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Before Sir Jim Ratcliffe invested in Manchester United, he tried to buy Chelsea. Although he grew up on a council estate in Failsworth in north Manchester and attended games at Old Trafford with his father as a child, Ratcliife took a liking to Chelsea as an adult while living and working in affluent west London.

"I have a house in Chelsea, I've lived in Chelsea for many years, I've had a season ticket for many years, I have a business that's based in Chelsea," Ratcliffe explained to the at the time. "When I was living in London for many years, I could go and watch Chelsea. It was quite difficult to go and watch United, so I have split loyalties."

However, perhaps surprisingly for a man who built a petrochemicals empire and was at one point the richest person in Britain, Ratcliffe made a rather basic mistake: he submitted his £4.25 billion ($5.79bn) bid six weeks after the deadline set by Raine, the bank negotiating the sale.
"My message to Raine is don't discount our offer," Ratcliffe pleaded. "We are British and have great intentions for Chelsea. If I was Raine I wouldn't close any door." His message proved to be in vain, however, as INEOS later revealed that Raine dismissed the bid "out of hand" before accepting the one from the consortium led by American billionaire Todd Boehly. 

Just 18 months later, Ratcliffe completed his 27 percent stake in United and now he and Boehly are direct competitors. They have each taken their fair share of stick from their own supporters as well as the media. For Ratcliffe, the onslaught of criticism has spoiled his much-loved morning routine of reading the newspapers. 

He could take a leaf out of the book of Boehly, who recently explained how he copes with scrutiny: "The reality is that the sooner you learn you can't keep everyone happy all the time, then freedom comes from that." There is another area where Ratcliffe could learn from Boehly: the art of selling players.

Getty From ridicule to respect

Boehly was the subject of much ridicule in his first season running Chelsea, partly for his whacky ideas such as a North vs South 'All-star' game or relegation play-offs but mostly for his approach to transfers. Appointing himself as sporting director, Boehly acted like he wanted to buy every player in the world and splashed a barely believable £747m ($1 billion) in his first 12 months. 

He took a wild approach to appointing coaches too, firing Champions League-winning Thomas Tuchel after less than two months and then sacking his successor Graham Potter less than seven months later. He then hired Frank Lampard, who had been dismissed by Chelsea two years earlier, on the advice of comedian James Corden, with predictably terrible consequences. The club's lavish spending on players continued in his second year in charge but results continued to disappoint. 

Chelsea's decision to get rid of Mauricio Pochettino just as things were starting to look up led to more criticism of Boehly, but events of the last year have changed how Chelsea and their owner are viewed. The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League to book their ticket back to the Champions League and in July they became world champions. 

After destroying treble winners Paris Saint-Germain in the final in New York, coach Enzo Maresca gave a message of defiance: "They were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough. Unfortunately for them, they have been all wrong…. So, in English, how do you say? Eff-off to all of them."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportShowing United how it's done

Boehly would have been entitled to agree with his coach and now the venture capitalist's grand transfer plan is starting to make sense. Chelsea spent £285m ($388m) this summer, a figure only topped by Liverpool. But the outlay to sign 10 new players for Maresca was handsomely offset by sales of £288m ($392m) while getting rid of 15 players. 

It meant they had the sixth-lowest net spend in the league. Contrast that with Ratcliffe's United, who spent £216m ($294m) on five new players and received £68m ($92m). Their net spend came in at £148m ($201m), the third highest in the league behind Arsenal and Liverpool. But the squad Ruben Amorim has been left with looks ill-equipped, lacking at least one if not two capable midfielders and a proven goalkeeper. 

Of particular concern was United's inability to shift players as the clock ticked towards transfer deadline day. They could only find loan deals for Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho – who had cost a combined £195m ($265m) – and Marcus Rashford, who just two years previously had scored 30 goals in a season and signed one of the most lucrative contracts in the club's history.

United sold just two of the so-called bomb squad players that everyone knew they were looking to shift. Antony went to Real Betis for £21m ($28.5m), a quarter of the price United paid to get him from Ajax in 2022.

Getty The Nkunku paradox

United were at least glad when they convinced Chelsea to pay £40m ($54m) for Alejandro Garnacho, who became the club's fourth biggest sale ever. But the club had entered the window hoping to get £60m ($82m) for the Argentina international, eventually dropping their asking price by a third for a player who had scored 26 goals and made 22 assists and who only turned 21 in July.

The two club's differing aptitudes in the selling market can be seen in the deals for Rasmus Hojlund and Christopher Nkunku. The French forward's career with Chelsea was hugely disappointing and had gotten off to a nightmare start, injuring his knee in a pre-season friendly just weeks after completing a £52m ($71m) move from RB Leipzig. 

