Also: Has anyone reached 200 dismissals in Tests faster than Quinton de Kock?

Steven Lynch28-Jan-2020Prince Masvaure opened the batting in Zimbabwe’s first Test against Sri Lanka with two different debutants. How rare is this? asked Richard O’Kelly from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s Prince Masvaure – who was playing only his third Test himself – opened with the debutant Kevin Kasuza in the first innings against Sri Lanka in Harare, then, after Kasuza suffered a delayed concussion, with Brian Mudzinganyana in the second innings. Mudzinganyama was the first to make his Test debut as a substitute: it was only his fourth first-class match of a career that started a month earlier with an exciting Logan Cup match for Rangers in Harare.There have been only four other instances of an opener having two debutants as partners in the same Test. The first was in Melbourne in 1882-83, when England’s Dick Barlow opened with the Honourable Ivo Bligh in the first innings, and Edmund Tylecote in the second. It happened again in Melbourne in 1884-85, when Australia’s Sammy Jones opened with Sam Morris in the first innings and William Bruce in the second against England (Bruce had gone in at No. 10 in the first innings, and he and Morris swapped places in the second).The other occasions were in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1933-34, when Naoomal Jeoomal opened with debutants Dilawar Hussain (first innings) and Mushtaq Ali (second) for India against England; and in Bridgetown in 1947-48, when Jack Robertson opened England’s first innings against West Indies with Winston Place and the second with Dennis Brookes.Has Quinton de Kock reached 200 dismissals in Tests faster than anyone else? asked Allan Alexander from the United States

South Africa’s Quinton de Kock made his 200th dismissal in Tests when he caught Ollie Pope in the fourth Test in Johannesburg over the weekend. It was the 45th Test – and 84th innings – in which he had kept wicket (he has played two additional matches as a specialist batsman, but took no catches). None of the 17 other keepers who amassed 200 Test dismissals got there quicker: de Kock broke the record set by Adam Gilchrist, who needed 47 Tests and 92 innings. England’s Godfrey Evans took longest to get there – 80 Tests and 153 innings.Does Jason Gillespie have the lowest average of anyone who has scored a Test double-century? asked Jamie Stewart from Canada

Jason Gillespie’s famous innings of 201 not out as a nightwatchman against Bangladesh in Chittagong (now Chattogram) in 2005-06, in what turned out to be his final Test, raised his batting average from 15.64 to 18.73. Despite that hike it’s still the lowest for anyone with a Test double-century: next come Wasim Akram of Pakistan (22.64) and the long-ago Australian Syd Gregory (24.53).The lowest average for a man with a Test century to his name is 12.96, by the West Indian fast bowler Jerome Taylor; next comes Pakistan’s Yasir Shah, whose 113 against Australia in Adelaide in December has helped him boost his average to 13.76.Jason Gillespie’s 201 bumped up his his batting average from 15.64 to 18.73, but it’s still the lowest for a Test double-centurion•Getty ImagesThese days big ODI totals are often chased down with ease. But which was the first team to score over 300 to win? asked Stuart from South Africa

The first successful chase of over 300 in a one-day international came during the 1992 World Cup, in New Plymouth, when Sri Lanka overhauled Zimbabwe’s 312 for 4 with four balls to spare. Andy Flower was making his ODI debut in that game, and scored 115 not out for Zimbabwe, who were not a Test-playing nation at the time (their inaugural Test was around eight months later, against India in Harare in October 1992).It didn’t happen again for almost six years: in the decisive third final of a triangular one-day series in Dhaka in January 1998, India passed Pakistan’s imposing 314 for 5 from the fifth ball of the final over. There have now been 85 instances of a team successfully chasing 300 or more to win a one-day international, 33 of them in the last five years.Three New Zealanders made fifties in the first T20I against India – but they still lost. Was this a first? asked Russell King from England

Colin Munro, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor all reached 50 in the first T20I against India in Auckland last week. This was the eighth instance of three scores of 50-plus in the same innings, but only the second in a match lost by the team concerned. The other one was in the World T20 in Mumbai in March 2016, when three South Africans passed 50, but England got home with two balls to spare.Use our
feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

CSA has recommitted to transformation targets but the absence of black African players remains glaring

Firdose Moonda04-Jan-2020Temba Bavuma’s ears must be burning. Though he is not involved in the Newlands Test and is not even in Cape Town after being released from the squad, everyone in South African cricket is talking about him.This was the venue where Bavuma scored the only hundred of his 39 Test career to date, against this opposition, so naturally there were going to be throwbacks. But it doesn’t end there.Some use that hundred as evidence Bavuma has what it takes to play at this level, others point to the absence of any others to say that he doesn’t. There are those who believe Bavuma should return to domestic cricket and break down the door with runs and those who believe his presence, regardless of form, is essential for purposes of representation. And then there is CSA.The board’s press release on Saturday, reaffirming their commitment to transformation and denying that the recent ream management overhaul is a whitewash, may not have been intentionally about Bavuma, but it was.

