Harry Kane is reportedly in line for a €250,000 goal bonus at Bayern Munich, with the prolific frontman already halfway towards hitting his target.
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Chelsea talks are ongoing to sign Brighton star Moises Caicedo this summer and the player is "ready to agree" personal terms, according to reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella.
Who will join Chelsea this summer?
Mauricio Pochettino, after Chelsea's lacklustre and regrettable 2022/23 Premier League campaign, is aiming to transform the west Londoners back into a major force.
The Blues couldn't even muster a top-half finish last season and ended the campaign without any silverware, coming just two years after they were crowned champions of Europe.
Despite owner Todd Boehly and co spending north of £520 million on transfers since the summer of 2022, it appears Chelsea have work to do if they wish to reach the heights of Man City or Arsenal.
Pochettino's arrival also marks the beginning of a new era, though, and Chelsea are apparently working to back the Argentine this summer.
Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, after drawn-out negotiations, is now reportedly set to become a Chelsea player with reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano even giving his famous "here we go".
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Caicedo of Brighton is another firm transfer target.
Chelsea are apparently favourites for the Ecuador international and reliable reporter Kinsella of The Evening Standard has shared a promising update.
Writing for the outlet, Kinsella claims that the Stamford Bridge side are "making good progress in negotiations" and Caicedo is "keen" to join Pochettino.
The 21-year-old is also "ready to agree personal terms", with the player side proving to be no issue, though club-to-club talks over a transfer fee are proving more complicated.
After already rejecting a £60 million bid from Chelsea, it is claimed that Brighton are holding out for a fee closer to £100 million for their prized asset.
Caicedo, though, has a verbal agreement with Roberto De Zerbi for his manager to stand aside and green-light an exit – if a suitable offer arrives that is.
What's been said about Moises Caicedo?
Averaging more tackles per 90 than any Brighton player last season, the South American star has proven to be a capable midfield enforcer and rock solid in the middle of the park (WhoScored).
Enrico Castro-Montes, a vying football historian of Ecuador, has also detailed just how highly-rated Caicedo is in his homeland. Indeed, the midfielder is apparently seen as a cross between N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
"Caicedo covers the whole field. He is much more eye-catching," said Castro-Montes (Het Niuewsblad via Sport Witness).
"There will be a lot of pressure on Caicedo’s shoulders. His nickname in Ecuador is ‘La Joya’, the jewel. In his own country, he is really seen as the crown jewel of a new generation.
"That’s also how they describe him in Ecuador: a cross between Kanté and Pogba."
Jason Ratcliffe, formerly second in command at the Professional Cricketers Association, has warned of “the huge gamble” English cricket is taking with the introduction of a new-team T20 competition
George Dobell22-Mar-2017Jason Ratcliffe, formerly second in command at the Professional Cricketers Association, has warned of “the huge gamble” English cricket is taking with the introduction of a new-team T20 competition.Ratcliffe was on the steering group in the developmental stages of the proposed competition in 2015 before stepping down as assistant chief executive of the PCA at the end of last year after 14 years with the organisation.He feels there has been a lack of discussion “outside inner cricketing circles” ahead of an important vote that “will forever change the landscape of English cricket.””I care very much about our game,” Ratcliffe told ESPNcricinfo. “And, having sat on numerous ECB committees and structure reviews, as well as having played county cricket for 15 years, I feel I’ve a deep understanding of the issues.”The situation is that attendances at our existing T20 competition, the NatWest Blast, have grown 63 per cent in the last four years, where the ‘appointment to view’ principle has been proven to have worked and where our domestic competitions produced a good enough side for us to reach the final of the most recent World T20.”But we seem to be turning our back on that success and embracing a high-risk strategy that involves new teams and new identities. If the same money went into marketing the existing competition and brands as we are expecting to be invested in the new one, we could make something special and inclusive.”Ratcliffe fears for the future of county cricket if the gamble goes awry.”There is no halfway house with the strategy. We risk throwing away 130 years of history and alienating our core supporters while cannibalising our existing competitions. If we get this wrong, it could mean the death of county cricket.”Intriguingly, Ratcliffe also suggested it was the ECB’s intention to introduce an eight-team competition at the start of the T20 review process.”One of the things that has become clear to me is that there was an agenda right from the start of this process, back in 2015, to introduce an eight-team competition,” he said.”In the first CIRG [County and International Review Group] meeting, several of us asked if this was the plan. We were assured it was not but, after several days of strategy and modelling it became clear that it was.”The projected value of broadcast figures came out as early as July 2015 and non-disclosure agreements were put in place last year to prevent information leaking out. Looking back, I believe there was an agenda from the start.”
