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Sunderland have a reputation for being a hotbed that allows young talents to shine and prosper, going all the way back to Jordan Henderson’s emergence up the ranks at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson would go on to be a household name in the Premier League with Liverpool after kickstarting his career in the senior game on Wearside, whilst the likes of 19-year-old Jobe Bellingham in today’s squad are expected to go on and achieve similarly big things when leaving the Black Cats.

Bellingham also has a teammate in the middle of the park who is being tipped to be a superstar as he continues to develop, with Chris Rigg already a first-team face week in week out for Regis Le Bris’ side in the Championship at the tender age of 17.

Rigg's time at Sunderland

Rigg only being a wide-eyed teenager still must stun those looking in from the outside, considering the Black Cats number 11 has been in and around the side since early 2023.

When making his first professional appearance in January of that year, the teen went down as the second youngest player ever to don a Sunderland jersey, with the starlet never looking back as more and more first-team chances opened up.

Now, Rigg has made 40 appearances in the senior mix with six goals fired home across that span of games, as the introduction of Le Bris in the dug-out has managed to get even more out of the raw youngster.

Three of those strikes have come in Championship action under the Frenchman, including a stunning flicked finish against Middlesbrough back in September, which narrowly won his table-topping side the contest 1-0 against Michael Carrick’s men.

There could be some regret on the end of the second-tier outfit now that they didn’t try and keep another Rigg-like homegrown product over the summer, particularly considering Le Bris’ tutelage is seemingly working wonders on other young faces in the squad.

The Sunderland youngster who could have been the first Rigg

The former academy prodigy here is Ellis Taylor, who walked away from the Sunderland U21 structure in May after not being gifted a new contract at his boyhood employers.

He has since moved on to League Two Harrogate Town, but it will feel like a case of what could have been when it comes to the 21-year-old, especially when you consider how quickly Rigg has taken to Le Bris’ new managerial methods.

Playing in a staggering nine different positions for Sunderland when on the roster of their U21s, everyone at the club must have been anticipating that the Hartlepool-born youngster would eventually make a name for himself in the first-team fold.

He was even touted as having a “really bright future” at the Stadium of Light by Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman in 2021, only for him to go on to make a disappointing five first-team appearances in total before Harrogate picked him up for nothing.

He has since gone to be a hit for the Sulphurites – after being labelled as an “exciting” new signing by Harrogate head of recruitment Lloyd Kerry when the capture was announced – with the versatile 21-year-old scoring three times from 20 games, matching Rigg’s goal numbers for the season in the process.

Of course, the Black Cats ace is shining two leagues above his counterpart, but Taylor hasn’t allowed his career to fall off a cliff after departing his boyhood club.

Instead, he has taken to his new League Two environment well, with the potential there one day for Taylor to face off against Le Bris’ men down the line, if he can rise up the EFL ladder.

Chris Rigg is not the only Sunderland star being tracked by massive clubs

A concern for Regis Le Bris….

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 13, 2024

Seeking reinforcements despite sitting eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, Arne Slot now reportedly wants Liverpool to prioritise the signing of a Barcelona star who could complete his midfield once and for all.

Liverpool transfer news

On the pitch, it’s difficult to have any complaints about this Liverpool side. They have been near-perfect and have somehow seamlessly transitioned into life under Slot after so many successful years under Jurgen Klopp. Ask Manchester United and they’ll tell you that replacing a managerial legend should not be that easy. But for doing just that, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes deserve great credit.

Liverpool's 9 best European nights – ranked

Liverpool have had plenty of wonderful European nights over the years.

By
Ross Kilvington

Nov 27, 2024

Whilst they’ll be applauded for that decision, however, they could be at the centre of criticism if Liverpool lose Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold in free deals at the end of the season, especially after Salah’s recent contract admission. The ball, in the case of the Egyptian at least, is seemingly in Liverpool’s court.

Of course, if all three players do depart then those at Anfield should have plenty of budget to use, with Slot already reportedly identifying one of his top targets ahead of 2025.

According to reports in Spain, Slot now wants Liverpool to prioritise signing Frenkie de Jong in 2025 as he looks to complete his midfield and form a Dutch connection between Ryan Gravenberch and the Barcelona star at the heart of his midfield.

The update adds that Liverpool ‘see him as a key player to reinforce their midfield’ and that ‘De Jong’s versatility and ability to manage the pace of the game make him a priority target for Slot’.

