All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

It doesn’t take a footballing genius to work out what Arsenal need this summer.

Mikel Arteta’s side failed to get over the line in the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season, and while they sit just one place off Liverpool, they’ve scored 14 goals fewer.

Now, part of that is undoubtedly down to injuries, but it’s incredibly evident that the Gunners need a new striker once the transfer window opens, and the board seem to agree.

However, while Alexander Isak remains the dream signing for so many fans, his potentially £150m price tag makes the idea of him moving to the Emirates seem practically impossible.

Fortunately, recent reports have linked the North Londoners with someone who could be an ideal alternative.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth reviewing a couple of the other striker targets linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Viktor Gyokeres and Daizen Maeda.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could move to N5 for around £70m, and while that would make him one of the Gunners’ most expensive signings ever, he’d probably be worth it as, in just 48 games this season, he’s racked up 52 goals and 12 assists.

The latter could be available for just £25m, which might also prove to be an absolute steal, as in just 47 first-team appearances for Celtic this season, the Japanese international has scored 33 goals and provided 11 assists.

However, Arteta and Co might want someone with more experience of football in a top-five league, which could explain the links to Ollie Watkins.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal are ‘planning to reignite their bid to sign’ the Aston Villa star.

The report has revealed that even though the Claret and Blue rejected a £50m offer from the Gunners in the January window, he’s back on the club’s shortlist ahead of the summer.

It’s unclear how much he’d cost, but with more time for Villa to find a replacement, it might not be far off Arsenal’s original offer, making him an incredibly appealing Isak alternative.

Why Watkins would be a great Isak alternative

Okay, so the first thing to say is that in an ideal world, Arsenal would just go out and sign Isak, but that feels incredibly unlikely to happen and points to the first significant advantage to signing Watkins over him: the price.

For example, if the reports are to be believed, then the Villa ace could cost as much as £100m less than the Swedish international, which in turn would allow the Gunners to splash the cash on several other first-team players, like Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi and others.

Moreover, even though he’d cost a third as much as the Toon ace, it does not mean he’d be a third as good.

For example, in 50 appearances this season, totalling 3054 minutes, the Englishman, whom podcaster Rohan Jivan described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe,” has scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 111.75 minutes.

In contrast, the former Real Sociedad star has scored 26 goals and provided six assists in 39 appearances, totalling 3054 minutes, which comes out to a slightly better average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games, or every 95.43 minutes.

Finally, Arteta needs players he can rely on next season, and when it comes to fitness, the former Exeter City star is far more reliable than his potential competitor.

For example, he’s missed just three games for club and country across his entire career, whereas the Swede has already missed 67, and he’s only 25 years old.

24/25

43 days

3

9

23/24

56 days

2

12

22/23

107 days

1

18

21/22

28 days

2

5

18/19

66 days

5

15

17/18

33 days

1

8

16/17

4 days

1

0

With Isak unattainable this season, Arsenal would do well to sign Watkins as an alternative, as on top of costing up to £100m less, he’d be far more reliable.

Mega Kiwior upgrade: Arsenal initiate talks for "superb" £34m monster

The experienced international could be just what Arsenal need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 2, 2025

Ipswich Town have now finally been put out of their Premier League misery with Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United officially confirming their inevitable relegation.

Kieran McKenna’s side have managed to raise some smiles among their fanbase recently with a draw on the road at Chelsea one memorable result across April, alongside a 2-1 win away at Andoni Iraola’s tough AFC Bournemouth outfit, but back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and the Magpies proved to be the fatal body blow.

Ipswich’s task on Tyneside to try and pick up an unexpected win was made ever more difficult by Ben Johnson’s dismissal deep into the first half, with the number 18 letting his side down massively on the big occasion.

Johnson's performance in numbers

Unfortunately, this will have soured Johnson’s reputation amongst the Suffolk masses, considering he had been in the good books after scoring and assisting in that aforementioned 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

But, at St James’ Park, the ex-West Ham United man lost his cool, with two quickfire bookings – the second being a petulant drag back of Alexander Isak’s shirt – resulting in the 25-year-old despondently trudging off the pitch.

