Harry Kane says Bayern Munich need to use their Champions League win over Lazio as a springboard for success in the remainder of the season.
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أعلن البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، قائمة الفريق استعدادًا لمواجهة المصري، غدًا الإثنين، في بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
الزمالك يلاقي المصري، على ملعب الجيش ببرج العرب في الإسكندرية، ضمن مواجهات الأسبوع الـ 26 من عمر منافسات بطولة الدوري.
ويسعى الزمالك إلى مواصلة انتصاراته الأخيرة في بطولة الدوري المصري، بعدما حقق فوزين في آخر مباراتين أمام الاتحاد السكندري وسيراميكا كليوباترا.
ويحتل الزمالك المركز الحادي عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز، برصيد 31 نقطة من 18 مباراة.
وتشهد قائمة الزمالك، غياب العديد من اللاعبين أبرزهم سيف الدين الجزيري ومحمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا وأحمد فتوح وعمر جابر وناصر ماهر.
طالع | عامر حسين يوضح لماذا لم يحصل عبد الله السعيد على جائزة رجل مباراة الزمالك وسيراميكا كليوباترا
وضم البرتغالي جوميز، ثلاثي عناصر من فريق الشباب، لقائمة الفارس الأبيض لمباراة المصري، وهم: أحمد عبد الرحيم إيشو، محمد السيد والحارس محمود الشناوي. قائمة الزمالك أمام المصري في الدوري
حراسة المرمى: محمد عواد ومحمد صبحي ومحمود الشناوي.
خط الدفاع: حمزة المثلوثي، حسام عبد المجيد، ياسر حمد، سيد عبد الله “نيمار”.
خط الوسط: نبيل عماد دونجا، محمد أشرف روقا، محمد شحاتة، زياد كمال، سيف جعفر، محمد السيد، عمار ياسر، ترافيس موتيابا، عبد الله السعيد، إبراهيما نداي، أحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو”، مصطفى شلبي وأحمد سيد زيزو.
خط الهجوم: ناصر منسي ويوسف أوباما.
Nottingham Forest have overcome a lot of heartache over the previous two decades since dropping out of the top flight, including relegation to League One in 2005 and the financial hardships that followed, but supporters are now enjoying the most fruitful period in recent history.
Since their promotion back to the Premier League, a footballing giant has been awoken on Trentside with their resurgence back to England's top table being spearheaded by Steve Cooper's managerial expertise and following an exceptional transfer window, are in a good position to consolidate once more.
While the City Ground is a cauldron of hope and excitement these days, their path back to the big time has been far from simple and in their attempts to assemble a squad good enough to challenge for promotion, Forest have missed out on several quality stars.
Every team has stories to tell when discussing the ones who got away and became world-beaters elsewhere; Forest are no different. From coming very close to signing Gareth Bale in 2009 to failing in their pursuit to land Ivan Toney in 2020, those two examples are the most pressing of those woes laid bare.
Another is that of John McGinn, who was once heavily linked with a move to the City Ground, in what would have been a huge blessing for the tricky trees.
Did Nottingham Forest nearly sign John McGinn?
In the summer of 2017, Nottingham Forest were scouting for an all-action and tireless midfielder with John McGinn popping up on their radar from Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.
At the time, the 22-year-old was one of the hottest prospects in the division and the Hibs demonstrated that by holding firm in their valuation of the midfielder, knocking back two bids that were made by Forest for £750,000 and £1.5m, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Speaking after the two bids were submitted, manager Neil Lennon said: "It is laughable and we’ve kicked it into touch.
‘They’ll need to come back with far more money than they’re offering at the minute. If they do then, fine, that’s a decision the club has to make. If other clubs come in for John, we’ve got a valuation of the player."
Lennon also went on to say that he valued McGinn at £5m, a valuation which wasn't met the following summer as Aston Villa swooped in with a £2.7m bid and managed to prise him away from Easter Road as Forest were made to regret not signing the Scotland international in the years that followed.
How good is John McGinn?
An integral piece to the promotion puzzle assembled by Dean Smith as Aston Villa returned to the Premier League in 2019, McGinn has since established himself as one of the most industrious, all-action and consistent midfielders in the top flight.
