Leeds United fans on Twitter have drawn some interesting conclusions after seeing a statistical comparison between this season and last.
@LUFCDATA on Twitter compared some key figures from the first 14 games of the 2018/19 season and compared them to how United are getting on this term, and the results are staggering.
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Leeds have actually improved in almost every area you could think of except for the stats that are based around finishing chances.
As you can see, the Whites are creating more chances and conceding less, but they’re struggling to put the ball in the net.
A number of supporters concluded that this was down to the absence of two men.
Indeed, some fans believe that Samu Saiz and Kemar Roofe are missed by the squad this season, and it’s hard to disagree. It wasn’t just those stats that provoked that trail of thought, however, with others from around Twitter providing the same opinion.
Roofe was Leeds’ top scorer last term, while Saiz completed 1.8 key passes per game for the Whites.
Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…
Arsenal fans on Twitter have been paying tribute to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the striker netted his 50th goal for the club on Saturday.
The Gabonese forward’s landmark goal came against Wolves in the first half as he netted from close range.
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Unfortunately, Aubameyang’s goal wasn’t enough to earn Arsenal the win, and while supporters will be disappointed with the full-time result, the fanbase were pleased to see the attacker hit this figure.
It didn’t take him long to get to 50, did it? The striker arrived in January 2018, and just 20 months later he’s bagged a half-century.
During his time at the Gunners, he’s won a Premier League Golden Boot, and he’ll have his eye on another one this season after bagging his eighth league goal of the campaign.
Aged 30, it may be tough for the former Borussia Dortmund star to get to 100 goals for the Gunners, but fans were just enjoying the fact that he’d hit his 50th.
Here’s what supporters of the London club have been saying on Twitter…
West Ham United endured a summer of transition on and off the pitch, with huge changes happening to the playing squad alongside the management team.
Julen Lopetegui was appointed as the Hammers’ new boss after the hierarchy decided to part ways with former manager David Moyes, subsequently handing the one-time Real Madrid boss the opportunity to strengthen his new squad.
Many high-quality European-level talents arrived at the London Stadium during the recent summer transfer window, injecting real promise into the fanbase about their chances in the Premier League.
Centre-backs Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo both arrived in East London aiming to bolster the Spaniard’s backline, looking to improve the defence left by Moyes following his departure.
It appears they are yet to have the desired effect, conceding 15 times in the opening eight league meetings, with only Southampton, Ipswich and Wolves shipping more so far this campaign.
Striker Niclas Fullkrug joined with a European pedigree, scoring three times in the Champions League last season, but he’s yet to demonstrate his qualities under Lopetegui with injuries massively hampering his progress.
However, one other summer arrival has also failed to hit the ground running as many would’ve anticipated him to at the London Stadium.
Guido Rodriguez’s time at West Ham
One of the ten new first-team additions during the summer was midfielder Guido Rodriguez, with high expectations given the speculation surrounding his future before his move to England.
West Ham midfielder Guido Rodriguez
The Argentine international was widely linked with a move to Barcelona upon the expiration of his contract at Real Betis, but, out of the
blue, he completed a move to the London Stadium, bringing about a sense of excitement with his experience on the international stage in recent years.
The 30-year-old was a part of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup alongside the 2024 Copa América, but he’s struggled for form in the Premier League since his move to the club.
Rodriguez has made nine appearances in all competitions for the Hammers, only being on the winning side three times since his move, but his most embarrassing moment undoubtedly came in the 3-0 defeat against Chelsea back in September.
Enzo Maresca’s side were 2-0 ahead before the 20-minute mark, overrunning Lopetegui’s side in the middle of the park, with the Spaniard making the decision to make changes before the interval.
Guido Rodriguez
He subsequently replaced the Argentine in the 38th minute, after losing possession five times and often being bypassed by the opposition – leading to his early replacement.
Whilst he’s returned to a regular starting role in recent weeks, he still has yet to live up to the promise many shared upon his arrival, evidently finding it difficult to fill the boots left by one player.
Declan Rice’s time at West Ham
After coming through the West Ham academy, midfielder Declan Rice rapidly integrated himself into the club’s first-team – racking up a huge tally of appearances during his six years as a senior squad member.
Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen for West Ham
The England international first broke into the senior side back in the 2017/18 season, registering over 30 appearances in each campaign he spent at the London Stadium.
The 25-year-old played a huge role in the club’s Europa Conference League triumph back in 2022/23, ending his time in East London on a high before departing to join London rivals Arsenal.
Undoubtedly, no Hammers supporter wanted their side to lose one of their most valuable squad members, especially considering his rise through the youth levels into the first-team setup.
However, the £105m fee they received was far too good to turn down, allowing for investment in various areas to build on their European success the year prior.
Declan Rice for West Ham
Rice has gone on to take his game to the next level at the Emirates, aiming to claim a Premier League title for Mikel Arteta’s side, whilst new boss Lopetegui is still yet to find an adequate replacement for the former fan-favourite.
Given the significant transfer fee, it’s no surprise to see a struggle to replace Rice, with players of that quality a huge miss regardless of how much money they receive for his services.
That could all be about to change, with the Hammers eyeing up a January move for one talent who will undoubtedly improve the Spaniard’s midfield department.
The man who can finally replace Rice and provide an upgrade on Rodriguez
According to Hoy Diario Del Magdalena, West Ham are interested in a move to sign Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
However, the Hammers aren’t alone in their pursuit of the 24-year-old, with European giants PSG and AC Milan also in the race for his signature.
The report claims that after huge interest over the summer, the Colombian stayed put at the Brazilian outfit, but could be available this winter for a fee in the region of just £12.5m – a bargain for a player of his qualities.
He’s been a crucial figure for Palmeiras in 2024, producing numerous stats that are better than former Hammer Rice and current first-team member Rodriguez.
The “tremendous” talent, as dubbed by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has excelled in possession, averaging more shots per 90, whilst completing more take-ons than the aforementioned pair.
Games played
17
7
8
Progressive carries
1.4
2.9
0.2
Shots taken
1.6
1.2
0.8
Tackles won
1.6
0.5
1.5
Blocks
1.4
1.1
1.3
Take-ons completed
0.9
0.8
0.2
However, out of possession, the Colombian has been just as impressive, completing more tackles and making more blocks per 90 – potentially providing that box-to-box talent Lopetegui’s side have been missing this season.
The £12.5m fee touted for his services would be an absolute bargain, with Rios – who has been dubbed a “ball-carrying machine” by analyst Ben Mattinson – having all the qualities needed to thrive in the Premier League.
They may face tough competition for his services, but given the pulling power demonstrated in the summer, the Palmeiras star could be the next big name to make the move to London in January.
Lopetegui will want to right the wrongs of the club’s early season form, aiming to turn things around in the coming weeks, but more reinforcements may still be targeted despite the summer activity, with Rios undoubtedly a talent who can inject that needed quality.
West Ham flop who left for £5m is now outscoring Bowen & Kudus this season
The former West Ham player seems to have found his shooting boots away from the London Stadium.
The international break will soon be drawing to close, but – for now at least – it looks as if the end is not yet in sight for Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag.
There were whispers of Thomas Tuchel and the like over the past week or so, yet barring anything drastic, it will be the Dutchman who takes charge of the side at home to Brentford this weekend, with the aim of ending the club’s five-game run without a win.
A key issue facing the former Ajax boss is the lack of options defensively – with Diogo Dalot the only fit senior full-back – although it is at the top end of the pitch where perhaps an even greater concern lies for United.
Statement defeats to both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur may say otherwise, but the Red Devils’ defensive record has, bizarrely, been relatively strong this season, with Andre Onana currently atop the pile for Premier League clean sheets (four).
On the flip side then, only bottom club Southampton have scored fewer goals in the division than the Old Trafford side, thus pointing to the work that needs to be done to get this youthful attacking unit firing.
Man Utd's centre-forward woes
There is no guarantee, but goals have come from the flanks this season, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho netting four times, while Amad Diallo has scored once in all competitions in 2024/25.
It has been a different story through the middle, however, with the injury-impacted Rasmus Hojlund scoring only once, while summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has also failed to score since netting on debut in the 1-0 win over Fulham.
