Paul Dickov Exclusive Interview with WDW Bingo
Paul Dickov is a former professional footballer and manager who played for Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester City, plus others and managed Oldham Athletic and Doncaster Rovers. He made 417 club appearances and earned ten caps for Scotland, scoring 100 career goals.
He spoke exclusively to WDW Bingo on the 15th of July 2025.
Question: What do you make of Manchester City’s chances of regaining the Premier League next season?
Paul Dickov: “Man City have got every chance of winning the Premier League next season. They have made some really exciting new signings, which I think will only help their cause. Rayan Aït-Nouri is a fantastic player with Premier League experience, which is key. He is only 24, and he looked great at the Club World Cup.
“Tijjani Reijnders also looks to be a proper player. I watch a lot of Italian football, and he was the standout player last season for AC Milan. Rayan Cherki looks to have that little bit of gold dust, which is exciting for City fans and the team’s prospects next season. Then, once you add Rodri and John Stones back into the mix, City should have a scary squad next season and be battling to win trophies again. The squad is now full of quality, and City will be at the top of the Premier League again next season.”
Q: Is Rodri returning from injury like a new signing for City next season? Is he the key to their success?
PD: “Absolutely. Rodri will be like a new signing after missing so much of last season. I was never a big believer in one player making such a huge difference to a team, but Rodri changed my mind about that last season. His influence both on the pitch and around the club was hugely missed, and you saw that in their trophyless season.
“The club know exactly how valuable he is to them, and why wouldn’t he be? He’s a Ballon d’Or winner. On the pitch, the protection he provides can’t be matched by another player, he puts out almost every fire in those areas. This skill is invaluable to Man City as teams constantly play on the counterattack against them, they soak up pressure and try to break quickly to create chances, which Rodri stops almost single-handedly at times during his career. The job that he does allows City’s creative players to do what they do best going forward and not worry about defending.”
Q: What went wrong for City at the Club World Cup?
PD: “The Club World Cup was a bit of a blow-off for a lot of the teams involved. It provided some shock results as teams look towards next season. I would have never expected PSG to lose so heavily to Chelsea in the final. However, for City, they will have been disappointed in the way they were eliminated, they should have been leading that game comfortably at half time and gone on to beat them.
“Throughout the tournament, I saw lots of positives from City, they looked really sharp and focused. Everyone at the club is disappointed with how last season went, and they will be determined to put it all right this season. I think that determination could turn City into a real force next season.”
Q: What do you make of the new signings? Are you excited to see Rayan Cherki play in the Premier League?
PD: “I am really excited to watch Rayan Cherki at Man City, he looks like an unbelievable talent. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but we all know how good he was for Lyon. We know the talent that he possesses. He made his debut for France, and he was outstanding. He stood out in a top-quality French team.
“He is going to be key for City next season. Purely because teams come to the Etihad Stadium and play defensively or in low block formations, and he has the tools to unlock those defences. Cherki is so naturally skilful which the fans will love watching, and he possesses that little bit of magic that will get people off their seats and create chances for City forwards. I’ve heard that he has fitted in really well since joining earlier in the summer as well, which is great news, the players all love him, and the team will benefit from his quality this season.”
Q: Erling Haaland missed a portion of last season through injury. However, Omar Marmoush came to the club in January. How do you think their dynamic is going to work next season?
PD: “I’m really looking forward to seeing them play together. We got a glimpse of it when Omar Marmoush first signed for the club, and the combination of him playing off Erling Haaland looked really exciting. Omar is a top player who will score plenty of goals in a Man City shirt. I keep hearing people saying that Haaland was struggling for goals last season, and if scoring 30 or 40 goals in a season is struggling, then more strikers in the Premier League probably wish they were struggling.
“The pair of them are only going to score more goals next season with the talent they have around them, supplying them with chances. When you consider they will have Savinho, Jérémy Doku, Phil Foden and Cherki creating chance after chance for them, City’s potential next season is truly frightening. Pep Guardiola has some incredible options available to him next season, and he will have the opportunity to rotate players more regularly and not feel like he’s losing something on the pitch.”
Q: Would you like to see Jack Grealish move on from the club? Or would you like to see him battle for a regular place back in the side?
PD: “Jack Grealish is a top-quality player and a brilliant human being who has been fantastic for Man City over the past few years. I don’t buy into saying he’s been a flop at City; he has won lots of trophies at the club and was by far City’s best player during the treble season. He has been unlucky with injuries over the past few years, which have disrupted his progress.
