All posts by z3u9t.icu

2021 is the year of mass change for Celtic. They are currently without a manager and soon, they will be replacing their CEO as well.

Neil Lennon is no longer at the club while Peter Lawwell is set to retire in a few months time, being replaced by Dominic McKay. However, new faces at Parkhead won’t stop there.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, Celtic are closing in on the appointment of Fergal Harkin as their brand new director of football.

Sources have told the outlet that a deal to bring the Irishman to Parkhead is 90% done.

He has spent 11 years within the Manchester City recruitment team but Celtic have been trying to lure him to Glasgow over the last few months.

This comes with the club making landmark attempts to restructure and modernise their hierarchy.

Nick Hammond is currently head of football operations but he looks set to leave his post with a new director of football role being created.

Harkin is set to be followed through the door by a new chief scout and a plethora of analysts.

Desmond will be buzzing

Even if Celtic are yet to hire a new manager, this will come as major news for supporters and indeed for majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.

He has been desperate to revamp the hierarchy and this would be the first step in doing so.

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Harkin has a brilliant reputation too, one that could help solve one of the biggest underlying issues at the football club right now.

The 44-year-old is currently Man City’s partnerships manager and has been described as a bit of a transfer guru for the work he’s done.

He also has a large role in looking after the young players that walk through the exit door on loan at City.

The department, which he heads up, includes two video analysts, a psychologist, a nutritionist, a physiotherapist and a strength and conditioning coach.

He has helped develop talents like City first-teamer Oleksandr Zinchenko while he’s also guided both Olivier Ntcham and Patrick Roberts, two players who have featured in the famous green and white over recent years.

With this in mind, he could help stem the tide in terms of young players leaving Parkhead. Cameron Harper has already joined New York Red Bulls while Armstrong Oko-Flex and Karamoko Dembele are out of contract at the end of the season.

With a bit of extra care and love from a figure like Harkin, younger players may see a more vibrant future for themselves in Glasgow. This has the potential to be a great appointment from Desmond.

AND in other news, Better than Christie: Celtic made error selling “quick” Rodgers gem with 65 key passes…

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has revealed that Glasgow Rangers have failed to match UEFA’s wage-to-turnover ratio this season.

Maguire reveals UEFA issue

The Gers have spent £43.3m on wages across the 2020/21 campaign, which represents 73% of their turnover – UEFA want clubs to hit 70% or below.

However, speaking to Football Insider, Maguire believes the Gers have actually done well this term given the effects of the ongoing global pandemic. He said:

“The UEFA target rate is below 70 per cent. But given that the 74 per cent contains an element of Covid in the sense that they weren’t able to play all matches last season in front of a paying crowd.

“It would have been lower if that wasn’t the case. So I think it’s a pretty decent achievement all-round.

“West Ham’s was 94 per cent, Everton’s was 91 per cent and we’re seeing some horrendous numbers coming through south of the border.

“Given that the Scottish clubs are more reliant on ticket sales than English clubs because the TV deal is worth much less, it’s good work from Rangers.”

Still promising

Normally, those figures would be particularly alarming for Ross Wilson and co, and even in this current climate they will want to improve on those numbers as soon as possible. However, as Maguire explains, the Gers have been deprived of having fans at Ibrox, which is an important source of income for the 55-time Scottish champions.

An appearance in the Champions League group stage next season would only boost the Gers’ coffers. This is a promising time to be a Rangers fan or to be involved with the club – everyone must work to make sure the Gers remain on top of their finances.

In other news, some Rangers fans hammered this man’s performance against Celtic.

The upcoming transfer window could be the perfect time for Crystal Palace to wave goodbye to a costly arrival.

According to Correire dello Sport, centre-back Mamadou Sakho is on a list of potential summer targets for Serie A giants Lazio alongside the likes of Arsenal’s David Luiz and Chelsea’s Thiago Silva.

Out of contract at the end of the season after four years as a permanent Eagles player, Palace should certainly not fight too hard to keep the Frenchman at Selhurst Park.

Having arrived from Liverpool, initially on-loan, Sakho has endured a rollercoaster period with the club.

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He has, at points, been an excellent option at the back for Roy Hodgson, specifically during the 2018/19 season where he played 27 times in the Premier League alone as the club finished 12th in the standings.

However, he has also endured frustrating injury problems, having missed a total of 67 matches through injury, whilst he has only appeared on six occasions throughout the current campaign.

For context, the defender has only actually appeared on 75 occasions for the club in his four years at the club since arriving for what was a reported fee of £26m from Liverpool.

