Manchester United have now submitted a £26m opening offer for a former Premier League striker, who has been in impressive form this season.
Man Utd looking to sign new striker amid Sesko's slow start
Benjamin Sesko’s Man United career is yet to truly take off, having scored two goals in his first 11 Premier League games, and the Slovenian striker has missed the last two matches due to a knee injury, with Joshua Zirkzee leading the line against Crystal Palace last time out.
With Zirkzee ending his goal drought in the 2-1 triumph against the Eagles, it remains to be seen whether Sesko will be able to force his way back into the side upon his return, but the Dutchman could be on the move in the January transfer window.
West Ham United are now planning to sign Zirkzee this winter as a replacement for Niclas Fullkrug, with AS Roma also being credited as potential suitors, and the 24-year-old departing would exacerbate the need for Ruben Amorim to bring in a new centre-forward.
According to a report from Spain, Man United have now submitted an offer of around €30m (£26m) for Real Betis striker Cucho Hernandez, who has emerged as an important player for the Spanish side under the helm of Manuel Pellegrini.
The bid is said to be ‘financially attractive’ to Betis, but the La Liga side now have a big decision to make, given that Cucho could be the key to them having a successful season, and it would be difficult to replace him.
United are looking to bring in forwards capable of providing ‘energy, mobility and goals’, and they have decided the 26-year-old fits the bill, off the back of an impressive 2025-26 campaign thus far…
Cucho impressing in La Liga and Europa League
The Colombian recently scored his first Europa League goal of the season in Betis’ 2-1 victory against Utrecht, and he has also put in some eye-catching displays in La Liga, chipping in with five goals and two assists in 14 games.
The former Watford man has some Premier League experience too, scoring five goals in 25 matches for the Hornets in the 2021-22 campaign, during which time Claudio Ranieri said: “I love him, because always during the training session he gives 100 per cent. He wants to score, he wants to shoot. He is a fighter. I love these kinds of people.”
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Man United are looking to strengthen in the middle of the park.
ByDominic Lund Dec 3, 2025
Man United should have reservations about signing Cucho, given that the centre-forward wasn’t exactly prolific during his previous stint in England, but he could be a decent back-up option for Sesko, should Zirkzee move on this winter.
Twice New Zealand made comebacks in this game, Bracewell leading the recovery with the ball, and Ravindra getting the job done with the bat
Mohammad Isam24-Feb-20251:45
Steyn: Class players like Ravindra hit good balls for four
If joint Player-of-the-Match awards were in vogue, Rachin Ravindra might well have been receiving it alongside Michael Bracewell on Monday night in Rawalpindi. Bracewell was given the award for his pinpoint offspin that helped New Zealand keep Bangladesh to 236 for 9. Ravindra then boosted his reputation as one of the game’s brightest young talents with a 105-ball 112.Ravindra also extended his love affair with ICC 50-over tournaments; all four of his ODI centuries so far have come at ICC events. The first three came in India at the 2023 World Cup, before his sparkling century in this game, which shut the door on Bangladesh and put New Zealand in the semi-finals.Curiously, Ravindra might not have played this game at all. He had missed New Zealand’s previous three ODIs over the last couple of weeks after taking a blow to the forehead while fielding in the Pakistan tri-series. But Daryl Mitchell reported sick on the morning of the Bangladesh match, and Ravindra was back.Related
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New Zealand, India through to Champions Trophy semi-finals
He walked out to bat when they were 15 for 2 in the fourth over, Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana looking red hot with the new ball. He played straight to blunt them, had a bit of luck when Bangladesh missed a direct hit that would have ended his stay on 25, lost Devon Conway at the other end in the 16th over, lost his rhythm at times, but, importantly for New Zealand, kept at it. Having the experienced Tom Latham for company for most his innings was a huge plus.”It was a little bit of a tricky wicket at times,” Ravindra said afterwards. “The ball held up in there. They bowled some good stuff at times. Tommy is a great man to have in the middle. He has so much experience. It was about building a partnership and to try to take it deep. The beauty of chasing 240 is that you don’t need to push the accelerator too much on good wickets and fast outfields. We were just trying to play good cricket shots and work on five-run blocks.”There were definitely times when I struggled for timing. They strung together dot balls. They bowled really well. They didn’t give any width. The beauty of