Corteen-Coleman, MacDonald-Gay take command in death overs to edge a tight semi-final

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2024

Sophia Dunkley set the tempo for South East Stars•Getty Images

South East Stars 162 for 5 (Dunkley 49) beat Southern Vipers 157 for 9 (Dean 43, Corteen-Coleman 2-23) by five runsSouth East Stars held their nerve to win the chance to take on The Blaze in the final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, beating holders Southern Vipers by five runs in a gripping semi-final that went down to the last over.Although seven wickets down, Vipers fancied that their experience would carry them through after needing 21 from the last three overs but two fine overs from Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Ryana MacDonald-Gay left them with a requirement of 10 off the final over, the key moment coming when Charlie Dean (43 from 29 balls) was run out off Tash Farrant’s second ball of that over.Sophia Dunkley (49 off 34) and Georgia Redmayne (39 off 38) had earlier shared a second-wicket stand of 74 to give the Stars a strong platform after losing skipper Bryony Smith earlier before Paige Scholfield cracked an unbeaten 34 off 22 balls to post 162 for five.Danni Wyatt struck 34 from 17 to get Vipers off to a flying start in reply but Corteen-Coleman (two for 23), Dani Gregory (two for 25) in particular bowled superbly to give Stars the edge.Having opted to bowl first, the Vipers dealt the Stars a big blow in the fourth over when Bryony Smith hauled Dean over the midwicket boundary for her second six but skewed the next delivery into the hands of extra cover, but the Stars made a bright start nonetheless, with Dunkley assuming the lead role and Redmayne offering solid support.They turned 48 for one after six overs to 92 for one after 12, giving themselves a platform to set the defending champions a testing chase.Vipers were concerned enough to turn to left-arm spinner Linsey Smith in mid-innings rather than keep her back for the death. It paid off, a flighted turning ball combined with some nifty glovework behind the stumps sending Dunkley on her way one short of a half-century. Freya Davies bowled Emma Jones in the next over to leave the Stars 109 for three with 34 balls remaining.Scholfield’s clean hitting advanced the total by 36 in three overs and though they were checked by a couple of good death overs by Charli Knott and Davies, Vipers knew they would need to bat well to win.Needing a tad over eight an over, Vipers scored at nines in the powerplay, although at a cost of two important wickets. England’s Maia Bouchier fell for two, bowled behind her legs to add to the growing list of big scalps acquired by 16-year-old left-arm spinner Corteen-Coleman. Australian all-rounder Knott hit 21 as she and Wyatt plundered 48 from 29 balls but the last ball of the opening six saw her bowled by Smith sweeping.An even bigger blow for the Vipers came as Wyatt, looking in ruthless mood and picking up her second six in the same over, hit Gregory’s leg spin down the throat of deep mid-wicket.At 84 for three at the halfway point, Vipers were still well in the chase but lost another wicket in an eventful 11th over that saw skipper Georgia Adams caught off a no-ball and dropped off a legitimate delivery before Freya Kemp was stumped as Gregory claimed a second success.When Adams then became another victim of Redmayne’s sharp hands behind the stumps off some more clever bowling by Corteen-Coleman, the balance was tilting in the Stars’ favour, an impression that was strengthened when Smith had Georgia Elwiss leg before and Rhianna Southby was run out by a brilliant throw by MacDonald-Gay running in from deep midwicket.Dean now held the key. She eased the pressure by hoisting Smith over the long-on boundary but a five-run final over from Corteen-Coleman left Vipers needing 16 from the last two overs, which became 10 from six balls after MacDonald-Gay’s last over restricted them to six singles.The decisive blow came with five balls left as Dean, at the bowler’s end after taking a single off Farrant, as non-striker, committed to running whatever Smith did at the other end but was left hopelessly out of her ground as Farrant picked up the ball in her follow through and turned to break the stumps, Vipers ultimately finishing six short of their target.

Tottenham Hotspur have taken a risk this summer in sacking Ange Postecoglou, especially after the Aussie ended their 17-year wait for any form of silverware.