Soon after, the exciting striker he fouled would fire the Magpies into the lead from the penalty spot, with the result only pointing in one direction from then on in.

When he was still on the St James’ Park turf, Johnson would throw himself about admirably with four duels won, but that positive number meant very little after the red card was brandished.

Still, he wasn’t the sole underperformer from the away side’s perspective, with one of Johnson’s teammates enduring an equally frustrating afternoon as Ipswich’s Premier League fate was sealed.

Ipswich dud was as bad as Johnson

Ipswich were hanging on for dear life throughout the first half, with the direct aftermath of Johnson’s dismissal even seeing Luke Woolfenden clear a Newcastle effort off the line.

McKenna would have been praying that his team could hold out until the half-time interval to regroup, but Julio Enciso would rashly tangle with an advancing Jacob Murphy in the box during first-half added-on time to his manager’s dismay, leading to a spot-kick being given.

Away from this incident, Enciso struggled throughout his choppy 71-minute spell against Howe’s men, with the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee only able to register one effort at Nick Pope’s net.

Moreover, the 21-year-old attacker only amassed one successful dribble from five attempted, on top of only completing a meagre eight accurate passes from his unmemorable 31 touches of the ball.

Minutes played

71

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

31

Accurate passes

8/12 (67%)

Possession lost

15x

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

1/5

Total duels won

4/17

Stats by Sofascore

The lacklustre numbers don’t stop there, with Enciso, unlike Johnson, timid when asserting himself into duels versus the Toon, leading to a bumper 13 duels being lost by the Paraguayan.

It could well be time for McKenna to axe the out-of-sorts South American despite previously notching up an impressive four goal contributions donning Ipswich blue, knowing full well the 21-year-old will just return back to the comforts of the Seagulls shortly when his Portman Road deal expires.

Conor Chaplin was given a brief run-out in his place against Newcastle and is more likely to stick it out with the Tractor Boys when EFL football is served back up, with McKenna and Co bruised by relegation but already hopeful of an immediate return when their Premier League adventure ends next month.

Ipswich now pursue new deal for £27,500-a-week star amid Burnley interest

Burnley and Leeds are once again going head-to-head but this time off the pitch.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is drawing up his shortlist of potential summer targets and is now looking to beat rivals Rangers to the signature of a talented England youth international, per a report.

Celtic look to shape their squad ahead of next season

The Bhoys are closing in on the Scottish Premiership title and know that only a point is needed in their next league fixture against Dundee United to cement their achievement.

Of course, the opportunity to take another step towards winning a domestic treble is also firmly in sight as St Johnstone stand between Celtic and a place in the Scottish Cup final.

Nevertheless, individuals connected with the reigning champions are already looking ahead to the summer window. Next campaign will see the return of Champions League qualifiers, so expect plenty of business to be done early doors involving incomings and outgoings.

Celtic’s recent interest in Stoke City star Million Manhoef has made headlines, but his £10 million price-tag alongside competition from Sheffield United, Burnley, Genk and Club Brugge may throw up a couple of obstacles.

On the same token, the Bhoys’ search for attackers could lead to West Ham United striker Danny Ings. His £125,000 per week wages would likely need to drop significantly, though he is set to be a free agent once the window opens.

Celtic want "tricky" £3 million star who Rodgers has personally sought out

Celtic could land an exciting summer signing.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 14, 2025

Financially, Celtic find themselves in rude health and are expected to splash the cash once again, though there is always an eye for a bargain at Parkhead should circumstances align.

Tapping into that school of thought, the Hoops are now in a race with several competitors to bring in a Premier League starlet that could be on the move.

Celtic look to strike deal for Crystal Palace starlet Jesse Derry

According to Football Insider, Celtic want to sign Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry this summer following news that he has rejected the offer of a professional contract at Selhurst Park.

Rangers are also in the hunt for the England youth international, while Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus have all scouted the 17-year-old across the last few months.

Jesse Derry’s impressive 2024/25 campaign – all competitions

Appearances

20

Goals

9

Assists

2

Predominantly a winger, Derry is capable of playing on either flank, through the middle or as the creative foil for the main striker, illustrating his versatility which has been praised by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Available for a minimal compensation fee, he is said to be open to a move abroad after coming through the ranks at Crystal Palace, who now appear powerless in their attempts to retain the starlet.

