All posts by z3u9t.icu

With Celtic currently lacking a manager, it’s perhaps a surprise to see so many new players being linked with Parkhead.

That being said, it’s positive thinking from a club who have done very little right this season.

On the chalkboard

The Hoops faithful are right to be scared about their current position. They have just lost the title for the first time in a decade and they didn’t even run their rivals close.

Neil Lennon is no longer in charge and thus, Dermot Desmond is searching for a new manager.

Whoever walks through the door could have to deal with a player exodus. Star striker Odsonne Edouard has long been linked with an exit, as too has Kristoffer Ajer.

Ajer has been a phenomenal addition since joining the club on a free transfer as a 17-year-old. He is now a matured international for Norway and that has undeniably come with its plaudits.

The centre-back was linked with a move to Tottenham last season while AC Milan have been monitoring his situation. If he does leave, it could leave a giant hole in the middle of Celtic’s defence to fill.

Christopher Jullien is out for the next nine months while Shane Duffy is due to go back to Brighton following the conclusion of his loan spell.

The solution

Celtic could well fill that gap with a certain Declan Gallagher. TEAMtalk reported this week that the Bhoys were ready to move for the Motherwell defender this summer.

They face plenty of competition for his signature with Cardiff, Barnsley, Aberdeen, Hearts and Dundee in the race to sign him.

Premier League clubs Burnley, Sheffield United and West Brom have him on their radar but it’s been claimed that Gallagher’s head has been turned by interest from Celtic.

At the age of 30, he is a seasoned professional and although the Hoops wouldn’t have much sell-on value, he’d be a fantastic acquisition.

Standing at 6 foot 6, Gallagher is a monster in the air and very rarely does he lose a defensive battle. The defender has won a colossal 3.9 aerial duels this term, a tally that betters every Celtic player apart from Duffy and Jullien.

Having won seven caps for Scotland, he has what it takes to play at a higher level and he’d certainly be able to do that at Celtic. After all, Gallagher possesses a similar never-say-die mentality to Ajer.

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Speaking about the Hoops-linked defender in January, Gary Holt told Radio Clyde: “I used to say we were fortunate to have players who were prepared to get hurt in both boxes. He’s prepared to get hurt. That’s what you like about him [Gallagher]. He’s somebody who’s going to do his job to the best of his ability. He’s kicked on massively since he left Livi.”

How Celtic could have done with more players like that this season. Ajer was been one of a few who were really prepared to put their body on the line for the team.

Therefore, if he leaves, it would be a bitter blow. Replacing him with Gallagher would certainly be no bad idea, though.

AND in other news, Better than Kenny: Celtic must sign “fierce” gem who’s made 89 tackles this term…

Once the season ends, it will mark the end of an era at Celtic, as the Bhoys will be without Neil Lennon, Peter Lawwell and Nick Hammond.

They will also be without club captain Scott Brown. The midfield stalwart is bringing down the curtain on his Hoops career in a few weeks’ time in favour of moving to Aberdeen as a player-coach.

Brown has been a pillar of Celtic’s success in the last decade, winning ten Premiership titles and 12 domestic cups. If anyone defines the steely nature of their team in recent years, it is him.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and his performances have been questioned at times this season. The 35-year-old has looked off the pace and has appeared leggy on more than a few occasions.

You can hardly blame him for that given his age, but one area of his game you cannot criticise are his leadership skills.

He is an outstanding captain, a leader of men and an example for the rest of the team. That’s why, when he departs, he’ll leave behind a considerable void in the Celtic dressing room.

Callum McGregor has been tipped to become the next Hoops captain but that honour could be given to a new signing.

The Sun claimed last week that Seamus Coleman is a player who may be brought to Celtic in the summer. The Irishman is out of contract in a year’s time and thus could move on the cheap.

The £68,000-per-week earner is the current skipper at Everton and has led by example for a number of years now. You only need to look at words from Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti to realise how good a commander he is.

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“I’ve had a lot of captains in my career but how Seamus expresses his love for the shirt is really top. He is a great captain” the Italian admitted.

“I don’t want to forget anyone [I have worked with] but he is up there as a captain with [Paolo] Maldini, John Terry and Sergio Ramos,” he said.

