تلقى نادي برشلونة أخبارًا سيئة للغاية قبل يومين من الكلاسيكو، حيث لم يتدرب جول كوندي ورافينها مع زملائهما صباح اليوم الجمعة قبل لقاء قمة الدوري الاسباني.
ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية إن برشلونة لا يشعر بقلق كبير بشأن كوندي بعد أن قام بأداء التدريبات في صالة الألعاب الرياضية ولا يوجد أي خطر على مشاركته في مباراة الأحد في البرنابيو وسيتدرب بجانب زملائه غداً السبت.
وكان رافينها قد أنهى التدريبات يوم الخميس وهو يشعر بآلام لدرجة أجبرته على الغياب عن التدريبات في المدينة الرياضية اليوم الجمعة وغادر قبل نهاية التدريبات بتعبيرات وجه جدية للغاية.
أقرأ أيضاً.. لتعويض فليك.. سبب يعيق تياجو ألكانتارا عن قيادة برشلونة أمام ريال مدريد
وبعد أن كان من المتوقع أن يشارك رافينها بديلاً في مباراة الكلاسيكو بعد غيابه لمدة شهر، فقد أصبح اللاعب مستبعدًا تماماً من مباراة الكلاسيكو.
وتثير حالة رافينها قلقًا واضطرابًا في النادي، في حالة أن عادت له إصابته في عضلة الفخد الخلفية في ساقه اليمنى فقد تمتد فترة غيابه لشهر آخر على الأقل حتى ما بعد فترة التوقف الدولي في نوفمبر.
وقد يغيب رافينها عن أربع مباريات أخرى وهي ريال مدريد وإلتشي وكلوب بروج وسيلتا فيجو، وهذا يعني أنه سيعود ضد أتلتيك بلباو يوم 22 نوفمبر.
A história do zagueiro Luan Garcia com o Palmeiras pode estar próxima do fim. Com proposta do Krasnodar, da Rússia, o camisa 13 pode estar de malas prontas para deixar o Verdão após sete temporadas e dez títulos conquistados.
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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
A informação trazida por Felippe Facincani, da Placar, deixou muito torcedor palmeirense feliz com a notícia, uma vez que o zagueiro não é lá muito bem visto por parte da torcida, que o culpa por eliminações e derrotas até quando a culpa não é dele (como no caso da derrota recente para o SPFC pela Copa do Brasil).
Luan não merece tamanha ingratidão e ódio que recebe de palmeirenses, tanto pelo o que já entregou ao clube e pela sua postura profissional dentro e fora dos gramados, como também por nunca ter precisado entrar em combate com a torcida em seus quase oito anos de Palmeiras, mesmo que a relação tenha sido conflituosa em boa parte desse tempo.
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O camisa 13 é visto por Abel Ferreira como um dos líderes do grupo e foi peça fundamental na adaptação de tantas crias da Academia no elenco profissional nos últimos anos.
+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!
Conhecendo e vendo a dificuldade da atual diretoria do Palmeiras de repor peças para o elenco, duvido muito que o clube consiga uma rápida reposição caso Luan seja negociado (lembrando que Gustavo Gómez também possui assédio do futebol árabe), e isso é mais uma péssima notícia para Abel Ferreira.
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Recentemente, em clássico no Morumbi, diante do São Paulo, pelo Brasilierão, o técnico teve que improvisar o volante Jaílson como zagueiro ao final da partida, e dentro do grupo hoje, só ficaria com o jovem Naves como opção de reserva da zaga caso Luan seja negociado.
Restando duas semanas para encarar o Atlético-MG pelas oitavas de final da Copa Libertadores, o Palmeiras vive um momento de crise, onde todos no clube estão pressionados e o técnico vê o elenco cada vez mais perdendo peças importantes. Não sei de onde Abel Ferreira vai tirar forças para tentar conquistar mais alguma taça neste ano.
