Friendly | Napoli 2-1 Osasuna: Politano and Lucca score in victoryMatteo Politano and Lorenzo Lucca were on target as Max Allegri’s Napoli beat LaLiga side Osasuna 2-1 in today’s friendly test.The Partenopei played on neutral turf in their Castel di Sangro pre-season training camp, hosting the team that finished 17th in the Spanish top tier last term.Allegri continued to set his team out in a 4-3-3 formation, and started Michael Folorunsho despite the fact he is on the market.Romelu Lukaku is still in Belgium, and it’s reported he was given another two days off in full agreement with the club.NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: Massimiliano Allegri new SSC Napoli head coach with Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli president Massimiliano Allegri is presented as the new SSC Napoli head coach at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scuffed a couple of early opportunities, but it was Politano who broke the deadlock, as he met a Leonardo Spinazzola cross at the back post and volleyed it into the roof of the net.Spinazzola looked sprightly and set up Giovane for a shot that was charged down, then Politano saw his free kick thump the frame of the goal.Amir Rrahmani prevented Raul Garcia nodding in just before half-time with a desperate defensive header.NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Lorenzo Lucca of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on August 30, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Lucca came on for the restart, immediately got a yellow card for elbowing an opponent, then scored when Noa Lang intercepted a wayward clearance, allowing Anguissa to feed the striker.Osasuna pushed to the end, as Kike Barja skimmed the woodwork and Ante Budimir was brought down by Nosa Obaretin, converting the penalty himself.Pasquale Mazzocchi should’ve made it 3-1 when sent through by Antonio Vergara, but hesitated and allowed Jorge Herrando to make the block.Alisson Santos came on for the final stages and was eager to impress, seeing two shots charged down.Napoli 2-1 OsasunaPolitano 27 (N), Lucca 53 (N), Budimir pen 69 (O)Napoli: Meret (Milinkovic-Savic 46); Di Lorenzo (Mazzocchi 46), Marianucci (Garofalo 75), Rrahmani (Obaretin 46), Spinazzola (Olivera 46); Anguissa (Barido 75), Lobotka (Prisco 64), Folorunsho (Vergara 46); Politano (Lang 46), Hojlund (Lucca 46), GiovaneOsasuna: Aitor Fernandez; Arguibide (Unai Santos 75), Catena (Boyomo 65), Herrando (Kepa 75); Moncayola (Mauro 65), Muñoz (Osambela 65), Moi Gomez (Braja 46), Aimar (Budimir 46), Bretones; Ruben García (Dubasin 65), Raul García (Anai Morales 65)

Napoli official line-ups for friendly test with OsasunaNapoli start Rasmus Hojlund, Giovane and Matteo Politano upfront in their first international friendly of the summer against Osasuna, but Scott McTominay is not even on the bench.It kicks off in Castel di Sangro at 17.30 UK time (18.30 CEST).The Partenopei have so far kept their pre-season matches low profile, losing 3-1 to Arezzo and beating Carrarese 2-0.Osasuna just about managed to avoid relegation from LaLiga last season by finishing 17th out of 20 teams.Napoli preparing for new seasonPARMA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Scott McTominay of Napoli SSC reacts during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and SSC Napoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 12, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)Some choices are limited for coach Max Allegri, who continues to test out a 4-3-3 formation.This is because McTominay and Rafa Marin are not even on the bench, reportedly as a precaution following muscular twinges in training.Romelu Lukaku has been given another few days off to remain in Belgium due to personal matters, in full agreement with the club.VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)Hojlund is flanked by Politano and Giovane, but Michael Folorunsho surprisingly starts in midfield, even though he is on the transfer market.The next pre-season friendly matches for the Partenopei will be against Celta Vigo and Aris Salonika.Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Marianucci, Rrahmani, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka, Folorunsho; Politano, Hojlund, GiovaneNapoli bench: Pugliese, Contini, Milikovic-Savic, Garofalo, Cheddira, Olivera, Baridò, Lucca, Vergara, Alisson Santos, Obaretin, Mazzocchi, Pereyra, Prisco, Lang

