All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

WBA can save millions by unleashing Mo Faal

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce recently hinted at the possibility of a significant transfer overhaul taking place at The Hawthorns during the summer.

Having failed to get near a promotion place by the end of the campaign, it’s easy to see why the Baggies manager thinks that some changes to the squad need to be made to put them in good shape to go again next season.

One area of the squad that the club could look to strengthen is their attack, especially after the news that Andy Carroll will not be with them for the 2022/23 campaign.

However, rather than dive into the transfer market and potentially spend millions of pounds on bringing in a new striker, one player to whom Bruce could turn and who wouldn’t cost the club a penny to unleash is Mo Faal.

After joining West Brom’s under-18 back in November 2019, the 19-year-old has gone on to make 50 appearances across the club’s under-18 and under-23 sides. In that time, the young striker has scored 16 goals in total, providing five assists along the way, showing just how much of a danger he is up front.

His latest appearance saw him play an integral role in the recent win over Wolves’ under-23 side in the Premier League Cup final, where he scored an acrobatic equaliser to take the match to penalties.

The teenager has made just one senior appearance for the Baggies, which came back in August during their disheartening 6-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. In his 26 minutes on the pitch against the Gunners that night, the centre-forward made one key pass and one tackle and won two duels.

Hailed by Baggies under-18 boss Peter Gilbert as a player with a “physical presence” who “links the game up well, scores goals and is an aerial threat”, this is the sort of thing that the teenage prodigy could offer to Bruce’s side should he find himself getting a chance to shine on a regular basis in the first team.

Regardless of what transfer business Albion get done in the summer, giving Faal some regular game-time next season should definitely be in the manager’s plans.

In other news – Imagine him & O’Shea: Bruce can form powerful WBA duo by signing “immense” machine

Man City: Fernandinho set for summer exit

Manchester City have a number of players in their current squad that have racked up over 200 appearances in the Premier League.

One of which is midfielder Fernandinho, who has been a pivotal figure for the Citizens for a significant period of time.

However, with the next summer transfer window on the horizon, a big behind the scenes update has emerged over the Brazilian’s future.

What’s the news?

According to journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the midfielder “hasn’t changed his mind and he’ll leave Manchester City in the summer.”

Romano then added that the 37-year-old’s priority is to go back to Brazil even though Pep Guardiola wanted Fernandinho to stay at the club.

The journalist ended his tweet by saying that: “Man City will go [for] a new midfielder this summer.”

Bad news for Guardiola

City signed the midfielder back in the 2013 summer transfer window from Ukraine club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth a reported fee of £30m.

Since then, the Brazil international has gone on to make 380 appearances across all competitions for the Manchester club.

In those appearances, he’s chipped in with 26 goals and 33 assists along the way, winning numerous domestic trophies along the way.

Taking into account how Guardiola reportedly wanted his midfield veteran to stick around and put pen to paper on a new deal with the club, it’ll be a big blow for him to see Fernandinho leave in the summer.

Also, given how long he’s been at the club and what he’s done for them on the pitch, it’ll surely be sad for the City fans to see another one of their long-term icons leave after the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure left in recent years as well.

However, with three games left to play in the Premier League this season, it seems likely that the Brazilian will be heavily involved in those fixtures after Guardiola revealed that the defensive trio of Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker will miss the remainder of the campaign through injury.

With that in mind and the fact that Fernandinho played throughout the second half of City’s recent 5-0 win over Newcastle United at centre-back after Dias went off, he will at least have the chance to help his side potentially win his final Premier League title.

In other news: Man City agree personal terms to sign £135m-rated “cyborg”, supporters will be buzzing

Celtic: Ralston disappointed in Hearts win

Celtic secured a 4-1 victory against Hearts in their latest Premiership game this afternoon, taking yet another step towards securing the league title.

With just three minutes on the clock, the first goal at Parkhead arrived as Jam Tarts striker Ellis Simms put his side ahead with a fine strike.

The Hoops then equalised thanks to a goal from Kyogo Furuhashi before his fellow countryman Daizen Maeda put Ange Postecoglou’s side ahead shortly afterwards.

During the second half, goals from Matt O’Riley and Giorgos Giakoumakis secured the three points for the home side, who are now on the verge of taking the league title off their Old Firm rivals.

