All posts by h79snht.top

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side head into Thursday’s Europa Conference League play-off second-leg knowing that they require something of a miracle if they are to secure passage through to the next round of the tournament, with the Bhoys having been on the receiving end of a rather convincing 3-1 defeat against Bodo/Glimt at Parkhead last week.

However, with the 56-year-old Hoops boss springing something of a surprise in his team selection for the first leg of the tie, namely starting Tom Rogic alongside Matt O’Riley in the two more advanced roles within his three-man midfield, there would appear to be a very clear solution to the Greek-Australian manager affording his side a greater level of control in the middle of the park in Norway this week – starting Reo Hatate.

Postecoglou must unleash Hatate

Indeed, following the Japan international’s £1.4m signing in the January transfer window, Hatate has immediately proven to be something of a revelation in the Bhoys midfield over his seven Premiership appearances, with the 24-year-old having already scored three goals, registered two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.1 shots and making one key pass per game.

The £1.08m-rated central midfielder has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 0.9 interceptions, 0.7 tackles, completing 34 passes and winning 2.9 duels per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Liverpool’s Andy Robertson dubbed a “serious player” and Aston Villa’s John McGinn labelled “outrageous” average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.24, already ranking him as the tenth-best player in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, while Rogic is undeniably a fine option in the Premiership, considering the fact that Hatate contributed a great deal more for Celtic over his 31 minutes on the pitch than the Australia international did over 59 minutes in the first leg against the Norwegian champions, Postecoglou simply must learn from his mistake and unleash the tireless Japanese sensation from the off this time around – as the 24-year-old could well prove to be a game-changer in the middle of the park.

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In other news: Celtic’s £12.5k-p/w Kante wannabe has seen his value drop 60%, Lennon had a nightmare

Everton may be forced into selling Brazilian forward and fan favourite Richarlison this summer, with the 24-year-old wanting to leave Goodison Park at the end of the season.

Should they attract a fee greater than his £49.5m Transfermarkt valuation, the Toffees could be set for a busy few months with incomings, particularly if they manage to secure their Premier League status for another season.

What’s the news?

According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic is already “packing his bags” ahead of his impending departure from the LaLiga side, and Everton, as well as Arsenal, could be his summer destination.

Having made just 17 appearances in all competitions for the club this season so far, the Serbian, who signed from Frankfurt for £56.7m back in July 2019, is desperate to move to a team that will give him regular game time.

Last week in the El Classico, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric was preferred by manager Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Jovic, who then potentially took a swipe at the Italian on Instagram.

Clinical scorer waiting to be let loose

In the season before moving to Madrid, Jovic scored 27 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions – as he became one of the most exciting talents in Europe, with Lionel Messi describing him as “a magical player who makes the impossible, possible.”

The 24-year-old has excellent technical ability, evident by the fact that according to FBRef, he ranks in the top 1% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions for percentage of long passes per 90 (85%) and top 12% for passes completion percentage per 90 (79.1%).

Now rated at £16.2m according to Transfermarkt, he would likely be available on the cheap, with Madrid themselves looking to offload their deadwood in order to fund a move for global superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Should Everton give him the opportunity to shine, he is more than capable of realising his potential with a good run of games under his belt, and if manager Frank Lampard puts his trust and faith in the striker, he could return to his old clinical ways and become a hero at Goodison Park – in place of Richarlison.

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Like the Brazilian, he has all the technical attributes to thrive on Merseyside.

In other news: Huge worry: Lampard facing first Everton disaster as worrying Finch Farm news emerges

Daniel Podence, Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto can form a ‘formidable’ attack for Bruno Lage and Wolves. 

That’s according to sports journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

Neto didn’t feature in the Premier League this season until the 2-1 win against Leicester City a month ago today, having missed the first six months of the campaign with a long-termknee injury.

He has only started once since he returned from injury, lining up alongside Podence and Hwang Hee-chan in the 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace earlier this month.

Goalscoring has been something of a problem for Bruno Lage’s side so far in 2021/22. Only five teams – Norwich, Burnley, Brighton, Everton and Watford (four of whom are in relegation contention) – have bagged fewer goals than the Old Gold.

