All posts by z3u9t.icu

Ange Postecoglou’s first summer at Celtic was always going to be one which centred on a rebuild.

The Hoops oversaw a mass exodus from Parkhead as the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and Kristoffer Ajer all departed.

Edouard’s move has gone swimmingly well so far, with the striker already scoring two goals in two outings for his new club Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Ajer’s Brentford also beaten Arsenal in what has been an impressive start to life in England’s top-flight for the Bees.

However, they aren’t the only former Bhoys to be shining south of the border. Another happens to be Olivier Ntcham, someone whose Celtic career ended in rather unsavoury circumstances.

The Frenchman has always been a vibrant talent, someone who can change the course of a game with his ability to break through the lines with immense strength.

However, as Celtic’s 2020/21 began to crumble, so did his performances. Neil Lennon started leaving him out of the team and the midfielder was accused of downing tools by talkSPORT’s Alan Brazil.

Football Insider pundit Noel Whelan also described him as a “disgrace” for his performances as he started just seven times for Celtic in the Premiership last season.

That word certainly applied for a disastrous loan spell with Marseille in Ligue 1, too.

Ntcham had headed back to his homeland in a bid to get his career back on track but it did not go well. Andre Villas-Boas didn’t agree with the transfer, and within hours of the player moving back to France, the manager resigned.

Against Lille in March, the midfielder was withdrawn at half-time after earning a dismal 3/10 match rating from ruthless French outlet L’Equipe.

It got worse for the 25-year-old, who was dubbed “unacceptable” and handed a rating of 1 by La Provence after he was taken off at half-time again. That was while Marseille crashed out of the Coupe de France at the hands of Canet Roussellion, a fourth-tier side.

Ntcham returned to Celtic but wasn’t deemed good enough. The Hoops’ loss is undeniably Swansea’s gain, however, because he’s now showing signs of the player we all know he can be.

During their 3-3 draw with Luton on Saturday, the bullish midfielder was nothing short of exceptional. He initially started the game on the bench but was introduced at half-time before having a devastating impact. He scored one goal and supplied another as he performed a remarkable rescue act with Swansea 3-0 down at half time.

During his 45-minute cameo, Ntcham completed 100% of his passes and also won 75% of his defensive duels.

This was a near-perfect display from a player who Celtic could actually do with now. With Callum McGregor missing against Real Betis last Thursday, another combative midfield brute would have been an ideal replacement.

Instead, they had to make do with Ismaila Soro, someone who was fortunate not to be given his marching orders in the first half.

AND in other news, Move over Bitton: Ange has a rising star in “powerful” rarely-seen 19 y/o at Celtic…

West Ham United are reportedly interested in making a move for Monaco defender Guillermo Maripan, as their search for defensive reinforcements continues.

Enjoying a productive 2020/21 campaign, the Chile international registered six goal contributions in 31 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit; five goals and one assist [Transfermarkt].

Now, he could be set to move to England owing to recent reports.

West Ham United are said to be considering a move for the 27-year-old, who Manuel Pellegrini attempted to sign during his tenure in London [Mirror via Hammers News].

He could be available for around £17.5million, after his current employers exited the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk.

In light of this news, no wonder loads of West Ham United diehards took to social media to comment on the latest developments, with the fan base desperate for a new centre-back addition before they embark on a gruelling campaign in Europa League football.

West Ham United FC fans react:

Replying to West Ham Central on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say about the news:

“We took about 6 months to decide between Zouma, Milenkovic and Caleta Car No chance they sign Maripan so quickly without identifying him as a target 37 times first”

Credit: @_a7un

“It’s the mirror spinning a target we have been linked with in the pellegrini era. Not looking into this at all.”

Credit: @HammerFromDevon”Weren’t we linked with him like 3/4 seasons ago?”Credit: @brad_hass4″oh no not him again”Credit: @danielluker10″Surely not ?”Credit: @LewisDowling7″Caught my eye the other night against Shaktar, made some good challenges and was extremely vocal”Credit: @IukesteggIesIn other news, West Ham United fans react to a Declan Rice update. Find out more here.

Rangers powerhouse Borna Barisic stole the show for Croatia in their 3-0 win over Slovenia in their World Cup qualifying game on Tuesday night.

