Ridle Baku has enjoyed a seismic rise over the past 12 months, swapping relegation-threatened Mainz 05 for Champions League football at the Volkswagen Arena. At an age where many of his peers are just beginning to take their first steps in the Bundesliga, Baku has already started over 75 topflight matches, won a U21 European…

Cagliari is a team that holds a unique place in the history of Italian football. The club from the island of Sardinia is the only team not from the mainland of Italy to have won the Serie A title, accomplishing that achievement in the 1969/70 season.      Undoubtedly the talisman of that iconic squad was…

In a season of vast rebuild for Celtic where it is up to Ange Postecoglou’s new young signings to step up to the plate much sooner than initially anticipated, Benfica loanee Jota has a major role to play. But if the early signs are anything to go by, then Jota will be a pivotal figure…

There are times in football when a career can quickly stagnate. When, in the space of a year, a player once highly regarded is merely a thing of the past. In the ever-evolving modern game, one long-term injury, failed loan spell or dip in form can undo a lifetime of hard work, and some simply…

After the conclusion of the 2020/21 season, Italian giant AC Milan saw two key players leave the club on free transfers and this prompted its directors to look for replacements.   Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma joined French club Paris-Saint Germain and the Rossoneri replaced him with Mike Maignan from Ligue 1 champions Lille for a reported…

After links with Brighton, Spurs and even Leicester City, 23-year-old Odsonne Edouard sealed a late £14.67 million move to a new-look Crystal Palace. With a CV including five years spent at PSG & four years at Celtic, Patrick Vieira has certainly acquired a cultured centre forward whose tactical importance is already shining through.   If…

It has been a breakthrough 2021 for Dušan Vlahović. After a middling start to the 2020/21 campaign, the Serbian striker caught fire in December 2020 with three consecutive goals against Sassuolo, Hellas Verona and Juventus and carried that form into the new year, registering 21 goals and 2 assists in 37 Serie A appearances for…

It only feels like yesterday when Dele Alli had the whole of the world at his feet; the Milton Keynes-raised midfielder joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2015 with a lot of hype that was justified immediately. He was a key catalyst to the rise of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham, putting up impressive returns for someone who was merely…

​​The signing of Aaron Ramsdale for £24m was heavily scrutinised by Arsenal fans. The concern was situated in the Stoke-born goalkeeper suffering consecutive relegations with Bournemouth and Sheffield United, conceding 128 goals in two seasons. Despite the angst around the signing, Mikel Arteta was determined to secure his signature. So far, that determination has been…

Manchester United have a culture of promoting the youth to the first team. Earlier many of their academy graduates have left a big impact on the footballing world. Sir Bobby Charlton is distinguished for his legendary status at the club and the impact he had on English football.   Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Gary Neville,…