💣 PSG-Juve in tussle for Suzuki, Dimarco ✍️ Inter, Napoli-Badiashile 🤑A day of friendlies for Italy’s big clubs, with Inter and Milan putting on the first Derby of the season in Perth, which ended 1-1. Juventus were also in action, beating Chelsea thanks to a moment of brilliance from Zhegrova. Then at 6:30 PM, it’s Napoli’s turn as they take on Osasuna.The first Derby d’Italia is on OneFootball! Watch Juve-Inter on pay-per-view. Click here to open the page and don’t miss a single minute of the first clash of the season between these two historic rivals!So, plenty of football being played, but that doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of transfer talk. Let’s take a look at today’s biggest stories.🧤 Juve, PSG push forward for Suzuki and... already offering him?Paris Saint-Germain continue to press for Zion Suzuki. According to Fabrizio Romano’s WhatsApp channel, the French club are ready to submit a new improved bid to Parma for the Japanese goalkeeper, while Juventus remain involved in the background.PSG’s idea would be to sign Suzuki and then send him on loan to the Bianconeri, a solution that would allow the goalkeeper to get regular playing time in Serie A. The final decision, however, will be up to Juventus, who must choose whether to back the 2002-born player or turn to another profile for the position.Milan, could Leao really stay at Milan?Milan’s market plans also, and above all, depend on the future of their number 10, Rafa Leao. After the end of the league season, the Portuguese star seemed on the verge of leaving the Rossoneri, but as time has passed and no offers have arrived at Milanello, his stay can no longer be ruled out. Journalist Orazio Accomando, speaking on SportMediaset, had this to say about Leao’s future: "A stay at Milan cannot be completely ruled out. While Fenerbahçe have pulled out of the race for Leao, the same cannot be said of Galatasaray, who are still pushing to sign the Portuguese player, although of course they must meet Milan’s demands, otherwise the deal cannot go through."✍️ Inter, Dimarco scores in the derby! Renewal readyFederico Dimarco’s future will in all likelihood remain in Nerazzurri colors. As revealed by Fabrizio Romano, a contract renewal is one of the most concrete possibilities in the coming weeks, with Inter ready to return to the negotiating table.The first Derby d’Italia is on OneFootball! Watch Juve-Inter on pay-per-view. Click here to open the page and don’t miss a single minute of the first clash of the season between these two historic rivals!Contact between the parties had already begun in March, but without leading to an agreement, partly due to the player’s change of agent. Dimarco’s current contract expires on 30 June 2027, but talks between the club and the Inter wing-back are set to resume soon.🔜 Napoli, all in on Badiashile! And Atubolu...Napoli are accelerating in the market and, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, are close to completing a deal for Benoît Badiashile. After the sale of Miguel Gutiérrez to Bayer Leverkusen, the Azzurri are ready to reinvest in the Chelsea defender, with the Blues reportedly open to a paid loan worth €3 million with a purchase option set at €15 million. On the right flank, meanwhile, Costantino Favasuli remains the leading name.Follow Napoli’s training camp up close! The friendly against Osasuna will be broadcast live on OneFootball! Click here to see the match schedule and how to watch.There are also developments in goal, where Napoli have reopened the Noah Atubolu file. The Freiburg goalkeeper, already tracked a year ago, is back among the main targets ahead of the possible departure of Vanja Milinković-Savić. The entourage of the 2002-born player will meet with Napoli and Juventus in the coming days, with the player having reportedly already turned down several renewal offers in order to move to Serie A. Freiburg value Atubolu at around €15 million.😡 Roma annoyed with Feyenoord, the inside storyThe negotiations between Roma and Feyenoord for Givairo Read now seem destined to collapse. As reported by several outlets, the Giallorossi had submitted a total offer of €28-29 million, including bonuses, getting significantly closer to the Dutch club’s initial asking price of €30 million.After a night of reflection, however, Feyenoord reportedly changed the terms of the deal, raising their demand to €30 million plus bonuses, for a total close to €35 million. A move that did not go down well with Roma’s hierarchy, pushing the club to walk away from the Read deal and turn decisively toward Nahuel Molina.👋 Lazio, Romagnoli heading to Atalanta?Atalanta are looking for a new defender ahead of the likely departure of Berat Djimsiti, who is getting closer and closer to a move to Saudi Arabia. As reported by Alfredo Pedullà, La Dea have opened fresh contacts with Alessio Romagnoli in recent hours, with the player on the way out of Lazio.The former Milan defender is one of the main targets to strengthen the back line, and the good relationship with Maurizio Sarri could help facilitate the move. The track leading to Jean-Clair Todibo also remains open, although for now no concrete move from the Bergamo club is said to be planned.💎 Fiorentina, Mastantuono could stay next season tooFiorentina have practically wrapped up a deal for Franco Mastantuono, the Argentine playmaker arriving from Real Madrid. The 2007-born talent, signed by Los Blancos last summer from River Plate for over €60 million, is ready to become Viola’s eighth signing of the transfer window, further fueling enthusiasm around the team.The deal, according to various transfer reports, has been agreed as a straight loan, with a right of first refusal on a possible new loan in the event Fiorentina qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Confirmed: Barcelona academy defender secures permanent move to Celta VigoBarcelona have officially announced the permanent transfer of Alexis Olmedo to Celta Vigo, bringing an end to the defender’s 13-year journey at the club.In a statement confirming the deal, Barça revealed that they have retained a percentage of any future transfer fee, ensuring they could still benefit if the 20-year-old is sold later in his career.“FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with RC Celta for the transfer of the center-back from Manresa. The club retains a percentage of any future sale,” the club statement read.A La Masia graduateOlmedo joined Barcelona’s academy in 2014, arriving as a seven-year-old to play for the club’s Prebenjamin team.Over the next decade, he progressed through every level of La Masia before establishing himself with Barça Atletic, where he developed into one of the reserve side’s regular centre-backs.Since making his debut during the 2023/24 season, the right-footed defender made 51 appearances for the club’s reserve team across three campaigns.Olmedo also spent time training with Barcelona’s senior squad under Hansi Flick during the German’s first season in 2024/25. He was included in the matchday squad for the 3-0 victory over Osasuna, although he did not make his official first-team debut.Emotional farewellBefore completing his move to Celta, Olmedo shared an emotional farewell message thanking the club where he spent most of his childhood. “There are dreams that, when you live them, change you forever. Mine began when I was just seven years old, when I joined Barça with the excitement of a child.” View this post on InstagramA post shared by Alexis🤩 (@alexisolmedo.3)“Today, 13 years later, the time has come to say goodbye to the club that has been my home my entire life.”His message expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported his development throughout his time at Barcelona.Olmedo will now continue his career with Celta Fortuna, Celta Vigo’s reserve side, which competes in Spain’s Primera Federacion.The move offers the young defender the opportunity for a fresh start while Barcelona maintain an interest in his long-term future through the sell-on clause included in the agreement.

💣 Juve-Zirkzee, Porto on Gimenez, Fiorentina on Mastantuono 🤏🤑Today, the world of football and the great Rossoneri family bid a final farewell to Franco Baresiduring the funeral held this morning at the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan. Champions, institutions, and fans: everyone was there to say goodbye to the eternal Piscinin.Don’t miss a single minute of Inter’s preseason! All 4 of the Italian champions’ preseason friendlies live on OneFootball: you can choose between the Summer Pass for the full package and pay-per-view for a single event! Click here to see the match schedule and how to watch.On the transfer front, there are still plenty of interesting developments, with sporting directors at work to complete their squads through signings and departures. Below are the most important news stories involving Serie A’s biggest clubs.Juve, Zirkzee and Pellegrino for the attackJuventus continue to be active in the transfer market after officially announcing the arrivals of Randal Kolo Muani and Kerim Alajbegovic. According to Sky Sport, the names still at the top of the wishlist are Mateo Pellegrino and Joshua Zirkzee. Both are considered ideal profiles to complete the attacking department, both for their technical qualities and their growth potential.What remains to be defined now is the formula that could allow the Bianconeri to complete one of the two deals. For Joshua Zirkzee, the situation appears more favorable: United have reportedly opened the door to a loan move with an option to buy. The situation is different for Pellegrino, however. Before making a serious move, Juventus will need to understand Parma’s position.Milan, Porto step up again for GimenezSantiago Gimenez’s adventure in a Milan shirt could already be nearing its end. Having arrived in Milan in February 2025 with the aim of boosting the Rossoneri attack, the striker has never managed to perform at the expected level. After numerous chances without truly making his mark, Milan have reportedly decided to put him on the market.According to Gianluca Di Marzio, in recent hours Porto have renewed their interest in Gimenez. New contacts with the Rossoneri club are expected, with the aim of understanding the feasibility of the deal. Francesco Farioli is pushing for his arrival, considering the striker a priority and ready to do everything possible to bring him to Portugal.Inter, Asllani could be part of a move for DiabyInter’s transfer market is entering a decisive phase. With less than twenty days to go before the start of the league season, the Nerazzurri management are still working to complete the squad to place at Cristian Chivu’s disposal. According to fcinter1908.it, the goal is to secure at least two new signings for the coach.In this regard, an important update concerns Asllani. The midfielder would prefer to continue his career in Europe, but he has also opened up to the possibility of moving to Al Ittihad as a partial counterpart in a deal that would bring Moussa Diaby to Inter. There remains, however, a major obstacle: the French winger earns a salary of €15 million per season.Napoli, Noa Lang heading