Sports
Martin O’Neill Must Start Johnny Kenny Over Daizen Maeda
Celtic collide with Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final today and Martin O’Neill faces a big decision to either stick with Johnny Kenny to lead the line or bring Daizen Maeda back into the starting lineup.
O’Neill’s biggest test since returning as caretaker manager comes at home to the Hoops’ fierce rivals, who similarly have a new boss in their dugout at Hampden Park in Danny Rohl. A win over the Gers will book a place in the Scottish Cup final but also further lift spirits after an unceremonious end to Brendan Rodgers’ second spell.
There perhaps isn’t a player with more confidence at the moment than Kenny, who starred in a 4-0 win over Falkirk midweek. The Irish youngster started just his second league game of the season and took his chance with aplomb.
Celtic vs Rangers – O’Neill Must Carry on with Kenny
Kenny will feel he’s done enough to continue as a starter for the crunch clash against Rangers on Sunday. He has shown improvement with each passing game and will be riding the wave of momentum after an excellent showing against Falkirk.
Maeda is available for the semi-final after coming off the bench in the win midweek following a spell out with a hamstring injury. But there’s no need for O’Neill to rush the Japanese forward back into his XI.
Instead, he should continue to place his faith in Kenny, dubbed “absolutely brilliant”, who will relish being the hero in the Old Firm Derby and do so from the off. Maeda could come into the Bhoys’ frontline on the right but that means he displaces James Forrest and the Scot is more effective from this position.
The 28-year-old could be introduced in the second half to give O’Neil more energy, depending on how the game has panned out up until that point. There’s no doubt he’ll have a say at Hampden Park given his impressive record against the Gers, managing five goals and as many assists in 21 games.
O’Neil explained ahead of the semi-final that the Japan international remained his side’s “talisman” without question. He explained his cameo against Falkirk was to get him back up to speed following his time on the sidelines.
Celtic’s caretaker boss does have a happy headache choosing who should be his starting number nine between an in-form Kenny and a proven Maeda. It bodes well for the rest of the season if the mood continues to improve and that starts with results such as a big derby win at Hampden Park.
Sports
Tottenham Sanction Four Sales to Raise £150M In Summer Exodus For Key Stars
Tottenham are preparing for four key exits this summer, according to a report from Footballfancast, as the club look to raise funds in the market to aid their attempt at a squad rebuild.
The Lilywhites have already spent £52 million to secure Jan Paul van Hecke, alongside goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and the free agent signings of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson.
There is further spending expected, with talks ongoing to sign Sandro Tonali for a fee that could reach up to £100 million, while a deal for Mateus Fernandes could be in the region of £80 million.
That’s before even looking at the forward line, and any possible arrival on the wings or at centre-forward to help improve the goal-scoring ability in the team.
Given the lack of Champions League football for next season, there may be some doubts over the financial capability of such moves.
So the answer for Tottenham will be to look at sales, with four exits likely to be sanctioned that could raise £150 million.
Tottenham Ready Potential Exits
Tottenham’s transfer business this summer is likely to be funded by some potential exits, with four stars sanctioned for a possible move elsewhere in the market.
The report from Footballfancast outlines that club captain Cristian Romero is among those ready to leave the Lilywhites this summer, with a £50 million price tag placed on him due to a release clause in his contract.
It would be no surprise to see the Argentinian centre-back make a move before the close of the transfer window. Tottenham’s reinforcements at the back, most namely Van Hecke and Senesi, certainly point towards those at the back being let go over the course of the market.
Romero continues to be linked with the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, though as things stand, nothing is seemingly advanced over a move for the defender.
Following him could be Lucas Bergvall, who is also valued at £50 million. The Swedish midfielder has struggled to make himself a regular starter in the central ranks, despite the promise he has shown since the switch from Djurgardens.
Bergvall has seemingly asked Tottenham to leave already this summer, as he looks for a new challenge. His minutes could be impacted by the arrival of someone like Tonali or Fernandes, while Nottingham Forest are the team most heavily linked with a transfer.
Another exit could follow for Guglielmo Vicario, as Tottenham look to shake up their goalkeeping ranks over the course of the transfer market.
The Italian has looked far from convincing between the sticks, and with Antonin Kinsky likely to be the number one next season, a move is on the cards.
Tottenham are quoted as having a £20 million valuation set for a transfer.
Finally, Richarlison is quoted as the fourth player who could leave. £30 million is quoted as enough to let the Brazilian leave, following a mixed spell at Spurs so far.
It’s unclear where he could end up, with interest from the MLS and Saudi Arabia touted in recent months.