Celtic have an excellent record when it comes to cherrypicking developing talent on the market, but it remains to be seen whether Derry would be offered first-team opportunities in the event he ends up at Parkhead.

Either way, supporters can take encouragement from the fact that movement seems to be taking place behind the scenes ahead of the summer window.

Chelsea are already making plans to prepare for the upcoming summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster the squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Blues have been linked with Inter stars Yann Bisseck and Marcus Thuram, whilst Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen reportedly wants to sign for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Chelsea have had success in recruiting from the Serie A in the past, with French central defender Marcel Desailly being a prime example – the titan joined from AC Milan in the summer of 1998 and went on to become a stalwart at Stamford Bridge.

He ended his time in England with 222 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, before being released in 2004 after six years at the club.

Chelsea could repeat that success and raid AC Milan once again for a defensive star as they reportedly eye up one of their present-day stars.

Chelsea plot move for Milan star

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Chelsea are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the upcoming summer transfer window.

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 Aston Villa and the Blues are both plotting moves to sign the France international, as Maresca looks to bolster his options in the goalkeeping position.

It adds that both teams have ‘taken information’ on the shot-stopper ahead of a possible ‘concrete’ move in the summer window, suggesting that they have made contact with either Milan or the player’s representatives to see if a transfer is realistic.

There is no mention of how much it would take to take the Italian giants into selling Maignan, but Chelsea must now push to get a deal done for him ahead of next season.

Why Chelsea should sign Mike Maignan

The Blues hit the jackpot when they signed Desailly, who went on to be a regular for many years and racked up over 200 first-team appearances, from Milan and they could do the same again by improving their defence with the French shot-stopper, who has played 154 times for the Serie A side.

Robert Sanchez has been the first choice for much of the current campaign and has done little to suggest that he is the long-term answer for Maresca in that position.

The Spaniard has made three errors that have led to shots, five errors that have led to goals, and given away two penalties in his 25 Premier League appearances this term.

Maignan’s performances in the Serie A for Milan over the past two seasons, meanwhile, suggest that he could come in to provide more stability between the sticks.

Appearances

59

41

Clean sheets

20

10

Error led to shot

2

5

Error led to goal

3

6

Penalties committed

1

2

As you can see in the table above, Sanchez has made more than twice as many errors that have led to shots, twice as many errors that have led to goals, and committed twice as many penalties in 18 fewer appearances since the start of last season.

This suggests that Maignan would improve Chelsea’s defence by not making as many critical errors that lead to goals conceded, hence why his clean sheet rate is also more impressive than the current Blues goalkeeper’s.

The French ace, who was described as “world-class” by Serie A reporter Haris Mrkonja, has the potential to be an excellent addition to Maresca’s squad as a replacement for Sanchez, given his form over the past two seasons, and that is why the club must push to land him ahead of Villa.

Chelsea now interested in signing £43m Inter Milan star alongside Thuram

The Blues have identified a new target ahead of the summer transfer window…

ByDominic Lund Apr 6, 2025

Maignan, therefore, also has the potential to be Desailly 2.0 for the club as another defensive titan, albeit in a different position, to come over from Milan to the Premier League to star at Stamford Bridge.

After a season of progress, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side will be striving for even better next time round, and planning for the summer has already begun at Parkhead.

Sat 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership with only seven games to go, the Hoops are on course for a sixth treble in just nine seasons.

Meanwhile, Rodgers guided the Bhoys to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, so they’ll be determined to go even further next year, entering in the play-off round in late August.

So, with one fans’ favourite poised to return to Paradise, the Celts could have been even stronger had they not released a 15-year-old who would go on to become the best on the planet in his position.

As it happens, he’s now even better than the incoming Kieran Tierney…

The latest on Kieran Tierney's return to Celtic

Back in January, Rodgers confirmed that Tierney will rejoin Celtic on a free transfer in the summer, after Arsenal decided against ‘activating an option to extend his contract’, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic.

