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Newcastle United were reportedly close to signing Arkadiusz Milik, according to football journalist Vincenzo Morabito.

Speaking to Calcio Napoli 24, he claimed that the St. James’ Park faithful made a transfer offer of €20m (£17.3m), but Napoli considered his value to be around €25-30m (£21.6-25.9m).

It is not specified when the North East club made their offer, but what is for sure is that they were only a few million pounds away from matching their valuation and potentially securing his signature.

Newcastle should sign Milik

The Tyneside club should come back in for Milik in the summer transfer window should he become available to be purchased.

The Poland international is a born goal scorer, with a total of no fewer than 133 (Transfermarkt) senior goals scored for both club and country combined over the course of his footballing career so far.

His old manager for the Polish national team Jerzy Brzeczek described him as an ‘incredible’ player back in November of last year, and England fans may be able to take a better glimpse of him when they play each other in an upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Nonetheless, the 27-year-old could well serve as a decent back-up striker to Callum Wilson and thus ease the goal-scoring burden off of the former AFC Bournemouth ace, or even play in a front two together.

In other news, find out what big claim has been dropped on Rafa Benitez and the potential takeover here!

Whoever replaces Neil Lennon as Celtic manager will have an almighty task on their hands.

Fans will be demanding and expectant after a torrid campaign that will soon see them relinquish their grasp on the SPFL title.

Their biggest rivals are ahead of them by 15 points and now without a permanent head coach, the future is rather uncertain for the Bhoys.

That could be a positive, though, especially with Peter Lawwell departing in the summer when he retires. Fresh ideas could be exactly what the team and indeed, the hierarchy, needs.

So will be the new man in the hot seat? Well, a number of names have been touted including Roberto Martinez and Frank Lampard.

Another name to be linked with the job is Preston boss Alex Neil. Football FanCast’s regular guest voice Steve Howey exclusively told us last month; “I think he would like that job. Given the fact he’s Scottish, I think he would take it.”

Indeed, it would surely be hard for Neil to turn down a job as big as Celtic. He is just 39 and although young, we’ve already seen fresh faces such as his achieve big things in the game.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is in his 30s and has won the FA Cup while another young coach dreaming big is RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann.

Of course, Neil doesn’t possess the same sort of pedigree but it shows there are benefits to fresh and young thinking. Certainly, the Preston boss could help bring something new to Parkhead, particularly in the way of meticulously thinking and preparing.

Former Hoops goalkeeper Jonathan Gould raved about the manager earlier this week. He told The Glasgow Times: “Alex’s detail, the way he prepares his teams, is impeccable. I have had the privilege of working with a lot of good managers as a player and as a coach. Alex is one of the few coaches who can come up with his strategy on a Monday and can translate that onto a football field on a Saturday.

“He doesn’t do it just by using a whiteboard or a PowerPoint, he does by coaching the lads from Monday to Friday. It is quite a rare quality. It says a lot about him as a student of the game and how much he thinks about football. He has got a certain quality that has seen him be successful.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-on-celtics-managerial-vacancy” title=”Check out the latest on Celtic’s managerial vacancy!”]

You’d expect a modern-day manager to be adept on the training field but with Lennon, that’s often been one part of his repertoire that’s seemingly failed him.

Of course, the Hoops still won the treble under his stewardship last season but everything has come crashing back down to earth this term. Charlie Nicholas thinks that could be because of what’s happened behind closed doors at Lennoxtown.

He said back in December: “For me, Celtic have went lazy. Not just with the signings but in the way they’ve went about it,” he began.

Nicholas continued: “This is not a punishment for Neil Lennon, in terms of what I’m saying here, but they were coached every day without fail by Brendan Rodgers, thorough in every way he went about it.

“But then Neil has changed it a little bit and it doesn’t really look to have a fluency or rhythm. They’re awkward on the ball, Europe has been a problem.”

Forget the results, this alone should have sent shockwaves through the Celtic hierarchy, particularly when Lennon was still using elements of what Rodgers had put in place.

Simon Ferry revealed last year: “I know they still do Brendan Rodgers training, which worries me. If you’re the manager, you can’t be doing someone else’s thing, you need to do what you want to do.”

Thus, Neil has the potential to be game-changing. He is adept on the training pitch and as Gould says, he can translate what happens throughout the week into a match day.

Having someone as capable of him actually coaching players should improve their chances of reclaiming former glories.

Under Lennon, high-quality coaching was evidently lacking on a far too frequent basis.

AND in other news, Forget Klimala: Celtic should unleash “powerful” rarely-seen gem next season instead…

Liverpool’s owners insist that they did all they could to reinforce the squad during the January transfer window, as per a report from Chris Bascombe in The Telegraph.

