All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Mikel Arteta will no doubt plead caution surrounding the signing of any new centre-forward this summer, with it not a guarantee that such a move will instantly propel Arsenal to long-awaited Premier League glory.

Indeed, it is not only through the middle where reinforcements are required, with an upgrade on the left flank also seemingly needed with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scoring just ten top-flight goals between them this term.

That said, fans and pundits alike are craving a statement acquisition of a new striker after what looks set to be another second-place finish in the league, with the Gunners having also come up short in the previous two campaigns.

Not since the summer of 2022 have the club forked out for a new number nine, albeit with even Gabriel Jesus not exactly an out-and-out centre-forward, particularly considering much of his work came on the right flank during his prior stint at Manchester City.

With the Brazilian having since been ravaged by injury – with Kai Havertz also currently sidelined – there is a real dearth of reliable options at the Emirates, a fact epitomised by Mikel Merino’s recent shift into a makeshaft target man.

Whether it is the difference between winning the league or not, the Gunners simply must sign a striker. If recent reports are anything to go by, the search has already started.

Latest on Arsenal's striker search

The leading target for the north London side remains that of Alexander Isak, although question marks remain over just how feasible a deal would be for the in-form Swede, considering Newcastle United’s £150m asking price.

With that in mind, the Gunners appear to be looking elsewhere in their extensive search, with Football Transfers naming Bologna’s Santiago Castro as a potential summer option.

As per the report, it is Arteta who is said to be ‘personally pushing’ to seal the signing of the young Argentine, with the Arsenal boss believed to be a ‘huge admirer’ of the promising forward.

Transfer Focus

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

While the piece does mainly focus in on Arsenal’s parallel interest in Atletico Madrid starlet, Adrian Nino, the Spaniard appears more of a project signing, considering he only made his first-team debut for the LaLiga side in January.

Castro, meanwhile, may only be 20 himself, although amid a promising campaign in Serie A, he has seemingly caught the attention of Arteta as someone who could come in and make an instant impact at the Emirates.

Perhaps, he could well follow in the footsteps of a certain Alexis Sanchez in an Arsenal shirt…

Why Castro would be a good signing for Arsenal

While the Gunners did actually pluck Sanchez from Barcelona back in 2014, the Chilean did mirror his fellow South American by initially plying his trade in his homeland with Cobreloa, before then making his name in Italy at Udinese.

The now veteran forward – who has ended up back at the Italian outfit in the twilight of his career – notably scored 12 goals and provided a further ten assists in the 2010/11 Serie A season, before being poached by Barca, having typically operated as a centre-forward or second striker.

Castro, meanwhile, has followed a similar path after starting out in his native Argentina with Velez Sarsfield – for whom he scored nine goals in 64 games – prior to making the switch to Bologna last year, going on to score eight times and register four assists in Italy’s top flight in 2024/25.

Games (starts)

29 (25)

Goals

8

Assists

4

Goal frequency

266 mins

Big chances missed

6

Big chances created

3

Key passes*

0.9

Touches*

27.1

Now valued at around €30m (£26m), according to reports in January, Castro is well on course to emulating Sanchez’s final season at Udinese, with now perhaps the chance for Arsenal to pounce – rather than signing him later down the line, like they did with Sanchez.

Having been described as the “complete forward” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 6 foot machine does mirror the ex-Arsenal man in also being able to feature on the flanks, ensuring he could also rival the likes of Martinelli and Trossard in that left-wing berth.

Not just an “instinctive finisher”, in the words of Mattinson, the Buenos Aires native may also prove a valuable addition due to his innate link-up play, as shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 10% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion.

A composed presence both in possession and in front of goal, Castro could certainly be worth taking a punt on. With Arsenal having seen the success of signing Sanchez, amid his return of 124 goals and assists in just 166 games for the club, the capture of a potential successor will hopefully prove just as fruitful.

With 20 goals and assists in 46 games for Bologna since signing back in January 2024, the 20-year-old could well be a wildcard solution.

Arsenal hold early talks to sign £50m striker likened to Neymar and Mbappe

He’s compared to two of world football’s most iconic superstars of recent years.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now closely monitoring a midfielder who Lionel Messi “loves”, but there could be competition for his signature from some of the Premier League’s top clubs, according to a report.

