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As the January transfer window approaches, Southampton have reportedly joined the race to sign a striker worth as much as £100m for incoming new manager Ivan Juric.

Southampton transfer news

A 5-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur – in which the Saints conceded four first-half goals – proved to be the final straw in Russell Martin’s Southampton reign. Bottom of the Premier League and as many as nine points adrift of safety, Southampton are in a perilous position and simply must hope that pending new manager Juric can pull off what would be the greatest of escapes.

Convincing the manager to depart AS Roma just three months after he arrived to replace Daniele De Rossi, Southampton have reached a verbal agreement with Juric, who is now working on exit terms to leave the Italian club according to Fabrizio Romano.

Seemingly deciding against chasing the signature of Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, those at St Mary’s will hope to get their deal to welcome Juric over the line before instantly backing their new manager in January.

According to GiveMeSport, Southampton have now joined the race to sign Evan Ferguson from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2025. The young striker has struggled to break into Fabian Hurzeler’s side and could now leave Seagulls on loan amid interest from West Ham United, Chelsea, Manchester United and now Southampton.

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Southampton put in a brave fight against Liverpool.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 19, 2024

If the Saints are to pursue his signature in 2025, however, then they’ll likely be in position to land a loan deal and loan deal only, given that Brighton reportedly value their striker at a staggering £100m.

"Amazing" Ferguson would be a major coup

Even just on loan, if Southampton managed to win a hectic race to secure Ferguson’s signature until the end of the season then it will be one the most impressive coups of the winter window.

Juric’s pending new side are sat rock bottom and no side have managed to score less goals than the 11 that they’ve managed in 16 games. For a player of Ferguson’s quality to arrive, Southampton may need to put together quite the pitch.

The Irishman, although enduring recent struggles, has been the subject of much praise since breaking through the Brighton ranks, with former teammate Alexis Mac Allister telling reporters via BBC Sport after a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth in 2023: “Evan is an amazing player. He was not having his best evening, but he showed his quality. We are really happy for him, we know how important he is.”

Of course, whilst they may be struggling, what Southampton can offer Ferguson is the chance to be a Premier League starter week in, week out in what may well give the Brighton striker plenty to ponder ahead of 2025.

Christian Eriksen could return to Brentford as Thomas Frank opened the door to a reunion with the Manchester United midfielder.

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• Eriksen has a few months left in his deal
• Has been tipped to leave Old Trafford in the summer
• Could make a return to the GTech to join the Bees

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As Eriksen’s time at United nears its end, speculation continues to swirl around where his next destination will be – and a return to West London is becoming a real possibility. The Danish international, now 33, originally joined Manchester United in 2022 on a three-year contract, following a brief yet memorable spell with Brentford. That period marked a triumphant return to football for Eriksen after he recovered from a cardiac arrest suffered during Euro 2020 while playing for Denmark.

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  While Eriksen has been linked to a possible return to Ajax – where he started his professional journey – Brentford remains a sentimental and realistic option. Marijn Beuker, the sporting director at Ajax, recently confirmed that bringing Eriksen back is "something they are considering." Yet, Thomas Frank’s latest comments have added fresh momentum to the Brentford angle.

• WHAT ERIKSEN SAID

  The Brentford manager did not shy away from the idea of a reunion, though he stopped short of confirming any discussions.

  "Christian is a fantastic player and probably the best Danish player in recent times," Frank told reporters. "I think we saw most recently against Portugal that he is still in a really good place. There is no doubt that he really wants to play some more and had a really good time when he was with us. I am open to all players, but of course, there are lots of things that need to be worked out when it comes to transfers. I would say that nothing is closed."

  When asked if there had been any direct conversations about Eriksen, Frank remained cautious.

  "I can't be that specific, and generally I usually say that I really like to talk about the players who are here right now, and if I have to talk about others, I usually say it could be Ronaldo or Messi, as it's a bit safer to talk about. So I can't really answer that," he added.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ERIKSEN?

  Eriksen, despite the swirling transfer rumours, remains focused on finishing the season strong. He is expected to be involved when United face Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday. With his contract winding down, performances in these final months could play a key role in determining his next chapter.

Chelsea’s form has hit a bit of a rut in the last few weeks. Enzo Maresca’s side have not been at their best, and recent results reflect that.

The Blues have actually failed to win in any of their last four Premier League games, with their last victory coming at home to Brentford, a 2-1 win on the 15th December.