The responsibility has subsequently fallen into the hands of Thomas Frank, who was appointed as the new boss on a three-year contract, with the hierarchy forking out £10m for his signature from Brentford.

The Dane will likely be under huge pressure to make a fast start to his tenure, needing to get results on the board and help the club rise up the Premier League table.

Their lowly league standing was what subsequently cost Ange his job in North London, with Frank wanting to avoid such a repeat, which could see his job on the line in the near future.

However, if he is to have the best possible chance of replicating the Aussie, he will need additions, with owner Daniel Levy needing to provide him with the options he craves.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

Xavi Simons is a star who has set Europe alight this season, registering 11 goals for RB Leipzig this season, with Spurs open to making a move for his signature this window.

He’s not the only player in their sights, with Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo also under consideration ahead of a potential deal over the coming weeks.

However, another name has emerged on their shortlist in recent times, with Brighton and Hove Albion talisman Joao Pedro a firm target for Frank, according to Spurs Web.

They claim that internal talks have been held in North London over a deal for the Brazilian forward, who’s set to leave the AMEX after scoring 10 Premier League goals this season.

It also states that the 23-year-old could be available for around £70m this summer, but face tough competition from Newcastle United and Chelsea for his signature.

Why Spurs’ £70m target could become Frank’s next Mbeumo

During Frank’s reign as Brentford boss, he took the club from the Championship and made them an established top-flight outfit, developing many talents in the process.

Forward Bryan Mbeumo is just one example, joining from French side Troyes back in 2019, before developing into a leading Premier League star in recent months.

The Cameroonian international managed to score 20 times for the Bees in 2024/25, the most he’s registered in a single season, leading to interest from the Lilywhites and Manchester United.

It appears as though he will move to Old Trafford this window after informing Frank’s side that he’s only interested in a switch to join the Red Devils this window.

Such a decision could see Pedro become a key option for the club in the transfer window, potentially being the Dane’s new version of Mbeumo in North London.

The Brazilian has been labelled a similar player to the 25-year-old by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Pedro, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Ryan Adsett, has posted a better goal and assist per 90 record, handing Frank the added attacking threat he will need in North London.

How Pedro compares to Mbeumo in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Pedro

Mbeumo

Games played

27

38

Goals & assists

16

27

Goals & assists (per 90)

0.74

0.71

Pass accuracy

73%

66%

Passes into final third

1.9

1.6

Take-ons completed

1.4

1.3

Fouls won

2.1

1.1

Aerials won

49%

31%

Stats via FBref

Alongside his goalscoring record, the Brighton star has also completed more passes into the final third and registered a better pass accuracy rate – able to hand out chances to those around him in the final third.

He’s also won more aerial battles and completed a higher tally of take-ons, handing an all-round and versatile option to the manager in his quest for success with the Lilywhites.

£70m may appear to be a hefty price tag for the Brazilian, but it’s a competitive fee for a player who’s been just as impressive as Mbeumo this campaign.

If he can replicate such talents for the Lilywhites next season, he has all the tools to become a fan favourite and play a huge part in the new era at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Sole recruited for the remainder of the group stages to boost Glamorgan’s quarter-final hopes

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jun-2024Glamorgan have signed Scotland fast bowler Chris Sole for the rest of the T20 Blast group stages. He is set to make his debut at The Oval on Friday night, less than a week after Scotland’s elimination from the T20 World Cup at the hands of Australia.Sole, 30, took two wickets at the World Cup and has been clocked at speeds above 90mph/145kph during his international career. Grant Bradburn, Glamorgan’s head coach, previously worked with Sole during his time in charge of Scotland.”To be able to add Chris Sole’s high-quality skills, experience and character into our squad brings an exciting vibe to our team, as we look forward to playing at The Oval tonight,” Bradburn said. “Having worked with Chris previously in Scotland, we know the high value he will bring and I’m sure he will thrive in our environment.”Mark Wallace, Glamorgan’s director of cricket, said they had been following Sole’s progress closely. “We have been tracking Chris for a while, and now that his World Cup campaign is over with Scotland, it’s great to be able to bring him in to add some pace to our attack and bolster our seam bowling resources in the Vitality Blast,” Wallace said.Glamorgan will hope that Sole’s inclusion can boost their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Blast. They sit seventh out of nine in the South Group, with the top four progressing to the next stage, and lost a thriller to Gloucestershire on Thursday despite a world-class outfield catch from Marnus Labuschagne.”I’m very excited to be included in Glamorgan’s Vitality Blast campaign and can’t wait to join the squad at the Oval tonight,” Sole said. “Hopefully I can contribute to some on-field success in the coming weeks.”