Like Brown, Coleman is a player capable of running himself into the ground and dragging others through a game.

When the Hoops icon departs in a matter of months, they would do well to replace him with the 32-year-old Premier League defender.

To be compared to the likes of Maldini and Ramos – by a manager who has worked with both players – doesn’t happen very often, so Celtic should definitely consider a deal.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Edouard: Celtic must sign 16-goal gem who plays “in the style of Robben”…

The 2020/21 season has not been to kind to Celtic and the Parkhead faithful.

They have been left in the dust by their biggest rivals not just in the league but also in the cup, something that means the Bhoys will end the campaign without a trophy.

It has been a torrid tale of events for a club who have only witnessed success in the last decade.

Things have arguably got worse since Neil Lennon departed. Protests may have stopped but crashing out of the Scottish Cup in the fourth round after defeat to Rangers will do enough to get the banners back out.

Once again it was a sorry showing from John Kennedy’s team. His side may have fired six goals past Livingston but besides that, his team have struggled to score goals during his short tenure.

Against Dundee United they witnessed Benjamin Siegrist make an eye-catching haul of 12 saves in a 0-0 draw and then against the Gers on Sunday, they were just as bad.

Odsonne Edouard and Mo Elyounoussi missed golden chances in the second period while the former also saw a penalty kick saved by Allan McGregor.

It was a bad afternoon for the Frenchman but in what was a crucial day for Kennedy, he also failed to set the world alight.

GIVEMESPORT reported in the build-up to the clash some crucial news on the interim manager’s future.

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They shared information that Kennedy could have significantly bolstered his chances of securing the gig permanently with a positive result at Ibrox.

Instead, they lost 2-0 in one of the worst ways possible. Defensive mistakes were rife, particularly from the full-backs, and they lacked a cutting edge that would have sent a message to the Hoops hierarchy.

The 37-year-old has been under consideration by Dermot Desmond and co but after this result, their estimations of the Scot may have fallen somewhat.

As a result, the hunt to find a new manager could take yet another big twist.

Eddie Howe has been the favourite to land the job after entering discussions with the Bhoys but he’s played them around in recent weeks.

He doesn’t want to return to management until the summer while he’s also being courted by Brighton and Crystal Palace. Issues over his preferred backroom staff and Celtic’s director of football also loom large.

Kennedy, therefore, would have been an easy alternative if things collapsed more on the Howe side.

Instead, he’s not really proving himself, something the Old Firm last Sunday showcased. Celtic need to accelerate their talks with Howe or look for a more suitable alternative.

AND in other news, Director of Football makes big Celtic manager claim, Desmond won’t be happy…

Moise Kean sealing a return to Juventus to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at the Serie A side this summer can hand Ellis Simms his big break at Everton.

What’s the word?

According to Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Kean is on a shortlist of potential options for Juventus to target at the end of the season amid doubt in Ronaldo’s long-term Bianconeri future.

The Portuguese icon has been linked with a potential return to Real Madrid three years after leaving the La Liga giants for €112m (£99m), and Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane refused to deny the chances of a reunion earlier this month.

But Juve CEO Fabio Paratici has dismissed the possibility of Ronaldo moving away from Turin at the close of the campaign, insisting that the 36-year-old remains the future of the Old Lady and will play into the final year of his current €30m-a-season (£500k-p/w) contract.

That has not stopped speculation arising in the Italian media, with Tuttosport suggesting that Kean could be lined up as a replacement for Ronaldo as the striker, currently on loan with Paris Saint-Germain, would be intrigued by a return to the Allianz Stadium.

Kean is also considered to be perfect for the vision that Juventus are attempting to build by helping bring down the average age of Andrea Pirlo’s squad, and could be targeted upon his return to Goodison Park this summer.

PSG are expected to try and retain the £53k-p/w forward in the next transfer window, too, with il Bianco Nero claiming at the start of the month that the Ligue 1 powerhouse will attempt to reach an agreement with the Toffees ‘at all costs’.

That cost could be in the region of €60-70m (£51.5-60m), with Fabrizio Romano stating on the Here We Go podcast last month that Carlo Ancelotti is a “big fan” of Kean and wants him back in royal blue next term, after scoring 15 goals in 27 games for the Parisian outfit.

