All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond was forced to appoint a new manager last month after Ange Postecoglou left to move to the Premier League.

The Australian head coach joined Tottenham Hotspur after two years at the helm, which included a domestic treble-winning campaign last term.

Brendan Rodgers has been brought in for his second spell at Parkhead to replace the 57-year-old tactician and this could result in players having a clean slate ahead of next season.

One ace who struggled for game time under Postecoglou last season was attacking midfielder David Turnbull but the new manager's favoured 4-2-3-1 set-up could be perfect for him in the number ten role.

He only started six Scottish Premiership matches during the 2022/23 campaign and a change of system could allow him to flourish with the freedom of playing behind a striker.

Rodgers could also help to get the best out of the Scotland international by securing a deal to reunite him with one of his former teammates – Mohamed Elyounoussi.

The Norway international is said to be on the club's radar after leaving English side Southampton on a free transfer, having enjoyed a previous spell at Paradise.

How good is Mohamed Elyounoussi?

He has spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Celtic from the Saints and proved himself to be an excellent option at Premiership level as a left winger.

The 28-year-old dynamo produced ten goals and four assists from out wide over 21 league starts, whilst he also created 34 chances for his teammates.

Only Jota (11) and Kyogo Furuhashi (27) scored more Premiership goals last season than Elyounoussi managed during his final term with the Hoops, which suggests that the potential is there for him to be an excellent addition to the squad.

During the 2020/21 campaign, Turnbull excelled as an attacking midfielder alongside the Norwegian talent in a 4-2-3-1 as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.47 across 30 league starts – a score no Celtic player bettered in the season just gone.

The 24-year-old magician racked up an exceptional nine goals and 2.4 chances created per match for the Hoops. Whereas, none of Postecoglou's midfielders managed more than six goals or 2.1 key passes per game in the league last term.

These statistics suggest that Turnbull has the quality to be a standout performer for Rodgers as a number ten with his immense creative talent, which was unable to shine through in Postecoglou's 4-3-3 system.

The signing of Elyounoussi, who was described as "tricky" by journalist Anthony Joseph, would help to make the Scottish maestro unstoppable as the 5 foot 10 dynamo has the goalscoring potential to thrive off the midfielder's service.

This means that opposition teams could find it impossible to stop Turnbull as he may offer a big goal threat whilst also being able to create high-quality opportunities for reliable goalscorers like Elyounoussi and Kyogo on a regular basis.

Therefore, Celtic must swoop to snap up the free agent in the coming weeks as his pre-existing relationship with Turnbull and ability to excel in a 4-2-3-1 shape could make him an excellent addition to the team.

Tottenham Hotspur have been confirmed to have opened direct contacts with Wolfsburg for centre-back Micky van de Ven, who is attracting Premier League attention after a stellar season in Germany.

What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Tottenham?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who has exclusively revealed that the Lilywhites have commenced negotiations for the Dutch centre-back.

Taking to Twitter, the Italian journalist said: "EXCL: Tottenham have opened direct talks with Wolfsburg for Micky van de Ven. Dutch centre back is among top targets.

"Verbal proposal set to be submitted as van de Ven is keen on the move."

Van de Ven is expected to be available for around €30m (£26m), which could prove to be an affordable deal as manager Ange Postecoglou turns his attention to the backline following the £40m acquisition of playmaker James Maddison.

Should Tottenham sign Micky van de Ven?

While Tottenham maintained flashes of brilliance last term, traces of the former cohesive unity, it was by-and-large a discordant campaign that was underscored by a growing discontent under Antonio Conte, who was dismissed earlier this year.

Defensively, Tottenham were inexcusably shocking, with the 63 Premier League goals conceded a tally better than just Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and the three relegated sides.

Which is why Micky van de Ven could be such a shrewd signing; despite only being 22-years-old, the ace has been "flourishing under Niko Kovac" for Wolfsburg of late, earning an average Sofascore rating of 6.86 in the German Bundesliga, keeping 11 clean sheets from 33 outings, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 3.1 clearances per game.

Given his blistering pace – Van de Ven recorded a top speed of 35.87 km/h last term – and his athleticism on the pitch, the £7k-per-week "giant" – as he has been hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Which leads to Yves Bissouma, who has suffered an indifferent spell at Tottenham since completing a £25m plus add-ons transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, starting just 11 times in the top-flight and recording an average Sofascore rating of just 6.68.

