All posts by h79snht.top

Celtic can finally clinch the Premiership title tomorrow as Ange Postecoglou’s side make the trip to take on Dundee United for their latest league meeting.

The Bhoys’ previous game saw them come from 1-0 down to beat Hearts 4-1 at Parkhead on Saturday.

After the visitors took an early lead through Ellis Simms, Hoops duo Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda put the home side in front by half-time. In the second half, goals from Matt O’Riley and Giorgos Giakoumakis secured the three points for the title-chasing Bhoys.

Looking ahead to their next game, it seems as though the league leaders have been handed a big boost which could vastly improve their chances of sealing another victory, one which would confirm them as champions of Scotland.

What’s the news?

Speaking in his latest press conference ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou informed the media about his squad’s current fitness situation after their previous match.

He said: “Everyone’s okay after the weekend so we don’t expect any sort of change from the ones available.”

Taking this into account, it will surely please a lot of Celtic fans to hear that there have been no injury issues from the last game which could impact Wednesday’s showdown at Tannadice.

The three previous league meetings between Celtic and Dundee United this season have seen Postecoglou’s side take seven out of a possible nine points. Their first league clash back in September ended with a 1-1 draw, followed by two victories for the Bhoys in December and January.

The Tangerines are heading into tomorrow’s match in a mixed run of form, having won four, drawn seven and lost four of their 15 previous league games.

This shows how hard it could be for Celtic to know how exactly to approach this game. However, with the title in sight, the only thing that Postecoglou will want from his players is another win.

Looking back at their victory over Hearts, despite conceding an early goal, the Bhoys still managed to assert their dominance by ending the game with 64% possession and 21 shots at goal, with 12 on target.

Having no additional injury issues from the weekend will surely help the 56-year-old, who could count upon largely the same starting XI from last Saturday in order to preserve continuity and rhythm with the title in sight.

In other news: “Postecoglou knows”: Insider drops Lennoxtown claim, Celtic supporters will be elated

Nottingham Forest will be without Keinan Davis for their play-off semifinal first leg against Sheffield United. 

The lowdown

Forest are going up against Paul Heckingbottom’s side for a shot at promotion at Wembley. The away leg at Bramall Lane comes first for Steve Cooper’s men at 15.00 on Saturday.

The winner of the tie will face either Luton Town or Huddersfield Town in London later this month.

Davis, a centre forward, hasn’t featured since the 1-0 defeat against Luton on 15 April. The Englishman has been sidelined for the past six matches with a hamstring injury, and any hope that he would return for the trip to Yorkshire has now been dashed.

There’s a possibility that he’s played his last game for the club before returning to parent club Aston Villa following the culmination of his loan.

The latest

Nottingham Sport journalist Louie Wheeldon relayed the news on Davis on Thursday evening.

Cooper won’t be able to call upon the frontman once again, who ‘will be out against Sheffield United’.

The verdict

This is a considerable blow to Cooper and to Forest’s chances of securing promotion. Davis has scored five goals in 15 appearances in the second tier since his January loan switch, averaging one every 2.4 matches.

And he’s shown that he can offer more than just goals, having created six big chances and completed 2.5 dribbles per 90 minutes during his time at The City Ground.

His contributions have even prompted EFL pundit George Elek to brand him an ‘incredible’ signing.

To make matters worse, another striker in Lewis Grabban is missing too, and the pair have combined for 17 goals, more than 20% of Forest’s total.

In other news, Forest are confident of landing this deal.

Manchester United are planning a summer swoop for Lille’s Netherlands international, Sven Botman.

What’s the word

That is according to Football Insider sources, who claim that United are willing to hijack AC Milan’s proposed deal in a bid to strengthen their own backline.

As per the report, Milan are in advanced talks to sign the defender in a reported deal of around £25m.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-man-united-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more-nunez-ten-hag-nkunku-richarlison” title=”Read the latest Man United news!”]