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Who Else Could Leave Tottenham?
While those four players are seemingly lined up for an exit, they may not be the only players who are looking at a possible move this summer.
Radu Dragusin appears likely to move, given his difficulty getting consistent game time, mixed with the arrival of even more competition at the back.
Tottenham Make New Move To Complete Statement Sandro Tonali Signing
Tottenham are getting closer to making a statement signing
Young left-back Souza only joined in January, but he now faces a battle against Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, and Andy Robertson for a place in the team. A move, be it on loan or permanently, could be on the cards.
There are then decisions to be made over some of the younger players. Will there be a place for loanees Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, or Jamie Donley? Only time will tell.
But it outlines just how much business Tottenham will need to get through before the market closes.
Sports
Arsenal Want Bradley Barcola Instead Of Morgan Rogers
Arsenal are eyeing up potential alternatives to Morgan Rogers this summer, as BBC Sport claims that a scouting mission is planned for one of the stars on the club’s shortlist.
Mikel Arteta and his team appear keen to add some more firepower to their frontline, particularly on the left flank, where they feel some improvement can be made in the coming weeks.
Rogers has emerged as the priority target to fill that role in the window, with his performances for Aston Villa and England proving the quality he could bring to the Premier League champions.
A deal won’t be easy, however, as Aston Villa value him at £130 million, which would be a Premier League record move for the playmaker.
Given the difficulty of that transfer, Arsenal may pivot elsewhere, and have lined up a potential alternative already.
Arsenal Want Bradley Barcola
While Arsenal consider potential forward signings, BBC Sport claims that the North London club are considering turning their attention to Bradley Barcola as their next addition.
It’s claimed that the Gunners will step up their interest in the Paris Saint-Germain star, having received some encouragement that he will be available for sale this summer.
The report adds that Arsenal are set to send scouts to France’s clash with Sweden in the World Cup round of 32, where Barcola is expected to feature for Les Bleus.
Barcola could be available for a fee less than the valuation set by Aston Villa for Rogers, with the winger only having two years remaining on his contract with PSG.
Arsenal aren’t alone in their interest in the 23-year-old, as Liverpool are also believed to be monitoring a deal, having seemingly missed out on Yan Diomande to the Parisians.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will submit an offer, and if they can tempt Barcola to make the switch to London over their rivals in the weeks ahead.
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Arsenal Must Jump At Barcola Chance
Arsenal have an opportunity to land an incredible deal for Barcola, if they manage to get a move over the line for the French winger this summer.
At 23, he has plenty of potential, but he has shown all the quality possible to make a difference for the Gunners now, having been described as “world-class”. At a snip of the price of Rogers, he has proven he can feature for a big club and win trophies.
Barcola brings pace and trickery, as well as a clinical edge that can help add some creativity that has been missing on the left side of the forward line so far for Arsenal.
Arsenal Accept Bid For Important Star As Club Await Final Player Decison
Arsenal have accepted an offer for one of their key stars this summer, with the player left to make the final decision over his future.
There is an understanding that the winger can play against low blocks, something Rogers may struggle more with considering his skillset, which may be more applicable to the Gunners and their current situation.
It all lines up to make a deal that makes total sense for Arsenal, solving their left-wing issues for the long-term with a star for now and for the future.
Sports
The Premier League Net Spend Table Since Man City’s 115 Charges
It’s been three years since Manchester City were hit with 115 charges for breaking financial fair play rules, and Premier League fans still await the conclusion of a lengthy investigation.
Once City were charged with breaching rules over a nine-year period, the assumption was that they’d curb spending. That hasn’t been the case as the Cityzens have continued to splash the cash on top talent, including Antoine Semenyo (£65 million) and Marc Guehi (£20 million) in January.
Rival clubs have been waiting for the verdict to land and have been frustrated due to the Sky Blues’ continued success in the transfer market. Take, for example, Manchester United, who are watching their top target, Elliot Anderson, become their rivals’ record signing in a £116 million deal.
With that said, here is how the Premier League net spend table looks since City were charged back in February 2023. While they don’t top the list, they still find themselves in the top five.
18 – 15
The current Premier League club with the lowest net spending during this period is Leeds United. The Peacocks are the only side to have earned more than they have spent.
One of their biggest sales came in August 2024, when they sold Georginio Rutter to Brighton & Hove Albion for £40m. They also raised £98m after selling Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United), Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra (both Bournemouth).
Ahead of them in 19th place are Brentford, who have been punching above their weight both on and off the pitch. The Bees have a habit of wheeling and dealing while unearthing gems such as Brazilian goal machine Igor Thiago, who arrived from Club Brugge for £30m in July 2024.
