Manchester United's proposed new contract for their goalkeeper David de Gea is ready to go but just waiting on the club to make their final decision.
How much does David de Gea earn?
There were a lot of positives to take from Erik ten Hag's first campaign at Old Trafford after the Red Devils lifted the Carabao Cup and secured Champions League football.
However, the Premier League giants go into the summer transfer window with a lot of significant questions still lingering over the club.
Of course, the future of the current ownership will remain the biggest concern for most fans at Old Trafford with still no real indication as to whether the Glazers will stay or sell.
But another question will remain whether De Gea will be provided with a new deal following the conclusion of his contract at Old Trafford which is set to expire at the end of the month.
It is believed the Spain goalkeeper has been earning in the region of £375k-per-week on his current deal which is set to expire.
However, a potential new deal for the 32-year-old is expected to see him take a significant pay cut which would still see him take home around £200k-per-week.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the proposed contract is ready to go but United are still deciding on whether to stick with the Spaniard:
"I told you guys, the situation looks strange around De Gea because the agreement between De Ge and Man United is almost done; it's about the final details since the end of March.
"But it's also real that at the moment they are not signing the contract and so De Ge is a potential free agent. But at the moment the situation looks really strange more on the club's side than the player's side. De Gea will be ready to sign but at the moment it still doesn't have the final green light from Man United."
What goalkeeper could Man United sign?
Although the Red Devils are said to have this proposed contract at the ready for De Gea this summer, they have been linked with a number of potential options.
Indeed, reports have suggested Ten Hag holds a keen interest in the England and Everton shot-stopper Jordan Pickford this summer.
The report claims the former Sunderland goalkeeper could be made available over the coming weeks for a fee in the region of £30m given the Toffees financial issues.
But it is not just Pickford who has been linked with a potential move to Old Trafford this summer.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Indeed, talkSPORT's report has suggested there is an interest in the 34-year-old Yann Sommer and Inter Milan's Andre Onana.
It was not a season which De Gea will look back on as one of his best – ironically despite winning the Premier League Golden Glove – given some of the criticism he received.
However, it does seem as if he could still be set to ink a big-money deal to extend his stay at Old Trafford.
Chelsea are expressing "concrete interest" in signing Flamengo youngster Matheus Franca this summer, according to a recent update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Who is Matheus Franca?
The 19-year-old is a bright young prospect in his homeland of Brazil currently, making a name for himself at Flamengo with his attacking quality.
Franca has already scored nine goals in 53 appearances for his current club, invariably taking up an attacking midfield role but being capable of playing deeper or even further forward in attack, and he is also a six-time capped Brazil Under-16s international.
Chelsea are seemingly set to have plenty of competition in any potential move for the teenager, as Newcastle United have been backed to snap him up in the near future, with a move to the Premier League clearly on the cards.
A new update suggests that the Blues are now at the front of the queue to snap up Franca, however, as Mauricio Pochettino looks to bring in the right players during the summer transfer window, hitting the ground running after officially coming in as manager over the weekend.
Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca.
Are Chelsea close to signing Franca?
Taking to Twitter, Romano confirmed Newcastle's interest but said that Chelsea are genuinely interested in signing Franca this summer, with talks set to take place this week, in order for a move to be sealed before others can swoop in:
"Chelsea are showing concrete interest in Brazilian talent Matheus França as per Mail — he was on Newcastle radar in January. Understand there’s still no official bid but talks will take place this week with Flamengo. Negotiations will be around €20/25m fee."
While Franca may not yet be a household name in the English game, there is no doubt that his arrival could be met with excitement, considering the flair and unpredictability that so many young Brazilian footballers can possess, whether it be Ronaldinho, Neymar or Vinicius Jr down the years.
The Blues are also set to sign his compatriot Angelo Gabriel this week, so the club's hierarchy clearly have a focus on building a real fresh dawn for their new manager to work on long into the future. France is someone with a high ceiling who could develop into a real force eventually, but if he does join Chelsea, he should be given time to adjust to his surroundings and get used to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, rather than be expected to be an instant hit.