A saída do Luan é boa para a diretoria que se livra de uma peça detestada por boa parte da torcida, boa para o zagueiro que vai respirar novos ares e péssima para Abel Ferreira, que pode estar perdendo uma peça fundamental de sua engrenagem atualmente no clube.
Liverpool’s frenetic summer transfer window is coming to a head, with deals for Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi progressing as Monday’s deadline looms.
Having won the Premier League with minimal transfer investment last season, Arne Slot’s side have spent richly across the past few months, reshaping the defensive flanks and remoulding the frontline, with Hugo Ekitike and British-record man Florian Wirtz hinting at an exciting partnership for many years to come.
Maybe Liverpool’s start to the campaign has been laden with inconsistencies and a somewhat out-of-kilter tactical layout, but this was always going to be a potential hazard at the start of Slot’s second term, with so much change and upheaval since the Premier League title was lifted in May.
One area, however, that hasn’t received much attention is the midfield. While Wirtz is something of an attacking midfielder, his attacking quality and style of play effectively see him play in and around the final third with regularity.
Would it be worth the Reds investing in their engine room before the window slams shut on Monday?
Why Liverpool could sign a midfielder
The summer of 2023 was one of significant change at Liverpool, out with the old and in with the new. So it goes. The likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho, stalwarts all, departed and made way for a new wave of midfield talent.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho
Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo. All four have played big roles in the trophy-laden successes of recent seasons, and all four remain important members of the squad.
Gravenberch, recipient of the 2024/25 Young Player of the Year, was particularly influential in winning the Premier League, filling a void at number six and doing so with aplomb, having been peripheral across his maiden term in England.
However, the Netherlands international showed signs of burnout toward the latter end of the campaign, having started 37 matches in the top flight by Slot. Up until December, the 22-year-old didn’t miss a minute of league or Champions League action.
Endo, industrious and dependable, isn’t a starting player on the biggest occasions, and so Liverpool might want to make a move for a deep-lying rival before the window closes.
Liverpool planning move for Premier League star
According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are showing a strong interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, with the multi-club chase for the England international expected to go down to the wire.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton
Palace, having sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and potentially Guehi to Liverpool, will play hardball and have listed the 21-year-old at a staggering £100m as they anticipate last-minute offers from interested parties.
Liverpool will find some rather daunting competition in their battle, with Manchester City and Real Madrid both ready to rival the Reds and sign the ball-playing specialist for themselves.
What Adam Wharton would bring to Liverpool
Injuries limited Wharton’s Premier League action last season, but his emergence onto the top-flight scene showcased his potential and then some, maybe operating with a similar quality and scope as Gravenberch in all his brilliance under Slot’s wing last year.
Matches (starts)
16 (15)
37 (37)
Goals
0
0
Assists
3
4
Touches*
49.6
66.5
Pass completion
81%
89%
Big chances created
5
3
Key passes*
1.3
0.9
Dribble success
60%
1.0
Ball recoveries*
5.3
5.2
Tackles + interceptions*
4.3
3.5
Duels (won)*
4.9 (54%)
5.0 (57%)
Wharton is silky on the ball, like Gravenberch, but he also boasts a superior range of passing, ranking among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 15% for through balls and the top 5% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.
With this in mind, he could be the perfect signing to unlock the inbound Isak, whose movements, progressiveness and deadly finishing seem a perfect fit for Wharton, playing those surgical passes between the lines with frightening consistency and accuracy.
Isak, 25, was remarked by pundit Ally McCoist last year to be the “best all-round centre-forward” in the English game. He might not have the same ridiculous ball-striking ability as Erling Haaland (who does?), but the Sweden star is undoubtedly a layered and dynamic player, offering so much more than a simple focal point from which teammates can channel their creativity.
His link-up play and intelligence, both in possession and when against the ball, are of the highest class, and there’s little to be said about Isak’s ability to ruffle the feathers of his opponents, slipping this way and that, knowing exactly when to make the right move.