batting in one-day cricket is that it goes through ebbs and flows for a long period. There are periods when you can play freely, and then there are periods when you don’t.”I was leaning on Tommy a lot in those periods. We kept each other accountable, knowing what our options are. I tried to play good cricket shots, got into good positions and, when they missed their lengths, I was able to hit the gaps. I think I didn’t force the ball, which is why it looked a bit simple. It is definitely not simple when you are out there.”Rachin Ravindra embraces Tom Latham, his main support on the night•ICC/Getty ImagesLatham and Ravindra added 129 off 136 in partnership, and when they were separated in the 39th over, New Zealand needed just 36 more. They had steadied the ship and won the battle in the crucial middle overs, hardly letting the Bangladesh spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain settle on a length.For Bangladesh, it was the reverse. They had reached a solid 97 for 2 after 20 overs, and New Zealand might have been wondering if they had made the right choice in choosing to bowl first. Then Bracewell took control of the middle overs, and the game. He had been brought into the attack early – the ninth over – to counter the left-hand pair of Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto. He had Tanzid caught at midwicket with his second ball of the match, and then kept things tight, but Bangladesh were still decently placed. That changed over the course of Bracewell’s next four overs, which produced figures of 3 for 5.”Bangladesh started really well in the powerplay. I think their openers kept the tempo going. We were under the pump on a good wicket. But Beasty [Bracewell] put the chokehold on, bowled the good balls. He was amazing with his consistency,” Ravindra said. “I think Beasty bowled out of his skin today. His development as a cricketer in the last few years has been amazing to watch. We have played together five or six years ago in Wellington. He is learning his craft so well. His consistency gives so much depth to our spin attack. [Mitchell] Santner is one of the best in the world and having someone like Michael supplementing him is great.”Bracewell finished with career-best figures of 4 for 26, having bowled 43 dots. Bangladesh played out 178 dots overall to New Zealand’s 142. That made a difference. New Zealand had recovered twice in the game, both times in the middle overs. That, certainly, made a big difference.
The Arizona Diamondbacks hoped for better news on star outfielder Corbin Carroll's hand after he was hit by a pitch Wednesday in Toronto against the Blue Jays. He has missed the team's last five games with left hand soreness and unfortunately, the Diamondbacks will miss his services for even longer.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced Monday that Carroll has a chip fracture in his left wrist and is headed for a stint on the injured list, via team host and reporter Jody Jackson. According to an MLB.com report, initial X-rays came back negative but an MRI Monday revealed the fracture.
"That's a little bit confusing to all of us," Lovullo said via Blake Niemann of Fox 10 Phoenix. "It's on the back of his hand, the impact of the ball hit the side of his hand which just goes to show you how hard these guys are throwing today. There's definitely that fracture and he's going to continue to get some opinions just to find out what that official diagnosis means and what the timeframe will be."
Disappointing news for the Diamondbacks, especially after slugger Eugenio Suarez left the team's game Monday after he was hit by a pitch on the right hand. Josh Naylor also exited the Diamondbacks' 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox Monday.
Before the injury, Carroll slashed .255/.341/.573 with 20 home runs, 44 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He also has an MLB-leading nine triples on the season.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been called out by an Old Trafford legend over his handling of youngster Kobbie Mainoo and suggested the England international could leave unless his treatment improves. Paul Scholes took to social media to post an expletive-laden response to the United bosses’ claims Mainoo is a “starter”, despite the fact the 20-year-old hasn’t started a league game for the club this season.
Amorim makes Mainoo claims
Mainoo has struggled for playing time under Amorim this season, having been a breakout star and regular starter in previous seasons, and is yet to make a single Premier League start this term. The issue stems from a change in system and being in competition with club captain Bruno Fernandes for the same midfield role, a battle the Portuguese international is winning. Frustrated by his limited minutes, Mainoo requested a loan move last summer, which United denied and the situation has led to speculation about a potential January exit, with top clubs across Europe, including Bayern Munich, reportedly interested in securing his services, either on loan or on a permanent deal.