Has nothing to do with form.. you score one 100 in 5 years you question technique and temperament.. some batsman just can’t cut it at the top level. Just another case of it

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) January 4, 2020

It came two days after Faf du Plessis said the team does not see colour, which sounds like a nice statement but is naive in the South African context. This country has, since 1652 when the Dutch East India Company arrived on its shores, seen colour. It saw colour through slavery, colonialism and Apartheid and sees colour even more in democracy. But the rainbow nation is not without shades of grey.The key takeaway from the statement was the reassurance given to black Africans that they still have a place in the game in South Africa. There is a difference in this country between black and black African and it is both problematic and necessary. While all black people were affected by the evils of the Apartheid regime, the black African population were the most severely marginalised and mistreated. They are also, by far, the biggest majority. Redressing the wrongs committed against them is non-negotiable but where does that leave other black people, those who are coloured, mixed-race or of Indian descent?Recently, here in the Western Cape, the Cape Cobras wilfully missed their transformation target when they went into a fixture with two instead of three black African players but seven players of colour overall. The Cobras communicated their decision to CSA and one of their arguments was that in offering opportunity to players of colour and not discriminating between the different black races, they were doing their bit for transformation. As far as the Cobras were concerned, CSA did not disagree with them, especially since the subject had also been discussed at the coaches’ conference last year.ALSO READ: Bavuma told to find way back through ‘weight of runs’CSA, who were still governed by the Thabang Moroe administration at the time, were due to have an enquiry into the matter but since the crisis and changes in the executive, the whole saga has quietly gone away. Now it seems CSA may not be so lenient.”Transformation targets have been set for all our teams below the international level that have to be implemented on a game-by-game basis,” Chris Nenzani, CSA’s president, said. “This is an obligation to a very important bottom-up approach. The CSA board is mandated to enforce these policies without exception and to take corrective action where non-compliance occurs.”That means the differentiation between players of colour and black African players will remain rigidly in place at domestic level, where teams are required to field a minimum of six players of colour, of which at least three must be black African. The national team also has a target – six players of colour of which at least two must be black African – but theirs is calculated on average over a season, “to give team management the flexibility to select teams based on the unique match-to-match requirements and in line with obtaining objective realities,” according to Nenzani.So South Africa’s new management are not in any trouble . They have gone into the first two Tests against England with only four players of colour (Zubayr Hamza, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada) of which one (Rabada) is black African, and will need to make up the numbers in other fixtures. Part of the reason South Africa have fallen behind the target is because of injury – Lungi Ngidi would almost certainly have played ahead of Anrich Nortje if he did not have a hamstring injury. The other part is form. Bavuma, who started the summer with a hip niggle, was declared fit for Newlands but dropped. And that’s what people are angry about.

We are just crossing fingers that Rabada doesn’t get injured otherwise there will be no [black players] leftMakhaya Ntini