Podence and Jimenez, both of whom are regular starters along with either Hwang or Franisco Trincao, are their most prolific players, but they have only managed six goals apiece.

The latest

However, O’Rourke is confident that the two top scorers and Neto will help Wolves to finish the campaign strongly if they are played together in attack, something which hasn’t happened from the start this season.

Lage’s team currently sit in eighth place and maintain hope of mounting a push for European qualification.

O’Rourke told GiveMeSport: “I’m sure those three will form a formidable attack and help Wolves win a lot of games between now and the end of the season.”

The verdict

Wolves actually deserve credit for picking up so many points without Neto in the team.

The £31.5m-rated winger was their joint-top scorer last season with five goals and also led the way for assists with six. Adrian Clarke has described him as a ‘beautiful’ player, while Alan Shearer branded him a ‘huge talent’.

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The 22-year-old’s involvement has been limited since he returned from injury, but it may well be a case of Wolves easing him back in after so long on the sidelines.

If he can start to gain some real sharpness, then he could make the difference for Lage’s team in the fight for European qualification.

In other news, Tim Spiers picked out one ‘atrocious’ aspect of Wolves’ defeat to Leeds

Everton must take advantage of their home form as they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon, with Frank Lampard’s side running out of opportunities to save themselves from their first-ever Premier League relegation this season.

With the pressure on the Toffees to win at Goodison Park, it may be the right time for the 43-year-old to finally drop Michael Keane from the starting line-up after a series of woeful performances from the defender.

There is no doubt that the £65k-p/w centre-back has become a liability after scoring his second own goal in just seven league games against Tottenham on Monday night. He has putting in generally poor performances which have ultimately contributed to the continued demise of the team over the last few months.

When you look at Keane’s most recent display against Spurs, it’s fair to say that he should be dropped for the Wolves clash this weekend.

As per SofaScore, before he was withdrawn on Monday night, Keane made no tackles, interceptions or clearances, scored an own goal and lost two of his three duels, finally being replaced at half-time by Jarrad Branthwaite.

Journalist Sean Lunt criticised the defender, claiming that the 29-year-old had “regressed awfully” following that 5-0 defeat, tweeting: “Another sloppy goal for Everton to concede and it’s Michael Keane again. He’s regressed awfully once again, Everton would do well to sell at this point.”

The ex-Chelsea boss has been given a huge boost this weekend as Ben Godfrey is available for selection for the first time since the beginning of February, having fully recovered and returned to training after sustaining a hamstring tear. Therefore, the opportunity presents itself further for Lampard to rely on other experienced options for his defence on Sunday.

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Everton need to come out fighting tomorrow after their chastening defeat in north London, and Lampard must duly make some big calls regarding his starting line-up. A good start would be to axe the underperforming Keane.

In other news: Lampard must do everything to keep this man at Goodison Park

The Sheffield Wednesday takeover is now down to a “two-horse race” with a decision on which party will move forward with exclusivity just days away.

Sheffield Wednesday concern sparks "two-horse race"

Administrators initially set a soft deadline of December 5 for the takeover to be completed, but that date has now passed and Sheffield Wednesday are yet to receive new owners. After the disaster and controversy of Dejphon Chansiri’s tenure, those at Hillsborough are rightly keen to find the perfect candidates for the job.

Releasing a statement earlier this month, co-administrator Kris Wigfield chose to remain positive as the search for Sheffield Wednesday’s next owners continued.

We’re yet to see who that will be, but reports have claimed that it’s unlikely to be a group led by James Bord. The owner of an AI and date company reportedly submitted the highest bid north of £30m, but there are concerns that such an offer would fail to meet the EFL’s requirements.

Bord’s company advise Sheffield United and owns Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic. Whether their involvement in the Blades has forced Wednesday to look elsewhere remains to be seen.

Related Amass repeat: Sheffield Wednesday now express interest in signing PL gem

The Owls could land a loan deal.