Spurs could need summer rebuild after another Premier League defeat

Ange Postecoglou managed to stave off some pressure by leading his side to a 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar last week, booking a place in the Europa League quarter-finals, but the manager was brought right back down to earth on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away at Fulham to remain 14th in the Premier League table, having now gone three games without a win, and the poor performances across the campaign indicate a major shake-up could be needed this summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is one of the latest players to be linked with a switch to north London, with Spurs set to make a £30m bid for the Algerian, while Postecoglou is also keen to convince Lille midfielder Angel Gomes to join.

Tottenham stance revealed as Ange now offered £241k-per-week Bayern star

The Australian needs reinforcements before next season.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 14, 2025

Signing a new central midfielder is seemingly high up Postecoglou’s list of priorities, as a report from The Boot Room has revealed the Lilywhites are also closely monitoring Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi,

Tottenham are not the only big club interested in Cremaschi, however, with Manchester City and Newcastle United also tracking his performances, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion, and they are likely to be impressed with what they’ve seen, given that Messi is believed to be a big fan.

Last April, MLS expert Matt Doyle said: “I didn’t necessarily see it with Cremaschi last year, he’s a nice player but it felt like I was missing something.

“Then he comes right into the team after finally getting fit, and you can see he’s making all the little connective-tissue plays around the box that make you go ‘oh yeah, this is what Tata is seeing, this is what Messi’s seeing,’ Messi apparently loves the kid.”

Cremaschi impressing in the MLS

The American has earned a call-up to his national side after first impressing former manager Gregg Berhalter, who said: “So we had Benja in camp in October prior to the World Cup, he was with the U-20 group and he immediately caught my eye for his just tenacity, and his relentlessness.”

The 20-year-old has established himself as a key player for Inter Miami, having already chalked up 75 appearances for the MLS side, during which time he has showcased his attacking threat by picking up seven goals and seven assists.

Of course, it would be a big step-up for Cremaschi to sign for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, but an endorsement from one of the greatest players of all-time is always a good sign, so it is exciting news that Tottenham are now in the race for his signature.

Looking to pick up where they left off in the January transfer window this summer, Manchester City have reportedly made contact in the race to sign one particular gem in the coming months.

Man City set sights on rising star

The Citizens are likely to be one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League this summer, as Pep Guardiola plans his first major overhaul since his first season in charge at the Etihad.

The rest of English football already received a glimpse of what that rebuild could look like during the January window when the likes of Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov arrived.

Now, Manchester City could add to those arrivals and complete a swift and effective rebuild which should ensure that results such as this weekend’s 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion become a rarity once again.

On the incomings front, names such as Michele Di Gregorio have already been mentioned in recent reports in what could see the Citizens replace Ederson following his recent struggles.

Meanwhile, those at the Etihad have also reportedly turned their attention towards a rising star.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Manchester City have now made contact over potentially signing Benja Cremaschi from Inter Miami this summer, but face competition from the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

Man City lost "superb" star for £0, now he's worth £100m & outscoring Foden

As Phil Foden continues to endure a miserable season at Manchester City, the Sky Blues must regret losing a “superb” £100-rated superstar for free.

ByBen Gray Mar 16, 2025

The 20-year-old has played an important part for Inter Miami in the MLS this season, starting in all three of their league games with one of those coming alongside the great Lionel Messi.

Despite his age, Cremaschi already has impressive experience to his name, including at the Olympics when playing for the United States in Paris last summer.

"Technical" Cremaschi is one to watch

Ahead of what looks set to be a Premier League race for his signature, Cremaschi is undoubtedly one to watch.

At just 20 years old, the MLS star is yet to reach his peak and has crucially starred alongside several serial winners to form the foundation for a player destined for big things. Whether those big things come courtesy of a move to Manchester City remains to be seen, however.

The young midfielder has unsurprisingly earned plenty of praise in recent years, including from former Fulham defender Tim Ream. The American said on his podcast ‘The American Dream’ when the topic of Cremaschi’s ability came up: “He’s looked sharp. He’s technical, not afraid to get into a tackle.