‘I’m concerned that, if the ECB’s strategy fails, the game in this country could shrink, not grow’
While Ratcliffe hopes his comments will be viewed “in the constructive manner they are intended,” his concern is the counties are close to committing to the new-team competition before many key questions have been answered.”I read the ECB chief executive Tom Harrison’s recent interview,” Ratcliffe said. “And while he clearly makes an exciting, compelling case, there was one phrase that stuck in my mind. He talked about “a moment where there’s a leap of faith” and suggested we are ‘very close to that.’ It feels like a high stakes gamble.”There are so many unanswered questions: how much influence does free to air broadcasting have? Who will host the matches? Will fans embrace new identities and travel to the matches? What will happen to Test cricket if the new-team T20 competition is being run at the same time and marketed so aggressively? How will county memberships, sponsorships and existing competitions be affected? Where is the compelling research to show that the new competition is desirable? How can our 50-over cricket develop if our best white-ball players are all involved in the new T20 tournament?”My concern is that Welsh Rugby Union went down a similar route in 2003 and it’s taken a generation to find out that attendances haven’t improved.”I’m not against change. I think we probably should have modelled a T20 competition with promotion and relegation and our existing 18 sides. But I’m concerned that, if the ECB’s strategy fails, the game in this country could shrink, not grow, as a result of the new competition.”There’s a potential game-changing vote about to take place over the future of domestic cricket and there’s been almost no open discussion. It’s happening before existing supporters have come to understand the full ramifications.”The only guaranteed winners in the short term, will be players with more money coming in at every level. County futures, however, are potentially far less uncertain.”There’s no doubt that cricket is resilient – 130 years of history has proved this. But while change is inevitable, we can’t take anything for granted. If the plans progress next week, county cricket as we know it, will change forever and we’ll be left with our fingers crossed that ECB have got this right.”
Mauricio Pochettino's appointment during the off-season ensures the Chelsea head coach has a chance to run the rule over his players – of which there are many – before the Premier League season kicks off in early August.
It is set to be another busy window at Stamford Bridge, with numerous players linked with moves away and others being touted as possible replacements or indeed upgrades.
While it is true Chelsea are in need of a prolific goalscorer, the club cannot continue to throw large sums of money around in the hope of landing the perfect fit.
With Christopher Nkunku set to officially arrive from RB Leipzig this month in a deal worth over £50m, it looks increasingly likely that the Blues will splash out a further £30m to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.
But the Blues may already have a new signing of sorts in their ranks ready to step up and play alongside Nkunku when needed.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Pochettino is ready to give Armando Broja a chance to shine during pre-season, amid previous suggestions the striker could be used in part-exchange to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Is Armando Broja good enough for Chelsea?
Broja has spent 14 years on Chelsea's books, but with his 22nd birthday fast approaching, he has made just 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
After catching the eye on loan with Southampton in 2021-22 courtesy of a nine goal haul, Broja was finally given a run in the Chelsea side last season, only to sustain a knee injury during the winter break that curtailed his season after just 12 league games.
On the basis of those appearances, though, Broja showed he deserves another shot. He scored at a rate of 0.30 goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was bettered last season by only Joao Felix (0.38) among Chelsea players.
Rather tellingly, though, Broja's figure of 0.30 came from an expected goals (xG) value of 0.24, compared to 0.47 for Joao Felix, suggesting he converted more times than expected based on the quality of his chances, whereas the opposite was true for the latter.
That is further reflected in the shots on target metric, with Broja – on as little as £40k-a-week, according to Capology – doing so from 83.3% of his attempts. The next-best Chelsea player in that regard was Noni Madueke with 50%.
When you also factor in the Albania international's team-high 0.61 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, which considers passes, take-ons and fouls directly prior to a goal, plus his 2.73 aerial duels won per 90 – only two others fared better – it is hard to argue against Pochettino not using Broja.
As Albanian coach Sergio Porrini said last season: "With the necessary comparisons, he's somewhat reminiscent of [Rafael] Leao in how unstoppable he becomes if he stretches the ball into space On the other hand, he is less good with his back to goal, in the construction of the action, but in the spaces he is devastating."