But Amorim has talked down issues, claiming Mainoo will get his chance. Amorim said last Friday: “I see him as a starter like the other players. I just have to make a choice and then in the end, it's not been Kobbie. In the future, I don't know. Again, I always think the same thing with Casemiro. (He) was not playing and then he plays. I just want to win games. I don't care who is playing."
But United legend Scholes, who played 719 games for the club, scored 155 goals, won a record 11 domestic league titles and two Champions League crowns, has slammed the way the United boss has treated Mainoo.
AdvertisementScholes: 'Enough is enough'
Scholes posted in response to Amorim’s statement, saying: "Bulls***. The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can't control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it's probably best for him now, enough is enough."
Amorim stands firm on Mainoo treatment
Speaking to the press today, Amorim was repeatedly pressed on what his plan is for Mainoo, with the United boss saying: "I see it. I just want to win, I try to put the players, I don't look who it is, I don't care about that, I'm just trying to put the best players on the pitch. You have Manuel Ugarte that played two games. One of them, Casemiro, was out, Bruno Fernandes, he's always fit, he's the guy that is doing his position, so maybe it has to do with that."
And when asked if players departing to play at the forthcoming AFCON tournament will allow Mainoo more playing time, Amorim added: "I don't know, I don't know. It's the same question, I don't know what is going to happen, it depends, I've seen the training, if it's the best thing for the team, I will put (him in), that is the only way I know how to respond to that. Of course, I understand, and my job is to answer, but I'm trying to answer always the same thing, and you ask me always the same thing. I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie, he starts for England. But that doesn't mean that I need to put Kobbie in when I feel that I shouldn't put Kobbie in, so it's my decision."
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Getty Images SportWill Mainoo feature against Wolves?
United head to Molineux on Monday evening to face bottom of the table Wolves knowing victory is fully expected against a side who have won just two points all season. Wolves did the double over United last season, but the Red Devils have only ever lost eight Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table. There will be huge focus on what Amorim decides to do with Mainoo, whether he starts or is once again on the bench, but the United boss may be convinced to make as few changes as possible after going four games unbeaten on the road.
Shakib said he wants to play a full series across formats in Bangladesh to say goodbye to the fans
Mohammad Isam07-Dec-2025Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has reversed his retirement from Tests and T20Is, and has said that he wishes to play all three formats. Shakib has not played international cricket in over a year and had announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year.”I am officially not retired from all formats,” Shakib said on the podcast, which features Moeen Ali, on Sunday. “This is the first time I’ll be revealing that. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire.”I mean, [I can] retire from all formats in a series. So it can start from T20I, ODI and Test, or Test, ODI, T20I. Either way, I’m fine, but I want to play a whole series and retire. That’s what I want.”Related
BCB says door still open for Shakib to play for Bangladesh
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Shakib hasn’t returned to Bangladesh since May 2024, once the Awami League government was dethroned on August 5. Shakib was an MP for that party. He was named in an FIR in an alleged murder case, although he was not in the country at the time. He then went on to play Tests in Pakistan and India. The second Test against India in Kanpur was his last international game.When asked whether he will return to Bangladesh, Shakib said, “I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing [T20 leagues]. I think it will happen.”Shakib further said that he will not be burdened by results and he wants to “give something back to the fans” for years of support in a home series.”I think when a player says something, they try to stick to their words,” he said. “They normally don’t change it all of a sudden. It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I might play a bad series after that, if I want to play. But I don’t need to do that.”I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say bye to the fans that they supported me always, give something back to them, playing a home series.”Shakib Al Hasan last played a Test in late 2024•AFP/Getty ImagesAhead of the Kanpur Test in September last year, Shakib announced he wasn’t going to play T20Is anymore, while expressing his desire to play his last Test in the home South Africa series that was scheduled for October.There were some protests and clashes around the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka ahead of the Test series, after which Shakib issued an apology for his silence during the students-led protest which led to hundreds of deaths in July and August.The BCB then dropped Shakib for the Tests against South Africa, mainly because Bangladesh’s interim government couldn’t guarantee his safe exit from the country.Earlier this year, a BCB official said that Shakib was welcome to return to the Bangladesh team. In September, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Mahmud declared that Shakib would not be allowed to play for the country after Shakib wished former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday.Shakib, who was elected as an MP from his hometown Magura in January 2024, also suggested that he wasn’t done with his political career when he was asked what legacy he wants to leave. “[I have] done my cricketing part. Maybe political side is left,” he said. “It’s something I want to do for the people of Bangladesh and people of Magura. That was my intention, and it is still my intention. Let’s see where Allah takes me.”