“Benja and I think Kristoffer [Lund], he’s kind of settling in [too]. Obviously English is more of a second language, but both very good with their English. [Cremaschi] has been the most impressive for sure in the couple of training sessions that we’ve had.”

As Manchester City look to add youthful exuberance to an ageing squad, the arrival of a rising star in the form of Cremaschi would certainly make sense. The 20-year-old, meanwhile, should jump at the opportunity if it comes his way this summer.

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS purchased a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in February 2024 and took control of the club’s football operations, fans hoped it would mark the beginning of a new era – one that would finally steer the club away from the mismanagement of the Glazer years.

However, rather than a fresh start, United have only sunk deeper into crisis.

On the pitch, the team’s performances have deteriorated further. After spending £14.5m in compensation to sack Erik ten Hag and replace him with Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils subsequently slipped to their worst ever Premier League campaign in 2024/25.

Off the pitch, Old Trafford remains in a state of disrepair, while Ratcliffe has implemented a ruthless cost-cutting regime in an attempt to rescue the club from the financial mess left by the Glazers. Staff have been let go, departments have been streamlined and even basic amenities have reportedly been scaled back.

6 players Manchester United should sign this summer

United are in need of a revamp in the summer.

2 ByBarney Lane Feb 4, 2025

While some would argue that these measures are necessary to stabilise the club, Ratcliffe’s hands-on approach has caused friction between INEOS and the club’s fans, who once believed his arrival would usher in a period of much-needed stability, but are now questioning whether his leadership is doing more harm than good.

Here, we list some of the worst things Ratcliffe has overseen at the club since joining, from brutal decisions to embarrassing faux pas.

1 Ordering mass redundancies

Since taking charge at United, Ratcliffe has cut the club’s workforce by almost a quarter.

In July of last year, approximately 250 members of staff were made redundant across all departments. At the time, reports suggested that Ratcliffe and his football operations team implemented mass redundancies to redirect the savings into the club’s transfer budget.

That was followed by an announcement that a further 150-200 people were to be made redundant in an effort to “return the club to profitability”.

“We have lost money for the past five consecutive years. This cannot continue. Our two main priorities as a club are delivering success on the pitch for our fans and improving our facilities. We cannot invest in these objectives if we are continuously losing money,” Omar Berrada, Manchester United’s CEO, said in a statement.

According to BBC Sport, United’s canteen staff are among those facing job losses, as the club plans to shut it down. In its place, the club will offer a free piece of fruit for employees as part of the cost-cutting measures.

More recently, the Daily Mail outlined that a new round of job cuts, potentially impacting a further 200 staff, is set to take place.

2 Ending Sir Alex Ferguson's contract

In October, Sir Alex Ferguson became the most high-profile casualty of Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures at Old Trafford when his lucrative contract as a global ambassador was terminated.

The legendary manager, who led United to 38 major trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, had been receiving a multi-million-pound salary from the club since his retirement in 2013.

Club sources claimed Ferguson accepted the decision amicably after a direct conversation with Ratcliffe, but United icon Eric Cantona was far less diplomatic, calling the move “scandalous”.

“Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies,” wrote the Frenchman on Instagram. “Such a lack of respect.”

Van Gaal flops, Ten Hag disasters: The 10 worst Man Utd players post-Fergie

Man United have had some dreadful players since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 24, 2025 3 Matchday cuts

Even those still employed at United have felt the impact of Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures.

According to a Daily Mail exclusive from last August, funding for various matchday services was significantly reduced. Agency staff, who were previously provided with lunch, were instead told to eat leftovers from the food supplied to corporate guests.

Some workers even claimed they were forced to eat near toilets. “They’ve set up a dining table next to four toilet cubicles,” one said. “You come out of the cubicle, and someone is sitting right in front of you, eating.”

Additionally, matchday programme distribution was scaled back, with corporate suites receiving only five programmes per box – despite each suite accommodating 10 fans. United defended the decision, stating it was made to reduce waste.

4 Cancelling the staff Christmas party

If there’s one surefire way to lose the goodwill of your staff, it’s by cancelling their annual Christmas party – and that’s exactly what Ratcliffe did last year.