The 26-year-old recorded successive 7.07 ratings in his final two seasons with the Seagulls, however, completing 89% of his passes in the latter campaign and making 2.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 1.8 clearances per outing.

Van de Ven's pace and progressive presence from the defensive third could finally allow Bissouma to thrive if he can capture his former form next term.

Such a stellar defensive outlet would likely see him given more protection, allowing him to thrive from the middle of the park, something he couldn't do with the likes of Eric Dier and Ben Davies behind him.

Indeed, given that the Wolfsburg star maintains his defensive acumen by making a raft of clearances per game, it could restrore the equilibrium to a Tottenham side that fell by the wayside.

Newcastle United are in the market to strengthen their impressive squad this summer ahead of their long-awaited return to Champions League football and now a potential new transfer target is on the radar.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Kyle Walker-Peters?

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are interested in signing Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters this summer.

As per the report, the Magpies are keen to add more depth to their full-back roles during the transfer window after securing the signing of Sandro Tonali and whilst they are keen on Kieran Tierney too, they maintain a strong interest in Walker-Peters.

Would Kyle Walker-Peters be a good fit for Newcastle?

It is clear that Eddie Howe is keen to strengthen the wide flanks of his defensive set-up this summer having also opened talks on a deal for Valentino Livramento, according to The Athletic.

Indeed, Livramento would be a great young prospect for Newcastle, however, the signing of his teammate Walker-Peters could offer Howe a far more versatile and experienced player.

The 26-year-old is more than capable of covering both the left and right full-back roles which would be a massive advantage for the Magpies whilst aiming to be highly competitive in a multitude of competitions next season.

Whilst he would likely be the heir to Kieran Trippier's important role in the first team on the right flank, he could also provide healthy competition for the left-back position, pushing Dan Burn and Matt Targett for the spot.

Despite Southampton's plight, Walker-Peters has been a solid presence in his role, ranking third in the entire squad for tackles won (2) and was the second most successful in the squad for dribbles completed too (1.6) with his strengths noted in dribbling, concentration and making short passes, according to WhoScored.

Former Saints boss Ruben Selles reserved huge praise for the two-cap England international and expressed Walker-Peters' importance in the team last season:

"I think Kyle is an extraordinary player.

"His ability in positions, but also to understand the system we are playing has big value for us. Kyle has been really good in the Premier League for the last four to five years. He came from Tottenham in the final of the Champions League that season and played games in it. He’s a player that is very important for us."

There is a real risk involved with signing Livramento this summer due to his only very recent return from an ACL injury with no guarantees that the young talent will be able to make an instant impact at St James' Park, whilst his £18m-rated positional peer has not suffered huge injury issues and missed just eight games through recovery last season.

With that being said, a move for Walker-Peters is definitely one to watch for Newcastle this summer as his combination of versatility and dominance in his role could be a valuable asset to Howe next season and beyond.

Everton are interested in signing Leeds United duo Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Are Leeds moving on Gnonto and Summerville this summer?

The Whites were relegated from the Premier League at the expense of the Blues last month, in what proved to be a tense final day of the campaign.

While Everton were able to breathe an enormous sigh of relief, Leeds now have to accept that they could lose a number of top players who don't want to be plying their trade in the Championship moving forward.

Two of those who could easily move on are young attacking pair Gnonto and Summerville, both of whom contributed positively at times last season, showing the potential that they possess.

With Everton looking to do some important transfer business over the next couple of months, it looks as though they could be hoping to raid their relegation rivals from last season.

Are Everton keen on Gnonto and Summerville?

According to The Daily Mail, Gnonto and Summerville and both considered to be Blues targets this summer, as Sean Dyche looks to work his magic, with midfielder Tyler Adams also getting a mention:

"Full-back Rasmus Kristensen is discussing a loan to Roma along with club mate Diego Llorente while Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville are attracting interest from Everton.

"Midfielder Tyler Adams and goalkeeper Illan Meslier are also understood to have drop clauses. As Confidential readers will know, USA international Adams is a target for Brighton, Aston Villa, Everton and Nottingham Forest but West Ham also appreciate the 24-year-old."

It is vital that fresh attacking blood is added to Everton's squad in the summer transfer window, and in Gnonto and Summerville, they have two strong options to come in and bolster the depth and quality at Dyche's disposal.

