Tag Futebol

It would take a brave man to say that Celtic’s managerial chase was finally reaching a conclusion.

It has now been over three months since Neil Lennon resigned from his position with the Hoops with an arduous saga taking place since.

The Bhoys missed out on Eddie Howe but now have another man in their crosshairs.

What’s the word?

After their ploy to lure Howe to Celtic Park fell through, Ange Postecoglou has been the primary target for Celtic.

They’ve reportedly been tracking him for months and now view the Australian as the man to finally replace Lennon.

A compensation fee has been agreed with his current club Yokohama Marinos but a hugely promising update emerged late on Saturday night.

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic have now agreed personal terms with the 55-year-old over a move to Parkhead.

The outlet goes onto claim that barring any other hitches, a move will be concluded in the next 72 hours.

Exciting times for Celtic

If you told supporters when Lennon quit that on the eve of the transfer window they’d still be searching for a new manager, they’d have looked at you in disgust.

Unfortunately, that’s the reality of the situation for the despairing Celtic fan base.

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They have been left disgruntled this season and embarked on mass protests at Paradise against the club’s ownership.

You can hardly blame the anger when you consider a trophyless campaign and an abject summer on the recruitment front 12 months ago.

Therefore, the news that Celtic are well and truly finally on the verge of announcing a new manager should come as great comfort.

It might not be their first target in Howe but Postecoglou is still a fabulous choice for the hot seat.

First and foremost, he has more experience than Howe. He’s taken charge of Australia and began his managerial career back in 1996; 24 years ago.

Since then, he’s acquired expertise throughout Asia and had one spell in Greece, the country of his birth.

Postecoglou also ensures his team plays a vibrant style of football, something that will no doubt suit the Hoops hierarchy.

Raheem Sterling and Pep Guardiola have both complimented the way he gets his players to move the ball while his relentlessly high press can cause nightmares.

His Yokohama Marinos team have also enjoyed the highest percentage of possession of any team in the Japanese top-flight this season. That serves as a further plus point in their bid to lure him to Celtic.

Supporters should be excited that not only is this long-running saga set to end, but it’s coming to a climax with a manager who ticks plenty of boxes from a stylistic point of view.

AND in other news, Celtic can find a new Jullien by signing “special” 6ft4 tank, he’s “one of the best”…

Leeds United could sign a new version of club legend Mark Viduka in the form of Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham amid Jon Newsome’s transfer verdict.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the England international could be available this summer after falling out of favour at Stamford Bridge, and now, Newsome has suggested Marcelo Bielsa’s side enter the race to sign him.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “I see they’ve put a price tag of £40m on Tammy Abraham. Do you push the boat out and go and buy Tammy Abraham? I’ve watched him since he was out on loan at Bristol City as an 18-year-old and I think he’s a fantastic player.

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“He leads the line, he just needs that club where he’s the number one target and the number one man and I think he’ll just blossom again. So do the club do something like that?”

A new Viduka

Standing at an imposing 6 foot 3, Abraham has got all the physical attributes that make him a very similar threat to the one Viduka provided in his glory days at Elland Road.

In a piece for Leeds Live, Jon Howe wrote about the Australian: “He was an ominous physical specimen, an old-fashioned centre forward in many respects, but mixed a formidable presence with a delicate technique that made him the purest example of a ‘good touch for a big fella’ player you are ever likely to see.”

Dubbed as being “clinical in front of goal” and as a “natural goal-scorer” by former Leeds man Noel Whelan, Abraham combines both his pace and power with real technical quality, and has managed an impressive 12 goals in 32 games despite barely starting.

Speaking after he netted during a loan spell against Swansea a couple of seasons ago, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith said: “Tammy is a handful and he knows better than me that he should have been walking away with the match ball tonight. But he scored the winning goal, he’s a hell of a talent. Tammy put in a hell of a shift up front on his own and proved he is a fine player.”

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The £36m-rated Abraham has all the tools in his locker for Bielsa to discover a new Viduka for Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds are eyeing up this winger who’ll “torment defenders everywhere”…

West Ham United sealed a place in the Europa League as they cruised to victory over Southampton in the final Premier League game of the 2020/21 season on Sunday evening.

And David Moyes largely has Pablo Fornals to thank after a quickfire first-half brace set the tone for their performance, on a day where a point would’ve been suffice.

The Spaniard fired into an empty net to open the scoring on the half-hour mark, and then doubled his and the Hammers’ tally three minutes later when latching onto Vladimir Coufal’s cross.

In the second half, the three points were sealed by a surprise name in Declan Rice, who was arguably an unsung hero after running the midfield engine room.

