da aviator aposta： Chelsea will swoop for a marquee England star if they sense a dramatic late opportunity to prise him away from his current club, with the Premier League big-hitters expected to be busy in the final days of this January window.
Enzo Maresca sets his sights on two signings for Chelsea
da pinnacle： According to credible reporter Simon Phillips, manager Enzo Maresca has personally set his sights on both a new midfielder and a striker – making his transfer desires known in a recent meeting with Stamford Bridge officials behind-the-scenes.
Chelsea approve late January exit for "special" player after U-turn
The west Londoners are changing their plans.
3 ByEmilio Galantini Jan 29, 2025
There was potential for the west Londoners to reignite a move for Jhon Duran, given Aston Villa’s pursuits of both defender Axel Disasi and forward João Félix (Simon Phillips), but the Colombia starlet is now set to join Al-Nassr in a head-turning January deal with his Saudi medical booked for today.
However, the striker position remains a key area of the squad they’re looking to reinforce.
“With Chelsea, all along, it’s been kind of the messages I’ve been receiving: if there’s a deal available for the right price, then we might think about doing it,” said The Athletic’s Simon Johnson to GiveMeSport.
Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
West Ham (home)
February 3rd
Brighton (away)
February 14th
Aston Villa (away)
February 22nd
Southampton (home)
February 25th
Leicester City (home)
March 9th
“And striker is a position that, not just this window, but for the summer, is one of the key positions they’re looking at.”
In terms of a new midfielder, Man United star Kobbie Mainoo remains a top target, even if a deal for the Red Devils sensation will be very difficult to pull off.
Mainoo has been in reliably reported talks over a new deal at Old Trafford, as he seeks an upgrade on his £20,000-per-week wages, but Chelsea apparently remain in the background – ready to tempt the 19-year-old with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will not hesitate to make a late move for Kobbie Mainoo
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Maresca’s side are set to be one of the busiest clubs over the last few days of this winter window.
They’re indeed eyeing up late midfield options, ideally one who can play both centrally and pivot as a number six. With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka still likely to leave, Chelsea “will not hesitate” to make a late move for Mainoo, should a golden chance present itself.
United certainly won’t make it easy, though, and are set to demand around £70 million for the player’s services. While a transfer looks increasingly more difficult, Ruben Amorim’s side apparently aren’t completely ruling out selling some of their big-name stars.
The “brave” midfielder is technically gifted, with only Amad Diallo averaging more successful take-ons per 90 in United’s squad this season (WhoScored), and he’d be quite the capture for Maresca.
da pixbet： Com a intenção de aumentar a segurança em Guayaquil, palco da final da Taça Libertadores, a Conmebol organizou uma reunião com membros das diretorias de Flamengo e Athletico Paranaense na manhã desta quarta-feira (horário local) em Guayas.
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da marjack bet： +Final da Libertadores: Flamengo conta com a torcida equatoriana e LANCE! traz a explicação
O encontro também contou com políticos da cidade, forças municipais e federais do Estado e membros das forças armadas do Equador. A intenção é melhorar a segurança ao redor do Estádio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, palco da partida do próximo sábado.
A região da arena, como o LANCE!publicou, é uma das mais perigosas de Guayaquil. A tendência é que a Polícia do Equador reforce o local com viaturas de forma imediata, permitindo que torcedores possam chegar ao estádio com mais segurança.
Esta reunião de segurança é algo de praxe na Conmebol no que diz respeito às finais. A entidade realiza encontros com os representantes nas decisões sempre no penúltimo dia antes da bola rolar quando é jogo único para decidir o título.
حسم نادي الوكرة القطري موقفه النهائي بشأن مستقبل حمدي فتحي لاعب وسط الفريق، في ظل وجود مفاوضات متقدمة مع بيراميدز الذي يسعى لضم اللاعب خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.
وبحسب ما نشرته صحيفة “العرب” القطرية، فإن إدارة الوكرة أبدت موافقة مبدئية على انتقال لاعب الوسط حمدي فتحي إلى نادي بيراميدز، بعد تلقي عرض رسمي خلال الساعات الماضية، وسط رغبة واضحة من اللاعب في خوض تجربة جديدة بالدوري المصري.