Manchester United have held talks over a swap deal to sign a “generational” Premier League forward, with Jadon Sancho potentially being sent in the opposite direction, according to a report.

Sancho's future remains up in the air

Last week, it was revealed that Sancho was in discussions over a permanent move to Chelsea, having put in some improved performances towards the back end of the campaign, most notably scoring in the UEFA Conference League final.

Fabrizio Romano has since revealed the winger will not be making a move to west London, meaning the Blues had to pay Man United a £5m penalty clause. However, that does not mean he will remain at Old Trafford beyond the summer.

With Sancho’s future very much up in the air, the Red Devils are now exploring different ways to get him off the books, and secret talks have even been held over a swap deal for West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus.

That is according to a report from United in Focus, which reveals Kudus was ready to make the move to Old Trafford, with his West Ham career coming to an end, but the deal currently remains on hold.

That is because the Ghanaian is not Ruben Amorim’s number one priority, having set out to sign Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, who recently made it clear he wants to join United this summer, despite interest from Arsenal.

As such, while the West Ham star is expected to move on this summer, he may not join the Red Devils, with the move further complicated by the fact Graham Potter’s side are reluctant to sign Sancho.

Deal for "generational" Kudus could break the bank

Mbeumo appears to be United’s priority target, but should they switch their focus to the 24-year-old, a deal could be on the expensive side, as the forward has a £75m release clause in his contract with the Irons.

As such, it does not seem likely that Amorim’s side will sign the Ghana international this summer, with West Ham uninterested in Sancho, but he could be a fantastic signing if they do manage to facilitate a deal.

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The Accra-born attacker has been described as a “generational talent” by journalist Gary Al-Smith, and he has impressed in the Premier League in the past, picking up eight goals and nine assists in the 2023-24 campaign.

That said, Mbeumo has been far more prolific than Kudus in recent times, reaching the 20-goal mark this season, so it is clear to see why the Cameroonian is the preferred option for Man United.

This summer appears to be massive for Tottenham Hotspur if they are to leap back up the Premier League table throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

Thomas Frank will be the latest manager tasked with taking the Lilywhites back towards the top end after the side registered a 17th-place finish this time around.

However, the Dane will have to find the balance between the league and Europe, with the club entering the Champions League as a result of their Europa League triumph.

Squad depth will be vital if they are to be competitive across both competitions, needing to strike a balance between the two to avoid any further embarrassment.

If the 51-year-old is to have the depth he desires, he will need the board to back him in the transfer market to allow him to land the stars he wants to be a success in his stint in North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Antoine Semenyo has emerged as a key target for Spurs this window, with the Ghanaian high on their list of priorities after netting 11 goals and registering five assists at the Vitality this season.

He’s not the only one on their radar, with Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz another talent on their radar, but it could cost a pretty penny with the Cottagers demanding £50m to part ways with the Brazilian.

However, despite the interest in the aforementioned duo, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has once again emerged on their shortlist, according to TBR Football’s latest update.

They claim that the Lilywhites are prepared to trigger his £68m release clause in his contract, with Frank’s men confident of completing a deal for the England international.

It also states that the 26-year-old is very keen on a move to join the North London outfit this window, even preparing to push for a move to depart his current employers during the off-season.

Why Eze would be Frank’s answer to Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo is a player who’s made a name for himself under Frank at Brentford over recent years, being a key reason for the success endured across the capital.

The Cameroonian international has endured his own rise after joining from French side Troyes back in 2019, registering 70 goals for the Bees in the last six seasons.

He’s exploded into life in 2024/25, notching 20 league goals – the best return of his professional career – cementing himself as one of the Premier League’s most threatening talents.

