All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou has been heavily linked with a move away from the Scottish Premiership with several English top flight clubs on the search for new managers.

The 57-year-old was asked by Sky Sports whether any of the speculation, particularly amid interest from Spurs, had come across his radar. To which he defiantly said: "And yet, I'm still here."

Adding more to his reply, Postecoglou said:

"Listen, it doesn't,""I think anyone that knows me knows that what is important for me is the here and now. I've never planned anything in my football career."My ambitions right now are to enjoy tomorrow and have a good game and try to win a cup final to have a special year. It's not every year that you get the chance to win a Treble. If anyone thinks that I am thinking anything other than that then they don't know me."

Celtic face Iverness in the Scottish Cup final and the manager appears focused on bringing the treble home for Celtic fans.

What's the latest on Ange Postecoglou's Celtic future?

In the last 48 hours, the Daily Mail's Rob Draper reported on behind the scenes news he's heard on Spurs' interest in Postecoglou in a promising boost for Celtic fans.

With Tottenham set to part ways with acting manager Ryan Mason following the end of the Premier League season, It's reported that Xabi Alonso, their initial no.1 candidate, had ruled himself out of contention while Postecoglou looks quite likely to commit to another year at Celtic.

For Spurs there wouldn't be an exorbitant exit clause due to the 57-year-old's one-year rolling contract with Celtic. Yet, the manager's desire is to remain at the club with his "ultimate ambition" said to be to guide Celtic through to the Champions League knockout stages.

Additionally, the current Celtic side has been "largely recruited by him" and so Postecoglou wants to yield returns on that faith shown in him by the club.

What is Ange Postecoglou's contract situation at Celtic?

As reported by the Daily Mail, Postecoglou is on a one-year rolling contract. This means that unless terminated by either the club or the manager, it will renew again and "roll" into another season.

For Celtic, it's a precarious situation as they can do little to prevent Postecoglou from leaving if he decided to due to the lack of a prohibitive exit clause.

For instance, another former Spurs managerial candidate, Feyenoord manager Arne Slot has a £17m release clause, while the Daily Mail claims Postecoglou's contract does not contain an "expensive" clause.

That said, Postecoclgou seems set for another year at the club with a European adventure in sight.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their attempts to bolster their midfield options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Newcastle?

According to Calcio Mercato, the Magpies are one of the clubs eyeing up a potential bargain swoop to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the Old Lady powerhouse is yet to reach an agreement over a new deal with the Italian giants and this means that he is set to be a free agent at the end of June.

It is stated that Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also in the race for his signature, whilst the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona could also join the growing list of suitors.

How has Adrien Rabiot performed this season?

The former Paris Saint-Germain maestro has been in terrific form in the Serie A for Juventus in 2022/23 and his arrival could be bad news for current Toon midfielder Sean Longstaff.

Newcastle's academy graduate has been a crucial cog in Eddie Howe's side in the Premier League – starting 27 matches – but his position in the starting line-up would be under threat with Rabiot in the building.

Longstaff has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.74 and chipped in with one goal and 1.8 tackles and interceptions per match in the top-flight. The Englishman has also created 0.7 chances per game for his teammates and won 47% of his physical duels.

Rabiot, meanwhile, could offer more quality at both ends of the pitch and in his average performance level.

The 28-year-old has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.06 across 28 Serie A starts and produced eight goals and 2.9 tackles and interceptions per game for the Italian giants. This suggests that the Frenchman, who has created 0.9 chances per match in the Italian top-flight, would be an improvement on Longstaff in terms of what he is able to provide in and out of possession.

Rabiot, who ex-teammate Gianluigi Buffon once hailed as a "wardrobe" due to his impressive physique, wins the ball back more frequently for his side and carries a great goalscoring threat, whilst they create a similar amount for their respective sides.

The France international has also averaged more progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 (3.3) than the 25-year-old (1.04) over the last 365 days and this indicates that the Juventus star is better at bringing the ball forward and progressing the team up the pitch.

The £152k-per-week machine has also featured in 60 Champions League matches across his career, whilst the Magpies man has never played in a European game, and Howe could lean on his experience in the competition if they qualify for it in their last two Premier League outings.

Therefore, Longstaff should be concerned by the possible arrival of Rabiot as the Frenchman could take up his position in the starting XI and leave the English gem as a rotational option rather than a go-to starter.

Crystal Palace and Dougie Freedman are hoping to beat Aston Villa to the signing of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Could Dembele leave Lyon?

The £52,000-a-week attacker has had a fairly quiet season for his current club, having been more of a key man in previous campaigns, with only three goals coming his way in Ligue 1. That's in a total of 23 appearances, although only eight of those have been from the starting lineup.

Dembele is out of contract once the current campaign reaches its conclusion, and given his lack of playing time at Lyon, it seems unlikely that an extension will be coming his way. That means that he would be allowed to leave on a free transfer, with a number of clubs potentially interested in signing club.

