All posts by n8rngtd.top

Youngster Ethan Nwaneri has undoubtedly been the biggest beneficiary of the unfortunate injury to star man Bukayo Saka, starting each of the last two Premier League matches in his absence.

The 17-year-old has demonstrated that he’s capable of making the jump up from academy football to the Gunners’ first-team, scoring the opener in the draw against Brighton on Saturday.

His strike was his second in the league this season, adding to his tally after his first against Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 victory against their top-four rivals at the Emirates back in November.

There is a huge expectation for the current crop of attackers to step up to the plate after Saka’s latest setback, something which could see Nwaneri given even more responsibility in the months ahead.

However, the January transfer window is now open, presenting boss Mikel Arteta with the opportunity to further bolster the club’s already impressive attacking department.

Arsenal’s attempts to sign Matheus Cunha in January

Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha has impressed massively for relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers in recent months, undoubtedly being their shining light in a dark period.

The 25-year-old has scored ten times and registered four assists in his 19 league outings to date, leading to the Gunners pursuing a move to sign the former Atlético Madrid talent.

It was reported last week that Arteta’s men were plotting a deal to prise the attacker away from Molineux to help bolster their slim title ambitions towards the end of 2024/25.

However, any deal for his services now looks to be in real danger, with journalist John Percy confirming he’s now in talks to extend his current deal in the West Midlands – halting any chances of the Gunners securing a move for the forward this January.

As a result, it appears as though the hierarchy will have to look elsewhere for potential options if they are to land the firepower that has been desired over the last couple of months.

Interest could now be reignited in one player who would prove to be a better addition than Cunha, especially when delving into their respective figures from the current campaign.

Winter transfer window 2025: All the latest deals from England and Scotland

Find out who is on the move this winter with our comprehensive list of done deals from the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Feb 3, 2025

Arsenal's possible Matheus Cunha alternative

Over the last week or so, Arsenal have been credited with an interest in signing Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez after the Mexican’s stellar start to the season.

The 23-year-old has scored ten times in 14 appearances across all competitions, including twice in three Champions League appearances – showcasing he’s capable of starring at the very top level.

He looked certain to move to Forest back in the summer after the Reds submitted multiple bids for his services, but he decided to stay in the Netherlands, now opening the door to a potential move to the Emirates in the weeks ahead.

It’s unknown how much they would demand to lose their attacking star, but his quality is there for all to see, producing numerous stats way ahead of Cunha – making him a better addition to Arteta’s squad.

Gimenez, who’s previously been dubbed “unstoppable” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have registered fewer league goals but has a better goal per 90 record with a higher shot-on-target success rate – demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.

He’s also won a higher percentage of his aerial battles, managing more shots on target per 90, which would offer Arteta that centre-forward he’s been desiring, increasing their odds of challenging runaway leaders Liverpool.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have often shared responsibility at the top end of the pitch, but aren’t a typical number nine, often liking to drop deep to link up the play, leaving a hole for a focal point at the top end.

Gimenez would certainly provide just that, showcasing his excellent fox-in-the-box-like nature during his outings in the Eredivisie over the last few months.

Such a move would also allow Nwaneri to flourish further, enabling him to create opportunities for a striker who likes to operate between the posts, subsequently boosting his assist tally and making him an even more valuable asset to the Gunners.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United were the Premier League’s main entertainers in December, as the super-confident Magpies ended up scoring goals by the bucket load on the way to some convincing victories being picked up.

Indeed, across the entire month in all competitions, the Toon fired home a ridiculous 21 strikes, which then saw Howe’s men rise up the league standings to a pretty fifth position.

Still, there are spots in his team that the Magpies manager will want to improve during the transfer window, with concerns over depth arising down the right channel.

Newcastle considering move for "magic" attacker

As per a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, various different Premier League clubs are considering a move for Celtic ace Nicolas Kuhn this January, as the Bhoys attacker continues to tear Scottish Premiership defences to shreds.

The report states that Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace are all keen alongside Newcastle, with the Magpies in for an almighty battle to win their desired man.

But, with it looking increasingly likely that Miguel Almiron will depart St James’ Park this month according to reports, Newcastle will hope they can be successful in this pursuit.