“It looks as though Jack will move on this summer, as he was left out of the Club World Cup squad, but nobody knows for sure yet. If he does move on, a top team in the Premier League will sign him and gain a fantastic player. Additionally, I think he will be looking to prove something, both to himself and his critics. He will have a hunger that maybe he hasn’t had over the past season, and whoever signs him will gain an unbelievable asset.”
Q: Kyle Walker is going to spend next season on loan at Burnley. What do you make of that move for him? Do you think it will go well?
PD: “I think Kyle Walker going to Burnley on loan next season is a great move for him, and I can see it going really well for him. Over the past ten years, he has arguably been the best full-back in the Premier League, and a promoted team like Burnley gaining that experience will be vital.
“I spoke to Kyle last week, and he is excited about getting stuck in with Burnley. He knows the manager, Scott Parker, really well, so he was excited to work with him. Kyle knows the club inside out as his boys have been in the Burnley academy, so he has been in and around the club for a while. It’s a challenge he is looking forward to.”
Q: Can you see Arsenal winning the Premier League next season?
PD: “I genuinely believe that this next Premier League season is going to be the hardest one to win in a long time. Liverpool won the league at a canter last season and deserved to, but I can’t see that happening again. All the top teams have made some incredible signings. Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea have all invested in new players early in the transfer window, so I think next season is going to be an incredible spectacle.
“When it comes to Arsenal, they have plenty of experience of challenging for the league now, which should only help them season after season. However, they have been crying out for a goal scorer to take them to the next level and win the league. It looks like they may have got that now with a deal for Viktor Gyökeres looking imminent, and he could be what they need to win the league next season.”
Q: What do you make of the signings of Christian Nørgaard and Martín Zubimendi? Did Arsenal need some more firepower in midfield?
PD: “I am glad Arsenal have strengthened in midfield in this window. I think it was a position where they needed more depth, and they have certainly secured that with Christian Nørgaard and Martín Zubimendi. They are both fantastic players, and I am well-versed with Nørgaard’s talents as my son is in Brentford’s academy.
“Nørgaard has gone under the radar a little bit over the past few seasons, but everyone at Brentford knew how important he was to the team. He is a good leader and is more creative than he gets credit for. He loves to chip in with a goal or two as well, and he makes Arsenal a hell of a lot stronger in that midfield area.”
Q: Viktor Gyökeres looks destined for Arsenal now as the deal edges closer. Do you think he is exactly what they need, as they have lacked goals from an out-and-out striker over the last few years?
PD: “Over the past few seasons, Arsenal have always been linked with a new striker but never secured one for whatever reason. You’d imagine it’s because they haven’t found the right player, and generally speaking, I believe there is a real shortage of top-quality strikers in football at the moment.
“They’ve been very patient, but it looks like Gyökeres is over the line now, and he looks to be a special talent. His goals-to-game ratio has been fantastic in Portugal, and he has looked great in Europe as well. He has had a taste of English football in the past, albeit in the Championship, but it means he may not need as much time to adapt to England. He’s a top player, and I am really looking forward to seeing what he has to offer. I hope he settles in quickly and gets a few goals early on in the season.”
Q: How many goals do you expect Gyökeres to score next season? What would be a good haul?
PD: “Gyökeres has to aim for the sky. I was deluded when I was a striker, and he should be the exact same way. You must believe you can score 20-plus goals every season in whatever league you are playing in, but that never quite worked out for me, but it can for Gyökeres. He has shown in the past that he is capable of scoring regularly, and I expect him to score between 20 and 30 goals next season. I’m sure he will have his own target in mind already, even before signing for the club. The fans will have these expectations as well.”
Q: Arsenal are also rumoured to be signing a winger. Noni Madueke from Chelsea and Rodrygo from Real Madrid have been heavily linked. Would you have a preference between these two signings?
PD: “From what I have heard, I think Noni Madueke is more or less done, which surprises me a little bit. I think he is a great player and he’s young with plenty of potential, so I’m not sure why Chelsea are selling him, especially to Arsenal. Madueke has a lot of talent, knows how to beat players, score goals and has already played for England, he could be a really good signing for Arsenal.
“Rodrygo is a funny one. He is a top player, but it seems Real Madrid are always trying to get rid of him, and it makes me wonder why. By the sounds of things, it will take a lot of money to secure his signature. Therefore, I think it makes much more sense for Arsenal to sign Madueke; he is cheaper, a bit younger, and has Premier League experience.”