He made only 11 league starts in two years, scoring six goals. But Chelsea still managed to negotiate his departure for AC Milan in a deal worth £34m ($46m). Hojlund, a £72m ($98m) signing in the same summer, started 48 games and scored 14 goals. And yet there were no takers for the Dane, who joined Napoli on loan on deadline day in a deal that could see him move to the Serie A club permanently next summer for £36m ($49m). Hojlund is five years younger than Nkunku.

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Getty ImagesTurning a tidy profit

Chelsea also pulled off something of a coup by agreeing a £70m ($95m) package with Bayern Munich for Nicolas Jackson, who they had been trying to sell all summer. And yet arguably the Blues' most impressive business relates to players who barely played for them, if at all. 

The Blues sold Renato Veiga to Villarreal for £26m ($35m) despite the Portuguese making only seven league appearances for Chelsea following his £12m ($16m) move the previous year from Augsburg, only one of which was a start. But a half-season on loan at Juventus was enough for his market value to more than double. 

Ian Maatsen made only 12 league appearances for Chelsea despite joining the club in 2018 when he was 16. He had three loan spells, none of which were in the top flight, before making his way into the first team under Mauricio Pochettino in 2023 before being sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund. Six months later, he was on his way to Aston Villa for £37.5m ($51m). Despite his fleeting career at Stamford Bridge, Maatsen is Chelsea's 10th most expensive sale of all time.

Chelsea are listening to offers for many members of their bloated squad this summer.

Player "personally trying to force" Chelsea move as club reduce asking price

He’s determined to join Enzo Maresca’s side.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 30, 2025

Yet more high-profile players could follow the likes of João Félix and Noni Madueke out of the Stamford Bridge exit door before deadline day on September 1, with Chelsea under some pressure from UEFA to balance out their incomings through outgoings.

The club struck an agreement with UEFA to do this, or risk not being able to register new signings in their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

This comes after Chelsea were fined for breaching FFP rules earlier this month, which is why sales will be crucial for BlueCo despite the club being in a pretty solid position when it comes to the Premier League’s separate PSR laws.

Chelsea have raised around £158 million through transfers already this summer, coming after Ishe Samuels-Smith sealed a £6.5 million move to sister club Strasbourg on Thursday.

The defender joins Felix, Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Marcus Bettinelli, Djordje Petrovic and Mathis Amougou on Chelsea’s list of confirmed sales so far, but many more could still leave before the deadline.

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga, Tosin Adarabioyo, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Alfie Gilchrist and Nicolas Jackson have all been linked with exits at some point this summer, with Chelsea demanding a premium for the latter.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea value Jackson at up to £100 million, amid rumoured interest from Man United and other top clubs.

Chelsea sources expect Nicolas Jackson to seal 'out of nowhere' exit

Chelsea are not opposed to selling the Senegalese this summer, with Jackson enduring a torrid end to 2024/2025 despite scoring in the Conference League final against Real Betis.

He managed just one Premier League goal after the turn of the new year, spending some time on the sidelines through injury, and got sent off for a red card against Flamengo at the Club World Cup.

Journalist Simon Phillips has previously reported that Jackson’s agents are working to secure him a move elsewhere, and the same reporter has shared a fresh update via his Stamford Bridge sources.

Phillips writes that Chelsea insiders expect Jackson to seal an “out of nowhere” exit, and the former Villarreal star is now getting offers.

“SPTC sources heard just yesterday that ‘Jackson is getting offers’ now and this story is progressing. I still think he goes but again though, it’s not a dead cert that Chelsea replace him. But they will certainly explore options to do so and have a desire to do so.

“Our sources think a Jackson departure will come out of nowhere at this point.”

The 24-year-old has been linked not just to United, but a variety of Premier League sides.

It is believed by some that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is keen to work with Jackson again, coming after the pair’s time together in La Liga at Villarreal.

He could be an adept solution for sides desperate to sign a new centre-forward, but they’ll first have to get past Chelsea’s sky-high valuation.

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Sussex coasting to title after rain-ruined contest at Hove