Moreover, the “magic” Magpies target – as he was once labelled by current boss Brendan Rodgers – would offer Jacob Murphy some great competition on Tyneside if a move does get finalised, with the German winger far surpassing the 29-year-old’s numbers playing in Scotland this season.

What Nicolas Kuhn could offer Newcastle

It does appear that the in-demand German has outgrown his surroundings at Celtic Park – hence all this frenzied interest coming from England – with the ex-RB Leipzig man just toying with defenders week in week out now in Scotland.

This campaign to date, Kuhn has fired home an outrageous 14 goals from 25 overall games, with a further 11 assists also tallied up.

One of those sublime strikes even came on Europe’s grandest stage as the tricky Bhoys number 10 delicately curled an opportunity home in the Champions League, which is a competition Newcastle would love to compete in again very soon if they can enter into the top four spots in the Premier League in 2025.

Adding in top-quality talents such as Kuhn could help them achieve that far-off goal, with the Toon also wanting to get rid of some deadwood now surfacing in their camp in the form of Almiron down the right.

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Kuhn would fit in well with the gung-ho style of play Newcastle have perfected over recent weeks, with more progressive carries and successful take-ons managed over the last year compared to both Murphy and Almiron.

On top of that, his goal and assist numbers for the campaign to date completely blow Murphy out of the water, who has just nine goal contributions in all competitions in contrast.

Also similar to Anthony Gordon according to FBref’s similar players feature, Kuhn could well seamlessly fit into the set-up under Howe, with the potential for the Magpies to cause even more issues for Premier League defences to cope with if the Celtic attacker relocates to Tyneside.

Whilst Howe will likely be content with what he has currently, January will be an apt time for him to add even more quality to make 2025 a memorable year at St James’ Park.

Their next Gordon: Howe targeting "monster" Newcastle signing for £0

Eddie Howe could soon add this surprise attacker to his Newcastle United squad.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 29, 2024

Manchester United are reportedly set to have a summer transfer budget of £200 million, but the amount is dependent on one major condition.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd plan summer squad overhaul
• Amorim will have access to £200m budget
• Will have to make sales before inward transfers

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  United undertook a massive overhaul of their dressing room last season and also shuffled around a lot of their backroom staff to give Erik ten Hag the best possible conditions to succeed at Old Trafford. However, that effort flopped as the Dutchman was sacked and replaced by Ruben Amorim, who has failed to impress with Ten Hag's squad and wants to get his own players in this summer.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There were concerns about United's financial condition this summer as questions were raised as to whether the Red Devils would be able to sign players of Amorim's choice. However, The Sun has now reported that the 13-time Premier League champions will have a transfer kitty of around £200 million ($260m) for Amorim to use in the next transfer market.

• TELL ME MORE…

  However, as is always expected with Manchester United, good news is always accompanied by a condition. In this case, the report has suggested that for the Red Devils to raise the £200 million transfer budget this summer, they will first have to make a number of sales, regardless of whether they are at lower transfer fees or not.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  The likes of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho are highly likely to leave United, along with Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and one of either Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho. However, another thing they will need to do is get Champions League football for next season by winning the Europa League to try and entice new players to join them.

On the podcast with Donovan, Tim Howard praised Brian White and said 'American soccer is lazy when it comes to identifying talent'

• Donovan says USMNT could struggle in Gold Cup group
• Brian White's form could make him a USMNT option
• Christian Pulisic's AC Milan performances praised

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  The USMNT’s disappointing performance in the recent CONCACAF Nations League, where they lost to both Panama and Canada, raised questions for some fans – especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.

  And with the 2025 Gold Cup upcoming, former U.S. star Landon Donovan now says he is concerned about the prospects for Mauricio Pochettino's side to advance out of their group. The USMNT's chase for an eighth Gold Cup title kicks off against on Trinidad and Tobago on June 15. The Americans will then play guest nation Saudi Arabia four days later before wrapping up against Haiti on June 22.