Q: Jamie Vardy has been heavily linked with Rangers. At 38, would he still be able to do a job for the club?
PD: “Jamie Vardy at 38, has still got a hell of a lot to offer, he’s still got the hunger, and real desire in his game, which could be exactly what Rangers need. I’m sure he has plenty of offers from clubs all over the world, but wherever he chooses will gain a Premier League legend and a wealth of experience.
“Aside from his experience, his goal-scoring hasn’t slowed down. He scored nine league goals last season in a poor Leicester team in the most challenging league in the world, so he will score plenty wherever he moves.”
Q: Celtic are also in the hunt for a striker. Brendan Rodgers worked with Vardy at Leicester. Should they hijack a potential move?
PD: “It’s difficult to pinpoint where Jamie is going to land, but it could be a real swing in the next couple of seasons of the Scottish Premiership. If he went to Celtic, it would make it even more difficult for the rest of the teams to catch them, I would go as far as to say borderline impossible. However, if he chose Rangers, he could really drag them closer to Celtic with the goals he would score.
“I think if he signs for Rangers, Scotland would have a really competitive league next season, which would be great to watch and draw eyes to the games. That’s how big a factor he could be, and people keep talking about his age, but he is chasing down defenders as well as he was ten years ago, from what I can see. Whoever signs Vardy will have a fantastic asset who will guarantee goals and energy from the front.”
Q: Rangers were comfortably swept aside by Celtic last season. What do they have to do to get closer to them this season? Russell Martin is the new Rangers boss. Do you expect him to succeed?
PD: “I think Russell Martin is a big plus point for Rangers. He’s got a style of play that the fans enjoy watching and will hope that will get them closer to Celtic, which is the goal at the end of the day and what he will be judged on. Russell has already strengthened the squad, which was certainly needed, and they have already looked much better as a team in this preseason than they did towards the end of last season. A few more signings, and hopefully we can see a closer title race in Scotland next season.”
Q: Would it be a loss for Leicester if Conor Coady does leave for Rangers? Do you think Rangers is the right move for Conor at this point in his career? Could his experience in defence be what Russell Martin needs to challenge Celtic?
PD: “It would certainly be a loss for Leicester, but it would be a great for Rangers if they signed Conor Coady. He is a quality player, and he has bags of experience to bring to the table. One thing Rangers have been lacking over the last couple of seasons while trying to bridge the gap to Celtic is leadership.
“Russell Martin will have known that before he came to the club and identified Conor as someone who could help with leadership. He has been captain at pretty much every club he has played for, which would be a valuable skill set to bring to Rangers. If they did sign him and once he settled in, he would start to rub off on everyone else around him, which could really boost their chances of having a more successful season next year.”
Q: What signing are you most excited about across the Premier League so far this summer?
PD: “The signing I am most excited about watching next season is Tijjani Reijnders. I think he is fantastic. He brings a different dimension to Man City’s midfield. He is so versatile that he can play as a standard six or in a double pivot with Rodri. But he can also play further up the pitch as an eight or even a ten behind the forwards.
“I watch a lot of Italian football, and he’s a physical specimen, he’s quick and has the vision and ability to tear teams apart. I think a few people will be surprised by how good he is for City this season. He stood out massively in an AC Milan team that struggled last season, and the fact that he made the ‘Serie A Team of the Year’ says it all. He’s got a real touch of class about him, and I think under Pep Guardiola, he will only improve.”
Q: Scotland International Ben Doak has had a strong start to his career before his injury last season. He is back in preseason training now. Do you expect him to have a breakout season at Liverpool? Or could you see him moving on?
PD: “He’s a special talent, and he is a really highly thought of player in Scotland as well as in England. Steve Clarke is a huge fan of him, and if he didn’t get injured before the last tournament, I think he would have been starting for Scotland, right in the shop window on the biggest stage.
“It’s going to be difficult for him to break into the Liverpool team, which has just won the league, especially when they are investing heavily in the transfer window, but if anyone can do it, it’s Ben. Liverpool have so much quality in the forward areas that it will be a challenge for him, but he has proved throughout his short career that he is ready to play. Whether that ends up being for Liverpool or one of the many clubs interested in him. He is a fantastic player, and he will want game time now that he is back from injury, so he will have to decide soon what he wants for the next step in his career. I don’t think it matters what he decides because I have no doubt he is going to the very top.”