Marko Livaja, Mario Pasalic and Nikola Vlasic scored the goals for Croatia, with Ivan Perisic and Mislav Orsic providing the assists, but it was Barisic who recorded the highest SofaScore rating on the night.

The left-back was given a score of 7.8/10 for his performance against Slovenia despite not getting on the scoresheet or creating a goal. This was the highest score of any player in the game.

Defensively, the Rangers beast was almost perfect. Per SofaScore, he won six of his nine duels on the pitch as he made four tackles, two clearances and one interception during the match. He also avoided being dribbled past by a Slovenia player, which shows that he was able to guard Atalanta’s Josip Ilicic – who played on the right wing – effectively.

On the ball, Barisic was also able to show off his quality. Per SofaScore, he had an impressive 93 touches of the ball and completed 96% of his passes. The full-back produced one key pass, was successful with all three of his long ball attempts and completed 100% of his dribbles in possession.

This shows that the defender was able to merge stoic defending with class and creativity on the ball. Barisic held Slovenia’s attackers at bay by being strong in his duels and winning a number of tackles, whilst then completing a high rate of passes when going the other way – contributing to Croatia’s dominance.

His 7.8 – man of the match – rating for Croatia shows how he stole the show from the goalscorers on the night. It also highlights how Barisic is capable of producing high-class performances at the top level.

Steven Gerrard will be delighted by this performance as it will surely be a confidence booster for the defender heading back into club football this weekend

AND in other news, Rangers dealt yet another fitness setback with Ibrox “leader”, Gerrard will be fuming…

An update has emerged about Sheffield Wednesday target Sam Cosgrove, regarding his thinking heading into the final weeks of the window.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, via Examiner Live, Sheffield Wednesday transfer target Sam Cosgrove is ‘yet to decide’ on his future with three weeks left of the transfer window to go.

Examiner Live provide their own line on the story, stating that Cosgrove is a player who the Owls are targeting. Fellow League One side Wycombe are also chasing a deal for the Birmingham hitman.

Decision time

With the clock ticking down and clubs beginning to finalise all of their transfer business with the season getting underway, we are entering crunch time when it comes to decisions on moves. If a player is indecisive and still contemplating whether or not they want to join the Owls, Darren Moore may have to make a big call and exit the race to pursue another player in order to not risk leaving his business too late.

This means that Cosgrove is going to need to make a decision about his future sooner rather than later. The report stating that he is ‘yet to decide’ is rather ominous for Wednesday, as it shows that he is not fully convinced that a switch to the League One club – or to Wycombe – is the best next step for him.

Owls supporters should now be anxious about what he is doing to do, with the club unable to do anything on that front until he makes up his mind. They cannot pull the trigger on a deal with Birmingham unless the player is on board.

Cosgrove could be an excellent addition to the Wednesday squad if they are able to get it over the line. He is a young forward who has experience of scoring goals regularly in Scotland, but he has not been able to find his feet in England as of yet.

Earlier this year, Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer said that the 24-year-old is improving and that he could be their first-choice striker in a year’s time if he can continue developing. He told Birmingham Live:

“Sam is a player that is young and learning the game, I would say. I see him as a replacement for Jutkiewicz, as in a like-for-like player and he is learning.

“He is improving, even in the time I have been here I have seen him improve every day. His movement is getting better, his hold-up play is getting better, his finishing is getting better so he is improving.

“Maybe in a year’s time or maybe next season step in, step up and then take over from Jukey? Then he be the No. 1 and Jukey come off the bench? I don’t know. I don’t know what the thinking was.”

This shows that he is on the right track and if he can start hitting the numbers he was managing in the Scottish Premiership then Owls fans would love him.

Between the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, Cosgrove scored a whopping 44 goals in all competitions – averaging at 22 a season.

If he can score 22 goals in League One for Wednesday then that would be a terrific addition, but it is now down to him to figure out what he wants to do.

And in other news, the The Owls keen on securing this other signing this summer…

Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign Mikkel Damsgaard this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Italian newspaper La Repubblica claim (via Tuttomercatoweb) that the Premier League side have accelerated their interest in the Sampdoria attacking midfielder.

It’s thought that Spurs have now overtaken other suitors, with sporting director Fabio Paratici prepared to offer a bid of €25m (£21.5m).