The Black African Cricket Clubs (BACC), who held a meeting last week during the Centurion Test, make up some of those people. They questioned whether CSA’s acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith, could be trusted with on development, given his background. When they spoke about Bavuma, they referenced the support – financial and otherwise – that he has had in becoming an international batsman, which requires significantly more resources than becoming a bowler. Bavuma is from a middle-class family and went to an elite school, St Davids, essentially walking in similar shoes to a white player. The BACC asked what happens to people who do not have those advantages and at the moment, very few people have the answers.CSA has hubs situated in townships and programmes aimed at nurturing players from diverse backgrounds but very few of those players come through. The bulk of the country’s cricketers (and rugby players) are produced from a handful of Model C – the highest-quality government school formerly reserved for white children only – and private schools. Those who can afford to access the structures that can turn them into professional sportspeople, do and those who can’t, most of whom are black African, are lost. For that to change, CSA and the government have to work together to increase facilities and therefore opportunities for all at grassroots level.The trouble is that there is an impatience, perhaps a justified impatience 29 years post-unification of sports across the racial barrier, for change to happen at all levels, not just the bottom.The country is demanding black African heroes. In 2019, rugby delivered with Siya Kolisi the captain of the World Cup-winning side. At the start of 2020, cricket has regressed, according to some, with only one black African player in the Test XI. “We are just crossing fingers that Rabada doesn’t get injured otherwise there will be none left,” Makhaya Ntini told ESPNcricinfo.Ntini knows what it’s like to be the only black African in the side, the flag-bearer for a nation carrying the weight of expectation on his shoulders alone. It is what turned him into the loudest and most boisterous member of the squad, a persona that could not be criticised. He also knew that as soon as his performance dipped, even a touch, “I would be gone, just like that.”Ntini played his entire career under pressure to perform and fear of being dropped. He survived because success stalked him and because he did not talk about the challenges. Now, nine years since he retired, he is more willing to address the issues that came with being a representative for things much bigger than himself, and he thinks asking Rabada or Bavuma to shoulder the same burden would be “unfair”.Graeme Smith, Enoch Nkwe, Mark Boucher and Linda Zondi at the unveiling of South Africa’s new coaching structure•AFPThe same word could be used to describe the circumstances of players on the other side. Those who are chosen ahead of black African players can become targets for the anger of people who feel underrepresented and disenfranchised. Rassie van der Dussen is an example of such a player. He knows that there is a groundswell of support for Bavuma to return, and he would be forgiven for looking over his shoulder rather than at the next ball. But he isn’t doing that.”Growing up, it [transformation] is something we have been aware of, it’s something that is a reality in South Africa, not only in sport but in all aspects of life,” van der Dussen said. “As a white player, as any player, you are there to do a job, to put in performances and win games for your team. It’s not about thinking about this guy must play or that guy must play. You get an opportunity and you can’t do much if you don’t get the opportunity and you work hard for the opportunity and you’ve got to try do everything in your power to make sure you are ready when it comes.”Simple. Or maybe not.Equality of opportunity for players of colour, and specifically black African players, is what South Africans want, but that can only be achieved if there are enough people to offer that opportunity to. There are currently no black African batsmen in the top 23 run-scorers on the first-class charts (Wandile Makwetu is 24th). Eight of the top ten batsmen are white. There’s more representation in the bowling department where Malusi Siboto sits second, Lutho Sipamla joint-seventh and Tshepo Moreki joint ninth.The real question South Africans need to be asking is why they aren’t more players of colour on the domestic circuit who can provide the national team with options. The answers will lie in the same historical injustices previously mentioned and in the steps that need to be taken to spread the game to various different parts of the country and its people. It has been 29 years, but they are still not close to being fixed. Instead, talk in South African cricket centres on Bavuma, in whom this complicated scenario is encapsulated.

Many would regard midfield as the toughest area on the pitch, tasked with contributing to all phases of play, being at the very centre of everything your team does. Chelsea clearly value this area too, already spending £100m on two separate occasions to acquire top-level midfielders, breaking their transfer record twice in the process.

The Blues have an esteemed history of midfield talent in the Premier League era, whether it be midfield destroyers such as Claude Makelele, passing magicians such as Cesc Fàbregas and goal-scoring midfielders such as Frank Lampard.

But one of their very best, especially considering the price they got for him at the time, was N’Golo Kante, bought from Leicester in 2016 for a fee of around £32m.

N'Golo Kante's record at Chelsea

Kante made 269 appearances for the Blues, scoring 13 times, providing 16 assists and totaling 20,742 minutes played. The Frenchman is considered a huge legend of the club, winning the Premier League and Champions League in his time at Chelsea, alongside one Europa League, one FA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

The France midfielder has always been praised for his ability to cover ground, winning tackles and often making it feel like there is a 12th man on the pitch, with his incredible engine and work ethic. This was highlighted by a famous quote surrounding Kante, stating “70% of the Earth is covered by water, Kante covers the rest”.

Kante was crucial in Chelsea’s 2020/21 Champions League campaign, earning him the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season award for that year and winning Man of the Match in the final against Manchester City.

One word that has always been associated with Kante is “humble” as fans often praise him for his humility as a person. And now there is another Chelsea star who is drawing comparisons, also being regarded as “humble” by his manager.

Chelsea have found their best since Kante

Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for a fee of around £115m, making him the British record transfer. The 23-year-old has made 83 appearances since joining in 2023, scoring two goals, providing seven assists and totaling 6,859 minutes played.

Moises Caicedo vs Tottenham performance

Stat

Caicedo

Minutes

90

Touches

51

Accurate Passes

37/41

Long Balls

5/5

Successful Dribbles

1/1

Ground Duels Won

8/9

Aerial Duels Won

1/4

Tackles Made

4

Stats taken from Sofascore

It was after this performance that Enzo Maresca came out and stated that is”one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world right now”. Making four tackles and winning eight of his nine ground duels in the game, Caicedo protected the back line brilliantly, limiting Tottenham to just two shots on target in the game.