In Pochettino, the hope is that the Blues have someone who is an expert at dealing with youngsters, as was the case at Tottenham with Harry Kane and Dele Alli at the time, for example, and if the manager sees Franca as an ideal target, he has to be trusted in the transfer window by Todd Boehly.
The Brazilian has been hailed as a "great finisher" by coach Fabio Matias – an attribute that felt lacking at Stamford Bridge too often last season – but he has described so many aspects of his game, too, saying: "He has many important aspects to his game. In addition to technical and tactical ability, he has a very good understanding of the game. That makes him stand out because he interprets spaces well. The most talented players have an understanding of space and how to manage that."
Leeds United scout Alex Davies was in the stands for Preston North End vs Coventry City on Tuesday amid links of a move for Viktor Gyokeres.
The Lowdown: Gyokeres links
The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for Coventry forward Gyokeres in recent months. Reports following Javi Gracia’s arrival at Elland Road claimed that the club are plotting a move to sign the 24-year-old regardless of what division they find themselves in next season as they think he could be a key addition.
Gyokeres, hailed by his manager Mark Robins for his “unbelievable” power and technique, has scored 15 Championship goals this season and can play anywhere across the front three.
The Latest: Davies in attendance
Jordan Webber, who appears on Swans Cast Media, took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to say that Swansea’s chief scout, Lee Maybury, was at Deepdale for Preston vs Coventry.
Davies, who first mentioned Ben White’s name to Victor Orta, was also on that list to presumably cast a further eye on Gyokeres.
The Verdict: Disappointing display
Gyokeres struggled to back up a match-winning display on the weekend against Sunderland, with the game against Preston finishing goalless.
The Sweden international had an evening to forget, as per SofaScore, ending with a match rating of 6.4/10. He gave possession away 23 times, lost 13 of his 17 duels and failed to register a shot on target.
He was Coventry’s second-worst starter on the night, so Davies may have come away with some reservations about the forward, so it’ll be interesting to see if Leeds make their move in the summer.
West Ham United have not always had the best of luck, or judgement perhaps, with their dealings in the transfer market over the years.
Who are West Ham's biggest signings?
The Hammers have not been afraid to splash out the cash to bolster their squad, particularly over the last five years or so, in an attempt to push on in the Premier League.
Player
Fee paid
Sebastien Haller
£43m
Mohammed Kudus
£37m
Lucas Paqueta
£37m
Edson Alvarez
£32.7m
Felipe Anderson
£32.7m
Fees via Transfermarkt.
Haller and Anderson, of the five most-expensive signings in the club's history as shown above, did not enjoy the best of times at the London Stadium and David Moyes could be on course to oversee another expensive disaster with Pablo Fornals.
The former Villarreal whiz, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio, and Aaron Cresswell are among the players who are out of contract next summer and will be free to leave for £0.
What's the latest on Pablo Fornals' future?
It was recently reported that Spanish side Sevilla are eyeing up a swoop to sign Fornals from the Hammers as their sporting director Victor Orta, who was previously at Leeds United in England, is keen to secure a deal for him in 2024.
The report stated that the attacking midfielder is free to speak with other clubs from January onwards and that a move to Sevilla would be among his preferences if the option arises.
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals.
He is allowed to sign a pre-contract with another team in January ahead of a free transfer next summer due to his expiring contract, which is why West Ham must get him to put pen to paper on an extension.
Football Insider claimed, prior to the news of Sevilla's interest, that the Hammers are planning to sit down with Fornals, along with Coufal and Soucek, to discuss a possible contract extension.
They also revealed that teams from Saudi Arabia were showing an interest in the ace, although nothing came of that before the Saudi Pro League transfer deadline earlier this month.
How much did West Ham pay for Pablo Fornals?