back to the NetherlandsNapoli continue to work on incoming deals, but also and above all on outgoing business. Among the names that in all likelihood will not be part of Max Allegri’s squad is Noa Lang. According to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, Ajax are closely monitoring the situation involving the former PSV winger.Follow Napoli’s training camp up close! The friendly against Osasuna will be broadcast live on OneFootball! Click here to see the match schedule and how to watch.At the moment, Napoli would be open to letting Lang leave on loan with an option to buy, which would however become an obligation under certain conditions. In all this, Ajax must first resolve another issue, namely the one involving Godts, who seems very close to PSG.Roma, Nico Gonzalez proposed for the wingRoma continue to work on strengthening the left attacking flank. After seeing moves for Greenwood and Summerville fall through, the main target of the Giallorossi management and Gasperini remains Antonio Nusa. The negotiation with Leipzig, however, looks difficult. The German club value the Norwegian winger at around €60 million and, despite the player’s openness to the move, do not seem willing to lower their demands.According to TuttomercatoWeb, among the profiles being considered is also Nico Gonzalez. The Argentine has reportedly been offered to both Roma and Inter, but the capital club are not fully convinced by the move at the moment. Gasperini is in fact looking for a right-footed winger, capable of cutting inside and attacking the goal.Lazio, disagreement over the formula for HautekietLazio continue to work on the market to strengthen their defense and have reportedly identified Ibe Hautekiet as one of their main targets. According to the Corriere dello Sport, the player has already given his approval for a move to the Biancocelesti. The main obstacle concerns the formula: Lazio continue to push for a loan with an option to buy, which could eventually turn into an obligation under certain conditions.Standard, however, are not willing to let the defender leave under that formula. Hautekiet is under contract with the club until 2029 and, after bringing in €12.8 million from summer sales, the club are under no particular pressure to sell. For this reason, the Belgian side would be willing to let the player leave only in the face of a permanent transfer offer.Fiorentina, Mastantuono getting closer and closerFranco Mastantuono is moving ever closer to Fiorentina. The Argentine talent continues to train separately at the Valdebebas training center, waiting for his loan move to La Viola to be made official. As reported by Marca, the deal is now in its final stages and Fiorentina and Real Madrid are ironing out the final details of the agreement, with particular attention on how the salary will be split.Mastantuono has reportedly already given his approval to the move after talks with Fabio Grosso and Fabio Paratici, convinced by the technical project that would allow him more playing time and continuity than he would have had at Real Madrid. Fiorentina were the first club to make a concrete move to sign the player on loan, beating competition from other Italian clubs.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Liverpool make decision on Jarell Quansah buyback clauseLiverpool are not prepared to trigger Jarell Quansah’s buyback clause this summer, according to talkSPORT.The Reds sold Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35 million last summer, while retaining the option to re-sign him for £70m.The 23-year-old enjoyed a solid debut season at Leverkusen, earning a call-up to the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.Quansah impressed with his composure in possession, defensive intelligence and aerial prowess. Liverpool’s decision to include a buyback clause underlined their long-term belief in his potential.He has now been linked with a return to his boyhood club, but Liverpool are understood to have other priorities.The Merseyside giants’ defence has been decimated by injuries, sparking concerns about the lack of defensive reinforcements.Joe Gomez got injured during the pre-season friendly against Sunderland, while Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni are also sidelined.Teenagers Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye, alongside academy graduate Luke Chambers, have featured as Liverpool main centre-backs during pre-season games.Captain Virgil van Dijk is the only fit senior centre-back, although Jacquet is expected to recover before their Premier League opening match against Newcastle United on August 23.The Reds are focused on strengthening their attack this summer following Mohamed Salah’s departure and the long-term injury to Hugo Ekitike.They have signed Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but are still looking to sign one more forward before the end of the transfer window.Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is their priority target, but Liverpool are reluctant to pay his £145m valuation.The Reds believe £100m is a fair price for the France international, who has already indicated that he will not extend his contract beyond 2028.