That late strike against the Cottagers marked the perfect start to life in Manchester for the £36.5m man, briefly quitening the doubts over whether he could be the goalscoring solution for United, having netted just 11 Serie A goals for Bologna last season.
Since then, however, the £105k-per-week marksman has flattered to deceive when deployed through the middle, having already missed four ‘big chances’ in the league alone thus far.
By his own admission, the 23-year-old is more of a nine-and-a-half than an out and out centre-forward, yet a return of just one goal from ten games makes for grim reading for any forward worth their salt.
Previously likened to Brazilian legend, Ronaldinho, by former boss Thiago Motta, the Dutchman now looks to be a “spectacularly ill-judged” signing, in the words of journalist Sam Pilger. Something needs to change.
Man Utd's own Kai Havertz
It is not a word that supporters will like to hear, but perhaps the answer to getting the best of Zirkzee is simple – patience.
A player who, despite his relative youth, has rarely had a settled home amid stints at Bayern Munich, Parma, Anderlecht and Bologna, it could well be time and a consistent run of games that allows the five-cap international to flourish.
United need only look to the example of Kai Havertz at Arsenal to see just how a player can overcome a sticky start in new surroundings, with the German marksman – who, like Zirkzee, stands at 6 foot 4 – having initially struggled to fire following his £65m move from Chelsea.
kai-havertz-arsenal
Deployed to begin with by Mikel Arteta in an unorthodox central midfield role, the Champions League winner drew criticism for his displays, with the deal branded a “mistake” by ex-Chelsea man, Frank Leboeuf.
Arteta, to his credit, persisted with Havertz in the side, and after a shift back into a centre-forward role, he came good, ending the 2023/24 campaign with 13 goals and seven assists in the top-flight.
The 25-year-old is now thriving in the early knockings of this season too, having registered six goals in only ten outings in all competitions. Clinical.
Havertz has silenced his critics, and then some, with the hope that Zirkzee – who is deemed to be a similar player to the Gunners star, according to FBref – can do the same.
Stat (per 90)
Havertz
Zirkzee
Non-penalty goals
0.44
0.28
Assists
0.17
0.11
Shot-creating actions
3.30
3.02
Passes attempted
29.30
30.06
Pass completion
78.6%
78.2%
Progressive passes
2.96
2.92
Progressive carries
1.77
1.62
Successful take-ons
0.59
1.86
Touches in opposition box
5.64
4.54
Tackles
1.06
1.02
Interceptions
0.59
0.14
That likeness is notably indicated in the table above, with the pair both offering a creative outlet through the middle, as showcased by their similar records for progressive carries and progressive passes, in particular, across the last year.
Equally, like Havertz, the new United man possesses that laidback style that can irk fans and pundits alike when things aren’t going well, but the “insane athlete”, as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson, can knit things together nicely as part of a free-flowing attack.
Equally, like the former Bayer Leverkusen star – who has operated on the flanks or as a false nine in his career previously – Zirkzee may not be your traditional number nine, but given time, he may indeed come good in that central berth.
Of course, the presence of Hojlund may prove a stumbling block – while he may also need to drop into a number ten role to find his rhythm – but having ended last season as Serie A’s Young Player of the Year, the Netherlands international is certainly a quality asset.
United may not have seen the best of him yet – far from it – but as the case of Havertz can showcase, it is still far too soon to write him off completely.
Man Utd let go of a potential £80m star in the making for nothing
Manchester United will live to regret this decision.
Leeds United were very busy during the summer transfer window as manager Daniel Farke had to deal with plenty of players moving in and out of Elland Road.
Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, and Georginio Rutter were among the stars who left on permanent deals, as they went in pursuit of top-flight football.
That allowed the West Yorkshire outfit to bolster their squad with the likes of Isaac Schmidt, Ao Tanaka, Joe Rodon, Largie Ramazani, and Manor Solomon, among others.
Largie Ramazani
No summer transfer window, though, can cover you for all eventualities and Leeds have found that out the hard way as they have lost their two first-choice central midfielders to long-term injuries.