After the Dane’s switch to join Spurs, he’s already attempted to bring the attacker to the club with him, but faces stiff competition from Manchester United for his signature.

It’s unclear whether the Lilywhites will be able to land the 25-year-old in this window, with attention potentially being turned in the direction of Eze as a result.

The attacking midfielder has caught the eye this campaign, registering 16 combined goals and assists in the league, even scoring the winner in their FA Cup triumph.

He could become Frank’s next version of Mbeumo should he complete a move, being his new talisman that can create endless opportunities – as seen with his respective tallies.

Eze, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Adam Keys and as a “superstar” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, has registered 3.5 shots per 90, with 37% of his efforts going on target, showcasing his clinical edge in attacking areas.

His creative nature is also reflected in his tally of 2.1 key passes per 90, whilst also registering 3.4 progressive carries per 90, having the skillset to take the ball into attacking areas and carry the threat that Frank desires.

Games played

34

Goals & assists

16

Shots taken

3.5

Shot on target accuracy

37%

Key passes

2.1

Progressive carries

3.4

Take-on success

49%

The midfielder has also completed 49% of the take-ons he’s attempted, with 4.7 shot-creating actions per 90, having the tools to create and score on his own – replicating that of Mbeumo at Brentford.

Whilst £68m appears to be a hefty figure, it would be a deal that could hand Frank a completely new dimension within the final third during his first season at the helm.

Should he replicate the levels produced by the Cameroonian across the capital, it would be a superb piece of business, handing the side the best chance of returning to a European battle next season.

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Everyone at Football FanCast is devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. We are sending our thoughts and prayers to their friends, families, teammates and loved ones.

As Richard Hughes turns his attention towards bolstering Arne Slot’s midfield, Liverpool have reportedly made contact to sign a La Liga star worth just £35m this summer.

Liverpool working on Ekitike deal

Despite already spending big to sign Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez whilst also welcoming Freddie Woodman this summer, Liverpool are not done on the transfer front. The Reds still have their sights set on signing a striker and after reports earlier this week claimed that Victor Osimhen, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike are all concrete options, it looks as though the latter has emerged as the most likely to arrive.

The Eintracht Frankfurt star enjoyed an excellent campaign last time out and it should come as no surprise that he’s so high up on Liverpool’s list of targets. As Napoli continue to work on a deal to sign Darwin Nunez too, the Reds could land an instant upgrade whilst putting an end to the South American’s nightmare Anfield spell.

Minutes

2,563

1,133

Goals

15

5

Assists

8

2

Expected Goals

21.6

5.8

Although there will be concerns about Ekitike’s expected goals underperformance last season, his creative output should ensure that Liverpool are not put off a move to sign the Frenchman this summer.

With the likes of Mohamed Salah and Wirtz around him, that impressive output would only reach new levels at Liverpool. There’s still plenty of work left to be done for any deal to take place, however, and those at Anfield must ensure that they fend off interest from elsewhere in the Premier League.

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After Ekitike, meanwhile, Liverpool could turn their attention towards midfield reinforcements and a Barcelona talent.

Liverpool submit Marc Casado offer

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have now made contact to sign Marc Casado from Barcelona, even submitting their first offer. The midfielder is considering an exit away from the Nou Camp in the hope of more game time next season and has attracted the interest of Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and the Reds as a result.

The deal wouldn’t break the bank for Liverpool or Chelsea either, given that Barcelona are reportedly demanding just €40m (£35m) to sell the 21-year-old in the coming months.

Included in a group of progressive passers described as “fantastic” by scout Jacek Kulig, Casado could provide Slot with the perfect alternative to transfer target Adam Wharton if the Crystal Palace man remains out of reach.

At just £35m too, the Barcelona man would likely go down as Liverpool’s biggest bargain in a summer which has seen them break the British transfer record to sign Wirtz.

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، عن مشوار الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بيراميدز، في كأس إنتركونتيننتال، حتى المباراة النهائية.

وسيشارك بيراميدز في بطولة كأس إنتركونتيننتال، التي من المقرر إقامتها نهاية العام الحالي، بمشاركة الأندية أبطال القارات.

