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Since taking over Manchester City in 2016, Pep Guardiola’s team has constantly evolved, going through different eras with countless top quality players key to the Sky Blues’ success.

Right now, we’re all very much living in the Erling Braut Håland-era, given that the Norwegian striker has now scored 18 goals this season, most recently on target against former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

In behind the goalbot though, Guardiola has an array of attacking options at his disposal, but could two of these players be poised to replicate, arguably, Manchester City’s most productive ever attacking duo?

Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling's Manchester City legacy

Of players who’ve made the most appearances for Guardiola during his illustrious managerial career, Raheem Sterling ranks seventh on 292, while Kevin De Bruyne sits second with 381, behind only Bernardo Silva.

The Belgian departed for Napoli in the summer having scored 108 goals and registered 177 assists for Man City, a high proportion of which were for Sterling.

As noted by Total Football Analysis, in the 2019/20 season, De Bruyne registered 20 Premier League assists, equaling Thierry Henry’s long-standing record, with 25% of these assists providing Sterling with a goal, underlining their exceptional combination play.

The midfielder himself stated that he and Sterling had a “strong connection”, making them unquestionably one of the most dangerous attacking partnerships in modern Premier League history, winning four league titles and seven other major trophies together.

With both having now moved on to pastures new, Guardiola is searching for his next great attacking partnership, seeking to feed a certain prolific striker, so does he boast the ideal two candidates?

Manchester City's new Sterling and De Bruyne

Now that Manchester City’s treatment room has begun to empty, Guardiola has plenty of options from which to choose, with eight players battling for the four spots alongside Håland.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Against Borussia Dortmund in mid-week, Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho, Jérémy Doku and scorer of a brace Phil Foden started, while Silva, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki were all introduced during the second half, with Oscar Bobb left in reserve.

Nevertheless, ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster Premier League clash with Liverpool, Guardiola has to prioritise establishing Cherki and Doku as a partnership.

The 22-year-old Frenchman arrived from Olympique Lyonnais for £34m in the summer with a massive reputation.

Guardiola asserted that Cherki “is one of the most talented players I have ever seen in my career”, while Lyon teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles labelled him “an absolute… wizard with the ball”.

So far, including the Club World Cup, Cherki has scored four goals in sky blue, on target against Wolves on his Premier League debut, subsequently netting against Swansea in the EFL Cup and Dortmund in the Champions League.

Doku meantime has been consistently one of the Premier League’s most prolific dribblers since first joining the club, as the table below highlights.

As the table outlines, Doku is both a high-quality and high-volume dribbler, ranked behind only Mohammed Kudus when it comes to take-ons this season.

However, ten matches into this campaign, there are signs that the Belgian will exponentially increase his attacking output, seeing a vast increase when it comes to shot-creating actions and big chances created.

In 1,514 Premier League minutes last time round, he created only eight big chances and registered just six assists, while this season, in only 549 minutes, he has already racked up five big chances created and three assists, thereby very much on course to smash last season’s tally.

Former Tottenham captain Ledley King labelled Doku “dynamic”, adding that he “likes to attack on the outside” while, following a 5-1 win over Burnley, Guardiola described the winger as “unstoppable”, interestingly noting that “I have the feeling that Jérémy’s decision-making in the final third has improved​​​​​​​”.

Reportedly earning £50k-per-week and £180k-per-week respectively, both still aged 23 or under, there are signs that Doku and Cherki are both realising their true potential at Man City.

On paper, Cherki’s creativity and eye for a pass, coupled with Doku’s flair, pace and off-the-scale dribbling ability, has all the ingredients to replicate when De Bruyne and Sterling were able to produce for many years.

Thus, it is over to Guardiola to ensure this duo can flourish together, starting on Sunday when Liverpool visit the Etihad in a match not to be missed.

Forget Haaland & Foden: 41-touch star had "his best game in a Man City shirt"

Man City beat Borussia Dortmund 4-1 and this player starred

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 6, 2025

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce have made a significant amount of money in their respective careers—about $176 million combined in salary.

And yet! Even they couldn't help but gawk during Wednesday's episode of their podcast at the 15-year, $765 million contract the New York Mets handed to right fielder Juan Soto this past Sunday.

