يخوض فريق برشلونة، بقيادة المدرب هانز فليك، مباراته في بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا مساء يوم الثلاثاء، وذلك ضد نظيره فريق أتلتيكو مدريد.

ويلتقي الفريقان على ملعب “مونتجويك” في إطار منافسات ذهاب نصف نهائي بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا، موسم 2024/25.

طالع | فيديو | في مباراة ماراثونية.. أتلتيكو مدريد يقتنص تعادلاً قاتلاً من برشلونة في ذهاب نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا

تأهل برشلونة إلى تلك المرحلة من البطولة بعد فوزه الكبير على فالنسيا، بخمسة أهداف دون رد، وهي نفس النتيجة التي حققها أتلتيكو مدريد ضد خيتافي.

وتُقام مرحلة نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا على مباراتين، ذهابًا وإيابًا، حسب قواعد البطولة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشكيل برشلونة المتوقع أمام أتلتيكو مدريد اليوم في كأس ملك إسبانيا

ويحل برشلونة ضيفًا على أتلتيكو مدريد في مباراة إياب نصف نهائي كأس الملك، يوم الأربعاء 2 أبريل المقبل.

ويلتقي الفائز من برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد مع الفائز من صدام ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد، في نهائي بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا لهذا الموسم. موعد مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد اليوم في كأس ملك إسبانيا

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 10:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11:30 بتوقيت السعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد اليوم في كأس ملك إسبانيا

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة SSC1 HD وكذلك تطبيق شاهد. معلق مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد اليوم في كأس ملك إسبانيا

سيعلق فهد العتيبي على أحداث مباراة الليلة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنا. 

West Bromwich Albion will look back on their 2023/24 campaign and arguably think about what could have been after folding in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals away at Southampton, to crash out as 3-1 losers.

If they'd managed to get to Wembley, who knows what the final outcome could have been for their season, with Carlos Corberan potentially getting one over on his former employers in Leeds United in a theoretical final.

Instead, they're now preparing for another 46-game slog in the second tier, with the likes of Cedric Kipre potentially leaving for free very soon, with his contract up at the end of June.

The Baggies will, no doubt, have plans in place already for the expected exit of Kipre from the Hawthorns, with a youngster potentially benefitting from the imposing centre-back's departure.

West Brom's young Kipre replacement

Capable of playing at left-back and left-midfield, alongside in the centre-back spot, Zac Ashworth might well feel more first-team opportunities are overdue ahead of the season to come, regardless of Kipre leaving.

The versatile 21-year-old has accumulated 58 appearances in total for the U18s and U23s after joining his boyhood club all the way back in 2012, with six senior games to date being gifted to him as a result.

CB

13

1

1

LM

8

0

2

LB

5

0

0

DM

1

0

0

Ashworth's willingness to play in a number of different positions will certainly make him a desirable player next season for Corberan to give more chances too, with the Baggies in need of more reinforcements down the left-flank too with Adam Reach now gone, alongside needing more centre-back options.

Bolton Wanderers must have been avid fans of Ashworth to gamble on loaning him last season, which the 21-year-old took in his stride, to further justify getting more chances next campaign.

Zac Ashworth's numbers at Bolton

Predominantly used as an option down the left-hand side by Ian Evatt's men, Ashworth displayed for his new loan side that he is worthy of time in Corberan's XI next campaign, by picking up three goals and three assists from 23 clashes.

The Trotters loanee did find his minutes hard to come by towards the latter patches of the season, with only two appearances being handed out to him in the last three months of his loan stint, but his flashes of quality for the League One side should be enough to be considered for more senior opportunities soon.

Unusually, despite only really playing on the left for the third-tier side, Kipre leaving the building could see Ashworth take on a role at centre-back, one that he's arguably more comfortable in based on the number of games he played there on youth pitches for the Baggies.

Caleb Taylor, who was also on loan at the Trotters alongside Ashworth, will also fancy his chances at breaking into the first-team to offer Corberan more depth at the back, notching up seven appearances for Evatt's side before returning back to home comforts at the Hawthorns.