طالع| موعد مباراة بيراميدز وأوكلاند سيتي في كأس إنتركونتيننتال مشوار بيراميدز في كأس إنتركونتيننتال

وبحسب فيفا، تقام مباراة بيراميدز وأوكلاند سيتي في التاسعة مساء يوم 14 سبتمبر المقبل، بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية على استاد الدفاع الجوي بالقاهرة.

وتابع فيفا: “سيواجه الفائز منهما الأهلي السعودي في جدة بتاريخ 23 سبتمبر،  لتحديد بطل كأس إفريقيا-آسيا-المحيط الهادئ”.

وستقام المواجهة بمدينة جدة بتاريخ 23 سبتمبر 2025 في تمام الساعة التاسعة بتوقيت مكة والقاهرة، علماً أن الفائز سيُتوج بكأس إفريقيا-آسيا-المحيط الهادئ، كما سيحجز مقعده في الدور التالي.

وبعدها ستقام ثلاث مباريات أخرى، بما فيها نهائي كأس القارات للأندية 2025، خلال شهر ديسمبر 2025.

وتبدأ الثلاث مباريات بموقعة ديربي الأمريكتين، المقررة يوم الأربعاء 10 ديسمبر 2025، بين كروز أزول المكسيكي، الفائز بنسخة 2025 من مسابقة كأس أبطال أمريكا الشمالية والوسطى والكاريبي، وبطل أمريكا الجنوبية لهذا العام نادي فلامنجو البرازيلي. موعد مباراة نصف نهائي كأس إنتركونتيننتال 2025

ستقام يوم السبت 13 ديسمبر 2025 مواجهة بين الفائزين في المباراتين 2 و3 للتنافس على كأس التحدي وحجز بطاقة التأهل للنهائي. موعد نهائي كأس إنتركونتيننتال 2025

الفائز في المباراة 4، سيواجه نادي باريس سان جيرمان، الفائز بدوري أبطال أوروبا 2024-2025، يوم الأربعاء 17 ديسمبر 2025 في نهائي كأس القارات للأندية 2025، على أن يتم الإعلان عن مكان تنظيم المباريات 3 و4 و5 في وقت لاحق.

Chelsea are growing frustrated with a member of Enzo Maresca’s side for one key reason, with their Premier League rivals now weighing up a surprise move for him this summer.

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The Blues are expected to part company with a host of players over the coming weeks, following their agreed exit deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys and Marcus Bettinelli, who brought in around £19 million worth of transfer fees to the Stamford Bridge coffers.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi are all up for sale (The Athletic), given they’re out of Maresca’s long-term plans, while matchday regulars like Christopher Nkunku, Noni Maduke and Nicolas Jackson have also been linked with the exit door in recent weeks.

The latter two players have even been described as almost certain to leave, amid reported interest from Arsenal.

There is also the ongoing matter of Raheem Sterling and his next club. The £50m England international is back from a lacklustre loan spell at Arsenal, and his £325,000-per-week wages are poised to be a major stumbling block in Chelsea’s attempts to offload the ex-Man City star.

Reports last week of Sterling’s advanced talks to join Besiktas appear wide of the mark, but journalist Simon Phillips now reports that west London rivals Fulham could take the 30-year-old off Maresca’s hands instead.

Fulham weigh surprise move to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea

Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports that Fulham are weighing up a surprise move for Sterling, with Chelsea growing frustrated by the winger’s exit stance.

“SPTC sources are still hearing that he ideally does not want to move away from his family in London and wants to stay there, vastly reducing his options and making it frustrating for all involved,” said the reporter.

“If Sterling truly does only want to stay in London, then he is going to need to lower his wage demands, which he may well do.

“After having spent last season on loan with Arsenal, Sterling is once again looking for a new club to join. We understand that Fulham have been alerted by his availability this summer and are weighing up whether they can make a move. However, his wages put them off at the moment and will need to go down if they are to land him. But they like the player and there is interest from them this summer.

“Sterling’s agents will reach out to other London clubs as well to offer the player around, but at the moment, we have heard that Sterling is not chasing a pay day in Saudi or even the States. His priority is to stay in London close to all of his family.”