The Reds tied up deadline day deals for two centre-halves amid their injury crisis, signing Schalke’s Ozan Kabak and Preston’s Ben Davies.

Kabak arrived on loan from Germany with an option to buy and has looked slightly jittery in his five appearances. Davies, meanwhile, joined for £1.6m and has yet to make his Liverpool debut more than a month on from the transfer.

Long before the transfer window, Joel Matip was left as the last remaining fit senior centre-back, and he is notoriously injury-prone. However, the Reds left it late to strengthen, and their unravelling had already begun with defeats against Southampton and Burnley in January.

The reigning champions are now staring at the possibility of a 2021/22 campaign without Champions League or maybe even any European football, and these disillusioned Kopites weren’t impressed with FSG’s transfer stance:

These Liverpool fans are having none of FSG’s defiance

“Staggering. It’s around about this time we hear about the annual ‘war chest’ only to end up selling to buy, as per.”

Credit: @aaron_cutler

“2m and we’re meant to believe that’s everything possible, no wonder we’re the laughing stock of league atm”

Credit: @MikeNew1106

“£120million net investment over 5 seasons under Klopp is derisory, that level of investment would get you two fullbacks in the Man City squad, Jurgen has worked miracles with an aging squad and FSG clearly failed to support him in January by not purchasing a top class CB.”

Credit: @liverheart

“These owners seriously need to go. We have no chance of competing for top honours.”

Credit: @RedLiver1973

“Who they trying to kid. November 10th there’s 1 fit senior cb at the club. Doing “everything they could” meant waiting til end of Jan to get a 20yr old on loan and a championship cb for sum total of 2m.”

Credit: @nkl77

“Nonsense. Buy two very ordinary defenders in the midst of a defensive crisis & believe they did all they can. FSG has taken the club as far as they possibly can. We need heavy investment into the team this summer but in reality it’ll be 20m plus whatever they sell Salah for.”

Credit: @mightyreds88

“Rubbish. They let Klopp down. Spent nothing after winning League & Champions League, being out spent by £100M by promoted sides. Covid losses have affected every club not only Liverpool as they like to spin their lack of investment over the past few yrs. Time to back Klopp & spend.”

Credit: @LFCAnfieldRd

“Get them gone if this is true”

Credit: @SeventySixRole

In other news, these Liverpool fans react to Champions League boost.

Crystal Palace have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of Marseille left-back Jordan Amavi.

What’s the word?

Reports in recent months revealed that Roy Hodgson’s side were looking at Amavi as a potential replacement for out-of-contract defender Patrick Van Aanholt.

And now, Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud has indicated that Amavi can leave the Orange Velodrome this month amid interest from Palace, according to RMC Sport.

It’s claimed that contract talks between the French club and Amavi have stalled, with the defender likely to leave the Olympians in the summer.

Ideal Van Aanholt replacement

Van Aanholt actually finds himself in a similar position as he remains locked in a stalemate with Palace over extending his deal, so making a move for the Frenchman now makes sense.

It’s fair to say that transfers on any scale are no easy process – in fact, so much goes on behind the scenes that they can be quite a headache. So if Steve Parish wants to find cover and competition for Tyrick Mitchell and give Hodgson another option if Van Aanholt departs Selhurst Park, snapping up the 26-year-old could be a shrewd move.

Evidently, Thauvin has very little control when it comes to Amavi’s future – in fact, he’s even issued an ultimatum – so Palace could take advantage of the situation by lowballing the French Ligue 1 club.

Signing Amavi would give Palace a significant upgrade on Van Aanholt, who has struggled for consistency this season – against Wolves, he was rated as the second-worst Eagles player on the pitch by SofaScore in the FA Cup defeat and that was a pretty good representation of his performances across the whole campaign.

If you take a closer look at the statistics, Amavi, who earns wages worth £25,000-per-week, has outperformed Van Aanholt defensively this season. He is currently averaging more clearances, interceptions and tackles per game than Van Aanholt. He was also described as being “quick and aggressive” by former Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood. Need we say more?

Palace have conceded 33 goals in the Premier League, which is the third-worst defensive record this season. Shoring up the back is imperative if Hodgson’s side are to escape a relegation battle at the end of the season so Amavi could be the perfect fit.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace still want to sign Ismaila Sarr despite Watford demands…

According to The Athletic’s Adam Leventhal, Sheffield Wednesday have approached Vladimir Ivic over the vacant managerial role at Hillsborough Stadium.

It’s claimed that representatives from the Owls made an enquiry to the unemployed 43-year-old boss at the end of December, around the time in which Tony Pulis was sacked after only 45 days at the helm.