ECB Reporters Network28-Sep-2024Sam Robson’s superb 113 off 103 balls spearheaded Middlesex’s sprint to 271 all out from just 44.3 overs at Hove, with Sussex replying on a more sedate 112 for two in a Vitality County Championship match that lost its first seven sessions to bad weather.Tom Haines’ secure unbeaten 53 steered Sussex through 33 overs in the later stages of a day blessed at last by early autumn sunshine, leaving them with the prospect of clinching the Division Two title on the final day of the season.Fast bowler Tom Helm dismissed both Oli Carter for 15, caught and bowled top-edging an attempted pull, and Tom Clark, who snicked behind on 14, but Tom Alsop (11 not out) stayed with Haines until stumps.The game finally got under way at 12.40pm on day three, following two inspections and an early lunch, and Robson led from the front as Middlesex tried to make up for lost time in a valiant effort to reach a position from which to push for an unlikely victory.Middlesex had started the day still with an outside chance of promotion, needing to win in this final championship round while also requiring second-placed Yorkshire to lose against Northamptonshire. But Yorkshire’s three bowling and three batting bonus points at Headingley meant they go up alongside Division Two leaders Sussex – who now need just one batting point, or a draw in this game, to become second division champions.Picking up three bowling bonus points, with young spinners Jack Carson and James Coles sharing seven wickets, left Sussex at stumps just 138 runs away from reaching 250 and that first batting point. Sussex have announced that all spectators will receive free entry on the final day, plus a voucher for a free drink.Robson’s hundred, the 36th of the former England Test opener’s fine first-class career, was his fourth of an excellent season and a chanceless innings of controlled aggression. The 35-year-old reached three figures off 87 balls and hit 15 fours.With Ryan Higgins including three legside sixes in a 28-ball 40, Middlesex were at one stage 181 for three. But Higgins then swept slow left-armer Coles high to deep square leg, in the 29th over, and Middlesex’s first innings fell away despite every batsman attempting to maintain the attacking intent.Coles finished with four for 61 while off spinner Carson’s three for 46 took him to 50 championship wickets for the season, the first time a Sussex spinner has reached that landmark since Monty Panesar’s haul of 53 in 2012.Opening bowlers Ollie Robinson and Jaydev Unadkat claimed Middlesex’s first three wickets, with Robinson removing Mark Stoneman for 13 – courtesy of a diving low catch to his right at fourth slip by Haines – in his new ball spell of 7-0-21-1.Indian left-armer Unadkat then replaced Robinson for his second spell from the Cromwell Road End, almost immediately bowling Max Holden off stump for 24 and later having Leus du Plooy (6) held after a juggle at first slip by Alsop.By then Robson had completed a 51-ball fifty by straight driving Unadkat for four and Higgins’ arrival sparked a rollicking fourth wicket partnership of 78 from just 8.3 overs.Coles, though, followed up his dismissal of Higgins by having Josh de Caires (1) well-held by Carson at deep square leg, who in the previous over had bowled Jack Davies through an attempted big drive for four.After tea, taken at 208 for six from 36 overs, Robson swept Carson to deep backward square leg before Toby Roland-Jones (8) mishit Coles to mid off, Helm (7) was caught off Carson and Luke Hollman’s bright 34-ball 39 was ended when he was bowled swinging at Coles.With Sussex already guaranteed to be crowned as Division Two champions on Sunday, entry for the final day at Hove is half-price, plus a free drink voucher for all spectators.

Pep Guardiola is pushing Manchester City to offer one of his current players in exchange for a Real Madrid star, according to a recent report.

Cherki looking to create his own Man City legacy

The Blues have been very busy in the early part of this transfer window, bringing in four new players. They have added Marcus Bettinelli to their squad as another goalkeeper option, along with Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.

City have seen Kevin de Bruyne leave the club and join Napoli this summer, and therefore, signing someone with Cherki’s creativity was crucial. However, the French attacking midfielder has stressed he is “not De Bruyne”, and he is keen to “write my own story” at the Etihad.

“I’m not Kevin De Bruyne; he is the legend. I’m here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team.

“When you see Rodri, he won the Ballon d’Or here – it’s clear that with Manchester City it’s possible, and I am here for this.

Man City now "close" to completing signing of "crazy" 15 y/o attacking gem

He is a player with a massive future.

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 13, 2025

“When I spoke with Pep, he wanted me – he was very, very clear. Pep told me, ‘when you have the ball, you are free’, which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.

“The system, the club, the city is very good. I want to win, and I think Manchester City wants to win it all.”

Pep wants Rodrygo to join Man City overhaul

Cherki may not be the last of the new attackers arriving at the Etihad in this transfer window, as according to a report from Spain, Pep wants Man City to offer Jack Grealish to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.

Grealish has been left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, as his time at the club appears to be coming to an end. Guardiola is keen for the Englishman to get another big move and sees him as someone who can help bring Rodrygo’s price down, which currently stands at £84 million.

However, this report does state that Real Madrid are not interested in signing Grealish, and Xabi Alonso has already made it clear to the Brazilian forward that he is a key part of his plans going forward.

Grealish, who earns £300,000 a week at City, is already wanted by teams such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa, with the Magpies said to be the ones leading the race to secure his transfer.

Last season, Grealish played just 20 times in the Premier League, scoring one goal and registering one assist in the process. Meanwhile, Rodrygo, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave, scored six goals as well as assisting a further six in 30 La Liga games.