Posts ByTom Cunningham

What that does mean is that the Owls are likely down to just two candidates. According to the Daily Mail’s Mike Keegan, Mike Ashley and John McEvoy are part of a “two-horse race” to buy the club and Sheffield Wednesday are set to hand one candidate “exclusivity” within days.

Sheffield Wednesday takeover down to McEvoy and Ashley

It’s the biggest decision in Sheffield Wednesday’s most recent history and it looks as though administrators will have McEvoy and Ashley to pick from.

If it is Ashley that they choose, then the pressure will be straight on the former Newcastle United owner, who is no stranger to criticism. However, it is worth noting that he cleared the Magpies’ debt when he arrived.

From a financial standpoint, Ashley would provide stability, albeit without high ambitions. In terms of those riches, the 61-year-old is reportedly worth £3.12bn but has so far submitted the lowest bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday.

McEvoy, meanwhile, is reportedly set to meet with the club today as he looks to jump ahead of his takeover rival to take his first steps into the world of football.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Sheffield Wednesday insights Want context-rich coverage of the Sheffield Wednesday takeover? Subscribe to our newsletter for focused reporting, deep candidate profiles and expert analysis that explains how each potential owner could shape the club’s future. Subscribe Subscribe to our newsletter for Sheffield Wednesday insights Want context-rich coverage of the Sheffield Wednesday takeover? Subscribe to our newsletter for focused reporting, deep candidate profiles and expert analysis that explains how each potential owner could shape the club’s future.

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A minority owner of NHL side Nashville Predators and MLB side Colorado Rockies, the American billionaire is no stranger to sports ownership, but most of his success has come in the music world. The Sheffield Wednesday candidate owns Various Artists – a talent agency which manages the likes of Mel C and Tom Grennan.

"Understand" – Miller shares "crucial" Sheffield Wednesday takeover bids update

Spurs insider John Wenham has delivered his thoughts on how Antonio Conte’s side could look to sign Southampton star Valentino Livramento this summer.

What’s the story?

He said: “I’m looking at ways Tottenham could offset some of the fee Southampton will ask for. Could we include Harry Winks in the deal? There are other players who fit that bill. Various outlets are reporting Cameron Carter-Vickers is of interest to some clubs owing to his form at Celtic.

“Is there a way we could offer him as a makeweight in the summer? It might work out, giving them a defender as they are losing a defender. Maybe something can be done there.”

Livramento would be superb under Conte

In the 5 foot 8 Livramento, Spurs would be getting a superb young addition who could nail down the troublesome right wing-back slot for good.

Dubbed as a “huge talent”, the England youth international has even captained the Young Lions, playing through the under-16s all the way up to the under-19s.

Indeed, former Spurs man Jermaine Jenas has been left suitably impressed by Livramento’s early performances for Southampton, saying: “He has got that aggressive nature to his game, he has that mixed in with real genuine quality, knowing when to release the ball, time and time again Southampton found him in space down the right-hand side and I feel like he made the right decision all the time.

“All of these things show me the quality that he possesses. He is a big lad so he is a threat from set-pieces as well. I just really like the composure he has in his game.”

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Given that he’s already begun to prove himself in the Premier League and at the highest level, Wenham’s claim that this is deal that could potentially work if Spurs offer up some makeweights, is sure to excite the club’s fans.

AND in other news: Sold for £18m, now worth under £1m: Levy played a blinder with shocking Spurs disaster

Tottenham Hotspur have been put through the wringer once again this season, with Thomas Frank struggling to get a tune out of the north London squad.

Sunday’s dour defeat against Nottingham Forest underlined the many issues that had already been written down, with errors rife and players bereft of confidence and coherence.

The indelibility of Spurs’ European triumph does not overrule the many problems that have stifled progress in recent months. Frank remains steadfast that he is the man for the job, but many of a Lilywhite persuasion are harbouring doubts, and that’s only going to intensify if an upswing is not found soon.

Why Frank's job is at risk

Following the defeat at Nottingham Forest, Frank was adamant that it would take time to get his Tottenham project up and running, with reporter Matt Law saying “Spurs have no identifiable culture”, thus making managerial merry-go-rounds ineffective, as we have seen over the past ten years down N17.