"Arguably the most ridiculous f—ing contract I've ever heard of in my life," Travis said.

Both Jason and Travis were shocked by the longevity and sheer size of the deal, with Jason calling it "a big gamble."

The ex-center then called on NFLPA to step up its game.

"The baseball union… I don't know how they've finagled this stuff, but wow. NFL union's gotta get their stuff together," Jason said.

The Kelce brothers have a number of baseball loyalties, having pledged allegiance at points to both their hometown Cleveland Guardians and their respective NFL teams' city-mates.

Soto's heroics against the Guardians didn't stop Travis from praising him, however.

"Congratulations, Juan Soto," Travis said. "That dude is a f—ing beast."

Atalanta have dismissed head coach Ivan Juric after a disastrous start to the Serie A season left them languishing in mid-table and far from the European places. The Croatian, appointed to succeed the legendary Gian Piero Gasperini in June, managed just two wins in 11 league games and failed to recreate the intensity, flair, and success that defined the Gasperini era in Bergamo.

• Juric sacked five months into Atalanta tenure

  Juric's brief and turbulent reign as Atalanta manager came to an abrupt end following the club's 3-0 home defeat to Sassuolo at the weekend – a result that proved to be the final straw for the Bergamo hierarchy. The loss marked Atalanta's eighth consecutive league match without a win, leaving the team 13th in the Serie A table and already 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan after just 11 games. Appointed in June 2025 to continue Gasperini's transformative legacy, Juric's tenure failed to take off, marked by inconsistent results, tactical confusion, and a noticeable drop in the team's trademark attacking energy.

  The 50-year-old's sacking came just five months into his appointment, making his spell one of the shortest managerial reigns in Atalanta’s modern history. Juric was tasked with maintaining the club's Champions League-level standards after last season's third-place finish, but the team's regression was clear from the opening weeks. A run of six straight draws followed by back-to-back defeats against Udinese and Sassuolo exposed deep structural flaws in Juric's system, as Atalanta's high press lacked coordination while their defensive shape collapsed under pressure.

  Atalanta confirmed the news in an official statement on Monday, thanking Juric and his staff for their "hard work and professionalism" but admitting the need for change ahead of a challenging winter period. Club officials are believed to have made their decision shortly after full-time against Sassuolo, having already drawn up contingency plans during the international break. Local reports in Bergamo immediately identified Raffaele Palladino as the frontrunner to replace Juric, with an announcement expected before the club's trip to Napoli on November 22.

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  Juric failed to replicate Gasperini's success

  Juric's downfall was perhaps inevitable given the near-impossible task of succeeding Gasperini. His nine-year tenure stands as one of the most transformative managerial reigns in modern Italian football, revolutionising both the club's identity and the perception of smaller-market teams in Serie A. When he arrived, Atalanta were perennial mid-table battlers focused on survival; when he left, they were established European contenders, having als won the Europa League in 2023-24.

  Gasperini's tactical philosophy – built around a fearless, high-pressing 3-4-2-1 formation and relentless man-to-man marking – turned La Dea into a thrilling, high-scoring powerhouse. His side not only earned three straight top-three finishes between 2018 and 2021 but also broke records, including an extraordinary 98-goal Serie A campaign in 2019/20, the highest tally by any Italian club in over six decades.

  The crowning moment of Gasperini's era came in 2024 when Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to win the UEFA Europa League, the club’s first major European trophy. By the time he departed for Roma in June 2025, he had secured five Champions League qualifications, two Serie A Coach of the Year awards, and an enduring legacy. Juric's attempt to replicate that legacy faltered from the outset, with the team appearing tactically disoriented and emotionally flat compared to the high-energy sides of the Gasperini years.

• Palladino the front-runner to succeed Juric

  Attention now turns to Palladino, who is widely expected to be appointed as Atalanta’s new head coach in the coming days. At just 41, the former Fiorentina and Monza boss has developed a reputation as one of Italy’s most promising young tacticians, known for blending disciplined structure with attacking ambition. His approach mirrors many of the principles Gasperini once instilled, making him an appealing candidate to reawaken Atalanta’s trademark intensity.