Aston Villa are now prepared to make a £52m offer for a “baller” in the January transfer window, with Unai Emery personally keen.
Villa make major statement in dramatic Arsenal victory
Villa sent out a message to the rest of the Premier League by picking up a dramatic late victory against league leaders Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, with Emiliano Buendia firing home in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win.
In the wake of the result, which leaves Emery’s side just three points behind the Gunners, Mikel Arteta has admitted the Villans are genuine Premier League title contenders.
When asked whether the Villa Park outfit can challenge, Arteta said: “They are. When you look at where they are, the way they play, they have beaten some big teams, especially at home. Everybody is going to have to play everybody, so at the moment they are where they are and we are there as well.”
That said, it is still early days, given that we aren’t even at the half-way stage of the season just yet, and Emery is eager to bring in some new reinforcements, who could boost his side’s title push, during the January transfer window.
That is according to a report from Spain, which states the Aston Villa manager is now personally keen on signing Athletic Club star Mikel Jauregizar next month, but a deal could be on the expensive side.
Villa are prepared to offer up to €60m (£52m) to secure Jauregizar’s signature, with the Spanish club reluctant to sanction a departure unless they receive an ‘irresistible’ bid.
Emery believes the central midfielder would be an ideal fit in his system, and the Villans are now determined to get a deal done, so much so that they may even be willing to make an even higher bid.
"Baller" Jauregizar impressing in the Champions League
If Villa are going to make a genuine push to win the Premier League title, they may need to bring in some new players with experience at the highest level, and the 22-year-old has been impressing in the Champions League this season, chipping in with two assists in five matches.
Hailed as an “underrated baller” by scout Ben Mattinson, the maestro is also strong at winning back possession, averaging 2.87 tackles per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 89th percentile, when compared to other midfielders.
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It would be a head turner.
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Jauregizar is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, and Aston Villa could strengthen their title chances by getting a deal done in January.
Shohei Ohtani always says "hello," according to MLB umpires, at least, that's what Buster Olney reported during ESPN's broadcast of the Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Yankees game on Sunday night.
Olney briefly joined the broadcast during the bottom of the fifth inning and informed fans that Ohtani makes it a habit of saying hello to the home plate umpire whenever he comes to bat during a game. Apparently most players exchange pleasantries with the umpire and catcher during their first plate appearance of the game, Ohtani does it every single time.
"Umpires have told me Ohtani is the only hitter in the big leagues who will say hi to them before every plate appearance. So he'll go to, a lot of players will go up to the plate in their first at bat and he'll say hi at that point. He'll say hit to the catcher. Ohtani will do it before every plate appearance," said Olney.
So while Ohtani is only second in MLB in home runs following the Dodgers weekend series against the Yankees, he does still lead baseball in hello's.
Clearly Ohtani missed his true calling as a Home Federal Savings Bank teller.
French heavyweights Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi are believed to be targeting a high-profile Chelsea star, with BlueCo now “seriously” considering his sale this summer, according to reports.
Chelsea keep Champions League hopes alive with 1-0 Everton win
Enzo Maresca and the Blues are still firmly in the chase for Champions League qualification, following a much-needed winning goal from Nicolas Jackson in Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Everton at Stamford Bridge.