The 27-year-old made 170 appearances for his boyhood club before moving to the Gunners for £25m in 2019, still a joint-club-record sale, but his time in North London has been severely hampered by injuries.

So far this season, the Scotland international has seen just 261 minutes of club action, notably starting as part of a makeshift front three against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last month.

He has also featured at left-back, the position he’ll be taking up on his return to Glasgow in the summer.

He’ll return north of the border in search of more regular football, but did Celtic have an even better left-back in their academy, one that’s gone on to have an even more decorated career than his compatriot?

Celtic's world-class academy talent is now better than Tierney

Back in 2009, Celtic released a 15-year-old by the name of Andrew Robertson because, according to Robertson himself, he was “too small”.

After that, Robertson joined Queen’s Park, then of Scottish League Two, making 43 appearances for the Spiders, revealing to Darrell Currie that his big breakthrough came when Rangers visited Hampden Park because the game “was on the tele”.

He did enough to catch the eye of Dundee United, who signed him in June 2013, appearing 44 times in tangerine, before moving to Hull City and then ultimately Liverpool.

With the Reds, Robertson is set to hoist aloft a second Premier League title in the coming weeks, having also won the Champions League, the FA Cup, two EFL Cups and a selection of other honours, making his 337th appearance for the club during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby victory at Anfield.

Ben Webb on Twitter believes he was ‘the best left-back on the planet’, while Andy Jones of the Athletic labels him ‘integral to the team’s transformation under Jürgen Klopp’ as well as Liverpool’s ‘most consistent performer’ during this era of success.

At international level too, Robertson took his tally to 82 caps against Greece last month, only Kenny Dalglish (102) and Jim Leighton (91) have accumulated more, while no man has captained the Tartan Army on more occasions.

Scotland spent years attempting to solve the conundrum of how to get both Tierney and Robertson into the same starting lineup, but let’s compare how the pair have performed at their respective Premier League giants.

Appearances

337

135

Goals

11

5

Assists

66

13

Matches missed due to injury

29

65

Trophies

8

3

Appearances

82

49

Goals

4

1

Assists

10

4

Matches missed due to injury

10

35

As the table clearly outlines, Robertson has had a more stellar career to date, both for club and country, with Tierney’s matches missed due to injury statistics startling in comparison.

Back in 2022, Robertson revealed his desire to play for Celtic one day, stating “every time I watch Celtic, I consider it. When you… see a packed Celtic Park, as a fan, you always have that dream”.

So, now 31-years-old, could we see the Scotland skipper bedecked in green and white hoops one day, or does Tierney’s return preclude that from ever happening?

Celtic have already signed incredible Taylor replacement & it's not Tierney

Celtic have already found their dream replacement for Greg Taylor and it is not Kieran Tierney.

ByDan Emery Apr 2, 2025

Everton’s good form continued with an impressive 3-0 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium over Nottingham Forest.

The Toffees move into fifth in the Premier League, taking their record since the start of November to four wins, one draw and one loss.

It was a fast start for David Moyes’ side. Just two minutes into the clash with the East Midlands outfit, Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic headed a cross into the back of his own net, to give Everton the lead almost immediately.

Then, in the third minute of stoppage time before half-time, the Evertonians doubled their lead. It was a significant moment for Thierno Barry, who got off the mark in that famous Blue shirt after some impressive performances of late.

Iliman Ndiaye carried the ball to the edge of the Forest box before laying it into the path of Barry, who slotted home.

The perfect day for Moyes’ side was capped off in the 80th minute when another summer signing, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, drilled home a volley after the ball bounced to him from a corner. Everton ran out deserved winners to continue their excellent form.

It was a day to remember for the Toffees, with some standout performances.

Everton’s standout players vs. Forest

This will certainly be a day that Thierno Barry remembers. The Frenchman bagged his very first goal in an Everton shirt, showing the sort of quality in front of goal that earned him the big move to the Premier League from Villarreal in the summer.

What a tidy finish it was from the Toffees’ number 11, too. Ndiaye drove towards the penalty box, with Barry making a good diagonal run to find space.

The finish was composed, slotting it past Matz Sels.