"Great" De Jong would complete Slot's midfield

The noticeable difference between Slot and Klopp is that the new Liverpool manager asks his side to play with more control, more patience and less risk than Klopp, who became famous for his heavy metal style of football. The German focused on squeezing teams into submission, whilst Slot is happy to defeat sides in a more cut-throat, albeit perhaps less exciting, manner.

With that said, a midfield three of Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and De Jong may well be the Dutchman’s dream trio at the heart of his Liverpool side. The three conductors would undoubtedly create the latest Anfield masterpiece.

All three players, as the stats show, thrive in possession whilst Mac Allister and Gravenberch have also managed to reach impressive numbers off the ball compared to De Jong.

The £304,000-a-week man has received plenty of praise during his time at Barcelona, including from former manager Xavi who described him as “great” during the 2021/22 season.

Michail Antonio believes he came close to death in his December car crash, denying he was under the influence of drink or drugs at the time.

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• Antonio revealed he almost died in accident
• Antonio's Ferrari crashed with a tree
• Described the extend of his injuries

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Jamaica international had a near-death experience last year when his Ferrari FF collided with a tree. Antonio had to be cut from the wreckage of his vehicle before being airlifted to hospital and undergoing surgery on a lower-leg fracture. After the initial photographs of his car wreckage went viral on social media, people initially wondered whether the player had survived. The record West Ham goal-scorer has now opened up about his terrifying experience.

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  WHAT MICHAIL ANTONIO SAID

  In an interview with , the 34-year-old said: "The police came and when they found me I was in between the two seats. I wasn't actually in the driver's seat. They said it looked like I was trying to climb out of the window, but because my leg was so badly broken the pain probably stopped me from being able to get out."

  When asked what he remembers from the accident, Antonio replied: "Nothing. It's weird, because the whole way through this, I have been told that I was awake and was speaking to everybody – the police, the people, and the person who found me. My leg was completely shattered and they got me out and put a splint on it by the side of the car. Everyone believed I got an air ambulance out, but the helicopter couldn't get off the ground because of the storm, so I was driven to the hospital.

  "It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. It just made me realise how close I was to dying. I had seen the pictures but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The player also described the extent of his injuries as he added: "I shattered my femur bone in four different places. I had one single keyhole surgery. They put a pole in my thigh with four bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it back together.

  "My first surgeon said he didn't want me to put any weight on my leg for three months, which is around about now, and you can see that I am walking. We got a second specialist who said I needed to start putting weight on it, increasing from 10% up to 100% within three weeks. But I kept my crutches for a further two weeks. Overall, they say it will be between six to 12 months before my leg starts healing properly."

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  'THERE WERE NO DRUGS, THERE WAS NO DRINK'

  There was speculation over whether Antonio was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident, but the player has set the record straight by saying: "I was travelling back from training and, anyway, I've never taken drugs in my life. I've said I like a drink. But in this situation, there were no drugs, there was no drink. That's been ruled out and confirmed by the police."

Those of a Celtic persuasion may have viewed the latest round of international action with gritted teeth, having been forced to witness the eye-catching displays of one of the Old Firm side’s former assets – Ben Doak.

The teenage sensation departed for Liverpool back in 2022 during Ange Postecoglou’s time at the helm, with the wing wizard having been enticed by the dazzling lights of the Premier League, after making just two appearances for the Hoops at senior level.

Still only 19, the young Scotsman is developing into something of a household name due to his displays for his country, in particular, having notably run Manchester City man Josko Gvardiol ragged in the 1-0 win over Croatia.

Likened to England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham by talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist, due to the “freedom” with which he plays, Doak represents a tale of what might have been for those back at Parkhead, had they perhaps done more to keep hold of them.

There are perhaps others who have departed in recent years that the Hoops also wish remained on the books, with there having been a handful of notable exits during Postecoglou’s reign, in particular…

Notable Celtic departures under Ange Postecoglou

Let’s first say that one of the many strengths of the Greek-Aussie’s stunning Celtic tenure was his recruitment, with the current Tottenham Hotspur boss having played his part in snapping up the likes of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Matt O’Riley – just to a name a few – on the cheap.

Equally, the experienced coach was also wise in phasing out or replacing certain players at the right time, having notably sold Josip Juranovic to Union Berlin in January 2023, with Alistair Johnston already in the door as his successor.