In the summer of 2019, West Ham completed the signing of the then-23-year-old wizard from Spanish side Villarreal for a reported fee of £24m, which made him the second-most expensive player in the club's history – behind Felipe Anderson at £33.5m – at the time.
Fornals arrived at the London Stadium after two impressive campaigns in LaLiga, following on from his move to the club from Malaga in 2017.
The creative Spaniard enjoyed a fantastic 2017/18 campaign with Villarreal as he racked up an outstanding 12 assists and created 15 'big chances' for his teammates across 30 league starts, to go along with three goals, as per Sofascore.
Former Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals.
His teammates then let him down throughout the 2018/19 season as the technical ace produced ten 'big chances' for his fellow attackers over 28 LaLiga starts and was only rewarded with three assists. This suggests that his teammates did not make the most of the opportunities that he created for them.
The talented whiz's performances were impressive enough to convince West Ham and then-manager Manuel Pellegrini to splash out £24m to secure his services.
How well has Fornals performed for West Ham?
Fornals has been a solid performer for the Hammers over the years as he has racked up 184 appearances in all competitions and played 141 times in the Premier League to date.
He has featured in at least 32 top-flight matches in all four of his seasons with the club so far, which speaks to his reliability in terms of his performance level and durability. Managers have rarely not selected him to play, whether that is from the bench or within the starting XI, and he has not had any major injury lay-offs.
His best season in a West Ham shirt to date arguably came during the 2021/22 campaign. The Spanish maestro provided a consistent creative threat and added goals to his game as he delivered brilliant Premier League performers week-in-week-out.
Fornals averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 6.94 across 36 league appearances for the club and contributed with six goals and ten 'big chances' created from midfield. He also showcased his defensive quality with 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game to win the ball back for his side.
The former Villarreal star, who was once dubbed "unbelievable" by journalist Karl Matchett, was the team's outstanding creator as he averaged 1.3 key passes per match throughout the season, which none of his teammates were able to better.
More recently, Fornals caught the eye in the Europa Conference League last term as the club went on to win the competition. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 over 12 appearances as he scored three goals and created two 'big chances' from the middle of the park.
What's next for Fornals?
The report of Sevilla's interest and the player potentially being keen on the move is worrying for West Ham as it suggests that there is chance that he will sign a pre-contract with the Spanish team to join them for nothing next summer.
This would mean that the Hammers would not get back a single penny of the £24m that they initially paid to secure his signature back in 2019, which would be a disaster when you consider that he will be 28 and in his prime years ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
FootballTransfers currently has his Expected Transfer Value at €22.2m (£19.1m) and this is an indication of the kind of fee that the club are set to miss out on if they do not tie him down to an extension.
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals.
Moyes and West Ham have allowed him to enter the final 12 months of his contract before sitting down to have talks over a new deal, as per the aforementioned Football Insider report, and this has allowed Sevilla, and potentially other teams, to show an interest and possibly sway Fornals' thinking.
The situation should have been dealt with before the recent summer transfer window as they could have been able to cash in on him this year if he refused to put pen to paper on an extension.
Therefore, the Hammers are currently on course for a howler with the Spanish magician unless they are able to convince him to turn down Sevilla and remain at the London Stadium beyond the end of this season.
Christopher Nkunku has been backed to thrive under Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, should both make the move to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Is Nkunku joining Chelsea?
The Blues have a crucial summer ahead of them in the transfer window, following what has been one of the club's most disappointing seasons in recent memory. It looks increasingly likely that Pochettino will become the next permanent manager and the Argentine will need to be backed in the market.
Additions are required in various areas of the pitch, one of which is attack, where too many players have been ineffective this season, from Raheem Sterling to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Nkunku has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, with the general assumption being that he will complete his switch from RB Leipzig at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old has scored 13 goals in 21 Bundesliga appearances this season, with 65 in 166 for Leipzig overall, and he has won eight caps for France.