Though a United source has apparently revealed that the Red Devils are exploring a move for the 22-year-old, after incoming manager Erik ten Hag held a transfer summit with his new coaches in Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren, with United’s Director of Football, John Murtough, also present.

Botman’s name reportedly came up in those talks, and it was agreed that preliminary talks to sign the Ajax youth product would take place.

Ten Hag’s new De Ligt

After progressing through the Ajax ranks, Botman’s rise to regular professional football was not as seamless as previous golden boy De Ligt.

Botman left Ajax without making a single appearance for the first team and after a season of senior football under his belt via a loan spell at Heerenveen, he made the move to Lille where he has developed into a “leader” and established himself as a high-quality and reliable centre-back, one known as a “beast”.

As a left-footed centre-back, he would slot right in at United, with Ten Hag preferring to use natural-footed central defenders in his backline.

In Ligue 1 this season, Botman is Lille’s third highest goalscorer with three goals, but it’s his ability on the ball and defensive competence that has seen him become a much sought after target amongst Europe’s elite.

With an average of 53.8 accurate passes per 90, he would rank second at United this season, just behind Nemanja Matic with an average of 58.9 and above Raphael Varane – his potential defensive partner – who boasts an average of 49.7 accurate passes per 90.

Though, Botman’s average of 4.6 clearances per 90 rank him first in the Lille squad and would do so in comparison to Manchester United’s squad also, with the closest competition being Varane, who registers an average of 3.8 clearances per 90. It’s also worth noting that both players surpass that of De Ligt’s average of 3.3 clearances per 90 with whom Botman is a ‘similar’ player according to FB Ref.

That just boosts Botman’s identity as a no-nonsense centre-back.

In other news: Romano: Man United have “full agreement” for key summer arrival, ten Hag will love it 

Manchester City are interested in signing Chelsea defender Reece James as a successor to Kyle Walker, according to Daily Mail. 

The lowdown: Top talent

Already a regular for both club and country, the 22-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to the forefront of the elite game having come through the youth ranks in London.

A key member of Thomas Tuchel’s side that beat City in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League final, James has amassed 123 appearances for Chelsea having also made 46 senior outings whilst on loan at Wigan.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/man-city-latest-developments-3/” title=”Man City latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Despite being under contract until 2025 (Transfermarkt), City boss Pep Guardiola looks to have earmarked James as a potential target to add to the champions’ squad…

The latest: Next in line

As per the Daily Mail, Man City have ‘identified’ the ten-cap England star as a replacement for Walker.

It’s claimed that James is viewed as a long-term successor to his international teammate and as such Chelsea are looking to negotiate a new deal with the versatile ace as a ‘priority’ once the takeover has been completed.

The report also states that the new deal for the youngster hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Ally McCoist following the right-back’s thunderous goal against Juventus could see him earn around £200,000 per week.

The verdict: Statement signing

James suffered an injury-hit campaign in 2021/22 but still managed six goals and ten assists in 39 appearances across all competitions, earning an outstanding 7.40 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.5 duels, making 47.5 accurate passes and taking 1.4 shots on average per game in the process.

Capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, at centre-back and as a naturally attacking right-back, versatility that is well suited to Guardiola’s full-back orientated style, James shares similar traits with Juan Cuadrado, Alphonso Davies and City’s own Joao Cancelo (Fbref).

At 31, there is still plenty of elite football left in Walker, but lining up the London-born star as an instant replacement is certainly a wise move and although the prospects of landing a player from a major domestic rival seem farfetched, if City were able to emulate something like the deal that brought Walker to the Etihad from Tottenham for £45million (BBC), it would be a huge capture for the Sky Blues.

In other news… a BBC pundit has dropped this huge Man City transfer claim

It has already proven a hugely promising post-season for Aston Villa thus far, with the Midlands outfit having already brought in three marquee arrivals, with that exciting, early business having taken place before the window has even officially opened.