European giants Barcelona and AC Milan have been mooted with a move for the 21-year-old gem in recent months, as per Goal, but now it appears as if the Lilywhites have nudged one step closer to winning the tussle.

Bye-bye Moura

Nuno Santo has some interesting choices to make in the wing department.

It’s believed that Erik Lamela is closing in on a switch to Sevilla, in which Spurs will receive Bryan Gil in a swap, and the outgoings may not stop there as Lucas Moura is another name that the club are reportedly prepared to offload.

“They have put Lamela on the market and Lucas Moura on the market hoping to receive transfer fees and reduce their wage bill,” claimed journalist Duncan Castles on ‘The Transfer Window’ podcast.

Replacing an injury-prone 29-year-old with one of Spain’s top young prospects, and an inconsistent 28-year-old with a highly-rated 21-year-old, could be very smart business indeed.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-team-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!”]

It’s no wonder former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho was keen to sign him and it’s no wonder the former Juventus supremo feels the same way. Damsgaard could be a real star of the future and we got a glimpse of that at Euro 2020, as he rifled home a scorching strike against Russia to help Denmark qualify for the knockout stages.

The £18m-rated dynamo can play anywhere behind the striker and offers a mix of electrifying pace and phenomenal work rate, that much was displayed throughout his domestic campaign.

As per WhoScored, Damsgaard delivered two goals and four assists last term, whilst also averaging 1.5 dribbles and 1.2 tackles per game, proving to be quite the threat under former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, who dubbed him a “child prodigy” to reporters at one point.

His playing style has been likened to Danish great Michael Laudrup and TV2’s football expert Martin Mikkelsen described him as “magical”.

By comparison, Moura struggled to match such returns, managing only 1.1 dribbles and 1.1 tackles per game in the Premier League last term, via WhoScored.

On the above evidence, Paratici must look to seal a move for the young Sampdoria sensation. He and Gil could be one hell of a duo for years to come, and it’s that sort of forward planning which could get Spurs back on top.

AND in other news, Nuno set for Hotspur Way boost as Alasdair Gold drops exciting claim…

Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with a switch for Lille midfielder Renato Sanches [L’Equipe via Sport Witness].

Enjoying a productive 2020/21 campaign, the Portuguese midfielder registered five goal contributions in 29 appearances; one goal and four assists [Transfermarkt].

Now, he could be set to have a decision to make on his future following recent developments.

The Reds and the Gunners have been mooted with an interest in Sanches, with his current employers looking to hold out for around €35 million for his services [L’Equipe via Sport Witness].

His former club Bayern Munich alongside Barcelona are also rumoured to be monitoring his situation this summer.

In light of this news, loads of Liverpool diehards took to social media to share their thoughts after the story emerged.

Liverpool FC fans react:

Replying to popular Liverpool fan outlet LFC Transfer Room on Twitter, here is what some fans had to say upon hearing the latest news surrounding Sanches:

“It can be a very risky buy!Just add another 10m and get Saul….”

Credit: @Arqamali118″It’s just boring now, every week we are linked with the same midfielders and nothing seems concrete. Next week it will be Neuhaus, the week after Saul, the one after Bissouma etc……”Credit: @Boromir_FR”Would rather LFC wait 1 more season and sign Gravenberch for 30-35ml”Credit: @KloppoMagic”we dont need a midfielder that much a forward is more important”Credit: @plus7end”Man am tired already”Credit: @BagsmanEra”Not this again!”Credit: @ethan27dIn other news, a Liverpool star is nearing a new deal.

An update has emerged on Lazio forward Joaquin Correa, regarding Everton’s plans to bid for his services.

What’s the talk?

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Get Italian Football News), Everton are readying an improved bid for Lazio attacker Joaquin Correa after having their initial offer knocked back by the Italian side.

Earlier this month, other reports in Italy stated that the Toffees failed with a €25m (£21m) offer for the Argentine forward.

But now, it appears director of football Marcel Brands is set to go back in for Correa, who has expressed his desire to leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

His preference is a move to Inter Milan but it’s thought that the Merseyside outfit cannot be discounted at this stage, perhaps even more so after the Serie A champions recently signed Edin Dzeko

Rafa needs him

Brands must ensure that his talks with Lazio run smoothly and that he is able to agree a deal to sign Correa in the next two weeks. The winger could be a terrific addition to the squad and the type of player they need to improve their attacking line-up.