Speaking of Ndiaye, the Senegalese attacker was in imperious form once again. So often the source of everything the Merseysiders do well in attack, he was a handful for the Forest defence and, of course, set Barry up.

One person who was impressed by Ndiaye’s efforts was Chris Beesley, Everton reporter for the Liverpool Echo. He gave the attacker a 7/10 rating, praising him for ‘always providing an outlet for his side’ throughout the night.

However, neither Barry nor Ndiaye were the stars of the show for Moyes’ side in a fantastic win.

Everton’s best player in their 3-0 win

What a performance it was from another of the Everton summer signings, Dewsbury-Hall.

The Englishman was at the heart of the Toffees’ midfield today, scoring his excellent goal late on, putting in the cross for the own goal, and offering plenty more on the ball.

The stats reflect just how well Dewsbury-Hall performed against the East Midlands outfit. He had 56 touches and 86% of his passes.

Off the ball, it was a masterclass from the former Leicester City star. He won an exceptional 8/13 ground duels and made five ball recoveries.

Touches

56

Pass accuracy

86%

Opposition half passes

16/20

Ground duels won

8/13

Ball recoveries

5

Tackles won

3/4

Goals

1

Dewsbury-Hall left thousands of Toffees fans impressed with his performance against Forest. Well, the same can be said for journalists, with Beesley giving him a 9/10 for his efforts, explaining he was ‘bright from the start’.

There is a case to be made that Dewsbury-Hall, described as the club’s “most important and best” player by journalist John Merro, is their best signing since Ndiaye.

The Senegalese attacker has been sensational since moving to Merseyside last summer, racking up 17 goals and assists in 54 games.

Chalkboard

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

As for the English midfielder, he has brought creativity and final third threat to Moyes’ side in just 15 games, with four goals and two assists so far.

However, the tenacity off the ball, on full show against Sean Dyche’s side, has been crucial this season too. It is certainly easy to see why Merro is of that opinion.

After paying just £28m for him this summer from Chelsea, it is looking like one of the biggest bargains in 2025. The all-action midfielder has shone so far, just like Ndiaye has on Merseyside.

£47m spent; CF "monster" replaces Beto: Everton's dream XI after January

Everton manager David Moyes will be looking to strengthen his team in the January transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 15, 2025

With the pressure growing on Arne Slot, Xabi Alonso has reportedly made his mind up on taking the Liverpool job if it becomes available at the same time that he potentially leaves Real Madrid.

For the first time in Slot’s Liverpool career, serious questions are being asked about his tenure. Last season’s Premier League title win has provided him with plenty of credit but, as Jamie Carragher pointed out on Monday Night Football, not everyone is still convinced that he’s still the man for the job.

After eight defeats in 11 games, the Dutchman simply has to turn things around. The Reds backed him by breaking their transfer record twice in the summer and spending over £400m, but are yet to see that investment pay off.

The most concerning aspect of Liverpool’s recent run is that nothing has changed. Slot has persisted with the same system, which only provided false dawns against Real Madrid and Aston Villa.

Now, with Alonso also under pressure at Madrid, Liverpool could be presented with a tempting opportunity to make a sensational change.

Xabi Alonso makes Liverpool decision

According to Football365, Alonso is now ready to take the Liverpool job if Real Madrid decide to sack him. The Spaniard has been put under increasing pressure by reports that Vinicius Junior has decided against signing a new deal whilst the manager is in charge.

As Real Madrid are forced to decide between their star man and their new manager, it’s Liverpool who could take full advantage.

For many, the big question has centred around who would replace Slot if Liverpool decided to sack the Dutchman. In Alonso, they’d have the perfect answer.

The Reds were interested in a reunion with the Spaniard before they hired Slot and could now get what they initially wanted over a year later.

Forget Leoni: 19-year-old academy star could end Konate's Liverpool career

Liverpool’s French centre-back has been abject in Slot’s system this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 24, 2025

Although a lot of pieces will need to fall into place, there’s little doubt that Alonso would be welcomed with open arms at Anfield.

