Newcastle United have done some major business this summer, and their first Premier League game of the season allowed them to see their new winger, Anthony Elanga, in black and white, but they have to wait a little longer to see some of the other signings in action.
Monday’s clash with Liverpool could allow fans the opportunity to see their new defender, Malick Thiaw, and their new midfielder, Jacob Ramsey. It’s unlikely that their loanee goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, will displace Nick Pope in any of the major Premier League fixtures, but fans could see him in action once Newcastle enter the domestic cups and the Champions League.
Ahead of the clash, Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, spoke of the attacking threat that Newcastle poses, even without Isak, and provided an injury update that will give the Magpies a confidence boost as he revealed that Jeremie Frimpong will be unavailable for the fixture.
Behind the scenes, the board are continuing to work on improving the attack that already causes concern for the Premier League-winning manager by approaching one of last season’s Champions League finalists about one of their up-and-coming talents.
Newcastle approach Inter over promising young striker
Inter Milan fans at the San Siro.
Newcastle United have “come forward” to Inter Milan to sign striker Francesco Pio Esposito. The 20-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan at Spezia and is yet to make his Inter debut. Atalanta are also said to have approached Inter about signing Pio Esposito, while Napoli have submitted a bid worth around £38.9 million.
These reports come from Italy, via Sports Witness, and with Napoli’s bid rejected, Howe’s side are reportedly reluctant to pursue the transfer further unless Inter change their stance. The Italians are looking to move players on in the last few weeks of the window, but they would prefer to keep Pio Esposito, seeing him as a player for the future. They are more inclined to sell Mehdi Taremi, with Fulham reportedly interested in the Iranian striker.
Why Newcastle are considering a move for "terrorising" Pio Esposito
Newcastle look to be pushing to sign Brentford’s Yoanne Wissa as a replacement for Isak, but Pio Esposito would further add to their attacking depth.
The Italy under-20s star could also serve as a replacement for Callum Wilson, who left Tyneside for West Ham when his contract expired. The 33-year-old only scored once in 22 appearances for Newcastle last season, so Pio Esposito would likely be an immediate upgrade. Last season at Spezia, the youngster scored 19 Serie B goals, making him the league’s second-highest goalscorer. He was also the only teenager in the league’s top 125 goalscorers.
Italian football expert Siavoush Fallahi had previously shared on X his thoughts about the Italian youngster.
He continued: “Strong, big guy, who’ll strike if the ball falls to him. Terrorising for defenders because they’ll keep him quiet for all game but then he’ll turn up and score, useful for the team, I love that randomness of crosses into the box randomly ending at his feet. Stuff happens around him”.
If Newcastle can change Inter’s mind on selling Pio Esposito, then they will have a very talented player on their hands. Potentially, they could approach Inter to loan Pio Esposito, so the Italian side doesn’t lose him permanently, and Newcastle have a temporary replacement for Wilson.
Manchester United players have reportedly become worried over the changing atmosphere in the dressing room following the club’s difficult start to the season. The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League table after suffering two defeats from their opening four league games, while Ruben Amorim’s men also suffered an embarrassing 12-11 penalty shootout defeat against League Two side Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.
Mood sours in United ranks after derby-day defeat
According to a new report in the Manchester Evening News, the mood has soured in the United ranks following the club’s 3-0 derby-day defeat against rivals Manchester City last Sunday. A strike from Phil Foden and a brace from Erling Haaland consigned Amorim’s side to a damaging defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited players were optimistic ahead of 2025-26 campaign
The report also states that spirits were high in the United camp following a positive pre-season tour of the United States. However the squad are reportedly concerned by how quickly the energy has sagged since then, with United having lost to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 campaign before drawing 1-1 with Fulham on August 24. United secured their only victory of the season so far in the 3-2 win over Burnley on August 30.
Amorim laughs off speculation over future after Ratcliffe talks
United’s minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe held talks with manager Amorim on Thursday amid the club’s struggles on the pitch. However the Portuguese played down the severity of the meeting, joking that he was offered a new contract during the discussions.