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Jackson ended his 14-game goalless streak with his first Premier League strike of 2025, clinching a vital three points for Maresca’s side, who are involved in the tightest race for Europe in years.
Liverpool (home)
May 4th
Newcastle (away)
May 11th
Man United (home)
May 16th
Nottingham Forest (away)
May 25th
Just two points separate third and sixth in the table, with Newcastle United, Man City, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all competing for a spot in next season’s Champions League draw.
“We’re going to be better and better because the players are going to understand better and better how to play different games,” said Maresca on the improving balance of his Chelsea side.
“We said many times that against teams that press higher there is more space, and we can attack quicker. Against teams that defend low blocks, it’s more difficult, but we need to learn that. For sure this is the reason why I said many times that the fans have to trust us because this team is going to be better and better. It’s a journey, they’re going to learn things.
“The goal, as you said, it’s easy to attack quick because it’s from goal kick pressing. In the moment that you recover the ball, the first option is always in front. It was a good goal.”
Trevoh Chalobah also put in another excellent defensive display, and amid reports Chelsea are targeting a centre-back as one of three main signings this summer, the Cobham academy graduate is making a case for his continued stay in the side.
Now, as per French news outlet Foot Mercato, its potentially a different ace who could be sacrificed to make room in the squad.
Chelsea seriously considering Wesley Fofana sale
According to their information, that man is £200,000-per-week star Wesley Fofana. The Frenchman is on Chelsea’s treatment table for the long-term yet again, undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury in early April, and Maresca will be hoping he can return on time for their Club World Cup campaign.
Wesley Fofana for Chelsea
However, it is now believed that Chelsea are “seriously considering” letting Fofana leave this summer, whether that be on an initial loan or permanent deal, and De Zerbi’s Marseille hold some hope they can tempt him with a move to Ligue 1.
The former Leicester City star joined Chelsea in a deal which could be worth up to £75 million, back in 2022, but while he’s impressed with some performances and runs of form, Fofana’s stay has also been marred by fitness problems.
It will be intriguing to see how much they would demand to sell Fofana outright, given he’s one of the Premier League’s most expensive ever defenders.
The ice beneath Ange Postecoglou has become even thinner, if that were even possible. Indeed, the end is surely nigh as far as his term at Tottenham Hotspur is concerned.
As Spurs lost 4-2 to Wolves on Sunday afternoon, it came as little surprise, truth be told. The errors that dominated the game were of little shock either.
Postecoglou has engineered some brilliant football since arriving at Spurs but the error-stricken performances from his players have been all too frequent now.
The Europa League may well still provide solace for the Aussie and his bunch of players but not even that feels like it will save him from the sack.
Indeed, the display at Wolves just about summed up their season.
An error-riddled display from Spurs (again)
Spurs can score goals; we know that under Ange. They did find the net twice on Sunday, netting through loanee Mathys Tel and substitute Richarlison. However, it was too little too late. The damage had already been done.
It all started early on when Rayan Ait-Nouri’s volley found the net. Guglielmo Vicaro’s punch from a Wolves free-kick didn’t go very far and as a result, was powered home by the left-back.
Vicario had a total nightmare between the sticks for Spurs, notably handed a 2/10 player rating by Football.London’s Alasdair Gold at full-time.
That wasn’t the goalkeeper’s only error. He nearly cost the visitors again just moments later. His pass out from the back didn’t find a teammate and Jorgen Stand Larsen somehow missed from a matter of yards out.
A comedy of errors continued later in the half when Vicario parried the ball into Djed Spence who bundled in an own goal.
The stopper wasn’t the only Spurs player at fault, far from it. Cristian Romero was caught in possession for the third goal, which allowed Ait-Nouri to tee up Stand Larsen. This time he did not miss.
Lucas Bergvall, usually so crisp and composed in possession, was then at fault for the fourth. Caught on the ball by Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian stole it away from him before racing away from Ben Davies and Romero to find the net.
Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore
Despite all of that, there were more underperformers in the Spurs camp.