Much has been said of his likeness to Ekitike, but Isak is at his core a deadly finisher, the rest simply embellishments of genuine substance, and while he would help to dynamise Liverpool’s exciting frontline, he would also serve as that perfect outlet for players like Wharton to target.
Wharton would jockey with Gravenberch for a starting berth, but we saw last term the necessity of adding such competition to the ranks, especially if Liverpool hope to wade their way into the deeper fathoms of the campaign’s various offshoots, on top of defending the Premier League title.
Described as a “passing machine” by journalist Henry Winter, Crystal Palace’s rising sensation has so much more to his game. There’s a reason that the biggest clubs across the continents are all keen, after all.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Whether Liverpool’s pursuit proves fruitful remains to be seen, but there’s little question that Wharton has what it takes to raise the level of Slot’s midfield and feed through his skill into Isak’s path too.
New Gakpo: Liverpool agree personal terms for "unplayable" new signing
Liverpool are looking to complete a few more signings before the transfer deadline on Monday.
Celtic now look to be closing in on their eighth signing of the summer transfer window, in another boost for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers "very pleased" with his Celtic side
The Scottish Premiership champions maintained their 100% winning start in the league this season on Saturday, sealing a routine 3-0 victory at home to Livingston. Speaking after the game, Celtic manager Rodgers was in positive spirits, with his side already six points clear of rivals Rangers after just three matches.
“I was very pleased. I thought the performance was really good. We started well and with the tempo that we wanted. There were a lot of changes but the fluidity in the team was very good and we got in to some good areas in the first half. In the second half, we had a good flow in the game and scored three very good goals.
Brendan Rodgers
“Defensively we’re strong, we’ve conceded only one goal in four domestic games. And today, against a team that are very compact and tight, we showed some really good moments of football.”
Now, the positivity appears to be continuing at Celtic, with the Hoops looking to be on the verge of completing another summer signing, following a new update.
Celtic close to completing 8th summer signing
Taking to X on Monday morning, Anthony Joseph reports that Celtic are closing in on the signing of Michel-Ange Balikwisha from Royal Antwerp, with a medical scheduled in the UK this week.
This is brilliant news for anyone of a Celtic persuasion, with Balikwisha a long-time transfer target who could make them even more of an attacking force.
The Belgian has scored 30 goals in 145 appearances for Antwerp, predominantly shining from the left wing, but also being able to do a good job on the opposite flank and in more of a central role.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s injuries
Season
Days out
Games out
Muscle injury
2024/25
21
3
Muscle injury
2024/25
57
9
Torn thigh muscle
2024/25
127
17
Knee surgery
2023/24
49
10
Muscle injury
2022/23
44
2
Torn thigh muscle
2022/23
59
12
Hip injury
2021/22
33
7
Hamstring injury
2021/22
18
3
That said, the one slight concern for Rodgers will be Balikwisha’s injury history, with the 24-year-old suffering plenty of absences during his career.
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But hopefully, he has rid himself of those fitness woes, coming in and being an immediate key man for Celtic, giving the Scottish champions the additional firepower that they have craved throughout the summer window.
Despite Ruben Amorim’s admission that Manchester United could suffer once again next season, INEOS have now reportedly stepped up their move to sign a major upgrade who could change the Red Devils’ fate.
Amorim admits Man Utd will "suffer"
It was always unlikely to be a quick fix at Manchester United and, like all those before him, Amorim found that out the hard way at Old Trafford last season. Finishing as low as 15th in the Premier League, the Red Devils endured their worst-ever season and have entered this summer in desperate need of some hope,
Even after welcoming both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, however, Amorim has remained a realist – admitting to reporters that his side will suffer once again next season.
When asked about the potential for new arrivals, the Manchester United manager also aired on the side of caution, telling reporters: “At the moment, we need to be really careful when we sign a player.