Indeed, their last four top-flight games include a 0-0 draw at home to Everton, a loss against rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge before another defeat, this time on the road against Ipswich Town. Their 2025 began with a 1-1 draw away to Crystal Palace.

It shows that the Blues squad is perhaps still not quite where Maresca would like it to be, and they are believed to be targeting some major reinforcements.

Chelsea target star addition

The player who the Blues are rumoured to be interested in is Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala. Things are still very much up in the air with the German’s contract at the Allianz Arena, and some European giants could be ready to pounce.

According to a report from Football Insider, Chelsea are one of the sides who are thought to be ‘keen on a potential move’ for the German, if his contractual situation is not resolved soon.

However, they will have a real fight on their hands to win the race. Manchester City hold a strong interest, as do fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Arsenal. Real Madrid are another club who could make a move. A price for Musiala has not been clarified, but he is valued at £90m according to Football Transfers.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Musiala would be a good signing

Incredibly, if Chelsea were to bring Musiala to the club, it would be a return to Stamford Bridge for the Bayern star. He played for the Blues academy before moving back to Germany, including three appearances for Chelsea’s U18 side.

Looking back on it, letting the 21-year-old leave West London certainly seems like a mistake given the player he has turned into. Musiala has become one of the biggest stars in world football and is thriving once again under Vincent Kompany at Bayern this season.

In 22 appearances across all competitions, he has 14 goals and six assists. That includes an impressive nine goals and three assists in just 13 Bundesliga appearances. In Bayern’s last top-flight game before Christmas, he scored and assisted in a 5-1 win over RB Leipzig.

Musiala would certainly strengthen the Chelsea side in attacking areas. His goals and assists would actually see him rank first in the Blues squad for the most goal involvements, higher even than Cole Palmer who has scored and assisted 19 goals in all competitions.

He would certainly bring reinforcements to an already expansive Chelsea attack, and could even be Maresca’s own version of Vinicuis Junior. The Los Blancos star has scored 13 times and grabbed nine assists in 21 games all competitions in 2024/25.

Said to be one of Musiala’s most similar players via FBRef this season after their excellent performances in the new-look Champions League format, it’s clear to see where the parallels lie.

The duo are both silky dribblers, with Musiala averaging 5.68 progressive carries and Vinicius six progressive carries each game. They are also very creative, with the German playing 3.64 key passes per game, compared to 2.6 for the Brazilian.

The similarities are there for all to see between Musiala and Vinicius. They are both superstars, and it certainly makes it a lucrative deal for Chelsea to do. There is no doubt the fact that the German would add quality to the Blues’ attack, as the stats show.

As Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen described him, Musiala is “one of the top players in the world” and could be the next blockbuster attacker at Stamford Bridge. As cracks appear in the Blues’ form, he could be the man to help patch them and take Maresca’s side to the next level.

Not just Jackson: Maresca must ditch 5/10 Chelsea man after Palace

Chelsea dropped more points in the Premier League with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace

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By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 4, 2025

Everything you need to know about Ronald Araujo's salary playing for Barcelona

Ronald Araujo has been a loyal servant for Barcelona after making his debut in 2019, establishing himself as a strong option at the centre-back position for the Blaugrana.

However, his recent injury issues and Inigo Martinez’s resurgence as the main defender under Hansi Flick have affected his status as an undisputed starter.

Nevertheless, he has remained an important option, coming off the bench and even starting games at times, giving Flick the flexibility to rotate key players amid a tough run of fixtures.

The Uruguayan star signed a new deal with the club in 2025, making him one of the highest-paid defenders in the dressing room.

But exactly how much does he earn playing at Camp Nou?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

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• Ronald Araujo's wages at Barcelona in numbers

  Araujo currently stands as the second-highest paid defender at Barcelona after French fullback Jules Kounde.

  The Uruguayan earns £160,818 ($210,521) per week playing for the Blaugrana, while his annual salary amounts to £8.3 million ($10.9m).

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Ronald Araujo	Uruguayan	£160,818	$210,521	£8,362,523	$10,947,106

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  Top earners at Barcelona

  Despite being the second highest-paid defender, Araujo fails to make it to the top five highest-paid players at the club overall.

  Taking the top spot is Polish goal-scoring machine Robert Lewandowski, who is not only the highest-paid player at the club but also in the league.

  Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong appears in second position, followed by forgotten wonderkid Ansu Fati.