Juranovic has since played just 45 times for the Bundesliga side and has seen his value decrease, while Johnston, it must be said, is simply soaring for the Scottish champions.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

While the sale of the Croatian can be considered a success, one man who left in that same period and has perhaps not been truly replaced is Giorgos Giakoumakis, with the Greek powerhouse still arguably an upgrade on young Adam Idah.

Celtic sold an upgrade on Idah

With Odsonne Edouard out the door, Postecoglou sought to bolster his centre-forward ranks with two key signings in the summer of 2021, having first brought in Kyogo Furhashi from Vissel Kobe on a £4.6m deal, prior to snapping up Giakoumakis from Eredivisie side, VVV-Venlo for just £2.5m.

It was the latter man who was arguably the more proven option due to his prior experience in European football, with the 6 foot 1 ace having made the move to Glasgow after finishing as the top scorer in Holland with 26 goals in just 30 league outings in 2020/21.

From the get-go, however, it was Kyogo who emerged as Postecoglou’s main man, with the Japanese star scoring 20 goals in just 33 games in that injury-impacted debut campaign.

To his credit, however, despite being restricted to just 15 starts in all competitions, Giakoumakis was not far behind when the season drew to a close, having registered 17 goals of his own from only 29 outings.

Largely utilised off the bench, the one-time AEK Athens man – who Chris Sutton described as the ‘the best finisher at Celtic’ – remained the second choice option heading into the second season, with just seven of his 28 appearances at the start of the 2022/23 campaign coming from the outset.

Even after scoring four goals across three successive league starts in October 2022, the hulking marksman could not do enough to impress Postecoglou, having subsequently gone on to start just two more Premiership games, prior to his exit in February 2023.

With Oh Hyeon-gyu in the door, Giakoumakis – who felt he was “forced” out of the club by Postecoglou and co – was allowed to exit on a £4.3m deal to join MLS side Atlanta United, ending a fruitful 18-month stint in Glasgow with 26 goals from only 57 appearances.

Since departing, the 29-year-old has been in “beast mode” – according to journalist Felipe Cardenas – after netting 24 goals in 46 games during his time in America, while he has since been on fire at new club Cruz Azul in Mexico, with six goals and four assists chalked up in 2024/25 so far.

The aforementioned Idah, for instance, has scored just five goals and contributed no assists since his permanent return to Celtic over the summer, with there still perhaps lingering doubts over the wisdom of his £9.5m acquisition.

Of course, the 23-year-old is still young, yet he has remarkably scored just 31 senior goals in his club career so far, from 150 appearances. To put that into perspective, Giakoumakis, meanwhile, has netted 30 times already at club level since leaving Celtic

Hopefully, Idah can prove to be the stern competition for Kyogo that Giakoumakis certainly was, although there must be a tinge of regret that the latter man was allowed to depart, particularly considering he is now said to be worth €9m (£7.5m), as per Transfermarkt. Idah’s value, for context, is said to be just €5m (£4m).

As already stated, the Irishman has time on his side to reach greater levels, but there is work to be done to prove that he is of the same ilk of Celtic’s former Greek “God”…

Celtic could repeat Kuhn masterclass by signing £7.5m wizard

Celtic were linked with an interest in the impressive winger in the summer transfer window.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 19, 2024

Orozco acknowledged his frustration at missing the Nations League squad, but insists his focus on his club performance

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• The Cruz Azul defender is struggling to get minutes

• Orozco was left out of the squad for the Final Four of the Nations League

• Assured that Cruz Azul is capable of winning everything after eliminating the Sounders from the Champions Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After Cruz Azul’s 4-1 win over the Sounders, which secured their place in the Champions Cup quarterfinals, Jesús Orozco admitted feeling hurt after being left out of Mexico’s squad for the Nations League Final Four on March 20.

  "Yes, it hit me a little. It hurt… I won’t lie — you always want to represent your country. It’s a great honor,” Chiquete said after the game.

  "I have to keep working. There’s still time before the World Cup, and I know without a doubt, I’ll be there."

  Following the victory, Orozco also made it clear that Cruz Azul are ready to face any opponent in the next round, whether it’s América or Chivas. "We’re ready to beat anyone," he said.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Orozco was a key starter at Chivas, but at Cruz Azul, he has not fully earned a starting spot under Vicente Sánchez. In his first season with , the 23-year-old defender has recorded 835 minutes in 12 matches. Against Seattle, he came on as a substitute in the 86th minute.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Orozco, 23, has four caps with Mexico. Two of them were in friendly matches, and the other two were in the Concacaf Nations League (280 minutes played).