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Getty Images SportUnited's next match: Red Devils play host to Maresca's Chelsea
Amorim is hoping to lead United to a much-needed victory when they entertain Chelsea on Saturday afternoon. Enzo Maresca's Blues head to Old Trafford having made an unbeaten start to the 2025-26 Premier League season, recording two wins and two draws from their opening four games.
Kotak has been head coach of several India A tours, and served as assistant coach to Laxman during the Ireland T20Is, and has been a batting coach at the NCA since 2019
Nagraj Gollapudi16-Jan-2025Former Saurashtra captain and batter Sitanshu Kotak is set to join the India men’s set-up as batting coach. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Kotak, who is 52, will start with the five-match home T20I series against England which starts from January 22.Kotak, who retired in 2013 after a first-class career spanning more than 20 years, has been the batting coach at the National Cricket Academy since 2019. Kotak also was the head coach of several India A tours and served as assistant coach to VVS Laxman when the latter helmed India’s white-ball bilateral engagements as head coach in the last few years.Kotak will be the fifth assistant on the coaching staff which is led by Gautam Gambhir, who took charge as the all-format head coach last August. At the time Gambhir brought in three assistant coaches: former South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel (bowling coach), along with former India and Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar and former Netherlands and Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. T Dilip, who was the fielding coach during Rahul Dravid’s tenure, was retained.Related
India's Champions Trophy squad: Will Bumrah be ready in time? And what about Kuldeep?
Will Jaiswal be picked for ODIs? Does Jadeja still make the cut?
Mohammed Shami returns for India's T20I series against England
The development comes soon after the BCCI conducted a review meeting in Mumbai last weekend to assess India’s disastrous run of series defeats starting with the white-ball loss in Sri Lanka, followed by an unprecedented 3-0 defeat in the Test series against New Zealand at home and then the 3-1 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.The India batters’ plummeting form – and subsequent failures – was the key reason behind those defeats, and played a big role in the Test side missing out on a World Test Championship final berth. It is understood that batting was among the significant points discussed during the review meeting which included Gambhir, selection committee head Ajit Agarkar and many from BCCI’s top brass, including newly-appointed board secretary Devajit Saikia.
It would be fair to say that this summer has been about as good as any Arsenal fan could have hoped it would be at the end of last season.
On top of looking pretty good on the pitch, Mikel Arteta’s side have been massively reinforced in the transfer market, with seven senior players joining so far.
Moreover, the signing of Eberechi Eze was twice as sweet for fans, as not only did they get a sensational gifted playmaker who can play on the wing, but they also managed to snatch him from the grasp of Tottenham Hotspur, who look like they have done the same thing with Xavi Simons and Chelsea.
With all that said, there are still a few days left until the window closes, and if Arsenal really want to end it with a bang, they should go back in for a player they’ve been linked with before, a player more talented than Eze and Simons.
Why Eze is such an important signing for Arsenal
Even though we are going to look at another player Arsenal should sign later, it’s important to remember that Eze is a potentially game-changing addition in his own right.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEze
After all, one of the Gunners’ most significant problems last season was an inability to break teams down and make things happen when their star players were injured or out of form, and this is something the Englishman can solve.
For example, according to FBref, he ranked in the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for total shots, the top 10% for successful take-ons, the top 11% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.
Moreover, despite playing for a mid-table side at best, the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling just 3303 minutes.
In other words, the £100k-per-week superstar managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.
He is also a big-game player, scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final of the FA Cup to help Palace win their first-ever major trophy.
With all that said, the Gunners could land themselves a bigger talent than Eze and Simons by going back in for a Premier League star they’ve been linked with in the past.
The player who is a bigger talent than Eze & Simons
Now, for a player to even be compared to Eze and Simons, let alone be considered a bigger talent, they’ve got to be something quite special.