Liverpool make Cody Gakpo decision amid Tottenham Hotspur interestLiverpool Transfer Latest: Cody Gakpo Stance Clear as Tottenham Interest EmergesLiverpool have made their position clear on Cody Gakpo, with Daily Mail reporting that the club have “no plans to sell Cody Gakpo despite Tottenham making their interest in the forward known”. That line alone sums up the current picture. Interest exists, but there is no encouragement coming from Anfield.The wider context matters. Liverpool are actively trying to strengthen their attack and are said to be working on a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s “£145million-rated Bradley Barcola”. In that situation, the thinking is straightforward, they are “looking to add attacking quality rather than lose it”.Gakpo, now 27, remains under contract until 2030. Liverpool’s view appears to be shaped by two factors, his importance to the squad and the wider inflation of the market. The report states that “with current market prices escalating for players of his experience, it would take a huge sum to change Liverpool’s stance”. Even after a campaign in which he had “a weaker season than usual last time out, scoring only nine goals”, there is still firm internal appreciation of his level and versatility.Photo: IMAGOThere is also a practical angle. Liverpool have already seen Mohamed Salah depart this summer, while “their only attacking arrival has been winger Víctor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5million”. Against that backdrop, sanctioning another senior forward exit would look highly unlikely unless a truly exceptional offer landed. The club paid PSV £44m for Gakpo in 2022, and any discussion now would start from a far higher valuation.Tottenham transfer plans raise stakesTottenham’s interest is understandable. The report says they “want to get their hands on Cody Gakpo”, while also tracking Omar Marmoush and negotiating for Savinho. Their recruitment under Roberto De Zerbi has already been aggressive. Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have all been added, with spending moving rapidly upwards.If Spurs were to pursue Gakpo seriously, it would be one of the headline moves of the window. For now, though, Liverpool’s stance looks firm and unambiguous.Liverpool academy loans also in focusElsewhere, movement is expected around younger players. Liverpool forward Keyrol Figueroa is “attracting interest from Barnsley and Salford” after impressing for the U21s in Slovakia and scoring against Cardiff in a friendly on Saturday. Defender Wellity Lucky “will also be loaned out” after returning from injury, while “Cardiff want Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon on loan”.These are the quieter deals that often shape a summer behind the scenes. But the main headline is clear, Liverpool are under no pressure to sell Gakpo, and all indications suggest they want to keep it that way.Our ViewFrom a Liverpool fan’s perspective, this is reassuring on the surface, but it still leaves plenty of nerves. If the club have already lost Salah and are only bringing in Víctor Munoz so far in attack, the last thing supporters want to hear is another major forward being discussed in the market. Even if the line is that Liverpool have “no plans to sell Cody Gakpo”, fans have seen enough transfer windows to know that situations can shift quickly when huge bids appear.There is also the concern around form and responsibility. Gakpo had a dip, with “only nine goals”, and if Liverpool are heading into a new season with changing dynamics in the frontline, then keeping experienced attackers becomes even more important. He may not have hit top gear last season, but proven quality matters when a squad is evolving.The Barcola angle will excite supporters, naturally. A player with that profile would raise the ceiling of the attack. But until deals are done, fans tend to focus on what could be lost rather than what might arrive. That is why this report will land as a warning as much as a reassurance.As for the younger players, loans for Keyrol Figueroa, Wellity Lucky and possibly Calum Scanlon make sense. Supporters usually welcome that pathway. The real anxiety remains with the senior attack. Liverpool need more depth, more output and more certainty. Holding onto Gakpo feels like the minimum requirement, not the finishing touch.