طالع أيضًا | خاص | الوكرة يكشف لـ”بطولات” تفاصيل عرض بيراميدز لضم حمدي فتحي.. وموقف اللاعب
ومن المقرر أن تعقد إدارة النادي جلسة مع اللاعب لمناقشة تفاصيل العرض المالي وآلية سداد الصفقة، وذلك بعد حصولها على موافقة الجهاز الفني على رحيله، تمهيدًا لتوقيع العقود خلال الساعات المقبلة.
يُذكر أن حمدي فتحي انضم إلى صفوف الوكرة في يوليو 2023 بعقد يمتد لأربع سنوات، وشارك في عدة بطولات محلية وقارية، من بينها دوري نجوم أريد، كأس الأمير، ودوري أبطال آسيا، كما تُوّج مع الفريق بلقب كأس قطر، وسبق له الظهور مع الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية خلال فترة إعارته.
da apostebet： West Ham United chiefs are in “ongoing” talks over signing an England player for new manager Graham Potter, with a high-ranking Hammers source telling one news outlet that a move for him is very much on the cards.
West Ham working to back Graham Potter in January
da betway： So far, Potter has suffered two defeats in the West Ham dugout and one thrilling win at home to high-flying Fulham, but the former Chelsea boss has scarcely had any time to implement the philosophy which brought him so much success at Brighton.
West Ham target Duran alternative in £20m striker with talks already held
The Hammers have seen a low-ball bid for Villa’s starlet turned down.
ByEmilio Galantini Jan 21, 2025
Potter is also working with Julen Lopetegui’s players, and is yet to make his first official new signing as manager. That isn’t for lack of trying, as the 49-year-old is believed to be “very” keen on exploring loan deals for Chelsea duo Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka (ExWHUemployee).
West Ham’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Aston Villa (away)
January 26
Chelsea (away)
February 3
Brentford (home)
February 15
Arsenal (away)
February 22
Leicester City (home)
February 27
West Ham have also seen a new £57 million bid for Jhon Duran rejected out of hand, as their search for a new centre-forward to come in for injured duo Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio carries on behind-the-scenes.
In any case, the east Londoners are working to back Potter at the London Stadium, and a new midfielder is believed to remain on their to-do list.
Another one of their reported targets, alongside the likes of Dewsbury-Hall and Chukwuemeka, is Lille midfielder Angel Gomes.
While this would be one for the summer, considering his contract expires at the end of this season, it is believed that West Ham are attempting to agree on a pre-contract with the Three Lions ace who earned his first ever international call-ups in late 2024.
The former Man United gem bagged eight assists across 31 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille last campaign, averaging a very impressive 91.3 per cent passing accuracy in their midfield (WhoScored), leaving little wonder the tidy, composed technician is attracting Premier League interest.
West Ham in "ongoing talks" with Angel Gomes over contract
According to a “senior” club source, speaking to Hammers News, West Ham are in “ongoing talks” with Gomes over signing for them – but they face stiff competition from London rivals Tottenham, who pose a “big” threat.
“Talks are ongoing but nothing is close and there’s competition given his status,” said the inside informant to Hammers News. “Tottenham are a big problem now.”
If Potter’s side can pip Ange Postecoglou to the 24-year-old’s signing, there is little denying he’d be an excellent coup, especially on a free deal.
“He’s the type of quality player you want your club looking at, obviously,” said pundit Paul Robinson to Tottenham News.
“He’s going to get more minutes at international level. He’s a top-quality player. A move back to the Premier League won’t be out of the question. If he’s playing at the top level, you want your club to be involved in the race.”