Ashworth won't want to head back to West Brom and recede back into his shell in the youth sides, after starring for Bolton in spurts, with the potential for the 21-year-old to take the bull by the horns and dive headfirst into the first-team now, to try and soften the immense blow of Kipre leaving for nothing if it does happen.

West Brom could convince Corberan to stay by sealing "special" £6m move

Carlos Corberan could be convinced to stay at West Bromwich Albion if this transfer is sealed.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 17, 2024

One of the common occurrences at Manchester United since Erik ten Hag has been in charge of the club is to sign players directly from, or with a connection to his former club Ajax. This has happened on multiple occasions, with the Dutchman regularly turning to his former club in order to bring in some familiar faces.

In total, Ten Hag has made 16 signings across four windows as United boss, with four of them having direct links to Ajax, and a further four having some kind of connection to Dutch football; Mason Mount had a loan spell at Vitesse, Tyrell Malacia came through the academy at Feyenoord, Sofyan Amrabat his former player at Utrecht and Wout Weghorst playing for several Dutch clubs.

Then, there are those with direct links to Ajax. Christian Eriksen played for Ajax earlier in his career before moving to Tottenham. Both Lisandro Martinez and Antony played under Ten Hag during his final seasons at the Dutch giants, and Andre Onana was a part of the hugely successful 2018/19 Champions League run where they made the semi-finals.

Now, Ten Hag is once again linked with a former Ajax player, who was a teammate of Onana’s during their remarkable Champions League campaign in 2018/19.

Man Utd target Dutch defender

The player in question here is Bayern Munich and Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt. After leaving Ajax in 2019 to join Juventus, the Dutchman now finds himself at the German giants but could depart the club this summer.

Indeed, that is according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, who reports that the Red Devils “have started internal discussions” over the potential signing of De Ligt. As per the report, this is “primarily” to do with De Ligt’s former boss, Ten Hag, showing interest in adding his former captain to the United squad.

The report from Plettenberg does not include any other interested parties, meaning United could have a clear and unopposed run at the 24-year-old Netherlands international. However, he does specify that there have not been “any concrete moves” as of yet and that United are merely “in the process of gathering more information” about a transfer.

Plettenberg reports that a fee of around €50m (£42m) could be enough to sign De Ligt this summer, which is perhaps a surprising amount, given it would see Bayern make a loss. They paid £65.6m back in 2022 to acquire his services from Italian giants Juventus.

Why De Ligt would be a good signing

There is no doubt that United need to make at least one addition at centre-back this summer. Legendary Frenchman Raphael Varane has departed the club upon the expiration of his contract, with Red Devils icon Jonny Evans’ deal also up in a few weeks.

United have had an offer for one centre-back rejected already this summer. Everton turned down a bid for Jarrad Branthwaite, worth £35m, with the BBC reporting that they want closer to £80m. Thus, for half of the price, De Ligt could be a perfect alternative or rival.

Looking on a pure statistical front, De Ligt’s in-possession numbers stack up very well against the England international, as per FBref. The Dutchman averages 6.36 progressive passes per 90 minutes, compared to Branthwaite’s 2.14, and has a far better pass completion rate of 93.9% compared to Branthwaite’s 79.8%.

The 24-year-old’s ball-carrying stats are also slightly better than Branthwaite's. Whilst it is not necessarily a key feature of his game, De Ligt averages 1.04 progressive carries per 90, with Branthwaite’s just 0.06.

However, defensively the Everton man trumps De Ligt. Branthwaite averages a higher aerial win rate of 68.6% compared to De Ligt’s 59.4%, more ball recoveries per 90, specifically 5.23 compared to the Dutchman’s 4.74 and more tackles and interceptions made, with 3.35, with De Ligt slightly lower at 2.21 per 90.

In signing De Ligt, United would still be adding a quality defender to their squad, who is a more than capable box defender. Whilst not as mobile or adept at defending wide areas as Branthwaite, the former Ajax man is still a great defender.

The 24-year-old struggled with injuries all too often last season. He played just 30 times in all competitions, missing 20 games for both club and country with various injuries, notably a knee ligament issue. He worked hard to get himself in favour with outgoing Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel, however, and became an integral player at the end of the season.