Fast bowler admits he suffered doubts after loss to Australia, but bounced back against Oman

Andrew Miller14-Jun-20241:22

Wood: ‘Happy with how I’ve bowled apart from one stinking over’

Mark Wood admitted England had been aware of “a few negatives flying around” in the lead-up to their crucial victory over Oman on Thursday, but said he had harnessed the “nervous energy” to help deliver a statement performance that has got the team’s T20 World Cup back on track.With nothing less than victory required, Wood proved too hot to handle in his fierce three-over burst against Oman. He struck twice in his opening powerplay over, including a return catch first-ball, and finished with 3 for 12 as Oman were rolled aside for 47 in 13.2 overs.England’s fate is still not entirely in their own hands despite rushing to their target in just 19 balls, to revive their flagging net run rate. Assuming they overcome Namibia on Saturday, in what will be the first T20I between the two teams, they will still require Australia to beat Scotland 24 hours later to confirm their place in the Super Eight.But, after a washout in their own match against Scotland, followed by a 36-run loss to Australia in Barbados last week that had left them needing such favours, Wood was delighted with the focussed display that England produced to see off Oman, given the doubts that had been swirling externally about the team’s readiness to defend the title that they won two years ago.”It feels great,” Wood said. “We had to put a stamp on the game … the table didn’t look great obviously before, but it looks a lot better now. There’s still work to do, but I’m feeling a lot better about things after this game.”Wood himself had come in for particular criticism during the Barbados leg of the campaign, not least in the Australia defeat where – on a surface that was not suited to raw pace – he was taken apart by David Warner in the powerplay, conceding three sixes and a four in a 22-run opening over.Mark Wood bowled with pace to claim three wickets against Oman•ICC via Getty ImagesHe came back well from that indignity, conceding just ten runs in his next two overs by resorting to a diet of cutters, but it was not sufficient to rescue England’s position in the contest.”I’ve been pretty happy with how it’s gone apart from that one really stinking over,” Wood said, having previously been England’s most economical option in the two overs he was able to bowl before the Scotland match was abandoned. “I know I’ve come in for a lot of flak and a lot of stick in the last few days, but I was determined to put on another performance.”I was probably more pleased with the fact that I came back [against Australia], showed some resilience and actually bought some cutters which isn’t natural to me. Normally I’m just trying to bowl quick so to use some guile and some skill, I was pleased. There were obviously doubts about me keeping my spot, but I’ve been quietly trying to keep my focus to perform for the team.”Part of that focus, Wood said, had come from working with David Young, the team psychologist who aided England’s 2019 World Cup campaign and who has been brought back to the squad on a consultancy basis from his current role with Manchester City.”Self-doubt is common for players,” he said. “I was speaking to Youngy about more of the things that I focus on, rather than outcome all the time.”Of course, you have doubts every game you play for England,” he added. “I don’t think there’s a cricketer who doesn’t have a little bit of self-doubt, but the nerves before the game, that’s what helps people bowl fast as well, because you have that nervous energy, that excitement.Related

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“You want to perform, you’re out there in front of cameras, the millions of people watching, the media, opposition … it’s all judgment, so you’ve got to just remember your focus and what you’re trying to do. In Twenty20 it’s a bit different, isn’t it? You can bowl really well and get whacked, or you can bowl rubbish and get two or three wickets. So, it’s the realisation that you’re doing the right things in your own mind.”Above all else, Wood was pleased with the ruthlessness of England’s victory over Oman, first with the ball and in the field, and then with the bat during their rapid run-chase. However, the team are still reliant on another display of ruthlessness from Australia against Scotland, if their mini-revival is to count for anything in the qualification stakes.All the talk in the build-up to the Oman match had centred around Josh Hazlewood’s suggestion that Australia might go easy on Scotland to help knock England out early. Far from being fired up by the notion, however, Wood said the team had taken that suggestion as a compliment, adding that they had no doubts that Australia would be gunning for victory, as ever, on Sunday.”I think that’s part of being England and Australia, isn’t it?” he said. “I think actually I saw it more as a respect thing, if I’m honest, that he was saying that England have done well against Australia in the recent past and thinks we’re a big threat and a big team, so I have no problem with it.”He did, however, admit it would be slightly strange to be cheering on Australia in the final group game.”I know I’m close to the Scottish border [coming from Durham] and Australia and Scotland are England’s rivals… but we’ll obviously be supporting Australia because we’re trying to get through,” he said.”We have got to show a little bit more and then fingers crossed for Australia. Then when you are through to that next stage every team can go on from there. I’m absolutely confident they’ll play the game their hardest, that’s the Australian way. They’ll play hard and fair and try to get the win.”

Silly season is here, and it looks set to be a busy one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta will be looking for the right attacking players who could help them finally get over the line in the Premier League next season.