The Steven Gerrard revolution appears to be in full swing as the Englishman seeks to reshape the Villa squad into his image, although the latest indication is that the Liverpool legend is seeking even more investment this summer, with NSWE seemingly set to back their man once again.

One area that appears in need of bolstering is in attack, with pundit Richard Dunne tipping his former side to sign Watford striker Emmanuel Dennis, with the Nigerian having caught the eye in his debut Premier League campaign last term.

In comments recently cited by Birmingham Live, Dunne stated that Gerrard and co should look to take advantage of the Hornets’ top-flight relegation by making a move for their leading marksman: “I’m sure clubs will start looking at [James] Tarkowski from Burnley and Dennis from Watford now they have gone down. They would benefit a few teams in Villa’s area.

“They [Villa] need another attacking player to give them more options up top and another central midfielder. They aren’t crying out for someone in any position but they are looking for that next level of player to push them up the league, they have a decent strong squad.”

The 24-year-old netted ten goals and registered six assists in a standout league campaign on a personal level, albeit with that form unable to prevent his current side avoid a swift return to the second tier.

The former Club Brugge gem – who made the switch to Vicarage Road on a reported £3.6m deal last summer – will likely be on the radar of a number of top-flight clubs, with West Ham United reportedly one of those, with a fee of around £20m having been mooted.

That would likely represent something of a bargain for a player who has compared favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 5% for aerial duels won and in the top 11% for dribbles completed, illustrating to both hold the play up as well as drive his side up the pitch.

That dynamism – as well as his obvious speed – could well evoke memories of a former Villan, with Dennis seemingly carrying similar traits to that of one-club man Gabby Agbonlahor, the forward-turned-pundit having at one stage been a real, lightning prospect for the club.

Having burst onto the scene back in 2006 at the age of 19, the three-cap England international went on to score an impressive 74 goals and record 34 assists in 322 top tier games during his lengthy spell at Villa Park, notably reaching double figures for goals in three successive seasons between 2007 and 2010.

The club’s leading scorer in the Premier League era, Agbonlahor would prove a tough act to try and replicate, although in Dennis the club could well find a fitting heir, with the “superb” striker – as he has been dubbed by one journalist – deserving of another shot in the top division.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has now shared a ‘hopeful’ Tottenham Hotspur transfer update for supporters.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for busy summer…

Already bringing in Croatia footballing legend Ivan Perisic on a Bosman deal, Spurs are showing real statements of intent so far as they aim to back manager Antonio Conte.

The Lilywhites’ recently announced a £150 million equity increase which, according to reliable reports, will be used to reinforce the Italian’s options ahead of his first full Premier League season in charge.

Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni, Brentford big name Christian Eriksen and Man City striker Gabriel Jesus are just some of the names on Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici’s radar.

In what could be a real summer of change, Bridge of Sky Sports has now shared a ‘hopeful’ update after Spurs completed a deal for Perisic.

The Latest: Bridge shares ‘hopeful’ Spurs transfer update…

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Writing on Twitter in the last 48 hours, in reply to a supporter who asked if a right-wing-back and centre-half were next through the door, he explained:

“What I can say now is the club wouldn’t target anyone they thought wouldn’t join the club. That’s why I’m hopeful. I’ve just had to remind myself it’s May 31st.”

That statement is following on from a previous message where he claimed Tottenham want two more additions over the ‘next few weeks’.

The Verdict: Promising?

Tottenham, based off these messages from Bridge, appear to be getting a fair bit of their business done early and are aiming to fulfil Conte’s desires.

That alone is very promising as the club steer away from chairman Daniel Levy’s age-old tactic of doing deals late in the window to pressure clubs into quick-fire cheap sales.

Indeed, it’s safe to say this summer could be the most exciting one at Spurs for some time, given how long supporters have grown frustrated by Levy’s tactics.

In other news: £50 million Tottenham target drops teasing four-word transfer hint for Conte…find out more here.

