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Chelsea have launched a new black Nike third kit for 2024-25 inspired in its design by the area's links to the British punk rock scene.

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• Chelsea kit debuted by women's team
• Black third strip inspired by punk scene
• Will be sold without a front sponsor

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Shop Chelsea kits at NikeFind the best deals

  Chelsea Women took to the pitch on Sunday night for their pre-season clash with WSL rivals Arsenal wearing a previously unseen black kit. The club then followed that up on Monday morning with the official launch for this season's third strip.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The anthracite grey and black shirt and shorts are complemented by pink and yellow trim, plus fabric reviving ripped-up, clashing punk patterns. There is also a particular nod to the women's game, with an upturned vertical Nike swoosh intended as a symbol celebrating its acceleration. That is set to be a regular feature across many Nike third kits in 2024-25. The shirt worn by the women against Arsenal featured Infinite Athlete as a sponsor because it is part of deal covering pre-season, but the shirt is being sold without a sponsor on the front as the club does not yet have one in place for the competitive campaign ahead.

• WHAT CHELSEA SAID

  Claire Cronin, Chelsea Football Club's Chief Marketing Officer said: "We're proud to partner with Nike in spotlighting and driving the continued rise of the Women's game through this year's third kit and it was brilliant to see Sonia [Bompastor]'s team wearing it for the first time in Washington on Sunday. The design really plays into our DNA. Chelsea was at the heart of the iconic British punk scene, with the trailblazing creativity it was known for still a huge part of who we are as a club today."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Having concluded their American tour with the win over Arsenal, Chelsea Women return to action for a final pre-season friendly against Feyenoord back at Kingsmeadow on September 7. For the men, they head to Switzerland in the Conference League for the second leg of their qualification play-off against Servette on Thursday, quickly followed by the summer transfer deadline on Friday and then a Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

As Jurgen Klopp battles to secure the perfect farewell against the odds at Anfield, Liverpool's injuries have quickly controlled the narrative in a season that may end in what could have been, with their latest blow hardly helping.

Liverpool injury news

Liverpool's EFL Cup final victory over Chelsea, which relied on inexperience and academy graduates for the most part, both sums up the powers of Klopp and the Reds' season. It's been rare that they've had a full squad to choose from, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker all missing significant parts of the campaign.

Report: Liverpool now preparing to bid for £50m+ Real Madrid target

Michael Edwards isn’t messing around.

By
Henry Jackson

Apr 16, 2024

Klopp at least has all three options back among his squad to choose from, but it comes at a time when his side looks mentally and physically exhausted after suffering back-to-back defeats against Atalanta and then Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Handing themselves an impossible task of reaching the Europa League's last four following a shock 3-0 defeat against Atalanta at Anfield, and then losing any advantage in the title race courtesy of Palace, the Reds were also handed a blow on the injury front with Conor Bradley limping off against Oliver Glasner's side last Sunday.

Now, according to James Pearce, Bradley will miss the next two to three weeks of action in a major blow for Liverpool, given how much of a revelation the youngster has been since coming into the side.

Klopp can at least feel relieved that Alexander-Arnold is now back fit at the perfect time to step back into his right-back role, but it once again delays the chances of the England international appearing in midfield for the Reds in what could play a part in turning their current form around.

Liverpool games that "fantastic" Bradley could miss

Potentially missing three weeks, Bradley will likely return around the first week of May to hand Liverpool a boost in their final two games against Aston Villa and then Wolverhampton Wanderers. Before then, however, the Northern Ireland international could miss five games in total for the Reds.

Klopp will be well aware of the talent that his side will be missing too, having praised Bradley back in January. The Liverpool boss said: "I'm not sure if Conor Bradley makes it home. He might fall asleep in the dressing room, exceptional. What a boy, a fantastic character, with intelligence, top potential.

"I was waiting for the moment we could give him an opportunity. Today was intense for him. Someone has to drive him home hopefully. He gave absolutely everything. It's really nice to see. He could show how good he already is. So much more to come."

Celtic still have plenty to play for between now and the end of the 2023/24 campaign as Brendan Rodgers bids to avoid a trophyless return to Parkhead.

The Hoops are one point ahead of their closest rivals in the Scottish Premiership, having played a game more than them, and are still in the SFA Cup, having been knocked out of the League Cup and European competitions during the first half of the season.