Captain Ethan Ampadu suffered a knee injury in the first-half of the win over Coventry and it has been confirmed that he will be out of action until January.
Days later, Bulgaria international Ilia Gruev went off in the first-half against Norwich City at Carrow Road and he is now set for months on the sideline with a knee injury.
Tanaka and Joe Rothwell were tasked with taking control of the game at the Stadium of Light as Leeds were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland on Friday.
Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka's performances against Sunderland
They look set to be the first-choice midfield pairing for the forseeable future, after the injuries to Gruev and Ampadu, and had mixed success against the Black Cats.
They are both similar types of midfielders in the sense that they are slight in frame and would rather be in possession and passing the ball around, than out of possession and competing in duels with opposition players.
Rothwell and Tanaka both provide a metronomic presence in the middle of the park for Leeds, as they both completed at least 90% of their attempted passes against Sunderland, but they are not particularly combative.
Minutes played
90
90
Pass accuracy
96%
90%
Key passes
1
1
Duels won
2/7
2/3
Tackles won
1
1
As you can see in the table above, they both played the full 90 minutes on Wearside and combined for two tackles won and four duels won in midfield.
Whereas, Gruev and Ampadu have combined for 4.9 tackles and 9.6 duels won per game in the Championship so far this season, which suggests that their replacements are yet to show that they can be as effective out of possession.
Farke could, however, ease the latest blow of losing Gruev for months by dipping into the academy once again to unleash Charlie Crew, a defensive midfielder, in the first-team.
Why Charlie Crew should be unleashed
Firstly, the 18-year-old starlet has clearly already caught the eye of the manager as he has been on the bench in seven matches in all competitions this season.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
This shows that the German head coach believes that the Welshman is ready to be involved in the first-team, albeit not with an appearance as of yet, by being with the squad and on the bench on matchdays in the Championship.
In April of this year, at the EFL awards, Summerville told supporters to “look out” for Crew coming through the ranks as the next star to emerge from the academy, describing him as a “really good” midfielder.
Gray echoed that sentiment by hailing the teenage whiz as a “really good” player and revealed that the Wales international had already been training with the first-team for a few weeks.
His incredible potential was underlined by Wales handing him his senior debut at international level, against Gibraltar in June. He came on for the final 12 minutes and contributed with one tackle and one key pass in his limited time on the pitch.
The former Cardiff City youngster, who has played 26 times for Leeds’ U21s, has shown that he has the potential to be the next star to come from the academy, as he has impressed his national team coaches, Gray, Summerville, and Farke at such a young age.
It is now down to the manager to be brave, as he was with Gray and has been with Mateo Joseph this season, and unleash Crew from the start – alongside either Tanaka or Rothwell – to provide a natural number six, who can cut out opposition attacks, next to a ball-playing metronome.
If the 18-year-old enforcer can then make the step-up to first-team level and produce quality performances as a ball-winner in the middle of the park, that could ease the blow of losing Gruev for months with a knee injury.
Why losing Ilia Gruev is a blow
The long-term absence of the former Werder Bremen star is a blow for the West Yorkshire outfit because he has proven himself to be a very capable performer at Championship level since the start of last season.
In the 2023/24 campaign, Gruev played in 29 of the club’s 46 regular season matches and made 2.5 tackles and interceptions combined per match, along with a pass completion rate of 92%.
The Bulgaria international also won 56% of his duels, including 65% of his aerial battles, and this shows that he held his own in physical contests in the middle of the park.
These statistics show that Gruev offered calmness and reliability in possession whilst also being combative and a ball-winner off the ball, to help Leeds at both sides of the game.
Appearances
8
Pass accuracy
90%
Key passes per game
1.8
Tackles won per game
2.3
Interceptions per game
1.3
Duel success rate
50%
As you can see in the table above, the left-footed whiz enjoyed a terrific start to the current campaign before his knee injury against Norwich earlier this month.
The Bulgarian star made 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game, 1.1 more per match than last season, and created almost two chances per outing on average.
These statistics illustrate how much of a blow it is to lose the midfielder for a significant period of time but Farke could ease that blow by providing Crew with a chance to make his senior breakthrough, alongside a more cultured midfielder in Tanaka or Rothwell.