Q: Liverpool have been linked with Jean-Philippe Mateta over the last couple of days. What would you make of that move for him? Do you think he’d be a good signing for Liverpool?
PD: “I think Jean-Philippe Mateta would be a good signing for any team looking to climb the Premier League, or even Liverpool looking to retain their title and assert their dominance. If he goes to Liverpool, is he going to start every week? Probably not. He will want to be involved regularly wherever he moves, and I think he would benefit more by moving to a club like Man United.
“However, if Liverpool could sign him and keep him happy, he is a fantastic player who would score plenty of goals for them. He has proved over the past few seasons that he is capable of scoring in the Premier League, so adding that to the Liverpool ranks would make them an even stronger force.”
Q: Should Alexander Isak move this summer? Or do you believe that his career can benefit from being loyal and remaining at Newcastle United?
PD: “I think Alexander Isak is a funny situation because he doesn’t need to move clubs, as Newcastle are in the Champions League and demonstrating that they are willing to spend money to improve the team heading into next season. He has already won one trophy with Newcastle, and with the team they have and the signings they make, he will expect to win more.
“They are going to continue to create a lot of chances for him with the likes of Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and now Anthony Elanga in their ranks. They are also rumoured to be close to signing Hugo Ekitike as well, so I think with those players, they can be a factor in all competitions next season. I think it is key that Newcastle hold onto him for next season, and he seems more than happy to stay, which is refreshing in modern football.”
Q: Do you think Ollie Watkins would be a good signing for Man United? Could you see the move happening?
PD: “Signing and out and out number nine must be the number one priority for Man United before the end of the window. It’s not quite worked out for Rasmus Højlund as of yet, but I believe there’s a player in there, it just might take some time. Man United probably won’t be that patient at the moment, given how last season panned out.
“Ollie Watkins would be the perfect signing for them. He has proven over the past few years that he can score goals in the Premier League and Champions League, and this would be vital for Man United as they need someone to come in and perform immediately. There has been a lot of talk about him leaving Aston Villa, and if he does, I’m sure there will be plenty of teams wanting to sign him. Man United could be the perfect fit, he could just slot into that number nine spot and hit the ground running.”
Q: How do you feel about Oldham Athletic getting back in the Football League, and what are your hopes/expectations for the club back in League Two this season?
PD: “I was down at Wembley when they got promoted, and I’m delighted for everyone at the club that they are back in the Football League. I had some fantastic and some tough times while managing Oldham, but there are some brilliant people involved in the club, and I am pleased for them. Michael Mellon is a manager that I know really well, and he has done a fantastic job with them this season. The National League is hard to get out of.
“I really believe they will hold their own in League Two next season. The fans are buzzing to be back up there, season ticket sales are back to where they should be, so they will be getting good crowds, which really helps in League Two. It’s a challenging league, there isn’t a team in that league next season that I can see running away with it, so it should be a battle. However, I think Oldham have got a great chance of getting in the playoffs at least. Micky won’t thank me for putting that pressure on him and his team, but I genuinely believe in them.”
Q: How would you sum up your time in charge at the club? What were the highlights and the not-so highlights, and how did you feel about the running of the club at the time?
PD: “I loved every minute of being in charge at Oldham. Don’t get me wrong, it was tough at times working on a small budget, but the owners were great. Managing Oldham was full of highs and lows, but beating Liverpool at Boundary Park in the FA Cup was one of the highlights of my career as a whole, never mind just at Oldham. They had a star-studded lineup, including Luis Suárez, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, and Steven Gerrard off the bench, and little Oldham knocked them out of the FA Cup.
“Other highlights are working with some top players and giving debuts to players who went on to have fantastic careers, such as James Tarkowski, Dale Stephens and big Matt Smith. I take pride in those moments when I reflect on my time with Oldham. As for low points, there were plenty, and I made a few mistakes as a new manager, but staying up was the main priority, which we always managed to do.”
Q: You also managed Doncaster, who won League Two last season. Are you glad to see them back in League One? How do you expect them to get on next season? Could you see them pushing for the playoffs?
PD: “I am absolutely delighted that Doncaster Rovers were promoted as champions last season, they really deserved it. They have been brilliant over the past 18 months or so, and I’m sure they will be competitive in League One next season. I’m still very close to the CEO, Gavin Baldwin, so to see them going up was great.