Despite the Hoops coming back from behind to seal victory on this occasion, one figure in a Celtic shirt who didn’t have a particularly good game was Anthony Ralston.

Ralston’s poor performance

With the full 90 minutes under his belt, the right-back had 95 touches of the ball in total but wasn’t always particularly useful when he was in possession.

The full-back ended up giving the ball away on 18 different occasions, while with six crosses attempted, the Scotsman couldn’t get even one of them to find its intended target. He also failed to complete four of the seven long ball passes he tried to pull off.

Off the ball, things weren’t much better for the right-back, who committed three fouls and lost five of his nine duels, making him something of a liability for Postecoglou’s side.

This display ultimately earned the 23-year-old a rather underwhelming overall match rating of 6.8/10, making him the lowest-rated outfield player for Celtic according to SofaScore. That was even lower than Carl Starfelt, who was arguably at fault for Hearts’ early goal.

His uninspiring performance also caught the attention of Scottish Daily Express writer Matthew Fulton, who said that Ralston delivered ‘poor service into the area from him and had plenty of Hearts pressure to deal with’.

Having been slammed by Frank McAvennie for his “hopeless” performances for the Bhoys in the past, this isn’t far off what the 23-year-old was for his team this afternoon.

In other news – Enquiry made, then joined rivals: Celtic had the last laugh over “huge” 161 G/A dynamo

Rangers transfer news on McPake

Glasgow Rangers could now lose Josh McPake in the summer, as per a source from Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Wasted talent?

McPake is a player that has been ‘very highly’ thought of at Ibrox, according to former Morecambe manager Stephen Robinson, who called him a ‘really exciting’ signing back in July when they signed him on loan.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/rangers-news-4/” title=”Rangers news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, that was his fourth loan spell away from the club, and he has only ever managed to make one senior appearance for the Teddy Bears, throwing his long-term future under Giovanni van Bronckhorst into serious doubt.

The Latest: Raith interest

As per Football Insider, Raith Rovers are now plotting to sign McPake in the summer, and an Ibrox source has revealed that he could be made available on a free transfer.

The winger is under contract until 2024, but a financial agreement could be made that would allow him to leave for free.

The Verdict: Get rid

Given the plethora of attacking options available to van Bronckhorst, and his lack of first-team football, it is clear that now is the best time for both McPake and the club to part ways.

It is a shame for things to end this way, given that he came up through the youth ranks at the Light Blues, but there is simply no point of him staying if he wants to play regular first-team football.

Nonetheless, McPake is 20 years of age now, and so needs to move permanently for the sake of his career.

In other news, find out what ‘huge’ Gers boost has now emerged before RB Leipzig here!

Worse than Gordon: PIF can fund Anderson pursuit by selling Newcastle star

Newcastle United were their own worst enemies again, facing off against Marseille on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

The Magpies looked to have a strong grip on the contest at the intense Orange Velodrome when Harvey Barnes popped up with yet another strike to add to his glittering back catalogue for the campaign.

Yet, in typical Newcastle fashion this season on the road, Eddie Howe’s men ended up being architects of their own downfall, as a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-inspired comeback handed the Ligue 1 hosts a slim 2-1 win.

While the Gabonese marksman continued his fine season in France and beyond, Howe’s experiment with Anthony Gordon as a lone striker seriously failed, as the 24-year-old’s own campaign – away from Aubameyang and Barnes – shows no signs of getting better.

Gordon's woes at Newcastle

As writer Thomas Hammond stated at full-time whistle of yet another away loss for the Magpies, Gordon’s showing was another “nothing” display from the ex-Everton man this season.

The 24-year-old did manage to register three shots at the Marseille goal, but with only 25 touches amassed before Nick Woltemade came into the contest, it’s fair to say the experiment of starting the Liverpool-born attacker as a sole centre-forward must come to a close soon.

Unfortunately for Gordon, though, he is unlikely to displace the aforementioned Barnes from his more natural left wing spot when considering their side-by-side numbers of late.

The underperforming England international remains on zero goals and assists in the Premier League this campaign to date, while the ex-Leicester City man has a blistering seven strikes in all competitions, from just 925 minutes of total action.