Spurs have found their new Tanguy Ndombele
In July 2019, Spurs smashed their transfer record to bring £63m man Tanguy Ndombele to the club.
It was a landmark transfer and one that Daniel Levy hoped would take Spurs to new heights. While the Frenchman had his moments, he unfortunately flopped big time in the capital, leaving in June 2024 when his contract was cancelled. It was a huge waste of investment.
2019/20
29
2
4
2020/21
46
6
4
2021/22
16
2
1
So, what went wrong? Well, speaking to the Athletic, one training ground source encapsulated it perfectly, stating: “Tanguy is the maverick of the team, he can do stuff that nobody else can do. Incredibly talented, incredible ability, just sometimes you just want to be like, ‘Tanguy you’re so good, just do the basics’.”
Perhaps guilty of doing too much, or in fact, being a little lazy, it was unsurprising that it never worked out for him at Spurs.
Now, in a slightly different sense, Postecoglou may have found the new version of Ndombele in Yves Bissouma. We’ll tell you why.
Writing at full-time, the aforementioned Gold handed the Malian midfielder a dismal 4/10 rating, suggesting that ‘sometimes he looks good on the ball, sometimes looks like it’s alien to him.’
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
That could easily sum up Ndombele too. So gifted on the ball, there were moments when it looked as though he didn’t know how to kick a ball.
Bissouma didn’t arrive for quite as much as the Frenchman but he did move from Brighton with considerable hype attached to his name, joining in a £35m move.
Sadly, despite a few flashy moments, like Ndombele, it hasn’t quite happened for another big-money midfielder at Tottenham Hotspur.
He has been withdrawn at half-time on three occasions in the Premier League this term and was perhaps fortunate not to have the same fate on Sunday, instead dragged off after just 55 minutes.
Bissouma set the tone early on, booked inside the opening eight minutes of the game. From that moment onwards, he failed to offer Postecoglou’s side the protection they needed against a rampant Wolves.
Minutes played
55
Touches
49
Accurate passes
38/40 (95%)
Key passes
0
Shots on target
1
Shots off target
0
Crosses
0
Duels won
4/8
Possession lost
4x
Fouls
2
Tackles
3
Dribbles past
1
He did complete 95% of his passes but only won 50% of his duels, failed to complete a key pass and gave away two fouls.
It was another average display from a man who looks like he should be sold in the summer. Spurs have plenty of exciting young players coming through in a similar area of the pitch, chiefly Bergvall and Archie Gray. They should be prioritising their minutes instead.
For the new Ndombele, his time at Spurs should surely be up in a few months time.
Spurs already have their very own Huijsen in monster 18-year-old defender
The incredibly exciting youngster will be a star for Spurs.
Celtic have had mixed success in the Scottish Premiership since the club returned to action after the final international break of the 2024/25 campaign.
The Hoops made a fast start to the last stretch of the season when they hammered Hearts 3-0 at Parkhead in their first game after the break, thanks to two goals from Daizen Maeda and one from Jota.
However, they followed that up by being beaten by bottom-of-the-league St. Johnstone away in the Premiership in their most recent match on Sunday.
It was a disappointing performance and result for the Hoops, who could have little complaints about the scoreline after they failed to produce the kind of quality supporters have become used to seeing from them in the final third.
The difference in Callum McGregor’s performance between the two matches illustrated the difference in Celtic’s play, and why the former Scotland international is so integral to Brendan Rodgers’ style of play.
Why Callum McGregor is integral for Celtic
In the 3-0 win over Hearts, the left-footed star completed a staggering 99% of his attempted passes – making 66 of 67 – and assisted Maeda for the opening goal with a through ball that split open the Jam Tarts defence.
The Scottish ace also won two of his three physical duels during the match, whilst also making two interceptions, and was not dribbled past a single time by an opposition player, which shows that he excelled in and out of possession.
Callum McGregor
This meant that McGregor was able to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, by effectively screening in front of the back four and using his quality on the ball to create the opening goal.