[Getty Images]Rangers are set to sign Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover in a deal worth up to €4m. (Fabrizio Romano on X)Celtic have knocked back an enquiry from Osasuna regarding Kieran Tierney and have no interest in selling the Scotland defender. (Scottish Sun)West Ham United have had a second bid for Arne Engels rejected by Celtic. (Florian Plettenberg on X)Rangers defender Ben Godfrey will be out for four weeks after injuring his hamstring in Friday's Scottish Premiership draw with Dundee United. (Scottish Sun)Former Hearts and Livingston left-back James Penrice is set to leave AEK Athens, with interest from clubs in Scotland and England. (Daily Record via Giannis Chorianopoulos)Boca Juniors defender Marcelo Saracchi, who spent last season on loan at Celtic, is close to joining MLS outfit Houston Dynamo. (Info del Estero - in Spanish)Celtic have been in contact with Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, according to the player's agent Dmitry Vinokurov. (Glasgow Times)Tuesday's English & European transfer rumoursMonday's Scottish gossipBrondby midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic - another Celtic target - wants to leave the Danish club, manager Thomas Norgaard has confirmed. (Glasgow Times)The Parkhead outfit remain short of Las Palmas' valuation of goalkeeper Dinko Horkas, with Dinamo Zagreb also keen on the Croatian shot-stopper. (Canarias7 - in Spanish)Burton Albion are keen on a move for Kilmarnock defender George Stanger, who is in the final year of his contract at Rugby Park. (Daily Record)Johnny Kenny has been left off Celtic's squad numbers list amid interest from Bolton Wanderers, who had the striker on loan last season. (The Herald)Barney Stewart says former Scotland midfielder James Morrison was a key factor in him joining West Brom as the 22-year-old striker chases a senior international call-up. (The Scotsman)New England Revolution midfielder Allan Oyirwoth is set to join Dunfermline on loan. (Daily Record)Rotherham are set to sign former Kieron Ngwenya and Ewan Otoo, who both left Dunfermline earlier this summer. (Daily Record)

On a tough night at the very start of a new season, against a dogged Dundee, it was a familiar name that helped Celtic usher in victory.No, not Benjamin Nygren - last season's top scorer and the man who nodded in the winner to kickstar the Scottish Premiership defence - but Kieran Tierney, the man who crossed the ball for the Swede to head in.The left-back has arguably been Celtic's best player since the return of Martin O'Neill in January, but his renaissance has gone a little under the radar.Perhaps that's because we expect so much from the man who once fetched Celtic a reported £25m in a move to Arsenal.Regardless, he still registered 12 assists last season, the most of any Celtic player, and scored six goals from defence.One of O'Neill's most trusted lieutenants, he's contracted until 2030 but reports have suggested a potential return to Spain, so just how important is he to Celtic?Sportsound: Reaction as Celtic kick-off their title defence with a narrow win over Dundee'He looked like old Kieran Tierney'Despite Kasper Hogh's 0.88expected goals (xG), it was actually Tierney who had the most shots on target for Celtic against Dundee - albeit only two.He created more chances than any of his teammates (four) and sent in eight crosses, the most of any Celtic player."He looked like old Kieran Tierney, he was bombing forward, getting in the box, had a couple shots on goal, doing all his defensive stuff, he was excellent," said chief sports writer Tom English.Excellent was the word to describe the left-back's cross to Nygren, and it was just what Celtic needed.In the first half, the reigning champions were pushed hard by a Dundee side that set out to be aggressive and frustrate the hosts, and that's just what they did.But the chances started to become more frequent, and soon it was the trusty left boot of Tierney that unlocked the door, allowing Nygren to head home from six yards out with a pinpoint cross.However, his impact on this Celtic team is nothing new.Only Falkirk's Calvin Miller, now at Hearts, registered more assists last season. At Celtic, only Daizen Maeda created more big chances - 14 to Tierney's 12.Defensively, he consistently shows up as one of the best defenders in the league for his contributions, his tackling, clearances, blocking shots.And for all the talk of managing his minutes, only three full-backs across the league played more than Tierney. That said, he played the full game on only 10 occasions in the league."Those players are the football club," manager Martin O'Neill said of Tierney and captain Callum McGregor. "They are the backbone of Celtic, and I'm delighted to have them."With last season's on-loan left-back Marcelo Sarrachi having returned to his parent club Boca Juniors, there's currently no other senior left-backs on Celtic's books."Of course [it's important to bring in cover for Tierney], that's something we're looking at," O'Neill told BBC Scotland."Kieran, with the best will in the world, will not get through every single game. Last year, he was recovering and didn't see some games out because he puts so much into it. We're looking that way."Spanish interest but Tierney 'going nowhere' - BrownIt was reported today that Osasuna have enquired about Tierney, although that same article suggested Celtic chiefs will knock back any offers for the 29-year-old.Given the lack of options in that position, and also Tierney's importance to the league champions, that is hardly a surprise."Kieran's going nowhere, he loves the football club," said his former captain Scott Brown on Sportsound. "You never know what can happen, but I love watching the wee man play, I love his passion. When there's a 50-50 he wins it, when a ball goes into the box he puts his head on it."It's the quality on the other side as well. You can see why he went down to Arsenal. Other teams will want that, and Celtic are lucky to have these three [Tierney, McGregor and James Forrest] for that long a period."Club captain McGregor is another who was impressed in the league opener, but there's also been whispers that he might be on the way out. Those rumours seem to have died down in recent weeks."Callum has retired from Scotland so he's had the time off, and he looks really fresh," said Brown. "He is the brains of this time, he's got the understanding and leadership."If any young kids are watching, watch Callum McGregor, watch Kieran Tierney, watch James Forrest. You're not at a football club like this for that long if you can't understand the other side of the game."