The Serbian has been out of work since being fired himself at Championship rivals, Watford, though it is thought that he has remained in the UK, instead of returning to his home in Greece.

It is also thought that several teams have approached him across England and the Middle East, and Ivic is merely waiting for the right opportunity.

His short time at the Hornets should tell Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri all he needs to know about why this is a move that should be left at that approach.

Do not pursue him any more.

Ivic was described as “hard as nails, ruthless and a tough nut” upon his arrival at Vicarage Road in the summer, but that evidently didn’t correlate into results on the pitch.

He won nine of 20 matches, leaving them in fifth place but if the hierarchy at Watford didn’t think he was capable of leading them to glory with one of the most expensive squads in the division, then what’s to say he’d be fit for a relegation dogfight?

‘His overly defensive tactics have been unpopular with Watford fans, though, and the team’s style of play has not been easy on the eye,’ wrote the Guardian after his sacking.

Chansiri’s history with appointments should also provide clues into why Ivic should be avoided. Yes, there was a successful stint with Carlos Carvalhal, where the Owls finished in the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, but his successor Jos Luhukay was some sort of antichrist to that.

Under the Dutchman, they finished in their lowest position in four seasons in 15th, and before the same could be repeated, he was sacked by Christmas.

What the Owls need is someone experienced not only this level, but in keeping teams up. 20 games at Watford isn’t going to be enough to convince you otherwise.

When there are candidates like Paul Cook out there, a man who would have achieved back-to-back survival bids at Wigan but for a points deduction, then names like Ivic shouldn’t be considered.

It’s heading down an all too familiar and dangerous path.

If Chansiri is to listen to his advisors on this one, then Wednesday are on the verge of disaster.

AND in other news, 31 y/o “midfield enforcer” could be a game-changer for Sheffield Wednesday

When Arsenal signed Pablo Mari back in January earlier this year, there may have been some eyebrows raised as to why Raul Sanllehi and co had decided to loan in a 27-year-old defender who had failed to make the grade in European football.Things were then made even more questionable when despite going down with injury, the Gunners signed the Spaniard on a permanent basis, seemingly convinced by the few times that he actually took to the pitch.

Cameo Clubs: Which obscure teams did these football legends play for?

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Having made his return to fitness a few weeks ago, Arsenal have tried to slowly ease Mari back into first-team action, and he delivered arguably his most assured performance against Dundalk on Thursday night in the Europa League.

As per Sofascore, he won 100% of his duels on the night, and made two interceptions and tackles a piece too. And aside from being defensively disciplined, he also looked extremely assured on the ball too, boasting an impressive 95% pass accuracy and even providing one key pass too.

With Arsenal already boasting an impressive left-footed central defender in Gabriel, they don’t need Mari to be a regular starter for them. But they do know that if they have to call on him, they can completely rely on him to hold his own.

He may not be one of the more glamorous signings Arsenal have made in recent years, but he is one of the more shrewd ones.

According to the Daily Mirror, via West Ham News, the Hammers have been offered a chance to land Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka this month – prompting many supporters to beg GSB for the ‘best forward signing since Tevez’.

Daka has been linked with many top Premier League clubs, including Spurs in the summer, but now the Mirror report that West Ham could sign him this month as a replacement for Sebastien Haller.

The 22-year-old has stood out as an electric prospect in Austria and big clubs in Europe have taken note, but GSB could have to fork out in and around £25 million for his signature.

West Ham received around £20.25m for Haller following his confirmed move to Ajax, and it remains to be seen whether they do lodge a bid for Daka.

These supporters, however, appear desperate for his signing – find all of their best verdicts down below.

West Ham fans desperate for Daka signing

“Bringing this back since West Ham have been linked with Daka!

In a 3 with Bowen & Said feeding him, Rice & Soucek knocking things on or hitting long balls, this would be our best forward signing since Tevez”

Credit: @WhufcSloth

“@davidgold @jsullivanwhu @karren_brady @WestHam Please please please have a look at signing him”

Credit: @liamsouth007

“Him and Antonio together”

Credit: @whufc_rossjn3

“I’M ON MY KNEES”

Credit: @MuvSaid

“Omg I begggggg”

Credit: @joelitt78828048

“Pls do it”

Credit: @SznBenrahma

In other news: West Ham fans also flocked to this ‘best news’, find out more here.

Manchester United bounced back from the embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir with a thrilling 3-1 win over Everton away at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

It looked like it could be a long afternoon for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when the Toffees took the lead after Bernard found the bottom corner following a flick from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

However, the Red Devils turned the tide after Bruno Fernandes headed a cross from Luke Shaw to score his fifth goal of the season. Solskjaer’s side went ahead after a cross from Fernandes which was originally intended for Marcus Rashford ended up in the back of the net, before Edinson Cavani scored his first goal for the club in the closing stages of the game.