He could slide down the pecking order so much that a sale is even considered, with Newcastle clearly well-stocked down the flanks, away from their former £45m purchase.

Recouping some of that £45m back could put the Magpies in a position to go after former star Elliot Anderson, who has been touted with a return to St James’ Park.

Manchester United are also in the mix, however, and believe they could strike a deal for £60m.

With Joelinton also not what he used to be, this feels like a signing that should be urgently pursued by Newcastle and PIF if the correct sum of money is found.

To get even nearer to that golden amount, Howe will also be considering ditching this other shaky Toon regular, who had another “moment of madness” against Roberto De Zerbi’s outfit last match, as per journalist Mark Douglas.

The Newcastle dud who could now be sold

There is a somewhat stale feel to Howe’s starting XIs at the moment, as he remains staunchly loyal to many first-team faces who have delivered in the past, in the form of Joelinton and Gordon.

Nick Pope also definitely fits into this category, now, with the shot-stopper a shadow of his former self, having once been labelled as “one of the best” goalkeepers the under-fire manager has ever worked with.

There’s merit behind his comments, too, with the ex-Burnley ‘keeper 78 clean sheets down in the challenging Premier League.

Still, Howe can’t afford to be stuck in the past, if he wants to keep his employment at St James’ Park, with Pope guilty of another error this season when rushing out of his goal rashly against Marseille, leaving Aubameyang with an open goal to shoot at in the process.

This would kickstart the Marseille comeback, with reporter Andy Kerr stating – at full-time – that something isn’t “right” with the 33-year-old at this moment in time, despite the 6-foot-6 ‘keeper previously being seen as a long-standing, reliable servant of the club.

Games played

4

Minutes played

347 mins

Clean sheets

1

Goals conceded

10

With ten goals now haphazardly given up all across November, Pope could be the next figure Howe considers getting rid of to try and make up some money for the Anderson kitty, with Aaron Ramsdale a competent enough replacement in the short-term.

With Pope’s wealth of Premier League experience, as well, surely a top-flight club would gamble dropping around £10m on the number one’s services, which is what Newcastle paid for him, despite being boldly labelled as “disgraceful” at the moment by Magpie Media.

Indeed, reports earlier this year indicated that PIF were looking for a fee of around £15m for the ageing stopper, heading into the summer window.

But, for Newcastle, where they are now, a fresh pair of gloves could be what’s needed, alongside a revamp up top to turn around their current slide, to put together some substantial funds to finally bring Anderson back to Tyneside.

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ByTom Cunningham Nov 26, 2025

Chris Sutton named Celtic legend his "best" ever teammate and as good as Shearer

From Chelsea and Blackburn all the way to Celtic, Chris Sutton had the pleasure of working with some incredible players. The former striker recently took the time to name a team full of his best teammates and to say that the XI was impressive would be an understatement.

Starting with the backline, Sutton named Tim Flowers in goal followed by a back three of Johan Mjallby, Marcel Desailly and Joos Valgaeren with Desailly being the pick of the bunch.

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The former Chelsea defender won the Champions League twice throughout an impressive career and also picked up the World Cup with France in 1998. He remains one of the best centre-backs to ever feature at Stamford Bridge.

Sutton’s midfield was arguably even more impressive, however. The 52-year-old casually name-dropped Ruel Fox, Tim Sherwood, Stiliyan Petrov and Lubomir Moravcik.

Particularly full of praise for Petrov, Sutton said: “He would bomb on, and we felt like we could take on anybody.”

He arguably saved his best players for his frontline, however, as he dropped Alan Shearer into the conversation. Teammates at Blackburn, the strike partners won the Premier League together in the 1994/95 season and both enjoyed excellent campaigns.

Sutton ended the season with 21 goals in all competitions, whilst Shearer finished up with a whopping 37 in 49 games on his way to becoming the greatest goalscorer that England’s top division has ever seen.

Alan Shearer

260

Harry Kane

213

Wayne Rooney

208

Only Harry Kane can say that he’s near Shearer and there’s no doubt that he’ll be eyeing that record if he returns to English football before he calls time on his career.

It speaks volumes about Sutton’s praise for the final player in his team that he placed him above one of the Premier League’s best.