That is not to say Jackson is not a great striker himself – 12 goals in 26 LaLiga appearances last season tells you all you need to know – but Chelsea may well have an answer to their problems already raring to go without the need to waste more money.
Josko Gvardiol has fully agreed personal terms with Manchester City and negotiations between the clubs over a fee are now very advanced as well.
How much will Gvardiol cost?
Gvardiol won't be cheap due to him showing outstanding ability at the highest level of the game at just 21-years-old. With a market value of €75million (£64.5m), even a deal on the low end of what RB Leipzig could ask for will require City chiefs to open their wallet.
While the higher reports have seen the German side asking for around €100m (£86m), a figure that would make him the most expensive defender ever, any sale would represent a huge profit on the €18.8m (£16m) which Leipzig spent on the Croatian in the summer of 2021.
It has previously been reported that Gvardiol is "keen to join" the treble winners according to journalist Rudy Galetti, and according to CalcioMercato, via Sport Witness, he is now a step closer to the move transpiring.
The report discloses that the versatile centre-back has a total "agreement" with the Blues over personal terms. Adding to this, all that is needed now is to complete the negotiations over a fee, which are said to be "already very advanced".
This likely means a transfer for Gvardiol should be expected sooner rather than later as Pep Guardiola looks to continue his incredible success for the blue side of Manchester.
How good is Gvardiol?
Being a young player who is already playing at such a high level, Gvardiol has had his flowers given to him multiple times already.
BBC Sport's Zach Lowy labelled Gvardiol as a "Rolls-Royce of a defender" at the World Cup last year, continuing: "20 years old and the best player on the pitch in a match that featured Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modrić…sensational center back."
This wasn't the only example of high praise, with Gvardiol's national team boss Zlatko Dalic singing his praises throughout the winter tournament.
Dalic said: “Gvardiol is the best centre-back in the world. To play this maturely, it’s amazing. The way he plays, with what elegance he carries the ball.”
Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed the 6 foot 1 Croatian as the "[Erling] Haaland of defenders", likely due to his mixture of physical dominance, technical ability, promising potential and already demonstrated his class at a high level.
Should City complete a deal for Gvardiol, he would definitely be of the required standard to slot in and improve Guardiola's champions – a scary prospect for the rest of the league.
The trio of young substitutes stole the show as the U.S. earned a 3-0 win.
At the start of the match, there was reason for disappointment. It looked like a game that was destined to be more of the same. Despite criticism from the last match against Colombia on Thursday, Twila Kilgore once again turned to a starting XI of World Cup veterans.
Those veterans weren't the story, at least not this time. No, the USNWT's young stars were the ones that stole the show, leading the way in a 3-0 win over Colombia.
Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw joined Lindsey Horan on the scoresheet, as the captain's stunning goal was sandwiched between two first finishes from a pair of players that feel like they're up next. What made Shaw's goal even sweeter is that it was assisted by Alyssa Thompson, another rising teenager with a bright, bright future.
This was what fans of the USWNT had been hoping for. The young stars took control. Might it be a sign of things to come?
GOAL rates the USWNT players from Snapdragon Stadium…
GettyGoalkeeper & Defense
Casey Murphy (6/10):
Had one good save to start the second half as most of the match was played on the other side of the field.
Crystal Dunn (6/10):
Got forward a few times and impacted the game in a few moments, but was never going to play the full 90 with the playoffs looming.
Alana Cook (7/10):
Solid defensively and helped kickstart several attacks with some great passing. A good shift.
Naomi Girma (7/10):
Rock solid once again. Not much more to say at this point as she continues to put in these kinds of performances.
Emily Fox (8/10):
Great cross to find Horan for the second goal, headlining what was another really, really good performance.
AdvertisementGettyMidfield
Emily Sonnett (8/10):
Ridiculously good in midfield as she ran things with her play and her voice. Got the assist on Fischel's goal, too, to cap one of her better performances.
Lindsey Horan (8/10):
Absolutely ridiculous finish, and a deserved one at that. Horan was all over the place for the USWNT, showing why she remains so important to this USNWT group.
Savannah DeMelo (7/10):
She's definitely getting there. After being thrown into the fire at the World Cup, the attacking midfielder is looking more and more comfortable every game.