“If we have to start the season with this squad, then I’m happy because all the players want to be here. That is the most important thing. With Bryan and Matheus, we are clearly a better team.”
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Alas, whilst their manager has kept his feet firmly fixed to the ground this summer, INEOS have reportedly made their first move towards welcoming what would be a dream arrival.
Man Utd make contact to sign Donnarumma
As reported by Sports Zone, Manchester United have now made contact to Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, as they look to land the ultimate Andre Onana upgrade.
Just months on from winning the Champions League and sitting in the top 10 of TNT’s Ballon d’Or rankings, contract talks between the French giants and Donnarumma have caused tension, and as things stand, the Italian is set to depart as a free agent next summer.
PSG may not wait to lose their 6’5 star in a free deal, however, and reports that they’re now targeting a move to sign LOSC Lille’s highly-rated Lucas Chevalier suggest that Donnarumma’s time at the club could yet come to an end a year earlier than expected.
If that is to be the case, then it’s United who could become the ultimate opportunists by swooping in to sign a major upgrade on Onana.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Donnarumma
Onana
Starts
24
34
Saves P90
2.11
2.59
Save Percentage
67.6%
68.9%
Clean Sheets
4
9
Described as “intelligent” by PSG boss Luis Enrique, Donnarumma would be the best signing of the INEOS era so far and one that could drag Manchester United back into European football if he arrives this summer.
After submitting an opening offer in pursuit of a key defensive reinforcement, Celtic have now reportedly received an instant response from a Serie A club.
Simpson-Pusey "over the moon" to join Celtic
Of course, it’s not just the one defensive reinforcement that the Bhoys are looking to welcome this month. They’ve already signed Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan from Manchester City. The 19-year-old centre-back impressed when called upon by Pep Guardiola last season and now has the chance to improve even further with more game time at Celtic.
After putting pen to paper, the Man City loanee told Celtic’s official website: “I had a long conversation with the manager and I liked what he was saying to me about the club.
“He told me how much he appreciates the club and how much Glasgow appreciates the club. I wanted to go somewhere where, if I’m playing, I’ll be appreciated, so I felt like this was the best option for me.
“This is a big opportunity. I want to come here and show my talent and my levels. It’ll be good for me to come and hopefully help the team to win the league again and do well in Europe. I’m over the moon really. I just want to come in here and get some wins.”
Simpson-Pusey represents Celtic’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window as they look to defend their Scottish Premiership title once again this season.
Celtic could unlock Idah's full potential with swoop for "exciting" £5m gem
Celtic could help to unlock Adam Idah’s full potential by signing this reported transfer target.
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On that front, Brendan Rodgers’ side enjoyed a dramatic, but solid start against St.Mirren. In a game that required Luke McCowan to emerge from the bench and find an 87th-minute winner, the Bhoys instantly took advantage of Rangers’ earlier draw to get their campaign off to a bright start.
It wasn’t a game without alarm bells, however, and it looks to have sent Rodgers and co. back to the transfer market for another defenisve addition this month.
Celtic receive response after Obert offer
According to CagliariNews24, as relayed by Sport Witness, Celtic have now seen their offer to sign Adam Obert rejected by Cagliari, who are looking for a significant offer to sell their 22-year-old centre-back this summer.
Adam Obert in action for Cagliari.
There is belief within Cagliari that Obert’s valuation will increase this season following an impressive campaign last time out. It is, therefore, a waiting game for Celtic, who may only be able to land the Slovakian international at a hiked price this summer.
Celtic’s interest in the young defender should come as no surprise. Having already featured in Italy’s top flight, Obert would form an impressive partnership with fellow youngster Simpson-Pusey. What both players lack in experience, they more than make up in potential and quality.
That said, after Cagliari instantly rejected their opening offer, it remains to be seen whether the Scottish champions will come back in with a second bid this month.