"I'm told" – Romano shares what Slot thinks about his own Liverpool future

Danny Rohl’s start to life in charge of Glasgow Rangers on the European stage has not gone to plan so far, as he has lost both of his Europa League games without his side scoring a goal.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach, though, has inherited a team that struggled badly under Russell Martin, and will not have any of his own signings until the January transfer window.

Rohl took over from Martin after the Scottish manager only won five of his 17 games and one of his Scottish Premiership outings in the dugout for the Ibrox giants.

The German tactician has had an instant impact on the side in the Premiership. Rangers have won all three of their league games since his arrival at the club, and kept back-to-back clean sheets away from home.

A 3-0 win at Dens Park on Sunday means that the Light Blues can head into the final international break on a high, after goals from Nicolas Raskin, Mikey Moore, and Djeidi Gassama.

However, there are still some individuals within the squad who have been unable to step up. Bojan Miovski, for example, was hooked off at half-time against Dundee.

Why Rangers should be worried about Bojan Miovski

The Light Blus should be concerned by the Macedonia international’s dismal start to life at Ibrox, because he has yet to show any signs of replicating his form with Aberdeen.

Miovski was signed from Girona during the summer transfer window to bolster Martin’s options at the top end of the pitch, possibly because of his proven track record in Scottish football.

The left-footed forward’s return of 32 goals in 78 games in the Premiership for the Dons suggested that he was a safe and sensible signing to add goals to the Gers attack, but it has not played out that way.

Miovski has scored one goal in eight appearances in the top-flight for Rangers, against Falkirk, from an xG of 1.84, per FotMob, which suggests that he has underperformed as a finisher.

The Rangers centre-forward was given the nod to lead the line against Dundee at Dens Park, after coming off the bench against Roma last week, but he was unable to prove to Rohl that he deserves more starts on the other side of the international break.

Minutes

45

Touches

14

Dribbles completed

0/0

Shots

0

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Duels won

2/8

As you can see in the table above, Miovski failed to register a single shot on goal in 45 minutes of action before being taken off at half-time. Whilst you could point to a lack of creativity behind him, his struggles in duels meant that he was unable to fashion chances for himself.

The Scottish giants, therefore, should be worried about the former Aberdeen marksman, because he has been at the club for several months now and is no closer to showing the kind of quality that earned him a good reputation in the Premiership in the past.

Miovski, though, was not the only Rangers player who failed to deliver an impressive performance in spite of the 3-0 victory against Dundee last time out.

Chalkboard

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

Rohl must ruthlessly drop central midfielder Mohamed Diomande from the starting line-up when the Gers return to action on the other side of the international break, as he was just as bad as Miovski at Dens Park.

Why Rangers should drop Mohamed Diomande

The Ivorian midfielder was taken off by the German head coach at half-time, just as Miovski was, and was replaced by Scotland international Connor Barron.

Per Sofascore, Diomande lost 75% (3/4) of his duels in the opening 45 minutes of the game at Dens Park, which shows that he was too much of a lightweight in the middle of the park. That may have been why Rohl decided to take him off for Barron, who won 100% (2/2) of his duels in the second half.

The Rangers midfielder also failed to take any shots on goal, did not create any chances for his teammates, and did not attempt a single dribble, per Sofascore, which shows that he offered very little in midfield and was just as bad as Miovski, who was as ineffective in and out of possession.

Diomande, who was sent off against Genk in the Europa League in September, has endured a frustrating 2025/26 campaign after catching the eye with his impressive performances last term.

The left-footed star scored four goals and provided seven assists in 36 outings in the Premiership last season, but his form in and out of possession has dropped off a cliff this year.

Appearances

36

8

Sofascore rating

7.19

6.45

Goals

4

0

Key passes per game

1.2

0.5

Assists

7

0

Duels won per game

4.4

2.9

Ground duel success rate

57%

46%

Aerial duel success rate

48%

25%

As you can see in the table above, his defensive and offensive numbers are down across the board in the Premiership for the Gers, which shows that he has been unable to carry last season’s success over to the current one.

His underwhelming performance against Dundee on Sunday was simply the latest in a long line of disappointing performances from the central midfielder for the Light Blues in the 2025/26 campaign, as he has struggled in and out of possession throughout the season.