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Fortunately, that would be an apt way to describe Morgan Rogers, who has been linked with Arsenal a number of times this summer, and might just be available for around £80m.
It would certainly be a significant investment to make in one player, but the Aston Villa star has proven he’d be worth it and then some over the last season or so.
England'sEberechiEzecelebrates scoring their third goal with England's Morgan Rogers
Moreover, as the Premier League is ranked the toughest league in the world, and the Bundesliga is just the fourth, comparing all of his numbers to Simons’ is difficult.
However, thankfully, we can get a clearer picture of who the bigger talent is, thanks to both playing in the Champions League last year.
Appearances
12
5
Minutes
1025′
337′
Goals
4
0
Assists
3
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
0.00
Minutes per Goal Involvement
146.42′
N/A
Unsurprisingly, it is the Claret and Blue “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, who comes out miles ahead, as in his 12 appearances, totalling 1025 minutes, he scored four goals and provided three assists.
That means the often “unstoppable” midfielder, as dubbed by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, was able to average a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 146.42 minutes in football’s biggest club competition.
Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers
On the other hand, the Leipzig ace was unable to score a single goal or provide a single assist, despite facing some rather beatable teams, such as Sporting CP and Sturm Graz.
Now, when it comes to statistical comparisons with Arsenal’s new number ten, the Villans’ attacking dynamo does not come out on top, but his overall average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 149.86 minutes across the full campaign, isn’t far off.
Moreover, the reason we would still classify him as a bigger talent is that, at just 22 years old, he is approximately four years away from reaching his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic.
So, when he does reach that point, based on what he’s already doing, we would expect his numbers to be better than Eze’s are today.
Ultimately, Arsenal have made an exceptional signing in the former Palace star, and it looks like Spurs have in the young Dutchman, but for our money, Rogers is still the biggest talent of the three.
Imagine him and Eze: Arsenal "closing in on" agreement to sign £52m "beast"
Mikel Arteta is close to finalising a deal that would be perfect for Arsenal and for new man Eberechi Eze.
Pep Guardiola has eased Manchester City fears by confirming Erling Haaland is fit to face Burnley despite a recent back issue. The Norwegian striker, who limped off in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal and missed the midweek Carabao Cup clash, trained with the squad on Thursday, giving a major boost for City’s attack.
'He is ready' – Guardiola gives major update
City boss Guardiola has confirmed that Norwegian international Haaland will be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Burnley. Haaland was withdrawn after 76 minutes in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Arsenal with discomfort in his back, sparking fears of a lay-off. The 25-year-old also missed City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory against Huddersfield Town in midweek. However, Guardiola gave a concise but decisive update in his pre-match press conference, stating: “He is ready.”
AdvertisementHaaland's form continues
Despite City managing just two wins from their opening five league games, leaving them eight points behind leaders Liverpool, Haaland remains prolific. The Norwegian has scored seven goals in his first six appearances for the club this season, including the opener at the Emirates. Since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, he has scored 91 goals in 104 Premier League appearances, including a record-breaking 36-goal haul in his debut campaign that helped City clinch a historic Treble.
Haaland has also continued to shine on the European stage, the City striker recently set a new benchmark in the Champions League, becoming the fastest player in history to hit 50 goals. He reached the milestone in only 49 appearances, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s long-standing record of 62 matches, with his latest strike coming in the 2-0 victory over Napoli.
Guardiola provides another injury update
While Haaland’s return, Guardiola also offered a wider squad update, Omar Marmoush remains sidelined with a knee injury, while both Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri are unavailable. Defender Abdukodir Khusanov is also nursing an ankle problem. There was more optimism regarding midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who has not featured since last season following surgery.
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AFPKyle Walker returns to Etihad for City's upcoming challenge
Saturday’s match also carries extra significance with the return of Kyle Walker, who will face City for the first time since his January exit to Burnley. The 35-year-old right-back made 317 appearances for City across eight years, winning 17 trophies including six Premier League titles. Guardiola paid tribute to his former captain, “one of the greatest full-backs ever,” City boss said.
