Man United were in pre-season action on Saturday against Rangers and the game saw Amad Diallo open the scoring with a stunning effort from just inside the box. 

This season is a huge one for the 22-year-old as he looks to establish himself as a starter at the Manchester club and scoring goals like this will go a long way in helping the winger achieve this.

Diallo only played 471 minutes for Man United last season but this was largely due to a knee injury he suffered ahead of the campaign getting underway.

Following his goal against Rangers, Ten Hag stated that the upcoming term has to be Diallo’s.

“This has to be Amad Diallo’s year,” the Dutch coach said via Fabrizio Romano. “We have to see Amad in a different way, he is not inexperienced anymore. I trust him.”

This is a huge boost for the winger ahead of the new campaign getting underway and it is up to the player to grab his chances with both hands.

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Watch: Amad Diallo scores a beauty for Man United against Rangers

Opening our pre-season account: @AmadDiallo_19 ?

Watch live on #MUTV#MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 20, 2024

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UEFA have revealed their latest club coefficient standings ahead of the 2024/25 season and it makes for good reading for Manchester City.

The coefficients are used to determine seedings for draws in UEFA’s club competitions, including the Champions League. The rankings are determined using a points system based on a weighted algorithm that tracks clubs’ continental performances.

The algorithm takes in results across the last four seasons, coupled with a club’s home association ranking. This means that performances from the 2020/21 campaign are taken into consideration for this season’s rankings.

Manchester City sit top of the rankings for the second straight year, while Real Madrid’s 15th Champions League success sees them climb to second above Bayern Munich, who drop to third. Liverpool and Roma round out the top five.

The latter has caused shock among many given Roma have finished sixth in each of the last three Serie A seasons, while they haven’t finished in the top four since 2017/18.

However, the Giallorossi have enjoyed some memorable European runs across the last three years, winning the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho in 2022 before reaching the 2023 Europa League final and making it to the semi-final last season. These forays into UEFA competitions have greatly boosted their rankings and have seen them finish above the likes of PSG (6th), Chelsea (9th), Inter (10th) and Man Utd (14th).

Another big shock sees Barcelona slide even further away from the top 10 into 18th, one place above Arsenal and one behind Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid.

Tottenham have also suffered an embarrassing slide to 45th in the rankings — sandwiched between Olympiacos and FC Copenhagen — after missing out on Europe entirely last season.

UEFA 2024/25 club coefficient rankings top 20

1. Manchester City – 123 points
2. Real Madrid – 119 points
3. Bayern Munich – 108 points
4. Liverpool – 96 points
5. Roma – 90 points
6. PSG – 85 points
7. Villarreal – 82 points
8. Dortmund – 79 points
9. Chelsea – 79 points
10. Inter – 76 points
11. Leverkusen – 72 points
12. Porto – 70 points
13. RB Leipzig – 70 points
14. Manchester United – 70 points
15. Benfica – 69 points
16. West Ham – 69 points
17. Atletico Madrid – 67 points
18. Barcelona – 67 points
19. Arsenal – 62 points
20. Atalanta – 61 points

How have the English clubs performed in UEFA’s 2024/25 club coefficient rankings?

• Manchester City – 1st
• Liverpool – 4th
• Chelsea – 9th
• Manchester United – 14th
• West Ham – 16th
• Arsenal – 19th
• Tottenham – 45th
• Leicester – 68th
• Aston Villa – 79th
• Brighton – 80th
• Newcastle – 81st

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The future of Kieran Tierney at Arsenal remains up in the air ahead of the 2024/25 campaign as Celtic will not be able to afford the defender despite both parties being open to a return.

The left-back parted ways with the Scottish giants in 2019 as part of a £25m deal but things have not worked out for Tierney at the Emirates Stadium as the defender struggles with consistent injury issues.

The 27-year-old has missed a lot of games since moving to Arsenal and that resulted in Mikel Arteta losing faith in the Scotland star. The Spanish coach would replace the left-back with Oleksandr Zinchenko in 2022 and has since used multiple players in the role.

Tierney spent last season on loan with Spanish side Real Sociedad, where he featured in 27 games for the La Liga club. However, injury issues struck again as the full-back had problems with his hamstring and missed several matches.

According to Football Insider, Arsenal are ready to accept offers for Tierney this summer despite his contract running until June 2026.

The Gunners may find it hard to move the Scotland star on as the defender unfortunately suffered another hamstring problem during Euro 2024 and is currently trying to recover from his latest setback.

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Could Celtic complete a deal for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney?

Tierney has admitted that he would like to return to Celtic this summer but according to Football Insider, the Scottish champions are unlikely to be able to afford the Arsenal star’s asking price.

The left-back came through the Hoops’ academy and went on to play 170 times for the Glasgow-based team before leaving in 2019. Celtic is a place close to the defender’s heart and as he continues to deal with consistent injury issues, it is a club where he can return to and feel loved.

It is unlikely that the Scottish club will be able to afford a transfer for Tierney, which leaves Arsenal looking at other options to offload the injury-prone defender.