  Finally, rounding off the list in fourth and fifth positions are French full-back Jules Kounde and Brazilian forward Raphinha, respectively.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Robert Lewandowski	Polish	£536,006	$701,667	£27,872,290	$36,486,704
  Frenkie de Jong	Dutch	£305,554	$399,990	£15,888,794	$20,799,501
  Ansu Fati	Spanish	£224,341	$293,677	£11,665,720	$15,271,213
  Jules Kounde	French	£217,908	$285,256	£11,331,219	$14,833,329
  Raphinha	Brazilian	£201,022	$263,152	£10,453,154	$13,683,882

• Top earners in La Liga

  Lewandowski leads the list of the highest-paid players in the league, while Kylian Mbappe makes his appearance at second position, followed by David Alaba.

  Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid's only entrant in the list is goalkeeper Jan Oblak, followed by Jude Bellingham who is on equal wages with Vinicius at number five.

  Nationality	Nationality	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual Wages USD
  Robert Lewandowski	Polish	£536,006	$701,667	£27,872,290	$36,486,704
  Kylian Mbappe	French	£502,556	$657,879	£26,132,886	$34,209,706
  David Alaba	Austrian	£361,840	$473,673	£18,815,678	$24,630,988
  Jan Oblak	Slovenian	£334,983	$438,516	£17,419,136	$22,802,822
  Jude Bellingham	English	£334,983	$438,516	£17,419,136	$22,802,822

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Despite the appealing wages in the league, none of the top LaLiga earners make it to the top-five earners list globally as Saudi Pro League players heavily dominate the list.

  Leading the charts are former Real Madrid forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema at first and second spot, respectively.

  Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez comes in at number three, followed by Senegalese internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,216,155	$4,210,425	£167,250,468	$218,942,120
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,608,178	$2,105,213	£83,625,234	$109,471,060
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£839,469	$1,098,921	£45,652,372	$57,43,893
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£643,271	$842,085	£33,450,094	$43,788,424
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£558,038	$730,509	£29,017,956	$37,986,458

Kobbie Mainoo is demanding a bumper pay rise at Manchester United as the midfielder continues talks over a contract extension.

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• Mainoo in talks with Man Utd over new deal
• Demanding massive increase to his salary
• Club unwilling to match his request

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 19-year-old will enter the last two years of his contract this summer, though the Red Devils have the option to extend for an extra 12 months. Player and club are in talks over a new long-term contract for the England international, who is set to receive a significant increase in his weekly wage.

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  However, the Red Devils' offer is short of what the academy hero is demanding, reports, and he is instead considering a move abroad. Mainoo earns around £20,000 per week, the report says, but he is demanding the club take that up to £180,000 if they want him to extend his stay. United, though, are unlikely to meet that as they plan on reducing their wage bill.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United would demand around £70 million ($91m) for Mainoo should they fail to convince him to put pen to paper in the near future. However, they have not given up on reaching an agreement with him.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  Mainoo made his return from a two-month absence with a muscle injury when he came off the bench late on against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday. He will hope to be involved again when Ruben Amorim's side face Newcastle on Sunday.

At the halfway stage with the January transfer window now underway, Crystal Palace have now reportedly set their sights on beating Southampton to the arrival of a La Liga gem this month.

Crystal Palace transfer news

The Eagles had plenty to be concerned about in the opening stages of the season but have since weathered the storm to set the course for survival once again under Oliver Glasner. Still just five points clear of the dropzone, however, their job is far from complete and they’ll be well aware of how important the January transfer window can be to pick up where they left off in a recent 2-1 victory over relegation rivals Southampton.

Of course, keeping hold of players will also be key, with the likes of Marc Guehi linked to Newcastle United in the summer and his name likely to at least be mentioned again this month. But the flip side of the coin is that Palace could also use this month to welcome key reinforcements for Glasner and his side.

According to reports in Spain, Crystal Palace are now battling Southampton to sign Sergi Altimira from Real Betis, but will need to pay an excessive fee to lure the La Liga side into a January sale.

Having defeated the Saints on the pitch, those at Selhurst Park seemingly want to deal them another blow away from the action and the fact it’s for Altimira should come as little shock.

Crystal Palace now "checking in" on "rapid" Liverpool gem ahead of January

The young star has had an impressive 2024…

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By
Barney Lane

Dec 30, 2024

The 23-year-old Spanish midfielder has enjoyed a solid campaign at the heart of Betis’ midfield, helping his side to within touching distance of the European places and starting 12 of their 18 La Liga games so far this season. If Palace want to reinforce their midfield then he could be the man to partner Will Hughes.