Glamorgan total overhauled with room to spare as opener helps break chase
ECB Reporters Network16-Jun-2023
Feroze Khushi hammered 61 off 37 to fire Essex’s chase•Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Essex 177 for 6 (Khushi 61, McIlroy 4-36) beat Glamorgan 175 for 6 (Carlson 43, Harmer 2-43) by four wicketsFeroze Khushi sent off his audition to be Dan Lawrence’s successor as Essex made it four wins in a row by beating Glamorgan by four wickets in the Vitality Blast.Academy graduate Khushi crashed a 37-ball 61 as Essex comfortably chased down 175, despite losing three early wickets thanks to Jamie McIlroy’s four for 36. Khushi is in prime position to push for a regular first-team spot after Lawrence announced he was to join Surrey from next season and showed his promise with an innings that included four huge sixes.Paul Walter continued his fine form against Glamorgan with 43, before Matt Critchley and Daniel Sams saw off most the remaining runs with 24 balls to spare.Having been stuck in on a fresh pitch, Kiran Carlson got the visitors off to a flyer with 43 off 25 balls, which included a straight six off Sams and a swatted pull maximum off Sam Cook.Sam Northeast, who had earlier been meekly dropped, was the first of three catches for Walter at long-on – with Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke also picking out the tallest man on the field – as Glamorgan reached 55 for 1 in the powerplay.Glamorgan’s good start was dented by Ingram and Carlson falling in successive overs as Essex claimed control of the middle overs to have Glamorgan 122 for 4 after 15 – with Cooke falling to Harmer.Critchley lured Billy Root to swing to wide long-on but Timm van der Gugten smashed Harmer for two sixes in an 18 run over to push Glamorgan closer towards par. Van der Gugten was eventually run out in the final over after a brutal 14-ball 33 as Glamorgan ended up on 175 for 6 – with Sams and Critchley both boasting economical figures of 1 for 20 to keep the total narrowly in the Eagles’ favour.Essex take an aggressive approach to their batting – the results coming in two forms. On one side you have two wickets in the first over and three in the powerplay, leaving them 35 for 3: Robin Das slogged his first ball to deep square leg and Michael Pepper ramped the next ball behind. Jamie McIlroy couldn’t get a hat-trick but Josh Rymell chipped to mid-on in the left-armer’s following over.On the other, you had Khushi pinging three sixes in the first three overs as he moved to 33 off his first 11 balls, although he took fewer risks to reach his third half-century in 29 balls.Walter joined Khushi and the pair found a nice rhythm in a 80-run stand in 47 balls. Walter had scored 58 and 78 in his previous two innings against Glamorgan, he struck 42 before his fourth attempt at a six top-edged to short third.Khushi was sensationally caught and bowled by van der Gugten five balls later to leave 59 needed off 51 balls. But Sams and Critchley made sure the result wasn’t in danger, with the former boshing 41 off 16 – Essex scoring 57 off the last 24 balls they faced.
NZ allrounder is set to undergo surgery in the UK and will be out of action for six to eight months
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2023
Michael Bracewell was named New Zealand’s ODI Player of the Year•ICC via Getty Images
New Zealand spin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell is expected to be out of action for six to eight months after rupturing his right achilles while batting for Worcestershire in the T20 Blast. He is set to undergo surgery in the UK on Thursday before starting a lengthy rehab which means he will also miss the 50-over World Cup in India in October-November.Bracewell was batting on 11 against Yorkshire on June 9 when he collapsed mid-pitch clutching his right leg and retired hurt in the 225 chase. His injury leaves New Zealand searching for batting options especially considering their captain Kane Williamson, who underwent surgery for a ruptured ACL, is in a race against time to make the World Cup.”Firstly, you always feel for the player when injury strikes and especially when it means they will have to miss a world event,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “Michael’s a great team man and has had a fantastic 15 months for the BlackCaps since his international debut. We’ve seen his exceptional skills in all three facets of the game and he was shaping as an important player for us at the world cup in India.”Michael’s naturally pretty disappointed, but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation.”Bracewell, 32, is equally handy with bat and ball, and has played eight Tests, 19 ODIs and 16 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut last year. He also played in the IPL this season, coming in as replacement for Will Jacks at Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up six wickets in five matches. One of four from his family to represent New Zealand, including his uncle John and his cousin Doug, Bracewell shot to prominence during New Zealand’s tour of Europe in 2022. He did even better on a tour of India, smashing 140 off 77 to pull his team up from 131 for 6. New Zealand appreciated his ability to score quick runs in the middle-order and contribute with some handy offspin by naming him their ODI Player of the Year.Bracewell has been away from New Zealand since April after being called up to the IPL and won’t be able to fly home for a couple of weeks following surgery.A New Zealand Cricket release also said that the national team will be part of two winter training camps at Lincoln and Tauranga from July 26 to 28 and August 9 to 11.
da aviator aposta： O técnico Rogério Ceni tem motivos para ficar um pouco mais tranquilo para montar o time no duelo da próxima quinta-feira (20), contra o Coritiba, no Morumbi. O zagueiro Diego Costa se recuperou na tendinite no joelho direito que o tirou dos últimos três jogos e pode ser a novidade do São Paulo no confronto válido pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.