Palace are certainly going to be on the lookout for a new striker in the summer window, considering Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta have scored just six Premier League goals between them this season, and it could be that they turn to Dembele as a potential option.

Are Palace in the hunt to sign Dembele?

According to Football Insider, Palace chiefs are "interested" in making a move for the Frenchman at the end of the season, with a new striker considered a "top priority" by them. Freedman and Steve Parish think he's the "perfect candidate" to come in and bolster the Eagles' attacking options, and they are believed to be "preparing a contract offer".

That being said, they face stiff competition from a Villa side flying high under Unai Emery currently, so it may not be easy to get their man, considering the Midlands club could promise Dembele European football next season.

The former Celtic striker could be a great addition if Palace get a deal over the line this season, possessing the kind of end product lacking in Edouard and Mateta's game, despite his slow season this time around.

He has scored 70 goals in 172 appearances for Lyon, which highlights what a good addition he has been overall, while at Celtic, he netted 51 times in 94 outings. He was once a bit of a wonderkid, hailed as "one of the top young talents in Europe" by Hoops teammate Leigh Griffiths, showing the talent that he has always possessed, and at 26 he still has plenty of years ahead of him to grow into that potential for Palace, leading the line and linking with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

Everton securing the signing of Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour on loan would ‘suit all parties’, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Tricky loan spell

The 20-year-old spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan in the Premier League with Norwich City.

Whilst the Scotland international made 24 top-flight appearances for the Norfolk club, he came under fire for a number of his performances.

Gilmour was singled out by some travelling Canaries fans for his display during Norwich’s 3-0 pummeling at the hands of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in late December, with manager Dean Smith later coming out and defending the youngster.

The Latest: Brown’s claim on Gilmour

90min have reported that another loan move for Gilmour is on the cards, with Fulham, Bournemouth, and Rangers all named as possible destinations for the 2022/23 season.

However, with Frank Lampard now in full flow with the Toffees, Brown believes that a move to Everton could be perfect for the young Scotsman.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Daily Star journalist claimed: “I think if Chelsea were to allow him on loan again, I suspect they would quite like him to go and play for Lampard because they know Lampard will look after him.

“And I think even if he doesn’t play every game, he would be an asset, so that seems like a move that would suit all parties to me.”

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The Verdict: Good move for all

Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller hailed the 20-year-old during their time together at the Glasgow club, claiming that Gilmour is a “special talent”.

Whilst in charge at Chelsea, Lampard was also full of praise for the youngster. Dubbing him an “outstanding” player, the current Toffees manager handed the Scotland gem 17 senior appearances for the west London outfit, two of which came in the Champions League.

Therefore, despite an underwhelming spell at Norwich, a loan move to Everton could revitalise Gilmour’s career in the Premier League, particularly with a trusted, familiar face in Lampard to guide him along.

In other news: Frank McAvennie has reacted to this behind-the-scenes Everton development

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their pursuit of Sven Botman heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies remain keen on a deal for the centre-back ahead of the 2022/23 campaign after failing to land him in January.

The report claims that Italian giants AC Milan, who recently lifted the Serie A title, are also keen on the defender, and it remains to be seen who will win the race for his signature.

It is stated that the Dutch defender is keen on a switch to the Premier League and that may be a factor in his decision, with Tottenham and Manchester United also keeping tabs on his situation.

Supporters would love it

Newcastle supporters would surely love to see the club securing a deal for Botman, and Eddie Howe can get St James’ Park rocking by bringing the 22-year-old to Tyneside this summer.

Botman’s agent Francesco Miniero previously dubbed him a “golden boy”, and it is easy to see why when you look into his statistics for Lille in France.

In Ligue 1, he averaged SofaScore ratings of 7.08 and 7.10 in his first two seasons respectively. The team kept 28 clean sheets in that time as he delivered consistently excellent displays on the pitch, as shown by his average ratings over the course of two years.

He has managed this at the young age of 22, showing maturity ahead of his years. This suggests that he has a bright future ahead of him, as he has already proven his immense quality at a high level in the early parts of his career.

It has been reported in Italy this year that Milan are closing in on an agreement with Lille for €33m (£28m), so Newcastle must work hard to convince him that a move to Tyneside is the right step for him to take in his career.

His statistics suggest that he has the quality, consistency and potential to be a superb prospective signing for the Magpies, and that is why his arrival would leave St James’ Park rocking with excitement.

The supporters would also love it as it would mean snubbing the Italian champions and a team who’ll in the Champions League next season in order to join Howe, without any European football, at Newcastle. This would be a huge statement of intent from the Magpies, given what they are competing against, and would show the fans that the club now has a huge pull in the market.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: NUFC can form a deadly duo by signing “outstanding” £34m “rock”…

A major update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and Dean Henderson ahead of the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr has revealed that the Magpies have poured cold water on reports that the England international is set to arrive at St. James’ Park.