Keith Andrews’ London outfit agonisingly missed out on European qualification on the final day of last season. Had they secured a place in Europe for the first time, they’d undoubtedly be set for a record-breaking summer transfer window.
Everton have been embroiled in relegation battles in recent years but David Moyes’ return has helped the Toffees travel up the Premier League table. The Merseyside outfit have been penalised for breaching the PSR most recently this month and have been ordered to pay Burnley £50m.
A change in ownership in December 2024 has improved their financial situation. That said, some of their spending has raised eyebrows, such as forking out £40m to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton last summer.
It’s easy to understand why many feel Unai Emery has worked miracles at Aston Villa after achieving UEFA Champions League qualification for a second time last season. The Spaniard has worked on a limited budget, as highlighted by the Villans’ 17th-place position in the net spend table.
Villa’s most expensive signing came in July 2024, when they brought in Amadou Onana from Everton for £50m. Given they are constantly competing for a top-four finish, their success in the market deserves huge plaudits.
|
Rank |
Club |
Expenditure |
Income |
Net Spend |
|
15 |
Aston Villa |
€396.20m |
€348.18m |
€48.02m |
|
16 |
Everton |
€220.89m |
€179.55m |
€41.34m |
|
17 |
Brentford |
€279.45m |
€244.36m |
€35.09m |
|
18 |
Leeds |
€182.02m |
€203.48m |
-€21.46m |
11–14
Last season’s surprise package was Bournemouth, who finished sixth in the league despite losing star players over the year. Dean Huijsen headed to Real Madrid for £50m while Semenyo joined City in January, leaving Andoni Iraola without his talisman.
The Cherries haven’t been afraid to get their wallet out though and an upcoming Europa League campaign will surely mean big money is spent. Brazilian frontman Evanilson remains their club-record signing after arriving at the Vitality from FC Porto for £40m in August 2024.
Most Premier League owners use Brighton & Hove Albion as a blueprint in the transfer market and in implementing a project. That’s because the Seagulls have so much joy recruiting up-and-coming talent and selling them for a huge profit.
Moises Caicedo joined the Amex outfit for just £4m and headed to Chelsea in August 2023 in an £115m deal. He’s one of several players who have developed at the club before moving on for astronomical fees, and Carlos Baleba is the latest name to be linked with a potential £100m+ exit.
Fulham are somewhat surprisingly 14th despite very rarely spending heavily, and their fans have often called out the ownership for a lack of ambition. The Cottagers are a mainstay in mid-table, and perhaps their reluctance to fork out hefty fees is why Marco Silva has called it quits and taken charge of Benfica.
That said, they did break their transfer record last summer to sign Brazilian winger Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk for £34.6m. Since City’s 115 charges, they have sold the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic for £50m and Joao Palhinha for £43.2m.
Oliver Glasner oversaw the greatest era in Crystal Palace history, during which the Eagles won their first major trophy. The FA Cup, the Community Shield and the UEFA Conference League were placed in the trophy cabinet over the past two years.
This underdog story is perhaps a reminder that money isn’t everything and that success can be achieved by hard work and perseverance. The South London outfit dealt with big-money departures, including Guehi joining City, Eberechi Eze moving to Arsenal, and Michael Olise heading to Bayern Munich, for a collective £138.3m.
|
Rank |
Club |
Expenditure |
Income |
Net Spend |
|
11 |
Crystal Palace |
€304.70m |
€197.85m |
€106.85m |
|
12 |
Fulham |
€240.42m |
€141.30m |
€99.12m |
|
13 |
Brighton |
€470.30m |
€384.89m |
€85.41m |
|
14 |
Bournemouth |
€488.36m |
€378.00m |
€70.37m |
10–6
Ipswich Town are set for their second season in the top flight since City were charged, and their expenditure comes as a surprise. The Tractor Boys have tried to ensure they remain in the big time with acquisitions such as their joint-record signings Jaden Philogene and Omari Hutchinson, who both cost £20m.
Liam Delap earned a £30m switch to Chelsea last summer after an impressive 2024-25 campaign. His former club might rue inserting a £30m relegation release clause in his contract as clubs may have paid more at the time.
Spending heavily comes with a risk but Sunderland‘s recruitment staff proved their worth after buying 15 new players for £161m last summer. Shrewd signings such as Granit Xhaka and Omar Alderete helped the Black Cats secure UEFA Conference League qualification.