But Frank’s job is nonetheless at risk. Spurs are mired in 12th place in the Premier League, and with just one win from seven games, the gap between those in Champions League contention is beginning to widen.

The old boss, Ange Postecoglou, didn’t leave the most stable foundations, but Frank has taken the reins of control in north London and his pragmatism and reworked tactical style have depleted Tottenham of their attacking sparkle without establishing real green shoots.

This is painfully evidenced by the club’s dismal playmaking numbers in the top flight this season. Neither James Maddison nor Dejan Kulusevski has kicked a ball due to injury, but the blame still lies with the manager. He has talented options at his disposal.

Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders

Club

League Position

xG

(1) Man City

2nd

30.3

(2) Chelsea

4th

26.9

(3) Man United

8th

26.8

(4) Arsenal

1st

26.5

(5) Crystal Palace

5th

26.2

(17) Tottenham

11th

15.2

Data via FBref

Take Xavi Simons, for example. The young Dutchman hasn’t had it all his way since signing, but he has the trappings of an elite attacking midfielder, and a new manager could help bring him up to his potential.

Spurs lining up Frank upgrade

According to Spanish reports, ENIC Group are growing wary of Frank’s progress since being appointed during the summer, and are believed to ‘want’ former Barcelona boss Xavi as their replacement.

This is not believed to be a short-term fix, but rather, a willingness to appoint a tactician for the long haul, bringing a proactive and intelligent system to the team.

The 45-year-old, who speaks fluent English, has even said in the past that he “would love to work in the Premier League”. It might just be a match made in heaven for a Spurs side craving an attractive footballing identity.

Much has been made of Hansi Flick’s success at La Blaugrana since arriving in 2024, but pundit Thierry Henry is of the opinion that it was Xavi’s work beforehand that has created the pillars of this thrilling Spanish squad, suggesting he is “up there with Pep” in terms of how he sees the game.

Hailed as a “world-class” manager by journalist Maynard Manyowa, Xavi didn’t have it all his way in the Catalan capital, but he did win La Liga, infusing his team with trademark passing dominance. It was a barnstorming season of success in 2022/23, so much so that club president Joan Laporta said, “We have the best manager in the world”.

Barcelona have always been interlinked to their ball-playing culture, and Xavi – who prefers a 4-3-3 system – embodied that from the dugout after so many years of orchestration from the centre of the park.

La Liga – Possession Leaders (22/23)

Club

Final Pos.

Possession Av.

Barcelona

1st

64.3%

Real Madrid

2nd

60.9%

Villarreal

5th

56.9%

Real Sociedad

4th

54.6%

Sevilla

12th

52.6%

Data via FBref

His desire to see his players get on the ball and be enterprising in possession could bring the best out of Simons, who has endured a tough start in Tottenham but, frankly, walked into a system that struggled to establish creative patterns as a collective.

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Still, he ranks among the top 9% of positional peers in the English top flight for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 8% for ball recoveries per 90, data via FBref.

The nifty Dutchman has proved already his quality on the major stages, and the flashes seen in the Premier League thus far suggest that he could lead the attack from number ten in Xavi’s system.

Hailed as a “difference-maker in big games” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the technical skill and completeness this rising star has projected are elements that Xavi would harden and shape into something world-class.

Tottenham’s new playmaker did ply his youthful trade in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, and in this, he could thrive as Xavi’s new protege.

Related Archie Gray upgrade: ENIC submit offer to sign "magic" £61m star for Spurs

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A Glasgow Rangers podcaster has given their reaction as some more early team news has now emerged ahead of their Europa League match tonight.

The Lowdown: Balogun in, Ramsey out

Speaking in the pre-game press conference ahead of the clash against Borussia Dortmund, Gers defender Leon Balogun revealed that he is back fit and available to play, having not featured since the 2-0 win at home to Hibernian in the Premiership earlier this month.

However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Aaron Ramsey will not be in the squad, as the Welshman continues to battle a minor injury.

The Latest: Podcaster reacts

Taking to Twitter, Rangers podcast Heart & Hand, an official media partner of the club, have now given their reaction to the news of Balogun’s return, claiming that it is ‘massive’.

