to goals from Arne Engels, Johnny Kenny, Hyun-jun Yang, and Liam Scales.

Brendan Rodgers will surely be delighted with the way that pre-season is going for his team, given this impressive result, but there are still more gears for the Hoops to find as they continue to improve their squad with new signings.

Their most recent signing was announced on the morning of the clash with Newcastle, as the club confirmed the arrival of Shin Yamada on a permanent deal from Kawasaki Frontale.

The Japanese centre-forward got the chance to say hello to the supporters at Parkhead on Saturday, but he did not sign in time to be involved on the pitch.

It will now be interesting to see what kind of role the 25-year-old striker plays at Celtic next season, because he has arrived in Glasgow off the back of a frustrating campaign in his home country.

Why Celtic need to revive Shin Yamada

Speaking to the club’s official website as part of the announcement, Rodgers said: “He (Yamada) is a strong player who can score goals and create goals for others and I think he is someone who can definitely add an important dimension to our forward line.”

This suggests that the Northern Irish head coach believes that the Japanese number nine has the quality to make a big impact in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops next term, despite his form in 2025.

In the 2025 J1 League campaign, Yamada scored two goals in 21 appearances for Kawasaki Frontale, whilst he also only provided one assist for his teammates and created 0.4 chances per game on average.

That does not mean that he is not likely to offer any quality in the final third for Celtic, though, because his form in the 2024 campaign was sensational.

Appearances

38

21

Goals

19

2

Minutes per goal

107

573

Big chances missed

14

8

Key passes per game

0.7

0.4

Assists

3

1

As you can see in the table above, Yamada scored a whopping 19 goals in 38 league games in 2024 before his decline in form in the first half of this year.

If Celtic can revive the striker and get him back to his best at the top end of the pitch, Rodgers could have a lethal and prolific centre-forward on his hands.

The Hoops are also in the market to add more quality to their options out wide, and they are reportedly pursuing a deal for a star who could help Yamada to get back to his goalscoring best.

Celtic in talks to sign new winger

According to the Daily Record, Celtic remain interested in a move to bring Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha to Parkhead before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that talks over a deal to sign the Belgian attacker have been ‘ongoing’, as Rodgers looks to bolster his options on the flanks after Jota’s injury and Nicolas Kuhn’s move to Como.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that Royal Antwerp boss Stef Wils has revealed that it is “possible” that the 24-year-old will complete a transfer away from the club ‘soon’, opening the door to a move to Parkhead.

The Daily Record adds that Balikwisha, who is reportedly valued at £5m, has been a long-term transfer target for the Hoops, and they are in talks to finally get a deal over the line.

It also reveals that Royal Antwerp are keen to cash in on the Belgian winger this summer because his current contract with the club is due to expire at the end of next season.

Why Yamada would love Balikwisha

Yamada could be one player who would be happy to see the Scottish Premiership champions secure a transfer for the Pro League attacker this summer, because the flanker could be perfect for the striker.

As aforementioned, the Japanese marksman needs to improve his form in front of goal after a frustrating year so far, and he will need wingers who can create high-quality chances for him in order to do that.

Balikwisha missed 29 matches with muscle injuries during the 2024/25 campaign, which limited his game time, but the 24-year-old talent still caught the eye with some impressive performances.

The Belgian whiz was described as a “creative” talent by analyst Will Glavin and his underlying numbers in the Pro League last season support that claim, as he scored four goals and provided three assists in 12 starts for Royal Antwerp.

xA

0.22

Top 33%

Assists

0.31

Top 22%

Successful passes

34.99

Top 15%

Chances created

1.99

Top 29%

Touches

60.61

Top 24%

Penalties won

0.08

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha ranked highly among his positional peers in the Pro League in a host of key possession-based and creative metrics.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to be a highly influential performer for Rodgers as a creative threat on the left flank if he can stay fit and start regularly, as he is able to create high-quality chances on a regular basis for his teammates.

That is also why Balikwisha could help to revive Yamada next season because he has the creative quality to provide the striker with enough opportunities for him to get back on the goal trail.

Whilst it will still be down to the Japanese striker to finish those chances, by the law of average, the more chances that are created for the forward the more likely he is to start scoring goals on a regular basis again.

He'll send Idah to the bench: Celtic lining up swoop for £7m "goal machine"

Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a striker who would send Adam Idah to the bench.