City’s ninth-place start to the Premier League season leaves little margin for error heading into a busy schedule. After Burnley, Guardiola’s side face Monaco in the Champions League before a league meeting with Brentford. With several first-team players still sidelined, Haaland’s availability is a major relief as City look to regain momentum. The striker’s fitness could prove decisive in narrowing the gap to Liverpool at the top of the table.
On three occasions, the third umpire ruled Capitals batters to be not out, seemingly not considering the stumps lighting up as the point at which the wicket should be considered broken
S Sudarshanan15-Feb-2025Three contentious run-out decisions occurred in the closing stages of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) last-ball win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Vadodara. In all three instances, third umpire Gayathri Venugopalan ruled not out, seemingly not considering the LED stumps lighting up as the point at which the wicket should be considered broken.Former India captain Mithali Raj, in her role as commentator, said that two of those decisions – involving Shikha Pandey and Radha Yadav – should have gone in favour of MI. “Pandey was given not out while the batter had the bat on the line,” Raj said while speaking on JioHotstar after the match.”When you dive and your bat first hits the ground [inside the crease] and then it [bounces up] because you have to dive full stretch, then it is not out. [But] with Radha Yadav, we can see the blade of the bat up. It is nowhere touching any part of the ground [inside] the crease [when the LED stumps light up]. That means she is out. The bat was never in the crease. That is pretty much out.”Related
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Appendix D of the WPL 2025 playing conditions has this to say on what constitutes the wicket being broken when there are LED stumps in play: “Where LED wickets are used, the moment at which the wicket has been put down shall be deemed to be the first frame in which the LED lights are illuminated and subsequent frames show the bail permanently removed from the top of the stumps.”The Pandey incident happened first ball for her, in the 18th over of Capitals’ chase. After stepping across the stumps and missing a heave, she looked to steal a bye but was sent back by Niki Prasad. There was a direct-hit at the striker’s end and, after the batters stole a bye on the deflection, the run-out appeal was referred to the TV umpire. The replays showed that Pandey’s bat was on the line when the LED stumps first lit up. However, the TV umpire rolled forward and based her not-out decision on the next frame, in which the bails visibly came off the groove, by which time Pandey’s bat was inside the crease.
Not sure why the umpire tonight has decided that the zinger bails are not applicable? Once bails lights up connection is lost therefore wicket is broken! That is in the playing conditions! Have seen more confusion in last 10 mins than ever before #WPL2025 #MIvDC #wpl #runout
— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) February 15, 2025
MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur was seemingly not pleased with the decision and had a chat with the on-field umpires N Janani and Anish Sahasrabudhe. The bye brought DC’s equation down to 24 off 14 balls, and Pandey was run-out mid-way through the 19th.Two balls after that, another mix-up meant Radha was diving to make her crease at the striker’s end even while Prasad was also mid-pitch. The throw went to the striker’s end – had it gone to the non-striker’s end, Prasad would likely have been well short. Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia broke the stumps even as Radha dived with the face of the bat up, with no part of the bat seemingly touching the ground beyond the crease line when the LED stumps lit up. Again, the umpire seemed to disregard this and base her decision on when the bails visibly lifted off their grove, by which time Radha was safe. She was given not out and she hit a six next ball, bringing the equation down to 10 off 6.
Have misunderstood the rules? Were those 2 run outs…out? #WPL
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) February 15, 2025
With two needed off the last two balls, Prasad holed out to deep midwicket, bringing Arundhati Reddy in to face the final ball. She chipped it over cover, where it just evaded Harmanpreet running backwards. With the batters going back for the second – the winning run – Harmanpreet fired a flat throw to Bhatia, who broke the wicket as Reddy dived full-stretch. Once again the frame when the LED stumps lit up for the first time showed Reddy’s bat on the line, but the third umpire looked at later frames and concluded “the batter has made her ground before the wicket is completely dislodged”. The DC players celebrated, and the MI players didn’t seem to protest.