  Palladino's rise through the coaching ranks has been rapid. After starting in Monza's youth setup in 2019, he made an immediate impact when unexpectedly promoted to the first team in 2022, leading them to a shock 1-0 win over Juventus in his debut match. His Monza side went on to comfortably avoid relegation and earned praise for their bold, compact style, which relied on coordinated pressing and positional flexibility.

  That success paved the way for a move to Fiorentina, where Palladino guided the club to sixth place in the 2024/25 Serie A campaign and qualification for the UEFA Conference League. His teams are characterised by aggressive transitions, width through dynamic wing-backs, and a preference for formations like the 3-4-2-1 – all features that align with Atalanta’s footballing DNA.

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  Where do Atalanta go from here?

  Atalanta's immediate priority will be stabilising results under a new manager as they prepare to face Napoli after the international break. With the team struggling for confidence and consistency, Palladino's first challenge will be to reintroduce tactical clarity and rebuild morale within a squad accustomed to the high standards of the Gasperini years. Restoring the attacking spark of players like Gianluca Scamacca, Ademola Lookman, and Teun Koopmeiners will be essential if Atalanta are to climb back into the top half and, eventually, Serie A's European places.

  For Juric, however, the dismissal adds another abrupt end to a turbulent managerial stretch following disastrously brief stints at Roma and Southampton.

Nottingham Forest have appointed Sean Dyche as their new head coach on a deal until summer 2027.

The 54-year-old has taken over at the City Ground following Ange Postecoglou’s sacking on Saturday. Dyche, who lives in Nottingham and was a trainee at the club, becomes the third first-team boss of the season and will be joined in the dugout by former Forest heroes Ian Woan and Steve Stone.

Dyche had been out of work since leaving Everton at the start of the year. Forest say that the former Burnley manager has “the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement”.

Forest and Evangelos Marinakis were also considering former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and are known admirers of Fulham’s Marco Silva, but the prospect of getting the Portuguese out of Craven Cottage mid-season was deemed too challenging.

The recruitment process, led by global head of football, Edu Gaspar, landed on Dyche and his first game in charge will be Thursday’s Europa League tie with Porto at the City Ground.

Dyche told Nottingham Forest January kitty

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Dyche has been told to work with what he has at Nottingham Forest and won’t be given a big January transfer kitty.

The reporter has claimed from ‘sources that Dyche is unlikely to get a big transfer budget in the January transfer window, and will instead have to work with the players already at the club’.

Forest and Marinakis splashed the cash in the summer, spending just under £200m ahead of their Europa League campaign, so it is understandable to hear of the decision by the owner.

However, Dyche may have been hoping to tinker with his squad in the New Year, but unless he sells one of his Forest stars, it could be a quiet window in what may come as an immediate concern for the new manager.

Jordan Montgomery is running it back with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Thursday that Montgomery has exercised his $22.5 million player option for next season. He now is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 campaign.

It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Montgomery opted in and took the guaranteed money, as he struggled through the '24 season and registered an 8–7 record, 6.23 ERA and 11.5 hits per nine innings in 25 appearances (21 starts).

It is a bit surprising, however, given Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick's comments earlier this month in which he openly admitted that he regrets giving Montgomery a contract.

"Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to invest that money in a guy who performed as poorly as he did," Kendrick said on Arizona Sports radio's show. "It's our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint, and I'm the perpetrator of that."

Montgomery had an interesting offseason last winter. Fresh off a career-best season in '23 when he logged a 3.20 ERA and helped the Texas Rangers win the World Series, the left-hander entered free agency as one of the most intriguing arms available.

But Montgomery never landed the deal that he and agent Scott Boras desired, and he ended up signing a one-year contract with a player option for '25 with Arizona in late March, just two days before the season opener.

Montgomery missed the entirety of spring training and struggled to find a rhythm in 2024. He fired Boras in August and will head into free agency after the '25 season with new representation.

New Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has urged his players to be ambitious and set their sights on winning the Scudetto this season. The Italian tactician, who replaced Igor Tudor at the helm, emphasised that the players will be the driving force behind any potential turnaround, insisting that their mentality and commitment will determine how far the team can go.