  “Saudi Arabia is a decent team," Donovan said on the Unfiltered podcast. "So that is not a walkover, Trinidad and aren’t great and Haiti are a sneaky good team… my guess is that Group D winner would play the Group C runner-up? And so this is aligned just the way CONCACAF wants it and, hopefully, U.S. fans want it. But my eyes jumped ahead to a potential U.S. v Panama or a U.S. v Jamaica in the next round.

  “So do I think we should get out of this group? Absolutely. But Haiti is a sneaky good team, Saudi Arabia is a sneaky good team and the two performances we last saw from this U.S. group, they could absolutely not win those two games… I think there will be a response but certainly adds more intrigue to this Gold Cup.”

Advertisement

• WHAT HOWARD AND DONOVAN SAID

  Tim Howard, Donovan’s co-host on the podcast, praised Brian White’s four-goal performance for the Vancouver Whitecaps over the weekend and said that, if he maintains his form, he should be part of Pochettino's roster.

  “We hope that there’s a lot of attention being paid by the USMNT’s staff to MLSers who aren’t necessarily at the front of the line," Howard said. "So what am I trying to say there? I’m trying to say that U.S. soccer, American soccer is lazy when it comes to identifying talent. We just take the people that are at the top of the list and forget everyone else.

  "If Brian White continues to do the business should he have an opportunity to go to the Gold Cup? Absolutely. We are not a country that produce goalscorers, natural goalscorers. So if there’s somebody that’s firing them in, then absolutely he should be in contention for the Gold Cup squad.”

  Donovan also praised Christian Pulisic’s performances for AC Milan, adding that his national teammates have let him down.

  “So he is the heartbeat of that team, offensively, and he’s not always on the scoresheet – and he often has been – but everything goes through him," Donovan said of Pulisic. "And he’s just had an awesome season. And I’ve said this before, it’s why with the national team, I feel bad for him because he cares, he’s invested in it. And when he has to be a part of some of those performances, I’m sure it’s devastating. But he’s had a phenomenal year and I hope it continues out through May from now on."

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the USMNT's performance in the Gold Cup becomes crucial for building confidence and cohesion. The discussion around White's form highlights the ongoing search for consistent goalscoring options.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The USMNT will next reunite in the June international break. The USMNT face Turkey and Switzerland on June 7 and 10, respectively, before the Gold Cup kicks off in mid-June.

There have been several standout players for Nottingham Forest this season, in what has been a fantastic campaign so far. The East Midlands side are flying in the Premier League, with Chris Wood their top goalscorer. The New Zealand striker has 12 goals to his name in the top flight.

Anthony Elanga has also been a standout player for the men in Garibaldi Red. The Manchester United academy graduate has three goals and four assists in the top flight. That is just three more goals and assists than the other first-choice winger for Forest, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has two apiece.

Perhaps the star of the show for Forest this season, however, has been Morgan Gibbs-White.

Gibbs-White’s stats in 2024/25

It has been a season to remember for Forest number ten, Gibbs-White, after what was quite a slow start to the campaign. He has four goals and three assists in 16 top-flight games this term but has been especially profitable in the last few games.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man has scored or assisted six goals in his last six games across competitions. That included a goal and assist against Man United at Old Trafford in a 3-2 win at the start of December.

He is clearly highly regarded in the footballing world. Despite patchy form at the start of the season, former England interim manager Lee Carsely called him up to the national team and promptly gave him his debut. He called the 24-year-old “difficult to play against”, which is high praise indeed.

It seems like Gibbs-White is back to his best, which is a huge benefit for Forest. However, he is believed to be of ‘keen interest’ to Premier League sides Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa, who could all try and sign him, according to the Mail.

In the event of the Forest talisman leaving the club, they might well already have a replacement lined up.

Forest's perfect Gibbs-White replacement

The player in question here is attacking midfielder Habib Diarra. According to a report from Asromalive.it earlier this week, the East Midlands outfit are targeting the midfielder, who could cost upwards of £17m. They could go up against fellow Premier League side Everton in the race to sign the 21-year-old.

Should Forest get a deal over the line to sign Diarra, they would be adding a “big talent” to the club. At least, that is what football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as, which certainly bodes well for the City Ground faithful.