Captaining the side in Mark Noble’s absence, the England international was an absolute beast under Moyes, recording a 7.3 rating on SofaScore. Only the goalscoring midfielder, Aaron Cresswell and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski managed better.

The 22-year-old is going to be a wanted man once again this summer, with local rivals Chelsea already mooted with reigniting their interest.

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The Telegraph’s Matt Law believes the Blues could use Tammy Abraham as a makeweight in a bid to tempt the Irons into a sale.

Good luck with that after his latest outing.

Rice was frequently involved in the game, managing 47 touches and was a major influence in linking the defence to the attack, registering two successful dribbles (100%), making 74% of his passes, and firing two shots at goal, via SofaScore.

Furthermore, the 6 foot 1 monster – who is now valued at £54m – was a rock defensively, putting in two tackles, which was above his average for the season whilst he also won a whopping 87.5% of his battles, proving to be a hard man to bypass.

His presence certainly helped stop the influence from the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Stuart Armstrong, two of the Saints’ top playmakers.

Rice, a £60k-per-week earner at the London Stadium, also earned the praise of The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas, who claimed he enjoyed a “brilliant performance” and also stated that he came off to a standing ovation – quite deservedly so.

Whilst Fornals will take the plaudits for firing the Hammers into Europe, it was the display from Rice that may well go unnoticed despite playing a starring and underrated role on the day.

AND in other news, Hammers must land 6 ft 4 forward who’s “out of this world”, it won’t cost GSB a penny…

Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in Vitoria Guimaraes defender Abdul Mumin, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Mumin profiled

Mumin appears to be catching the eye for his displays this term, where has lined out as a centre-back.

The 22-year-old, standing at 1.88m (6 ft 2), joined Vitoria last August in a free transfer from FC Nordsjaelland and has made 26 appearances this season.

The Ghanaian, who is yet to be capped at senior level for his country, can also play as a right-back.

The Latest: Villa not the only side keen

According to The Sun, Newcastle and Tottenham are also keen on Mumin, while Scottish giants Celtic have also held a previous interest. The report added that anyone wishing to secure his services would need to pay around £15m.

Should a move to Villa Park go through, the report claimed that Mumin could replace Neil Taylor, who is out of contract this summer. The Welshman, who is on £32,000 per week, is thought to be attracting interest from Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City.

The Verdict: A new centre-back required?

In our opinion, exploring the idea of signing a new centre-back this summer could be a smart move. Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa have been virtual ever-presents under Dean Smith this year, with the likes of Kortney Hause and Bjorn Engels barely (if even) getting a look-in.

Reports have suggested recently that Engels will be moved on in the summer, and should that come to fruition, bringing in a fourth centre-back may prove crucial for the 2021/22 season in terms of squad depth.

Mumin may well be that man, but it seems as if the club will need to beat numerous teams in the race for his signature.

In other news: Villa suffer transfer blow despite having target through the door, find out more here. 

Mark Warburton’s Queens Park Rangers head into their penultimate Championship fixture of the season on Saturday with nothing more than pride at stake.

Following their 3-1 defeat to Norwich City last weekend, QPR find themselves occupying 10th place in the table, 15 points behind sixth-placed Barnsley and 23 points above Rotherham United in 22nd.

As such, the Rs’ upcoming clash with fellow mid-table side Stoke City this Saturday does not have a great deal riding on it, but Warburton would still want to see his team leave the Bet365 Stadium with a result in order to finish as high up the table as possible.

So, will the 58-year-old be making any changes to his starting XI? Here’s our predicted XI, along with the latest team and injury news…

In terms of injuries, both Luke Amos and Charlie Owens remain sidelined for Warburton’s side, while defensive midfielder Geoff Cameron is also a doubt.

As for the starting XI, we expect there to be two changes from the team which lined up against Norwich last week, as well as a slight tweak in QPR’s formation.

Having been brought off at half-time after a distinctly average performance against the Canaries, George Thomas drops to the bench for the clash with the Potters. His replacement last Saturday, 22-year-old Sam Field, takes his starting spot this time around.

Meanwhile, Charlie Austin also makes a return to the starting XI following his impressive second half cameo against Daniel Farke’s side, taking the place of Christopher Willock in a move which sees a change in formation from 3-4-2-1 to 3-4-1-2, with the 31-year-old partnering Lyndon Dykes up top.

In other news: Get it done: Bhatia must seal QPR swoop for £1.8m-rated ace who “works his socks off” – opinion

Many West Ham United fans have been left to laud a transfer update from ExWHUemployee on Tammy Abraham.

Writing on Patreon, the East London club insider has claimed that the Chelsea ace is now the Hammers’ number one striker target in the summer transfer window.