Several players like Fred and Luke Shaw were much improved from the midweek defeat in the Champions League but Bruno Fernandes was the real stand out.

It was only this week that we were criticising his poor performance against Istanbul Basaksehir. Well, we have to give credit where credit is due this time.

SofaScore gave Fernandes a high grade of 8.7 for his efforts – he had three shots on target, took 81 touches of the ball, and completed 39 out of 50 passes (78%), whilst he made three tackles and once clearance, which just goes to show that he contributed defensively as well.

It’s perhaps hardly surprising the 25-year-old received the same rating from Sky Sports, whilst The Manchester Evening News awarded him with the same score, claiming “his performance level rose again with a fine header and attempted cross that put United ahead” as he “upped the tempo and intensity” to win them the game.

Once called a “clever” player by Alan Shearer after the Red Devils ran riot over Newcastle last month, Fernandes finished the game at Goodison Park with two goals and an assist to his name.

If Solskjaer is to keep his job, amid recent reports linking Old Trafford chief Ed Woodward with a move for Mauricio Pochettino, we suspect the £72m-rated Portuguese magnifico may have a part to play.

AND in other news, Woodward heading for major Man Utd mistake with Hakan Calhanoglu…

Frank McAvennie believes that Filip Helander will be a big miss for Glasgow Rangers as he recovers following his positive coronavirus test.

Gers to miss Helander

The £1.44m-valued Sweden international (Transfermarkt) is unavailable to play against Standard Liege in the Europa League on Thursday after his positive test emerged last week.

Talking to Football Insider, McAvennie believes that the central defender will be missed by Steven Gerrard, but he has the squad to replace him. He said:

“He will be a miss for them because he has been tremendous this season.

“That whole team looks as if they have been worked on, back to front. They have put the hours in on the training ground and it shows, especially in the defence.

“Helander has been a stalwart and a big part of that success but when someone comes into the side they seem to slot in perfectly.

“The system stays the same, even if someone is injured. They work their socks off in training. Rangers keep it simple. It is so noticeable that they are a team.

“Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister have done very well.”

Should be able to cope

Gerrard would obviously prefer not to have players out at the moment as we enter a hectic December schedule – the Ibrox outfit will play nine times this month. However, the nature of Helander’s issue is short-term, and as soon as he tests negative and has finished his two-week self-isolation, he will once again be available.

In the meantime, Gerrard can rely on Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun to steer the ship. Both have appeared on a number of occasions so far this season, and the Gers still have a stellar defensive record, conceding just nine times in 23 matches. As the Gers look to book their spot in the Europa League round of 32 against Liege, the boss will have plenty of confidence in the players at his disposal.

In other news, this Rangers star has been tipped to leave the club.

Tottenham Hotspur have splashed the cash in the hunt to find viable replacements for Kyle Walker and then Kieran Trippier, but perhaps the answer was right under their nose all along.

He just needed a little nurturing.

Since 2017, the north London outfit have spent £23m on Serge Aurier and now £15m on Matt Doherty – a total nearing £40m is a pretty hefty investment and only goes to show how desperately they have missed the aforementioned England duo.

Two years prior to Walker’s mega-money move to Manchester City, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino sold Ryan Fredericks, then aged 22, to Bristol City for around £175,000, the same fee Fulham paid for him less than a month later.

He made just four senior appearances for the club and enjoyed loan spells in the Championship with Millwall and Middlesbrough between 2010 and 2015.

Where is Fredericks now?

Fredericks has since gone onto become a mainstay for local rivals West Ham United in the Premier League, where he has racked up a total of 45 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

His value now stands at £3.6m having hit a career-high £6.3m just a year ago, so it certainly seems like his exit from N17 was a little premature.

The 28-year-old isn’t as classy as a Sergio Reguilon or a Doherty, but he has proven to be a steady operator in the top-flight and prior to injury, looked to have been one of David Moyes’ best defenders.

Per WhoScored, Fredericks has averaged three key passes, 2.7 clearances, 1.7 interceptions and one tackle per game this season.

This puts him above Doherty, who has only managed 0.7 key passes and 2.3 clearances each appearance. They are both the same age, yet one was sold for £175k and the other cost £15m.

Fredericks’ recent form has led to temporary Hammers boss Alan Irvine praising him as “outstanding” and “fantastic”.

You can’t help but feel that if Pochettino brought him through gradually, then Spurs could have saved themselves millions, not just during the summer transfer window but many more, as he could have stepped up to fill the boots of Walker or Trippier – eventually.

AND in other news, Bruno Fernandes: Spurs truly missed out on a perfect Eriksen successor