Sutton names Larsson as "best" teammate

Finishing his team with aplomb, Sutton named Henrik Larsson as the “best” player that he played with. One of the greatest players to play for Celtic, Larsson’s place in this side was always inevitable.

The Swede should have a place in every all-time Celtic XI and is likely to feature in similar lists from his former teammates. During his time with the Bhoys, the forward scored a stunning 227 goals in 301 games. It simply doesn’t get much more clinical than that.

We’ll never get to see a strike partnership between Larsson and Shearer, but it’s easy to imagine the chaos they would have caused together at the peak of their powers.

That said, the Celtic legend did have a brief spell in the Premier League for Manchester United, in which he scored three times in 13 games at the end of his career. Whether that record would have been improved if he joined the Red Devils at his best is the question, but Celtic fans will be glad that his best work came in Scotland.

"Whether we like it or not" – Carragher reveals real reason for Salah Ballon d'Or snub

After Mohamed Salah finished fourth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed why he thinks France Football looked past the Egyptian’s incredible year.

2025 Ballon d'Or rankings cause controversy

As ever, the Ballon d’Or rankings caused plenty of debate. There wasn’t a place in the top 10 for either Virgil van Dijk or Harry Kane, whilst many have even disputed eventual winner, Ousmane Dembele. Truth be told, the award has lost some of its value ever since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo vacated their throne.

The most controversial placing was Salah’s. The Egyptian, who broke records as Liverpool sealed the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season at the club, finished fourth and below Vitinha, Lamine Yamal and Dembele. Whilst there’s an argument to be had that he shouldn’t have won the award, it feels harsh that he missed out on a place in the top three altogether.

Games

52

53

Goals

34

35

Assists

23

16

If the award is based on individual performance, then it’s hard to find a more worthy winner than Liverpool’s star. He was involved in more goals than Dembele, Yamal and, of course, midfield star Vitinha, but failed to finish above all three.

It comes just one year on from missing out on a nomination entirely in 2024, as France Football continue to look beyond Anfield’s Egyptian King. At 33 years old, it seems unlikely that Salah will have a better opportunity to win the award than in 2025, either.

Many have had their say as to why the winger missed out on the award, including Liverpool legend Carragher, who recently put Salah’s snub down to one particular reason.

Carragher reveals why Ballon d'Or snubbed Salah

Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher revealed why he believes Salah missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Dembele. The former central defender looked back on Liverpool’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain and claimed that the French side’s victory made all the difference.

There will be many who disagree with that verdict, but previous years have highlighted just how important the Champions League is in deciding these awards.

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ByTom Cunningham Sep 25, 2025

With that, Salah’s snub arguably came down to two games against the European champions last season rather than the sensational campaign that he otherwise enjoyed.

Man Utd in talks for Gyokeres upgrade who's "one of the best of the century"

The need for a new striker at Manchester United is there for all to see, with their lack of ability within the final third hugely evident throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Ruben Amorim’s side only managed to find the back of the net on 44 occasions in their 38 Premier League outings, an average of just 1.15 goals per match.

Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes ended the season as the joint-top scorers, both registering eight goals, with no player in the squad registering double figures, highlighting the need for added reinforcements.

ManchesterUnited's Amad Diallocelebrates scores their second goal with Bruno Fernandes

Two centre-forward options, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, only managed seven league goals between them, with the former hugely touted with a move to Inter Milan this summer.

Given such form, it’s a surprise to no one to see the hierarchy prioritising a move for a player in such a department, with countless players already on their radar.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Over the last couple of weeks, numerous names have been mentioned to fill the striker void at Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been agreed to bolster Amorim’s side.

The likes of Hugo Ekitiké, Moise Kean and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been mentioned as potential summer signings for the Red Devils, but it appears that attention has been turned elsewhere.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is the latest on their radar this summer, with the Napoli talisman expected to leave the Serie A outfit, according to United In Focus.

Their report claims that talks have already been held for the 26-year-old star over a move to Old Trafford, undoubtedly providing a superb option for the club after scoring 37 times on loan at Galatasaray in 2024/25.

It also states that after rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia, his priority is a switch to the Premier League, potentially seeing the Red Devils move to the front of the queue for his signature.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres has been a player firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of months, unsurprisingly so given his previous stint under Amorim.