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da casino： + Confira quem pode deixar o São Paulo no final da temporada
O capitão tricolor não atua desde a derrota na final da Copa Sul-Americana, na Argentina, no início do mês.
Na reapresentação do plantel são-paulino na manhã desta terça-feira (18), no CT da Barra Funda, Diego Costa participou normalmente das atividades ao lado do restante do elenco.
Um alívio para Ceni, que desta forma ganha opções concretas para formar a defesa da equipe. O treinador perdeu Ferraresi e Lucas Beraldo, expulsos no empate sem gols com o Palmeiras, no último domingo (16), e viu Miranda sofrer lesão no joelho que pode lhe tirar do restante da temporada. Além disso, Arboleda continua em transição física após passar por cirurgia no tornozelo esquerdo.
Além da cria de Cotia Luizão, o treiandor são-paulino teria à disposição para encarar os paranaenses apenas Léo, que cumpriu suspensão no clássico, e o lateral-direito Rafinha poderia ser improvisado no setor. O veterano esteve ausente no domingo pelo mesmo motivo.
Nesta terça, Ceni comandou atividades técnicas. Os atletas que atuaram por mais tempo contra o Palmeiras participaram de um trabalho de troca de passes e na sequência partiram para atividades mais leves.
O meia-atacante Nikão, que está em transição após avulsão no adutor esquerdo, fez atividades individuais e participou da última etapa do trabalho, quando Ceni separou duas equipes de dez jogadores para enfrentamento em campo reduzido.
Arboleda e o volante Gabriel Neves também foram ao gramado. O equatoriano segue em trabalhos de transiçãoe o uruguaio para atividades com a fisioterapia em meio à recuperação da lesão no ligamento colateral medial do joelho direito.
Alisson (dores na coxa direita), Miranda (lesão no ligamento colateral medial do joelho esquerdo) e Caio (cirurgia no joelho direito permaneceram no Reffis.
> Confira classificação, jogos e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22 > Conheça o novo aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!
يتنافس ناديا بايرن ميونخ وبرشلونة على التعاقد مع الجناح الكولومبي الدولي لويس دياز من صفوف نادي ليفربول.
أقرأ أيضاً.. ليفربول يواصل تخليد ذكرى ديوجو جوتا بتكريم جديد
وبحسب صحفي سكاي ألمانيا “فلوريان بليتنبيرج”، فإن بايرن ميونخ يواصل مساعيه للتعاقد مع لويس دياز وأن النادي لم ينسحب من محادثات الصفقة.
وتجرى المحادثات بين ليفربول وبايرن ميونخ وممثلي لويس دياز، والذي لم يحسم مستقبله بعد وما إذا كان سينضم للعملاق الألماني أم بطل الليجا برشلونة إذا رحل عن صفوف ليفربول.
ويمكن للنجم الكولومبي لويس دياز أن يوقع عقدًا مع بايرن ميونيخ حتى عام 2029 على الأقل ولا تزال الصفقة ممكنة بين الطرفين.
وقد تبدأ المفاوضات الرسمية بالفعل بين ليفربول وبايرن ميونخ في أقرب وقت ممكن، حيث يسعى البافاري لأن يتغلب على منافسه برشلونة.
وستكون العقبة الأبرز أمام بايرن ميونخ وبرشلونة هي موقف ليفربول من بيع اللاعب، حيث لمح مسؤولو الريدز في وقت سابق أن النجم الكولومبي ليس للبيع.
da apostebet： Not even the bitterly cold conditions away at Dingwall can stop this red-hot Celtic side right now, with the Scottish champions powering to a 4-1 win over Ross County to extend their mammoth lead at the Premiership summit.
da marjack bet： January is still in its infancy, yet Brendan Rodgers’ men already look to have two hands on the title, with Saturday’s triumph ensuring the Hoops now rest 18 points above bitter rivals Rangers, following the Ibrox side’s draw away to Dundee in midweek.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
It must be said, however, that it wasn’t quite plain-sailing for the Parkhead outfit against Don Cowie’s side, with Jordan White having cancelled out Kyogo Furuhashi’s opener from the spot, following a clumsy challenge from Alistair Johnston.