As a result, Sakho has now fallen considerable down the pecking order, finding himself behind the likes of Gary Cahill, Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott Dann and James Tomkins for a starting berth at centre-back.

Considering that lack of action then, the £6.3m-rated French international has certainly not justified his £100k per-week wages at Selhurst Park.

With Lazio then now swooping for his signature, Palace now have the perfect opportunity to let him go as opposed to extending his contract.

It really now could be time then, for the Eagles to wave goodbye to Sakho in the upcoming transfer window.

AND in more news, Palace have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Aaron Ramsey…

Many Wolves fans were heavily critical towards forward Adama Traore during their Premier League clash against local rivals Aston Villa.

The 25-year-old started on the left-hand side of an attacking three but found himself interchanging with Pedro Neto during certain moments of the game.

Traore has been heavily linked with a move away from Molineux and was slated by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp before the kick-off, astonished that he has not made any goal contributions during the 2020/21 campaign.

Last season, Wolves slapped a £70m price tag on the Spaniard’s head as both Liverpool and Manchester City were interested in his services.

Despite his slump in form, Traore still managed to secure his first set of international caps for Spain, but we suspect the club won’t get such a hefty fee if they decide to cash in this time around.

With all this in mind, supporters lambasted Traore and believe that he has lost interest in playing for Wolves, as you can see below.

Traore in Molineux bad books

“What’s the point of Adama?”

Credit: @csayers83

“Has Adama Traore forgotten he is the fastest player on the pitch?? The man doesn’t want to run this first half”

Credit: @craiglewis1993

“Unless Traore gets the ball to feet he’s useless, offers zero off the ball movement, sooner Podence back the better, Traore is an impact sub only, such a waste of talent, if he hasn’t developed a footballing brain by now I don’t think he ever will.”

Credit: @jamiewalters23

“Maybe Traore could move more, get into space to actually receive a pass”

Credit: @Ashbe_87

“Traore….you really selling yourself at the moment! Dream move back to the championship on the cards !!”

Credit: @Pukkawolf

“Doesn’t offer anything always wants the ball to feet and if he doesn’t get in he doesn’t care. When he gets the ball he either gets fouled gives it away or kicks it out”

Credit: @Jackbar83877495

In other news, Tim Spiers responds to Wolves exit rumours regarding ‘outstanding’ gem.

This January has already proven to be a testing time for Leeds United.

They are yet to win, yet to score and have conceded seven goals in three outings. On top of that, they were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of League Two Crawley Town.

Evidently, this has not been a good start to the year, but fortunately, Victor Orta could turn the tide with a few additions late in the window.

Given there are just a matter of days before the market closes, it feels unlikely that Leeds will be too active.

After all, Marcelo Bielsa likes working with a small squad and after the ordeals with Dan James and Jean-Kevin Augustin, United prefer incomings in the summer.

Though, what if Leeds did sign a few of their reported targets? Well, there are three players on their radar that could join and if they arrive at Elland Road, here’s how the Whites’ starting XI may look.

The first thing you’ll notice is that Patrick Bamford is still leading the line. Leeds have been linked with Montpellier’s Andy Delort but the Englishman is the club’s undisputed number 9.

Behind him though is one change. Despite being a favourite of Bielsa and missing just one league game under the Argentine, Mateusz Klich drops out. That’s because Erick Pulgar could walk through the door before the deadline closes.

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FFC have already spoken about how he could be a perfect Klich successor and the latest on the Fiorentina midfielder’s situation is that Leeds could sign him on loan.

We’re tipping two changes to be made defensively. French left-back Jordan Amavi – once of Aston Villa – was touted with a switch over the weekend.

If he does sign, it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see him usurp Gjanni Alioski pretty quickly. That’s because he’s far better statistically and also has Premier League experience to boot.

The final change is at centre-back, a problem position for Leeds this season. Over the festive period they had Liam Cooper, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente all out. Therefore, we reckon defensive target Loic Bade could come straight in at the heart of the defence.

The youngster is currently at Lens but is an eye-catching centre-back, one capable of replacing the qualities Pontus Jansson left behind.

AND in other news, Orta masterclass: Leeds could end a 4-year problem with swoop for £25k-p/w beast…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has delivered a major injury boost ahead of his side’s Europa League clash against Benfica tonight, revealing Thomas Partey could be set for a return.

What’s the story?

The Ghana international has endured an injury-hit debut campaign in English football following his arrival from Atletico Madrid last summer, playing just 11 times in the Premier League.