• Spalletti appointed as Tudor's successor

  Spalletti has succeeded Tudor as Juventus head coach after the club decided to act following a poor run of form. Tudor was dismissed after Juventus went winless in eight consecutive matches, a stretch that included five straight draws and three defeats, leaving the club frustrated and far from their ambitions. The Croatian had initially taken over last season as an interim replacement for Thiago Motta and was later made permanent when Juventus failed to secure Antonio Conte or Gian Piero Gasperini. Despite a promising start to the 2025-26 campaign, which saw Juventus win their first three games including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Inter in the Derby d’Italia, the team’s momentum quickly faded. The board initially stood by Tudor, as parting ways with him was financially complicated since the club was still paying Motta’s severance and hiring another coach risked breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.

  Spalletti will now be in charge of turning around Juventus, who currently sit seventh in the Serie A table. The experienced coach’s most recent club role was with Napoli, where he famously guided the team to the Scudetto in the 2022-23 season, ending their 33-year wait for the title. Now leading Juventus, the experienced manager is determined to replicate that success in Turin and guide the club back to the pinnacle of Italian football.

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  Spalletti's Scudetto ambitions

  Speaking at his unveiling, Spaletti believes that Juventus must be ambitious enough to believe they can fight for the title, saying: “I hope we can get back into the title race, why not? That's what we were talking about in the dressing room with the players. Our ambitions must be as high as possible, and the highest ambition right now is to get back into the Scudetto race.”

  Using his vast wealth of coaching experience and knowledge Spaletti believes he can inspire his players to fight hard for the title and then see where they end up when he said “We're only on the ninth matchday, even if I'm almost at the end because I'm an old man. I'll try to put even more effort into it and then we'll see what we've managed to achieve. I have absolute respect for the value of these players.”

  One of the major reasons behind Tudor’s dismissal was Juventus’ failure to score in four consecutive matches, despite boasting a star-studded attack and often fielding two strikers. Spalletti addressed the issue directly, stressing the importance of unity and clarity on the pitch. He said: “Goals are fundamental because they are what win matches. Attacking football is another important quality, but the essential thing is to be a team and a group that understands what we need to do on the pitch in various situations. That will benefit us in every way.”

• Spalletti believes players are they key for success

  Earlier this week, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic urged his teammates to take a hard look at themselves, pointing out that the club has gone through three coaching changes in just a year and a half. The Serbian forward emphasised that such instability points to deeper issues within the team rather than being the fault of a single individual, saying: “We’ve changed three coaches in a year and a half. We need to take a look in the mirror and see where we’re going wrong. I don’t think it’s fair to blame one person; we’re all to blame.”

  Spalletti agreed with Vlahovic’s remarks, emphasising that players are the key component in making the difference. Spalletti said: “Vlahovic's words? It's only right that players realise what they are giving and giving back to a club that believes in them. I know very well that I depend a lot on the players; it's their quality that makes the difference.”

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  Spaletti's first game as Juventus coach

  Spalletti’s first game in charge will see Juventus travel to Cremonese, where the Italian coach will be aiming to secure his first three points and build on the team’s recent victory over Udinese.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have cashed in on a plethora of star players in recent years, dealing with some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs to bring in large sums of cash.

Here is a look at Wolves’ 20 most expensive departures from Molineux, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

Here is a detailed look at Wolves' 10 record departures…

10

Fabio Silva

£19.5m to Borussia Dortmund, 2025

Wolves actually broke their transfer record at the time to sign Fabio Silva from FC Porto as a teenager, with the forward costing the club more than £35m.

Unfortunately for the Old Gold and Silva, things never clicked in the Midlands, with Silva being loaned out to four different clubs before Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund came in with a permanent £19.5m deal in 2025.

9

Nathan Collins

£23m to Brentford, 2023

Nathan Collins’ time at Molineux was short-lived, only spending one full season with Wolves before being sold to Brentford in 2023.

The Republic of Ireland international joined the Bees for what was a club-record £23m, which resulted in Wolves making a £3m profit.

8

Morgan Gibbs-White

£25m to Nottingham Forest, 2022

Attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White came through the Wolves academy and spent a number of years in the senior side at Molineux before his move to Nottingham Forest in 2022.

The Reds paid an initial £25m for Gibbs-White, although a further £17.5m could be paid in performance and appearance-related add-ons.