Could Nkunku be Chelsea's Son?
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Dean Jones said that Nkunku could end up being Chelsea's version of Son Heung-min for Pochettino, with the South Korean such a key player during the Argentine's time as Tottenham boss:
"I think the Nkunku arrival is one you can go at with a completely fresh pair of eyes. At the moment, it's expected that Nkunku will come in as a wide player, but I've spoken to a couple of different people now who also wonder if he might end up being played as nine or a false nine.
"There are various types of positions that he can play, and Pochettino could consider for him. That would be one of interest to see if he can find someone that gives him that Son flexibility he had at Tottenham."
If Nkunku can have anything close to the impact that Son did for Pochettino, he could be an invaluable player for Chelsea, providing consistent end product, hard work and versatility. While there is no confirmation of both the 50-year-old's arrival as manager and the Leipzig man's signing yet, it would now be a surprise if both didn't happen this summer.
Nkunku would be coming in at a great time in his career, arriving in his mid-20s and with his peak years likely to be ahead of him, and he could be the central attacking player that the Blues have craved so badly this season, with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry a big admirer and Jesse Marsch saying he has "no weaknesses" during their time at Leipzig.
Arsenal have been linked to a La Liga gem as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad this summer.
The transfer window officially opened on Wednesday, allowing clubs to manipulate their squads in preparation for the new season in August.
The Gunners have been linked with a host of talent already this summer, with the latest name having the potential to be an upgrade for a star expected to depart.
What’s the latest on Nico Williams to Arsenal?
As reported by 90min earlier this week, Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams is a player of interest for Arsenal.
The report follows the narrative of Aston Villa’s push for the winger, with mention of the Gunners being a club that have ‘appreciated’ the player as well as the understanding that they are ‘keeping close tabs’ on his situation.
The 20-year-old has a release clause of €50m (£43m) in place at his current club.
What could Nico Williams offer to Arsenal?
Lauded as “extremely dangerous” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Spaniard has excelled since graduating from Athletic's academy in 2021.
Deployed predominantly as a right-winger, Williams could prove to be a huge asset to Arteta’s side in years to come by competing with Arsenal star Bukayo Saka for a starting spot.
While Saka’s form has made his place virtually untouchable, the forward could help implement a higher quality of depth in the squad – forcing Nicolas Pepe even further out of the picture in the process.
The Ivory Coast international spent the past season on loan at OGC Nice, making the switch back to Ligue 1 last summer in a bid to relocate his form.
As reported by Sam Hill via football.london, the 28-year-old is ‘no longer’ in the Spaniard’s plans, with the report of the understanding that Arsenal have made ‘plans’ over the potential termination of his contract.
With the £72m forward looking unlikely to feature for Arsenal again, the club could recruit a worthy replacement in Williams, who has excelled Pepe this season in their respective leagues.
When comparing the two via FBref based on their 2022/23 performances, it’s clear to see that the Gunners could snatch a clear upgrade on the £140k-per-week dud.
The Spaniard averaged 5.90 progressive carries per 90 this campaign, placing him in the top 4% of those in his position across Europe's top 5 leagues, with Pepe averaging just 2.77 per 90 at Nice.
The 20-year-old also excelled in terms of successful take-ons via FBref, averaging 2.81 per 90 to the Ivory Coast international’s 2.05 per 90, highlighting why he has been identified as having significant strengths in dribbling by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
While the two scored the same number of goals with six, Williams has also provided four assists, showing the expansion of his game and level of performance at a tender age.
At just 20 years old, Arsenal could sign a player for the future in the Spaniard, who would undoubtedly be an upgrade on Pepe, who has failed to make things tick in north London.
Crystal Palace are still waiting to hear whether Wilfried Zaha intends to stay on at the club, but it appears Roy Hodgson's side are ready to bring in a new attacking player regardless.
Who are Crystal Palace signing?
Palace have so far signed only Jefferson Lerma this summer on a free transfer following his Bournemouth exit, but a few others could be set to follow.