Should Everton let Kean go?

Kean has clearly rediscovered his form during a year on loan in the French capital, having struggled to make the grade at Goodison Park following his £25m move from Juventus in 2019.

Whether Ancelotti wants him back or not remains to be seen, but allowing the 21-year-old to call time on his Toffees career after two years could open the door for Simms to make his first-team breakthrough after impressing during his brief time on loan with Blackpool so far.

Simms has scored three goals and provided two assists in nine League One games for the Seasiders since moving to Bloomfield Road in January, and earned the admiration of head coach Neil Critchley after a 3-0 win at Charlton Athletic last month.

“I think that is a good example of Ellis playing to his strengths,” Critchley said. “When he does what he’s good at and he does it continuously, then it shows what a handful he can be. He’s got pace, a physical presence and the attribute of running in behind.

“This is his first loan move playing men’s football and it’s a big step up from Under23s to senior football. He’s adapting, and on Saturday he showed real signs of progression and coping at the level.”

Simms is yet to make his first-team debut for Everton but has been included in four matchday squads since Ancelotti’s arrival, and boasts 17 goals in 36 games for the Blues’ U23s.

His route to the first-team could clear greatly with Kean joining Juventus or PSG, as Joshua King may also be on the move amid interest from Fenerbahce, leaving Cenk Tosun – should he return from a loan spell with Besiktas – as the only support for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

It is now up to Simms to prove that he is ready for that role as Blackpool look to edge closer to the League One play-off positions, and show Ancelotti that he can be Everton’s future.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti has set his eyes on bringing a £59m flop to Everton…

With Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League an unquestionable success, attentions may already be turning towards how Marcelo Bielsa’s side can improve for the next campaign.

The Whites are still in the hunt for European football, so the Leeds boss will no doubt be fully focused on that, but the club’s hierarchy should already be drawing up plans on how to potentially reinforce this squad.

And, according to Spanish publication Deportes Cuatro, the Yorkshire club are one of a number of sides interested in signing Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez on a free transfer.

The 9-cap Spain international has established himself as a cornerstone of Madrid’s first-team squad this season, playing 25 games in all competitions, including playing the full 90 minutes in five out of the six Champions League group stage games Los Blancos were involved in.

With two goals and five assists, Vazquez is more of a creative wide-man than someone who’s going to bag ten goals a season – from the 2015/2016 campaign to the 2018/2019 one, the Spaniard broke double figures for assists in each year, including an impressive 16 assists during Madrid’s Champions League winning year in 2017.

His boss at Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, has waxed lyrical about the kind of team player that he is, and that should surely be further music to Bielsa’s ears.

Speaking after a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo just last month, the French icon said: “What he’s doing right now doesn’t surprise us. Not only do I like him, we all like him because he is always on the job and reliable. He always gives everything on the pitch and we appreciate that. I congratulate him.”

And when you look at his defensive numbers from this season, it’s clear to see why he’d be perfect for Bielsa. He averages a hugely impressive 2.4 tackles per game in La Liga, which would actually rank him fourth in the entire Leeds squad – only Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Luke Ayling have averaged more than him.

He also shows that doggedness and intensity when it comes to the 50/50 challenges, winning 5.6 duels per match – a stat that’s better than any of Leeds’ current wide players.

Vazquez sticks to his defensive task diligently, and given Zidane’s comments on how he “gives everything” for the cause, seems tailor made to be another stand-out Bielsa player at Elland Road.

Carlo Ancelotti has dropped a triple injury blow for Everton ahead of their away trip to West Brom in the Premier League on Thursday evening.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match, the Italian boss confirmed that Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are still all out injured and therefore will not take any part in the fixture.

Ancelotti also revealed that Tom Davies, James Rodriguez, Seamus Coleman and Robin Olsen all need to be assessed, which may leave the Goodison Park faithful a bit short in terms of squad depth if they are all unable to play.

Everton may be a little short against West Brom

The loss of Mina especially will be a big blow to the Merseyside club given his six-foot-four frame, which would be useful up against Sam Allardyce’s team – the Baggies will surely look to capitalise on set pieces.