Sam Hain’s stunning 98 off 48 balls set Birmingham Bears on their way to a fifth straight win in the Vitality Blast as they beat Yorkshire in a high-scoring thriller by four runs to take a significant step towards the quarter-finals.Hain crashed eight sixes in an innings more power than poise on an excellent Headingley surface as the Bears amassed 214 for 7.The North Group leaders then wrapped up a seventh win in nine matches, but not without drama. Dawid Malan opened with an excellent 54 and Donovan Ferreira blasted 66 off 32 balls with seven sixes. But George Garton brilliantly defended 11 off the last over and six off the last ball, the Vikings finishing on 210 for 5.Yorkshire lost their fifth match in nine and will see this as a missed opportunity given they needed 18 off the last two overs.Meanwhile, Hain’s fourth fifty of the ongoing campaign took him to the top of the Blast runs chart on 395.Bears captain and opener Alex Davies, who elected to bat, also contributed a brisk 43, though he later left the field with a finger injury sustained whilst keeping wicket.Hain was more powerful than he is known for and hit the majority of his sixes to the leg-side, though not exclusively to the short side over towards the Western Terrace. He left Yorkshire faced with what would have been a club record chase in this format.Vikings, who now have significant work to do for a top-four finish, made the perfect start as left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty bowled Ed Barnard with the fixture’s first ball.Birmingham’s innings kicked into life in the fourth over as Davies took the lion’s share of 24 off Matthew Revis. And after Davies was trapped lbw by a Jordan Thompson yorker – 79 for 3 in the eighth over – Hain, having come in at No. 4, took on the lead role in stunning fashion.Hain hit three leg-side sixes off seam in reaching his fifty off 34 balls on a true pitch with a fast outfield. By that stage, Bears were 141 for 4 in the 15th over.Hain looked nailed on for a second career T20 century as he went into the final over on 98. But he didn’t face another ball.In fact, he watched New Zealander Zak Foulkes whip his first ball as a Bear for six off Conor McKerr over fine leg and over the imposing Howard Stand into the neighbouring rugby ground.Seam bowling allrounder Foulkes continued his excellent start to his short-term overseas spell with the Bears when he had Adam Lyth caught behind with his third ball – 18 for 1 in the second. Davies took the catch but immediately left the field having taken a blow moments before.But, despite the wicket, Yorkshire started nicely thanks to classy Malan and inventive James Wharton. They shared 62 in six overs for the second wicket, the latter reverse sweeping a six off Dan Mousley’s spin in a rapid 29.Like Birmingham had been, Yorkshire were 98 for 3 after 10 overs, with left-arm spinner Danny Briggs having removed Wharton caught at deep midwicket and George Hill bowled.With those dismissals, Vikings’ task was getting tougher. Not that Malan agreed. He lofted Briggs over long-on for six and reached his second fifty of 2024 off 38 balls.He found a partner in ferocious South African Ferreira, and they shared 57 inside six overs for the third wicket before Malan slapped a Briggs full toss to deep midwicket – 155 for 4 in the 16th.But Yorkshire had plenty of batting left, not least Ferreira, who hit four sixes in a five-ball period off Jake Lintott’s spin and Foulkes’ seam. He reached his maiden county fifty off 26 balls.Yorkshire needed 18 off the last two overs, but Ferreira was caught at long-off against Mousley at the start of the penultimate – ultimately the key moment, leaving Vikings 197 for 5. Left-arm quick Garton then expertly closed things out, with Shan Masood failing to hit the final ball for six.

Celtic are looking to improve their options in the wide areas during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 campaign getting underway.

The Hoops are already closing in on their first addition on the flanks, as reporter Anthony Joseph has claimed that the club have agreed a fee of £1.7m to sign FC Nordsjaelland attacker Benjamin Nygren.

The Sweden international, who scored 15 goals in 30 league matches for the Danish club this season, is set to arrive to compete for a place on the right wing, but the club are also looking at a left-sided addition.

Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that talks are ongoing between Celtic and Michel-Ange Balikwisha over a potential move from Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

The Belgian reporter added that the 24-year-old winger is keen to make the move to Parkhead this summer, but it remains to be seen whether or not terms will be agreed between all parties to make it happen.

Celtic are looking to bring in a new left-winger after Jota suffered a long-term knee injury in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, and there are reasons for and against a move for Balikwisha.

The Celtic case for Michel-Ange Balikwisha

One of the reasons why Celtic may want to sign the Belgian forward is because he has the potential to deliver quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals at the top end of the pitch.

The right-footed flanker has produced 29 goals and 17 assists in 141 appearances in all competitions for Royal Antwerp to date, which includes four goals and three assists in ten games during the Pro League play-off round this season.

Balikwisha has shown that he has the potential to make a big impact in the final third at a good level in Belgium’s top-flight, which is why Celtic may feel that he could hit the ground running in Scotland.

At the age of 24, the Belgian forward is also at a good age where he still has time to develop and improve, but is not inexperienced, which could make him an ideal signing.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s injury history
Season	Injuries	Days missed	Games missed
24/25	3	205	29
23/24	1	49	10
22/23	2	103	14
21/22	2	51	10
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, though, there are also reasons to be concerned about a potential deal for the winger, as he has missed 63 matches through injury in the last four seasons combined, and this means that the attacker may not be available week-in-week-out.

Balikwisha has also only played more than 17 games in one role, as a left winger, in his career, which does not suggest that he is supremely versatile across the frontline.

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Celtic could, however, land an even better winger signing this summer by moving for Blackburn Rovers dynamo Tyrhys Dolan over a swoop for Balikwisha.

Why Celtic should sign Tyrhys Dolan

The Hoops are reportedly in the running to land the 23-year-old attacker on a free transfer, as his contract at Ewood Park is due to expire at the end of this month.

This means that he would be significantly cheaper than Balikwisha, who has a reported price tag of £5m, and that would allow the Scottish Premiership champions to save money to spend in other areas of the pitch.

Not only would Dolan be a cheaper alternative, the English forward would also arrive as a player who is more likely to be a reliable option for Brendan Rodgers from a fitness perspective, as he has not suffered any notable injuries in his career, as per Transfermarkt.

The 23-year-old ace, who has racked up 210 appearances for Blackburn already, is durable and can be relied upon to be available most weeks as Celtic compete across four competitions, as he has been used to 46-game seasons in the Championship.

Dolan, once hailed as “outstanding” by manager John Eustace, also has the positional flexibility to make him a useful option even when Jota is back fit. He has played 25 games or more in four different positions throughout his career, and is capable of playing on the right or left flank, as an attacking midfielder, and as a centre-forward.

This suggests that he is more likely to be a viable option in other positions than Balikwisha, who is predominantly a left-winger, would be, which is another reason why he could be a more valuable signing for Rodgers moving forward.

24/25 Championship	Tyrhys Dolan per 90	Percentile rank vs wingers
Goals	0.17	Top 45%
Shot on target percentage	44%	Top 11%
Non-penalty xG per shot	0.13	Top 22%
Goals per shot	0.12	Top 33%
Goal creating actions	0.48	Top 11%
Defensive actions leading to goal	0.06	Top 2%
Assists	0.17	Top 37%
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Dolan also caught the eye with his contributions at the top end of the pitch in the second tier of English football, ranking highly in a host of key attacking metrics.

He ended the campaign with a return of seven goals, seven ‘big chances’ created, and six assists, compared to Balikwisha’s haul of four goals, seven ‘big chances’ created, and three assists.

These statistics, with both his goal and assist numbers as well as his underlying data, suggest that the potential is there for the potential free agent signing to deliver quality as a scorer and a creator of goals for Celtic.

Overall, Dolan would be a better signing for the Scottish giants than Balikwisha because he would arrive at Parkehad for less money, offer more reliability with his fitness, offer more versatility with the positions that he can play, and offer a similar threat in front of goal.

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It is now down to Rodgers to push the board to strike an agreement with Dolan to bring him in on a free transfer instead of pursuing a big-money deal for Balikwisha this summer.