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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will know that he may have to fight to keep hold of some of his best players at Paradise when the summer transfer window opens for business.

The Hoops boss lost Carl Starfelt and Portuguese forward Jota ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and may worry that similar moves will take place this year.

One player who Celtic may be in danger of losing is talented attacking midfielder Matt O'Riley, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, recently reported that Brighton are interested in a deal to sign the Danish whiz, who the Scottish giants have hit gold on since his move to the club, as his current valuation makes him worth more than former Hoops stars Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney combined.

How much Celtic raked in for Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney

Back in the summer of 2019, Premier League side Arsenal swooped in to sign the Bhoys left-back for a staggering fee of £25m – making him the most expensive Scottish player in history at the time.

Two years later, the Hoops were raided once again by a team from the English top-flight as Crystal Palace secured a deal to sign Edouard for an initial fee of £14m, that could rise to £18.5m including add-ons.

Appearances

170

179

Goals

8

87

Assists

37

38

This shows that Celtic made a whopping £39m from the pair, that could rise to £43.5m if the add-ons have been or are met by the Eagles forward, in that two-year period.

O'Riley, however, is now reportedly valued at a fee that is higher than the combined amount of money the club raked in for Tierney and Edouard.

Matt O'Riley's soaring market value

The Hoops swooped to sign the Denmark international from English League One side MK Dons for a fee of around £1.5m in January 2022.

He produced four goals and two assists in 20 matches during the second half of that term, and then went on to rack up four goals and 14 assists in 51 outings during the 2022/23 campaign.

This season, the 23-year-old star, whose "phenomenal" consistency was lauded by Rodgers, has taken his game to new heights with a sensational return of 19 goals and 18 assists in 48 games.

His superb form on the pitch for Celtic this term has led to the club placing a mouth-watering valuation of £50m on his head, per Alan Nixon's aforementioned report on Brighton's interest in him, which is at least £6.5m more than Edouard and Tierney's combined fees.

That staggering £50m price tag means that his value has soared by a mind-blowing 3,233% from the initial £1.5m that they paid MK Dons to sign him over two years ago.

Celtic eyeing "exceptional" signing to replace hero who started 48 games

The Hoops are reportedly considering a swoop to sign the £25k-per-week colossus.

ByDan Emery May 20, 2024

Therefore, the Hoops hit gold when they signed the left-footed star from the English side as he has been a tremendous performer on the pitch for the Scottish side and could now make them a gigantic profit if Brighton, or any other interested team, decide to meet his current valuation.

BCCI confirm delay to ODIs and T20Is to avoid clash with rescheduled IPL

George Dobell07-Aug-2020The BCCI has confirmed that England’s white-ball tour of India has been postponed until early 2021.England were due to arrive in India at the end of September for a tour involving three ODIs and three T20s. But with the IPL having been rescheduled to cover the same period, the tour has been put back a few months.It is now anticipated that the white-ball games will be played as part of England’s Test tour scheduled from late January to late March 2021. Five Tests are also scheduled to be played on that tour.Where those games will be played remains unclear. The IPL will be staged in the UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic; it seems there is a good chance the England tour will follow suit. An ECB spokesperson suggested it was too early to “speculate” on such a scenario.”Now that we have clarity regarding the postponement of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, it enables us to work with other Boards to progress the vital task of optimising the international schedules in the challenging circumstances that we have all been having to address with the Covid-19 pandemic,” the ECB’s chief executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said.”International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and we look forward to working with the BCCI to firm-up the schedules for these eagerly anticipated tours as soon as possible.”Jay Shah, honorary secretary of the BCCI, said: “The BCCI and ECB are working closely to finalise the schedule as we move towards the resumption of cricket. The rescheduled tour is also being redesigned in a way to accommodate both red and white-ball format and will now be a comprehensive one.”

UEFA has written a letter to the UK government threatening a ban for England from its competitions if there is interference with a planned regulator.

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UEFA warn of potential ban in letter to Culture SecretaryOfficials demand no government interference of regulatorEnglish teams' places in Europe under threatWHAT HAPPENED?

According to , UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoris has written to Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, to stress that there should be 'no government interference in the running of football' and explicitly warned that the 'ultimate sanction for which would be excluding the federation from UEFA and teams from competition'. Theodoridis emphasised the need for independence after proposals for a new regulator were brought forward by Sir Keir Starmer’s new Labour Government in the King’s Speech.