Manchester United have made surprise “contact” to sign a new striker who has been likened to Arsenal’s summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Man Utd sign Sesko after Gyokeres snub
In what has been a productive summer transfer window at Old Trafford, INEOS brought in Matheus Cunha from Wolves before landing Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, two players who are set to feature heavily in behind a striker.
Attention then turned to a new centre-forward, and the Red Devils were linked with Gyokeres, who worked under Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP. The Sweden international only wanted Arsenal, though, and eventually got his move to the Emirates, opening his Premier League account with a brace against Leeds United.
United, meanwhile, splashed the cash on Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a deal worth more than £70m. The three marquee attacking signings have set INEOS back £200m, however, Sesko is still awaiting his first Premier League start and goal.
Man Utd "very optimistic" they'll sign £22m colossus "in the next two days"
The Red Devils believe they will be able to finalise a deal for an “elite” Manchester City target very soon.
ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025
Rasmus Hojlund’s future is also up in the air at Old Trafford, amid rumours of a move to Serie A side Napoli which has resulted in United being linked with making another signing in the final third before the September 1 deadline.
Man Utd make surprise Randal Kolo Muani "contact"
According to Caught Offside, Man Utd have made a surprise attempt to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain.
The French forward is valued at €60m (£51m) by the Champions League winners and spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus. The Serie A side are yet to reach an agreement to sign Kolo Muani once again, which led to the Red Devils exploring a move.
However, unfortunately for INEOS and Amorim, Kolo Muani is not open to an Old Trafford transfer. A source told Caught Offside:
The 26-year-old scored 10 goals in 22 appearances for Juventus last season, and has been compared to Gyokeres and other high-profile forwards by Football Transfers.
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
Alexander Sorloth
Atletico Madrid
Christopher Nkunku
Chelsea
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal
Ademola Lookman
Atalanta
Should Man Utd move Hojlund on, it’ll be interesting if the Red Devils explore a move for another striker after signing Sesko, but it looks as if that man won’t be Kolo Muani.
He has been cleared by a jury of knowingly taking part in a cocaine deal, but he was found guilty of taking part in drug supply.
AAP13-Mar-2025Former Australia Test cricketer Stuart MacGill knew he was taking part in a cocaine deal but was oblivious about the scale of the exchange that began under his restaurant.That is the verdict of a Sydney District Court jury that acquitted the former legspinner on Thursday of taking part in a large commercial drug supply in April 2021.The jury heard that the illicit exchange of Aus$330,000 for a kilogram of cocaine was struck between MacGill’s regular drug dealer and the former cricketer’s brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos.Related
Stuart MacGill charged over drug deal tied to 'kidnapping'
The cricketer teed up a meeting under his restaurant on Sydney’s north shore but denied knowing the deal was to take place.Prosecutors argued the deal could not have occurred without MacGill’s prior involvement.While the jury dismissed the Crown’s claims about MacGill’s knowledge of a one-kilogram deal, it found him guilty of the lesser charge of taking part in drug supply.MacGill, whose 44-Test career came in the shadow of Shane Warne, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read.His sentencing hearing was adjourned for eight weeks.
Bayern Munich are prepared to reward Michael Olise with a contract extension just over a year after he arrived from Crystal Palace on a deal that runs until 2029. The Frenchman has been phenomenal ever since his switch to the Allianz Arena, and the Bavarian giants are reportedly adamant on wasting no time to tie down their superstar with a renewal.
Bayern discuss Olise renewal
Bayern are extremely impressed with the performances of Olise, who made a sensational £52 million (€60m/$70m) switch from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024. Although his deal runs through to 2029, the Bavarians have already begun discussions internally to reward the Frenchman with a new deal.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportOlise 'extremely comfortable' at Bayern
According to a report from , Bayern are keen on ensuring Olise commits his future to the club beyond 2029 by offering a new deal that will run longer. The report adds that while talks are yet to open between Bayern and Olise's entourage, the topic will most likely be discussed later during the ongoing season.