But it isn’t just his work rate and ability to cover ground, winning duels for his team, as Caicedo also plays a huge part in the build-up, making five out of five long passes in the match, and also having an absolute scorching strike chalked off, as Levi Colwill was stood in an offside position.

Whilst it’s tough for a £115m player to fully prove their worth, Caicedo has proven to be a successful signing for the Blues, anchoring their midfield and receiving notably praised, with John Obi-Mikel stating after the win over West Ham United earlier in the season that it was “like a Kante kind of performance” from the former Brighton.

As such, he is definitely proving to be a worthy heir to the Frenchman’s throne.

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With Ruben Amorim reportedly set to show Alejandro Garnacho the Old Trafford door, Manchester United are reportedly seriously keen on signing a rising star to replace the winger this summer.

Amorim to show Garnacho the door

From one of Erik ten Hag’s most influential players, Garnacho has become someone who looks destined to head for the exit door under Amorim amid disappointing form and Manchester United’s PSR problems. In a campaign to forget, the 20-year-old has scored just four Premier League goals and one assist in what sums up the struggles of United’s frontline.

Amorim hasn’t shied away from criticising the young Argentine either, telling reporters earlier this week: “Garnacho needs to improve the way he runs, the way he defends, scores and assists. He is improving. He is doing the right things. Like any player in our team, he has to choose better in the last third. Bruno is the only one scoring goals easily.”

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It’s a relationship that has been on the rocks ever since the former Sporting Club boss arrived and dropped Garnacho for the Manchester derby and now one that looks likely to come to a bitter end when the summer arrives.

INEOS could certainly do with the spending power potentially gained by selling the Argentine too, with Napoli reportedly submitting a bid worth over £60m to secure his signature in recent days and Amorim ready to show the winger the door.

Such a sale would allow the Red Devils to go in pursuit of some much-needed reinforcements of their own amid links to the likes of Mike Maignan in recent weeks. The shot-stopper is one of the best in his position and could bring an end to Andre Onana’s nightmare spell between the sticks at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, United could also land an instant replacement for Garnacho this summer who has looked destined for big things in South America.

Man Utd seriously keen on Ian Subiabre

According to journalist Sebastian Sur, Manchester United are now seriously keen on signing Ian Subiabre from River Plate this summer but are joined by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in the race to secure the teenager’s signature.

Still just 18 years old, Subiabre is not a talent that the Red Devils will want to miss out on – especially to a Premier League rival. The young Argentine is certainly full of confidence, having previously talked up his talents, saying: “I’m a powerful, high-scoring striker. And strong in one-on-one situations. I like to drop back to link up with my teammates and provide assists. I can also play on the right or left wing.”

The likes of analyst Ben Mattinson haven’t shied away from praising the teenager either, dubbing him a “technical winger” at the beginning of last year. After scoring seven goals and assisting another eight last season too, it’s fair to say that Subiabre is exactly that.

Celtic failed to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership when they were beaten 1-0 by St. Johnstone away from home on Sunday.

The Hoops had the chance to move 16 points clear at the top of the division after their city rivals Rangers had been beaten 2-0 on Saturday by Hibernian, but failed to pick up a singe point of their own a day later.

Celtic had 26 shots on goal, nine of which were on target, and did not do enough to beat Andrew Fisher, who saved all nine of those efforts on target, between the sticks for the Saints.

The likes of Nicolas Kuhn, who was substituted at half-time in the match, Daizen Maeda, and Jota all ended the game without helping the team to find the back of the net.

It was an off-colour performance from Jota on the left wing as he played 76 minutes without scoring a goal or creating a ‘big chance’ for his teammates, although he did register a shot on target and two key passes.

Why Jota has been a great signing for Celtic

The Hoops swooped to sign the Portuguese forward on a permanent deal from Rennes in the recent January transfer window for a reported fee of £8m, 18 months on from his £25m move from Parkhead to Al Ittihad.

His performance against St. Johnstone was not reflective of his form since making that return to Glasgow from France at the start of the year, though, as he has been a great signing for Brendan Rodgers so far.

The 26-year-old talent has scored four goals, created three ‘big chances’, and assisted two goals in six starts and three substitute appearances in the Premiership since his £8m switch, which shows that he has been incredibly productive in the final third for the Scottish giants.

Goals

0.71

Top 4%

xG

0.52

Top 4%

xG on target

0.76

Top 1%

Shots on target

1.60

Top 1%

Assists

0.32

Top 16%

Chances created

2.13

Top 20%

As you can see in the table above, his statistics also place him very highly among his positional peers in the Premiership, as he has been one of the most frequent scorers and creators in the division per 90.