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The concept of an independent regulator has been suggested by both major UK political parties, with the notion initially put forward last year by the previous government. The regulator would oversee a licensing system to ensure clubs are run sustainably, take over a strengthened owners and directors test, and give fans a greater say in key decisions.

Getty ImagesWHAT UEFA SAID

An excerpt of the letter reads: "We do have concerns remaining… as normally football regulation should be managed by the national federation.

"One particular area of concern stems from one of Uefa's fundamental requirements, which is that there should be no government interference in the running of football.

"We have specific rules that guard against this in order to guarantee the autonomy of sport and fairness of sporting competition; the ultimate sanction for which would be excluding the federation from UEFA and teams from competition."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND AND UEFA?

Nandy reportedly has yet to respond to the letter but both the government and the footballing authorities have previously insisted they will work with all parties to ensure a fair and appropriate system will be implemented. Privately, officials are said to believe there is no risk of England being banned by UEFA.

England's national team will continue their prepping for the Euros as normal, beginning with another international break next month where Lee Carsley's side will continue their Nations League campaign.

Chelsea secured their place in Europe for the 2024/25 campaign as they beat Bournemouth 2-1 on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

A sensational goal from the halfway line from Moises Caicedo gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Raheem Sterling made it 2-0 shortly after the break.

An own goal from Benoit Badiashile gave the away side a bit of hope in the 49th minute but Mauricio Pochettino's side were eventually able to see the game out with relative ease.

The Blues can now turn their attention to the upcoming summer transfer window and one player who must be brutally sold is versatile defender Trevoh Chalobah.

Transfer interest in Trevoh Chalobah

Back in March, journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that the former Ipswich Town loanee is a player the club "will sell" and added that they have tried to cash in on him in the past.

Bayern Munich were linked with an interest in the Englishman last summer, with a valuation of £50m reported, but a deal did not materialise from Thomas Tuchel's side.

In January, TEAMtalk named Premier League teams Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest as three of the clubs eyeing up the centre-back, but they added that they were put off by the price tag, which had reportedly been lowered to £25m.

Pochettino must now push for the defender to be cashed in on this summer, possibly by going back to the aforementioned interested clubs to strike up a deal, to ensure that they have regular natural right-back options next season.

The 24-year-old dud struggled defensively against Bournemouth and has rarely provided an attacking threat at right-back this term, which is why the club should part ways with him.

Trevoh Chalobah's performance against Bournemouth in numbers

The Blues academy graduate started the game at right-back, with Reece James suspended, Malo Gusto coming back from injury, and Alfie Gilchrist on the bench, and left a bit to be desired from his performance.

Up against Cherries forward Marcus Tavernier, Chalobah did not enjoy his best evening on the defensive end as he was dominated in physical contests on the deck and in the air, losing 71% (2/7) of his duels.

Sofascore rating

6.8

Tackles won

1

Dribbled past

1

Ground duels won

1/4

Aerial duels won

1/3

As you can see in the table above, Bournemouth's players found it far too easy to get the better of the English full-back, who was dribbled past as many times as he completed tackles.

Chalobah also ended the match without a single key pass and has ended the season with zero assists and zero 'big chances' created in 13 Premier League appearances.

The defender had zero key passes and zero crosses attempted despite taking more touches of the ball (65) than creative midfielder Cole Palmer (54) did at Stamford Bridge, which illustrates how little of an impact he had in possession despite having plenty of chances to make something happen.

Chelsea are now one detail away from sealing "huge" £50m+ signing for Poch

The Blues are close to getting their summer business underway…

ByTom Cunningham May 19, 2024

He does not offer an attacking threat, like Gusto did with his six assists in 19 league starts, and should now be sold, as per Jacobs' claim in March, to make way for natural full-backs to be utilised down the right flank for Chelsea moving forward.

Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Wrexham have shown how to crack America as an EFL club, with Tom Brady told that he needs a ‘Welcome to Birmingham’.

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Hollywood stars thriving in North WalesNFL legend an investor in West MidlandsOpportunities to expand global fan basesWHAT HAPPENED?

Two Hollywood superstars arrived at SToK Racecourse in 2021 and have overseen a remarkable adventure in North Wales. Their every move has been caught on camera by an award-winning documentary series – opening up a window to the world as Wrexham see their global fan base increase dramatically.