To their credit, as they always do, the league leaders rallied to put the game to bed late on, with Kyogo grabbing his second of the game on the 81st-minute mark, prior to Arne Engels and Luke McCowan rubbing further salt into home wounds in stoppage time.
Evidently far from a perfect performance, yet Rodgers – who was without the likes of Nicolas Kuhn and Daizen Maeda – will no doubt have been impressed by at least a handful of his star men, including Kyogo.
Kyogo's game in numbers vs Ross County
It would be foolish not to focus in on Celtic’s two-goal hero, with the Japanese marksman looking razor-sharp in something of a new role, having operated off the focal point of Adam Idah in attack.
Seemingly given the licence to drift and drop deep to get involved in the play, the 29-year-old – who has only averaged 13.7 touches per game in the league this season – chalked up 53 touches this time around, as per Sofascore, with Rodgers finding a novel solution to fill the void of Kuhn and Maeda.
Having gone close to getting off the mark initially, only to see his close-range effort denied by the impressive Jordan Amissah, the former Vissel Kobe man then took his chance just before the break, after pouncing on Johnston’s whipped cross in expert fashion.
Celtic’s number eight was again the beneficiary of a perfect delivery late on after meeting Engels’ cross to header home, with that taking his total tally to 85 goals in 162 games for the club to date.
While the transfer rumour mill continues to swirl – amid that bizarre talk of a move to Atlanta United – hopefully, Kyogo will be staying put beyond the February deadline.
Kyogo’s stats vs Ross County
90 minutes
2 goals
53 touches
1 key pass
63% pass accuracy
4 shots on target
2 ‘big chances’ missed
3/4 dribbles completed
5/8 ground duels won
1/3 aerial duels won
18x possession lost
Stats via Sofascore
Meanwhile, the in-demand striker wasn’t alone in catching the eye on Saturday afternoon, with club-record signing, Engels, also pulling the strings in the centre of the park.
Engels showed why his value has soared
Tasked with replacing Matt O’Riley upon his £11m arrival from Club Brugge, the Belgian playmaker has certainly risen to the challenge in recent months, with his performance away at Dingwall having been particularly influential.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
Indeed, as stated above, the 21-year-old produced a delightful, reverse pass to pick out Kyogo to make it 2-1, while then showing real character to convert from the penalty spot at the second attempt, after initially being denied by the charging Amissah.
Engels – who now has six goals to his name in a Celtic shirt – was also a real creative outlet throughout the 90 minutes after registering five key passes in total from his 104 touches, having also enjoyed a solid 86% pass accuracy rate.
With Kyogo vacating the space out wide, the youngster also regularly drifted into that right channel in order to make his mark, having attempted 11 crosses in total. It was, in truth, an all-action display from the man in the middle.
It is for no reason then that Engels seemingly boasts a soaring market value, with CIES Football Observatory deeming him to be worth as much as €26m (£22m), thus marking a rise of 100% in relation to his initial £11m fee.
Not that Rodgers and co will be looking to cash in so soon into his stay in Glasgow, yet that remarkable rise indicates that perhaps Celtic have actually struck a bargain, even after forking out so heavily.
Bigger deal than Engels: Rodgers plots Celtic move for Kuhn 2.0
Celtic are reportedly interested in the star who would cost more than Arne Engels did.
da gbg bet： Speculation season is upon us and Celtic will have to navigate the next few weeks of the January transfer window, which officially opened for business last week.
da esport bet： The Hoops confirmed their first piece of business of the month earlier this week, as central defender Stephen Welsh completed a short-term loan move to Belgian side Mechelen until the end of the season.
He had only featured in one match in the Scottish Premiership during the first half of the season and Brendan Rodgers has decided that the centre-back will not be needed in the coming months.
Celtic defender Stephen Welsh.
The Scottish academy graduate is not the only Celtic player who could be on his way out of Parkhead before the end of the January transfer window, however, as there are a number of stars in a similar position to the one he was in.
Odin Thiago Holm falls into that category and he is reportedly on the verge of a loan move to MLS side LAFC until the end of their 2025 season.