GettyAttack
Trinity Rodman (6/10):
Some good moments as she was able to beat her defender, but never quite had that end product.
Alex Morgan (5/10):
Didn't do much to improve things as her goal drought continues. Forced one big save, but she really, really needs a goal.
Sophia Smith (6/10):
Went one-on-one a bit too much and never quite got going in her 45 minutes.
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Jaedyn Shaw (8/10):
Can't ask for much more than that as Shaw got her goal in her second cap, but her first real USWNT runout.
Mia Fishel (8/10):
A sign of things to come? She's scored boatloads on the club level and is now off the mark with the USWNT.
Sam Coffey (7/10):
Good to see her finally get a good runout as she fights to really get into this midfield picture.
Sofia Huerta (6/10):
Couldn't quite get the crossing going in her 25-ish minutes.
Alyssa Thompson (8/10):
Got the assist on Shaw's goal as the teenage World Cup veteran made a statement of her own off the bench.
Ashley Sanchez (N/A):
Came on late with the game already settled.
Twila Kilgore (7/10):
Starting XI left a bit to be desired, but absolutely nailed the substitutions to add life to the game. A great performance and a glimpse into the new USWNT.
Mashrafe Mortaza has said that while Mustafizur Rahman’s early success was extraordinary, it should not be expected of him so regularly
Mohammad Isam25-Apr-2017
‘Mustafizur’s early success was extraordinary and shouldn’t be expected of him so regularly’ – Mashrafe•AFP
Mustafizur Rahman needs to work harder if he wants more success as batsmen have begun reading his bowling better. Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who made this observation, also said that Mustafizur’s success early in his career was “extraordinary” and urged that he shouldn’t be put under too much pressure.”What he got in the early stage of his career was extraordinary so what is happening to him now is what is supposed to happen to any bowler,” Mashrafe said before Bangladesh’s departure to England for a preparatory camp ahead of their Champions Trophy campaign. “It is unbelievable that he got so many wickets in the first few games of his international career. Now he has to work hard to take wickets. Batsmen are reading him better. Every team has top-quality computer analysts who find out his strengths and weaknesses.”Injuries have also bothered him, and he has just recovered from the latest injury few months ago. He is only 19 or 20 [21]. So with everything in consideration, he is having a tough time off late. So we also shouldn’t put him under pressure. He has already proved that he is Bangladesh’s future. If we can keep him relaxed by not weighing him down with expectations, he can be a wonderful asset for us in the next ten years.”After coming back from a shoulder surgery late last year, Mustafizur was out of sorts in New Zealand and was dropped for the Hyderabad Test in India to allow him more time to recuperate. He bowled well in patches in Sri Lanka, especially in the Test series, but wasn’t at his best in the two completed ODIs and the first T20I.In the second T20I against Sri Lanka, however, he took 4 for 21 but was expensive in his only appearance for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2017, conceding 34 runs in 2.4 overs. He has been benched since then, which has raised concerns over his form and mental state.Mustafizur was scheduled to join the team on Tuesday but will now do so on May 4. Despite his recent patchy form, he remains an important cog in Bangladesh’s pursuit of a strong result in the Champions Trophy. Mashrafe said that the tournament will be a difficult one for the team, as they are placed in the same group as hosts England, Australia and New Zealand.He said that the preparatory camp in Sussex does not guarantee success but will give the players a better understanding of local pitches and overhead conditions.”Realistically, it is going to be a difficult tour,” Mashrafe said. “The Champions Trophy won’t be easy when you look at our opposition. We have defeated England in that condition. We beat Australia in Cardiff once and, although these are history, I think it is still possible. A lot will depend on how we prepare our mentality.”The camp will give us an inkling about the pitches. Weather conditions change quickly in the early part of the English summer. We had a good World Cup after an early camp in Australia in 2015 but the same didn’t pan out in 2016 when we prepared for the New Zealand tour.”One area Mashrafe is concerned about is the team’s fatigue towards the end of a long tour. Given that the Champions Trophy falls in the latter half of their tour, the team will have to devise ways to avoid falling into that mental hole.”This is not the first time we are on such a long tour,” Mashrafe said. “But we do have that problem of becoming fatigued at the end of such tours. History tells us that we have a really bad session after a good one in the latter part of a tour.”Maybe in Australia [during the World Cup] we didn’t feel too bad as we were always in the hunt. Winning in the early stage could help us fight fatigue, which we can start in Ireland. It is important to keep everyone together, in our group of 17-18 players, especially those who won’t go through a good time in the early stages. Keeping them like a family.”Bangladesh will leave for the Sussex camp on April 26. Their tri-nation series, against Ireland and New Zealand, will be played between May 12 and 24, after which they will return to London for the final part of their tour.