These statistics also show that he is well on his way to replicating the kind of form that earned him his £25m move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 in the first place.

As you can see in the graphic above, Jota consistently provided a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the Premiership during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns under Ange Postecoglou earlier in his Celtic career.

Whilst the Hoops managed to bring the former Benfica man back to the club in January, the Bhoys did lose a talent last summer who could have become Jota 2.0 at Parkhead in Rocco Vata.

Why Rocco Vata deserved more chances at Celtic

The Irish youngster came up through the academy system at Parkhead and only made six appearances in the first-team before he left the club at the end of his contract last summer to sign for Watford.

After four appearances in the Premiership under Postecoglou in the 2022/23 campaign, Vata was not given many chances to impress at senior level by Rodgers last season.

The teenage sensation made two appearances, one in the Premiership and one in the SFA Cup, and played 29 minutes of football in the first-team, scoring against Buckie Thistle in his 26 minutes of cup action.

Vata, who was valued at £43k by Transfermarkt at the end of his Celtic career, scored 12 goals in 15 Lowland League matches in the 2023/24 campaign and scored in his only appearance that lasted more than three minutes for the first-team, but that was not enough to earn him any more outings for Rodgers.

The Ireland international took his chances, limited as they were, when they came and excelled as a goalscorer at youth level, yet still did not get more than three minutes of Premiership football in the entire season, leading to his move to Watford last summer.

Rocco Vata's soaring market value

At the time of writing (07/04/2025), Vata is currently valued at £854k by Transfermarkt and this means that his value has soared by a whopping 1,886% in the 2024/25 campaign from the £43k he was rated at by the end of his time in Glasgow.

His market value has skyrocketed as a result of his exposure to regular first-team football with Watford in the English Championship, as the Hornets have been willing to offer him the senior minutes that his promise at Celtic suggested that he deserved.

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The 19-year-old talent has racked up 31 first-team appearances and 1,282 minutes of action in all competitions so far this season, including 27 outings in the Championship, after his 29 minutes of football for the Hoops this term.

Vata, whose screamer against Premier League side Fulham in the FA Cup is shown above, has shown that he has what it takes to play regular football at senior level, and that he can contribute at the top end of the pitch.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the Irish whiz, who has been playing on the left wing of late for Watford, had an “exciting” future ahead of him during his time at Parkhead, and his potential is finally starting to shine through.

Appearances

27

Starts

10

xG

2.35

Goals

3

Big chances created

4

Assists

3

As you can see in the table above, Vata has been directly involved in six goals in ten starts in the second tier for Watford so far this season, which shows that he is well on the path to delivering goals and assists on a regular basis.

His return of 23 goals in 34 matches for Celtic’s B team showed that he had the potential to be a Jota-esque figure on the wing, by finding the back of the net on a regular basis, whilst he has now added creativity to his performances with the Hornets.

The Hoops, therefore, messed up when they failed to keep him at Parkhead last summer because they lost a player who could have developed into their next version of Jota on the wing, with the quality that he displayed at youth level in Glasgow and at Watford this season.

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Celtic could have had their own homegrown star, whose value is now soaring at an exceptional rate, but they will now have to watch from afar as his career develops in England.

Celtic are on course for yet another impressive domestic campaign, despite losing 1-0 at the weekend, as Brendan Rodgers’s side close in on a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title at Parkhead.

The Hoops have already won the League Cup trophy, beating their fierce rivals on penalties in the first half of the season, and are in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup, which means that they are still on for a domestic treble.

Rodgers, however, will know that success at Paradise comes with a price in the summer transfer window, as their star performers garner interest from elsewhere.

The Hoops are no strangers to cashing in on their top talent and have extracted excellent value out of their key men over the past decade or so in particular, most recently cashing in on Kyogo Furuhashi in January.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Scottish giants have sold three players for £25m – including current star Jota, who returned to the club from Rennes in January – and have sold nine players for more than £10m.

One of the players they have made more than £10m from by selling has been Dutch full-back Jeremie Frimpong, whom the Bhoys played a masterstroke with.

Why Celtic hit the jackpot with Jeremie Frimpong

The Premiership side swooped to sign the young defender from Premier League outfit Manchester City in the summer of 2019 for a reported fee of just £350k.

Whilst a lot of clubs may focus on signing proven, experienced, players to come in and almost have a guaranteed impact on the team, Celtic are willing to gamble on young talent in the hope that it pays off in the long run.