It seems unlikely that both will come in, so if push came to shove, Gnonto is arguably the one with the higher ceiling, having already won 11 caps and scored once for Italy. Despite only being 19 years of age, he has been hailed as "really good" by Gary Neville and actually clashed with Seamus Coleman at Goodison Park last season.

Summerville is also a talented young winger in his own right, however, scoring a memorable later winner away to Everton's local rivals Liverpool last season and netting four times in the Premier League in total.

The duo might not yet be the finished article, making them works in progress instead, but if Dyche feels he can get the best out of one of them, or both for that matter, Everton should do all they can to get the business done.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is “on the verge” of signing a new long-term contract, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When is Marcu Rashford out of contract?

The Premier League veteran is an academy graduate at Old Trafford having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to become a regular feature of Erik Ten Hag’s first-team, clocking up a total of 359 senior appearances to date.

The England international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window would be the Red Devils’ final opportunity to cash in, and he wouldn't be short potential suitors having established himself as their top-performing offensive player last season.

The Mirror credited Paris Saint-Germain with an interest in the 25-year-old but stated that his intention was always to remain with his boyhood club, and it would appear that they share exactly the same viewpoint when it comes to extending his stay.

Is Rashford signing a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Man United and Rashford are close to finalising a deal that would keep him at the club for the foreseeable future. He wrote:

“EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Marcus Rashford over new long term deal. He’s set to accept the proposal. Negotiations at final stages — Rashford, very happy with Erik ten Hag. Final details to be sorted — here we go soon.”

Man United will know that Rashford has played a major role in their success over the past few years, and considering how prolific he was in the final third once again last season, rewarding him with an improved contract is nothing less than he deserves.

Sponsored by Nike, the left-winger posted 22 goal contributions (17 goals and five assists) in 35 Premier League appearances during the previous term, form which saw him receive six man-of-the-match awards, not to mention that he recorded 98 shot-creating actions which was the second-highest total in Ten Hag’s squad, via FBRef.

In 2022/23, the £200k-per-week attacker was also recognised for his individual efforts by being named the top goalscorer in both the Europa League and the EFL Cup competitions, which just goes to show how lost the side would be without their star man leading the line, so retaining his services really is a no-brainer of a decision for the hierarchy to make.

It is no real secret that Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is seeking to sign a new centre-forward and midfielder this summer, with the Dutchman no doubt hoping to fashion a side that will be capable of competing for the top honours next season.

Perhaps more surprisingly, however, is the news that the former Ajax boss is also said to be targetting a new left-winger – as per The Telegraph – despite already having the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho on the club's books.

That desire for a new addition on the flanks may appear logical amid the news that Sancho – who has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur – could be among those to depart this summer, while Rashford could potentially find a new home through the middle, having regularly been deployed as a number nine in the 2022/23 season.

That would then leave Ten Hag needing further competition for the teenage Garnacho, hence why a new addition could be on the cards over the coming weeks, with reports in Italy suggesting that Juventus' Federico Chiesa is among those being targetted by United.

The belief is that the Old Trafford outfit have a long-standing interest in the Italy international, with the 25-year-old also set to prove an attractive option amid the suggestion that he could be available for as little as €35m (£30m).

Should Man United sign Federico Chiesa?

That price tag does appear rather minimal for a player who has registered 42 goals and assists in just 94 games during his time in Turin, with the 40-cap ace having previously chipped in 34 goals and 25 assists in 153 outings for his former employers, Fiorentina.

While there may be concerns over Chiesa's fitness record – having been hampered by injury since returning from an ACL blow last year – the £153k-per-week speedster could prove an astute addition for Ten Hag, particularly due to his apparent likeness to Napoli sensation, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, as per FBref.

The similarity between the pair can be shown by the fact that they have the ability to bamboozle defenders on the flanks, with the Juve star having been lauded as "unpredictable" by former Udinese man, Antonio Di Natale, while Kvaratskhelia has been hailed as "instinctive" and "untamed" by journalist, Rory Smith.

The comparison between the duo – who both typically operate on the left flank – can also be illustrated by their dribbling prowess, with Chiesa ranking in the top 15% among his European peers for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons, while the Georgian menace has performed only slightly better as he ranks in the top 6% and the top 5% for those same two metrics, respectively.

The two Serie A stars can also seemingly provide a creative outlet as the latter man ranks in the top 5% for assists, with the Italian ranking in the top 4% in that regard, proving that there is an end product to mirror their dribbling exploits.