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In contrast, Birmingham have done little to promote the fact that NFL legend Brady forms part of their board – with the seven-time Super Bowl winner holding a small stake in the Blues. They are being urged to make more of the iconic quarterback’s presence – with the interest being shown in a League One clash with Wrexham proving what can be achieved a long way outside of the West Midlands.

WHAT HARRIS SAID

Chris Harris, editor of US-based WorldSoccerTalk, has told of what needs to be done in order for the Blues to rival Wrexham’s popularity: “We’re into college football and NFL where he’s on television as a co-commentator, so there’s been very little mention of it in the media. They’re missing a Welcome to Birmingham.”

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He went on to say: “Birmingham haven’t been able to market Brady much, if at all. People are not making the connection, whereas with Rob and Ryan, even if they are busy and missing matches, you still have that drive whether through social media, clever partnerships. And with the documentary selling itself, it reaches a whole new audience for those partners and for the club, maybe not football fans. It’s calculated, they are smart business people, because the reality of this is Wrexham are a small club without the facilities. Birmingham are the opposite.”

Young batsman says isolation from family within bio-secure bubble has been challenging

Valkerie Baynes24-Jul-2020Ollie Pope has admitted to feeling a weight lift from his shoulders as he neared a possible second Test century at the end of the opening day of the deciding match against West Indies.Pope entered the match with a high score of 12* from four innings in the series, but when bad light stopped play late on Friday, he was 91 not out, having shared an unbroken 136-run partnership with Jos Buttler and guided England out of trouble at 122 for 4.”It does feel like a little bit of a weight off the shoulders,” Pope told Sky Sports. “With the pandemic, we haven’t played cricket in a long time and to miss out in the first three innings and, to be to be honest, to be in such an intense environment – we’re not able to get out and see any family so you just sort of go back to your room and then you’re back looking over the cricket pitch – so it is nice to get a few.”ALSO READ: Brathwaite defends Holder’s decision to bowl first againPope came in with his side 92 for 3 and effectively a specialist batsman down after Zak Crawley was left out to make way for another seam bowler given that Ben Stokes is unlikely to bowl much, if at all, because of a quad muscle injury.He admitted to feeling as though he had taken time to settle into his latest innings, especially against West Indies quick Kemar Roach. But perhaps just as challenging had been the month-long isolation from family after entering the players’ bio-secure ‘bubble’.”To be honest, I have found a little bit challenging,” Pope said. “Second innings at Hampshire, I got out very late in the day for 12, chopped on, and I think 20 minutes after getting out I was back in my room and I wasn’t able to go for coffee or go back and see the family.”Then it just sort of ends up playing on your mind over and over again, so it has got its challenges. But I think you get around the lads, the lads get around you and everyone’s sort of very tightly knit so if anyone is sort of mentally struggling a little bit, then we’ve got each other’s backs.”Pope particularly felt for his team-mates who had been able to spend a lot of time with their young children during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown, only to then go into the squad environment where they could have no physical contact with them.”It’s good just to try and sort of check in and see, try to read people and check how everyone’s doing,” he added. “Some of them might find it a bit challenging, but I think everyone in general has been pretty good and we do really enjoy each other’s company so we’ve sort of enjoyed what we can.”Ollie Pope is forward to drive•Getty ImagesPope believed that, as was the case in the previous Test at the same ground, the Emirates Old Trafford pitch seemed to be favouring the new ball. It was a sentiment echoed by West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite, who defended his captain, Jason Holder’s decision to bowl first.West Indies took the second new ball late on Friday but only managed 3.4 overs with it before bad light intervened, with Pope nearing his hundred and Buttler on 56 not out. Pope said he felt comfortable given that both had faced more than 100 balls each.”If you’re in is probably the best time to bat, because it just comes off that little bit quicker, the bowlers are looking to challenge the stumps and the pads so it gives you scoring opportunities,” Pope said. “The older ball did slightly offer not as much, but it did spin a little bit as well, so that’s encouraging for us.”Hopefully the rain’s not about tomorrow, it could be a long time in the 90s.”Given an unpromising forecast, it could indeed be a long time.

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has provided an injury update on Leah Williamson ahead of the Gunners' Women's Super League opener with Manchester City.

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Williamson benched in midweek due to 'problem'Arsenal start WSL season against Man City on SundayGunners boss Eidevall provides update on England starFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Williamson was on the bench for the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League second round qualifier on Wednesday, which they lost 1-0 to Hacken in Sweden. Eidevall said after the match that her absence from the starting XI was "a physical decision due to events that happened in the week".