The Swede netted 54 goals in his 52 appearances across all competitions this campaign, undoubtedly being one of the hottest prospects in Europe, with Arsenal also in the race for his services.

It was reported earlier this week that the hierarchy have made contact with the 27-year-old’s representatives over a switch to the Premier League, with a £55m transfer fee mooted.

There’s no doubt that such a goalscoring record would improve the situation at the manager’s disposal, but he’s never showcased his talents in Europe’s top five leagues, posing a potential risk given his price tag.

Osimhen has managed to thrive in such a department, scoring 65 league goals in his five seasons as a first-team regular with Napoli – helping them claim the Scudetto back in 2022/23. He’s truly one of the great forwards, with European football expert Zach Lowy notably suggesting he is already “one of the best strikers of this century.”

Napoli star Victor Osimhen

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Nigerian has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, further backing up why he’d be a better addition.

He may have registered fewer goals to date, but has notched a higher goal per shot on target rate, highlighting his clinical edge within the final third.

Games played

30

33

Goals & assists

31

46

Shots on target

2.2

2

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Aerials won

4.3

0.6

Aerial success rate

64%

30%

Take-on success

60%

27%

He’s also won more aerials and completed more take-ons, handing Amorim an all-round option that could take United to the next level throughout 2025/26.

Whilst either of the pair would hand the club the talisman they’ve been craving in recent months, it’s pivotal that, with such big money being spent, the right man arrives in the coming months.

From the stats produced and their previous experience in Europe, it’s evident that the Nigerian would be the better choice, pushing them in the right direction to try and return to their former glory.

Amorim's answer to Cherki: Man Utd to make huge bid for "phenomenal" star

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 10, 2025

He'd be amazing with Wirtz: Liverpool hold talks for "special" £84m star

Liverpool’s summer transfer window is beginning to form a coherent picture, with FSG acting quickly to tidy up the defensive flanks and get the mammoth deal for Florian Wirtz over the line.

The Bayer Leverkusen superstar gave curious Liverpool supporters a taste of his quality during Germany’s Nations League semi-final tie against Portugal this week, scoring during the 2-1 loss.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Shots (on target)

2 (2)

Accurate passes

32/42 (76%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles

3/5

Tackles

3

Duels won

9/16

His intelligence, tenacity and movement underscored the playmaker’s ability, having been utterly fantastic during his time in Leverkusen’s squad, winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Year after triumphing as an invincible before claiming more Man of the Match awards than any other player across this term’s Champions League campaign.

We’re a whisker away from a positive development in Liverpool’s bid to secure a marquee deal, but it might be a case of one out, one in.

While the Wirtz deal won’t have any bearing on the potential sale of Luis Diaz, the Colombian’s departure is something to consider.

The latest on Luis Diaz's future

On Thursday, Liverpool rejected an approach from Barcelona for forward Diaz, who scored 17 goals and laid on eight assists for Slot’s side this year.

The 28-year-old, who is entering the penultimate year of his contract, will only be allowed to leave if Liverpool are offered a significant sum; the Saudi Pro League have known admirers of the South American talent.

Though the thought of Diaz and Wirtz combining in a new-look Liverpool frontline is exciting, there may well be an opportunity to secure a new, younger signature.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz

FSG’s no-sell stance is laced with the undertow of an openness, should the right offer be tabled.

Especially when talks have been held for an almighty replacement on the left flank.

Liverpool hold talks for marquee signing

According to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool held discussions concerning Real Madrid’s Rodrygo last month, their intrigue persisting after initially drawing him up as a Mohamed Salah successor, should the Egyptian have left this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Arsenal would be Anfield’s most notable rival in the race, and though the Gunners have a vested interest, they have not yet launched an official bid for the Brazil forward.

Rodrygo, 24, has become disillusioned with life at Santiago Bernabeu, frustrated to be perceived to be in the shadow of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

For their part, Real no longer consider Rodrygo untouchable, but would only cash in if their €100m (about £84m) valuation was met.

What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool

While the jury will remain out for a little while as Xabi Alonso’s plans at Real Madrid begin to shape up, it’s difficult to imagine the Spanish tactician will remove Vini Jr. from his left-sided berth.