De Ligt's record under Ten Hag

With that being said, perhaps a move to United is a smart idea to help his career get back on the right track. De Ligt first made a name for himself playing under Ten Hag, and he is the manager he has played under the most in his career.

De Ligt record under Ten Hag
Competition	Games	Minutes	Clean Sheets
Eredivisie	48	4320	21
Champions League Qualifiers	6	540	3
Champions League	11	990	3
Dutch Cup	5	378	3
Total	70	6228	30
Stats from Transfermarkt

The United boss clearly thinks highly of him, having resigned to a sale of De Ligt in 2019, explaining that there was “zero chance” of him staying at Ajax, to which he was later proved right when he moved to Juventus. He attributed Ajax’s ability to play courageous and creative football “because De Ligt is our captain”, very high praise from your manager aged just 19. Not only that, Ten Hag noted his former captain’s love for the “art of defending” as a real strong point in his game.

Indeed, De Ligt’s leadership that he could bring to United to help fill the void of the soon-to-depart Varane. In the past, the World Cup winner’s leadership has been highlighted by several notable figures in French football. His captain in that successful 2018 tournament, Hugo Lloris, explained that Varane is a “leader in our team”, and former Real Madrid boss and one of France’s all-time greats, Zinedine Zidane, noted that on many occasions Varane has the “ability to be a leader”.

Bringing in a player who Ten Hag both views and values so much as a leader would go a long way to helping United fill the Varane void. Not only that, he helps save money on the Branthwaite deal, which are funds that can be reinvested elsewhere into the squad. On the face of things, it seems like a deal United should strongly consider, especially for the rumoured £42m fee.

Ratcliffe must axe Man Utd ace who earns 4x more than Branthwaite

The Man Utd man only made 12 starts last season in the Premier League.

By
Tom Lever

Jun 15, 2024

Manchester United’s summer transfer window of 2020/21 did not go the way they had intended it to at the start of the summer.

The club, then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, were strongly rumoured to want to sign the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham, but they ended up signing very different players.

Their marquee signing that summer was legendary striker Edinson Cavani, on a free transfer. The Uruguayan striker had left Paris Saint Germain just months before, with United eventually snapping him up in October, at the end of what was an extended transfer window.

Young wingers Amad and Facundo Pellistri were also signed during the summer window of 2020, from Atalanta and Penarol respectively. Both are slowly beginning to make a name for themselves in the first team and have enjoyed successful loan spells, with Amad scoring an incredible late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup last April.

Brazilian left-back Alex Telles, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, was also brought in by United that summer, from Porto. He struggled to nail down a starting spot during his time at Old Trafford.

However, there was one other signing, who still remains at this club to this day, who has never settled in at Old Trafford and could well depart four years after he made the move to Manchester, to make room for potential incomings such as Manuel Ugarte.

Midfielder to leave Man Utd

The player in question here is Donny van de Beek, who joined United from Ajax in 2020, for an initial £34.6m, which could rise to £39m due to add-ons. However, after a tough time at Old Trafford, he could be in line to leave the club this summer.

At least, that is according to a report from Tyrone Marshall, a journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He reports that United are “working on a permanent exit” for the Dutchman, who himself would like to leave Old Trafford.

A potential destination for the player has not been made clear at this stage, although his loan to Eintracht Frankfurt did not offer any clarity on his future.

The German side declined to turn his loan spell at the club permanent, deciding against activating the £9m buy-clause in his contract. However, United will search for a new club this summer, given Van de Beek’s contract expires in 12 months, with the club not willing to let him leave for free.

Why Man Utd should cut their losses

Van de Beek’s time at United has been very frustrating for all parties, given his lack of game time and injury record. He has played just 62 times for United in all competitions across his four seasons at the club, scoring twice and registering two assists. Not only that, but he has missed 52 games for the Red Devils due to injury.

Incredibly, the Dutchman is one of the top 15 highest earners at United and is currently within the top 10 highest pay brackets at the club. This is certainly a problem for United, given his lack of minutes at Old Trafford, hence why a sale is best for all parties, meaning United can reinvest that money.