Rafa Benitez enjoyed a fine start to his tenure at Goodison Park with a 3-1 win over Southampton, but goals from the wide areas is still a cause for concern. Bernard and Alex Iwobi were the club’s top-scoring wide players with one goal each in the Premier League last term and the arrivals of Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray are unlikely to solve the problem. The former scored two goals in the past two league seasons for Crystal Palace and Gray scored once for Bayer Leverkusen.

This suggests that the Spanish boss is in dire need of a wide man who is capable of finding the back of the net at the top level. 21 goals in the past two seasons for Lazio indicates that Correa could be that man for the Blues, with 11 goals and six assists in the 2020/21 campaign across the Serie A and Champions League for the 27-year-old.

In a tactical analysis of the forward, Breaking the Lines highlighted his biggest strengths as a player, including his positional flexibility. They wrote: “It is no wonder why his style of play is drawing fans towards his potential. Correa’s wide repertoire of skills and his tricky dribbling makes him a menace for opposing defenders. His quick movement and awareness allow him to move into spaces or drop deep to enable his teammates to move forward.

“He can be the creative outlet of the side, creating chances for his teammates. It is because of his movement that he is able to draw defenders away, then using his dribbling to get past them and either provide a key pass or go for goal himself.

“Highly versatile, he can play on both wings or in the centre, with his wide array of assets allowing him to flourish in either position.”

Correa has also been described as a “jugador revelación” (a revelation), whilst his nickname is said to be ‘the jewel’ – that’s exactly what Goodison Park would be getting if Brands can seal a move for him.

Overall, this shows that the £27m-rated gem could operate in a variety of roles for Benitez, whilst also offering him the goals from out wide that he is in need of. Therefore, Brands must get this deal over the line to bolster the squad in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, “I’m all for it” – Exclusive: Michael Ball keen for Everton to wrap up deal for £27m-rated beast…

Fabio Paratici has reportedly ‘knocked on the door’ to try and sign Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Vlahovic likes Tottenham

It has recently been reported that Vlahovic likes Spurs, and his future could be finalised very soon, with news from Florence that his next move will be decided in the coming days.

The North London club allegedly see the Fiorentina star as an ideal replacement for Harry Kane, should he move away from the Lilywhites in the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Paratici wants Vlahovic

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), THFC, led by Paratici, have ‘knocked on the door’ to sign Vlahovic, and came forward with an ‘important’ bid of €40m (£35.1m).

However, Fiorentina have ‘kindly shut the door’ to Tottenham, and have made it clear that he will only be sold for a fee in the region of €60m (£51.2m).

Vlahovic could be bought as a back-up striker to Kane, or as his successor should the England international captain move on.

The Verdict: Sign

Whether Kane ends up staying or going, Vlahovic is a player that has the potential to turn out to be as prolific as him in the future.

Described as an ‘incredible’ player by Conor Clancy, editor in chief at Forza Italian Football, Vlahovic scored a very impressive 21 goals and made a further two assists in 37 games in total in Serie A over the course of the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt), despite being just 21 years of age.

Nonetheless, the Serbia international is a star already with plenty of time ahead of him to develop into an even better player, so Spurs may even want to think about buying him anyway to play alongside Kane and help convince him to stay.

In other news, find out what one pundit has said about this ‘sensational’ THFC target here!

Ange Postecoglou has spoken an incredibly impressive game since becoming the new Celtic manager.

He is under no illusions as to how tough the job in hand will be but it would appear that incoming CEO Dominic McKay and the Hoops boss have begun their work on the recruitment front.

This is a massive summer for the Bhoys, who could lose Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer. The Norwegian is threatening to make Postecoglou’s life difficult in the early weeks of his tenure after the club knocked back bids worth £10m for his services.

Celtic’s bearded coach suggests that transfers could be concluded shortly but one man who should be at the top of their list but may have to wait a few more weeks for a move is Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

He has been sublime during the ongoing European Championship and was linked with a move to Celtic last summer. Roma now value the Swede at £4m and in the build-up to the Euros, he hinted at using the tournament as a shop window.