ByDan Emery Jul 18, 2025

Therefore, Yamada will surely be hoping that these talks with Antwerp lead to Celtic doing a deal with the Belgian side for Balikwisha, because he could be the perfect winger to play alongside him at Parkhead next season.

In-form batter comes out with runner in key Championship clash after warm-up injury

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2024Somerset face an anxious wait to discover whether Tom Banton will be fit to play for them at Vitality T20 Blast Finals Day after going over on his ankle in their football warm-up on Wednesday.Banton went for an X-ray during Surrey’s first innings in their County Championship game at Taunton and was cleared of an ankle break, but will undergo an MRI scan on Thursday to discover the extent of the damage. He hobbled out to bat – with a runner – at No. 11 and reached the close of play unbeaten on 28 off 28 balls.

Tom Banton limps out, what a warrior

LIVE STREAM https://t.co/aRtGCP76ez#SOMvSUR#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/RykJjjs8k9

— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 11, 2024

An “important” Glasgow Rangers player has been offered to another club this summer, with his Ibrox future looking in serious doubt.

The Gers know the importance of keeping hold of their most important players this summer, as they look to bridge the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race.

One player whose future is reportedly up in the air is Nicolas Raskin – the likes of Aston Villa and Wolves have been linked with signing him – but manager Russell Martin has spoken about improving his game moving forward, suggesting that he doesn’t see him leaving.

“We can get more end product out of Nico by doing a bit less. He has big character, he wants to take the ball but I think he’s had to do a lot in the previous season, whereas now we’re going to ask him to do a bit less, and when he does have to stuff, to do it with real quality, intensity and aggression. So, hopefully, we’ll be able to bring out a more impactful Nico.”

While Rangers supporters may be buoyed by Martin’s comments, a worrying new update has now emerged regarding his future at Ibrox.

Raskin's agent offers deal to Real Betis

According to a fresh update from Estadio Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Rangers midfielder Raskin’s agency, Libera Sports, “offered” him to Real Betis in the last few days, as well as Saint-Etienne striker Lucas Stassin.

The Gers ace is valued at around £8.6m, however, and the report states that it will be difficult for Betis to acquire his signature for a “modest price” this summer. Meanwhile, Radio Sevilla also claim that sporting director Manu Fajardo sees the Belgian as high up on the list of midfield options to come in.

Retaining Raskin’s services has to be seen as priority business for Rangers in the coming weeks, considering what a key part of their midfield he has been since arriving from Standard Liege back in 2023.

The 24-year-old is an influential figure in so many ways, bagging six assists and also winning an average of two aerial duels per game in the league last season, being hailed as “important” by Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia.

Martin has to do his utmost to show Raskin that he is ready to build something special at Ibrox, making the Belgium international a vital part of his plans and building the team around him.

Fernandez upgrade at Ibrox: Rangers want to sign "quality" star for UCL tie

Rangers are still pushing to sign Russell Martin’s top target.

ByBen Gray Jul 18, 2025

A new contract for the midfielder would arguably feel as important as new signing that comes in for the Gers this summer, but that feels like far from a guarantee currently.

Crystal Palace have now made an ambitious approach to sign a “rapid” £40m star, who is being targeted by some of the Premier League’s top clubs, according to a report.

Palace's transfer plans taking shape amid Europa League uncertainty

Palace’s decision to reject Tottenham Hotspur’s £70m bid for Marc Guehi in the January transfer window ultimately paid dividends, given that the captain went on to play a key role in the FA Cup triumph against Manchester City.

However, the Eagles will always be well aware that a replacement may be needed this summer, given that Guehi’s contract expires next summer, and Premier League rivals Newcastle United are now believed to be close to completing a deal.

In theory, Selhurst Park should be an attractive destination this summer, given that Europa League football should be on offer next season, although it is still up in the air whether Oliver Glasner’s side will even be able to take part in the competition.

Indeed, amid issues around multi-club ownership, UEFA may remove Crystal Palace from the competition, although they are willing to do whatever it takes to participate.

It remains to be seen whether Palace are allowed to take part, but should they embark on a European adventure, they may need to bring in a top-quality replacement for Guehi, and they have now made an approach for Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande.

That is according to a report from The Daily Mail, which states an enquiry has been lodged over the centre-back, who is being targeted as a direct heir to Guehi, and is thought to be valued at £40m.

Diomande could be viewed as an ambitious target, however, considering 2025-26 Champions League participants Chelsea and Newcastle United have also expressed an interest.