Described on many occasions as "Duracell bunny" for his energetic and dynamic displays, the 28-year-old provides Villa with a constant wave of energy across all areas of the pitch, boasting the ability to cover every blade of grass and using his exceptional ball-carrying to drive his side up the field.
This is reflected in the metrics he's produced when compared against his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues in the past year, ranking in the 6% for successful take-ons, top 8% for fouls drawn and top 12% for through balls, as per FBref.
McGinn breaks the lines well with his piercing runs and can operate in a multitude of positions; in the double pivot in a midfield two, in behind the striker or on the right of a front three, and showcasing this versatility has seen him receive huge praise from Emery.
The Spaniard commented: “His qualities in different positions is always good for the team. He’s very competitive in every position and now playing as a No.8, he’s playing very well. I changed his position and he has done well.”
It's not a coincidence that the £120k per-week live wire has been a favourite of every manager he's worked under, including Steven Gerrard, who gave him the role of captaincy during his time at Villa Park and showered him with praise, saying:
"He is universally respected, he has been around the club for a long time, the fans adore him and everyone around Bodymoor, everyone around Villa Park, have got major respect for John, his peers have, he plays with consistency, he is my type of player and that is a few reasons why I decided to go with him.”
Lauded as "outstanding" by Dean Smith after signing, McGinn has been a revelation since joining Villa for £2.7m five years ago and continues to his value skyrocket.
Now valued at a whopping £32m (€36.7M), according to Football Transfers, Forest are made to rue not landing McGinn when they had a chance.
Ben Stokes’ position as England’s Test vice-captain will be discussed in the next couple of weeks, following his return to international cricket.Stokes was not stripped of the title in the wake of the incident in Bristol last September that led to him being charged with affray to which he pleaded not-guilty last month.James Anderson took over the role for the Ashes in Stokes’ absence, but the allrounder’s return to the fold for the New Zealand tour means it is a situation that needs to be addressed by Test captain Joe Root and coach Trevor Bayliss ahead of the two matches against New Zealand at the end of the March.Stokes was not the vice-captain of the one-day side – that role belongs to Jos Buttler as Eoin Morgan’s deputy – so a decision was not needed when Stokes made his England comeback in Hamilton.”That’s a decision we’ve not agreed yet,” Root said of the vice-captaincy role. “I think when we get together as a group me and Trevor will discuss a few things but that’s not been discussed [yet].”It could be a tricky balancing act to strike given Stokes’ case is still moving through the legal system, with the first Crown Court date on March 12 – which Stokes won’t attend while he stays on tour in New Zealand.On the field, the early stages of Stokes’ return have been a success. Following an encouraging first outing with the ball in Hamilton, where two wickets almost turned the game for England, he produced a Man-of-the-Match all-round display in Mount Maunganui with an unbeaten 63 to seal victory, alongside two wickets and a brace run outs.Stokes spoke of the emotion he felt after his five-month absence and the privilege of playing for England. He has quickly slotted back into the set-up with team-mates unaware of him being distracted by the lingering off-field issues.”All I can say is what I’ve seen of him coming back into the environment and he’s worked his nuts off as we expected him to,” Root said. “He’s gone about things exactly how you’d expect a really good professional to do and that sort of standard in training is why you get the performances on the field.”He worked really hard back home in Durham to make sure when he did get his opportunity to come back and play he was ready. He loves playing for England and you can see that in the way he plays. He leaves nothing out there on the field, he’s really dedicated to this sport and it’s really nice to be able to look back on the last game and see him have such an influence on the result.”In the build-up to the one-day series the talk had been about how confident Stokes was looking in the nets, but no amount of training can replicate match situations. His first knock of 12 was scratchy but in the second match he showed off some trademark shots, including a straight drive for six off Trent Boult. He has yet to be used for his full 10 overs – sending down two spells of four overs in each match – but he has pushed into the 140kph bracket on occasions.”It’s testament to just how good a player he actually is, to have such a period out of the game and come straight back and perform how he has shows the skill level of the individual really,” Root said. “It’s good to see him back playing, it really is.”
Leeds United have just under two weeks left to finish any of their remaining business for the summer transfer window.
The Whites have not been particularly active in bringing players to Elland Road as they have only signed Ethan Ampadu, Sam Byram, Joe Rodon, and Karl Darlow so far.
However, they have allowed the likes of Marc Roca, Brenden Aaronson, Max Wober, Rasmus Kristensen, Rodrigo, Jack Harrison, and Robin Koch to depart either on loan or permanently.
Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…
Bringing in a striker appears to be on the cards for the Whites before next month’s deadline as they have been linked with a swoop for Venezia star Joel Pohjanpalo, who has a release clause worth €4m (£3.4m).
The Finland international is coming off the back of an impressive season in the Serie B and he could be the man to lead the line for the club this term.
His performances in Italy suggest that the quality is there for him to be the go-to player for goals for Leeds, which would make him Daniel Farke’s next version of Pohjanpalo’s compatriot Teemu Pukki.
The now-MLS star enjoyed a terrific spell with the German head coach at Norwich as the pair worked together during two title-winning Championship campaigns, in which time the centre-forward was his top-scorer.
Pukki plundered an exceptional 29 and 26 goals respectively across the two seasons as the Canaries lifted silverware on both occasions to secure promotion up to the Premier League.
Farke will now be hoping to reach the top-flight with a second division club for the third time in his career in England and Pohjanpalo’s goals could help him to do that, as Pukki’s did at Carrow Road.
Last season, the Finnish ace, who was once dubbed "dangerous" by journalist Josh Bunting, caught the eye with an impressive return of 19 goals in 35 Serie B starts for Venezia, whilst he was also a provider for his teammates with seven assists.
Pohjanpalo averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.19 for his performances in Italy, which is higher than any Leeds player managed last season in the Premier League.
Pukki averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.10 during the 2020/21 title-winning season and a score of 7.22 throughout the 2018/19 term. This suggests that his compatriot is able to deliver consistently brilliant displays to a similar standard.
No Whites forward scored more than 14 league goals last term and no current player produced more than five strikes. This suggests that the Venezia star has the potential to be Farke’s outstanding scoring option through the middle of the pitch.
Pohjanpalo would be an exceptional striker for the Yorkshire-based outfit if he is capable of translating his form from Italy over to England, based on his sublime displays over the last 12 months.
Therefore, the £3.4m-rated talent could be Farke’s next Pukki as a free-scoring Finland international whose goals could help his side to push for promotion back to the Premier League.
His goal return for Venezia shows that he has the quality to be a reliable scorer and that could allow him to be a match-winner on a regular basis for the Whites, which could lead to vital points being won throughout the campaign.
James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, has given the Test team’s fast bowlers the green light to carry on their concerted short-pitched attack on England’s tail, leaving it up to the game’s neutral umpires to intervene if they think play is becoming too dangerous relative to the skill of the batsman on strike.As one of the game’s most senior administrators, Sutherland signs off on any changes to Test-match playing conditions through his role on the ICC chief executives committee, while Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann also sits on the cricket committee where the laws and conditions under which the game is played are frequently discussed.Though the former England captain Mike Atherton has suggested that the umpires should be more proactive in ensuring that less capable batsmen were not unduly exposed to excessive short-pitched bowling, Sutherland said he saw no problem with pace bowlers searching for weaknesses in the techniques of all batsmen, via short balls or other means, as part of the balance between bat and ball.”I don’t think there’s anything new about fast bowlers attacking tail enders where they show an area of vulnerability. I think that’s all part of the game,” Sutherland said at a CA family day outside the MCG. “What’s also part of the game and the playing regulation and the laws and what have you, that’s up to the umpires to do. I certainly don’t have any problem with fast bowlers attacking batsmen and trying to get them out.”Following the death of Phillip Hughes, after he was struck freakishly on the side of the neck by a bouncer in 2014, Sutherland helped set the terms of reference for CA’s own review, and also attended the New South Wales Coronial Inquest at which it was determined there had been “no malicious intent” in the use of short balls to Hughes on the day he was struck. Before that inquest handed down its findings, Sutherland had spoken of the need to balance the fabric of the game, including the use of bouncers, with safety concerns.”You’ll see in the brief terms of reference we gave David Curtain that we needed to draw a line about the laws of the game and to have some perspective around that,” Sutherland said in May 2016. “You can make the game of cricket a lot safer by playing with a tennis ball, but that’s not how Test cricket has been played and it would obviously be a very different game.”We’re not wanting to go there, but we do need to find the right balance in the circumstances to not compromise the way the game’s played and not compromise the way in which the players are best equipped to show their skills.”Pat Cummins, who has bowled much of the short stuff