The £45m-rated star was forced off with a hamstring problem in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa earlier this month, but ahead of the Gunners’ crunch Europa League second leg tie against Benfica, Arteta has confirmed his midfield talisman is set to be back.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Gunners boss said: “Thomas is very close. He’s got a final test today (23rd) in training. If he’s feeling good, he will be available to play the match.”

Arteta surely buzzing

Given Partey was his big major summer acquisition, Arteta must no doubt ruing his luck at having to see the midfielder miss a tonne of games this season.

The Ghanaian has shown flashes of the kind of quality he can bring to the table when fit and firing, not least in his impressive performance in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign – Roy Keane even dubbed him Arsenal’s next Patrick Vieira.

So for Arteta to have him back for tonight’s game against Benfica, where it really is all or nothing for Arsenal given their predicament in the Premier League, will come as a massive boost and relief for the Gunners boss.

It would be fair to surmise that Jesse Lingard’s recent loan move to Manchester United has been pivotal in his career.

The Red Devils midfielder moved to West Ham United in the January transfer window in an effort to revive his stuttering career.

Having not made a single Premier League appearance for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020/21, though, he has enjoyed an instant impact in the capital, bagging four goals and providing two assists.

Former Manchester United manager and current Irons boss David Moyes has hailed the 28-year-old’s “quality” due to his exciting performances for his adoptive employers.

Despite the terms of his loan deal ruling him out for the teams’ meeting on Sunday night, Lingard could fire a stark reminder to Solskjaer about his importance to not only West Ham but also to the Red Devils.

Since the £9m-rated winger arrived in London, the Hammers have only lost one match, with Lingard’s goals alone being worth four points already. Without him, Moyes’ men would more than likely not be in contention for the top four.

In fact, since Lingard arrived, the Hammers’ goalscoring rate has increased from 1.6 per game to 1.8.

It is that form which has triggered reminders of Lingard’s thrilling 2017/18 season under Jose Mourinho. Throughout that campaign, he was a key performer as the Red Devils finished second in the table, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in the process.

His goals throughout the campaign were actually worth seven points to the Red Devils. Without Lingard, they would have finished as low as fourth.

In not lining up for the opposition, Lingard could actually show Solskjaer that he is deserving of a first team place at United should his teammates struggle to create opportunities to score, such has been his impact on the Hammers.

He could find it tough to break in once again once he returns to Old Trafford, but his form could convince Solskjaer that the Red Devils were slightly too quick to jettison him.

In more news, a swoop for AS Roma’s Mancini could see a current Red Devils star thrive…

According to The Guardian, Arsenal are tracking Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon ahead of a potential transfer move.

What’s the story?

With Mikel Arteta in the midst of his first full season in charge at the Emirates, the Spaniard is slowly starting to build the kind of squad that he wants, with plenty of incomings and outgoings already.

Now, The Guardian claim that Solomon is a player that he is  eyeing ahead of making an offer in the summer transfer window, and they report that Arsenal “have held initial talks with the player’s camp, having scouted him heavily, and may firm up their interest during pre-season”.

Bye-bye Pepe

When Nicolas Pepe arrived from Arsenal in a club-record deal from Lille in the summer of 2019, the expectations on his shoulders were massive, and understandably so given the transfer fee involved.

But with a return of just 13 goals in 63 games for the club, and with him still not having established himself as a first-team player at the Emirates, things just haven’t quite worked out yet for the Ivory Coast international.

In fact, reports back in late November even suggested that Arsenal were ready to cut their losses on him and move him after just over a year at the club.

If Solomon arrives, then that really could be the final nail in the coffin for the former Lille star. The Shakhtar flier has been described as an “Eden Hazard type” by his former national team manager at Israel, Andy Herzog, and when you look at his performances in the Champions League this season in particular, you can see why.

Like the Belgian, the £6.3m-rated Solomon turns up for the big games, as proven by him scoring in both of Shakhtar’s group stage victories over Real Madrid. The 21-year-old is direct and always looking to penetrate, much like Hazard in his pomp, and he averaged 2.7 successful dribbles per game at an astonishing accuracy of 80%.

Compare that to Pepe this season in the Premier League, who has averaged a measly 0.7 dribbles at a success rate of 53%, and it’s clear that Solomon has more to offer when it comes to beating his opposition defender.

Shakhtar’s head of recruitment, Boto, described him as someone with “real quality”, and if the winger, who can play both on the left and right-hand sides comes to the Emirates this summer, then it could well spell very bad news for Pepe and his long-term future at Arsenal.