Not just Meslier: Farke must drop Leeds man who's bottom 3% for duels won
The Whites central defender continues to endure a frustrating season.
With pre-season now in full swing at Tottenham Hotspur, there will no doubt be those paying close attention to which players are handed a prominent role by new boss Ange Postecoglou over the coming weeks, ahead of potentially nailing down a regular starting berth next season.
Among those likely to be sparking excitement among supporters is promising full-back, Destiny Udogie, with the 20-year-old finally in place in north London after having spent last season back on loan at Udinese.
The Italy international – who was snapped up by Daniel Levy on a £15m deal last summer – has arrived at N17 off the back of a stellar season in Serie A last time out, with the 6 foot 2 defender having chipped in with seven goal involvements in 33 league games from his wing-back berth.
Having been "on fire" last term – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – the hope will be that the youngster can replicate such form in the Premier League, with the chance for him to compete with the likes of Ben Davies for a starting role at left-back.
Destiny Udogie
Udogie may not be the only previously out-on-loan player who could be handed a strong chance to impress this summer, with journalist Paul Brown stating that there could potentially be a way back for Tanguy Ndombele at Spurs, despite holding possible reservations over whether the Frenchman can put his prior woes behind him.
Speaking in an interview with Football FanCast, Brown stated:
"I'm pretty sure that Postecoglou is going to want to take a good look at Ndombele. He's obviously a huge talent. I just felt that a series of managers there never really felt they could trust him and he kind of proved them right every time he was given a chance, unfortunately.
"He is someone who occasionally will come up with a brilliant piece of skill, but I'm not entirely sure he was ever totally suited to playing Premier League football, if I'm being brutally honest. And I think it's going to be a long, hard road back for him at Spurs."
What is Ndombele's market value?
Having been signed from Lyon for a reported fee of around £63m back in 2019, the 5 foot 11 enigma has endured a rocky time of it at Tottenham so far, having notably spent the last 18 months out on loan as a marker of his slide down the pecking order.
Once branded a "disgrace" by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher due to his lack of work ethic in his early days in English football, the £200k-per-week playmaker repeatedly drew the ire of former boss Jose Mourinho, with the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte having also hardly giving him a look in.
Tanguy Ndombele for Napoli
With just ten goals and nine assists to his name in 91 appearances for the club to date, it is fair to say that Tottenham have not received value for money from the mercurial talent to date, albeit with recent reports suggesting that Postecoglou instructed the club to reject a €20m (£17m) bid from Napoli for the midfielder, after having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with the Italian champions.
The ex-Celtic boss has publicly stated that a permanent recall could be on the cards for Ndombele with the seven-cap ace currently "working hard" in pre-season, albeit while not going as far as to suggest that the £13m-rated man would definitely be part of the first-team squad moving forward.
If Postecoglou is to give the fleet-footed gem a shot at redemption it could prove to be a wise move, with – as Brown stated – the player undoubtedly a 'huge talent', hence why Levy splashed the cash on him in the first place.
That is the view of Arsenal-bound midfielder, Declan Rice, at least, with the Englishman having previously lauded his Spurs counterpart as a "top player", while also describing him as a "street footballer", due to his unique, instinctive style.
As such, while with the likes of Udogie it is the chance to make a strong first impression next term, for Ndombele, he could well have warranted one last opportunity to prove his talents at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023/24.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are in desperate need of a striker this transfer window, with goal-scoring woes that could be eased by Elye Wahi.
The Montpellier striker was linked to the Old Gold earlier this summer, and could remain as a possibility for Julen Lopetegui to target following Wolves’ sufficient sales amounting to almost £80m.
Could Wolves sign Elye Wahi?
In the latter stages of June, journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter claimed that the Midlands club held ‘real’ interest in the Montpellier sensation.
Valued at €35m (£30m) by his club via Foot Mercato, the striker could depart Ligue 1 this summer, with news emerging today revealling that he has received interest from fellow Premier League representatives Chelsea, as per L'Equipe.
How good is Elye Wahi?