Amount per week

Player(s)

£350k

Casemiro

£300k

Marcus Rashford

£250k

Mason Mount

£200k

Antony

£195k

Jadon Sancho

£190k

Harry Maguire

£150k

Luke Shaw, Christian Eriksen

£120k

Victor Lindelof, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez

£90k

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek

£85k

Rasmus Hojlund, Diogo Dalot

The player who they could bring in as an alternative to Van de Beek is Ugarte. The PSG midfielder is thought to be “close” to joining the Red Devils, as reported by Diego Munoz of ESPN Uruguay.

The pair are nothing alike in terms of their midfield profile, with Van de Beek a number 10 who likes to pick the ball up in pockets behind the striker, and PSG’s number four a defensive midfielder who excels as a ball-winner, exactly what United are missing.

As per Fbref, he averages 5.97 tackles and interceptions and 8.14 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% amongst midfielders in Europe.

Incredibly, Van de Beek is worth substantially less than the Uruguay international, according to Football Transfers. The former Ajax man is valued at just £4.3m, compared to Ugarte’s valuation of £35m, a whopping £30.7m less than the PSG midfielder.

It really seems as though selling Van de Beek to make room for the likes of Ugarte might well be the best possible move for United to make this summer. Not only would they be allowing the Dutchman to rebuild his career elsewhere, but they would be saving money on wages and adding a profile to their squad that fits better.

Therefore, ten Hag must brutally ditch him from the squad before the end of the summer transfer window as he continues to reshape his midfield options.

West Indies batter arrives in form and in a mood to repay the faith put in him by his island of St Maarten

Vithushan Ehantharajah28-May-2025After shadow-batting at both ends of the pitch that will host Thursday’s first ODI between England and West Indies, Keacy Carty sidles up to a member of the Edgbaston groundstaff, who is currently perched on a roller moving up and down one of the side strips.The conversation is brief but civil. Carty, having enquired about whether more grass is going to be taken off the pitch and which direction the wind comes from, gives a nod farewell, rapping his knuckles on the roller in the way one might show their approval of a vintage car. An exchange of platitudes between batter and curator.This is idle water-cooler chat for Carty. He’d put in the graft in the nets, surveyed the conditions and, on his way past the water cooler, dipped an ear for a quick bit of goss before heading off to prepare for his main job – batting.And it really is a job for him. One he is proud to call his profession, but a job nonetheless. His business is runscoring. And, recently, business has been booming.In the past week, Carty has struck two ODI centuries against Ireland; the first in a rained-off second match, the second in a series-levelling (and face-saving) finale. Since last November – a span that incorporates his first one-day hundred against England at Bridgetown to take a three-match series – his average of 94.50 and strike-rate of 102.71 has come as confirmation of his talent.To Carty, however, this all falls under duty. Even the joy at thriving – duty.”It is always good to be impactful for the team,” he tells ESPNcricinfo, matter-of-factly. “But I don’t try to get too much into it on a personal standpoint. It is a job, and that job is trying to get West Indies cricket back to where we would like it to be.”There’s an almost military undertone to Carty’s words, but he is keen to stress an important differentiation. He loves what he does. It’s just far more serious at this level when you’re representing West Indies. The stakes are higher, the scrutiny fiercer, the sharp ends sharper. You, as an individual, need to be colder.Keacy Carty scored back-to-back centuries in Clontarf•Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images”If you look at batting, we have to carry out as an individual in order for the team to have a complete performance. So when you’re trying it like a job, when you’re treating it like a nine-to-five, you know what you have to do in order to your job.”Remember, this is sport – you don’t be permanent here, you just try to fulfill your duty as best as possible. Take care of matters for the team that will go to your personal stats. Then, when it’s all said and done, you can look back and feel good with yourself.”The seriousness tallies with a young batter who began first-class life as an opening batter for Leeward Islands before the long-term return of West Indies opener Kieran Powell bumped Carty down a spot from 2017 onwards. By then – aged 20 – Carty had already put the word out that he was one for the future with a mature 52 to seal 2016’s U19 World Cup against India. Ever since, his progress has been steady without ever being spectacular, although the last few months hint at a tipping point.What stereotypes there are of Caribbean batters – particularly those pedalled outside the region – are not applicable to Carty, who is an intriguing lore unto himself. And it is not unrelated to the fact he became the first cricketer born in St Maarten to represent West Indies when he earned the first of his 34 ODI caps in 2022. It takes a village to raise a child, but an island grooved this batter.As a kid, while watching football on TV, he spoke aloud his desire to do that as a job. “My father was like… “nah!” He don’t know no football.” What his father did know, as a handy seam-bowling allrounder who also opened the batting for local club, Spartans, was cricket.”By the time I really understood cricket, like between 9 and 13, he was at the back end of his career. But by then, we had played many games together.”Carty’s father remains a guiding influence, dog-sticking for his son when he’s not on tour, in between long-held coaching duties with the club’s under-13 and 15s. “He’s not really harsh, but he does have high expectations,” Carty says of their dynamic.It was from Under-15 level that Carty’s cricket took him across the channel to Anguilla. But it was the extra sessions in St Maarten, and the generosity from others involved at Spartans, that he credits for an ingrained fearlessness at stepping up levels.Keacy Carty played the matchwinning innings when West Indies beat India in the Under-19 World Cup final in 2016•Getty Images”One example, I didn’t have to ‘share’ the batting back home. So, versus when they (Anguilla) have 15 kids a day, two might bat for 25 minutes up there, from 4pm to 5:30pm – I was batting from 4pm to 5:30pm myself. I was hitting so much more than them.”When I was preparing for age-group tournaments, the local bowlers would make the effort to come out and bowl to me before I went off. Outside of my training with my dad and batting all day, Under-19 players, national team players, they’d all come and bowl to me before I leave.”I think there were one or two players better than me from that core group when I was at that age. But the difference is I was facing more advanced bowlers as a 15-year-old. By then, the players my dad had coached at a young age were between 32 and 38.”Two or three of them had played first-class cricket, so all their knowledge passed on to me. When I started, I knew a few things that was necessary. Your temperament, your preparation, your mindset when you’re playing first-class cricket for example. Like you don’t need to have all the shots. No, you don’t need to play all the shots because it’s a red-ball game. You have a lot of time. The ball is doing a lot. Bowlers will look to set you up.Related