David Moyes’ team are in desperate need of some cover up top for Michail Antonio, and the England international could well fit the bill at the London Stadium.

Abraham has scored no fewer than 12 goals and made a further six assists in 30 games in total over all competitions across the 2020/21 term so far (Transfermarkt), and at just 23 years of age, will only get better.

They would also of course be weakening one of their rivals in the Premier League – based on this year’s top four battle – and strengthening their own squad in the process.

West Ham fans on Abraham transfer update

These Irons lauded the transfer update on Abraham on Twitter (via West Ham Central), with one WHUFC supporter even going as far as to claim that it was ‘unreal’:

“Happily have Tammy at the club. I’d be super happy with him, Lingard and a CB for signings in the summer”

Credit: @RamdogUK

“@Callum_Tyrie YESSSS!!!”
Credit: @craigtyrie

“Would be more than happy with that.”

Credit: @uptonspark17

“This excites me”

Credit: @westham_bubble

“That would be unreal”

Credit: @JimmyMundee

“I’d take him all day long”

Credit: @TommyBUpdates

“No brainer. Young, Hungry, Eager to play. Moyes making the right move here”

Credit: @whu_sam13

In other news, find out who Hammers want as a potential ‘Noble replacement’ here!

Marcelo Bielsa has been gifted a big boost with the news that his captain Liam Cooper is back in Leeds training, following an absence through illness.

The 29-year-old has been a stalwart for the Whites since joining from Chesterfield back in 2014, making 220 appearances for the club.

Cooper skippered Leeds back into the Premier League after last season’s Championship triumph and he has continued to be a key man in 2020/21.

The centre-back has missed his side’s last two outings due to illness, however – the goalless home draw with Chelsea and the 2-1 win away to Fulham.

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Cooper returns to training

It looks as though Cooper has overcome his problem, though, with Leeds Live reporting that he was back in training on Friday.

That means the captain is in contention to start next Saturday’s visit of bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, as Marcelo Bielsa and his players reconvene after the international break.

Transfer Tavern take

Bielsa could have a potential centre-back dilemma on his hands for the Blades game, with Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk performing well in the last two games.

That being said, Cooper should still return to the starting lineup, with the Englishman proving how influential he is over a long period of time.

In other news, one Leeds star is reportedly on his way out of the exit door this summer – find out who it is here.

With Celtic’s season as good as done, they can start preparing for next term.
It will be a vital summer for the Hoops, one where they’ll welcome a new manager, a new CEO and a director of football.

What’s the word?

Crucial to Celtic’s future will be the upcoming transfer window. A mass 12-man exodus could occur if you take on board The Athletic’s predictions but they have already signed Liam Shaw on a pre-contract.
Another player who could arrive is Motherwell’s Allan Campbell. Speaking on the latest episode of A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Colin Watt said:
“Someone I’d love to see us pick up – and I believe he’s actually available right now to sign a pre-contract – is Allan Campbell at Motherwell. I think the guy’s got a really big future ahead of him.
“He’s obviously played alongside [David] Turnbull before. And I think he could be the next Scott Brown in that position. He plays a sort of box-to-box the way that Brown did in his younger years.
“And I think as he develops, he’ll drop deeper and deeper into the pitch and he offers a lot. If you had the choice between him and Ferguson, for me, it would be Allan Campbell.”

Imagine him and Soro

If Celtic do indeed end up pursuing the 22-year-old, it would be great news for supporters.
Campbell has been one of the most consistent members of the Motherwell side this term and is incredibly highly rated in various circles.
The midfielder has been capped 24 times by Scotland U21s and although he is yet to get a senior call-up, the chances of achieving that would surely be elevated if he moves to Parkhead.
Though, there’d be plenty of positives for the Bhoys too. That’s because as Watt describes, the 22-year-old plays in a similar way to Brown did when he was younger. Furthermore, he also plays a bit like a certain Aston Villa and Scotland midfielder.
“John McGinn has obviously progressed really quickly but there are definite similarities. I remember playing against him and Kenny McLean and thinking that the two boys could go somewhere,” Motherwell assistant Keith Lasley once said.
Possessing plenty of energy and athleticism, he could create a scintillating partnership with someone like Ismaila Soro.
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The Ivorian had to wait patiently for his chance at Celtic once he got time on the pitch, he was exceptional. The midfielder is a tough tackler and made as many as ten successful challenges in the club’s win over Lille in the Europa League.
Campbell is very much cut from a similar cloth. He’s made two tackles per game in the SPFL this term, a tally that’s coincidentally identical to Soro’s.
With the two of them playing in the same midfield, Celtic would undeniably be a tougher team to break down. For a unit who have conceded 14 more goals than Rangers in the league, this should be music to the ears of the Green Brigade.