One of the most interesting links in recent weeks has been to Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo, who has been a key component of a team who have won it all in recent years – even if 24/25 was a bit of a disappointment.

There is no doubt that the Brazilian is just the sort of signing that would get fans on their fee, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club may be closing in on another signing, someone who’d be even more exciting than the winger.

Arsenal lodge new striker bid

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth going over some of the other incredibly exciting players who have been touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks and months, such as Rayan Cherki and Benjamin Sesko.

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 be available for around £30m in the coming weeks, and that might end up being one of the bargains of the window, as in just 44 appearances for Lyon this season, the young Frenchman has scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists.

Sesko, on the other hand, might cost as much as £75m, but as he’s still just 21 years old and managed to rack up a tally of 21 goals and six assists in 45 games for RB Leipzig this season, he may well be an investment worth making.

Yet, if Arteta and Co really want to get the fans excited ahead of next season, they need to sign someone who can come in ready to score bags and bags of goals, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

So, supporters should be delighted that, according to a recent report from Italy, Arsenal are in active talks with the Swede’s representatives, and they have already offered him a contract until 2030.

Furthermore, the report has claimed that Sporting CP is asking for a fee of around €65m, which is about £54m, to give the “green light to the sale” and allow the Gunners to complete a signing that would be even more exciting than the potential signing of Rodrygo.

Why Gyokeres would be a more exciting signing than Rodrygo

So, the first thing to say is that both players would be simply brilliant additions to this Arsenal squad, but there is one fundamental reason from which all others stem as to why Gyokeres would be more exciting than Rodrygo: his output.

Even with everything that went wrong this season, the Gunners were still able to produce the best defence in the Premier League, so to bridge the gap and overtake Liverpool, they need someone who can come right into the first team and start scoring goals for fun, which is just what the Swedish “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, could do.

For example, since he joined Sporting CP ahead of last season, the former Coventry City star has scored a simply astounding 97 goals and provided 28 assists in just 102 appearances, totalling 8417 minutes.

That means the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by Mattinson, has averaged 1.22 goal involvements per game, or one every 67.33 minutes for two seasons now.

In contrast, the Real star has scored 31 goals and provided 19 assists in 102 appearances, totalling 7067 minutes, since the start of last season.

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

3777′

Goals

43

18

Assists

15

9

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

0.51

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

143.04′

Appearances

52

50

Minutes

4248′

3290′

Goals

54

13

Assists

13

10

Goal Involvements per Match

1.28

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

63.40′

143.04′

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 141.34 minutes, which is still impressive but nowhere near as good as the Stockholm-born marksman.

Ultimately, in an ideal world, Arsenal should sign both players, but as an out-and-out goalscorer is what they need more than anything else at the moment, it has to be said that Gyokeres would be just about the most exciting addition Berta and Co could make to the team this summer.

He's a lot like Isak: Arsenal make contact to sign £42m Havertz upgrade

The incredible goalscorer would be great for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been immensely successful throughout his time with the Scottish giants, in his second spell now with the club.

The Northern Irish boss won seven trophies in just over two-and-a-half years at Parkhead between 2016 and 2019 in his first go at it with the Hoops, before joining Premier League side Leicester City.

Rodgers won two trophies in his first year back at Celtic last term, securing the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup, and is currently on course to land the domestic treble.

The Hoops beat Rangers on penalties to win the League Cup in the first half of the season, they are one game away from winning the league title, and they are in the SFA Cup final against Aberdeen.

This means that the former Leicester and Liverpool head coach could have won 12 trophies in his career with Celtic to date by the end of this season.

The Northern Irish tactician has clearly been hugely successful for the Scottish giants, but that does not mean he has been perfect throughout that time. In fact, there have been some question marks over his centre-back selections of late, with Liam Scales getting the nod at the weekend.

Celtic's centre-back debate

The Hoops started the 2024/25 campaign with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Stephen Welsh as the two first-choice options in the right centre-back role and Auston Trusty and Liam Scales as the two first-choice options on the left side of the pairing.

Rodgers recently revealed that he prefers to play a left-footed player on the left side of the defence because it “allows you to get through the pitch quicker”, but he has had problems in that position this season.

Scales and Trusty have both dropped out of the team at times, with neither able to definitively say that they are the number one option, and thay may be because of the mistakes that they have made in the Premiership.

As you can see in the table above, they have both started a similar number of matches and have combined for five errors that led to shots, one error that led to a goal, and one penalty conceded. Trusty has also been dribbled past twice as much as the Irishman, as opposition forwards have found it too easy to get the better of him.

These statistics show that the two naturally left-footed defenders in the squad have not been particularly reliable at the back, because of the errors that they have made in the Premiership.