• No Roach or Da Silva, but Hope and Campbell return for WI home Tests against Australia

• Jason Holder, Andre Russell in West Indies T20I squad to face England

• Jofra Archer ruled out of West Indies ODIs due to thumb injury

• Rain wins after Carty's hundred and Forde's record-equalling fifty

• Carty 170 headlines West Indies' massive series-levelling win

“Little things like getting three shots that you want to work with. Developing safe options and force bowlers to bowl in your area. I did not have to learn all these things the hard way – it was all told to me before I had even played my first game.”Carty brackets all those willing net bowlers during his teenage years and older heads sharing advice as good friends. For a man of such focus, he acknowledges the value of what he describes as “larking”. There’s even a hint of cheekiness, oddly enough when he talks about his matchday routines, which usually begins with watching the TV to discern how much the ball is moving before joking with teammates.”I’m not superstitious, and I do like to talk and laugh with teammates before I bat. I don’t like to be too focussed or totally zoned in, because you put more pressure on yourself like that. Even at this professional stage, you have to enjoy the game.”Test cricket remains a nut to be cracked, with five caps so far against a mix of South Africa at home, Bangladesh at home and Pakistan away. But it is a format he seems suitably wired for.He is yet to record even a fifty against the red ball, but that first milestone will carry great significance for him and St Maarten. Typically, he bats away the notion of being a trailblazer. He sees himself above no-one else – simply as someone who worked hard, and is willing to help others achieve, too.”I still move like a normal person on the island. Like, nobody don’t flock me or anything. I’m still just a regular guy. And yeah, I used to be very joyful about it, but like, I’ve been here a while now, so it’s like… the focus can’t be about just being proud that you’re here.”You know what I mean? Now is the time to be impactful. You got kids looking up to you that are playing cricket locally so I always tell them, I was just like y’all at one stage. It’s just that I wanted it.”