The former FC Barcelona man has put in some very impressive displays for the Blues in the centre of the defence, as he has won no fewer than 4.7 of his duels per appearance in the Premier League so far in the 2020/21 season, in addition to averaging 4.5 clearances, 1.1 interceptions and one tackle a game (Sofascore).

In the case of both Delph and Gbamin, it is a case of whether Toffees fans will be able to see them on the pitch again given their horrendous injury records, and with both Davies and Rodriguez potentially out as well, EFC may find themselves a little short in terms of options in the heart of the midfield come the trip to the Hawthorns.

In other news, find out which Liverpool pundit’s analysis Everton fans have been agreeing with lately here!

Celtic are closing in on naming Manchester City man Fergal Harkin as their new director of football.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, who shared the strong links between the two clubs on Friday morning, backing up their claim that a deal is ‘90% done’ to attain a new Hoops DoF.

Harkin a Celtic fan

A Celtic source revealed that Harkin played a key role in helping Peter Lawwell’s son, Mark, join the City Football Group eight years ago.

Harkin, who is thought to be a “massive Celtic fan”, also recommended Ronny Deila to the Hoops back in 2014.

The latest report claims that Harkin’s pending arrival may be just the start of a ‘stampede of arrivals’ at Parkhead from the Etihad.

Transfer Tavern take

With Harkin expected to fill the newly-created DoF role, attention could soon turn to the vacant managerial position.

Roy Keane is reportedly set to be offered the job, which, should he accept, could see two Irishmen working closely together in Keane and Harkin.

This summer will be crucial in the club’s bid to win back the Scottish Premiership from rivals Rangers next season.

Plenty of outgoings and incomings on the pitch could well materialise ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, and it looks as if Harkin will be central to plenty of those decisions.

In other news: Keane’s possible No.2 revealed as news emerges, find out more here. 

Bruno Fernandes has almost singlehandedly transformed Manchester United’s fortunes since his arrival at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon this time last year.

His ability to pull the strings from the midfield has catapulted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to the top of the table, which will rub salt in the wounds of those who once courted the Portugal international, namely Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

But their over-reliance on Fernandes has started to show signs that it is beginning to take its toll on the 26-year-old, whose performance levels have somewhat dipped since the start of the year.

It just wasn’t their day against Liverpool, as Fernandes often took one touch too many, and too many passes went astray. Indeed, he had the sort of game where nothing went his way on an afternoon which was summed up by the fact he curled a near-perfect free kick inches wide, as he lost possession 19 times and only made 20 successful passes out of 33 attempts (61%), which was far below his season average of 76%.

Reports have now emerged over the past week that the Red Devils have reportedly tabled a bid for wantaway Inter Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen – who was once described as a “special” talent by now-Paris-Saint Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino – but face stiff competition from his former club Tottenham.

The Red Devils want to take the player, whose contract is set to expire in 2024, on loan with a view to buying him permanently in the summer.

Of course, some might question whether it is worth such a gamble at face value, given his struggles in Serie A after falling out of favour with Antonio Conte.

However, upon closer inspection, it’s hard to argue why this wouldn’t be a good move by Ed Woodward. He has proven Premier League experience and, perhaps most crucial of all, he has experience of playing in the Champions League.

In the Premier League alone, the Danish international netted 51 goals in 226 outings for Spurs. Whilst his stats since the 2018/19 season are significantly inferior to those of Fernandes, they do share some similar characteristics and traits.

Indeed, both players are capable of unlocking defences in the final third with through balls and often drop deep to pick up the ball and bring others into play. Eriksen, who is two years older than Fernandes, has shown a willingness to drive into the box and create chances, as he is currently averaging 2.5 key passes per match in the Champions League, which is only slightly less than his Portuguese counterpart (3.3).

Just like Fernandes, the 28-year-old is also considered to be a set-piece specialist, as he boasts a WhoScored strength of taking set-pieces together with his ability to take direct free-kicks.

Able to play in the centre, on the left or on the right of the midfield, there’s no doubting the fact that Eriksen’s ability to play anywhere across the midfield would be an added bonus for Solskjaer. His £300,000-per-week wages, however, may be prove to be a sticking point.