delivered by Australia’s fast men at the England bowlers, pointed out that it was well known in international cricket that bowlers on all sides are going to “cop it” from their opposite numbers and it was a case of learning to deal with the angle of attack being chosen.”I think they’re all pretty competent batters,” Cummins said. “Stuart Broad’s got a Test match hundred and Anderson’s got an 80-odd so Starcy [Mitchell Starc], Hazlewood, Birdy [Jackson Bird] and I, we know we’re going to cop it as well so we spend lots of time in the nets working on it, working with the coaches and talking to other players about how to best defend it. I think I’ve copped about 50 so far this series so we get back as much as we dish out.”You’re always concerned when someone gets hit in the head, but once you find out they’re ok I think it’s part of cricket, hopefully it will always stay part of cricket. It’s one of the thrills of bowling fast, trying to unsettle the batsman when the pitch might not have sideways movement or swing, so hopefully it stays around our game.”For us, Plan A is always how can we get the batsmen out and at the moment for a few of their guys we think that’s our best chance of getting them out for the least amount of runs. Until that changes our plans will play pretty solid.”James Anderson has spoken of the experience of being struck on the helmet by Cummins in the closing stages of the Perth Test, and also countered that he did not think the difference in pace between the two teams had been as large a factor in the series as many have observed. Instead, he felt the Australians had benefited from some poor England shot selection.”I don’t know if you’ve ever been messing around with mates and someone slaps you on your ear, it’s kind of a real shock,” Anderson told the BBC. “You’re obviously not expecting to get hit on the head but you’ve got that split second where you know it’s going to hit you. It’s not ideal. It’s happened to me a few times in my career. We’re very fortunate in this day and age that the helmets are such high quality. I turned my head and just braced for impact … I had a bit of a sore jaw for a couple of days.””It’s not necessarily the pace but where the ball is and the plans they’ve had have worked well. Even me as a No.11, you get used to that pace. I honestly don’t think the pace has actually caused us any issues. If you look at our dismissals, we sometimes haven’t necessarily got out to the good balls.”
Wolves are reportedly battling with Premier League rivals Bournemouth for the signing of Sporting CP youngster Youssef Chermiti this summer.
The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most exciting young players in the Primeira Liga at the moment, having made his way through the youth system at Sporting. Last season, he made the grade from youth team hopeful to first team player, making 16 appearances in the league and registering five goal contributions (three goals and two assists) in that time.
Chermiti also played five times in the Europa League, further gaining some invaluable experience, in what was undoubtedly a breakthrough campaign for him. The teenager attacker's current deal at Sporting doesn't run out until the summer of 2027, so it isn't necessarily going to be easy for another club to get him on the cheap any time soon.
That may not be putting Wolves off, however, with a fresh report suggesting that a move to Molineux this summer may not be out of the question.
According to Record [via Sport Witness], there is a chance that Chermiti could leave Sporting before the new season gets underway, being one of numerous players who could move on, seeing him as a "negotiable" figure. They want €20m (£17.1m) plus 20% of any future sale.
Wolves are still "attentive" to him, suggesting they are in the mix to bring him in, although Bournemouth could have the edge over them, as things stand. It looks as though Sporting are waiting for one of the clubs to officially make a move for the youngster.
It is essential that Wanderers make attacking reinforcements this summer, considering how goal-shy they were in the Premier League last season, scoring just 31 goals in 38 matches, which ended up being the lowest amount of the 20 teams in the division.
While Chermiti is still a very young player who has plenty of maturing to do as a player, he could be such an exciting long-term acquisition, with his ceiling clearly high. He has scored three goals in just four caps for Portugal's Under-19s, as well as six in 12 for the Under-18s, and it could be that a future call-up for the senior side is on the cards.
To already be playing regularly for a club of Sporting's stature say a lot about the progress Chermiti has already made, and he could be viewed as a future key man at Molineux, as he gradually becomes a more rounded footballer as the years pass.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has called Chermiti as "another very interesting player from Alcochete, the famous Sporting CP youth academy", not to mention being a "superb prospect", which says a lot about what a high-level footballer he could become, and why Wolves beating Bournemouth to his signature could prove to be a major coup.
Whether Sporting end up selling him remains to be seen, but it is encouraging to see Wanderers looking a young talent, rather than simply looking to older players who won't be around for as long as someone like Chermiti.