The right winger has been praised by sporting director Christoph Freund, who inadvertently fuelled transfer speculation by sidestepping a question about Olise's rumored exit clause during a press conference in August.
"Michael feels extremely comfortable in the group. It's just a good mix at the moment," Freund stated recently.
A 2026 departure ruled out?
The rumours of Olise having a 2026 exit clause in his current Bayern deal were followed by reports that Liverpool are eyeing the 23-year-old as the long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have been linked, too. However, German media seemingly laid waste to those claims by suggesting that no such clauses exist in his contract. Bayern are determined to convince Olise that his long-term future lies in Munich.
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Getty Images SportWhen will Olise next be seen in action?
The French international will be keen on adding to his ridiculous tally of 24 goals and 26 assists in 62 games for Die Roten when Vincent Kompany's men welcome Werder Bremen on Friday.
Celtic made the surprise step of entering the free agent market in the 2025 summer transfer window for a striker after offloading Adam Idah to Swansea City on Deadline Day.
Following a frantic search for a replacement, Brendan Rodgers was able to seal a reunion with Nigeria forward Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined the club a day after the market period ended following his release from Sevilla.
Rodgers has signed the new Scott Sinclair in "phenomenal" Celtic talent
Celtic could look to the past for inspiration, following the signing of the next Scott Sinclair…
ByRobbie Walls Sep 5, 2025
With the move causing quite a stir among supporters, we’ve taken a look at all of Rodgers’ free agent signings at Celtic Park, ranking each from best to worst across his two spells in the dugout.
11 Kundai Benyu 2017-2020
Kicking off proceedings, Kundai Benyu joined Celtic in 2017 on a free transfer from Ipswich Town, making four first-team appearances ahead of brief loan spells at Oldham Athletic and Helsingborg.
Kundai Benyu in Celtic training.
Eventually, he left the Bhoys to sign for Wealdstone United in 2020 before stints in Iceland at Vestri and IBV. The Zimbabwe international now features for Harare-based outfit CAPS United.
10 Youssouf Mulumbu 2018-2019
Becoming a late addition to Rodgers’ midfield in 2018 after Celtic failed to sign John McGinn from Hibernian, Mulumbu never really got going and managed only 155 minutes of competitive football across three appearances.
Youssouf Mulumbu.
Previously, he had enjoyed an excellent 2017/18 Scottish Premiership campaign at Kilmarnock and soon returned on loan to Rugby Park before a break clause in his Hoops contract saw him depart in the summer of 2019. Not a transfer that paid off for either party.
9 Ross Doohan 2015-2022, 2025-present
Ross Doohan rejoined Celtic from Aberdeen on a free transfer in the summer of 2025 and finds himself at the lower end of the scale due to not having made a competitive appearance for the club during either spell.
Ross Doohan with Scotland Under-21s.
Nevertheless, the Scotland international is a valued presence within the walls of Lennoxtown and has helped ease pressure on the Hoops’ European squad registration powers, making him a smart capture by the Scottish Premiership holders.
8 Callum Osmand 2025-present
Technically, Callum Osmand signed for Celtic in a cross-border compensation deal, but he has been included by virtue of joining after the end of his Fulham contract in summer 2025. Why not make things a little more fun?
The Jersey-born striker represents Wales on the international stage and featured in the Bhoys’ pre-season friendlies against Cork City and Estrela de Amadora.
Ultimately, his place on the list could fluctuate depending on whether he earns minutes over the coming months. He is highly-rated after 55 goal contributions in 73 outings at various youth levels at the Cottagers, though a loan seems like a sensible step to aid his development.
7 Emilio Izaguirre 2018-2019
At the time, many Celtic fans were shocked when Emilio Izaguirre returned to Parkhead in 2018 after leaving the club one year prior to join Al-Fayha. Still, his status as a cult hero among supporters generated a level of excitement.