Of course, there may be those championing bringing in Kvaratskhelia – who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford of late – as the 22-year-old racked up 12 goals and 13 assists in the league in 2022/23, although the suggestion is that the Tbilisi native could command more than £150m if he is to be sold this summer.

As such, while Chiesa only registered two goals and five assists in Serie A amid his return to fitness, the 5 foot 9 wizard's obvious likeness to the Napoli menace could make him a dream, bargain alternative for the Red Devils this summer.

TalkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has been left thrilled by Tottenham Hotspur and their links to Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.

Which goalkeepers could Spurs sign this summer?

Spurs star and long-serving number one Hugo Lloris, by his own admission, could well depart north London this summer as the Frenchman declares that it is time for a new challenge.

Speaking to Nice-Matin recently, Lloris claimed that this could be the end of an era for him at Tottenham, candidly stating that he is looking for opportunities elsewhere.

"We are coming to an important moment, whether for the club or for me. It's the end of an era," said Lloris."I have desires for other things, I will ask myself quietly to study what will be possible. But I don't forget that I still have a year of contract with Tottenham and that in football it is always difficult to predict what will happen."

As such, the Lilywhites, lead by new manager Ange Postecoglou, are in the market for new goalkeepers and have been linked with a fair few names – including Everton's Jordan Pickford and Croatia number one Dominik Livakovic.

Raya has also been repeatedly mentioned as a target for Spurs with reports even suggesting that they're "desperate" for his signing.

The Spaniard is also apparently "ready" to make the move across London, but there is currently a gap in valuation between Spurs and Brentford.

The Bees are holding out for £40 million, but if Tottenham can reach a comprimise, Agboblahor has told Football Insider that he could be a brilliant signing.

"I really like Raya," said Agbonlahor.“They need someone with his attributes – good at playing from the back, good shot-stopper.“I always thought Jordan Pickford would suit Spurs, but Raya is a good option as well.“I think Spurs need to make a top goalkeeper like Raya their first summer signing, for sure, I can see it happening.”

Who is David Raya?

The 27-year-old has been an excellent shot-stopper for Brentford, even ranking among their top five best-performing players per 90 last season according to WhoScored.

Raya, in that time, featured over more league minutes than anybody in Thomas Frank's squad – emphasizing his importance to Brentford and why they're set to dig their heels in over price.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking all the way back in 2021, also hailed Raya for his distribution – claiming he could even wear the number 10 shirt.

Newcastle United have a huge summer transfer window ahead of them before they compete in the Champions League next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential target.

What's the latest on Dominik Szoboszlai to Newcastle?

According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Newcastle have made RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai a top target this summer.

Plettenberg tweeted: "News Szoboszlai: Player is very open to leave RB in summer as he’s aware of the concrete interest from NUFC as revealed."

"He’s a top transfer target of NUFC, release clause of around €70m (£60m), RB bosses not happy with his latest statements, it’s a question of the price now."

Who would Szoboszlai replace at Newcastle?

There is no doubt that Eddie Howe will be thrilled with the resilience and quality his squad has shown to achieve a top-four finish in the Premier League and earn qualification for Champions League football this season.

However, it will now be crucial for the Magpies boss to remove any sentiment and focus on the next steps of taking Newcastle to the next level by comfortably competing for multiple trophies and making themselves known on the European stage, which means recruiting high-quality talent to improve the squad further.

As a result, the signing of Szoboszlai could be the perfect opportunity for Howe to deploy an upgrade on Miguel Almiron in the attacking line at St James' Park, as the versatile Hungarian star has been a force to be reckoned with in the Bundesliga.

Over 31 league appearances, the 22-year-old – hailed a "classy talent" by journalist Tomaz Mortimer – has scored six goals, registered eight assists and created a whopping 14 big chances as a market of his end product in the final third.

A tricky offensive outlet, the Hungary international also averaged 2.3 key passes, 1.7 successful dribbles, and 1.9 shots on goal per game.

Not only that, Szoboszlai is clearly a man for the big occasion after scoring the second goal to kill the game in the DFB Pokal Final last night against Eintracht Frankfurt, further demonstrating his ability to soak up the pressure in season-defining games and cup finals which is a mentality that would be massively beneficial to Newcastle in their pursuit of success.

The RB Leipzig ace has also comfortably outperformed Almiron in a number of key attacking attributes this season including shots on target rate (48.3% v 29%), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.52 v 3.14) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.63 v 0.47), as per FBref.