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• WHAT NEXT FOR CRUZ AZUL?

  will host Atlético de San Luis next Saturday for Matchday 12 of the Clausura 2025. Sánchez's side is in fifth place with 19 points.

Just when they thought things were beginning to go their way this season, Arsenal suffered another setback over the weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s side took on Fulham with the intention of closing the gap between themselves and Premier League leaders Liverpool, but came away with just a single point after putting in a seriously disappointing display.

There were poor performers across the pitch for the Gunners, but the left wing was particularly dire, with neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli offering much.

What makes this situation all the more frustrating is the fact that a player sold by the club in 2019 is now outscoring the pair of them.

Arsenal's 2019 sales

Before getting to the player in question, let’s look at how a few of the other departures from that summer have got on since, starting with midfield dynamo Aaron Ramsey.

The Welshman joined Italian giants Juventus on a free that summer but unfortunately failed to make a significant impact in Turin.

After 70 mostly substitute appearances across three seasons and a short-term loan to Rangers, the Caerphilly-born star joined OGC Nice for free.

He was given more game time in France, but after just a season, he rejoined boyhood side Cardiff City, where he remains today, although recurrent injuries have limited him to just 17 appearances since last summer.

Someone who’s had a bit more success since leaving the Emirates is Danny Welbeck, who also left for free and opted to move to Watford.

However, he only spent a season in Hertfordshire before his contract was terminated, at which point he made the brilliant decision to join Brighton & Hove Albion, where he’s been since.

In all, the former Arsenal forward has scored 32 goals and provided ten assists in 141 appearances for the Seagulls.

However, this season, his tally stands at an impressive six goals and two assists in 14 league games, which is a similar level of output to the player in question.

The former Arsenal star outscoring Martinelli & Trossard

So, while Welbeck and Ramsey left for free in 2019, Arsenal were able to make some money from departures, including the player in question, Alex Iwobi.

Yes, the Nigerian international, who came up through the Hale End academy, was finally sold that summer for a pretty sizable fee: £35m.

The Lagos-born dynamo had been a reliable, if unremarkable, performer for the club for quite some time, but when Everton made that offer, it felt too good to turn down, so the club decided to cash in on an academy product.

During his time at Goodison Park, the 28-year-old dynamo made 140 first-team appearances, in which he scored nine goals and provided 16 assists, but in September 2023, he returned to London, joining Fulham for £22m, including add-ons.

Since then, the “exceptional” talent, as dubbed by Statman Dave, has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 50 appearances, but this season has seen him reach another level.

For example, in just 17 appearances, he’s found the back of the net five times and provided three assists for good measure, mainly from the left wing, which makes the comparisons to Martinelli and Trossard so interesting.

In contrast, the Belgian has only scored four goals and provided two assists in 20 appearances, while the Brazilian has done marginally better, racking up four goals and three assists in as many games.

Ultimately, Martinelli and Trossard have shown in the past that they can reach the level required by Arteta and Arsenal, but so far this season, the pair of them are being outscored and outperformed by Iwobi.

So, while the club did well to get the money they did for him in 2019, it would have been interesting to see how he’d have got on in this system.

Arteta must be losing trust in "lazy" Arsenal ace who lost 80% duels

The talented Arsenal forward was in poor form against Fulham.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 9, 2024

Manchester City were left cursing early whistle controversy in their 2-1 loss to WSL leaders Chelsea, with Kerolin and Khiara Keating heroics in vain.

Brazil international Kerolin joined City in January and is currently helping to cover the injury-enforced absence of prolific Jamaican team-mate Bunny Shaw. The South American opened her WSL account against the reigning champions.

Kerolin’s pace threatened Chelsea in behind on a couple of occasions before she forced a breakthrough in the 32nd minute. England defender Millie Bright was backed into her own penalty area, before the ball was slipped through her legs and into the bottom corner.

City thought they had a second before half-time, as Jess Park looped a strike into the top corner, but a foul on Kerolin had already been awarded. Yui Hasegawa hit the crossbar from the resulting set-piece, as City were left questioning the match officials.