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Leicester City are plotting a bid to sign Matt O’Riley from Celtic to replace outgoing midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, according to reports.

The Foxes recently said goodbye to Dewsbury-Hall, with the midfielder reuniting with manager Enzo Maresca at Chelsea after the pair helped win promotion from the Championship with Leicester last season.

With 12 goals and 14 assists to his name in 44 Championship appearances, Dewsbury-Hall was named Leicester’s Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Year last season and will leave a big hole in the midfield of new boss Steve Cooper.

What’s more, with Wilfred Ndidi’s contract expiring at the end of June, there’s something of a midfield crisis developing at the King Power Stadium.

O’Riley to replace Dewsbury-Hall for Leicester?

According to The Sun, Leicester have locked their sights on Celtic midfielder O’Riley as their ideal replacement for Dewsbury-Hall.

The report states that the former England youth international — who now represents Denmark at senior level — is available for £50m this summer.

That is a handsome sum for a player whose only top-flight experience has come in Scotland. However, the 23-year-old’s numbers speak for themselves, with O’Riley notching 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 appearances across all competition last season to help the Hoops win a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

According to The Sun, the £50m price tag has already put fellow Premier League side Brighton off a pursuit of O’Riley, meaning Leicester would have a clear run at his signature at present.

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Leicester City have joined the race to sign Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley this summer, as they seek a replacement for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who moved to Chelsea earlier in the transfer window.

The report from GiveMeSport claims that Leicester scouts have identified O’Riley as a player who would replace the goal contributions of Dewsbury-Hall. However, the Scottish giants are seeking a fee of over £50m for the Dane.

England vs Netherlands tickets still available!

However, securing his signature won’t be easy. The 22-year-old Dane has been valued at over £50 million by Celtic, which poses a financial challenge for Leicester, specially with the need to adhere to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

The report adds, that even if they are willing to spend big on him, they face a lot of competition from within the Premier League and abroad. Southampton, Brighton as well as Atletico Madrid, are all keen on signing him.

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Matt O’Riley’s impressive record at Celtic

O’Riley has been a standout performer for Celtic. Last season, he made 49 appearances, scoring 19 goals and providing 18 assists across all competitions. Since joining Celtic from MK Dons, he has amassed 27 goals and 34 assists in 121 appearances, establishing himself as a key player for the Scottish giants. (Transfermarkt)

Leicester City’s interest in Matt O’Riley shows their intent to strengthen their squad following their return to the Premier League.

However, with a hefty price tag and strong competition, the Foxes will need to navigate financial constraints and competitive bids to secure the talented midfielder

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Celtic have been offered the chance to sign midfielder Wilfred Ndidi this summer, according to reports. 

Ndidi has been a key player for Leicester City since joining from Genk in 2017, making 273 appearances for the club across all competitions and winning FA Cup, Community Shield and EFL Championship titles.

However, the Nigeria international — who is still only 27 years old — is now a free agent after his contract at the King Power Stadium expired on July 1.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Everton have made an offer for Ndidi as they face the prospect of losing Amadou Onana this summer, while the likes of Marseille, Lyon and Sevilla are also interested parties.

But a report from the Daily Record states that Ndidi has been ‘offered’ to Celtic who have been informed that the midfielder would be interested in reuniting with manager Brendan Rodgers — who he played 138 times for during their spell together at Leicester.

A dream reunion for Ndidi and Rodgers?

Ndidi was one of Rodgers’ most important players during his time at Leicester, which yielded an FA Cup crown and consecutive fifth-place finishes.

If Rodgers’ previous praise of the Nigerian is anything to go by, it would be a dream reunion for the pair at Parkhead.

“He’s obviously a player that’s got the good athletic ability and works very hard,” Rodgers said of Ndidi in April 2023. “I always have that sort of player, a clear, controlling player in the game. Sometimes, they’re a defensive type like him that can really press the game and play simply, or sometimes, it’s a more creative player, a playmaker from behind.

“He’s got so much talent and been very impressive. He covers the ground so fast. His anticipation is very good, he reads the game, smells the danger, and to have that type of player in there, it’s very important.”

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It’s going to be the most interesting of summers at Liverpool, given that the Arne Slot era begins in earnest.

There’s likely to be both a sense of excitement and one of trepidation from the Anfield faithful.

Losing Jurgen Klopp and his inate sense of how to connect to his adoring public whilst playing a brilliant brand of winning football, is going to take some getting used to.

Arne Slot faces losing Liverpool reserve keeper Caoimhin Kelleher

However, Slot has been hugely successful in the Eredivisie and the test for him will be to see if he’s able to translate that into the Premier League.

Before a ball is even kicked in earnest, the Dutchman will live or die by the transfer decisions he makes.

If there’s another thing that underscored Klopp’s time at the club, it was that, along with his recruitment team, the German rarely got a transfer wrong.

Not every one worked out of course, but in the main, the club can be pleased with their transfer business over the past few years.

One player that seemingly doesn’t want to hang around to experience ‘Arne-ball’ is reserve goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher.

The 25-year-old has long been an understudy to Alisson Becker, and has clearly decided that the time has now come for him to spread his wings – or in his case those long arms – and try a new experience elsewhere.