This means that they could still lift two pieces of silverware before the end of the term but they will need to fight hard to ensure that they do not end up empty-handed.

Attention, irrespective of how this season goes, will then turn to how the Scottish giants can improve their playing squad during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Rodgers reportedly already has his eye on possible targets to bolster his side ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, and there is one target who could be seen as the next Matt O'Riley at Parkhead.

Celtic's interest in exciting playmaker

The Daily Record recently relayed claims from Russia that Celtic are keeping tabs on exciting Krasnodar attacking midfielder Eduard Spertsyan ahead of the summer.

It was claimed that the Hoops are monitoring his situation but there is no mention of any current interest from other clubs in Europe at this time.

The Armenia international was quoted as saying that a move to Europe is something he would like to do, and recognised that it would take hard work and "fight" in order to achieve that goal.

Football Scotland reporter Mark Hendry has reported that Krasnodar have not had any contact with the Scottish champions as it stands, but have spoken with an unnamed Belgian side.

This suggests that there will be competition from other clubs to secure his signature in the summer, should the Hoops decide to act upon their interest in him.

Last summer, it was reported that Manchester City and Newcastle were among the teams looking at the talented midfielder, who was valued at €13m (£11m) at the time.

Almost one year later and it now remains to be seen how much Krasnodar would want for the 23-year-old wizard, who has just over two years left to run on his contract.

Celtic could land their next version of current star O'Riley by swooping to sign Spertsyan from the Russian outfit at the end of the season, due to his quality in the final third.

Matt O'Riley's Celtic season in numbers

The Denmark international has been in terrific form for the Hoops as an attack-minded midfielder as part of Rodgers' three-man midfield, typically alongside Callum McGregor and Tomoki Iwata of late.

Signed from MK Dons in January 2022, the left-footed wizard has the quality to both score and create goals at an impressive rate in the Premiership.

As you can see in the table, the 23-year-old magician has been one of the team's outstanding performers at the top end of the pitch with his devastating ability in front of goal.

Only Luis Palma (2.7) has made more key passes per game than O'Riley, and no other Celtic player has scored more goals, taken more shots, or registered more assists than the Danish dynamo.

With his phenomenal form for the club, however, comes interest from elsewhere. Leeds are reportedly considering a bid for the midfield whiz, should they win promotion from the Championship, whilst Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion are also eyeing up the Hoops superstar.

This means that Celtic could end up losing the former Fulham prospect in the upcoming summer transfer window, if one of those aforementioned clubs come in with an acceptable offer for his services, which would leave a huge void in the middle of the park for Rodgers.

The Bhoys could, though, land their next version of O'Riley by swooping in to sign Spertsyan, who was supposedly of interest to Newcastle and Manchester City last year, as a possible replacement for the Leeds target.

Why Eduard Spertsyan could be the next Matt O'Riley

Firstly, Ajax director Sven Mislintat hailed the Armenian ace as "special" last year and claimed that he could have been similar to Kevin de Bruyne with the Dutch club.

The Ajax chief claimed that Spertsyan playing in Russia at the time prevented the move from happening, but that he could have been De Bruyne-esque for the Eredivisie side. Celtic's current interest in his services suggests that the same issue will not be a problem this summer.

You can understand why he was likened to the Belgian superstar when you factor in his fantastic statistics from a central midfield position for Krasnodar.

The 23-year-old playmaker has racked up an eye-catching 18 goals and 13 assists in 48 appearances in the Premier Liga for his club since the start of last season.

As you can see in the table above, Spertsyan is a central midfielder who can score and create goals at an exceptional rate, just like O'Riley and De Bruyne – who produced seven goals and 16 assists in the Premier League last term – do in their respective divisions.

The Armenia international chipped in with 21 direct goal contributions, and 2.2 key passes per game, last term, in comparison to O'Riley's aforementioned 23 direct goal contributions, and 2.2 key passes per outing, in 30 league matches this season.

This shows that the 5 foot 10 star, who has 30 goals and 23 assists in 99 games for Krasnodar, has the potential to make a similar impact in the final third from a midfield position.

They are both exciting attack-minded midfielders who want to break forward to join in with the attack, and have the composure and quality to decide games with goals and assists on a regular basis.