According to The Athletic, the decision was part of a broader crackdown on what Ratcliffe considered unnecessary staff expenses. Other cost-cutting measures included revoking club credit cards from senior executives and scrapping free staff travel to May’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Every 2024/25 Premier League club's ticket prices

A look at every Premier League club’s cheapest, most expensive and average ticket prices for the 2024/25 campaign.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 20, 2025 5 Cutting charity funding for ex-players

According to reports in December, Ratcliffe made the controversial decision to halt Manchester United’s annual £40,000 donation to a charity supporting former players.

The Association of Former Manchester United Players, established in 1985, provides financial assistance to ex-players who didn’t benefit from the lucrative salaries of the modern game. Among the 300 former footballers it supports are club legends like Bryan Robson and Denis Irwin.

Jim Elms, an 84-year-old trustee who played for United’s youth and reserve teams between 1957 and 1960, called the decision “ridiculous”.

“We sent a letter to say we hadn’t been paid. Nobody informed us, so we had to send another letter. That’s when we started hearing rumours that it was the end for us.”

6 Snubbing the women's team

Ratcliffe appears to be highly focused on every financial detail at Old Trafford, but when it comes to Manchester United’s women’s team, he seems largely out of touch.

According to The Telegraph, during a tour of the women’s training facilities shortly after completing his takeover, Ratcliffe failed to recognise Katie Zelem, the club’s then-captain, despite her being with United since the age of eight. When he asked her what her role was, Zelem had to explain that she was the team’s skipper. Zelem has since left the club.

Ratcliffe’s lack of engagement with the women’s team was further highlighted in May, when he came under criticism for opting to watch the men’s Premier League clash against Arsenal rather than attending the women’s FA Cup final, where United triumphed 4-0 over Tottenham.

This is in stark contrast to when he raced over to Wembley for the men’s semi-final win over Coventry City in April moments after completing the London Marathon.

8 goalkeepers who could replace Andre Onana at Man Utd

United could be after a new ‘keeper in the next transfer window…

1 ByBarney Lane Feb 24, 2025

With Philippe Clement sacked as Rangers manager and Barry Ferguson in place until the summer, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has dropped a fresh update on links Steven Gerrard.

Clement sacked and replaced by former captain Ferguson

The Belgian has been under a huge amount of pressure at Ibrox for some time now, and Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to St Mirren was a shocking result for Rangers and the final straw for Clement, who has now officially been relieved of his duties after 16 months in charge.

The club released a statement on Sunday evening: “The club would like to put on record their sincere thanks to Philippe for his hard work and dedication during his spell in charge. A further update from the club will follow in due course.”

The Gers’ season is still alive, not least because they are still in the Europa League, and it’s now a case of riding on the emotion of former captain Ferguson to continue what could still become a memorable campaign akin to their trip to the final in 2022.

Unfortunately, Rangers have gone backwards this season in the league, with the gap between themselves and Celtic seemingly growing, highlighting the importance of bringing in the right boss this summer once Ferguson has steadied the ship.

Romano drops Gerrard to Rangers update

Writing for Give Me Sport, Romano reacted to the rumours floating around about Gerrard returning to Rangers: “At the moment nothing has been decided, so let’s keep all options open. The club is assessing options,” his report said. “Nothing direct yet with Gerrard or his camp.”

Opinion may be split on Gerrard returning to Rangers, with the Liverpool legend certainly doing lots right during his first stint at Ibrox, not least winning the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21. He is the only manager to have achieved that feat for the Gers since the 2010/11 season, showing what an achievement it was, so it is easy to see why some supporters would like the idea of him coming back.

Stats

Total

Matches

107

Wins

76

Draws

21

Defeats

10

Points

249

Points per game

2.33

That said, there may be others who are unhappy that Gerrard decided to leave Rangers for Aston Villa back in 2021, perhaps feeling that he only ever saw them as a stepping stone in his managerial career.

Not only that, but second spells in charge can often be less successful for managers, and a chunk of the fanbase may like the idea of seeing a fresh face in the dugout.

49ers will love him: Rangers must hire "fantastic" manager who knows Wilson

As pressure mounts on Philippe Clement, the new 49ers ownership group at Rangers should look to hire “fantastic” out of work manager as replacement.