Flamengo attacking midfielder Matheus Franca has been touted as a possible target for the Eagles, as have Arnaut Danjuma and Perr Schuurs of Villarreal and Torino respectively.
According to the Daily Mail, Southampton striker Che Adams is another player being eyed up by Hodgson to potentially lead Palace's attack this coming Premier League season.
The report suggests that Palace have enquired as to Adams' availability, but they may also face competition from London rivals Fulham – set to lose star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic – for a player valued at £15m by the Saints following their relegation to the Championship.
How many goals has Che Adams scored in the Premier League?
After proving himself in League One and the Championship, Adams has spent the past four seasons as a regular in the Premier League at Southampton.
The 23-cap Scotland international has scored 25 goals in 123 top-flight appearances, which is a hugely underwhelming figure on the face of it. However, he is a creative forward, as highlighted by his 0.9 key passes per game last season – as per WhoScored – which only James Ward-Prowse (1.9) could better among Southampton regulars.
On the basis of last season alone, Adams scored five goals and assisted three in a poor Southampton side – an average of 0.36 goals or assists per 90 minutes. As per FBref, that figure was bettered by only two Palace players – Michael Olise (0.43) and Eberechi Eze (0.48).
Zaha, incidentally, averaged 0.35 goal involvements (as did Odsonne Edouard), which shows that Adams did not have as bad a season as the figures initially suggest as he actually outperformed the Ivory Coast international in that regard.
Crystal Palace'sWilfriedZaha
There are other similarities between Adams and Zaha, in fact, given they both scored from 0.11 of the shots they attempted in the Premier League last season.
Adams has often been used as a substitute by Southampton, which may also be the case at Selhurst Park, and the 27-year-old previously earned praise from then-boss Ralph Hasenhuttl for the "fantastic" attitude he shows when being used as a backup player.
Beyond a steady number of goals and assists, Adams is also a threat in the air, ranking as he does in the top 22% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues last season for aerial duels won, according to The Analyst.
Indeed, the 2.76 aerial duels Adams won per 90 last season was bettered only by Jean-Philippe Mateta (3.02) among Palace players.
Adams would not be a like-for-like replacement for wide player Zaha, of course, and the signing would not exactly get supporters out on the streets celebrating, but it could be a shrewd piece of business for the Eagles as they bring in a player who has showed he can do a job in the top flight.
Liverpool enjoyed an impressive summer of transfer business as they overhauled their midfield options in order to bounce back from a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.
The Reds failed to win any major trophies last season and finished outside of the top four, in fifth place, as they missed out on Champions League football this term.
Jurgen Klopp's side are currently competing in the Europa League, due to their struggles last year, and the German head coach will be hoping for a swift return to the continent's elite competition for the 2024/25 campaign.
The former Borussia Dortmund tactician clearly identified his midfield as an area of the squad that needed surgery as the likes of Naby Keita, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all moved on from Anfield over the summer.
This opened the door for Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo to come in and compete for a place in the middle of the park, alongside Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.
Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, in particular, have been outstanding additions to the squad and Liverpool played a blinder with the latter as they brought in a proven Premier League performer who could hit the ground running.
Liverpool transfer news – Douglas Luiz
The Reds could now replicate that masterclass by swooping for another player who has already showcased their quality on a regular basis in the English top-flight – Douglas Luiz.
TEAMtalk reported at the end of last month that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign the Brazilian maestro during the upcoming January transfer window.
The outlet claimed that Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, who both finished above Klopp's side last term, are also eyeing up the impressive whiz to bolster their own midfield options.
It is said that the Villans do not want to lose their star player in January and that it would take a fee within the region of £80m to even make them consider a deal.
Leon-bailey-jhon-duran-douglas-luiz-aston-villa
TEAMtalk added that Pep Guardiola, who had Luiz on City's books prior to his move to Villa, is a big admirer of the central midfielder and that Liverpool believe he suits what they need in the middle of the park.