Indeed, the versatile midfielder has had a strong season so far in 2024/25 for Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. The Senegalese midfielder has scored four goals and has one assist in 15 French top-flight games this season, including one on the first day of the season.

He is also a brilliant leader, as shown by the fact he has captained the club in all the Ligue 1 games he has played, much like Gibbs-White in Nottingham.

Not only does he play a similar role to the Forest skipper, as an advanced number eight or number ten, but the numbers are also up there with the former Wolves man, too.

Statistically, you can see the similarities between the two when comparing them on FBref. Their ball-carrying numbers stack up well, with Diarra averaging 2.39 progressive carries per game and Gibbs-White only slightly more, with 2.73.

Creatively, the Strasbourg midfielder averages 4.65 progressive passes per 90 minutes, compared to the Forest playmaker’s 5.18 each game.

There is no doubt that losing Gibbs-White would be a huge blow for Forest. The attacking midfielder is the talisman of the East Midlands outfit and would not be easy to replace. Yet, they may have found someone who can.

For a fair price of just £17m, they could bring in a talented creative midfielder with an eye for goal, who is also a great leader. That could easily be a description of Gibbs-White. It certainly seems like Diarra could be a fantastic addition to the men in Garibaldi Red.

PL rivals want him: Forest could face awful Johnson repeat over £60m star

The Forest star is wanted by PL rivals

By
Joe Nuttall

Jan 8, 2025

Chelsea may not be in with a realistic shot at winning the Premier League title, sitting ten points adrift as it stands, but they are well on track to qualify for the Champions League.

The Blues moved up to fourth in the division, moving ahead of champions Manchester City, with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella, and Noni Madueke ensured that Enzo Maresca’s side came away with all three points against the strugglers.

One player who struggled once again, though, was centre-forward Nicolas Jackson. He ended the game without a goal or an assist and missed a ‘big chance’ in front of goal.

The Senegal international has scored one goal in his last eight Premier League appearances and only scored nine goals from 10.96 xG in the division so far this season, which illustrates his big problem in the final third – finishing.

Jackson’s wasteful finishing in front of goal may be of concern to Chelsea and they are reportedly interested in a player who could come in to compete with him for a starting spot and boost Cole Palmer’s remarkable creativity levels.

Cole Palmer's creative quality for Chelsea

Since arriving from Manchester City in the summer of 2023, the England international has been the superstar at the heart of the Chelsea team with his output at the top end of the pitch.

Palmer has racked up an eye-catching return of 39 goals and 21 assists in 69 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League giants since the start of last season, which speaks to his ability to score and create goals on a regular basis.

The left-footed wizard could, justifiably, feel that he deserves to have more assists to his name, however, as his teammates have not made the most of the high-quality chances that he has created for them in the top-flight.

As you can see in the table above, Palmer has created a whopping 35 ‘big chances’ in his Premier League career, only to be rewarded with 17 assists.

This shows that his Chelsea teammates have been incredibly wasteful in front of goal with the opportunities that his wizardry has created in the English top-flight.

So, the addition of another striker would surely go down a treat…

Chelsea eyeing £67m striker

According to Sky Sports Switzerland, the Blues have been ‘unhappy’ with Jackson’s performances in the Premier League so far this season, potentially due to his underperformance as a finisher, and have now turned their attention to RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claims that Chelsea have decided to compete with rivals Arsenal to secure a deal to sign the Slovenia international during the January transfer window, which still has more than a week left to run before it slams shut at the start of next month.

It states that the Premier League giants have already made contact with the Bundesliga side to hold talks over a potential deal for the impressive young marksman, as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead of the second half of the season.

The outlet adds that Sesko has reached an agreement with Leipzig that will allow him to move on from the club if a team comes in with an offer of at least €80m (£67m) for his services this month.

It does not reveal, however, whether or not Chelsea are prepared to pay £67m to sign the forward this month or if they will wait until the summer transfer window to spend that kind of money on a new number nine to compete with Jackson, despite holding talks with Leipzig already in January.

Irrespective of whether it happens now or at the end of the season, signing a clinical forward could be a dream for current Blues star Palmer, due to the creative quality he possesses in the final third.