7

Rayan Ait-Nouri

£31m to Man City, 2025

Rayan Ait-Nouri went from strength to strength during his five-year stay at Molineux, making his move permanent from French side Angers in 2021 following a successful loan spell.

The left-back made more than 150 appearances for Wolves and got the eye of Pep Guardiola and Man City in 2025, who paid just over £30m to sign the Algerian.

6

Diogo Jota

£40m to Liverpool, 2020

It’s scary to think that Diogo Jota played for Wolves in the Championship and was a key member of the side that won promotion in 2018.

The Portugal international’s initial loan move to Molineux became permanent while still in the second tier, and after three years in the Midlands, Liverpool came calling in 2020 and paid £40m for the attacker. Tragically, the forward died in a car crash in 2025.

5

Max Kilman

£40m to West Ham, 2024

Centre-back Max Kilman reunited with former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui in 2024 when he moved to West Ham in a £40m transfer.

Things didn’t work out for Lopetegui, who was sacked by the Hammers, while Kilman, who spent six seasons at Molineux, signed a seven-year contract with West Ham.

4

Ruben Neves

£47m to Al-Hilal, 2023

Ruben Neves swapped the Champions League for the Championship when signing for Wolves in 2017, and he would go on to make more than 250 appearances for the Old Gold.

Regularly linked with moves away from Molineux, Neves eventually swapped the Midlands for Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal paying £47m for the Portugal international in 2023.

3

Pedro Neto

£51.3m to Chelsea, 2024

Another Portuguese star who lit up Molineux was winger Pedro Neto. He had his injury issues, though, making 135 appearances in five full seasons.

Chelsea weren’t put off by Neto’s injury history and spent more than £50m on the attacker in 2024, with the wide forward penning a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

2

Matheus Nunes

£53m to Man City, 2023

Matheus Nunes was Wolves’ most expensive departure for two years following his £53m move to Manchester City in 2023.

The midfielder starred in his only campaign at Molineux after joining from Sporting CP, so much so that those at the Etihad improved their initial offer and secured Nunes to a five-year deal.

1

Matheus Cunha

£62.5m to Man Utd

Another Matheus tops the list in forward Matheus Cunha, who also headed to Manchester, this time to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils were on the search for a new marquee attacker, and following Cunha’s excellent campaigns at Molineux, decided to trigger his £62.5m release clause. The Brazilian left the Midlands after scoring 33 goals in 92 games.

A Super Bowl champion has offered to help Harry Kane achieve his NFL dream of becoming a kicker in American football. Kane is shining for Bayern Munich having maintained his flying start to the season with a brace against FC Koln in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday night. However, the England captain has made no secret of his love and desire to play in the NFL one day.

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  'I love it, so I would love to give it a go'

  Kane recently made history by becoming the fastest player to score 100 goals for a team in Europe's top five leagues. And while he continues to shine for the Bavarian powerhouse, the 32-year-old has previously stated that trying to become an American football kicker was "always something that is in the back of my mind".

  "I know it will be a lot of hard work. I'm not expecting to just rock up and start kicking field goals. It would be a lot of practice," Kane said in 2023. "The NFL is something I've been following for about 10 years now. I love it, so I would love to give it a go."

  Football journalist Henry Winter has also speculated that Kane would one day go on to play American football when he retires. Ahead of Kane's 100th-cap earning match for England, Winter speculated about what the future may hold for the former Spurs man.

  "If I was taking a punt, as it were, I would say that within three years he'll be a kicker in the NFL. He's talked about it, he's big mates with Tom Brady, and it has been done before," Winter said last year.

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• 'He would do fantastic'

  And one Super Bowl champion has offered to help make Kane's dream a reality. Dustin Colquitt was part of the Super Bowl winning Kansas City squad in 2020 having followed in his father's footsteps to become an NFL punter.

  Colquitt spent 15 years with the Chiefs, but grew up dreaming of playing in the Premier League. Having played football at high school, the 43-year-old remains a huge football fan and believes Kane would "do fantastic" if he tried his luck in American football.

  When asked if Kane could become an NFL kicker by BBC Sport, Colquitt said: "Absolutely, if he focused on it. He would do fantastic. I've seen some of his finishing skills.