Crystal Palace now keen to hijack 21 y/o gem who's the 'next Upamecano'

The Eagles could get one over on their rivals.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 7, 2025

Diomande could be real coup for Palace

Zach Lowy has been left enamoured with the Sporting defender in the past, describing him as “physically imposing” and “rapid”, before going on to claim the 21-year-old “has everything it takes to become one of the best center backs in football.”

As such, if the Eagles were able to win the race for the defender, it would be a real coup, and he could be a fantastic replacement for Guehi, who now appears to be heading to St. James’ Park.

Not only is the Ivorian impressive from a defensive point of view, but he also offers an attacking threat, while regularly displaying his ability in possession of the ball over the past year.

Statistic	Average per 90
Non-penalty goals	0.07 (81st percentile)
Passes attempted	75.76 (96th percentile)
Pass completion %	93.5% (99th percentile)

Should Palace manage to win UEFA round and secure their place in the Europa League, a move to Crystal Palace could appeal to Diomande, but they will have to bank on the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle pursuing other targets.

As Aston Villa look to go again in pursuit of Champions League qualification next season, those in the Midlands are now reportedly readying an offer to sign an attacking star that his club won’t be able to refuse.

Monchi: Martinez and Aston Villa "must continue"

Amid rumours that Emiliano Martinez is set to depart Aston Villa this summer following what looked like an emotional farewell to the home fans towards the end of the season, the club’s sporting director has had his say.

Speaking to Canal Sur Radio, Monchi spoke about Martinez’s potential goodbye, Rashford’s resurgence and how Marco Asensio also rediscovered his talent during his loan spell at Villa Park.

Aston Villa pushing to sign "world-class" £6m-a-year star who Emery loves

Talks have been held over the move.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 4, 2025

The Villa chief said: “The Premier League ended nine days ago, and we haven’t stopped. There’s no time to rest; a sporting director’s vacation is in September. We still haven’t come to terms with what happened at Old Trafford.

“Emery has been able to bring out the best in Rashford, and Unai is the number one for that. He’s a player with top-notch, elite ability. We haven’t lost hope, he has a significant connection with the club and Unai. The story between Dibu and Aston Villa must continue, that’s my wish. He’s happy and content, but I’m not in his head.

Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi.

“Asensio hasn’t lost his talent; he’s given us a lot, and he’s in our best interest. I’m focused on the present, and my present today is Aston Villa so Unai can have a competitive team. Unai Emery’s connection with Aston Villa runs deep. I see him as very involved, excited, and eager. He’s a work-obsessed person.”

It’s not just potential outgoings that Monchi is focusing on, however, with reports now suggesting that Aston Villa have already opened talks to sign a talented winger who could follow in Rashford’s path in the Midlands.

Aston Villa in talks to sign Geny Catamo

According to O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have now opened talks to sign Geny Catamo and are ready to offer Sporting Club an irresistible deal to secure the winger’s signature this summer.

Earlier reports suggested that the Villans are deliberating over paying €30m (£25m) to sign their target, but given that Catamo reportedly has a release clause worth as much as €60m (£50m), they may have to dig deeper into their finances to get a deal done in the coming months.

League stats 24/24 (via FBref)	Geny Catamo	Marcus Rashford
Minutes	1,911	1,422
Goals	5	6
Assists	2	3
Key Passes	28	28

A player who kept up with Rashford even as his form improved at Aston Villa, Catamo is only just getting started. At just 24 years old, the Sporting winger is about to enter the peak of his powers, making this summer the perfect time for those in the Midlands to make their move for the 33-cap Mozambique man.

Whether they’re in a position to meet their target’s £50m release clause without Champions League football is the big question, however. Villa’s PSR concerns are no secret these days and they could yet play a part in pursuit of Catamo this summer.

A former Premier League manager is interested in taking over at Rangers, and is now just awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about a move to Ibrox, according to a new report.

Rangers slip up again as Celtic claim Scottish Premiership title

It was a weekend to forget for Rangers fans as rivals Celtic clinched their fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title — and a 13th in 14 seasons — while the Gers slipped to another draw.

Celtic cruised to a 5-0 victory over Dundee United to seal the title, while Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling St. Mirren — results that highlight the contrasting fortunes of the two sides this season.

After the draw with St. Mirren, Rangers caretaker boss Barry Ferguson described his team’s performance as “not good enough.”

“I know it’s a difficult place to come, but when you take the lead twice, you need to maintain that lead,” he told BBC Scotland. “That’s been a problem all season, and that’s the reason we have not been challenging. You can do all the work on the training ground and say all the right things in meetings, but when you cross that white line, you have to deal with it yourself.”