There has been an update regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Fiorentina midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat…
What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils are still locked in discussions in the hope of signing the 26-year-old, with Erik ten Hag himself said to have held "talks" with his former FC Utrecht asset – who has also caught the eye of Bayern Munich.
Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "Sofyan #Amrabat, understand there’s no final agreement with @ManUtd! Talks with Ten Hag have taken place. He’s admiring the player. It’s ongoing.
"But: Amrabat‘s management also monitoring Bayern‘s situation as they know that Tuchel is looking for a holding 6. Amrabat is on the list of Bayern. #MUFC"
Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…
As the Manchester Evening News reported last month, the Old Trafford outfit are said to be considering whether to make a second midfield signing of the summer, having already recruited their new number seven, Mason Mount, from rivals Chelsea.
How good is Sofyan Amrabat?
With the likes of Fred, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek all potentially up for grabs – and with teenage starlet Kobbie Mainoo sidelined with injury – it is clear to see why Ten Hag is looking to strengthen his midfield ranks once again before the September deadline.
Having coached Amrabat previously – with the Netherlands-born, Moroccan international registering ten assists in just 50 games under Ten Hag's watch – the United boss will certainly know what to expect from a player who was also branded a "colossus" by pundit Stuart Pearce amid his sparkling form at last year's World Cup.
As per journalist Carlo Garganese, the 6 foot 1 ace was arguably the "best centre midfielder in the tournament", having helped the Atlas Lions to the last four to become the first African nation to reach that stage of the competition.
As he has proven for both club and country in recent times, the imposing gem – who has been valued at just €10m (£9m) by CIES Football Observatory – could well be a quality addition to Ten Hag's ranks, with the move potentially set be particularly beneficial for those behind in him in the backline, including Lisandro Martinez.
The latter man has been something of a revelation since his arrival from Ajax a year ago, with teammate Luke Shaw branding the Argentine an "absolute monster" due to his tough-tackling, no-nonsense approach.
What is particularly eye-catching about the 5 foot 9 machine is his composure on the ball, however, with the World Cup winner notably ranking in the top 11% among his European peers for successful take-ons per 90, showcasing that knack for driving forward from deep.
The signing of Amrabat, therefore, could allow Martinez to burst into advanced positions in the knowledge that he will have someone behind to cover, with the Fiorentina ace not typically a figure who will seek to join the attack as he ranks in just the bottom 34% for touches made in the attacking penalty area per 90.
Equally, Amrabat would also be a willing receiver of the ball off the centre-backs as the former Club Brugge man evidently loves to try and dictate the tempo of the game, notably ranking in the top 5% for pass completion and the top 8% for progressive passes per 90.
A further benefit for Martinez and co would be the midfielder's desire to muck in and help those behind him, with the £32k-per-week destroyer having averaged two tackles and interceptions per game in Serie A last season, while he even "caught [Kylian Mbappe" with a remarkable recovery tackle against France in Qatar, as per ESPN's Steve Nicol.
Much like the 'monster' Martinez, Amrabat is also a real "raging bull" – as per Moroccan journalist, Amine El Amri – ensuring he could provide another destructive and dominant presence in the spine of Ten Hag's side.
Tottenham Hotspur's conversations with Bayern Munich over Harry Kane are set to enter the "crucial stages" over the coming week as the German behemoths are determined to "close the deal as soon as possible", per Fabrizio Romano.
Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer?
The transfer window has gone very well for new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou so far this year. Not only have they managed to bolster the squad with the free signing of Manor Solomon, but they have also splashed the cash somewhat to sign the £40m James Maddison and the £17m Guglielmo Vicario – two players who should improve the first team.
That said, all of this promising business has yet again been completed under the dark cloud of a Kane transfer saga, with perennial winners Bayern the club looking to lure him away from N17.
The German giants have already had two offers rejected by the Lilywhites – the second being worth £70m – but are increasingly confident they will eventually land their man.
Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…
The two clubs are set for crunch talks this week, with the Bavarians believing that Daniel Levy and Co are warming to selling their star striker, per the Daily Mail.
Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be interested should the deal not happen, but the same publication has reported that Kane has set his 'heart on Bavaria' should he leave this summer.