Therefore, Rodgers could land his next version of O'Riley by securing a deal for the Armenian magician, who has been likened to De Bruyne.

The Blues' owners could earned some rare praise for taking a strong stance against racism but they instead chose to reward it

It's now four years since former QPR director of football Les Ferdinand revealed that the club's players would no longer be taking the knee in solidarity with the 'Black Lives Matter' movement.

"No one is more passionate than me about this topic," the ex-England international explained. "I have spoken on the matter throughout my footballing life. But, recently, I took the decision not to do any more interviews on racism in football because the debate was going around in circles…

"The taking of the knee has reached a point of 'good PR' but little more than that. The message has been lost. It is now not dissimilar to a fancy hashtag or a nice pin badge." Or a shiny new shirt.

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  Making a mockery of an entire movement

  Chelsea are very proud of their home kit for 2024-25, which was designed to reflect "the dynamic culture of London" with a jersey that "features a distinctive 'melting pot' pattern." It's such a shame for the marketing team, then, that Enzo Fernandez was wearing not only the shirt, but also the captain's armband as he took the knee ahead of Sunday's Premier League opener against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

  It was a truly shameful sight, a tone-deaf response to a racism row that not only made a mockery of an entire movement, but also highlighted the total lack of strong leadership at Chelsea right now.

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  'Uninhibited racism'

  Just one month before the City game, Fernandez and a number of his Argentina team-mates had felt compelled to celebrate the nation's Copa America triumph by singing a racist song about black players from a country that hadn't even participated in the tournament.

  "They play for France, but their parents are from Angola," the players joyfully sang. "Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French."

  As if to underline the fact that racism is rooted in stupidity, Fernandez decided to live-stream this display of embarrassing ignorance. Unsurprisingly, many of his team-mates were appalled by such behaviour, chief among them Wesley Fofana. "Football in 2024: uninhibited racism," the centre-back wrote on social media.

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  'Caught up in the euphoria'

  Fernandez promptly posted the obligatory 'heartfelt' apology, insisting that he was "truly sorry" for his actions. "That video, that moment, those words, do not reflect my character or beliefs," he insisted while also rather incredibly implying that racism can be a consequence of getting "caught up in the euphoria" of victory.

  His employers also issued a public statement: "Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable. We are proud to be a diverse, inclusive club where people from all cultures, communities and identities feel welcome. We acknowledge and appreciate our player's public apology and will use this as an opportunity to educate. The club has instigated an internal disciplinary procedure."

  And how did that inquiry conclude? With Chelsea agreeing to match a significant donation made by Fernandez to an anti-discriminatory charity, before then making him vice-captain for the 2024-25 campaign.

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  'It's finished'

  "All of us make mistakes," new manager Enzo Maresca said while defending the decision to put Fernandez in such a prestigious position. "It's important to recognise Enzo made a mistake, recognised the mistake and it's finished.

  "I don't know about you, but I made some mistakes in the past and I recognised. As a human being, if you make a mistake and you recognise it, you are not going to be punished for life."

  The problem is, though, that Chelsea didn't punish Fernandez, they promoted him – and that staggering move has overshadowed all of the club's previous efforts to change the negative perception of a significant part of its fanbase, and create a more inclusive culture at the club.

Newcastle United have been blessed with several terrific centre-forwards over the years at St. James' Park, ranging from the legendary Alan Shearer, to Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, to Alexander Isak in the current day.

The Toon Army have had the pleasure of watching some superb goalscorers and scorers of great goals, particularly in the modern era, and two of them currently play for the first-team.

Callum Wilson, who scored 18 Premier League goals last season, and Isak, who has been on fire since his move to the club in the summer of 2022, are both fantastic centre-forwards for Eddie Howe.

Unfortunately, the Sweden international's sublime form has led to reported interest from elsewhere and he may now follow in the footsteps of Andy Carroll, who came through the academy before being sold for a gigantic fee after showcasing his goalscoring quality.

The Magpies struck gold with the England international as they cashed in for a mouth-watering amount of money, particularly when you adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football over the subsequent years.

Andy Carroll's goalscoring record for Newcastle

The Gateshead-born number nine came up through the youth ranks on Tyneside as he graduate through the academy, which meant that the club did not have to pay a penny in transfer fees to sign him.