Against St. Johnstone, however, the captain played the full 90 minutes and did not create a single chance for his teammates despite having 79 touches of the ball and completing 94% of his passes.
Minutes
64
90
Key passes
2
0
Assists
1
0
Pass accuracy
99%
94%
Duels won
2/3
1/6
Interceptions
2
0
Dribbled past
0x
1x
As you can see in the table above, McGregor’s use of the ball and his actions defensively were nowhere up to the standards he set during the win over Hearts, as the Saints midfielders got the better of him far too easily in physical duels.
The difference in his performance correlating with the difference in results speaks to how integral he is to Celtic, because he is the heartbeat of the side and much of the team’s success depends on him playing to his level in the middle of the park.
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor.
McGregor, who has started 28 of his 29 appearances in the Premiership this season, provides a metronomic presence at the base of the midfield, controlling games for the Hoops, but allowed his level to drop against St. Johnstone and it contributed to the loss.
There is a former Celtic player, however, who has gone on to develop into being an even better player than the Hoops skipper in a deep-lying midfield role, as Ryan Christie has thrived since moving on from Parkhead.
How much Celtic sold Ryan Christie for
The Hoops reportedly sold the Scotland international to Bournemouth for a reported fee of £1.5m in the summer of 2021, having spent six years at Parkhead.
Christie made 151 appearances for the Premiership giants during his time in Glasgow, scoring 42 goals and providing 44 assists, before his move down south to the Championship – at the time.
During his time with the Hoops, the left-footed whiz predominantly played as either an attacking midfielder or as a winger as part of the midfield set-up, as he looked to impact games with goals and assists.
Christie was capable of the spectacular, as shown in the clip below, and even racked up an eye-catching tally of 21 goals and 16 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions during the 2019/20 campaign.
At that point, it seems unlikely that anyone would have predicted that Christie would go on to become an upgrade on McGregor in the number six position, as he was thriving as an attacker before his move to Bournemouth for £1.5m.
However, that is what has happened as the former St. Johnstone star has gone on to become an exceptional deep-lying midfield player in the Premier League at the Vitality.
Why Christie is now an upgrade on McGregor
Since signing for the Cherries, the bulk of the 30-year-old star’s appearances for the club have come as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder, which is a big change from purely playing as an attack-minded midfielder or winger for Celtic.
If you compare Christie’s performances against McGregor’s over the past 365 days, whilst both now play in similar positions in midfield – unlike their time together at Parkhead, then it appears as though the left-footed ace would be an upgrade on the Celtic captain.
As you can see in the chart above, the Bournemouth star offers significantly more out of possession whilst also providing his team with more from an offensive perspective, when it comes to creating chances and building play that leads to shots.
Similar conclusions can be drawn by comparing Christie’s form in the Premier League to that of McGregor’s in the Champions League in the 2024/25 campaign, as shown below.
These statistics, this season and over the past 365 days, suggest that the former Bhoys ace would currently be an upgrade on McGregor in midfield, by doing more to help out his defence whilst also providing more creativity with his passing from a deep-lying role.
The Scottish ace was hailed by former Cherries defender Joe Partington earlier this year, as the former Celtic man was lauded for his consistency in the middle of the park.
Partington said: “Ryan Christie’s consistency this season is incredible. His level is so so high – his ability to look exceptionally in control of what he’s doing. I hope its not underwhelming to say he’s outstandingly basic.”
Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie.
He added: “His touch is always perfect, his pass is always the right weight at the right time at the right angle – he plays the pass to the right player in the right moment into the right space.”
Christie, who has started 27 of his 29 appearances in the Premier League, has consistency to go along with his quality on the pitch, and consistency has been an issue – albeit over just two games – for McGregor since the international break.
However, there is no guarantee that he would have developed in the way that he has if Celtic had kept him at Parkhead, as the midfielder may have stuck to his role as an attacker, rather than being moved further back into a number six position.
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Therefore, the Hoops may not see Christie as one that got away from them from that perspective, but he was still a quality player who was sold for a relatively small amount of money, which should be frustrating for the Scottish giants.