After speaking with Steven Smith at tea, Nathan Lyon settled on a tactic of coming over the wicket to Ajinkya Rahane and varying the pace of his deliveries, notably darting through a greater number of quicker balls
Melinda Farrell in Dharamsala26-Mar-2017Australia offspinner Nathan Lyon has said a change in tactics following a brief discussion with captain Steven Smith helped him claim the four-wicket haul that was key to Australia’s fightback, after India’s batsmen started strongly on the second day of the Dharamsala Test.While Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins bowled excellent spells of pace and accuracy and took one wicket apiece, India had accumulated 153 runs for the loss of their openers by tea, and had Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane looking settled at the crease.Lyon, however, finding more of the bounce that suits his bowling in Australia, had Pujara caught at short leg off a ripping offbreak and, four overs later, foxed Karun Nair with sharp turn and bounce to give Australia a chance of maintaining a first-innings lead.After speaking with Smith at tea, Lyon settled on a tactic of coming over the wicket to Rahane and varying the pace of his deliveries, notably darting through a greater number of quicker balls. It worked: Rahane edged a fuller delivery to Smith, who took a sharp catch at first slip, soon after play resumed.”It was a bit of a tactic, I guess,” Lyon said. “I spoke to Steve Smith about that at tea time and I was pretty happy with the way it came out in the end.”If you look at the way the Indians have been playing me, especially Ajinkya, he’s been sweeping me a lot and my plan was to come over the wicket and try and get him not to sweep me. So, I could bring in my stock ball, which is more effective, and it worked quite well.”Lyon rounded off his haul when he trapped R Ashwin lbw and, with India 52 runs short of Australia’s first innings tally and with four wickets in hand, there seems to be little separating the sides in this deciding Test. Lyon, however, described Australia’s position as “quite positive”.”I reckon it’s an unbelievable feeling to be pretty evenly poised after day two,” Lyon said. “I know we probably left a few runs out there but to have the Indians six down for 240 odd after a pretty good day in the field, I was quite happy to be honest.”I think coming over here everyone wrote us off and to be in this position in the last Test, one all, and pressure slightly on India, I reckon that’s fantastic.”While Lyon didn’t think the conditions had changed dramatically, he did believe the pitch offered a little more variation as the day wore on and, with cracks also opening up on the pitch, he expected batting to be very tough for India in the fourth innings.”Hopefully it’s going to be a massive challenge for them, but that really depends on how long we bat for and how many runs we can set them,” he said. “But whatever we set India, that’s going to have to be enough for us.”We believe we’re good enough, it’s going to be good fun and a good challenge for us.”
ScorecardCraig Miles got among the wickets when he removed Joe Weatherley•PA Photos
Liam Norwell led a determined Gloucestershire bowling display in Canterbury where Kent were dismissed for 298 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship season.The 25-year-old paceman bagged 3 for 46, while Chris Liddle, Craig Miles and Graeme van Buuren snaffled two apiece as Kent succumbed inside 89 overs on a green-tinted pitch that offered the visiting seamers some assistance throughout the day.Batting first after an uncontested toss, Kent had 25 on the board within half an hour before Daniel Bell-Drummond became their first casualty of the Division Two campaign. Prodding forward to a fine Norwell leg-cutter, the England Lions opener was caught low down at third slip by George Hankins to go for 11.At the other end, Joe Weatherley, who has joined Kent on a long-term loan from Hampshire, looked assured and confident on his club debut. Getting off the mark with a rasping square cut, the wiry right-hander then straight drove left-armer David Payne for another eye-catching boundary.Gloucestershire made a double bowling change before noon – introducing Liddle and Miles – but Kent trundled to 50 in the 18th over of the day and, by the 26th over, Weatherley and Joe Denly had posted their half-century stand.Weatherley’s stay ended soon after for 36 and to the second delivery of a new spell by Miles. In looking to shoulder arms to a good length leg-cutter, Weatherley inadvertently allowed the ball to brush the face of his bat to offer keeper Phil Mustard the simplest of chances.Gloucestershire’s bowlers strengthened their hand in mid-session, taking four more wickets for 129 runs as Kent’s batsmen failed to cash in on decent starts.Denly continued Kent’s