Scales started the 5-0 win over St. Johnstone in the SFA Cup and the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Premiership, suggesting that he is currently ahead of Trusty in the pecking order.

That is despite Scales (£3m) being worth significantly less than Trusty (£6.4m), as per Transfermarkt, who joined the club from Sheffield United last summer.

The Irish defender’s value may have been higher, however, if he had more game time on the pitch because he has only started 17 times in the Premiership, which means that the centre-back has not had as many starts to showcase his quality as Trusty has had.

But Scales is not the only central defender who falls into that category. Rodgers has also messed up with Polish stopper Maik Nawrocki, whose value has plummeted during his time at Celtic.

Why Maik Nawrocki's value has plummeted at Celtic

The Hoops were in the market for a replacement for Carl Starfelt in the summer of 2023 and decided to splash a reported fee of £4.3m on the Legia Warsaw squad to bolster their options in that position.

That was a significant outlay, given it was the most expensive signing of the summer as per Transfermarkt, for Celtic and that suggests that they expected him to play a key role on the pitch.

That was not what happened, though, as Nawrocki went on to play just ten times, starting seven of those outings, in the Premiership during the 2023/24 campaign.

He won 57% of his duels and did not make a single error that led to a shot, goal, or penalty in those ten matches, but that was not enough to earn him a regular place in the team.

Carter-Vickers has nailed down the right-sided centre-back role and that has left Nawrocki fighting for a place on the left, which leaves him at an immediate disadvantage as a right-footer.

Chalkboard

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

He did not make a single appearance in the league until March of this season, when injuries to Trusty and Scales presented him with a chance to shine against Rangers and Hearts.

Nawrocki took his chance to impress in both of those matches, as you can see in the table below, by dominating opposition attackers in duels and being reliable in possession.

These performances from the £12k-per-week star were not enough to keep his place in the side, however, as he has been an unused substitute for the last two Premiership matches and did not make the matchday squad against St. Johnstone in the SFA Cup.

As a result of his lack of minutes on the pitch in the last two seasons, Nawrocki’s Transfermarkt value has plummeted millions down to just £1.7m, making him worth even less than Scales and Trusty.

This shows that Rodgers has messed up with the defender because Nawrocki was brought in for a whopping £4.3m and has rarely been used by the manager, despite his impressive performances, and the club now have a depreciating asset because of it.

Celtic fumbled the next Dembele when "generational" star left on the cheap

Celtic fumbled another Karamoko Dembele when they lost Ben Doak on the cheap.

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Dan Emery

Apr 22, 2025

It will now be interesting to see what Celtic do with Nawrocki in the summer because he is not worth anywhere near as much as the fee they paid for him due to Rodgers’ reluctance to use him, and he does not seem likely to be a key player moving forward due to his lack of minutes.

As Matheus Cunha’s future continues to come into question, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly joined the race to sign an attacking midfielder who has outscored their star man this season.

Cunha clarifies "next step" comments

As if he wasn’t stealing enough headlines thanks to his talent alone, Cunha managed to grab hold of the spotlight once again away from the pitch when claiming that he’s ready to take “the next step” and “fight for titles”. With the club still in the middle of a relegation scrap, albeit one that looks almost certain to end in success, the Brazilian’s comments were far from ideal.

Cunha, however, has since added some clarity, taking to social media to say: “Hey guys, Cunha here. I only came here to talk about the noise around my name, the interview I gave, and show my point. I don’t think people read the interview, and I don’t think people have the correct interpretation.

“The point was talking about Wolves to show everyone how happy I am to be here, to play for this team and these team-mates, and to give back all the love they give me. Like ambitious players, we want to play for something more, to put this club on another level. Me and my team-mates will give our all to achieve this goal.”

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When the summer arrives it will certainly be interesting to see whether that clarity sees Cunha stay put or if he does, indeed, go in search of fighting for titles. The Brazilian certainly won’t be short on options, with both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur already linked with moves to secure his signature in the coming months.

Wolves, meanwhile, would benefit from his exit on the financial front, given that Cunha has a release clause worth £63m ahead of the transfer window. If that clause is triggered, those in the Midlands could instantly go in search of reinforcements, which could yet include one particular star.

Wolves plotting to sign Sem Steijn

Losing Cunha would undoubtedly be a major blow for Vitor Pereira and his side, but they could yet welcome a player who has outscored the Brazilian this season. According to The Boot Room, Wolves are now plotting a move to sign Sem Steijn from FC Twente this summer and have already sent scouts to watch the attacking midfielder in action.