ByBen Gray Feb 24, 2025

It’s also worth stressing that Gerrard ultimately struggled at Villa, eventually being replaced by Unai Emery, who has taken them on to far better things, so the jury is still out on him a little, despite the good job he did at Rangers.

Manchester United have now reportedly held internal talks about signing a Premier League midfielder who will be cheaper than Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

Man Utd prioritising Anderson move

Anderson has quickly become the most sought-after midfield talent in the Premier League. The Nottingham Forest star has forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s best England side and put himself on the radar of Liverpool, Manchester City and those at Old Trafford.

In terms of the physical profile that thrives in the Premier League these days, he ticks several important boxes. They are, as things stand, boxes that Man United’s current options struggle to meet, which makes it no surprise that the Red Devils have reportedly identified Anderson as their top transfer priority.

A deal to sign Anderson will not come cheap, however. Some reports have claimed that he will cost clubs as much as £100m to sign in the summer. Whether United have the spending power to match the likes of City as a result is the question that those around Old Trafford will now be asking themselves.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb 6 days ago

It’s clear that Ruben Amorim is seeking reinforcements too, having laughed off suggestions that Kobbie Mainoo could solve some of Man United’s problems. The United boss said when asked about the midfielder: “I see it. I just want to win, I try to put the players, I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that, I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch.”

As the Premier League’s top clubs chase Anderson and Forest set their price, however, United may have no choice but to turn towards Mainoo or cheaper alternatives in the market like Joao Gomes.

Man Utd hold internal talks about Joao Gomes

According to the Daily Mail, Man United have now held internal talks about signing Gomes to fix their midfield problems in 2026. The Wolverhampton Wanderers man will be cheaper than Anderson at a reported £44m and it will be interesting to see if the price drops if the Midlands club drop down to the Championship this season.

Minutes

1,099

1,260

Progressive Passes

64

119

Tackles Won

22

22

Ball Recoveries

73

115

Gomes may be a fair bit cheaper than Anderson, but the quality drop off is there for all to see. The Brazilian has by no means endured a poor season on a personal front even as Wolves have struggled. Alas, Anderson has blown him away in comparison both on and off the ball.

Dubbed a “super talent” by former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, it’s not a major surprise that Gomes has found himself on United’s radar. He ticks the box for Premier League experience for a bargain price tag, but he is ultimately not on the same level as the likes of Adam Wharton and Anderson.

He’s "similar to Xhaka": Man Utd to push Madrid for £30m Wharton alternative

Tottenham are facing a significant delay to their deal for Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, with the Premier League rivals threatening legal action over what they perceive to be an illegal approach from Thomas Frank’s side.

£138k-a-week Brazilian very keen to join Tottenham amid Gibbs-White twist

Daniel Levy wants two more additions in midfield.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2025

Spurs were thought to be on the verge of welcoming Gibbs-White to north London as Frank’s second major signing after Mohammed Kudus, who completed a £55 million switch from West Ham on Thursday evening.

The 25-year-old was even scheduled to have a medical at Hotspur Way on Friday, and Daniel Levy was ready to trigger his £60 million release clause. However, Forest’s threat of a complaint to the Premier League is now threatening the transfer, as first reported by Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“More on Morgan Gibbs-White. Nottingham Forest have reported Spurs to the Premier League this afternoon for making an illegal approach and have threatened legal action,” wrote fellow journalist Ben Jacobs on X.

“Spurs have received communication asking them to cease contact with Gibbs-White. Forest declined to comment, but sources say the club believe Spurs tapped up Gibbs-White and could challenge the manner in which the £60m clause was learned of. The Premier League will now investigate leading to the deal being delayed and potentially in doubt.”

In more positive news for supporters, there is an expectation from some reliable media sources that Forest will eventually be powerless to stop the deal from happening, so it could just be a case of having to wait for Gibbs-White to officially seal his move from the City Ground to north London.

In any case, this is a very bizarre, evolving situation – and one which has barely ever been seen before in recent years.

Tottenham's stance on signing Morgan Gibbs-White amid legal threat

Taking to X, Alasdair Gold shared his own piece for football.london, pleading for just “one normal day” at Spurs following a rather hectic last week.