Given that Barron came on and showed great energy and desire to win 100% of his duels off the bench in the second half, Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Diomande from the starting XI for the clash with Livingston at Ibrox on the other side of the international break.

Rangers launch first enquiry to sign versatile defender who dominated Chermiti

The Gers desperately need reinforcements.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 7, 2025

Miovski and Diomande both failed to offer enough quality on the pitch in the first half against Dundee, hence why they were hauled off at the break, and they should both lose their place in the starting line-up as a result of that.

After another bumper summer in the busy transfer window, Birmingham City might well have expected to take the Championship immediately by storm.

Indeed, the Blues welcomed in a whopping 14 new faces during the off-season, as the likes of Demarai Gray dramatically returned back to St. Andrew’s after a lengthy Premier League career, among other notable signings.

Unfortunately for Chris Davies and Co., Gray hasn’t quite sparked into life just yet during his homecoming, with the ex-Everton winger not alone in being a disappointment so far, as the Blues loiter in an underwhelming 15th spot in the second-tier standings at this moment in time.

Birmingham's disappointing summer recruitment

It’s not just all on the shoulders of the new recruits, however, as many of Birmingham’s dependable performers during their League One title heroics have also floundered under the pressure of now competing in the division above.

Keshi Anderson definitely falls into his category, with the Luton-born attacker still goalless in Championship action this season so far, despite firing home nine strikes in all competitions last campaign for Davies’ emphatic title-winners.

Thankfully, Jay Stansfield has remembered his shooting boots, with six goals already fired home.

But, to further pile on the misery, Marvin Ducksch – who cost around the £1.75m mark to pick up from Werder Bremen in the window – is also routinely firing blanks as another option up top.

Moreover, the aforementioned Gray doesn’t quite look the same electric, fresh-faced presence he once was at St. Andrew’s when he was a youngster trying to cut his teeth, with Birmingham’s 1-0 defeat to Bristol City last time out only seeing him amass a lacklustre 18 touches of the ball.

It must feel like an awfully long time ago now for Davies when he looks back on Birmingham’s jaw-dropping 111-point season in League One, with one new signing under so much scrutiny already, that he could be on borrowed time in the West Midlands only a matter of months into his EFL stint.

Why Birmingham's expensive gamble hasn't paid off

Thankfully, in recent years, whenever a big price tag has been attached to a player since Tom Wagner’s millions were added into the mix, they have often lived up to their hype.

Stansfield was boldly purchased for a whopping £15m, even as Birmingham found themselves marooned in League One, but he immediately backed up his lavish price tag when scoring the crucial goals – 19 league strikes to be exact – to clinch the Blues’ straightforward passage back up to the Championship.

Therefore, when the newly promoted Blues announced they’d acquired the services of former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi for an equally hefty £10m in July, the expectation would have been that he would go on to be another superb Stansfield-like purchase.

After all, Kyogo had been branded as a “superstar” in Scotland by ex-Hoops teammate Callum McGregor, off the back of the Japanese gem firing home a stunning 85 goals in total for the Glasgow giants.

Moreover, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman also boldly stated that he would be a “really exciting” signing in England, after the new number nine showed off some entertaining tricks and flicks during his early days at St. Andrew’s.

Games played

11

Games started

5

Minutes played per game

47

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Big chances missed

7

Kyogo’s tale hasn’t played out to the expected script, though, with the once confident and assured striker who pulled on Celtic green and white week in week out now nowhere to be seen in the Championship.

The 30-year-old, instead, has become a wasteful option up top for Davies, with seven big chances missed across 11 league games to date, meaning he is still chasing his first league goal in the West Midlands.

Even Lyndon Dykes has two league goals next to his name, despite averaging just 25 minutes of action himself.

EFL pundit Adrian Clarke has even gone out of his way to state that Kyogo is “struggling”, with patience surely already running thin at St. Andrew’s surrounding the quiet number nine, considering his excessive transfer fee.

There is still time on Kyogo’s side to turn around his shocking Blues start, but if the goals don’t come soon, he might just have to be written off as an expensive flop.

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