Transfers expert Fabrizio Romano explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:
"We are entering into a crucial week for Harry Kane because early [this] week, could be Monday, the discussion between Bayern and Tottenham will enter crucial stages with a meeting with Daniel Levy.
"The meeting had to be Friday; then Daniel Levy decided to reschedule the meeting. Now the meeting will take place. Let's see how the conversation will go, but Bayern remain confident, and PSG [are] keeping an eye on the situation in case Bayern's deal collapses.
"But Bayern remain the favorites and Bayern want to close the deal as soon as possible. So, an important week for the future of Harry Kane with Bayern and pushing on that one."
Who was Tottenham Hotspurs' most expensive sale?
With Kane set to cost potentially £100m this summer, where would that put him on the list of the most expensive player sales in Spurs history?
The bronze medal goes to Dimitar Berbatov, who was sold to Premier League rivals Manchester United in 2008 for £31m, Spurs' most expensive sale at the time.
The Bulgarian would score 56 goals and provide 27 assists for the Red Devils in one of the most trophy-laden periods in their history.
The number two spot goes to a player still playing in England, Kyle Walker. The England international left Spurs for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth £45m – making him the most expensive fullback in the world at the time.
The Sheffield-born star has since gone on to win practically everything there is to win at the domestic level for City, topping it all off with a Champions League trophy in June.
Number one is – unsurprisingly – Gareth Bale. The lightning-quick Welshman left north London for Real Madrid in 2013 for £85m – a British record at the time.
While his time in Spain might've ended in an unfortunate way, he, much like Walker, won everything he could for Los Blancos, including five Champions League titles.
Therefore, should Kane be sold for even close to the £100m price that has been reported, he'll easily take the top spot as the most expensive sale in the club's history, and it's hard to say it wouldn't be deserved.
Celtic kick off their 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign at home to Ross County at Parkhead on the fifth of August and there could be a few new faces for the crowd to watch.
The Hoops have made two signings so far in the summer transfer window and they still have plenty of time left before the deadline to make further additions to their squad.
Northern Irish tactician, Brendan Rodgers returned to Paradise to replace Ange Postecoglou last month, after leaving Leicester City earlier this year, and has been able to bring in Odin Thiago Holm along with Australian international Marco Tilio so far.
The latter has joined on a permanent deal from Melbourne City and will be hoping to bolster the manager's attacking options over the months to come.
He has the quality to be a goalscoring threat from out wide and Rodgers could get the best out of him by securing a deal to sign reported Celtic target Anastasios Douvikas.
How good is Anastasios Douvikas?
The Greek international, who has been valued at £6.9m by FC Utrecht, is a prolific centre-forward who also has the quality to be an excellent creator for his teammates, which could make him a very good addition to the squad.
Douvikas, who was once hailed as "sharp" by journalist Josh Bunting, showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis as he plundered 19 goals in 24 Eredivisie starts during the 2022/23 campaign.
Kyogo Furuhashi (27) was the only Celtic player to score more league goals than the Utrecht star last season, which suggests that Rodgers could land another excellent goalscoring option to bolster his attack by signing the 23-year-old marksman.
However, his creativity is what could set him apart from the club's current centre-forwards. Douvikas created seven 'big chances' and provided 0.6 key passes per Eredivisie game for his teammates last term.
Kyogo, meanwhile, managed half as many key passes per outing and only created one 'big chance', whilst Hyeon-gyu Oh produced one 'big chance' along with an average of 0.4 key passes per clash across his 16 league appearances.
This suggests that the Greek dynamo would be Rodgers' most creative number nine option, which is why he could be the dream striker for Tilio to be paired with as the Australia international could profit from his chance creation.
The 21-year-old winger racked up ten goals in 25 A-League starts last season, after five goals in 13 starts during the previous term, which – now that Jota has moved on to Al Ittihad – is the second-most goals of any current Celtic player from the campaign just gone, only behind Kyogo's aforementioned 27 strikes
Tilio could, therefore, be one of Rodgers' best goalscoring options in midfield, and playing with a striker as creative as Douvikas could allow the former Melbourne dynamo to thrive, as the Greek gem has proven himself to be far more capable of opening up opposition defences than the club's other number nine options.
This is why the Utrecht finisher could be the perfect signing to complement the left-footed wizard at Parkhead next season, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants will go ahead with a deal to sign the forward.