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According to the Liverpool ECHO, Celtic remain one of the favourites to sign the custodian, though Brentford and a number of other clubs are also credited with an interest.

Were Kelleher to be allowed to leave, it would mean a gaping hole in the goalkeeping area at Liverpool, and arguably means that a new reserve keeper will need to be foremost in Slot’s mind.

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Kieran Tierney is expected to leave Arsenal this summer and the left-back would love to return to Celtic during the upcoming transfer window. 

The Scottish star made the switch from the Scottish champions to North London back in 2019 as part of a £25m deal, but things have not gone to plan for the defender at the Emirates Stadium.

Tierney has suffered a lot with injuries since leaving Glasgow and eventually found himself down Mikel Arteta’s pecking order. The 27-year-old was loaned out to Real Sociedad this season, but once again had fitness issues as he featured for the La Liga club 26 times.

The full-back has no future at Arsenal and is expected to be moved on this summer. According to Football Insider, the former Celtic star would love to return to his old club, however, a potential deal is complicated.

The report states the Scottish champions are unlikely to be able to afford a permanent transfer for Tierney, while his wages would make a loan move difficult.

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Celtic return would be a good move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney

Given how things have gone at Arsenal over recent years, a move back to Celtic would be a good one for the Scotland international as it would a step back in order for him to move forward again.

The 27-year-old would be closer to home but will also need to get on top of his injury issues as that will continue to have a big impact on his career, no matter where he goes next.

Tierney has shown to be a good player since making his debut with Celtic in 2015 and his move to Arsenal made a lot of sense. However, the left-back seems a little lost at present and it would be great to see him secure a move back to Glasgow or a club that values his talent.

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With Joe Hart retiring, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is on the hunt for a new number one goalkeeper. Former Celtic player Andy Walker has suggested that David De Gea could be an ideal fit for the Scottish Premiership champions.

Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, as transcribed by Daily Record, Walker highlighted the appeal of Celtic’s Champions League participation as a major attraction for potential signings.

David De Gea, once a stalwart at Manchester United, has been without a club for a year following his departure from Old Trafford. During this hiatus, he has maintained his fitness by training with English non-league side Altrincham. Despite receiving lucrative offers, de Gea has yet to commit to a new team, sparking speculation about his future.

Walker believes that Celtic could offer De Gea a compelling opportunity. “He is still out of contract and the great thing about Celtic just now is they can offer any player the Champions League. That is a turn on for a lot of players,” Walker said. The allure of competing in Europe’s premier club competition could be a decisive factor in attracting the Spanish goalkeeper to Glasgow.

While De Gea has earned substantial sums throughout his career, his current free-agent status could be beneficial for both parties. Walker emphasised the potential impact of such a high-profile signing, noting, “I wouldn’t rule out a big signing for Celtic – someone that has got a name, like De Gea who has a name that would excite people.”

David De Gea is being linked with a move to Al Nassr

The 33-year-old goalkeeper’s situation has been the subject of much speculation, with rumours linking him to Al Nassr since August 2023. However, no concrete developments have materialised, per Fabrizio Romano. The uncertainty surrounding De Gea’s next move is not uncommon for goalkeepers, as their market dynamics differ from those of outfield players.

As Rodgers continues his search for a replacement for Hart, De Gea’s experience and pedigree would make him a tantalising prospect. A move to Celtic could rejuvenate his career while providing the club with a seasoned, high-caliber goalkeeper capable of performing on the biggest stages. But whether this move is even remotely realistic only time could possibly tell.

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West Ham United’s Ben Johnson is set to depart the London Stadium this summer upon the expiry of his contract, with strong interest from Leeds United and Rangers, per Football Insider.

The 24-year-old right-back has decided to move on in search of more regular first-team football, which he believes is available at both Leeds United and Rangers.

Despite West Ham’s efforts to convince Johnson to extend his stay, the lure of securing a key role elsewhere on a new long-term deal has proven too strong. The versatile defender, who has been with the Hammers since the age of seven, is keen to take advantage of his free-agent status and make a significant impact at his next club.

Johnson made 25 appearances for West Ham in the recently concluded season. However, his role predominantly off the bench led to his desire for a move.

His ability to play not only as a right-back but also as a left-back, wing-back, midfielder, and even a winger has made him an attractive target for clubs looking to bolster their defensive options. West Ham United manager David Moyes often utilised Johnson’s energy and versatility late in games to solidify the team’s defence.

Ben Johnson will depart West Ham United this summer as a free agent

Having progressed through West Ham’s academy system and made his 100th senior appearance in February, Johnson’s departure marks the end of an era for the homegrown talent.

As well as Leeds and Rangers, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur were previously linked with the Hammers’ utility player earlier on in the past campaign.

Paul Robinson, former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, expressed his skepticism about Johnson’s potential impact at Spurs. Despite acknowledging Johnson’s adaptability and ability to cover multiple defensive positions, Robinson isn’t convinced that the 24-year-old would significantly enhance Tottenham’s starting lineup.

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