Rohit Sharma had to retire hurt after getting hit on the arm against Ireland
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jun-20242:03
Flower on New York pitch – ‘Bordering on dangerous’
India will prepare for tough batting conditions when they play Pakistan on Sunday, said Rohit Sharma after his team beat Ireland by eight wickets on a difficult surface in New York.”I don’t know what to expect from the pitch to be honest, but we will prepare as if the conditions are going to be like this,” Rohit said after India dismissed Ireland for 96 in New York on Wednesday.In anticipation of pace-friendly conditions after South Africa and Sri Lanka played a low-scoring game in New York, India picked three fast bowlers, Hardik Pandya, and two spin-allrounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel instead of Kuldeep Yadav to strengthen their batting against Ireland.”I don’t think we can play four spinners here,” Rohit said with a laugh, having talked up India’s spin strength prior to the tournament. “When we picked the team, we wanted to have that balance. If conditions are there for the seamers, we wanted to have that. As we head into the later part of the tournament, spin will play a part later on.”Looking at the pitch and conditions, we are open to make changes and do what is required at that point, but today was a four-seamer pitch and we still managed to get two spinners, who are allrounders. It gives us balance heading into the game. It [Pakistan game] is going to be a kind of game where all XI of us need to contribute.”Related
Undercooked pitch could undermine India-Pakistan spectacle
Rohit Sharma retires hurt in India's opening T20 World Cup game
India quicks lead demolition of Ireland on fizzing pitch
Rohit scored a half-century in India’s chase against Ireland but ended up retiring hurt after getting hit on the arm by a short ball from Josh Little. On ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show, former England coach Andy Flower said the New York pitch was “bordering on dangerous”.Jasprit Bumrah, who was Player of the Match for his 2 for 6 off three overs, was elated after playing his first T20 World Cup match since 2021. He had missed the 2022 tournament in Australia due to a back injury and enjoyed the conditions in New York.”Coming from India, when you see the ball seaming and doing quite a bit, with good bounce and pace, you’d never complain when there’s help for the bowlers,” Bumrah said. “You have to be proactive in this format, you can’t pre-empt things. You have to adapt to conditions. We played a practice game here [against Bangladesh], realised how the wicket is. We realised the new ball will do a lot, so I was just trying to stick to what is working for you.”[As a bowler] you want to cover all bases. Once the seam [movement] goes down, the wicket settles down. Yes, there was uneven bounce but you have to be prepared to bowl in all condition and I’m very happy with the outing.”
Birmingham City’s move for a “technical” player is now as much as “95%” complete, according to a positive update from journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto.
Who do Birmingham want to sign?
The Blues know the importance of building on their League One title win and cementing their place in the Championship next season, with new signings required to take Chris Davies’ side to the next level, perhaps following Ipswich’s lead after their back to back promotions.
The financial influence of Tom Wagner and Tom Brady has aided Birmingham greatly in recent years, and supporters are understandably excited to see what the next step will be at the club this summer.
Luton Town centre-back Teden Mengi has been linked with a move to St Andrews in recent days, following a solid 2024/25 season from the former Manchester United player that saw him average 3.9 clearances per game across 20 Championship appearances.
Meanwhile, NEC winger Sontje Hansen has also been mentioned as an exciting target for Birmingham in the summer window, with the 23-year-old representing the Netherlands across five different youth age groups, winning a combined tally of 46 caps. Now, it looks like one player is very close to securing a move to the Midlands.
Birmingham's move for midfielder "95%" done
Speaking on his YouTube channel [via Sport Witness], Sousa-Pinto claimed that midfielder Kanya Fujimoto’s move to Birmingham from Gil Vicente is nearly complete, with the Japanese set to join on a free transfer.
“I’m talking about Kanya Fujimoto, the midfielder whose contract with Gil Vicente ended and who is now a free agent and, as far as I can tell, 90%, 95%, has been agreed with Birmingham City. The clock is still ticking to seal the deal. We’ll have to keep waiting, but the feeling has been very positive for a few weeks now.