He made a smattering of first-team appearances during the 2006/07 campaign, with seven outings across the Premier League, UEFA Cup, and FA Cup, before being sent out on loan to Preston North End for the first half of the following season, where he scored one goal in 11 Championship games.

Over the subsequent 18 months, Carroll scored three goals in 18 Premier League appearances for the Magpies as they were eventually relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2008/09 season.

That drop down to the second tier allowed the centre-forward to thrive as he produced a stunning 17 goals and 12 assists in 39 league matches, including 33 starts, for Newcastle.

It was his real breakthrough season at senior level with a consistent supply of goals and assists from a centre-forward position to propel his hometown club back to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Carroll was then able to make the step up to the Premier League with a sensational return of 11 goals and three assists in 18 starts for the newly-promoted side during the first half of the 2010/11 campaign.

This meant that the Newcastle star, who averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.54 for the Magpies that term, had plundered an eye-catching 28 goals and 15 assists in 51 league starts in 18 months.

His sensational form in front of goal, as a regular scorer and creator of goals at both Championship and Premier League level, attracted interest from elsewhere, and Liverpool swooped in to sign him in January 2011.

How much Andy Carroll's move to Liverpool would be worth today

Per Totally Money, the English giants splashed out a whopping £36.9m to sign the then-22-year-old from Newcastle ahead of the second half of the season.

As per their index, which adjusts for inflation in football since the original fee was paid, that deal for Carroll would be worth a mind-boggling £101.6m in 2024, which highlights how big of a move it was for the academy graduate at the time.

Newcastle struck gold with that transfer for multiple reasons. Firstly, they brought through an academy star for £0 and turned him into a mega-money asset, who also helped them with his superb goalscoring exploits on the pitch.

Secondly, his form after moving on from St. James' Park in 2011 suggests that they hit the jackpot by cashing in on the centre-forward when they did.

As you can see in the table above, Carroll struggled badly in front of goal in the five seasons after his exit from Newcastle, for the aforementioned staggering fee.

The 6 foot 4 giant produced 11 goals and six assists in 58 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool before they eventually sold him to West Ham in the summer of 2013 for a fee Totally Money's index has valued at £28.8m in today's money, and £15.7m at the time.

This shows that Newcastle hit the jackpot with the towering centre-forward as they cashed in on him at the perfect time, before his value plummeted by over £70m in 2024 money within less than three years.

Interest in Alexander Isak

It was recently reported by Football Insider that Premier League giants Arsenal, who are currently in the race to secure the title, are interested in Newcastle forward Isak in the present day.

The outlet stated that they are under pressure to abide by the division's financial obligations due to their spending in recent windows, and that they may have to cash in on the Sweden international if they want to make a splash in the market to improve their squad.

This means that the £63m club-record signing from Real Sociedad could be the next Toon marksman to make a big-money move to another Premier League side, as Carroll did when he made the switch to Anfield.

Like the English striker, Isak has proven his quality in the Premier League for the Magpies with his fantastic performances in front of goal since his move to the club.

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old dynamo has scored 22 goals in just 34 league starts for Newcastle in less than two full seasons at the club so far.

He has overperformed his xG by roughly three goals, which speaks to the Arsenal target's efficient finishing, and it is easy to see why there is interest in his services ahead of the summer transfer window.

Howe may want to keep hold of his star forward but if an offer that is too good to refuse comes in, as was the case with Carroll, then the Magpies could have to entertain the idea of selling him.

James Milner is "getting flashbacks" of Jurgen Klopp under Fabian Hurzeler as the Brighton manager is striving to make a mark in the Premier League.

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• Hurzeler is PL's youngest-ever permanent manager
• Is influenced by Klopp's style
• Milner has noticed tangible similarities with Klopp

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brighton & Hove Albion made a groundbreaking decision by appointing Hurzeler as their new head coach, a move that has set the football world abuzz. At just 31 years old, Hurzeler has become the youngest full-time manager in Premier League history, an achievement that underscores the club’s willingness to embrace youthful dynamism and fresh ideas.

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  Hurzeler's rapid rise to prominence is no fluke; it is a testament to his remarkable work ethic and tactical ingenuity, traits that were on full display during his tenure at FC St Pauli as he guided them to the Bundesliga 2 title in the most recent season. Winning 20 out of 34 matches, Hurzeler’s side was a model of consistency, blending tactical discipline with a motivational approach that brought out the best in his players.