The home side saw their mood soured further within four minutes of the restart as some sloppy defending allowed Chelsea to find a route back into the game. Aggie Beever-Jones restored parity before the Blues – who saw their unbeaten record ended by City in Champions League competition last time out – snatched a dramatic winner through Erin Cuthbert in stoppage time.

GOAL rates Manchester City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Khiara Keating (8/10):

  Enjoyed a surprisingly quiet start to the game, with confident claims made whenever called upon, before producing a string of outstanding saves in the second half – including a couple of sprawling efforts.

  Kerstin Casparij (5/10):

  City were rarely troubled early on and appeared ready to build on solid foundations, but their defensive unit was pulled apart as a collective as Chelsea raised their game.

  Gracie Prior (5/10):

  Beaten too easily for Chelsea’s first goal, as she dived in early at first and then failed to get back into position and block a close-range shot from Beever-Jones.

  Laia Aleixandri (5/10):

  Was able to make amends for a few misplaced passes in the opening 45 minutes, but found the going much tougher after the break as City were carved open with alarming ease.

  Naomi Layzell (5/10):

  Pulled out of position far too often after half-time, with Chelsea able to get in behind down their right and pose City plenty of problems.

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  Midfield

  Yui Hasegawa (6/10)

  Agonisingly close to adding a second for City when her well-struck set-piece struck the top of the crossbar, while putting in important blocks as Chelsea pushed for a winner.

  Jill Roord (5/10):

  Not involved as much as she would have liked, as a key creative influence, and failed to get City out when forced onto the back foot.

  Jess Park (6/10):

  Disappointed to have been denied what would have been a stunning strike, with the ball curled brilliantly into the back of the net after the whistle had already gone.

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  Attack

  Kerolin (7/10):

  Should have done better with a couple of early bursts but showed notable composure when netting her goal – faded out of the game slightly as Chelsea took control in the second 45.

  Vivianne Miedema (6/10):

  Important block in front of her own goal at one point during the second half, with chances at the other end few and far between – with a low second-half shot easily stopped by Hannah Hampton.

  Laura Coombs (5/10):

  Was the quietest of City’s forwards as they dominated during the first half and could have few complaints when being replaced before the hour mark.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mary Fowler (5/10):

  Was presented with one clear sight of goal, following good work by Kerolin, but took a wild swing at fresh air from 12 yards out.

  Laura Wienroither (5/10):

  City handed out late rests to those that will be crucial to the cause in a Champions League return date with Chelsea, but were unable to hang on.

  Lily Murphy (6/10):

  Clipped in one dangerous cross, which deserved to see somebody get on the end of it, with an immediate impact made when entering proceedings.

  Leila Ouahabi (5/10):

  Introduced in the final minute of the 90, so had no time to impact the game.

  Nick Cushing (5/10):

  Appeared to have found a formula to trouble City again, following success in European competition, but was unable to stem the tide as the hosts found themselves hanging on for long periods.

Tottenham are now set to hold talks over signing a new goalkeeper for Ange Postecoglou, with their target considered the best in the division, a new report has claimed.

Tottenham back on track

Tottenham’s up and down Premier League campaign continued as they thrashed Southampton 5-0, a result that ultimately saw Saints boss Russell Martin lose his job at St Mary’s. Postecoglou’s side were ahead inside a minute through James Maddison in what turned into a first half rout for the Lilywhites.

They scored three inside 14 minutes before taking a 5-0 lead into half time, allowing them to coast through the second half as boos rang around St Mary’s.

“It was outstanding by the players”, Postecoglou said after the game. “We had a tough European game away on Thursday night. We had 10 first-team players unavailable tonight and for the lads to come out with that much energy. We had to come out quickly because we knew we were going to get tired. We are asking a lot of our layers and the quality and energy showed was outstanding.”

There are still concerns in north London about Postecoglou’s lack of pragmatism in some games, something which means that despite having scored the second most goals in the Premier League they still sit in 10th place. But now, attention is turning towards the transfer market.

Tottenham ready talks for new goalkeeper

That is according to CaughtOffside, who report that Spurs are now ready to open talks to sign Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor in a permanent deal.

Tottenham are on the lookout for a new no.2 goalkeeper, with Fraser Forster out of contract at the end of the current campaign and neither Brandon Austin nor Alfie Whiteman having yet made the step up to senior football with any success.

Tottenham and Ange eyeing move to sign 25 y/o who is league's top passer

Additions are wanted at the back.