“The feeling is still very positive for the transfer to be completed, but we’re still taking it one step at a time until we can close this deal, and Kanya Fujimoto can then join the Championship team as a free agent, once again after his contract with Gil Vicente ended.”
This is great news for anyone of a Birmingham persuasion, with Fujimoto a player who has now proven himself at a high level, making 156 appearances in the Primeira Liga.
The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals and registered 20 assists in Portugal’s top league, while analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed his “technical” quality.
Fujimoto has represented Japan in six age groups, further highlighting his pedigree, and he is a player who could be an instant hit for Birmingham, adding so much quality in midfield areas.
Leeds United face the unenviable task of having to recruit for a season in the Premier League after they won the Championship title to earn promotion to the big time.
The last six teams that were promoted from the second tier were all relegated in their first seasons in the top-flight, which speaks to how difficult the task ahead will be for the Whites.
However, Leeds already know what it takes to achieve survival in their first season back in the Premier League, because they finished in the top-half under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.
The West Yorkshire outfit lost 4-3 to Liverpool in a thrilling match on the opening day of the term, before they went on to comfortably avoid relegation.
Exceptional recruitment work done by Victor Orta and Bielsa underpinned their success that season, as they made several key signings to bolster the squad.
Arguably, the most successful signing that the Whites made ahead of the 2020/21 campaign was the addition of Raphinha from Rennes on a permanent deal.
Leeds hit the jackpot with Raphinha
Leeds swooped to sign the Brazilian attacker from the French side in a deal that was reported to be worth £17m plus add-ons, and it turned out to be a huge bargain.
Coming up from the Championship, Bielsa’s side needed an injection of quality to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and that is exactly what Raphinha provided with his quality at the top end of the pitch from a right wing position.
Appearances
30
Goals
6
Big chances created
12
Key passes per game
2.1
Assists
9
Dribbles completed per game
1.9
As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international made an instant impact in the top-flight with a return of 18 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 30 appearances.
Raphinha was not done there, though, as the left-footed magician scored 11 goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 35 appearances in the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign to steer Jesse Marsch’s team clear of relegation.
Raphinha’s incredible form for Leeds in the Premier League in his two seasons at Elland Road, unfortunately, attracted interest from elsewhere, and he signed for Barcelona in a deal worth a reported £55m in the summer of 2022.
In the present day, the former Whites star has scored 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 56 matches for the Spanish giants this season, in what has been a phenomenal campaign for him on an individual level.
Whilst Raphinha has kicked on to become a superstar in European football with Barcelona, Leeds are still looking for their next winger to shine on the Premier League stage.
Leeds United's wingers since Raphinha left
Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League in the season after the Brazilian sensation moved on from Elland Road, which points to how important he was to the side.
Raphinha-Leeds-Stats
The Whites ended that term without any of their wingers scoring more than five goals or assisting more than seven goals in the top-flight, which shows that they failed to adequately replace Raphinha’s impact at the top end of the pitch.
24/25 (Championship)
Dan James (12)
Manor Solomon (13)
23/24 (Championship)
Crysencio Summerville (21)
Crysencio Summerville (10)
22/23 (Premier League)
Luis Sinisterra (7)
Jack Harrison (10)
As you can see in the table above, Dan James hit double figures for goals and Manor Solomon hit double figures for assists, but it remains to be seen how that translates to the top division, after Crysencio Summerville’s struggles this term.
The Dutch forward, who left Leeds to sign for West Ham last summer, only scored one goal and provided one assist in 19 Premier League games for the Hammers this season, which suggests that he has failed to make the step up to the top tier as of yet.
Leeds, therefore, have not had a winger who has had the quality to make a consistent impact at the top level since Raphinha left, but they could change that by signing reported transfer target Dazien Maeda, who is reportedly valued at £25m.