On Celtic’s title triumph, he added: “It’ll be painful for my staff, it’ll be painful for the supporters. And I want it to be painful for my players. Because you’re at Rangers, and we need to start challenging, properly challenging, for trophies.”

Martin "interested" in Rangers move

Though Ferguson has undoubtedly been an improvement on former boss Philippe Clement, he may not stay in charge beyond the end of the season — meaning the Gers and the 49ers will need to find a new man to take the reins at Ibrox.

According to The Scottish Sun, that man could be former Southampton boss Russell Martin. Martin was sacked by the Saints earlier this season after a disastrous Premier League campaign that ultimately ended in relegation. However, he is a target to take over from Ferguson at Rangers.

The Sun reports that Martin is very interested in the job and is simply awaiting a call from the club’s hierarchy about filling the position.

Despite his poor record with Southampton, Martin received heavy praise from one of the game’s greatest managers — Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Speaking after City’s 1-0 win over Southampton back in October, Guardiola said of the former MK Dons boss: “It’s a good game to learn as a manager. I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well.”

On how Martin set Southampton up that day, Guardiola added: “They are really good. I’m a spectator. I prefer the players to get the ball to feet, not the teeth.

“When I see the opponent do the things I like to do with my team and they do it really well, I make a compliment. I’m sure I will learn; there were some movements, the reasons why they do things, the movements they make to link to the striker. It’s not easy.”

A “tremendous” manager is in a good position to become the next permanent boss of Rangers this summer, according to an important new update.

The latest on Rangers' manager search

The Gers’ season has been an underwhelming one overall, with life under Philippe Clement ultimately a disappointment and Barry Ferguson brought in to bring a feel-good factor back to the club.

While the former Rangers captain managed that, helping his side reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League, they are now out Europe and their Scottish Premiership title hopes are over for another year, and it looks likely that a more experienced manager will come in this summer.

Unsurprisingly, a host of managers have been mentioned as potential replacements for Ferguson in a permanent role, with former Southampton boss Russell Martin thought to be keen on taking charge at Ibrox. While life in the Premier League didn’t go well for the 39-year-old with Saints this season, he is still a talented young manager who adopts a ball-playing style.

A return for Steven Gerrard has also been mooted plenty of times in recent weeks, with the legendary former midfielder guiding Rangers to the title back in 2020/21. Now, a new update has dropped regarding the managerial situation at the club, shedding more light on who could be in the dugout on the opening weekend of next season.

Likely scenario is Gerrard returning to Rangers

According to the Scottish Daily Express, a likely scenario is for Gerrard to return to Rangers as their next manager, having been a front-runner for some time. The 44-year-old is described in the report as being in a good psoition for the role thanks to a search led by 49ers Enterprises technical chief Gretar Steinsson.

Rangers supporters are sure to be split about who they want their next manager to be, but the idea of Gerrard returning to Ibrox will surely go down well with a chunk of the fanbase.

The Englishman led the Gers to title glory four years ago, which will forever make him appreciated, and club legend Ally McCoist spoke glowingly about him after that success.

“I have got to say a tremendous job by Steven and Gary and Michael and indeed most of all the players. It has been a truly remarkable season when you look at the stats, lads. You look at the performances – they’ve lost one game – a League Cup tie in the last minute to St Mirren, They’ve won 28 out of 32 league games and drawn four. The clean sheet record that they’ve got just now; from start to finish, unbeaten so far in Europe, it has been remarkable it really has and thoroughly deserved.”

39 y/o Rangers manager target loved by Guardiola very keen on Ibrox move

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There would be a risk in bringing Gerrard back, with reunions not always working out with managers, but Walter Smith enjoyed two successful stints at Ibrox, winning three more titles on top of the other seven won previously. If the ex-Liverpool man can come close to matching him second time around, the supporters will be extremely happy.