Ankola got the big job last season, before Mumbai won the Vijay Hazare Trophy

PTI06-Jul-2021Former India quick Salil Ankola has been retained as Mumbai’s chief selector by the state association’s cricket improvement committee, secretary Sanjay Naik confirmed to PTI.Ankola said his only focus was on the “betterment of Mumbai cricket”. “It is good to be back and hope for the best. My fellow selectors are raring to go,” he said. “The coach [Amol Muzumdar] appointed has been fantastic. The BCCI has given us a full itinerary and I am looking forward to the Ranji Trophy.”We will try and do our best for Mumbai. The only agenda on my mind is betterment for Mumbai cricket.”Ankola was appointed as Mumbai’s chief selector last season, which was curtailed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Ankola’s committee, which includes former India players, and Mumbai stalwarts, Jatin Paranjape, Nilesh Kulkarni and Vinod Kambli, had picked the senior squads for the 50-over Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophies last season. Mumbai went on to win the 50-over competition after a poor performance in the T20s.Ankola, 53, took two wickets in his only Test match for India. He had also played 20 ODIs, capturing 13 wickets.

Tail-end resistance and Northants collapse brings hosts back into the contest

ECB Reporters' Network01-Sep-2021

Graeme van Buuren marshalled the tail to set up a Gloucestershire turnaround•Getty Images

Northamptonshire 327 and 92 for 7 (Higgins 3-26) lead Gloucestershire 191 (van Buuren 56, Procter 5-42) by 228 runsRyan Higgins led a Gloucestershire charge on third afternoon at Bristol as the home side came storming back into the match as Northamptonshire closed 92 for 7, leading by 228.Higgins took 3 for 26 and Tom Price 2 for 22 as the Glosters kept themselves alive in a game they looked well out of.Graeme van Buuren made 56 as superb resistance from Gloucestershire’s tail had earlier held up Northants to save the follow-on before they were eventually bowled out for 191.The rear-guard, which saw No. 10 Matt Taylor make 24 from 97 balls and Jared Warner 10 from a 82 deliveries, almost delivered a batting point but it certainly wrested back the initiative.The bowlers seized upon the momentum to leave Northants’ second innings in tatters.Price led the charge, striking in the fourth over as Emilio Gay played into his stumps trying to defend. Price added Rob Keogh palpably lbw to a full ball that nipped back.Higgins trapped Luke Procter lbw from round the wicket – with a suspicion that the left-hander had got outside the line of off stump. His later spell removed Harry Gouldstone, so impressive in the first innings, but who made only 7 before playing around a straight delivery and losing his middle stump.Adam Rossington was also bowled but this to a lovely delivery that swung away to hit off stump. He made 18 and there will be no captain to the rescue this time for the visitors.Ricardo Vasconcelos was also bowled. He moved in the pleasant way of his to 26 but played loosely outside off stump to one from Matt Taylor that seamed in. And Saif Zaib made 14 before he was squared up by Warner and edged behind.It was slippery stuff in the gloaming and followed some extraordinary resistance from the Gloucestershire tail.Resuming 90 for 6, replying to 327, the home side were in danger of conceding a huge lead.Zafar Gohar quickly fell to Procter for seven but the resistance began with an eighth-wicket stand of 45 between Price, who lasted 54 balls for his 16 and van Buuren.The No. 6 resumed on 19 and edged Procter through the slips for the day’s opening boundary before clipping him through midwicket and cutting Jack White through point.His second fifty of the summer came in 121 balls and helped give Gloucestershire a sniff of a remarkable turnaround.

The 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season kicks off in less than a month and Celtic are still yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers' side have already played two pre-season friendlies, drawing 1-1 with Ayr and beating Queen's Park 6-4, but are yet to dip into the market to bolster the squad.

The Hoops are in need of a new number one and have been linked with moves for both Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka and Croatia star Dominik Livakovic.

Joe Hart retired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, after three years at Parkhead, and Rodgers must now find his first-choice goalkeeper for next season.

The Scottish Premiership champions are also reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal, whilst they are plotting a second bid to sign Adam Idah from Norwich City.

Celtic could also make additions to their midfield ranks as they have been linked with an interest in a central midfielder from the English Championship this week…

Celtic's interest in Championship maestro

According to HITC, Rodgers is keen on a swoop to sign Australia international Riley McGree from Middlesbrough ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The report claims that the Hoops failed to sign the £9.4k-per-week midfield maestro during Ange Postecoglou's time in Glasgow but the Championship star has remained on their radar.