Why Leeds should sign Daizen Maeda
The Whites should swoop to sign the Celtic superstar in the upcoming summer transfer window because he could be their best winger signing since they brought Raphinha in from Rennes in the summer of 2020.
Daizen Maeda
Maeda, dubbed an “amazing role model” by Brendan Rodgers, just ended his 2024/25 campaign with the Scottish giants and enjoyed an unbelievable year on a personal level.
The 27-year-old sensation scored a staggering 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops, which means that Raphinha only outscored him by one goal for Barcelona, and he has scored at least 12 more goals than any other Leeds winger has in one season in the last three years.
These statistics show that the Celtic star has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the Leeds squad as a winger, who typically plays on the left flank, with the quality to score and create goals at an incredible rate.
Some supporters may question the quality of Scottish football and how it translates to the Premier League, as is the case with the Championship, but Maeda also showcased his quality on the biggest stage of all in the Champions League.
Appearances
9
xG
2.80
Goals
4
Conversion rate
27%
Big chances created
1
Assists
0
As you can see in the table above, the Hoops star outperformed his xG to score an impressive four goals in nine Champions League games, which included goals against German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
This shows that the Japanese ace, who has been described as a “machine” by coaches, has the quality to make a big impact in the final third against some of the biggest teams in Europe, which suggests that he could adapt to the level of the Premier League.
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ByDan Emery May 20, 2025
Therefore, Leeds could sign their best winger since Raphinha by splashing £25m on Maeda in the upcoming summer transfer window, because he has the statistics and the performances at the top level to suggest that he would be a high-quality addition to Daniel Farke’s squad.
Arsenal chiefs are now targeting an “all-round” forward, who arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur bid for last summer.
Andrea Berta's transfer plans for Arsenal this summer
The Gunners’ new sporting director, Andrea Berta, looks set to be a very busy man when the transfer window reopens for business.
Injury to Arsenal star stops Berta from signing two players in key position
The north Londoners had a potentially ambitious plan.
ByEmilio Galantini May 1, 2025
Manager Mikel Arteta has already admitted that the club are set for a “big” summer after Berta’s arrival, and the Spaniard is “excited” by what could be in store.
“It’s going to be a big one, and we are very excited about it,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s transfer plans ahead of next season.
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Newcastle United (home)
May 18th
Southampton (away)
May 25th
“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.
“But it’s a big summer for many things, because first of all, we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then, obviously, how can we improve and evolve the team.”
Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a second-choice keeper, full-back, midfielder, left-winger, right-winger and striker (GiveMeSport), with a host of players looking set to depart N5.
Neto will return to Bournemouth after his straight loan expires, while Kieran Tierney is off to Celtic after agreeing a pre-contract with his former club in the winter window.
Arsenal are expected to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko as well, and veteran midfielder Jorginho will be free to find a new club after his contract expires on June 30th – emphasising the need for new arrivals in key areas.
Thomas Partey and Arsenal are in negotiations over a contract extension right now, but a new midfielder remains high on Berta’s agenda, amid reports a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is close.
Arsenal are internally behaving like they’ve already signed Zubimendi, according to David Ornstein. Meanwhile, as Arteta’s side also reportedly chase new wide options, Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is emerging as an option.
Arsenal targeting Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey
As per journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Arsenal are targeting Ramsey as a potential option, and a Villa Park exit for the 23-year-old isn’t entirely ruled out.
Ramsey has been a firm regular under Unai Emery this term, making 43 appearances in all competitions, where he’s predominantly featured on the left-wing. The Englishman could be a solid alternative to Gabriel Martinelli on that side, but Arsenal are not the only north London club to conjure up ideas about signing Ramsey.
According to The Times, Tottenham made a part-exchange bid for Ramsey, offering Villa £20 million plus Giovani Lo Celso, but this offer was rejected out of hand.
Called an “all-round” player by ex-Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ramsey’s rumoured price tag stands at around £50 million, so Berta will have to pay a significant fee if he wishes to seal an Arsenal deal.