“Grant McCann has done a great job there in his second spell, and his assistant Cliff Byrne is a former player of mine at Oldham, so it’s a club I’m still very fond of and I still have plenty of ties to. It’s great to see them eventually get back up because it came so close last season, and I think they’ve got a real good chance of being successful next season as well. The manager has them playing really good football, and they have some talented young players in their ranks. A good mix of both youth and experience in the team makes all the difference in the lower leagues.”
Q: Leeds United won the Championship last season. Are you glad to see them back in the Premier League? How do you expect them to get on next season? Can you see them surviving?
PD: “Of course, I am glad to see them back in the Premier League, Leeds is a huge club that should be playing against the best week in, week out. I think the main goal has got to be to survive the first season back in the league. The last few seasons prove that it is tough, as all the promoted teams were relegated last season. However, Leeds have a brilliant fan base that can drag them to results next year and new owners who look willing to spend, which will help them compete and hopefully survive next season.”
Q: Do you expect Leeds to make plenty of signings or do you expect them to be a little bit more conservative than the last time they’re in the Premier League?
PD: “I expect Leeds to be more conservative in the transfer window than they were after their last promotion to the Premier League. I think they will need some strength in depth, but the players they have this time around are more Premier League ready than after their previous promotion. If they sign some Premier League experience, I think they can do really well next season and shock a few people by surviving comfortably.”
Q: Your former club, Derby, survived on the final days last season. Do you expect them to grow into the Championship this season? What do they need to focus on to rise up the table?
PD: “It was great to see them survive after a tough season in the Championship, they grinded it out towards the end of the season. I think more of the same will be the key to them getting better and finishing higher up the table. They will need to battle every week, and I think they have every chance of being able to do that. However, I don’t think expectations can be set too high. They have a great fan base, but they need to be patient, and if there is some progress this season, then they might have to be happy with that. Then maybe in a couple of years, set their sights on the playoffs and promotion.”
Q: Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season. Do you expect them to bounce straight back and win the Championship next season? What do you make of their managerial situation?
PD: “I have high expectations for Leicester this season. The quality that they have in their squad should be more than enough to be promoted straight back to the Premier League. However, they need to bring in a manager as soon as possible. The fans and the players will all be confused, and the work they are doing on the training ground could be nothing relevant to what their new manager wants them to play like. The season is not far away, the manager needs to be sorted in the next week or so and allow him to work with the squad and bring in some of his own players. Otherwise, they risk a slow start to next season, which could ultimately cost them promotion in a competitive league.”
Q: Luton were relegated from the Championship last season. Do you expect them to bounce straight back and win League One next season?
PD: “I think everyone who has ever been connected with Luton Town was shocked to see them relegated at the end of last season. Nobody could have foreseen that after being in the Premier League the season before, and yes, they ultimately got relegated, but they really held their own against good teams at points in the season. Everyone thought they would bounce back to the Premier League, not find themselves in League One.
“Back-to-back relegations are far from ideal, and I think there needs to be a big rebuild at Luton. They have a fairly new manager, and you could see at times last season that he could get things right on the pitch, so I expect to see more of that next season. I think this is a vital season for the club. There are some big teams in League One at the moment, so it will be competitive and difficult to win, but I’m sure they will be favourites with the squad they have. In my opinion, Luton must steady the ship next season. The fans may not like to hear that, but the future of the club is important, and they can’t afford to free-fall down the leagues. They’ll be aiming as high as possible, but I think a midtable season with a chance at getting playoffs would be great for Luton, and anything better is a bonus.”
Q: How do you see Brighton getting on next season? They had a strong season last year but have lost João Pedro to Chelsea and could potentially lose more players before the end of the window.
PD: “I always foresee Brighton doing well, no matter the incomings and outgoings at the club. Recent history has taught us never to underestimate Brighton. The number of brilliant players they have discovered and sold over the past few years is commendable, and they always perform brilliantly every season. It’s even happened with their managers and everybody says, ‘this will be the season where they struggle’ but they never do.
“They may have lost João Pedro to Chelsea, but I have full belief that their recruiters will find another gem to replace him. João Pedro is a wonderful footballer, and Brighton will miss his flair and quality, but he was injured for a significant part of last season, and they still managed to play attractive football, score goals, and most importantly, get great results. The club is being run extremely well, and I can’t see losing João Pedro affecting them too much next season.”
For more insights into the upcoming season, our Premier League betting guide for 2025/26 is coming soon, courtesy of our Football and sports betting expert, Darren Lane.