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The Gunners have some big games coming up. On Sunday, they kick-off their WSL season at home to Man City, who ran Chelsea so close for the title last year that the race was eventually decided on goal difference. Four days later, they host Hacken in the second leg of that European qualifier, needing to win by two goals to reach the group stage, and a couple of weeks after that, they host Chelsea.

WHAT EIDEVALL SAID

Asked about Williamson's availability going into Sunday's WSL opener, Eidevall said in his press conference on Friday: "She is okay. I don't really have all the information yet regarding the whole squad, but when it comes to Leah Williamson, yes, there was a problem that meant she was not in an ideal position to start the game against Hacken. That should not be the case now towards Sunday."

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DID YOU KNOW?

While that is certainly good news for Arsenal ahead of some important fixtures, there are still absentees that Eidevall will have to cope without. The coach confirmed on Friday that both Steph Catley, the Australia international full-back, and Lina Hurtig, the Swedish forward, will not be available on Sunday. He did not provide timelines for their respective returns.

Somerset stumble in 12-over chase despite 43 not out from 20 balls from rookie

ECB Reporters Network04-Sep-2020Birmingham Bears overcame Somerset and the weather to claim a four-run Vitality Blast Central Group under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The match was interrupted for an hour and three-quarters by rain, which set in with the Bears 85 for 4 from 11 overs. When play became possible again at 9pm, the umpires ruled that it would be a 12-over match.Birmingham added 22 in the final over of their innings, Sam Hain finishing 55 not out in a total of 107 for 4, and Somerset were set a revised target of 125 to win under DLS.They could manage only 120 for seven, Tom Lammonby top-scoring with 43 off 20 balls , and lost a game they seemed to have under control before the rain-break.Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory struck a double blow for his side in the second over of the match to reduce the Bears to 2 for 2.First he took a return catch to dismiss Ian Bell for a duck off a leading edge and two balls later had former team-mate Adam Hose caught behind attempting to pull a short ball, also without scoring.Ed Pollock responded by pulling the first six of the game off Ollie Sale and cleared the ropes again in Gregory’s next over with a sweet pick-up over long-on.Pollock was looking dangerous when trying one big shot too many off Josh Davey in the fifth over, a thick edge carrying all the way to James Hildreth at third man.The opener departed for 20, but soon Hain was taking up the attack, despite being hit on the grille by a short ball from Lammonby when on 17.Having already claimed a maximum off Sale, Hain clubbed Lammonby over mid-wicket for another six to bring up a half-century stand with Will Rhodes.The pair had added 53 in 6.3 overs when Rhodes was bowled by Lammonby looking to open the face of the bat. Only two more deliveries were bowled before the rain set in.After the break, Warwickshire’s one remaining over of batting saw Hain smash two fours and two sixes off the inexperienced Sale, a surprise choice to bowl it, to reach a 31-ball half-century.Babar Azam posted notice of Somerset’s intent by pulling the first delivery of their innings from Tim Bresnan for six. But two balls later the veteran seamer took revenge, having the opener caught behind attempting to cut.James Hildreth arrived to hit two quick boundaries, but the first ball of the second over from Olly Stone saw Steve Davies miscue a catch to mid-on.Hildreth replied with a square cut four and an upper cut six as the over ended with Somerset 28 for two. But Tom Abell was caught at cover off Henry Brookes and worse was to follow for the hosts in the fourth over, bowled by Jeetan Patel.Hildreth was slow responding to a call for a quick single and failed to beat Bresnan’s throw to the bowler’s end. The batsman pulled up clutching a hamstring and had to be helped from the field.Gregory was given a life on 5, with the score 44 for 4, when Michael Burgess missed a stumping chance off Jake Lintott. But Eddie Byrom holed out to long-on of Brookes to make it 50 for five and Gregory quickly followed, lbw to Lintott.Lammonby and Roelof van der Merwe (25) swung lustily in the closing overs, but had been left too much to do. Twenty-year-old left-hander Lammonby took the game down to the wire with some savage blows, but couldn’t quite turn the tables.

West Bromwich Albion didn't mess around after exiting the Championship play-off semi-final stages, revealing their retained list five days after their 3-1 second-leg defeat to the Saints, with seven senior Baggies players released in the process.

Out of all those chucked to the scrapheap, Matt Phillips' exit would have stung the most, considering the experienced 33-year-old had accumulated 255 appearances for the Baggies in total across eight memorable seasons, before being greeted with this news after an injury-heavy 2023/24 campaign personally.