AND in other news, Forget Brown: Celtic must unleash never-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “breath of fresh air”…

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have hit out at Trezeguet’s first half display against Tottenham on social media.

Dean Smith made two changes from the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United last time out, with Morgan Sanson and Matty Cash coming in for Jacob Ramsey and Ahmed Elmohamady respectively.

Trezeguet kept his place in the side, making his 11th Premier League start of the current campaign on Sunday night and his 20th appearance in all competitions.

However, his first half display didn’t hit the right note with some supporters, who took to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the Egypt international.

Villa fans react

The 26-year-old began on the left-hand side of a front three alongside Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore, coming up against Spurs’ Japhet Tanganga, with one fan comparing the clash between the two as to ‘League One’ level.

In the first half at Villa Park, the 26-year-old failed to register a shot or win an aerial duel, while also recording fewer than 10 accurate passes (SofaScore).

This is what some Villa fans had to say about the wide man’s performance in the first 45, with one describing it as ‘abysmal’.

“Trezeguet running around like a competition winner again”

Credit: @Okay170

“I really don’t enjoy being negative or slagging players, and I know we are missing Jack but Trezeguet is such an awful player! I genuinely don’t think he brings anything to table, very few players have ever left me feeling as frustrated in the 30 odd years I’ve been watching”

Credit: @AVFCRichard

“Trezeguet is abysmal”

Credit: @tomk1874

“Can someone please help me understand why @Trezeguet is preferred to El Ghazi? #avfc”

Credit: @GMP4AVFC

“Trezeguet vs Tanganga has League 1 vibes”

Credit: @vizzy9

“Other than effort, Trezeguet isn’t offering anything for us! #avfc”

Credit: @Mattes21_avfc

In other news: Many Villa fans make their feelings known at transfer update on 2020 target, find out more here. 

عبر جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة الجديد، فيران توريس، عن سعادته الشديدة بعد الانتقال الرسمي إلى العملاق الكتالوني قادمًا من صفوف مانشستر سيتي.

ووقع توريس على عقوده الرسمية مع برشلونة صباح اليوم في حضور رئيس النادي، خوان لابورتا، حتى يونيو 2027 براتب سنوي قيمته 5.5 مليون يورو بعد موافقة اللاعب على تخفيضه.

اقرأ أيضًا | جارسيا: خسارة ريال مدريد مهمة.. وبرشلونة يدين بالفوز على مايوركا لـ تير شتيجن

🔵🔴 ¡Ferran Torres pisa por primera vez el Camp Nou con la camiseta azulgrana!

¿Os ilusiona? 💭 pic.twitter.com/IfQkjrYugJ — Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) January 3, 2022

وأجرى توريس حوارًا مع قناة “برشلونة” الرسمية، وقال: “سعيد لوجودي هنا، كان استقبال جميع اللاعبين رائعًا ومتحمس ومستعد للمنافسة لأنني شخص طموح”.

وتابع: “لدي بعض الأصدقاء من برشلونة بالفعل، وألعب الآن في أفضل نادٍ في العالم وسنقاتل على الألقاب في كل موسم”.

وعن مركزه المفضل: “الجناح الأيمن، لكن يمكنني اللعب في أي مركز يريد المدرب”.

وكشف توريس عن أول مرة تواصل برشلونة فيها معه: “وكيل أعمالي اتصل بي بعد مباراة إسبانيا وإيطاليا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية وبعد ذلك تغير كل شيء”.

وإصابته: “أتدرب بشكل فردي في الوقت الحالي، لأكون جاهزًا للمباريات، يمكنني القول إنه يمكنني بدء اللعب في غضون أسبوعين”.

وأضاف: “الفوز على ريال مايوركا بالأمس كان مهمًا للغاية، كانت ثلاث نقاط يحتاجها الفريق، لا يمكننا انتظار المباراة القادمة، أعلم أن فريقنا شاب وأنا هنا لأبذل كل ما في وسعي لمواصلة تطور برشلونة”.

وعن مانشستر سيتي: “أحد أفضل الأندية في العالم، لكني شخص طموح ومن الصعب الانتقال إلى هنا والانضمام إلى فريق يضم شبابًا ولكن وجود تشافي وحديثي معه وشعوري بحبه لي، جعل القرار سهلًا”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “كان لدي مدربون رائعون مثل بيب جوارديولا، لويس إنريكي والآن تشافي، أنا محظوظ لوجود هؤلاء المدربين في مسيرتي، وبما أنني لعبت مع بيب سيكون من السهل التأقلم هنا في برشلونة”.