• WHAT MILNER SAID

  Milner, who has experienced considerable success at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, has already drawn parallels between Hurzeler and his former manager as he couldn't help but notice the similarities between Hurzeler’s style and the approach that made Klopp one of the most respected managers in the world.

  “I’m getting flashbacks,” Milner remarked with a smile during an interview with

  "There is a good mix of the last manager [Roberto De Zerbi], who was build-up orientated, but maybe a bit of Jurgen Klopp thrown in. In terms of how we defend especially, the focus is on high intensity, counter-pressing and quick reactions to turnovers. The manager has put his own stamp and intensity on things, he wants us to play front foot with and without the ball."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Hurzeler's approach is reminiscent of Klopp’s famous gegenpressing, a tactic that relies on swift pressure after losing possession, aiming to regain the ball high up the pitch and catch opponents off guard.

  "A few of the sessions we've done and a few tactical ideas have been familiar, which is great," Milner continued. "I'm very familiar with the Klopp style, and hopefully that means I can help some of the boys with a few of the defensive patterns. I'm pretty comfortable with it, and can help translate.

  "I get to learn from a new manager. I'm learning every day. I had a fantastic time under Roberto last year but now it's a fresh start, with some positive changes. I've been really impressed with the manager so far, I'm excited to work with him."

Crystal Palace have offered a new deal to secure £7.2m-valued Jeffrey Schlupp’s future, according to a report from Football Insider. 

The lowdown: Terrific servant

Signed for £9million from Leicester City (The Guardian), Schlupp has proven to be a superb servant to Palace since joining.

The 29-year-old Premier League winner has amassed 162 appearances for the Eagles and the Ghanian international remains an important part of Patrick Vieira’s plans in South East London.

As it was confirmed that the club were retaining the services of Jordan Ayew, Nathaniel Clyne, James McArthur and James Tomkins, now it seems as though Schlupp could well be set to earn fresh terms.

The latest: New deal offered

As per a ‘source’ from the club for Football Insider, Crystal Palace have made the 20-cap ace an offer of a new contract beyond 2023.

It’s claimed that ‘talks are underway’ with the versatile left-footer as Vieira makes plans to reshape the squad at Selhurst Park.

The report states that the club are ‘keen to tie down’ the man hailed for an ‘incredible’ performance in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in 2020 by Roy Hodgson and the offer of an ‘extension’ has been made.

The verdict: Continuity required

As the previously ageing Palace ranks prepare for another summer overhaul, retaining a number of the tried and tested Premier League operators will be important moving forwards.

Therefore, keeping Schlupp in situ with his wide-ranging versatility and 205 English top-flight outings worth of experience to counter the youthful exuberance of the likes of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise is a smart move from Vieira.

Last season, the Ghanian international scored four times and provided two assists in 32 league appearances – predominantly operating in a new central midfield role – highlighting a continued key status in the squad and a potential reinvented career in a previously unfamiliar position.

In other news: ‘Very close’ – Journalist makes Crystal Palace transfer claim, read more here

Liverpool have a lot to consider when it comes to their forwards and their expiring contracts, and now a reliable source has given an update on one player’s future ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the latest?

Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has written a column (via Anfield Watch) detailing more information on Mohamed Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool.

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As per the report, Romano confirms that there is no connection between Salah and Mane’s future and negotiations for the Egyptian won’t be compromised or dependent on the future of his teammate.

There is still no agreement on a new contract for Salah and there is a “serious possibility” that he will leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, however, Romano reports that no final decision will be made until 2023.

Klopp will be gutted

With Roberto Firmino, Salah and Mane all out of contract in 12 months’ time, there is no doubt that Jurgen Klopp will be gutted about the situation and will be hoping he can lay down some foundations for a worst-case scenario where all three leave next summer.

When it comes to Salah in particular, replacing his attacking output would be no easy task for FSG, especially when his equally high scoring teammate is planning to leave the club this summer according to reports.

The Egyptian winger has been a consistent goal machine for Liverpool during his time at the club scoring 156 goals and contributing 63 assists with a goal involvement every 94 minutes, which is an astonishing output that FSG would struggle to replace instantly if they can’t come to an agreement on an extension for the player.