He tweeted: “Reports suggesting #MUFC goalkeeper Dean Henderson is on the verge of completing a move to #NUFC. But sources at Newcastle have been quick to play down the story.”

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards followed this up with a tweet of his own, saying: “#nufc will not be signing goalkeeper Dean Henderson anytime soon.”

This comes after Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News claimed that the shot-stopper was close to signing for the Tyneside club and had travelled to the northeast for talks.

Supporters will be gutted

Magpies supporters will be gutted with this latest update, as it suggests that Henderson is not on his way Newcastle this summer. A deal has not been completely ruled out but the tweets from Kelly and Edwards do not make it sound like the 25-year-old is an active target for the club at this moment in time.

He is a proven top-flight performer and a player who could be a major signing for Eddie Howe for many years to come, which is why Toon fans will likely not be happy with this news.

In 48 Premier League appearances, the 25-year-old kept 17 clean sheets across the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns. He averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.00 for Sheffield United and 6.94 for the Red Devils respectively, which shows that he maintained a high standard of performance throughout both seasons in the top flight.

This means that he would likely be able to hit the ground running for Newcastle, as he knows exactly what it takes to perform at this level. He has recent experience of putting in excellent displays on a regular basis in the Premier League, which suggests that he would provide significant competition to Martin Dubravka for his place in the Newcastle team.

At the age of 25, Henderson also has plenty of time left in his career to develop and improve even further. He is eight years younger than the Slovakia international, and the Manchester United shot-stopper has the potential to be Howe’s number one for the next decade if he moves to St James’ Park and proves to be a success on the pitch.

Therefore, Magpies fans will surely be gutted by the club pouring cold water on claims that he is set to join them…

AND in other news, “I would say..“: Keith Downie delivers exciting NUFC transfer claim, Howe will love it…

Liverpool are ‘ideally placed’ to sign summer transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni, who sees Anfield as his ‘priority’, according to a fresh update in the French press.

The Lowdown: Tchouameni a primary target for LFC

The 22-year-old has stood out as arguably the Reds’ top transfer target this summer going by the constant links and rumours, with him being one of Europe’s most sought-after young players.

Tchouameni has already developed into a midfield colossus for Monaco, scoring three goals, registering two assists and averaging 2.5 tackles with 2.9 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 this season.

After members of the French media suggested a deal is close, Liverpool’s pursuit of Tchouameni seems very much genuine, with both parties seemingly now keen on making this move happen.

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The Latest: Liverpool lead the way Tchouameni

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Jurgen Klopp’s men remain ‘ideally placed’ to acquire Tchouameni’s signature as they enter pole position, with Real Madrid still also in the conversation.

Joining the Reds is thought to be ‘a priority’ in the Frenchman’s mind, further adding fuel to the fire.

The Verdict: He’s needed in midfield

Tchouameni really does look like a special prospect – the youngster has been hailed as ‘incredibly talented’ by former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson – and Liverpool must do all they can to get a deal over the line this summer, particularly if the 22-year-old seems intent on moving to Anfield.

Midfield is an area of the pitch which could threaten to look a little tired soon, due to the age of several players in that position, and the Monaco gem would inject legs and quality in the middle of the park.

Eventually the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago and James Milner will move on, and Tchouameni can be the long-term star of Liverpool’s midfield, hopefully alongside fellow transfer target Jude Bellingham, if he were to join the Reds further down the line.

In other news, Paul Joyce has dropped a double Liverpool injury update. Read more here.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to do everything within their power to keep Antonio Conte at the club, amid reports of Brighton manager Graham Potter being lined up as a possible replacement.

The Lowdown: Potter identified by Spurs

The 52-year-old still has one year remaining on his current contract with the north London giants, but his future has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks after the Italian reportedly offered himself to Paris Saint-Germain, following the news that former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino looks set to leave the French capital.

According to The Telegraph, it is claimed that the Seagulls coach has been identified as Spurs’ number one target if Conte decides to leave N17 at the end of the season, although they would have to cough up a hefty £10m in compensation should they want to lure Potter away from the south coast.

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The Latest: Keep Conte at the helm, says Robinson

When asked for his thoughts on the Brighton manager potentially making the switch to north London, former Spurs goalkeeper Robinson told Football Insider:

“They have got to keep hold of Conte. I wouldn’t like to see Graham Potter come in.

“Conte is going to get linked with every top job in the world and unless Spurs are in the Champions League it is not going to go away. Spurs need to be competing regularly. They have to fight off the interest in Conte and give him the money.

“I don’t want to think about who the next manager could be because I don’t want Conte to leave. Spurs have one of the best managers in the world right now. Anything from Conte would be a downgrade.