This could lead Rodrygo to make the eventual decision to leave Los Blancos, having featured 267 times, posting 118 goal contributions, for the club since signing from Santos for a £39.5m fee when he was just 18.

However, most of those outings have come off the right wing, whereas the right-footed forward prefers the alternate side as he feels it is here he reaches his zenith.

Right winger

29

7

4

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

8

If the 2024/25 campaign has any say on the matter, it certainly looks like this is the case, which is why Liverpool could hit the jackpot in bringing Rodrygo over as Diaz’s heir.

Especially when considering the partnership that could be forged with Wirtz, the two starring in the Champions League and driving Anfield through the domestic campaign.

Wirtz brings so much to the game, astounding in his creative output and indeed willingness to take on his man and drive the ball into the danger area himself.

The German international ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga this season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

For a gifted and technically crisp winger in Rodrygo, this could be a brilliant way to add intensity and fluency to an already thriving Liverpool frontline. Rodrygo, indeed, is a natural-born goalscorer, with his finishing once described as being “terrifyingly good” by journalist Sam Tighe.

Though he only managed to score six goals in La Liga this season, the “special” Rodrygo, as he has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti, only missed one big chance, as per Sofascore, highlighting the underlying data that Wirtz’s prowess would only enhance at Liverpool. Wirtz, in fact, created 17 big chances and supplied 12 assists in the Bundesliga this term despite only starting 25 matches.

Whether Liverpool act on their interest and launch a big-money bid for the star remains to be seen, but there’s no question he would be an incredible addition to one of the best teams in the world.

Bayer Leverkusen's FlorianWirtzreacts

For now, we will have to wait and see whether FSG accelerate their intrigue in the superstar, but with Arsenal keen and yet to show their hand in the transfer market, it would certainly help if sporting director Richard Hughes could draw rumours over Diaz’s future to a close.

If a suitable offer does arrive, Rodrygo might just follow Wirtz through the Anfield gates, consolidating Slot’s team as a goliath of the modern European game – here to stay.

Caicedo revenge: Liverpool can hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz faces an uncertain future with firm interest in his signature.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 5, 2025

Nottingham Forest now evaluating summer move to sign "superb" Serie A star

With Europa League football at the least secured, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly evaluating a move to sign a Serie A striker when the summer transfer window swings open.

Nottingham Forest are destined for striker problem

It may seem absurd to suggest that Nottingham Forest will be in a desperate position for a striker sooner rather than later, but Chris Wood can do everything but stand in the way of age. The New Zealand star has undeniably enjoyed an excellent season and at 33 years old it defies logic that he has been one of the best in his position in the top flight. He has spearheaded Forest from relegation troubles into the top six, ageing like fine wine in the process.

Like all players, however, there will soon come a stage when Wood has to call it a day at the top level. And although evidence would suggest that day isn’t any time soon even at 33 years old, Forest would be wise to prepare for the inevitable in years to come.

Nuno Espirito Santo, more than most, will be well aware of just how difficult his star striker will be to replace whenever Nottingham Forest need to do so. Full of praise for Wood earlier this season, the manager told reporters: “We are very happy to have Chris with us.

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“He is an example for the young lads to follow because it is never too late to achieve good things in football. He is a good example to everybody and we are very happy to have him.”

Nottingham Forest considering Castellanos move

With replacing Wood in mind, those at the City Ground have seemingly turned towards Italy. According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest are now evaluating a move to sign Taty Castellanos, who will be free to leave Lazio this summer but only if the Reds come in with a major offer.

Lazio's Valentin Castellanos celebrates

The Midlands club aren’t alone in the race for the forward’s signature either, with West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers also considering moves to sign the Lazio man. Whether that sees Forest push on and secure Castellanos’ signature remains to be seen and whether he is talented enough to replace Wood is the big question.

Starts

27

34

Goals

10

20

Assists

3

3

Expected Goals

12.8

12.6

Whilst Castellanos was described as a “superb” signing by U23 scout Antonio Mango when he joined Girona in 2022, he has failed to truly kick on since then and the numbers compared to Wood do not make for pretty reading.

What should be a particular concern is the fact that the 26-year-old has underperformed his expected goals whilst only finding the back of the net 10 times in Serie A this season. Wood, meanwhile, has outperformed his expected total by almost eight goals in what has been a sensational season.

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