Still, the ageing attacker registered 26 appearances when fit for Carlos Corberan's men and played his part somewhat – picking up six goal contributions along the way – but will now find he's a free agent come the end of this month regardless.

This could mean West Brom are in the market for many a winger to fill gaps in the areas down the flanks at the Hawthorns, which is why the promotion nearly-men are looking at this potential capture to soften the blow of the 33-year-old leaving for nothing.

West Brom still in the hunt for "fantastic" forward

Fresh off the back of a "fantastic" season with Oxford United, as it was described by football pundit Carlton Palmer recently, Josh Murphy now has a major decision to make, with his contract situation at the Kassam Stadium unresolved.

The Sun reported back in April that the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and more were going after the electric winger's services, who bagged ten goals from 38 games in total for the U's on the way to promotion being sealed.

Two of those ten strikes came during his side's victorious play-off final win over Bolton Wanderers at Wembley, as Murphy's tricks and flicks down the left wing proved too much for the Trotters to handle on the day, who collapsed on the big stage for Des Buckingham's men to win 2-0 to pull off a shock promotion.

Still hopeful that their ex-Norwich City man could stay put in Oxfordshire for his side's exciting voyage up to the Championship, with contract talks currently underway, the Baggies will still have their fingers crossed they can tempt him to relocate to the West Midlands instead, to possess a player in a similar ilk to Phillips again.

Why Murphy would be a strong Phillips replacement

Despite being more of a natural left winger, which is a position that also needs filling in Corberan's camp with Mikey Johnston returning back to Celtic, Murphy can still be a Phillips replacement in terms of what he offers to West Brom even whilst operating on the left flank.

Both content with twisting and turning defences with slaloming runs when darting forward, as can be seen in the table below, Murphy's ten goal contributions just in the regular season – all of which came in 2024 – wasn't far off being eclipsed by Phillips' six either, despite the soon-to-be free agent playing two games less as a regular absentee to the Hawthorns treatment room.

Stat – per 90 mins

Phillips

Murphy

Games played

26

28

Goals scored

3

6

Assists

3

4

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

3

7

Successful dribbles

0.7

1.0

Stats by Sofascore

Bettering Phillips on a number of their comparative attacking statistics, however, Murphy could be viewed as the perfect replacement for Phillips, as well as bolstering the left channel for Corberan's men, with Johnston also departing meaning the Baggies need a new hero there.

Corberan's immediate future in the Baggies hot-seat isn't even secure at the moment though, but they'll hope he stays put in the dug-out for next season, with Murphy shining brightly potentially for a side who could go one better and win promotion next campaign.

West Brom could seal a "very special" signing to transform Thomas-Asante

West Bromwich Albion will hope Brandon Thomas-Asante is back firing in the goals next season regularly alongside this new recruit.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 3, 2024

Unai Emery has revealed what he said to Aston Villa super fan Prince William after mastering a stunning Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

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Villans stunned Bundesliga giantsDuran netted only goal of the gameRoyalty among those in attendanceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Harry Kane and Co took in a visit to Villa Park as two sides that locked horns in the 1982 European Cup final were reunited on an emotional night in the West Midlands. The Villans were able to emulate their efforts from 42 years ago as they claimed another memorable 1-0 win.

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Heir to the British throne, Prince William, was among those in attendance to see Villa claim a notable continental scalp – with prolific England striker Kane kept quiet alongside the rest of his Bundesliga-leading team-mates. There were wild scenes of celebration as super sub Jhon Duran once again stepped off the bench to net his sixth goal of the season – as he spectacularly lobbed the ball over Manuel Neuer from distance.

WHAT EMERY SAID

Villa boss Emery met up with Prince William afterwards and told of what was said during their post-match exchange: “I told him the best moments we can have is days like today and try to enjoy the way. Because when you are getting at the end, I don’t know where, but everything we are doing on the way, every day, every match, try to enjoy it, enjoy the way. And today, winning, of course, how we played, the team we played and being in the Champions League 42 years after the final, of course, it was a special day. But like I said before the match, we want to keep it for a long time, being in Europe consistently and hopefully more days like today.”

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WHAT NEXT?

Villa have taken maximum points from their two Champions League games in 2024-25, having eased past Young Boys 3-0 on matchday one. A Premier League home date with Manchester United on Sunday will carry them into the next international break.