Why Benjamin Sesko would be a dream for Cole Palmer

Palmer’s statistics in the Premier League suggest that playing alongside a clinical and effective centre-forward would be a dream for him, because that player would be able to make the most of his creativity.

Jackson’s aforementioned form in front of the goal means that he is not currently doing enough in the final third to reward the England international for the work he is doing to break down defences with his genius passes and crosses that create high-quality chances.

Sesko, however, is a ruthless number nine who can elevate Palmer’s creativity, instead of wasting it, as shown by his return of 22 goals from 13.65 xG in the Bundesliga since the start of last season.

The Slovenian marksman, who was described as a “menace” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 14 goals from 8.60 xG in the German top-flight in the 2023/24 campaign, which speaks to his clinical nature in the final third.

As you can see in the table above, Sesko has been incredibly efficient with the little he has had to work with in the Bundesliga for Leipzig so far this term, as his team have only created 4.39 xG worth of chances for him, but he has found the back of the net eight times.

This, and his form last term, suggests that the £67m-rated star could come in as a fantastic signing for Chelsea given the quality of chances that they, and Palmer specifically, create in matches.

Therefore, Sesko could be a dream addition for Palmer in the second half of the season, or for the 2025/26 campaign, as a quality finisher who can convert the opportunities he creates.

It is now down to the board to ensure that they can beat Arsenal in the race to secure his signature, whether that is for £67m or another fee that they can negotiate.

He'd supercharge Sancho: Chelsea enquire over signing "unstoppable" star

Chelsea are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the former Premier League flop.

By
Dan Emery

Jan 21, 2025

Former Liverpool star Ryan Babel has hailed the work done by Arne Slot this season as the club close in on the Premier League trophy.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool can win title this weekend
• Reds only need one point
• Babel surprised by Slot's work

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Babel has expressed his surprise at the success of Slot's reign at Anfield. Just a season after replacing Jurgen Klopp in the Reds dugout, Slot is on the verge of guiding the club to their 20th league title, with just one point required against Tottenham this weekend.

  Ryan Babel was speaking on behalf of BetMGM. You could win over £27m today with MGM Millions. BeGambleAware 18+.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former Netherlands international expected Liverpool to struggle without the charismatic German in the dugout, and cited the example of Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. Instead, he believes Slot has found a way to improve on an already-impressive formula.

• WHAT RYAN BABEL SAID

  Babel said: “I think outstanding. I think most likely far above expectations, everyone's expectations. I think if you see what Jurgen Klopp has built and has performed over the years that he was there, I think everyone assumed that the next manager after Jurgen Klopp would suffer a lot.

  "Usually what you see with teams that have been successful once they start bringing in new people, new management. Usually the management needs a few years. Other teams longer than usual. We see with Manchester United after the era of Ferguson. So you would assume that Liverpool would see a few dark years before they eventually would see some light again.

  "Surprisingly, that didn't happen. And I think he took over very well. He polished it a little bit towards his vision. And from here, I think he has improved the style of playing even more.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool play Spurs this weekend and simply avoiding defeat will see them crowned champions with four games to spare.

Glasgow Rangers do not have long left to do any more bits of work that they would like to do before the end of the winter transfer window tonight.

The Scottish giants have only added Rafael Fernandes on loan from French side Lille to bolster their squad so far, but they have been linked with an interest in RB Salzburg midfielder Bobby Clark.

Rangers are also reportedly keen on a deal to sign Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron, although it would be on a pre-contract to join in the summer.

The young dynamo is not the only Scottish Premiership talent on the club’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window, though, as they have their sights set on a new striker.

Rangers lining up move for Scottish star

According to Football Insider, Rangers could still pursue a deal to bring Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland to Ibrox when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Technical director Nils Koppen is seemingly lining up a potential swoop to land the Scotland international on a free transfer, with this latest report revealing that the forward is still on the club’s list of targets for the summer.

The outlet states that the Gers are unlikely to bring a deal forward in the current transfer window but that they could move for the Scottish marksman ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Football Insider adds that there are ‘second thoughts’ within the club about a swoop for the striker, due to his age and form this season, but Koppen and Philippe Clement should fight against those thoughts and sign him on a free.