They are now looking at the 25-year-old whiz as a possible target to join the club this time around, as they look to bolster their midfield options before the end of the window.

It states that his current contract has one year left to run and this means that it could be the last chance for Boro to cash in on him before a free transfer exit next year.

They would either need to pin him down to a contract extension or sell him before the end of the window to ensure that they do not lose him for nothing.

This suggests that the door could be open for Celtic to make a move for the left-footed gem in the coming weeks. However, the report does not reveal how much Middlesbrough would demand for McGree or how much the Hoops would be prepared to pay for him.

If the Scottish giants could secure a deal to sign the midfield wizard, though, then Rodgers could find his next version of Tom Rogic in the middle of the park in Glasgow.

Tom Rogic's midfield spark for Celtic

McGree would not be the first left-footed midfielder from Australia to turn up at Parkhead in an attempt to make his mark on the pitch in the Premiership.

Rogic enjoyed a fantastic spell with the Hoops during his time in Scotland a midfield maestro who had the quality to chip in as a scorer and a creator of goals.

The talented ace joined the club from Central Coast at the start of 2013 and eventually moved on in the summer of 2022, 18 months short of a decade in Glasgow.

In that time, the Australia international racked up 46 goals and 49 assists in 272 appearances in all competitions for the Bhoys, including 31 goals and 35 assists in 165 outings in the Premiership.

These statistics show that the central midfielder had the quality to move forward into attacking positions to contribute as both a scorer and a creator for the Hoops.

Appearances

32

Starts

20

Goals

6

Assists

6

Big chances created

10

Key passes per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, Rogic enjoyed a strong final season at Paradise before his exit in the summer of 2022, with 12 direct goal contributions in just 20 league starts.

The Celtic whiz also provided a threat in transition with his ability on the ball as he completed 1.6 dribbles per game with a success rate of 57%, which shows that the experienced ace could glide past opposition players to make things happen in the final third.

Rodgers, who worked with Rogic throughout his first spell at Parkhead between 2016 and 2019, could now find his new version of left-footed ace by securing a deal to sign McGree before the end of the summer transfer window.

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The Premiership champions should press ahead with a swoop to land the Australia international because he could add another attacking threat to the side.

McGree, who was hailed as "terrific" by manager Michael Carrick, was restricted to just 14 starts and 22 appearances in the Championship through injury last term, which limited his impact on the pitch.

The 25-year-old star only produced four goals and one assist from midfield in that time but did rank within the top 9% of midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90 (5.72) and the top 35% for progressive carries per 90 (3.22).

This shows that McGree can provide quality in possession without being the player to carry out the final action, as a scorer or a creator, by being the one to progress the play through a pass or carry to get his teammates into dangerous positions at the top end of the pitch.

When he was able to get on the pitch on a regular basis in the 2022/23 campaign, though, the Rogic-esque ace showcased his ability in the final third.

Appearances

43

Goals

6

Assists

3

Big chances created

8

Key passes per game

1.1

Pass accuracy

83%

As you can see in the table above, McGree played in 43 of Middlesbrough's 46 Championship games and caught the eye with 14 goals and 'big chances' created combined.

He created more than one chance per game on average and proved himself to be a midfielder who can push forward to be a difference-maker in matches.

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This is why the Boro star could come in as Rogic 2.0 – alongside their shared nationality and favoured foot – for Celtic as a midfield maestro who can link up play between the midfield and the attack, with his progressive passing and carrying, whilst also being a threat as a scorer and a creator.

One of Burnley's shining lights from last season could be on his way out this summer after he asked for a move away, according to the latest reports.

Burnley chasing new boss

Following the shock departure of Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich after failing to secure survival in the Premier League, Burnley remain on the hunt for a new manager. The Clarets have been linked with the likes of Frank Lampard and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, but the latter now seems set to snub a managerial role to join the coaching staff at Manchester United.

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It leaves Burnley still searching for a fresh face in the dugout, and now any new manager may have to make do without a key man.

Exit pending in blow for Bellamy

Now, it has emerged that Aro Muric has asked to leave Burnley this summer. Muric only arrived at Turf Moor in 2022, arriving from Manchester City in a move that saw him sign a four year deal worth £25,000 a week.