AND in other news, Manchester United still want to sign Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen…

Liverpool travel to Denmark on Wednesday evening to face FC Midtjylland in the Champions League safe in the knowledge that top spot in Group D is secured no matter what the result in the final group stage match.

Therefore, it seems likely that Jurgen Klopp will ring the changes in his side in order to rest some of the senior players who have been relied upon so much recently because of the injury crisis at the club.

The Merseyside club face Fulham away from home on Sunday in the Premier League, before facing Tottenham Hotspur in a top-of-the-table clash next Wednesday, so the German manager will no doubt be keen to rest some of his key players ahead of two important top-flight fixtures.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Klopp to line his side up in Denmark, with eight changes from the side that beat Wolves on Sunday…

Caoimhin Kelleher deservedly keeps his place in between the sticks after keeping two clean sheets in his last two appearances for the Reds.

There are three changes in the defence, as Trent Alexander-Arnold makes his first start after returning from injury, having come on as a substitute in the 4-0 win against Wolves at the weekend.

Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Andrew Robertson to give the Scottish international a much-needed rest, whilst Nathaniel Phillips returns at centre-back alongside Joel Matip to ensure Fabinho is fresh for the upcoming Premier League games.

In midfield, only Jordan Henderson keeps his place, as his leadership will be important if this second-string Liverpool side are to pick up the win in Denmark. He plays alongside Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who both will hopefully pick up some fitness on Wednesday evening after returning from injury recently.

Having Keita back could be a huge boost for Klopp, with Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk full of praise for the Guinean earlier this year, saying:

“Naby is a fantastic guy, he works so hard and he is an outstanding football player. We see it week in and week out. He has unfortunately been unlucky with some injuries, but hopefully, he can stay fully fit for the next season.

“I think he is world-class if I’m absolutely honest. I see all the moments when he has the ball, the smart moves, the smart intelligence. It’s just incredible to see and I’m very happy for him.”

Meanwhile, there are three changes in attack for the Reds, with Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino under pressure to make the most of what could be a rare start, whilst Diogo Jota will be hoping to continue his excellent form for the Reds by adding to his goal tally in Denmark.

It seems more than likely that Klopp will make a lot of changes for Wednesday’s game, so it will be interesting to see if the Reds can finish with a flourish and earn the three points against Midtjylland.

And, in other news… Klopp can sign Liverpool’s next Gerrard in £45 million star who’s “going right to the top”

Many Southampton fans were full of praise for midfielder Ibrahima Diallo following his side’s 0-0 draw against Fulham on Boxing Day.

The 21-year-old made his first Premier League start for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side at Craven Cottage and asserted himself as a possible mainstay in the near future.

Per Sofascore, Diallo made three tackles, two interceptions, and accumulated a pass success rate of 85%, the highest from the visiting team.

Diallo signed a four-year contract at St Marys following his £11m move from the French side Brest and continues to settle into life in England.

Unsurprisingly, supporters were delighted to see Diallo perform at such a high level as he provided a possible taster of what can be expected from the Frenchman going forward.

Fans impressed with Diallo

“Lacked a lot of big players out there, notably Ings, Romeu and Jannik. Not sure why Long played but he didn’t do much as usual. Diallo looks like a good little player. Not over the moon with a point, but as long as we keep picking up those points then all good #saintsfc”

Credit: @matt_kempez

“On the plus side, after a slow start Diallo is definitely one for the future #SaintsFC”

Credit: @miserygutscoop

“1/3 not bad

Seriously though, Diallo probably the best of the bunch, promising signs. Stephens did alright too considering.”

Credit: @KingslandMush

“Not a bad performance, just one of those days. Thought Diallo grew into the game well, and very impressed with his stamina considering it was his first 90 minutes. Onto West Ham”

Credit: @StrangerIngsy

“Weird subs, thought Djenepo especially could of made an impact earlier. MOTM for me was Diallo. Extremely composed, thought Stephens was good too. Perhaps a crucial block in last second. Should of won. #saintsfc”

Credit: @andrewhal20

“Diallo looked promising. Some nice touches and runs but a lot to learn as well. Liked the look of him #saintsfc”

Credit: @L1minus10

In other news, Southampton fans rush to social media after transfer claims regarding Demarai Gray emerge.