According to journalist Jacque Talbot, Tottenham Hotspur have made an offer for Middlesbrough defender Djed Spence amid competition from Nottingham Forest.

The Lowdown: Interest since April

During April, it was reported that more than 10 clubs had declared their interest in signing the 21-year-old, who was impressing in the Championship whilst on loan at Forest.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich even sent scouts to watch the right-back play at the City Ground, although it has since been reported that Steve Cooper’s side, along with Spurs and Arsenal, lead the race to secure the youngster’s signature.

The Latest: Talbot’s news on Spence

Taking to Twitter, Talbot has now shared the latest news involving Spence’s potential destination ahead of next season.

He claimed: “Exc: Understand that Tottenham have put in an offer for Djed Spence but that Nottingham Forest are involved as well. Allure of European football will be the only thing standing in the way of Spence and Forest continuing their relationship next season.”

In a subsequent tweet, Talbot added: “Contrary to reports, Spence has not definitively chosen to join Spurs. Conte’s side are one of the clubs with a huge foot in the door.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-developments-2/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Get it done

Whilst Spence clearly has a good relationship with Forest manager Cooper after their promotion to the Premier League, the pull of Antonio Conte and Champions League football could yet entice the youngster to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This would be a good addition for the north Londoners, given Conte’s preference to play attacking wing-backs and the 21-year-old’s ability to bomb up and down the flanks.

Ian Wright even claimed that one of Spence’s displays in the FA Cup was “one of the best right back performances” he had seen in a very long time, raising comparisons with “unbelievable” full-backs such as Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Therefore, Paratici should do anything he can to get this deal done.

In other news: Journalist drops Lautaro Martinez to Spurs transfer claim

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly keen on Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes, although the player’s potential transfer fee could prove a stumbling block.

What’s the word?

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sports Witness), the 23-year-old is believed to be on the club’s radar this summer as Bruno Lage looks to bolster his midfield ranks, with teammate Joao Palhinha having also been heavily tipped for a move to Molineux.

While this latest report suggests that it is a ‘given’ that the latter man will make the switch in the current window, the chances of his colleague and compatriot joining him in the Midlands are much slimmer, with Ruben Amorim’s side set to demand as much €40m (34.1m) for his services.

That fee is seemingly proving a notable obstacle for Wolves at present, with the 6-foot machine currently ‘closer to staying’ with his current side, despite rumoured interest from other Premier League clubs, such as champions Manchester City and newly-promoted Fulham, as per the report.

Imagine him and Palhinha

The desire to add new reinforcements in the centre of the park has been heightened by the speculation surrounding the future of current regular Ruben Neves, while partner-in-crime Joao Moutinho is also facing an uncertain future with his contract set to expire this summer at present.

The pair have been integral for the Old Gold in recent seasons – notably being dubbed “trojans” by pundit Glenn Hoddle back in December for their superb partnership – with the loss of one or both set to leave a notable void in Lage’s side.

Those potential exits may not prove a knockout blow, however, if the club are able to fashion another impressive partnership, with the chance to sign both Palhinha and Nunes offering a ready-made duo who have already shown their worth as a midfield unit in recent times.

The Portuguese pair proved vital in helping the Lisbon outfit progress to the knockout stage of the Champions League last term at the expense of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, before their eventual exit at the hands of City in the last-16.

Dubbed “one of the best players in the world today” by Pep Guardiola despite that defeat, Nunes caught the eye throughout the competition, averaging 1.2 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and two tackles per game in his six outings, while teammate Palhinha also chipped in with 1.2 interceptions, 1.2 clearances and a remarkable 3.7 tackles from his six appearances.

As for their league form, the latter man also averaged one interception and three tackles per 90 from his 23 appearances, while Nunes averaged 1.3 tackles and 0.9 interceptions from his 31 outings, as well as chipping in with five goal contributions.