Wolves are in desperate need of a striker, as communicated by them cementing themselves as the Premier League’s lowest-scorers last season, having netted just 31 goals in 38 games.
Lopetegui’s side – inherited from Bruno Lage – averaged only 0.82 goals per match, with their favoured striker Raul Jimenez failing to net a single goal in his 15 game campaign.
Lauded as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Wahi scored over half of the number of goals the entire Wolves side last season, netting 19 goals in Ligue 1 at the age of 20.
In 33 appearances in France’s top-tier, the Courcouronnes-born gem contributed to 24 of his side’s goals, adding five assists to his individual goal tally to show his threat in the final third, via FBref.
The 20-year-old could be the perfect addition at Molineux, in a player that oozes a clinical swagger and a potency going forward, which are exactly the attributes that Lopetegui requires to bolster his squad this summer.
raul-jimenez-wolves
The Premier League houses some of the best strikers in Europe, and Wolves could harvest their own goal machine in Wahi, who has already been compared to one of the league’s top scorers based on his statistics.
As per FBref comparisons, the Frenchman is comparable to Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson, who ended his individual term as the league’s fifth-highest scorer, with 18 goals for the Magpies.
Wolves could land their own answer to Wilson in signing Wahi, in a player who could be fundamental to the club’s overall form, just as the Englishman has been in the North East.
Newcastle secured Champions League football with a fourth-place finish, with the help of Wilson’s goals spurring them to new heights.
Wahi could act in the way that Wilson has for Newcastle, with the 20-year-old averaging similarly to the Englishman in terms of average goals per 90, registering 0.64 non-penalty goals to the 31-year-old’s 0.72 per 90.
Having already experienced the Premier League highs to secure a European place, Wolves know just how important it is to have a competent figure leading the line, just as Jimenez once did, scoring 30 goals over his first two seasons in the league.
At the age of just 20, Lopetegui could reignite the flame in the attack at Molineux by signing the Montpellier gem, who has shown signs that he could cause havoc leading the line when called upon.
Celtic have agreed a £2.1m transfer fee with Gangwon FC for forward Yang Hyun-jun, however, a move is proving complicated.
What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?
It has been a busy few weeks off the pitch at Parkhead, which began when Ange Postecoglou left the cub to join Tottenham. Since then, Brendan Rodgers has been brought in for a second stint in charge of the Hoops, and new signings have been made.
The first player to arrive was midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, who joined from Eliteserien club Valerenga and signed a five-year contract in Glasgow. As well as Holm, Australian winger Marco Tilio has also penned a five-year deal with the Hoops, joining from Melbourne City.
There has been a major departure, though, with star winger Jota joining Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.
More attacking additions could be on the cards as a result, with Yang a player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead. Reports last month claimed that Celtic made a significant transfer offer for the K-League winger, with journalist Jason Lee saying:
“According to Korean media, Celtic have sent an official transfer offer to Gangwon FC for Yang Hyun-Jun. The offer is believed to be "significant and final" as Celtic await Gangwon's response. The player is eager to move to Celtic.”
There has now been a further update from Football Scotland, who say that Celtic and Gangwon have in fact agreed on a £2.1m deal which includes a 12% sell-on clause.
The player is keen to move to Scotland, however, Gangwon are now stalling over a deal as they believe Yang could help them avoid relegation. Gangwon want to keep their forward until January when their season finishes, but Yang is even willing to give up his salary to push through a move to join Rodgers’ side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.
Who is Yang Hyun-jun?
Yang is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, so would bring plenty of versatility to Rodgers’ attacking options and may rival current right-wingers James Forrest and Liel Abada, although the latter of the two has been linked with a move to Sporting Lisbon.
He was described as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season display against Tottenham last year and has contributed to 14 goals in 69 senior appearances for Gangwon.
The 21-year-old is under contract until the end of 2025 and has been described as an unpredictable and eye-catching player in the media, labelled as Gangwon’s up-and-coming star last year by the K League media.
Celtic have enjoyed plenty of success by bringing players in from the Asian market over recent years, and it looks as if Rodgers is keen to continue looking in that direction. Former manager Postecoglou signed the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-gyu from Japan and South Korea, and with a deal agreed for Yang, hopefully, he’ll be the next to arrive in Scotland.