Why Rangers should sign Lawrence Shankland

The Gers have done a lot of great work in the transfer market in recent windows to fill the squad with exciting young talent, like Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, Hamza Igamane, Mohamed Diomande, and Nicolas Raskin, among others.

Transfer Focus

However, you also need some experienced players on the pitch and in the dressing room. Shankland is a vastly experienced striker who could come in and mentor Igamane moving forward, whilst being a positive influence around the club – as evidenced by his captaincy with Hearts.

Rangers’ Moroccan marksman has produced nine goals and one assist in 13 Premiership starts, but is still learning as a young player at the age of 22 and could benefit from having a seasoned Premiership campaigner to lean on.

As you can see in the table above, Shankland has struggled in front of goal this season but showcased his incredible ability in the 2023/24 campaign.

Shankland, who Chris Sutton once described as a “ruthless” finisher, knows how to score goals in the league and may be content with a reserve role behind Igamane, given he turns 30 this summer.

Rangers may have their own Lyall Cameron in "highly rated" Ibrox gem

Rangers may have their own version of Lyall Cameron in Ibrox starlet

By
Ross Kilvington

Feb 2, 2025

He could be the perfect back-up striker for the Moroccan youngster by offering an experienced option to Clement, as a starter or off the bench, whilst Rangers could hope that he is able to get back to his best next term.

This would mean that the Gers would have a thriving and exciting young forward in Igamane alongside an experienced and lethal striker in Shankland, potentially making the perfect double act.

Everything you need to know about Achraf Hakimi's salary details playing for PSG

Often considered one of the best right-backs in Europe's top five leagues, former Real Madrid player Achraf Hakimi has consistently delivered since his move to Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain.

After previously playing for Borussia Dortmund on loan from Real Madrid until 2020, and then spending a season with Inter, Hakimi made the switch to the French side in 2021, a move that has paid off well for the Moroccan international.

In February 2025, Hakimi signed a new four-year contract extension with PSG, keeping him at the Parc des Princes until the end of June 2029. Since signing the extension, he has also become one of the highest paid players at both the club and in the league.

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology to find out exactly how much he earns!

*

• Achraf Hakimi's wages at PSG in numbers

  Under his current contract with PSG, Hakimi commands a substantial weekly salary of £218,202 ($288,296), positioning him as the club's fifth-highest earner alongside fellow full-back Lucas Hernandez. The Moroccan's annual earnings reach an impressive £11.3 million ($14.9 million).

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Achraf Hakimi	Moroccan	£218,202	$288,296	£11,346,509	$14,991,396

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Top earners at PSG

  Leading the ranks as PSG's top-earning player is the distinguished French talent, Ousmane Dembele. Trailing him is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in second, with the esteemed club captain Marquinhos securing third. Completing the top five are Lucas Hernandez and Achraf Hakimi, both full-backs receiving equal compensation from the club.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Ousmane Dembele	French	£297,548	$393,131	£15,472,512	$20,442,812
  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia	Serbian	£270,438	$357,312	£14,062,794	$18,580,245
  Marquinhos	Brazilian	£222,235	$293,756	£11,561,405	$15,275,324
  Lucas Hernandez	French	£218,202	$288,296	£11,346,509	$14,991,396
  Achraf Hakimi	Moroccan	£218,202	$288,296	£11,346,509	$14,991,396

• Top earners in Ligue 1

  Paris Saint-Germain's supremacy in both football and finance within Ligue 1 is unmistakable, as evidenced by the league's highest-paid players list. PSG's roster, featuring some of the sport's most prominent figures, dominates the top thirteen positions. The sequence is only interrupted by Adrien Rabiot, a former PSG player now with Lyon, who ranks fourteenth.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Ousmane Dembele	Paris Saint-Germain	£297,548	$393,131	£15,472,512	$20,442,812
  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia	Paris Saint-Germain	£270,438	$357,312	£14,062,794	$18,580,245
  Marquinhos	Paris Saint-Germain	£222,235	$293,756	£11,561,405	$15,275,324
  Lucas Hernandez	Paris Saint-Germain	£218,202	$288,296	£11,346,509	$14,991,396
  Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	£218,202	$288,296	£11,346,509	$14,991,396

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  Highest paid players in the world

  Despite PSG's undeniable dominance in Ligue 1, none of their players rank among the top five highest-paid footballers worldwide.