"Fantastic" Altimira could partner Hughes

Whilst Hughes has seemingly nailed down a starting role under Glasner, especially amid Adam Wharton’s injury absence, Palace could yet welcome an ideal partner for the former Derby County youngster. And that’s where Altimira could come in. Two midfield controllers, Glasner would suddenly have the balance that he needs in the middle of the park to get back to last season’s form and push further onward away from the dropzone.

Dubbed “fantastic” by Spanish reporter Mateo Gonzalez earlier this season, Altimira’s best years are yet to come at just 23 years old. So to step into the Premier League at this stage would be quite the move.

That said, the numbers suggest that he’d have no trouble fitting into English football, given that he has almost mirrored Hughes’ performance in a number of areas throughout the current campaign. The prospect of a midfield partnership between those two should be enough to push Palace towards Altimira’s signature this month.

Looking to cement their Champions League place once and for all, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly made contact to sign a Serie A midfielder who knows all about finishing inside the Premier League’s top four.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Six wins on the bounce and level on points with second place Arsenal in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest are proving to be no flash in the pan as the season enters its second half. It’s even worth noting that up next they have the chance to become the first side to complete the double over Arne Slot’s Liverpool side and remain the only side to defeat the Reds in league action so far this season.

Watch out Wood: Nottingham Forest could land their own Gyokeres in £35m ace

Nottingham Forest could target added attacking reinforcements to bolster their top four hopes.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jan 8, 2025

Defeat Slot’s side once again and Nuno Espirito Santo’s high-flying Forest will find themselves just three points adrift with the leaders, who will at least have a game in hand to rectify that gap. If the likes of Chris Wood perform at the level they did against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the coming weeks, then the title race may well have a shock participant.

The January transfer window could yet boost their impressive campaign even further too. According to The Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest have made contact to sign Douglas Luiz from Juventus this month in what is likely to be a short-term loan move away from the Serie A giants.

Having struggled since arriving in Turin, Luiz could now receive the opportunity he so desperately needs to return to the Premier League and rediscover his best form. A move to Nottingham Forest wouldn’t be without its controversy, however, given that the Brazilian spent a number of years at Aston Villa and even helped the Villans into the Champions League last season.

"Decisive" Luiz would cement Nottingham Forest's ambitions

Just like he did for Midlands rivals Aston Villa last season, Luiz could seal Forest’s Champions League ambitions by completing a January move and much-needed fresh start away from Juventus – albeit merely a brief loan spell.

Earning a reported £132,000-a-week in Serie A, it will be interesting to see just how much of Luiz’s hefty salary Nottingham Forest are willing to match and how much Juventus will pay, themselves, in order to send their midfielder on loan.

The former Villa man is certainly worth the gamble this month, having still earned plenty of praise throughout a troubled campaign so far. Among those with plenty of positives has been Aston Villa sporting director Monchi, who told reporters as relayed by Tribal Football earlier this month: “He’s playing less than we all expected, but we’re talking about a strong player.

“There are guys who arrive and impose themselves, others who need time. Patience is needed, but Douglas’ qualities are beyond discussion. He will become important for Juve. He’s a playmaker and every ball that comes out of his feet has a meaning: last year he played 90% of the games with us. He was decisive.”

Mikel Arteta hailed "one of the best nights" of his career as Arsenal knocked holders Real Madrid out of the Champions League.

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• Arsenal beat Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate
• Arteta ecstatic after historic victory
• Revealed Ancelotti backed them to win the UCL

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After establishing a 3-0 cushion from the first leg at the Emirates, Arsenal arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday with confidence but knew the tie was far from over against the record European champions. Despite the early drama and a Bukayo Saka penalty miss, the Premier League side emerged victorious again, sealing a 2-1 win, thanks to goals from the England winger and Gabriel Martinelli.

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  Arsenal now stand as the only Premier League club remaining in this year’s Champions League, with all other English sides having been eliminated in earlier rounds. Their path to the final, however, is anything but straightforward. Next up for the north Londoners is a semi-final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain, managed by Luis Enrique. While Arsenal triumphed 2-0 against the French champions in the group stage at the Emirates, PSG have evolved since that encounter and pose a renewed threat.