It has been reported that Salah wants to be paid £400k-per-week to extend his stay at Anfield which would be a huge advance on his current £225k-per-week salary and would put the player hundreds of thousands ahead of his teammates, completely abolishing the tight and fair wage structure across the board that has been exercised for years.

Ultimately, FSG and the manager will need to come to a decision on whether they can offer something to the player that can keep him at the club or if they can move on without Salah next summer and bring in reinforcements that can continue Liverpool’s trajectory for success. If not, this whole situation can be seen as nothing but a big blow for the Merseysiders.

AND in other news: FSG could unearth Liverpool’s next Salah by signing “special” 131-goal star

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage must brutally sell Morgan Gibbs-White this summer and could get up to £20m for the player.

What’s the story?

talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook spoke to GIVEMESPORT and said: “If he’s a player they can get £20m for they might see that as a good investment and a chance to rebuild.”

The 22-year-old had an exceptional loan spell with Sheffield United this past season, and helped them secure a play-off place before they lost out in the semi-final to eventual winners Nottingham Forest.

Wolves could sign him on a new contract, but with big clubs such as Serie A champions AC Milan interested, now is a good time to cash in.

He won’t make it at Molineux

Gibbs-White has risen through the ranks at Molineux and is one of the latest successes from their academy. He has had two loan spells with his most recent one at Sheffield United impressing the most.

He made 35 Championship appearances for The Blades and was directly involved in 20 goals during that time. Those are impressive numbers, and he’s been described as a “catalyst” in the EFL by journalist Laurie Whitwell. However, you have to put it into perspective.

They were one of the best teams in the division last season and it would be difficult for the Englishman to replicate that standard in a much tougher Premier League.

If he remained at Molinuex it would be hard to see where he would fit in. Wolves usually play a formation of three forward players so he would either have to be moved out wide or be put in a deeper position.

This would risk not getting the best out of him, as has been seen previously, particularly under Nuno Santo.

Gibbs-White isn’t necessarily a bad player, but if Wolves can get a good fee for him, then it makes more sense for them to use that to improve other areas of the team rather than keep a player who will likely be on the bench.

In the 86 appearances he has made for the Old Gold, he’s only scored three and assisted one, which ultimately proves that he isn’t good enough to stay at Molineux.

IN other news: Wolves now already heading for huge summer transfer disaster, Lage will be furious…

Celtic pair David Turnbull and Matt O’Riley can be the heir apparent to Tom Rogic at Parkhead, according to former Hoops manager Alex McLeish.

The Lowdown: Rogic departing Hoops

Rogic has enjoyed a wonderful Celtic career, winning seven Scottish Premiership titles, among other trophies, but his time at the club is coming to an end.

The Australian will depart during the summer in order to enjoy a fresh challenge, bringing an end to his nine-year stay at Parkhead.

Rogic could leave a big void in the middle of the park, given his influence in the final third in particular, and it could be that youngsters Turnbull and O’Riley step up to the plate.

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The Latest: McLeish confident over Hoops pair

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish talked up the duo’s chances of kicking on and taking their opportunity from next season onwards:

“These guys have still got to get to Rogic’s level. We’ve seen they’re up and coming youngsters who have passed the test to be able to play for Celtic in the first instance.

“The next instance will be that higher level that Rogic reached. They’re both attacking midfielders so they obviously have to pitch in with the goals at the level Rogic has produced.

“That’s the task when you go to any club, that’s got to be your ambition. It doesn’t matter whether that’s a bottom team or a top team.

“You know Rangers and Celtic don’t allow players to stay there too long if they’re not producing.”

The Verdict: Huge opportunity for both

Sometimes, the exit of a great player can pave the way for a youngster to make their mark, and both Turnbull and O’Riley should be seeing this as a wonderful chance.

The former is arguably the most exciting prospect of the two, having been hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Alan Hutton, also scoring and assisting five times apiece in the league this season before injuries took their toll.

Meanwhile, O’Riley has shone on loan at League One side MK Dons in 2021/22, enjoying 12 goal contributions (seven goals and five assists), and his return to Celtic is an exciting one.

In other news, a journalist has given a key Celtic transfer update. Read more here.