  "I would love to actually work with him just because I love soccer, and his excitement. He's seeking this out – that's part of the fibre of his being, that he wants to try this NFL thing."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'When he's ready, I'm ready'

  A punter's job is incredibly important for an NFL kicker as the former holds the ball in place for the latter. As such, Kane would need an experienced punter in order to achieve his dream of playing American football professionally.

  "The guy that holds for those field goals, that is extremely important – knowing where the laces [on the ball] are, if you've got wind," Colquitt added. "So when he's ready, I'm ready."

  In 2021, Kane told The Overlap that the kicks an NFL kicker makes are "almost the equivalent to a penalty kick". "A lot of people can score penalties in training or kick it a long way, but can you do it under pressure when the moment's big, when the game's on the line?" Kane told Gary Neville.

  "That aspect is the bit where maybe I have a bit of an advantage over some younger people coming through."

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• Kane wouldn't be the first footballer to play in NFL

  Kane's hopes of playing American football are boosted in that a number of former footballers have made the transition from professional football to the NFL. Former footballer Toni Fritsch previously quit football at 26, while the Austrian received a 1972 Super Bowl ring despite being injured.

  Former Tottenham and England striker Clive Allen was 35 when he tried his lucky with the London Monarchs in 1997. Current NFL kickers Brandon Aubrey, Harrison Butker and Cairo Santos have all played football in the past.

  Kane is currently contracted to Bayern until 2027 but has been linked with a Premier League return in recent weeks.

It is undeniable that Celtic have lost a lot of attacking talent in 2025.

First, Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold in January, before both Nicolas Kühn and then Adam Idah departed during the summer, recouping around £33.5m in total.

Between them, the trio scored 138 goals for the Hoops, with supporters furious that they were not replaced by adequate quality.

Although, one player the club did sign has made a bright start to life in Glasgow, but would Brendan Rodgers’ attack be even stronger had they kept hold of a forgotten star?

Sebastian Tounekti's start to life at Celtic

Right before the transfer window slammed shut, Sebastian Tounekti joined Celtic for a reported fee of £5m from Hammarby.

Still only 23 years old, the Tunisian international has bounced around various European clubs, plying his trade in Norway, the country of his birth, the Netherlands and then Sweden, but looks immediately at home in Glasgow.

On Sunday, Tounekti opened his Celtic account, combining beautifully with Kelechi Iheanacho before slotting through Lewis Budinauckas’ legs as the Bhoys demolished Partick Thistle 4-0 in the League Cup quarter-finals at Firhill.

A week earlier, he had been named man of the match on debut against Kilmarnock, with George O’Neill of BBC Sport asserting that he has instantaneously become an integral figure, citing Rodgers who believes the winger has “got a bit of everything, he can beat a man, go either way, slip runners in as well, and it’s nice for him to get his goal.”

Of course, supporters are still furious the board did not act in the transfer market sooner, blaming this lack of activity for their ignominious exit from the Champions League play-off round against Kazakh champions Kairat.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Nevertheless, even if many would argue he came too late, the Celts seem to have landed an exceptional attacker, but there is a forgotten former Celtic winger, sold for just £1.7m, who is actually outscoring Tounekti in 2025.

Forgotten former Celtic forward in fine form

Given Celtic’s position in the global food chain, and their very successful player trading model, plenty of players pass through Parkhead, a fact that was no more so the case than during Ange Postecoglou’s reign.

Sead Hakšabanović epitomises this idea, joining from Rubin Kazan for £2.5m in August 2022, making just 42 appearances in hoops, loaned out to Stoke the following summer, before being sold to Malmö for £1.7m in June 2024.

The Montenegrin international didn’t make much of an impression in Glasgow, scoring just five goals, but he did start three Champions League matches, also departing as a treble winner.

It would be fair to describe Hakšabanović as a journeyman given that, at 26 years old, Malmö is the ninth different club he has represented: Halmstad, West Ham, Málaga, Norrköping, Rubin Kazan, Djurgården and the aforementioned Celtic and Stoke the others.