Frimpong had not made a single first-team appearance for Manchester City, or any club, by the time that the Hoops signed him, which meant that they did not know what to expect from him on the pitch in the Premiership.

The Dutchman went on to play 51 times, scoring three goals and providing seven assists, in all competitions for Celtic in just 18 months at the club, as he hit the ground running in Glasgow to become a regular at right-back.

The young starlet’s impressive form for the Hoops led to interest from elsewhere, and Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen swooped for his services in the January transfer window in 2021.

Celtic reportedly raked in a fee of £11m for his services, as shown in the earlier graphic, to make him one of the most expensive sales in the club’s history, just 18 months on from being signed for a measly £350k from Manchester City.

This shows that the Scottish giants hit the jackpot with Frimpong because they turned an unproven academy talent, worth just £350k, into an £11m player who was wanted by one of the biggest sides in Europe.

Celtic may, now, have unearthed their next version of the Dutch defender ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, but it is not the team’s current right-back Alistair Johnston.

Alistair Johnston's current market value

The Canada international joined the club from CF Montreal at the start of 2023, under Ange Postecoglou, and has been a regular starter at right-back ever since, racking up 105 appearances in all competitions to date.

Johnston has started 27 of his 28 appearances in the Premiership so far this season, scoring four goals and creating 13 ‘big chances’, after he started all 32 of his outings in the division in the 2023/24 campaign.

Despite his impressive form at right-back for the Scottish giants over the past two-and-a-half years, his current market value – as per Transfermarkt – stands at €10m (£8.5m).

This means that, at his current value, Johnston would not be sold as one of the top ten biggest sales in the club’s history, and is currently worth less than what Frimpong was sold to Leverkusen for.

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There is another Celtic defender, however, who is currently worth more than £10m and could be the club’s next star to be sold to the Bundesliga for big money.

Celtic have unearthed their new Jeremie Frimpong

Cameron Carter-Vickers is on course to become the club’s new Frimpong as his value has soared during his time at Parkhead, and he has been linked with a move to Germany.

American journalist Larry Henry Jr reported earlier this season that ‘multiple sources’ confirmed that Bayer Leverkusen hold an interest in the Celtic central defender, although no offer had been made at that time.

This suggests that there is the potential for him to follow Frimpong to his new club in the upcoming summer transfer window if Leverkusen decide to act on their interest in him by making a bid for his services.

His value has doubled since signing for Celtic on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022 from Tottenham Hotspur, at which point he was valued at €7m (£6m) by Transfermarkt.

At the time of writing (08/04/2025), Carter-Vickers is valued at €14m (£12m) by Transfermarkt, which is double what it was when he joined the club and more than the amount the club raked in for Frimpong from Leverkusen.

Appearances

33

29

25

26

Clean sheets

17

13

8

14

Error led to shot

0

0

0

1

Error led to goal

0

0

0

0

Ground duel success rate

59%

59%

62%

64%

Aerial duel success rate

73%

74%

71%

75%

As you can see in the table above, the USA international has built that value by delivering consistently impressive performances in the Premiership for the Hoops over several seasons, with zero errors that have led to opposition goals in four league campaigns to date.

The dominant defender, who has never won below 71% of his aerial battles in a season, is currently the most valuable player at the club, per Transfermarkt, at £12m and that means that he could be the next star to be sold for big money in the off-season.

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Therefore, Celtic have unearthed their next Frimpong in Carter-Vickers because he could be sold to the Bundesliga, and Leverkusen in particular, for more than £10m in the next window.

Chelsea have seen a huge improvement defensively in recent weeks, keeping five clean sheets in their last seven games, only conceding two goals and 16 shots on target across those seven games.

However, the attacking prowess does seem to have tailed off, with the Blues only scoring nine in their last seven games, with four of those goals coming against bottom of the Premier League, Southampton.

Enzo Maresca will be keen to add some extra firepower to his forward line this summer, with a new striker high on the wish list, alongside a new winger who suits the Italian’s system.

Chelsea battling for £64m "cheat code"

The Blues have been linked with a number of forwards over recent months, from Newcastle superstar Alexander Isak to Ipswich forward Liam Delap.

However, they’re not just casting their net across the Premier League but across European football, too.

Indeed, according to reports from TBR Football, Chelsea are interested in signing AC Milan’s £150m-rated winger, Rafael Leao. The player’s camp are currently assessing the player’s options ahead of the summer.

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That being said, the Blues could face competition from London rivals Arsenal, who are also now emerging as an option for the Portuguese winger.

Both Chelsea and Arsenal are keen to add a right-footed left-winger who offers a direct goal threat, speed in transition and creative qualities to unlock a game through their individual brilliance.