However, after being first choice for Kompany during their Championship success, he was relegated to the substitutes bench following the arrival of James Trafford, who endured a tough first campaign at Turf Moore.

As a result, Muric was recalled for the final stretch of the season, starting each of the final 10 games of the campaign and impressing despite a calamitous own goal, racking up by far the highest performance rating in the Burnley squad.

Following that gaffe, assistant manager Craig Bellamy was quick to jump to Muric's defence.

"I’ve no issue with it. Aro is top. Get the ball again, look for the pass again. You see the save he makes in the last minute. Top. That to me is a goalkeeper. We all make mistakes, it’s how you respond from it. So I’ve got nothing but praise for him, even more.”

In fact, of goalkeepers to appear more than once, no one performed better than the Kosovan shot-stopper last term, with post shot expected goals figures revealing that Burnley conceded six fewer than they should have with him between the posts, compared to six more than they should have with Trafford as their no.1.

23/24 Premier League goalkeepers ranked by post shot xG per 90

1.

Arijanet Muric

+0.67

2.

Stefan Ortega

+0.28

3.

Jose Sa

+0.26

4.

Emiliano Martinez

+0.20

5.

Caoimhin Kelleher

+0.13

However, he is unlikely to be at Burnley next season if he gets his way, with the Daily Mail revealing that the 25-year-old has asked to leave the club this summer following their return to the Championship.

He is not short of suitors either; it is claimed that "several Premier League clubs" and "teams abroad" have registered an interest in the shot-stopper, and Muric is keen to find a spot as a no.1 away from Turf Moor despite the possibility that Trafford could also depart this summer.

He won't face too much opposition to his departure, with the report adding that the Lancashire outfit will "respect his desire to play elsewhere", and it is added that a deal could come in "the next few weeks".

Though it would come as a blow to lose the talents of Muric, and more so should Trafford also depart, his form has likely earned him a top flight stay.

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Arsenal are still attempting to get a deal for Riccardo Calafiori over the line after agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract with the Italy international centre-back, as talks remain ongoing over the final fee and payment structure.

A possible exit for England's Aaron Ramsdale, which has been highly mooted by sections of the media, has also prompted the Gunners to look at alternative back-up options for current number one David Raya – who joined Arsenal permanently in a £27 million deal from Brentford.

Arsenal have made bids for Wolves keeper Daniel Bentley, coming 15 years after he left the academy, but Edu's opening offers for the 30-year-old are believed to have fallen well short of their valuation.

Young England Under-20 international keeper Tommy Setford has joined Arsenal from Ajax, but he could be seen as one for the future, rather than an immediate successor to Ramsdale. There is also the matter of a new midfielder to come in and bolster Arteta's options. The Spaniard perhaps requires another body to complement midfielders Declan Rice and Jorginho, especially as uncertainty surrounds the future of Thomas Partey.

Thomas Partey's stats in all competitions for Arsenal

Appearances

115

Goals

5

Assists

4

Bookings

24

Red cards

1

Minutes played

7,794

(Transfermarkt)

Partey is reportedly prepared to leave Arsenal and embark on a fresh challenge, after making just 14 Premier League appearances last season, with his contract also set to expire in under 12 months. The Ghanaian is attracting rumoured interest from Saudi Arabia as a potentially lucrative destination for him, and Arsenal have considered a few would-be heirs to Partey already.

Arsenal held talks with Amadou Onana before he ultimately ended up heading to Aston Villa, according to former Everton CEO Keith Wyness, and Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi has admirers at the Emirates Stadium as well.

However, the midfield name being repeatedly mentioned in tandem with Arsenal lately is Zubimendi's teammate, Mikel Merino.

Arteta views Merino as a potential bargain signing for Arsenal

The Spain international impressed on his country's run to Euro 2024 glory, scoring the winner against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

His £51,000-per-week contract is also set to expire next year as things stand, making him an affordable option at around £25 million. That is according to GiveMeSport, who also state that Arteta sees Merino as a "reasonable value" potential Arsenal signing due to his price tag.

The 28-year-old not only starred for Spain but also impressed at club level last term over his 45 appearances in all competitions for Sociedad.