• WHAT ARTETA SAID

  After the final whistle, Arteta struggled to hide his emotions. Speaking on , he reflected on the magnitude of the win: "One of the best nights in my football career. We played against a team with the biggest history. It has been an inspiration for all of us on this competition. To be able to win the tie in the manner we have done, I think we have to be very proud of ourselves. It is very difficult. After two or three minutes, you realise anything can happen in this stadium. Fortunately, a lot of things went for us. Overall, we did what we had to do to win the game."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the heavy defeat and growing pressure over his future, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti extended a gracious post-match message to Arteta.

  “(Ancelotti was) very affectionate with me and told me I hope we win. And he wished me the best of luck," he revealed.

Real Madrid will reportedly be boosted by Kylian Mbappe's availability for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona after he recovered from an injury.

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• Mbappe set to be fit for Copa del Rey final
• Picked up an injury against Arsenal last week
• Real Madrid face Barcelona in the final on Saturday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe sustained an ankle injury during Real Madrid's second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal last week. The Frenchman missed Los Blancos' 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday, and as such, there had been questions regarding his availability for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona this weekend at the Estadio de La Cartuja.

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  Spanish publication Marca has now revealed that Real Madrid are expecting Mbappe to be fit for their Copa del Rey final, which could stand as their only option to not go trophyless this season. The report revealed that the Frenchman has already returned to training with Los Blancos, and the coaching staff expect that Mbappe will be able to be included in the squad for the Clasico.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe has not exactly had the best time against Barcelona so far this season in both of the Clasicos, as both clashes saw the Catalan side manage to completely neutralize the France international's threat through the middle of the attack and win 4-0 in La Liga and 5-2 in the Supercopa de Espana.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  Real Madrid will be keen on avoiding the same fate yet again on Saturday, April 26, as they take on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. If reports are to be believed, the clash could very well be Carlo Ancelotti's last match in charge of Los Blancos.

Celtic look set to lose striker Kyogo Furuhashi in this transfer window, but the Hoops have already made a move when it comes to signing his potential replacement, according to a new report.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops enjoyed a successful night in the Champions League on Wednesday, as their 1-0 win over Young Boys – a scoreline that was generous to the visitors – secured their passage to the next round of the competition for the first time since 2013. Reaching the knockouts along with sitting pretty at the top of the Scottish Premiership means Celtic are on course for another successful campaign, but despite this, the Hoops continue to be linked with new arrivals.

Celtic star who won 8/11 duels was an even bigger hero than Idah

The Celtic midfielder caught the eye with a terrific performance for the Hoops.

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By
Dan Emery

Jan 23, 2025

One player the Hoops have been heavily linked with and look set to sign in 2025 is Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney. The left-back is close to signing a pre-contract agreement to return to Parkhead, with it still a possibility he will join on loan this month too after falling out of favour at the Emirates Stadium.

Aston Villa’s Louie Barry is also of interest to the Hoops, and they have even made an offer for the exciting winger, but a £5 million bid plus £5 million in add-ons wasn’t enough for Villa to let Barry leave.

As well as arrivals, there could be departures at Celtic, as Luis Palma looks set to leave the club this month. Football Insider have reported that Palma remains keen on leaving the club, as he wants to play regular football, and he may not be the only one leaving Parkhead this month, as fellow striker Kyogo Furuhashi is close to joining Rennes.

Celtic hold talks to sign £38k-p/w forward in separate deal

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Celtic already have a replacement for Kyogo in mind as they hold talks over the possibility of Jota returning to the club. The reporter writes that this is a separate deal and will not form any type of player plus cash swap.

Joseph reports that Rennes are in advanced talks to sign Kyogo in a deal worth £10 million, with the 30-year-old keen on joining a top five league club to increase his chances of playing for Japan in the World Cup. As he looks set to depart, Jospeh goes on to add that Celtic have held talks with Rennes over a separate deal that would see Jota return to Parkhead.

The 25-year-old, who Joao Tralhao believes took Celtic to “another level” and described him as a “truly amazing” talent, joined the Hoops in August 2021 and left in July 2023. The Portuguese scored 28 goals in 83 games in all competitions for the Scottish side, his most emphatic season being the 2022/23 campaign, as he scored 11 goals and recorded 11 assists in 33 league games.

Jota, who earns 45,385 euros a week (£38,000), would be the ideal replacement for Kyogo, as he can not only play as a striker, but he can also operate comfortably on both flanks, as can the Japan international. Jota has struggled for form since joining Rennes, so a move back to Parkhead, where he really enjoyed his football, could appeal to the player as he looks to get his career back on track.