By
Charlie Smith

Dec 16, 2024

And according to the report they are eyeing a move to sign Victor, who kept a league high seven clean sheets in the Brazilian Serie A in the most recent campaign, while he also topped the goalkeeper charts in several other stats too.

It is claimed that the 28-year-old will be available for “around €9-10million” (£7m-£8m), and that Spurs are “expected to hold talks” imminently, alongside fellow Premier League giants Manchester United.

Any deal to sign the Botafogo man would likely be one that takes place in the summer however, with Ange Postecoglou already having seemingly ruled out adding another goalkeeper to his ranks despite the injury to Vicario.

“That’s not going to happen [sign a free agent]. That’s why we’ve got a squad of players here. I don’t think us signing a free agent now is going to help us,” he explained last month. “We’re happy with what we’ve got.”

But with Forster set to leave in a matter of months, Victor could be the man asked to step into the vacancy.

Germany made sure to reward the quick-thinking ball boy who played a key role in the comical goal that Jamal Musiala scored against Italy.

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• Germany raced into three-goal lead
• Bayern stars combined for bizarre effort
• Signed ball for youngster that aided cause

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Die Mannschaft were in UEFA Nations League action against the Azzurri at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. They surged into a 3-0 lead during that contest, with Bayern Munich playmaker Musiala grabbing their second goal of the evening.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Musiala could not believe his luck when presented with the simplest of tasks in front of an unguarded net. He was able to fire home after club colleague Joshua Kimmich picked him out with a clever set-piece routine. The Italian defence, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma straying a long way off his line, were busy talking among themselves when Kimmich drilled the ball into the box and Musiala wheeled away in celebration. The strike was made possible by the reactions of the youngster who was tasked with returning balls to play.

• TELL ME MORE

  The boy in question was treated to a signed ball from Kimmich having teed him up for the corner that left Italy looking sheepish and the home support delighted. He also posed for pictures with the Bayern star, who has extended his contract at the Allianz Arena through to 2029.

• WATCH THE CLIP

With the January transfer window just days away, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly ready to make a January offer to sign an attacking target worth over £16m next month.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

It’s not just on the pitch that Forest are likely to benefit from the job that Nuno Espirito Santo is doing, with their race towards European qualification likely to attract a plethora of impressive names in both January and the summer transfer window. On that front, clinical goalscorer Manfred Ugalde has already been linked with a 2025 move to the City Ground.

The Spartak Moscow striker has scored 15 goals in 18 league games so far this season and is undoubtedly one to watch at just 22 years old. Given that Chris Wood is not getting any younger either, welcoming an inevitable replacement would be yet another piece of transfer genius by all involved at Nottingham Forest.

Competing for shock Champions League qualification, the January transfer window could prove to be the final key to unlocking a historic season if those in the Midlands get things right. Recent reports certainly suggest that Forest and Evangelos Marinakis could be set to steal plenty of headlines come the start of next month.

According to Turkish outlet Star via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now ready to offer €20m (£16.6m) to sign Baris Alper Yilmaz in the January transfer window in a deal that would see a long-term target finally arrive.

Nottingham Forest and Marinakis now tracking £50m star with PSG and Bayern

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing a winger but face a transfer battle to secure his signature.

1

By
Brett Worthington

Dec 17, 2024

That said, Galatasaray reportedly value their winger at more than £16m to leave Nottingham Forest pondering their options and weighing up just how much they, themselves, believe Yilmaz is worth.

Of course, given that Espirito Santo already has Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga, Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa to choose from on both flanks, begging the question as to whether Forest need to splash out on Yilmaz.

Forest don't need to overpay for "important" Yilmaz

For the first time in a long time, Forest find themselves in a position of luxury in the transfer window, with a wealth of options already to choose from in pursuit of European football. And with that luxury comes the opportunity to land deals at the right price instead of paying extortionate fees at a desperate time, which should give them plenty to think about when it comes to Yilmaz.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed an impressive season so far, scoring nine goals and assisting another in just 24 games in all competitions, but Forest should keep their fee within their budget and at least around their reported opening offer worth £16.6m.

If they can do that then they have the chance to land an eventual bargain, given the praise that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk sent Yilmaz’s way during Euro 2024 last summer.

The Dutchman told reporters as relayed by GiveMeSport: “Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn’t score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”