It was also claimed that Tottenham Hotspur have previously held an interest in his services but it remains to be seen whether or not they are ready to rejoin the race for his signature.
The report did not, however, state whether or not Liverpool are prepared to firm up their interest with an official approach for Luiz, or if they would be willing to meet Villa's £80m demand.
If the Reds were able to snap him up in January, though, then the club could repeat the blinder they played with Mac Allister earlier this year.
Alexis Mac Allister's season in numbers
The Argentina international was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion over the summer after his impressive season for club and country last term.
Starts
Six
Goals
One
Assists
One
Big chances created
Two
Pass success rate
89%
Ground duel success rate
67%
As you can see from the table above, Mac Allister played a crucial role at the 2022 World Cup as his side went on to win the famous trophy – with Lionel Messi captaining them to glory in Qatar.
The central midfielder did not allow that to detract from his club form for Brighton, though, as he played 35 Premier League matches and contributed with ten goals and two assists.
Liverpool then secured his services in a deal that could rise up to £55m and the talented whiz has enjoyed a strong start to life at Anfield.
The 24-year-old wizard has not showcased the best of his attacking qualities – with one goal and one assist in the league – but has been an excellent defensive presence in front of the back four.
Mac Allister has produced 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game for his side and currently ranks first within the squad for tackles (2.4) and joint-first for interceptions (1.3) per match.
This suggests that the World Cup winner, who has made 6.6 ball recoveries per game, has been an outstanding defender for Liverpool this season as their main ball-winner on the pitch to cut out opposition attacks.
Whilst there is more to come from Mac Allister in terms of his attacking contributions, the former Brighton star has hit the ground running, thanks to his prior Premier League experience, as a superb midfielder for Klopp.
Douglas Luiz's season in numbers
The Brazil international has been in sublime form for Villa so far this season in the English top-flight and could, therefore, follow in the Argentine talent's footsteps in 2024.
Unai Emery's side are currently fourth in the division and competing to land a spot in next season's edition of the Champions League, and Luiz has been a pivotal cog in their well-oiled machine.
Douglas Luiz celebrates for Aston Villa
The 25-year-old star has played 14 Premier League matches and caught the eye with his contributions in and out of possession from midfield.
Luiz has produced five goals – four more than any Liverpool midfielder has managed – and two assists for his team in those 14 outings.
He has created three 'big chances' for his teammates and made 1.2 key passes per game, which would place him fifth within the Reds squad.
The former Manchester City prospect has also impressed onlookers with his defensive qualities. He has made 2.4 tackles per game for the Villans, which would place him joint-first in the Liverpool squad alongside Mac Allister.
Luiz, who was hailed as "transformed" by pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor last year, has also made 6.4 ball recoveries per outing and has showcased his strength in midfield with a duel success rate of 59%, which shows that opposition players do not get the better of him with ease in physical contests.
His form this season has come off the back of his return of six goals and six assists, along with 3.1 tackles and interceptions per match, in 37 Premier League appearances for Villa during the 2022/23 campaign.
The Brazilian maestro is, therefore, a proven top-flight performer who would not need a period of adaptation in England and could hit the ground running in midfield in the same way that Mac Allister has, if Liverpool can snap him up in January.
Manchester United were "interested" in a move for William Saliba before the defender agreed to a new contract at Arsenal, according to journalist Fabrice Hawkins.
Is William Saliba staying at Arsenal?
The defender has become a key part of the Gunners' side this year and very nearly helped his club to a Premier League title. Ultimately, the side had to settle for second-place but it was a breakout year for the centre-back, who featured for Arsenal more than ever before in the 2022/23 campaign. He played on 27 occasions for them in the league and even managed two goals and an assist along the way.