In all competitions, the Dutchman has scored an impressive 27 goals whilst assisting another six. Cunha, meanwhile, has managed 15 goals and four assists in all competitions for Wolves this season. And when it comes to league action, there’s only one winner on the stats front.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Sem Steijn

Matheus Cunha

Starts

26

24

Goals

23

13

Assists

5

4

Dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Steijn’s steady improvement season after season should result in a move away from the Netherlands sooner rather than later. If Cunha does depart Wolves, it’s those in the Midlands who should do everything to secure the FC Twente star’s signature. There’s no doubt that he’s one to watch.

White talks about T20 leagues vs internationals and how ILT20 is looking at all options for a window to maximise player availability

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Feb-20242:07

‘Local knowledge of UAE players has helped ILT20 teams’

Several major T20 leagues running concurrently have not only triggered a tug-of-war between franchises attempting to secure players but have started to threaten the quality of the bilateral engagements that are part of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme. The T20 leagues, though, enhance players’ financial security as well as provide the option of maintaining a better work-life balance.While players have started opting out of national retainers, boards, such as the England and Wales Cricket Board in the UK recently, have started redesigning contracts by offering more lucrative, long-term deals to secure their best players across the three formats.Former New Zealand batter David White, who served as New Zealand Cricket chief executive for more than a decade, is now the CEO of the ILT20, which recently became first Associate-run T20 league to be given the List A status by the ICC. White, thus, understands the predicament cricket boards are confronted with. In a chat with ESPNcricinfo this week, White talks about the progress the ILT20 has made in its second season, including the success of UAE players, how the tournament is looking at all options for a window to maximise player availability, and whether bilateral cricket is actually being threatened by leagues.Related

• ILT20 bans Naveen-ul-Haq for breaching agreement with Sharjah Warriors

• ILT20 becomes first Associate-run franchise league to get 'official' List-A status

• New FICA report highlights T20 shift from country to club

• Boult's choice a landmark moment in cricket's fast-evolving landscape

As a former CEO at New Zealand Cricket, you faced the challenge of T20 leagues pulling in international players. Now that you are on the other side, how do you look at the situation: is there friction between countries and T20 leagues?
I wouldn’t call it friction as such. Cricket is clearly going through a bit of a change at the moment. I think the positive thing is that we have got three formats of the game internationally very competitive and doing very well. It’s great to see the [ODI] World Cup do so well in India. Test cricket is going through a bit of a revival at the moment, which is fantastic. And of course, T20 has been the financial lifeblood – let’s not hide behind the fact that it comes from Indian broadcast money, principally the T20 revolution.But now you have got a situation where you have got some [T20] leagues. I wouldn’t call it friction because all the leagues are actually – bar the ILT20 and MLC – Full-Member leagues, so they’re from within the system.We are unique in that we are an Associate that doesn’t play [much] international cricket. There’s a bit of a misconception that these leagues are competing with international cricket when the majority of them are actually based in Full-Member countries. I don’t think you can call them competition as such within the Full-Member countries.

“I wouldn’t call it friction because all the leagues are actually – bar the ILT20 and MLC – Full-Member leagues, so they’re from within the system. We are unique in that we are an Associate that doesn’t play [much] international cricket”White on T20 leagues vs international cricket