A formidable and combative pairing, both men would seemingly be able to slot straight in to Lage’s side were they to be plucked this summer, offering a quick and quality replacement to what looks to be the end of the Neves-Moutinho axis.

The club have already struck gold time and again by tapping into the talent market in Portugal, they would be foolish not to do so again.

IN other news: Deal agreed: Big Molineux transfer development emerges, it’s great news for Wolves

Aston Villa are reportedly one of three clubs interested in securing the services of Burnley defender Nathan Collins.

What’s the word?

That is according to a report from Alex Crook inside his transfer notebook, via talkSPORT.

The journalist stated that new Burnley manager Vincent Kompany faces a battle to keep hold of Nathan Collins, even after the departures of fellow defenders Ben Mee and James Tarkowski.

As per the report, the Republic of Ireland international is not short of offers to seal an immediate return to the Premier League, with the former Stoke City defender wanted by three clubs as detailed by Crook.

Besides Villa, it is said that Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are monitoring the 21-year-old, with Kompany facing a potential shortage of defenders in his new role at Turf Moor.

Supporters surely ecstatic

Defence has been a big attribute in Gerrard’s managerial career thus far, having set a new Scottish Premiership record of just 13 goals conceded in his title-winning season at Rangers.

He has not been able to translate that solidity to the Premier League as of yet, but then again he has not yet had a full season in charge at Villa, nor has he made his mark on the team in terms of signings until now.

Having endured an aggressive start to this summer’s transfer window though, the 42-year-old has begun moulding the squad and has the opportunity to bring in a centre-back who brings something different to what new signing Diego Carlos offers.

In Collins, the manager has the chance to to bring in a seemingly old-fashioned defender with a style reminiscent of a centre-half from yesteryear who can provide competition at the back and also help to future-proof the squad, as can be seen through Jamie O’Hara’s description of the Irishman as a “brick wall”.

Despite relegation with Burnley, the 21-year-old enjoyed a positive season on a personal level and proved that he is a Premier League-quality defender. His numbers are unique considering his position, having averaged 0.92 shot-creating actions per game, whilst maintaining defensive solidity with his 2.59 blocks and 5.50 clearances per 90 minutes.

Collins does the basics extremely well, and considering his more physical adaptation of an archaic approach, he offers a quality option to Gerrard, who will be eager to improve on Villa’s 54 goals conceded at an average of 1.4 per game – a return which leaves a lot of room for improvement.

If the 42-year-old can bring the no-nonsense Irish defender to Villa Park, it would surely delight many of the club’s supporters.

In other news: Villa could sign Gerrard 2.0 in £14.4m-rated technician, supporters would love him 

Leeds United will make a £26m offer for Club Brugge star Charles De Ketelaere, according to The Daily Mail.

The Lowdown: De Ketelaere profiled

De Ketelaere is just 21 years of age and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can play anywhere in midfield or in attack.

Described by journalist Frans Buyse as a player who ‘possesses great vision and a superb passing range’, the Belgium international has contributed to 45 goals in 120 goals for his current employers.

He is coming off the best season of his career with watched De Ketelaere closely.

The Latest: Leeds to bid for De Ketelaere

The Daily Mail shared a story on Saturday, revealing that Leeds are launching a £26m bid for De Ketelaere.

Sources from Belgium claim that AC Milan also hold a strong interest in the player, who is tipped to become the next ‘big talent’ from his homeland.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-5/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Phillips money?

Leeds look set to receive an initial £42m fee from Manchester City for Kalvin Phillips, and it looks as if Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises are willing to invest that straight back into the club in order to sign De Ketelaere.

Should a move go through, you’d expect that De Ketelaere won’t be a direct replacement for the England international, although the 21-year-old has experience of playing as a deep-lying central midfielder.

Signing him would bolster the Whites’ attacking ranks, and following De Ketelaere’s starring 2021/22 campaign, it could be Leeds’ best move of the summer.