Journalist: Liverpool could sign another forward after huge Bradley Barcola dealLiverpool Transfer Plans: David Lynch believes Bradley Barcola deal could be followed by another forward signingLiverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain could represent the start of a wider attacking rebuild rather than the final piece of business in that area of the pitch.Speaking on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, David Lynch joined Dave Davis to discuss Liverpool’s transfer priorities, with the conversation turning towards whether another forward could arrive after Barcola potentially completes his move from PSG.Liverpool have already added Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m this summer, following the departure of Mohamed Salah, and Lynch believes the club’s attacking plans could extend beyond bringing Barcola through the door.Liverpool believe attack needs further additions after BarcolaLynch explained that Liverpool’s thinking is not simply about replacing one player with another. He believes there is an expectation that further attacking reinforcements could arrive once the club completes the Barcola deal.“I think so. And again kind of further to conversations I’ve had today, I think that’s the mindset as well,” Lynch told Dave Davis. “There really is a feeling they need to add more in attack and that’s not just kind of one in one out with Barcola.”The Liverpool journalist added that the priority is to secure Barcola first, before assessing the next steps.“I think there’s a feeling that they absolutely have to, you know, get Barcola over the line and then kind of see where they’re up to, but to add more because they feel like they’re a little bit short in that area.”That assessment comes after Liverpool lost Salah this summer and continue to reshape their forward options under new head coach Andoni Iraola.Bradley Barcola viewed as key Liverpool targetThe expectation around Barcola’s future has been building for several weeks, with Lynch suggesting the direction of travel points towards the French winger leaving Paris Saint-Germain.“I still just think that the direction of travel here is clearly that Bara leaves, isn’t it?” Lynch said. “I mean, I think that’s been apparent, I think I’ve said it on this podcast weeks and weeks ago, is that I think the conditions are there to expect him to leave PSG.”Photo: IMAGOLynch highlighted several factors behind that belief, including PSG’s activity in the forward market, Barcola’s contract situation and the player’s desire to join Liverpool.“They are clearly signing several forwards to look to replace him and forwards that would play in his position. You know, he’s going to have he’s got two years left on his contract. They want to sell him at this point. And he wants to join Liverpool.”Liverpool’s attacking rebuild could define summer windowThe importance of getting the forward department right was emphasised by Lynch, who believes a stronger attacking group could transform Liverpool’s prospects after the struggles of last season.“You watch Liverpool last season and some of the attacking play was so bad at times, like no plans just kind of hoping for a moment of magic or whatever,” Lynch explained.For Lynch, adding quality in attack could provide the platform for Iraola’s Liverpool side to develop.“I think that more than anything was disappointing really in how they played last season. So I think there’s a determination both from the coaching side and what Iraola will give them, but also in terms of the options that they have there to not be left in that situation.”The potential arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain could therefore be viewed as part of a bigger plan rather than the conclusion of Liverpool’s attacking business.Lynch’s comments suggest Liverpool are aware that Salah’s departure requires more than a single replacement, with the club looking to build a forward line capable of supporting Iraola’s style and competing across multiple competitions.