An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…
What's the latest on Federico Chiesa to Newcastle?
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that the Magpies are tracking Juventus winger Federico Chiesa ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The reporter has stated, however, that they are not in official talks with the Serie A club over a deal for the Italy international at this moment in time.
It is also claimed, in Di Marzio's attached article, that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are interested in the attacker, although the player is said to be uninterested in a move to Unai Emery's team.
This comes as Newcastle prepare to complete the signing of Chiesa's international teammate, Sandro Tonali, from AC Milan for €70m (£60m) on a six-year deal.
How did Federico Chiesa perform last season?
The 25-year-old attacker, who is still fully working his way back from the ACL injury he suffered at the start of 2022, showed signs of promise in his limited Serie A game time for Juventus.
He only started six league matches for the Old Lady and was able to contribute with an impressive two goals and five assists from out wide, whilst also being involved in two goals in three Europa League starts.
However, if Eddie Howe can get Chiesa back to the form he displayed in 2020/21, the £153k-per-week ace could represent a big upgrade on current left-winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Italian dynamo, who former teammate Gianluigi Buffon once hailed as "impossible to stop", averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 33 Serie A outings and chipped in with nine goals and nine assists, to go along with 18 'big chances' created in 2020/21.
His ability to score, as well as create goals and quality opportunities on a regular basis made him a constant threat on the left wing in a major European league for Juventus – and Saint-Maximin has never been able to hit those heights on Tyneside.
Since arriving at St James' Park in 2019, the Frenchman has never created more than eight 'big chances' in a single season, while his best return in front of goal came when he scored five and assisted five in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
The 26-year-old forward has never proven himself capable of delivering goals and assists on a regular basis for the Magpies during his time in England, so the club could now land an upgrade on him by signing Chiesa.
Whilst the Juventus magician has had a difficult couple of years due to injury, his form prior to suffering a devastating ACL injury suggests that this is a gamble worth taking for Howe and Newcastle, as they could end up with a terrific successor to Saint-Maximin.
Newcastle United are interested in signing Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko this summer as manager Eddie Howe looks to bolster his squad after an immense season in the Premier League.
What's the latest on David Hancko to Newcastle?
That's according to French publication Foot Mercato, who claim that the Magpies have 'inquired' over the Slovakian's availability following Feyenoord's triumphant Eredivisie campaign, winning the league for the first time since 2017.
It's said that Newcastle technical director Dan Ashworth has taken information on the matter and will assess the club's options before deciding whether to lodge a formal offer.
The Dutch champions signed the 25-year-old for just one year ago, but the player's expected transfer value currently sits at just £7m.
Who is David Hancko?
It is no coincidence that Hancko's arrival at De club aan de Maas coincided with their return to silver-laden prominence, and after making 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and supplying five assists, the 27-cap international has certainly been the centrepiece of a "successful" season – as he has been described by analyst Kabat Marek.
Ranking among the top 1% of centre-backs across Men's Next 8 divisions – below the top European five – for assists, shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, Hancko could well be Newcastle's immediate answer to Jurrien Timber, who looks poised to join Arsenal.
According to Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, the Gunners are "on the verge" of completing a deal for Ajax's star centre-back, who has been hailed as "special" by talent scout Antonio Mango and could emerge as one of English football's new standout stars.
Timber is listed as a comparable player to Hancko on FBref and it's easy to discern why. The Dutchman ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries, the top 6% for successful take-ons, the top 3% for shot-creating actions and the top 16% for assists per 90.
Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber.
Signing the £15k-per-week Hancko is surely a brilliant move for Howe to make as he looks to consolidate the Magpies' position as a new European force, matching Arsenal in their new defensive addition and ensuring that territory is not ceded – indeed, next year the onus will be on leapfrogging the north London giants and edging closer towards a title challenge.
Hancko is a top "talent" – as he has been called by Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna – and given that the dynamic defender can also play on the left side of the defence, he would surely be a brilliant signing to aid Newcastle in their continuing ascension.