In his article, the reliable Tottenham correspondent reported that they’re still very keen to pursue a deal for the ex-Wolves sensation, despite it currently sitting in limbo, and there is a feeling within Forest that they will just have to stand aside for Gibbs-White to seal his move to N17 – even if they’re preparing legal action.

The likelihood right now is that Spurs will eventually sign Gibbs-White, which would allow Levy to make the statement double signing of Kudus and the Three Lions ace for a total fee of around £115 million.

Elsewhere, it is believed that Tottenham are still keen on signing Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who is pushing to leave the Gtech Community Stadium.

Birmingham City’s summer spending has now officially kicked into gear.

A spree of new signings at St. Andrew’s has finally gone through after plenty of heated transfer conversation, with Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel both joining on free transfers, alongside James Beadle and Tommy Doyle entering the building on loan.

The pick of the bunch, however, was reportedly splashing out £10m to land former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes.

Still, there will be plenty of intrigue from Birmingham fans about the number of other signings made in quick succession away from just their new Japanese ace, with lots expected from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Doyle in particular, who has excelled near the top of the Championship previously.

Why Doyle is an exciting signing for Birmingham

Indeed, Doyle – whilst he has found the Premier League to be his more recent permanent home with Wolves – has lit up the second tier regularly when competing there.

Playing for both Cardiff City and Sheffield United on loan, Doyle would let loose with an impressive tally of five goals and seven assists coming his way from 57 Championship outings, which included a fine free-kick being floated home to help the Blades in their pursuit of promotion during the 2022/23 campaign.

His standout Bluebirds loan stint would even see scout Jacek Kulig brand the 23-year-old as “superb” as the ex-Manchester City youth product now looks to dust himself down after an up-and-down patch of his Old Gold career to try and get back to his second-tier peak with Davies and Co.

He might well be joined by some additional competition very soon if rumours are to be believed, as Birmingham’s busy summer activity shows no signs of relenting.

Birmingham could sign another "special" star

All competition for places will be seen as healthy next season, with Davies wanting the best possible squad he can to ruffle some Championship feathers.

Landing the services of Lewis O’Brien would be viewed as a statement in the middle of the park for sure, with journalist Darren Witcoop revealing, whilst writing for TEAMTalk last week, that the ambitious Blues still are keen on adding the wantaway Nottingham Forest man to their ranks, even with Doyle now at their disposal.

A deal would have to be won right from under Wrexham’s nose, with reports suggesting that the Red Dragons had agreed a £5m fee for the ex-Huddersfield Town man’s signature, only for wages to be an unfortunate stumbling block.

This unforeseen hurdle for Phil Parkinson’s men could see Birmingham come out on top for the seasoned Championship professional instead, with O’Brien even more of a well-versed presence than Doyle as to what it takes to become a top battler in such a difficult and taxing division.

Games

38

42

43

23

16

Goals

2

3

3

0

1

Assists

4

3

3

1

0

Touches*

50.6

58.0

56.7

54.8

56.6

Accurate passes*

24.4 (77%)

30.8 (77%)

29.5 (78%)

36.8 (87%)

30.1 (76%)

Big chances created

5

6

4

2

2

Tackles*

3.2

2.0

2.2

1.7

1.9

Total duels won*

6.1

5.8

7.5

4.0

6.1

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that the Forest outcast excels when plying his trade in the Championship as a well-rounded presence in the middle, with O’Brien desperate to get back to his Terriers best if he dons Birmingham blue shortly, as seen in him winning an imperious 7.5 duels on per Championship clash during Huddersfield’s promotion near-miss during the 2021/22 season.

Like Doyle, he has the goals and assists to back up his tenaciousness, with 20 goal contributions and counting next to his name at the daunting level. His midfield counterpart can only boast 12, on the contrary.

Once even hailed as a “special” player by his former Huddersfield boss in Carlos Corberan, this might well be the signing that makes those tipping Birmingham for greatness more secure in the fact they can challenge for those promotion spots, as Davies aims to deliver back-to-back promotions to please the St. Andrew’s masses even more.

Even more exciting than Kyogo: Birmingham City set to sign "silky dribbler"

Birmingham City are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a star who is even more exciting than Kyogo Furuhashi.

2 ByDan Emery Jul 5, 2025