Arteta wasn’t at Arsenal when Pepe was signed, so if his recruitment staff are holding talks with another winger, it just might hint that he’s ready to search for a replacement for the man Unai Emery brought to the Emirates.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are eyeing up a move for this midfielder Unai Emery wanted…

Glasgow Rangers’ 4-0 rout of Aberdeen at the weekend has taken Steven Gerrard’s side 11 points clear of Celtic at the top of the Premiership.

Ryan Kent opened the scoring with a long-range deflected shot, before Kemar Roofe doubled the score with a well-timed finish.

Scott Arfield added the third after the break and James Tavernier scored from the penalty spot to extend their winning streak to seven games in all competitions. Whilst much of the focus will be on Kent’s heroics, Roofe’s performance should not be forgotten about either.

Rangers signed Roofe from Belgian side Anderlecht for an undisclosed fee on a four-year-deal in the summer after he scored seven times in sixteen games for the Brussels club.

The 27-year-old sealed a 2-0 victory over Standard Liege in the Europa League with an astonishing goal from inside his own half. However, he was then criticised for his lacklustre display against Lech Poznan last month, which led to some questioning his credentials.

But Roofe has been in fine form in recent weeks, with three goals in his past two games, which will no doubt have gone some way towards silencing the critics.

Per SofaScore, he received a high rating of 7.2 out of ten for his endeavours against Aberdeen – he took one shot on target, took 37 touches of the ball, made one successful dribble attempt, completed 19 out of 23 passes (83%), and won three out of his five ground duels, whilst he also made one interception and was fouled once, which shows that he was a thorn in Derek McInnes’ side throughout the game.

Sky Sports named him their Man of the Match for his efforts, whilst GlasgowLive gave him the same score of 8/10, claiming he ‘was excellent throughout and is now a first pick in the Rangers team.’

Once lauded by Gerrard for his “world class” individual moment of brilliance, the uncapped Jamaica international is giving Gers fans a glimpse of what he can do on a regular basis, with his former teammate Barry Douglas insisting he is a “real talent.”

He has now scored six goals and supplied one assist in eleven games in all competitions for the Gers so far this season.

With Alfredo Morelos making his frustrations apparent after throwing a tantrum during the game against Aberdeen, the Ibrox boss should be reassured by the fact he has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal.

AND in other news, Zungu beware: Glasgow Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield sends Steven Gerrard timely reminder…

DeAndre Yedlin was Steve Bruce’s true hero against Fulham on Saturday as the Newcastle United defender earned his first start of the Premier League season.

Bruce introduced a raft of changes to the Magpies’ line-up from the side that was humiliated at Leeds United during the week, with Jamal Lewis, Jacob Murphy, Jeff Hendrick, Isaac Hayden and Ryan Fraser all dropping out.

The alterations failed to do the trick in the most part, with Newcastle relying on a 64th-minute penalty from Callum Wilson to salvage a point at home to Scott Parker’s relegation-threatened Fulham, who played the final half-hour of the St. James’ Park affair with 10-men.

Wilson’s defeat-preventing goal, his eighth strike of the season and first in December, was not enough to see the £20million summer arrival from AFC Bournemouth end the game as Bruce’s hero, though, having seen Yedlin claim that honour.

Bruce has been opposed to fielding Yedlin for much of the season with the United States international omitted from nine of his side’s 12 Premier League matchday plans before facing Fulham, when he earned his first start of the campaign outside of the Carabao Cup.

Yedlin looked rusty having played only four minutes in the top-flight this term, yet the £30,000-per-week speedster, who could be sold in January to avoid him leaving for free next summer, offered plenty of positives to emerge as Bruce’s true hero.

The £4.5m-rated full-back consistently made himself available and called for the ball to show Bruce and Newcastle what he’s still capable of, while standing up defensively with three clearances and three interceptions, per SofaScore.

Yedlin’s final ball often let him down on Saturday with only one of his five crosses finding a teammate in the box, but that failed to dent his confidence as the 27-year-old continued to push forward and saw his efforts return one key ball and 60 touches.

He additionally connected with three of five long balls, 33 of his total 41 passes, won his sole aerial battle and contended three ground duels.

Yedlin was not at his best by any means given his limited game time this season, but his relentless work and willingness to challenge would have left Bruce with plenty to mull over ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final trip to Brentford.

AND in other news: “No point him going to Spurs” – Exclusive: Rob Lee drops huge claim on Newcastle star’s future.