Leao has made 43 appearances for the Italian outfit this season, scoring ten goals, providing nine assists and totaling 2,997 minutes.

Chelsea are also reportedly in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, so just how do the pair compare?

How Leao compares to Gittens this season

Dortmund’s Gittens is another target emerging for Maresca’s side and it’s easy to see why.

The 20-year-old sensation – who is seen as the future of English football – has made 42 appearances for the German outfit this season, netting 12 goals and providing four assists.

He notably shone in the Champions League, scoring against Real Madrid, and would be a superb signing. Still, he’s not quite as good as Leao.

Both players fit the bill of a Maresca winger, looking to get into plenty of 1v1 isolations with the opposition fullback, capable of going both inside and outside and having the directness to drive towards the box themselves.

One factor that could be slightly more worrying surrounding Leao compared to Gittens is work rate, with Maresca often asking his wide players to work hard defensively.

Leao vs Gittens in 2024/25

Stats (per 90 mins)

Leao

Gittens

Goals

0.28

0.43

Assists

0.26

0.11

xG

0.28

0.20

xAG

0.27

0.13

Progressive Carries

4.86

5.74

Progressive Passes

3.67

2.08

Shots Total

2.30

2.59

Key Passes

2.09

1.09

Shot-Creating Actions

4.37

3.77

Successful Take-Ons

2.99

3.81

Stats taken from FBref

Whilst Gittens has a slightly higher shot volume, manages more progressive carries and successful take-ons, Leao offers more through creative passing, with more key passes, more shot-creating actions and higher assist numbers.

Described as one of football’s “cheat codes” by analyst Raj Chohan, Milan’s Portuguese star has blistering pace, the persistence to be direct and attack the opposition full-backs. He always forces them into uncomfortable scenarios and has the ability to create something out of nothing in a split second.

Both players would be excellent signings for Chelsea, but with the Blues already having such a young and inexperienced side, an addition like Leao could provide more of an instant boost, with a big-name signing to raise morale and ready to play a significant part in a title challenge.

Tottenham Hotspur are now determined to win the race for a “fantastic” Premier League forward, and they are willing to fork out £43m to get a deal over the line, according to a report.

Spurs return to winning ways against Saints

Tottenham’s four-game winless run in the Premier League came to an end yesterday afternoon, securing a 3-1 victory against Southampton at home, which meant the visitors’ relegation was confirmed at the earliest stage in history.

It was a game Spurs were expected to win, despite their poor form, and they got the job done in relatively comfortable fashion, with Brennan Johnson bagging a brace and Mathys Tel picking up his first Premier League goal.

Ange Postecoglou is likely to be happy with the performances of his forwards, but there are signs the Australian could look to bolster his attacking options in the summer, should he manage to retain his job.

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Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the most recent striker to be linked with a move to north London, while the Lilywhites are also keen to strengthen in wide areas, and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze is among the potential targets.

Eze is not the only Premier League winger they have their eye on, however, with a report from Spain revealing Tottenham are now determined to win the race for AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.

Manchester United are also interested in the Bournemouth winger, with the two clubs set to battle it out for his services this summer, and they are willing to shell out €50m (£43m) to get a deal over the line.

The Cherries aren’t completely against cashing-in on the Ghanaian, should they receive a suitable offer, despite his importance to Andoni Iraola’s side.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (h)

April 21st

Liverpool (a)

April 27th

West Ham United (a)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (h)

May 10th

"Fantastic" Semenyo impressing for the Cherries

It would be fair to say Bournemouth have surpassed expectations this season, given that they still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe, and the 25-year-old has been one of their key players.

The London-born winger almost always plays the full 90 minutes, and he has regularly provided goals and assists in the Premier League, with 12 goal contributions to his name in 30 appearances.

Journalist Thomas Hammond has also been left impressed by the Ghana international this season, lauding him as “fantastic” after an impressive performance against Newcastle United back in January.

That said, Semenyo hasn’t been in the best form in recent weeks, having now gone six games without a goal or assist in the Premier League, so Tottenham should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

Liverpool are eyeing up a move for a “world-class” Bayern Munich player in the summer transfer window, according to an intriguing new update.

Salah signs Liverpool deal and Van Dijk should be next

It has been a positive week at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah finally putting pen to paper on a new contract that will see him remain a Reds player until the end of the 2026/27 season.

There is no guarantee that Salah will leave Liverpool at that point, but he will be about to turn 35 years of age when that time arrives, and will have spent a decade at the club, becoming one of the greatest players in their history.