Another Celtic man who could find himself playing for a new club by February is winger Luis Palma, who has been linked with a move away from Glasgow this month.
The latest on Luis Palma's Celtic future
The Honduras international has only started one game in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, and that has, naturally, led to speculation over his long-term future at Paradise.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph recently reported that Spanish side Rayo Vallecano are interested in a deal to sign the former Aris sensation in the January transfer window.
The reporter claimed that the LaLiga outfit have already made an approach to snap up the left-sided attacker, with a proposal that would see him initially join them on loan with an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.
Celtic forward Luis Palma.
Joseph added that Celtic are reluctant to move the forward on from Parkhead at this moment in time, but they are also open to offers for his services, which shows that he is not untouchable and that their stance can be changed.
It now remains to be seen whether or not Rayo Vallecano’s proposal is tempting enough for the Premiership champions to sanction an exit for the winger, who has featured in the club’s last two league matches.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Joseph reported earlier this month that Genoa and Olympiacos are also interested in signing Palma, though, which suggests that there is not a shortage of suitors for the 24-year-old ace and that the competition for his signature could drive an auction that increases the fee Celtic can rake in for him.
The question for Rodgers and the Hoops board, however, is whether the money on offer is enough to compensate for what they would lose by allowing him to leave, and his performances over the past 12 months or so suggest that the Scottish giants would not be missing much.
Why Celtic should sell Luis Palma
Whether it is on an initial loan or a permanent deal right away, Celtic should cash in on the Honduran forward because his form has, simply, not been good enough to warrant keeping him amid such intense interest from elsewhere.
Since the start of 2024, Palma has produced two goals and zero assists in 20 appearances in the Premiership for the Hoops, including zero goal contributions in seven league outings this season.
The 24-year-old ace had scored five goals and provided nine assists in 15 league matches for Celtic during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign but his form since the turn of the year in that season has been dismal.
Luis Palma
24/25 Premiership
Appearances
7
Starts
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Big chances created
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Palma has offered very little to Rodgers on the pitch in the Premiership this term, with zero goal contributions and one ‘big chance’ created for his teammates.
Ahead of the January window, Belgian outlet Gazet van Antwerpen, via the Daily Record, reported that Celtic target Michel Ange Balikwisha is set to be available for a fee of £7.5m, and the Antwerp winger could come in to replace the Honduran attacker.
Why Celtic should sign Michel Ange Balikwisha
The Hoops should swoop to sign the Belgian youngster this month because he could come in as a big upgrade on Palma in the left wing position for Rodgers.
Celtic’s current forward has, as aforementioned, produced very little of note in the last year, with his struggles at the top end of the pitch, and Balikwisha could come in to offer more than him in the final third.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha for Royal Antwerp.
It would not be a transfer without risk, though, as the 23-year-old star struggled with injuries this season, missing 21 matches with thigh and muscle issues.
Celtic could, in theory, use that to their advantage and look to negotiate a lower price with Antwerp, due to his lengthy absence from the pitch this term, and then hope that they can help him to avoid any further fitness problems.
His form, when fit, during the 2023/24 campaign suggests that the potential is there for him to come in as a fantastic addition to the squad if they can keep him fit.
23/24 Pro League
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Appearances
33
Starts
27
xG
6.46
Goals
7
Big chances created
6
Assists
5
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha was fit enough to feature in 33 league games last term, having also scored ten goals in 42 matches in all competitions in the previous season.
In those matches, the Hoops target, who was once described as one of a number of “incredible” young talents by U23 scout Antonio Mango, showcased his quality in the final third, with 13 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined.
Whilst they are not outstanding, Nicolas Kuhn level, statistics, Balikwisha is capable of consistently chipping in with goal contributions, which is something that Palma has not done for 13 months or so now.
Even worse than Idah: Rodgers must drop Celtic man who lost 83% duels
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Therefore, the Belgian star, who also has plenty of room left to develop at the age of 23, could come in as a big upgrade on the wanted forward, by offering more quality and consistency at the top end of the pitch.
This is why Celtic should gamble on a deal for Balikwisha and swoop for the Antwerp dynamo before the end of the transfer window, whilst allowing Palma to join one of the sides interested in signing him.