“Potter is a manager who is doing a great job but he is not Antonio Conte. The club can’t go down the route of looking for a lesser manager than what they have got.”

The Verdict: Not enough experience

Potter, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” manager by ex-Brighton player Will Buckley, first made the move to the Amex Stadium from Swansea ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, guiding the Seagulls to their then-highest Premier League points tally (41) during his first season in charge.

Most recently, he led his team to a staggering 4-0 victory over Manchester United at the weekend, and he has done a great job in steering them away from the relegation zone and transforming them into a team pushing for a top-half finish in England’s highest division.

However, if Spurs are looking to appoint someone who could take them to the highest level on the international stage, the 46-year-old hasn’t quite got this kind of experience at the top of the European game yet. Therefore, as Robinson has advocated, it could prove wise to stick with Conte and see what he can achieve with a potentially new squad next term.

In other news… a transfer insider has hinted that a reunion might be on the cards for one Spurs first-team star and his former boss

Manchester City have been dealt an injury setback ahead of their blockbuster Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid this evening.

The Lowdown: Huge night ahead…

Pep Guardiola’s are gearing up for a monumentous occasion at the Bernabeu tonight as City aim to reach a second-consecutive European Cup final for the first time in their history.

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The Sky Blues have set up a huge second leg in Spain after beating La Liga’s giants 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium last week, a match which saw many twists and turns.

City’s seven-goal thriller against Real will go down as one of the best semi-final matches since the Champions League’s inception, but that was only the first half, with Guardiola now preparing his side for another crunch clash.

In terms of team news, the Premier League champions have been boosted by defender Kyle Walker’s potential availability after a lengthy lay-off.

Meanwhile, star man Joao Cancelo is also back after missing the first leg through suspension.

The Latest: Guardiola dealt Stones setback…

However, as officially confirmed, City will be without centre-back and England international John Stones through injury as the pre-Real team news emerges.

This comes as a blow given the 27-year-old’s proven ability when called upon, as evident by his stellar performances in the Champions League this season.

The Verdict: Bad news for City?

Stones has proven his worth in Europe whenever called upon, most recently against Atletico Madrid in the last round, with journalist Henry Winter calling him ‘absolutely magnificent’.

The stellar partnership of Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias has resulted in a lack of minutes for the Three Lions ace when compared to last year, where both Stones and Dias formed a formidable 2020/2021 duo in central defence.

Having the former Everton sensation to call upon would have been a real luxury for Guardiola though, especially in case of mid-match emergences and with the possibility of tired legs in extra time, but it appears the Spaniard will be without that option for one of City’s most crucial games of the season.

In other news: £101m ‘big name’ sets his sights on joining Man City, turns to super agent for help…find out more here.

It’s not as if Everton supporters need any more reason to be downcast amid their current relegation worries, although they may well receive another kick in the teeth in the coming weeks and months regarding reported transfer target Matheus Nunes.

While the Brazil-born PortugAL international is still yet to decide on his next destination, having starred for current club Sporting Lisbon over the past few years, recent reports have suggested that he could be in line for a move to Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola previously dubbing him “one of the best in the world” due to his sparkling form.

Missing out on a player to the Premier League leaders is no major point of note in itself from a Toffees perspective, although the problem lies in the fact that they could have reportedly signed the 23-year-old last summer, as well as in January.

A report from last July suggested that there had been contact regarding a potential deal with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes, although the appointment of Rafael Benitez set the negotiations back, with the Spaniard wanting to exert his own control over transfer proceedings.

Benitez fumbled Nunes transfer

The player would reportedly have been available for a fee in the region of £20m at the time, while the club reportedly scouted him again ahead of a potential deal in the winter, although on both occasions the Merseysiders failed to make their interest concrete.

The suggestion now is that the former Estoril man will now be worth roughly €60m (£50m), with his current club having included a release clause in the contract extension that he signed back in October – after Benitez and co had missed their chance to snap him up for a fraction of that amount.

The £27m-rated star proved instrumental in helping to drag Ruben Amorim side through the Champions League group stage at the expense of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, with Nunes registering 1.2 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and two tackles per game in the tournament prior to Sporting’s exit at the hands of Man City in the round of 16.

As for Everton, despite adding Donny Van de Beek and Dele Alli to their ranks in January, Frank Lampard’s side have looked particularly light in central midfield, with the failure to add a new midfield signing last summer potentially proving costly.

In just under a year, the club have gone from a position of top-half comfort to now fighting for their Premier League lives, with it unlikely that Nunes would consider the move now even if the Toffees can avoid dropping into the Championship come the end of the season.

This has to go down as a howler from Benitez, who was already unpopular enough with the Everton fan base as it was, and this gives the supporter another reason to rage at the Spaniard.

In other news, £44m down the drain: Allardyce’s £69k-p/w disaster has rinsed Everton for 54 months