In addition, his abilities for the Gunners in their backline made him stand out as one of the best in his position amongst the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. His non-penalty goal rate of 0.10 per 90 for example put him in the top nine percent of CBs and his pass completion rate of 91.1% per 90 put him within the 93rd percentile in that figure too.
It shows the Frenchman has come on leaps and bounds this term for Arsenal and has become a player that the side can rely on with the ball at his feet to spread play around and start attacks from deep.
Arsenal'sWilliamSaliba
Having impressed in the Premier League this season then, it's no wonder that Arsenal have now moved quickly to agree fresh terms with Saliba. However, it appears there was interest from elsewhere in taking him on a deal this summer. According to a report from journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Man United were sniffing around the defender. It appears that he was on their wanted list – and Bayern Munich's – but has since committed his future to the Gunners.
Saliba may have set United back a pretty penny too if they had moved for him after his displays for Arsenal. CIES Football Observatory suggest his value is somewhere around the 80 million Euro mark (or £68m), which means the defender could have been an expensive but potentially worthwhile signing for the Red Devils.
How good is Saliba?
The defender has certainly become a reliable option at the back this campaign, with the player coming in for high praise from all angles. Football journalist Josh Bunting for example labelled him as the "perfect player" for breaking lines and added that he had made a "very impressive" debut at the World Cup back in 2022.
He's certainly a defender that likes to get on the ball and to make things happen with it despite his defensive responsibilities. Tagged on to his impressive goal-getting stats, he's also in the top 17% of centre-backs for expected assists.
Saliba then could have made a very good addition to a United backline known for playing out from the back under Erik ten Hag. However, it appears his future is now tied up with Arsenal.
Celtic have now been provided with an update regarding when Oh Hyeon-gyu is set to return from his recent injury setback by manager Brendan Rodgers.
When is Oh Hyeon-gyu back from injury?
Oh is yet to make an appearance for Celtic in any competition so far this season as a result of the calf injury he sustained in pre-season, with Rodgers confirming he was set to miss up to six weeks of football, after initially playing through the injury:
"Oh will probably be out for a few weeks, he hurt his calf against Athletic Bilbao but he trained on. No one knew and he trained on.
“He was involved in the game at the weekend and then he trained on the Sunday. Afterwards, he spoke to the medical team to say that he'd felt his calf and it's ended up that he's got a calf problem which might put him out for four to six weeks."
However, despite initial fears about the forward potentially spending a considerable amount of time on the sidelines, there has now been a promising recent update, with the Hoops boss confirming he will be available for selection against Rangers tomorrow.
As relayed by The Glasgow Times, Rodgers said: "Oh is back in training so he will be available. The guys who were out slightly longer term will be back after the international break."
Speaking more broadly about how he is feeling at this early stage of the season, the 50-year-old said: "I'm just excited by the games. The players worked very hard last year to win the title and earned the right to be in there.
"We will play the teams that we do and there are some very good teams with fantastic managers and we accept that challenge when the games come.
"I am not here to jeopardise the strategy of the team or lock the team and myself into anything that would fail or not work.
"It is just time. I don't want to go on about injuries but there are injuries to key players that could make the system function.
"I have absolutely no doubt, I know how to win and I know what it takes to win and I'll show the players how to win."
How good is Oh Hyeon-gyu?
Last season, the South Korean made a decent impact after arriving from Suwon Samsung Bluewings, scoring four goals in five games after the Scottish Premiership's top-six split, indicating he was just starting to find his form in a Celtic shirt.
As such, it is frustrating the 22-year-old was injured when he was, but it is positive news that he is now set to return from injury a little ahead of schedule, particularly heading into such an important match this weekend.
Celtic's Oh Hyeon-gyu
Kyogo Furuhashi has started the season very well, scoring two goals in his first three league games, but the Hoops were held to a 0-0 draw against St Johnstone at home last time out, so Rodgers will be pleased to have another attacking option back.
Oh is unlikely to start against Rangers tomorrow, but his form at the end of last season indicates he could make an impact if brought on as a substitute.