In the end, the Honduran left-back registered a solitary assist in 19 appearances during his second spell in Glasgow, playing a part in the Bhoys winning a domestic treble.
Frequent injuries and Kieran Tierney’s position as first-choice limited his scope for inclusion. Despite being offered a one-year extension, 33-year-old Izaguirre departed Celtic with 13 winners medals in total for Motagua, where he is now Sporting Director.
6 Kolo Toure 2016-2017
Truthfully, you could argue the toss about whether Izaguirre’s second spell or Kolo Toure’s stint in Glasgow should be higher on the list, but the Ivorian has shaded it due to a key factor that will be explained.
Kolo Toure and Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.
Premier League winner Toure linked up with Rodgers shortly after departing Liverpool and clocked up 17 appearances under the Irishman before calling time on his distinguished career due to injury trouble.
Intriguingly, he then went on to become a part of Celtic’s backroom team as a technical assistant, remaining at Lennoxtown and then leaving to take up a first-team coach role at Leicester City. Supporters loved his infamous chant!
5 Kelechi Iheanacho 2025-present
The man everyone is talking about. Many Celtic supporters may have expected Kelechi Iheanacho to be ranked somewhere else on this list. However, it would be unfair to draw any premature conclusions before he has had a sustained run in the team.
By now, the Bhoys’ failed pursuit of Kasper Dolberg is common knowledge. Their efforts to land the Denmark international proved to be unsuccessful, and he is now back at Ajax, somewhere he feels is a second home.
An almighty scramble ensued before Celtic signed Iheanacho in an out-of-window deal, leaving many fans irate at a transfer strategy that saw the likes of David Datro Fofana and Patrick Bamford contacted over moves to Parkhead with no breakthrough.
Statistically, the Nigeria international is in Glasgow following one goal in 15 appearances during a loan spell at Middlesbrough circa 2024/25. Three strikes in 11 outings across his time in Seville is hardly a convincing tally either, all things considered.
Providing a saving grace, Rodgers has previously worked with Iheanacho and helped him produce some of the best football of his career at Leicester City, including a 19-goal campaign in 2020/21, a level he can hopefully rediscover under his guidance.
4 Scott Bain 2018-2025
Initially arriving on loan from Dundee ahead of a free transfer move to Celtic in the summer of 2018, Scott Bain cemented himself as another likeable figure among supporters and kept an impressive 40 clean sheets across 78 appearances for the Hoops.
Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain.
Capped three times by Scotland, the long-serving goalkeeper ended his spell in Glasgow with no fewer than 14 medals to his name. He moved to Falkirk during the transfer window and is enjoying life at the Scottish Premiership newcomers.
3 Kasper Schmeichel 2024-present
Kasper Schmeichel is another player who has significant experience working alongside Rodgers, and it is fair to say he has been a major success story at Celtic since arriving on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.
To date, the Denmark international has won the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup, and it doesn’t seem like he is done there despite being set to turn 39 in November.
Leading from the front, Schmeichel is a shining example of professionalism and his desire to keep showcasing his talents at Celtic is something to be admired.
2 Kieran Tierney 2015-2019, 2025-present
Some of you may be asking, why isn’t Kieran Tierney number one on this list? There is a reason for that, but the end decision has purely come down to the distinction of the fact he has only recently arrived on a free transfer.
Born in Douglas and a stalwart for Scotland under Steve Clarke, the 28-year-old is an icon at Celtic and shot to prominence in a first spell that saw him play a driving role in claiming eight trophies at the club, making 170 appearances in total and delivering eight goals alongside 37 assists.
From then on, Tierney secured a £25 million move from his boyhood club to Arsenal, claiming the FA Cup at the Gunners and earning recognition for his displays. Enjoying a different footballing climate, he also spent time on loan at Real Sociedad.
Now, he is firmly back at Celtic and has slotted in effortlessly under Rodgers after signing a five-year-deal in the summer of 2025.