Reacting to a summary of pre-match team news, they tweeted: “Balogun back is massive though.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Indeed, having Balogun back, especially given that Filip Helander is not registered in the European squad, is a big boost for Rangers.

The Nigeria defender played in their first four matches of the group stage and even managed to bag a goal against Brondby, before missing the last two group games through injury (Transfermarkt).

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He is currently ranked as the Light Blues’ second-best player in the Europa League so far this season and has averaged more tackles and blocks than any of his team-mates in the competition (WhoScored), showing that he will likely be a key player if they are to progress tonight.

In other news, Rangers fans have been handed some encouraging team news ahead of tonight

The search for the next Manchester United manager has been highly anticipated ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November last year, and now the board could be getting the ball rolling ahead of their plans to appoint a permanent manager this summer.

What’s the word?

Football director, John Murtough, has finally revealed an update on the search for the next manager to take charge at Old Trafford.

Murtough simply said that there is now a “thorough process” happening in a teasing update that will surely excite the supporters.

The director followed that up by saying they aim to hire someone capable of “challenging for those domestic and European titles.”

Fans will be buzzing

There is no doubt that the fans have been crying out for change, with Solksjaer becoming their fourth permanent manager to be sacked since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in the summer of 2013. Thus, the idea that a thorough search is now being conducted will surely be music to the ears of the Old Trafford faithful.

Since Ferguson’s departure, the Red Devils have struggled to maintain their winning reputation and mentality, spending over a billion pounds on players and winning just three trophies in almost nine years.

As a result of their inconsistencies, if they were to go trophy-less this season it would put the club in their longest trophy drought in 40 years.

With that being said, it is now crucial for the board to make the right decision on a permanent appointment after bringing Ralf Rangnick in as interim to see out the season, the club have expectations and a reputation that could continue to be further tarnished if the right coach isn’t brought in to make the changes needed to bring success and trophies back to Old Trafford.

Erik Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino have been the reported front runners for a while, but no official approach by the Manchester United board has been made for any potential manager so far.

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However, with just a few months left of the season and the club on the brink of another campaign without success, they will need to step up their pursuit ahead of the summer, to ensure that the manager will have enough time to make his mark on the squad.

In other news: Elanga must become first choice for Rangnick

According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur sent a ‘senior scout’ to watch West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in action on Sunday afternoon. 

The lowdown: Interest increasing

This latest update comes following a report from The Daily Telegraph claiming that Spurs had joined a number of clubs in the pursuit of the 29-year-old stopper.

Out of contract this summer (Transfermarkt), the ex-Manchester United academy ace is expected to make a return to the Premier League, given that the Baggies are virtually completely out of the running for promotion.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Amidst interest from elsewhere in the top-flight, Tottenham are now attempting to steal a match on their competitors by sending officials to St. Andrew’s, where the 29 year-old was in action on Sunday against Birmingham City.

The latest: On a mission

As per FI, a recruitment source informed them of a Spurs official’s mission to watch West Brom take on Midlands rivals Birmingham City.

The report claims that the Lilywhites have a ‘ longstanding interest’ in the three-cap ‘keeper.

It’s also stated that Spurs boss Antonio Conte is ‘in the market’ for a new goalkeeper as loanee Pierluigi Gollini prepares to return to Atalanta at the end of the ongoing campaign.

The verdict: Shrewd business

Still holding a perceived market value of £7.20million (Transfermarkt), signing Johnstone as a free agent this summer would be a smart acquisition and would leave the budget untouched for targets elsewhere.

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Albeit captain and perennial first-choice Hugo Lloris is unlikely to be ousted as number one immediately, the Englishman certainly has the shot-stopping prowess to push the World Cup winner for a spot in Conte’s side.

Described as ‘outstanding’ by Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle, Johnstone has enjoyed a superb 2021/22 campaign, keeping 14 clean sheets from 33 second-tier outings – the joint second highest in the competition (Sofascore).

In other news. Spurs prepare to battle London rivals for Bundesliga capture. Find out more here!