He only showed glimpses of what he is capable of in Glasgow but, at his peak, journalist Sacha Pisani believed he had “pace to burn”, while Stewart Ross of the Celtic Way praised his ‘quality and versatility’ upon his arrival.

Now though, Hakšabanović has been in the best form of his career at Malmö, scoring seven times in 2025 to date, including a brace to help his side beat Sigma Olomouc in last month’s Europa League play-off.

This means he is outscoring Tounekti in 2025, as the table below documents.

Of course, these two players, up until recently, were both plying their trade in the Allsvenskan, rated the 19th strongest league in the world by Global Football Rankings, eight places above the Scottish Premiership.

As the table documents, Hakšabanović​​​​​​​ has scored thrice more than Tounekti in 2025 to date, suggesting he is more of a reliable goal threat, albeit the Tunisian international has created more assists and exponentially more big chances, while also registering a higher dribble success percentage, suggesting he is an all-around more dangerous attacker.

Nevertheless, given how blunt Celtic’s attack has been in general this season, scoring just eight goals in five Premiership matches, failing to net in three and a half hours of play against Kairat, Hakšabanović sure could have been a useful asset, had he been given more of a chance.

"Phenomenal" Celtic star looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti's rise

This Celtic star may end up being the biggest loser from Sebastian Tounekti’s form.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 23, 2025

Two Premier League clubs are reportedly weighing up a controversial move for Mason Greenwood as the former Manchester United forward continues his dazzling form in France for Marseille. Greenwood left Old Trafford under a dark cloud in September 2023 after serious criminal allegations were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. He initially joined Getafe on loan before making a permanent switch to Ligue 1 giants Marseille last season.

• Greenwood’s career renewal

  Greenwood's career has seen a revival following a loan spell in Spain and a permanent move to France. After seeing charges of attempted rape and assault dropped in February 2023, he joined Getafe and began to regain form, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in 33 league appearances.

  He then joined Marseille in July 2024 for £26.6 million ($35.3m) and enjoyed an outstanding debut season, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 and providing six assists. This performance made Greenwood the joint-top scorer in the league, alongside Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, and helped Marseille qualify for the Champions League. Greenwood has transferred his prolific form to the 2025-26 campaign, adding another eight goals to his Marseille tally.

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  Potential Premier League return

  According to , Tottenham and West Ham have now joined the race to sign Greenwood in 2026, exploring a possible return to the Premier League for the one-cap England international. While Spurs seek a dynamic, energetic player, West Ham see him as a potential game-changer and are desperate for new additions while languishing in the relegation places after a shocking start to the season, which has seen them change managers.  

  The challenge for the London clubs is not only the public perception of bringing him back to England, but also convincing Greenwood, who wants to play in top-tier competitions. Barcelona are reportedly leading the pursuit for Greenwood, with the club's scouts having recently watched him play. The Catalan giants view him as a dynamic addition to Hansi Flick’s attack and could set up a reunion with Marcus Rashford, who is currently impressing on loan from Manchester United.

  However, also indicate that Atletico Madrid were impressed with Greenwood during the loan spell at Getafe and are keen to bring him back to La Liga. Meanwhile, Saudi Pro League clubs like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are said to be preparing lucrative offers, though Greenwood's current preference is to stay in Europe and compete in the Champions League.

• Champions League hopes with Marseille

  Greenwood has rarely spoken to the press in recent years, but at the end of last season he made clear his desire to make a success of his time on the south coast of France. 

  He said: "I hope to be here next year for the Champions League. I feel at home here. I recently had a baby here with my girlfriend. Not a lot of people get to experience that kind of thing here and with all my team-mates and coaches I would like to thank them all."

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  International decision for Greenwood

  Greenwood's senior international career consisted of a single cap. He made his England debut in September, 2020, as a late substitute in a Nations League match against Iceland. However, his time with the squad ended immediately afterward when he and Phil Foden were sent home for breaching COVID-19 quarantine regulations. The pair invited women to the team hotel, violating the bio-secure bubble. The FA launched an investigation and both players were fined by Icelandic police, later apologising for their "serious lack of judgement".

  Greenwood's strong start to this season has reignited speculation about his international future. Though he received clearance to switch his international allegiance to Jamaica, he has not yet closed the door on playing for England again.