Madushanka was out of the ODIs with a knee injury, whereas Pathirana wasn’t part of T20I squad because of an infection

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2025

Bhanuka Rajapaksa last played a T20I in January this year•ICC/Getty Images

Dasun Shanaka has been named Sri Lanka’s vice-captain for the upcoming T20I tri-series that will also involve Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Fast bowler Eshan Malinga, meanwhile, is in line to make his debut in the same series while also being included in the ODI squad for the three matches against Pakistan before the tri-series begins.Uncapped middle-order batter Pavan Rathnayake, 23, is named in the ODI squad. This is reward for longer-term domestic performance rather than recent form, though he did hit a List A hundred at the end of July.Dilshan Madushanka has been ruled out of the ODI series as he hasn’t yet recovered from a knee injury, and was replaced by Malinga, whereas Matheesha Pathirana isn’t a part of the T20I squad as he is recovering from an upper respiratory tract infection. Pathirana was replaced by Asitha Fernando.Top-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who last played a T20I at the start of the year, was back in the squad for the shortest format, having missed two bilateral series and the Asia Cup since then. His recall is partly down to some explosive batting in the recent SLC T20 tournament, in which he struck at 163 across four innings. Sri Lanka have generally struggled for firepower in the middle order.The exclusion of Nuwanidu Fernando, meanwhile, is despite him having top-scored in that SLC T20 tournament. His runs came at a strike rate of 124, however.Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage didn’t find a spot in either of the 16-member squads, but he will lead Sri Lanka A in the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup in Doha later this month, with Nuwanidu also named in that squad.Sri Lanka’s ODIs against Pakistan are all scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi, on November 11, 13 and 15. Those will be followed by the tri-series from November 17 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the final slated for November 29.Sri Lanka squadsODIs: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranaga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan MalingaT20I tri-series: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka (vice-capt), Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranaga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga

Sky Sports reported on Monday that Celtic are closing in on the appointment of Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy as their successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead.

The Hoops are poised to make the French tactician their new permanent manager, which will end Martin O’Neill’s time in interim charge after he takes the next two matches.

With the January transfer window on the horizon, it will not be long before the incoming head coach will have the chance to bring his own players in to bolster the squad.

Celtic set to make move for new centre-forward

According to The Scottish Sun, Nancy is set to make a move for Columbus Crew centre-forward Wessam Abou Ali as one of his first transfer targets in January to add to his options at the top end of the pitch.

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 incoming Celtic manager views the Palestine international as a ‘perfect goalscoring machine’ and wants to reunite with him at Parkhead ahead of the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.

It adds, though, that Columbus Crew and Nancy only signed him in July from Egyptian giants Al Ahly for £5.7m, which means that the Hoops will have to pay a fee in excess of that as he has only been with the American side for a matter of months.

If the Scottish Premiership champions can seal a £6m+ deal for the MLS sensation in the January transfer window, it could end Johnny Kenny’s career at Parkhead.

How Abou Ali could end Kenny's Celtic career

Kenny has scored four goals in five matches under O’Neill, which is an impressive return, but he was subbed off at half-time in the 1-0 win over St Mirren in the Premiership last weekend.

The Ireland international has been playing as the main number nine due to an injury to first-choice number nine Kelechi Iheanacho, who is on his way back in the coming weeks.

This suggests that the arrival of a big-money centre-forward signing could put him third in the pecking order, behind Abou Ali and Iheanacho, when they are all fit and available, which may make him consider his short-term future in Glasgow.

Kenny has shown, with five goals this season, that he can be a capable goalscorer at this level. This means that he could find another club where he can play regularly and score goals consistently, if that does not continue at Parkhead.

Abou Ali has scored three goals in five matches for Nancy in the MLS for Columbus Crew since his move in the summer, after he scored three goals in three games at the Club World Cup.

Celtic’s potential CF upgrade
Season	Abou Ali	Kenny
2025/26	6 goals	5 goals
2024/25	15 goals	6 goals
2023/24	19 goals	13 goals
2022/23	10 goals	5 goals
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Palestine international has outscored Kenny in each of the last four seasons in all competitions, which suggests that he would be a much better option for Nancy to call upon up front for Celtic.

Abou Ali was described as a “clinical” and “proven” goalscorer by Columbus Crew General Manager Issa Tall, and his statistics suggest that was an accurate description of his qualities.

The 26-year-old scored three goals from 0.75 xG in the MLS in the 2025 campaign and bagged three goals without missing a single ‘big chance’ at the Club World Cup, per Sofascore, which shows that he is a lethal finisher.

Therefore, the Columbus Crew centre-forward could be a fantastic signing who could lead the line impressively for the Hoops, whilst also potentially ending Kenny’s career at the club, as falling down the pecking order may force him to reconsider his future.

£1.5m Celtic flop has been an even bigger waste of time than Balikwisha

This Celtic flop has been an even worse signing than Michel-Ange Balikwisha for the Scottish giants.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 25, 2025