profligate trend. Driving imperiously, he cantered to a 96-ball fifty with nine fours but, with 62 to his name he chased a wide one from Norwell to edge to slip and bring an end to a bright third-wicket stand with Sam Northeast that added 58 inside 13 overs.Without addition to the total, Northeast (22) pushed at one from Liddle that nibbled away off the seam and feathered the outside edge to present Chris Dent with a sharp chance at second slip that made it 134 for 4.Will Gidman raised Kent’s 150 with a square drive that rattled the boundary boards but, with his score on 10, the left-hander pushed firm-handed at another beauty to edge to slip and give Norwell a deserved third wicket.Darren Stevens lifted the run rate with a straight six off Jack Taylor that bisected the Cowdrey and Woolley stands as he posted a 51-ball fifty with seven fours to go with his maximum. But, in attempting to clip his next ball through midwicket, Stevens miscued to square leg to be caught by Cameron Bancroft off the bowling of Van Buuren and leave the hosts six wickets down.Soon after the resumption Adam Rouse (13) fenced at a lifting away-swinger from Miles to edge to Mustard, then, after a couple of lusty blows, Matt Coles (11) holed out to deep midwicket to gift Van Buuren a second scalp.James Tredwell and James Harris, the Middlesex seamer and Kent’s second debutant loanee of the day, took the home score beyond 250 until the second new ball accounted for Tredwell (26) who was caught behind off a full-length away-swinger from Payne.Harris and last man Mitch Claydon continued to go for their shots but Claydon spooned to mid-wicket to give Liddle a second wicket and leave Harris unbeaten on 33.In the five overs through to stumps, Gloucestershire’s Bancroft played inside a Stevens away-swinger to lose off stump as the visitors reached 9 for 1 to trail by 289 going into the second day.
An update has emerged on Celtic and the possibility of Wilfred Ndidi arriving at Parkhead in the summer transfer window…
What’s the latest on Wilfred Ndidi to Celtic?
According to Football Scotland, the Nigerian international is not a ‘serious’ target for the Scottish Premiership side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The report claims that the club are not actively pursuing a deal to sign the Leicester City enforcer, who worked with Brendan Rodgers during their time together in England, despite having been linked with an interest in acquiring his services.
It states, however, that the Glasgow giants are in the market to bring a defensive midfielder to Paradise before the deadline, as they had been working on targets prior to Ange Postecoglou’s departure.
The Daily Record recently reported that the club have been scouting Gwangju stopper Ho-yeon Jeong and the youngster could be an alternative to the now-Championship star.
Would Ho-yeon Jeong be a good signing for Celtic?
Rodgers could forget all about Ndidi by securing a swoop for the 22-year-old enforcer as his form in 2022 indicates that the talent is there for him to be an excellent signing.
Gwangju earned promotion from K League 2 last year and Jeong played a significant role in their success with his impressive displays across the middle of the park.
He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94 across 36 appearances and offered quality on both sides of the game.
The 22-year-old showcased his defensive attributes with 4.9 duels won per game with a success rate of 54%.
Ndidi, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.75 in 27 Premier League matches for Leicester last season, and came out on top in 4.1 battles per outing with a success rate of 55%.
These statistics suggest that the "elite player" – as described by journalist John Bennett – and the South Korean battler could offer a similar level of defensive protection, along with efficiency, in front of the back four if he can translate his form over to Scotland.
However, the £75k-per-week Foxes powerhouse is not as adept in possession. Ndidi created 0.1 chances per game and completed 84% of his attempted passes for his club last term.
Meanwhile, Jeong averaged 0.8 key passes per outing and registered a pass completion rate of 88% in 2022, which suggests that the Gwangju tank would be able to provide his teammates with more opportunities in front of goal while also being more reliable with the ball at his feet.
It is difficult to compare their statistics to any of the current Celtic squad as Postecoglou's 4-3-3 system did not employ a defensive midfielder, while Rodgers' preferred 4-2-3-1 set-up could have a specialist number six in one of the two deep-lying positions in the middle of the park.
The Hoops are in the market for a holding player in midfield to fill that role and Jeong could be an exceptional alternative to Ndidi based on his performances for Gwangju last season.