It’s now a case of the Reds trying to tie down Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk to new deals as well, with the pair both out of contract this summer. For the former, a move to Real Madrid does feel more likely than him staying, but the hope is that he realises he can’t leave his boyhood club.

As for Van Dijk, recent claims have suggested that it is only a matter of time until Liverpool’s captain does the same as Salah, which would be another massive boost for Arne Slot.

Liverpool eyeing move for "world-class" winger

According to Bild journalist Christian Falk [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are eyeing a summer move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, seeing him as a strong option to bolster their attack:

“Liverpool are actually interested in him. He’s on the shortlist. It’s not to the point where there are negotiations or offers yet, but they’re monitoring his situation, especially after he’s Bayern’s number one sales candidate. Not because they don’t appreciate him, but because they can see him bringing in money.”

While Coman’s injuries are “one of the considerations” for Liverpool to think about, Falk added that “he would fit in really well” at Anfield.

The £284,000-a-week Frenchman could be such an exciting addition, possessing so much attacking threat and experience at the highest level.

Coman scored the only goal in the 2020 Champions League final for Bayern, edging them past Paris Saint-Germain, and former manager Julian Nagelsmann was a big admirer of the winger, saying:

“One of the keys today was Kingsley Coman’s world-class defensive interception at the start of the game. He’s had an incredible energetic performance. Hats off! King opened the door for us.”

At 28, Coman isn’t necessarily getting any younger, however, so Liverpool may be wiser to look at younger alternatives, especially given his wages.

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That said, if a scenario occurred where the France international came in as an upgrade on Luis Diaz, for example, he could be an excellent signing, having bagged 69 goals and assists apiece in 329 appearances for Bayern.

Newcastle United advanced to third place in the Premier League when they thrashed Crystal Palace at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening.

Now, Jason Tindall will lead the Magpies out at Villa Park as Eddie Howe continues to recover from pneumonia. Aston Villa fought valiantly but failed to stage a comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek, thus heightening what will be billed as a six-pointer of sorts.

Newcastle – Remaining Premier League Fixtures

Date

Opponent

League Position

19/04/25

Aston Villa (A)

7th

26/04/25

Ipswich Town (H)

18th

04/05/25

Brighton (A)

10th

10/05/25

Chelsea (H)

6th

18/05/25

Arsenal (A)

2nd

25/05/25

Everton (H)

13th

Unai Emery’s side sit in seventh place, five points behind Newcastle. Therefore, it’s paramount that United avoid defeat in the Midlands, reinforcing their strong position as they look to return to Europe’s elite stage after lifting the Carabao Cup in March.

Newcastle team news

Howe isn’t the only one who will be absent on Saturday evening, with Sven Botman, Jamal Lascelles and Lewis Hall all still sidelined. A weakened backline, yes, but Newcastle have proved their resourcefulness when faced with depletion.

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Tindall spoke in his pre-match press conference of the importance of keeping a winning formula intact, but having played only three days ago, several players will be eyeing a starting berth. Anthony Gordon, for one.

However, the frontline is firing on all cylinders right now and the Three Lions star may have to wait a little longer to return from the outset.

The stand-in Toon boss may want to make a small tweak to his midfield, though.

Why Newcastle should make a change in midfield

Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are playing with such brio at the moment that to replace either of them would be a foolish notion. However, Joelinton could start this one from the bench without disrupting the overall fluency of Newcastle’s engine room.

Joelinton is a force of a player, a raging bull, and while he laid on an assist for Alexander Isak against the Eagles, the Brazilian was somewhat anonymous by his usual standards, winning three duels and taking just 33 touches before being hooked just after the hour mark.

Newcastle do have options to step in, should Tindall opt to freshen things up a tad. And who better to unleash than Lewis Miley, who has had to bide his time for minutes this term after an injury-disrupted start and the overall fluidity of Newcastle’s tried-and-tested starters.

Miley, 20, has been a breath of fresh air over the past few years, breaking from the Tyneside academy and making his name as a prospect of genuine potential, already praised for his “unbelievable” technical ability by fellow youth graduate Sean Longstaff.

Though he hasn’t featured all that often this term, the rangy midfielder could make a real impression here, stepping in due to Newcastle’s short turnaround.

His sole Premier League start of the season so far sparked a goal, and a rounded performance besides. As per Sofascore, Miley complemented his crisp, driven strike against Nottingham Forest by taking 63 touches, winning six duels and making two tackles and interceptions apiece.

Now, that dynamism could be utilised against Aston Villa. Miley’s technical, ball-playing quality will be well served against Emery’s hybrid style, looking to spark rapid transitions that could be countered by a midfield three including Miley, blending coolness with creativity.

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