The positive thing for me now working in a T20 league is that I see a real opportunity for not just the full-time international cricketers to earn a good living, but now you have got a lot of cricketers around the world who are plying that trade playing T20 cricket, and they generally play first-class cricket as well. So for them to have the opportunity to make a good living playing cricket around the world, it’s got to be a positive for cricket. If you think of the years gone by when first-class cricketers – and I was one many, many years ago – in the off-season struggled to get remuneration, or a job. So now you have got first-class cricketers who are plying their trade and making a good living. I have calculated that there are probably 150-200 players around the world who are playing in leagues.You say that, but SA20 is running parallel to South Africa’s Test series in New Zealand currently. Luckily, you are not the NZC CEO, else you might have wondered about the second-string South African Test squad. Similar debates surrounded the quality of the West Indies squad during their two-match Test series in Australia. The players will make the choice, but in the long run, will international cricket, especially Test cricket, take the hit? Will that need to be accepted?
I will answer it a different way. Firstly, the situation I was in within New Zealand Cricket, we always took a very pragmatic approach to our players playing in leagues. We were very keen to protect our domestic season, but then outside of the domestic season, we were very open to players playing in the IPL, CPL, the Hundred, PSL, BPL as long as they didn’t clash with the New Zealand window. But now what you are saying is that there are more opportunities for players.Ultimately, the market will determine where it goes. But from a New Zealand cricket point of view, when I was CEO there – and I can’t talk for them now – we always protected the Test window and the players did too.Recently Trent [Boult] decided to play T20 leagues, fully supported by New Zealand Cricket. He has been a great ambassador and world-class performer and played for many years, so he went with our full support. But over the next two to three, four years, it’s going to be interesting how Full-Member boards manage their contracting process to ensure that Test cricket does stay strong, yet they do give players the opportunity to earn revenue outside of the international game.Trent Boult opted out of the central contract with New Zealand Cricket in 2022•ICC via Getty ImagesWe have to treat this, in a way, as a business. If a player decides to play for the league, do you think it’s the responsibility of the league to pay the home board a certain amount?
It’s a big, big area of debate. The players are developed by their countries, not just the board, but the schools they went to, the clubs they played for, their first-class teams et cetera. There is provision in the regulations now, as I understand it, for some compensation going back to boards, but if it becomes too prohibitive, that will be a challenge. The market will determine itself over the next two or three years.The ICC also recently decided to impose a cap on overseas players in any new T20 leagues. The ILT20 allows a maximum of nine overseas players in the XI. Is there a cut-off date worked out internally where the number of local UAE players will increase in the team?
One of the motivations for setting up the league was for the future development of the UAE cricket and to build its strength. I am delighted with the performance of a number of the players already in the league. They have really excelled. Internally, the Emirates Cricket Board would like to see more of their players playing in a very short period of time. So in the next two, three, four years, you’ll see quite a few more UAE players playing in the league. There’s no target date, but I know that the people at the ECB are very motivated to ensure that [number] does grow.The other big sticking point for ILT20 is that it clashes with several major T20 leagues – the BBL, SA20, BPL and PSL. Is there a plan to create an exclusive window to avoid or minimise the clash as that would allow you player availability for a longer time?
It’s a very good question, and I can tell you that this morning I was looking at the FTP, looking at all the clashes, looking at also the Champions Trophy, which starts in early February [2025]. And, of course, international teams will be looking to prepare for the Champions Trophy with white-ball cricket.

“Internally, the Emirates Cricket Board would like to see more of their players playing in a very short period of time. So in the next two, three, four years, you’ll see quite a few more UAE players playing in the league”

The interesting situation for us is most of the T20 leagues are based in the southern hemisphere with the exception of the Caribbean [CPL], England [the Hundred], and India [IPL] to a degree. So they play in their summer, but with the UAE, it’s still hot to play in the summer, so we play in the winter. So that kind of clashes with the southern hemisphere. So January-February next year is looking very crowded. There’s no hiding from that fact.And I am sure everyone is having a close look at that window and considering the best option going forward, including the complication of having the Champions Trophy so early in the southern hemisphere season.Could the ILT20 then happen in another window in 2025?
No, I’m not saying that at all. What I’m saying is that we are looking at the window, we are looking at the clashes. We are currently scheduled for January-February. That’s where the league has been played the last two years, and it’s been a very successful window. The climate’s very good, and we have had good quality players, but next year, in particular, is looming to be challenging for everyone.So there could be another window you might be looking at in 2025 in case the player availability becomes a big challenge.
Yeah. What I can say is at the moment it’s still pencilled in for the same period, but we are considering all options and just having a close look at what cricket is going to be played next year, what tours there are and the added complication of the Champions Trophy. So no decision has been made, still pencilled in the current window, but we’re having a close look at it.Shaheen Shah Afridi played for Desert Vipers this ILT20. White feels Pakistani superstars elevated the tournament•ILT20Did you consider conducting the ILT20 in the October-November window? Or you are going to stick in the long term to January-February?
What I’m saying is it’s a current window. But we are looking at options, looking at the FTP going forward, looking at the clash with the ICC events and keeping an open mind. The advantage of DP World ILT20 is that we don’t have a full international calendar like the other countries. We don’t play Test matches, so there is probably more flexibility than other countries, in particular the southern hemisphere countries.The main challenge remains player availability, isn’t it? Rival leagues are going to poach your players – you have already seen the example of Naveen-ul-Haq, where the ILT20 was very clear and strict about the incident by sanctioning him as you don’t want to entertain such things in the future. But you can’t avoid it happening again because rival leagues might want the same player.
I think so, but we do have some significant advantages. And talking to the players and coaches, they love coming here to the UAE at this time of year. The weather is beautiful, the facilities are good, they don’t have to travel. It’s a very family-centred environment. They bring their families, they stay in lovely hotels, and they play a very high level of cricket with nine overseas players. Players love to be competitive and the feedback we are getting is the league is very, very competitive from a player’s point of view. So it is a very attractive place for players to come and spend a month.One thing that has been really, really pleasing is the introduction of the Pakistani superstars this season. That really elevated the ILT20 and to see the interaction with the crowd and the animation of the crowd to the Pakistani players, in particular, was [amazing]. In the second week of the competition, I felt a real spike and a real momentum, which has carried on. We have had fantastic crowds: 45,000 people last weekend, and 17,000 people on Sunday at the Dubai Stadium.