If he has been playing for an exit from the Italian club, then it should have paid off. Olsen has been one of the best goalkeepers throughout the group stages, keeping two clean sheets in three games (against Spain and Slovakia).

His shot-stopping has been phenomenal, making a number of top-drawer saves to keep opponents at bay.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-transfer-news-posetcoglou-ryan-delap-wyke” title= “Read the latest Celtic transfer news!”]

The 31-year-old has made it through the tournament so far with a save rate of 81.8%, the sixth-best tally in the entire competition. Furthermore, Olsen is the fourth-best ‘keeper at the competition for preventing expected goals at 1.06.

In a comedic take on standout players from the competition, journalist Stephen Drennan labelled Olsen an “outstanding ‘keeper”. Despite his amusing comments, there is certainly an element of truth to that appraisal.

He has proven to be consistent and he’s popped up with some big moments in vital games. He was tremendous in Sweden’s goalless draw with Spain, producing five stops and making two punches.

Celtic haven’t exactly been flooded with quality in a goalkeeping position of late, so his acquisition would be a shrewd one from Postecoglou. Of course, a deal isn’t on the table at the moment, but the Hoops would be foolish if he isn’t still on their radar.

Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain both made high-profile errors last term as the Glaswegian side shipped 19 goals in the Europa League group stages and then conceded 16 more goals than Rangers in the Premiership. Evidently, they are not particularly stable between the sticks.

Olsen’s form at the Euros is only a small sample of his qualities but he is clearly a man in form and wants a move away. Celtic should definitely consider him.

AND in other news, Celtic eye swoop for “unstoppable” 20-goal gem, he’s an upgrade on Christie…

Only Norwich City has more promotions to the Premier League this century than West Bromwich Albion, and the Baggies will be looking to match the Canaries by going up from the EFL Championship for a sixth time in 20 years this coming season.To that end, Albion has appointed Barnsley boss Valérien IsmaëlÂfollowing their relegation from the Premier League under Sam Allardyce, which you can read about at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57180362. This marks a change of tack and direction from West Brom.IsmaëlÂworked wonders at Barnsley, arriving at Oakwell in October when predecessor Gerhard Struber left to coach the New York Red Bulls after barelyÂkeeping the Tykes in the Championship the previous season. Former Crystal Palace defender IsmaëlÂtook a side that finished 21st in the league into the play-offs.Although Barnsley didn’t gain the promotion, they were very close and defied all the odds in making a top-six finish. They also did it in style, which contrasts sharply with the football played at The Hawthorns. Ismaël won’t be flying under the radar anymore.Perhaps his former club Palace regrets not making a move for him after narrowlyÂmissing out on Swiss manager and former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre. It’s with West Brom whereÂIsmaël will be trying to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Betting on who gets promoted into the English top-flight can be just asÂpopular as wagering on the teams already there. That is why leading UK casinos are often attached to sportsbooks that provide markets on the Championship. You can view all the latest offers and promotions at https://www.bonusfinder.com/uk/casino-bonus, which lists the best deposit bonuses. A casual glance at the promotion betting sees the Baggies right up there with fellow relegated sides Fulham and Sheffield United, plus Championship play-off losers Bournemouth and Swansea City. Ismaël’s old side Barnsley aren’t expected to repeat their top-six finish automatically.

IsmaëlÂinherits an Albion side that will be feeling the absence ofÂseveral senior players including PolishÂwinger Kamil Grosicki, Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu, defensive duo Branislav Ivanović, and Lee Peltier, as well asÂveteran goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, as noted onÂhttps://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/west-brom-albion-contracts-expiring-13571096. West Brom also released many of their up-and-coming playersÂas they trimmed their Academy and Under-23 teams following relegation.ÂIsmaël can call upon quite a few proven Championship performers in forward areas to choose from.

Scottish talentÂMatt Phillips and Robert Snodgrass are senior players now with Karlan Grant and Matheus Pereira also among those who have done well at this level before. As Ismaël played a three-man defence and wingbacks at Barnsley, Albion will need to recruit for their rearguard as they are thin on the ground.

As they have an established reputation of being a yo-yo club, the Baggies must try and live up to that in the new season. Anything less than a serious promotion push will be regarded as a failure for a promising manager, but for now, it looks as though the Baggies haveÂpulled off a coup coaching capture.