  The top five are exclusively from the Saudi Pro League, with Cristiano Ronaldo, still a formidable force, leading with a remarkable salary at Al Nassr.

  His former Real Madrid colleague Karim Benzema is second, while Riyad Mahrez, formerly of Manchester City and now with Al-Ahli, holds third place.

  Rounding out the list are Senegalese stars Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,216,155	$4,210,425	£167,250,468	$218,942,120
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,608,178	$2,105,213	£83,625,234	$109,471,060
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£839,469	$1,098,921	£45,652,372	$57,43,893
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£643,271	$842,085	£33,450,094	$43,788,424
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£558,038	$730,509	£29,017,956	$37,986,458

Celtic completed a huge deal in the January transfer window as it was revealed that they had agreed a pre-contract with Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney.

The Scotland international’s contract with the Premier League side is set to expire at the end of the season, which is when the defender will officially sign for the Hoops to start his second spell at Parkhead.

Tierney, as you can see in the graphic above, enjoyed an incredibly successful time with Celtic after he came up through the academy system, winning five Scottish Premiership titles and providing a big threat at the top end of the pitch.

It will very interesting to see what the left-back situation does look like when the experienced Gunners defender eventually makes the move to Celtic in the summer window.

Celtic's current left-back situation

Greg Taylor is currently the first-choice left-back in Glasgow after seeing off a challenge from Alex Valle, whose loan from Barcelona was cut short in the January transfer window.

The Scottish full-back has started 18 of his 20 appearances in the Premiership so far this season, but Sportnet recently reported that he has signed a pre-contract agreement with Dinamo Zagreb ahead of a free transfer to Croatia in the summer.

As you can see in the table above, Taylor has offered a big creative threat from left-back and has been solid defensively, winning more than half of his duels.

Jeffrey Schlupp, meanwhile, was brought in on loan from Crystal Palace on deadline day to provide cover and competition in the left-back position.

The Ghana international won 100% (3/3) of his aerial duels in 18 minutes on his debut against Dundee, before starting the 5-0 win over Raith Rovers on Saturday.

Schlupp, at 32 and only on loan, is not the long-term answer to the left-back problem looming at Parkhead, with Taylor on his way to Dinamo Zagreb, and Brendan Rodgers could instantly replace him by unearthing the club’s new Tierney in Matthew Anderson.

Why Matthew Anderson could be Kieran Tierney 2.0

The Scotland U21 international has spent the past 18 months or so on loan at Austrian side Admira Wacker and has shown potential to be a future star for the Hoops.

He spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan in Austria and caught the eye with a return of one goal and six assists in 21 appearances as a left-back, which shows that the 20-year-old starlet has the potential to be a Tierney-esque figure who can provide a big threat in the final third from that role.

Anderson, who managed four goals and four assists in 25 matches for Celtic’s B team, did have a chance to impress with three appearances pre-season tour of the USA last summer and Rodgers described him as an “attacking threat” from left-back.

The Scottish youngster has produced one goal and one assist in nine league matches during the current campaign and the Celtic boss should provide the defender with an opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team spot next season, with Schlupp and Taylor set to be on their way.

Anderson, who still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, is a Hoops academy graduate with an attacking mindset and quality in the final third, which is why he could end up being Tierney 2.0 for the club.

And who better to learn from than the man himself next season? Rodgers could bring the Admira Wacker star into the first-team group next season and use him as Tierney’s understudy at first, with a view to him being the long-term option in that position.

Worth more than Maeda: Celtic hit gold with a star whose value soared £5.5m

Celtic hit the jackpot by selling the star who is now worth more than Daizen Maeda.

2

By
Dan Emery

Feb 9, 2025

Therefore, the Scottish giants could instantly replace Schlupp, who is due to return to Palace in the summer, by bringing the loanee, who is 12 years younger than him, into the fold.