Last season was the first time the Wearsiders participated in the Premier League for eight seasons. They admirably opted to build a squad good enough to compete at the top half of the table rather than get dragged into a relegation battle.
Another club who have been busy in the market since earning promotion in 2022 are Nottingham Forest. The club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the Tricky Trees’ fans can’t fault his ambition given his financial backing.
Forest have swooped for the likes of Omari Hutchinson (£37m), Dan Ndoye (£35.5m) and Elliot Anderson (£35m). It’s been a topsy-turvy period which includes relegation scraps and a Europa League campaign.
Newcastle United are the richest club in world football, but the Premier League’s PSR rules have held the Saudi owners back from making dream signings at St James’ Park. That hasn’t prevented the Magpies from battling the big six in the market and bringing the likes of Sandro Tonali (£55m) and Nick Woltemade (£69m) to Tyneside.
The problem is that without Champions League football, Eddie Howe’s side struggles to entice players to make the switch. They also run the risk of losing star men, as was the case when Alexander Isak downed tools to force a British transfer record £125m move to Liverpool last year.
Chelsea, like City, have had to be cautious with their spending after getting dragged into investigations over secret payments made during the Roman Abramovich era. They were hit with the biggest fine in English football history in March, forced to pay £10.75m and handed a suspended transfer ban.
BlueCo are still happy to pay big bucks, but not always for the right players. Their transfer strategy up until now has largely focused on youth signings they loan out to their sister club, Strasbourg.
|
Rank |
Club |
Expenditure |
Income |
Net Spend |
|
6 |
Chelsea |
€1.05bn |
€855.55m |
€188.10m |
|
7 |
Newcastle |
€497.05m |
€310.15m |
€186.90m |
|
8 |
Nottingham Forest |
€478.96m |
€299.92m |
€179.04m |
|
9 |
Sunderland |
€237.64m |
€85.92m |
€151.73m |
|
10 |
Ipswich |
€220.51m |
€94.56m |
€125.95m |
5–1
Jurgen Klopp insisted Liverpool couldn’t compete with City and Newcastle during his time at Anfield. Those comments are no longer factual given the Reds broke the record for the most money spent in a single transfer window last year.
The Merseyside giants spent £449m, including add-ons, and broke the British transfer record twice. Florian Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m before Isak made a deadline-day move.
Manchester City come in at fourth, and they haven’t been deterred by their 115 charges as they try to remain the powerhouse of English football. Anderson is the prime example: their second £100m+ player to join the club, and it comes with an expected verdict from the investigation.
Spending over £800m since being charged has often led many to believe they are not worried and that they believe they will be acquitted. If not, depending on the punishment, they certainly have a squad that can compete for years to come even if a transfer ban comes into effect.
Ahead of the Cityzens are their neighbours, Manchester United, who have not won a title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. For so many years, the previous regime made clumsy transfer decisions that cost the club dearly.
That said, INEOS took over sporting operations in February 2024, and the co-owners have found success in the market. They went all out to rebuild their frontline last summer, and it paid off as the £206m spent on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha paid off with a return to Champions League football.
Tottenham Hotspur narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of last season, and they are already looking to spend big this summer. The Lilywhites’ net spend since early 2023 puts them second, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride during that time.
A Europa League triumph in 2025 should have been the catalyst for Spurs to kick on and try to compete for more major trophies. That’s why there are huge question marks over big-money signings such as Xavi Simons (£51m) and Dominic Solanke (£65m).
Premier League champions Arsenal are the club with the biggest net spend since City were charged and they now possess a squad that is competing domestically and in Europe. Last summer, the Gunners splashed the cash on Viktor Gyokeres (£54.8m), Martin Zubimendi (£60m) and Noni Madueke (£48.5m).
Declan Rice arrived at the Emirates in July 2023 for £105m and he had been linked with the Cityzens. Who knows if Pep Guardiola would have insisted on beating Mikel Arteta to the England midfielder if not for the club’s charges.
|
Rank |
Club |
Expenditure |
Income |
Net Spend |
|
1 |
Arsenal |
€637.30m |
€166.87m |
€470.44m |
|
2 |
Tottenham |
€726.05m |
€259.70m |
€466.35m |
|
3 |
Man Utd |
€705.70m |
€255.17m |
€450.53m |
|
4 |
Man City |
€804.40m |
€387.78m |
€416.62m |
|
5 |
Liverpool |
€695.35m |
€327.20m |
€368.15m |
Every Premier League Club Ranked by Their Wage Bill (2026)
Every 2025/26 Premier League team’s annual wage bill has been listed, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.
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