Whilst Szoboszlai has mostly been deployed on the right wing this season, the young whiz is more than capable of being deployed behind the striker, in an attacking midfield role and on the left flank too, making him an incredibly versatile player who could offer Howe much more than just an upgrade for his Paraguayan positional peer.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to snap up the services of the Leipzig star this summer, as he could be exactly what Howe needs to improve and add quality to his attacking threat in order to compete for multiple trophies next season.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that defender Davinson Sanchez will "struggle" with the style of football Ange Postecoglou wants to play at Tottenham Hotspur.

Will Davinson Sanchez ever play for Spurs again?

It was a pretty disappointing season for the centre-back as he made just eight starts for Spurs in the Premier League.

What's more, he didn't really impress in that limited game time. For instance, he was booed off the field after coming on off the bench only to be subbed just 23 minutes later in a home loss to Bournemouth.

The good news for Sanchez, however, is that a new era is about to begin with former Celtic boss Postecoglou now confirmed as Tottenham's next manager.

The only concern, though, is whether or not the £65k-p/w defender will be well suited to the Australian's tactics. While talking about all this on his YouTube channel, Gold certainly didn't seem to hold out much hope for Sanchez.

He explained: "Some of those players are going to struggle with the playing around from the back.

"You maybe imagine, unfortunately, Davinson Sanchez perhaps will struggle with that. The ability to very quickly and calmly play some of the passes that will be required."

What style of play will Postecoglou bring to Spurs?

Former Spurs goalkeeper – and current Celtic number one – Joe Hart has given some insight on what Tottenham fans and players might expect of their new manager.

Indeed, he told the press (via Keep Up) that Postecoglou will ask his player to stick to his tactic of playing out from the back no matter what.

Hart said: “We live and die by it. I love that opportunity. There’s been many coaches and managers I’m sure out there who say, ‘Look, this is how I want you to play and, if it doesn’t (work), it’s on me’. I have heard that many times.

“But I genuinely feel comfortable making risky passes, short passes, and if someone does miss a pass or a tackle and the ball goes in, I don’t think any of us would even flinch because that’s what we are being asked to do."

It seems, then, the Spurs defenders will need nerves of steel to stay calm under press and play out from the back.

Seeing as Sanchez has been accused of bringing "the panic in the stadium" by Jermaine Jenas on Match of the Day (via TeamTalk) before, he might not be an ideal fit for Postecoglou.

Only time will tell but it's not looking good for the Colombian.

Insider Dean Jones has exclusively revealed that Rangers want to sign a new goalkeeper "quite fast" as they eye up Jack Butland.

What are the latest Rangers transfer rumours?

With the Scottish Premiership now over, the Ibrox outfit can start planning for next season and they could be set for a busy summer.

Indeed, Michael Beale will have a big job on his hands as he looks to build a team in his image and keep Rangers as competitive as possible in the near future.

There has been plenty of talk now for some time about the need for a new goalkeeper with 41-year-old Allan McGregor on his way out.

Well, it seems that the Scottish outfit don't want to hang around on finding his replacement and may have already lined up a move for Butland.

Indeed, when speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, journalist Jones revealed what he's heard may happen at Ibrox.

He said: "Yeah, I think we're going to get some early clarification on this. I think Rangers intend to go ahead and sign a new goalkeeper quite fast.

"Butland [is] definitely one of the ones that they have looked into."

How much will Butland cost Rangers?

McGregor played the most minutes in between the sticks for Rangers this season, while Jon McLaughlin and Robby McCrorie also featured at different points.

But with the preferred option departing, it makes sense for Beale to now target a new signing in goal as a priority to get sorted as soon as possible.

Still only 30 years old, Butland could arrive with his best years as a goalkeeper yet to come. However, he has not played a single game this term having started the season with Crystal Palace before heading on loan to Manchester United.

Even so, his contract expires in the summer and is reportedly happy to leave for free and join Rangers even if it means taking a pay cut to get the deal done.

At Man Utd, he was on £35k-p/w but if Beale and co could get that down – as well as not having to pay a transfer fee – this could be a more affordable deal.

Former Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough has already approved the deal too, telling the PLZ Football Show (via Ibrox News): “No [no surprise], that’s the kind of goalkeeper they would go for.

“He’s been about playing at the top level down there. He comes into the category of yeah, I think it will be a good signing.

“He’s been hanging around the England set-up previously so he’s got something and when I saw his name I thought good choice.”