All posts by n8rngtd.top

Celtic have had amazing success in the transfer market over the years as they have been able to identify quality young players and develop them into prized assets.

The Hoops have been able to rake in big fees for the likes of Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard, Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, and Kristoffer Ajer, just to name a few.

There could be members of Ange Postecoglou's current first-team squad who end up joining that list and one player with the potential to do so is central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

It has been reported that some Premier League clubs are keeping tabs on the American international with the view to a summer swoop for the enforcer.

He may not leave in the upcoming window but the interest in his services indicates that there is the possibility that Celtic will need to replace the 25-year-old in the foreseeable future.

Who could replace Cameron Carter-Vickers at Celtic?

Postecoglou could allay any fears about life after the centre-back departs by swooping to complete a deal for Xavier Mbuyamba in the coming weeks.

The 21-year-old, who currently plays for FC Volendam, is reportedly a transfer target for the Hoops heading into the summer and he could be the perfect heir to Carter-Vickers at Parkhead.

In the Eredivisie this season, the 6 foot 5 titan has played 26 matches and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02. The defender has also made 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game and won 52% of his individual duels.

Carter-Vickers, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.14 across 29 outings in the Scottish Premiership and made 1.6 tackles and interceptions per appearance.

The Celtic star has won 74% of his aerial battles in the top-flight and talent scout Jacek Kulig previously hailed Mbuyamba as a "dominant" and "elegant" defender whose heading ability is one of his strengths.

Whilst that has not been on full display this season, with the 21-year-old only winning 48% of his aerial contests in the Dutch division, it could be a skill that he develops at senior level with more experience.

Mbuyamba has already showcased, in the Eredivisie this term, his defensive qualities by making tackles and interceptions on a regular basis – over twice as many per game in comparison to Carter-Vickers – and improving his dominance in the air could take the Dutch gem to another level.

Therefore, Postecoglou could unearth the dream heir to the USMNT centre-back by signing the Volendam prospect, who is four years younger than the former Tottenham graduate, this summer and helping him to grow and develop in the years to come.

The signing of Kieran Dowell from Norwich City could just be the start for Rangers in the summer transfer window, according to a promising update from journalist Dean Jones.

Has Dowell joined Rangers?

Michael Beale will be well aware of the importance of the upcoming window, in terms of narrowing the gap between his Gers side and bitter adversaries Celtic. The Gers have battled hard all season long, in various completions, but have ended up coming up short in all of them.

For that reason, numerous new faces need to come in and enhance both the starting lineup and squad depth at Beale's disposal, making them a more fearsome proposition in the process.

Rangers have already made inroads in the transfer market, completing the signing of Dowell from Norwich earlier this week, with the midfielder enjoying a good 2022/23 campaign for the Canaries. The £7,500-a-week former Everton man scored five goals and chipped in with three assists in the Championship, proving to be an important squad figure.

The 25-year-old is someone who could make a big difference in the middle of the park, and his human qualities have been highlighted in the past, with Sheffield United fans describing his work with a terminally-ill young Blades supporter as "amazing" during his time at the club.

Could Dowell be the first of many signings?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones talked up Rangers' chances of snapping up more signings this summer after the arrival of Dowell:

"We know Beale has big plans for the summer. We could see five or six signings, so maybe this is one of the first."

While Dowell looks like a shrewd signing by Rangers this summer, it is also clear that more additions are required, if they are to get back to being Scottish Premiership champions, as was the case back in 2020/2021.

Depth all over the pitch is needed, with youngster Archie Brown a rumoured new target at left-back, for example, and as Jones alludes to, five or six new faces would aid Beale's ambitions and enhance their chances of future glories.

Dowell is certainly a good start, however, with the Englishman someone who has won 16 caps for both England's Under-21s and Under-20s sides, not to mention making five appearances for Everton during his time as a youngster, and appearing 21 times in the Premier League in total, showing that he can perform at the top level.

Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland could soon sign an extension at the Etihad, according a huge update regarding his future.

What is Haaland's current contract situation?

The Norwegian joined City last summer in arguably the most high-profile signing of the year, coming in on a contract earning him £375,000 per week. He hasn't disappointed, with so much expected of him when he came in, producing one of the greatest individual seasons in English football history.

Haaland scored 36 goals in just 33 starts in the Premier League, as well as 12 in ten in the Champions League, with Saturday's final against Inter Milan still to come. Many regard him as one of the greatest footballers on the planet currently – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has even called him the "best striker in the world" in recent times.

The 22-year-old already has a contract keeping him at the Etihad until the summer of 2027, but Real Madrid have been linked with a move for him, potentially forcing City to further improve the terms of his current deal before the transfer window opens on June 14.

Could Haaland sign City extension?

According to The Telegraph, there is hope that Haaland could sign a new contract at the Etihad, helped by City's memorable season, with a treble on offer this weekend:

"Manchester City’s historic Treble bid has increased hopes of Erling Haaland committing to a longer contract at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

"The Norway striker, 22, arrived for the start of the campaign but is in the frame for the fresh terms to make it even harder for Real Madrid to launch Operation Haaland and land the player who has scored 52 goals this season.

"There is confidence at City that an extension has a strong chance of being agreed, given Haaland’s happiness at the club."

This is massive news from a City perspective, with the risk of Haaland joining Madrid always something that feels like a nagging concern, especially with Karim Benzema leaving the La Liga giants this summer.

Signing a new-and-improved deal would clearly alleviate that issue, and while the lure of Madrid is great for most players, you wonder why the Etihad favourite would want to go anywhere else at the moment, considering the success he is enjoying under Pep Guardiola.

The hope is that Haaland spends the entirety of his career at City, and while that could be wishful thinking, with a new challenge possibly appealing one day, it is imperative that they do all they can to keep him for as long as possible.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that defender Davinson Sanchez will "struggle" with the style of football Ange Postecoglou wants to play at Tottenham Hotspur.

Will Davinson Sanchez ever play for Spurs again?

It was a pretty disappointing season for the centre-back as he made just eight starts for Spurs in the Premier League.

What's more, he didn't really impress in that limited game time. For instance, he was booed off the field after coming on off the bench only to be subbed just 23 minutes later in a home loss to Bournemouth.

The good news for Sanchez, however, is that a new era is about to begin with former Celtic boss Postecoglou now confirmed as Tottenham's next manager.

The only concern, though, is whether or not the £65k-p/w defender will be well suited to the Australian's tactics. While talking about all this on his YouTube channel, Gold certainly didn't seem to hold out much hope for Sanchez.

He explained: "Some of those players are going to struggle with the playing around from the back.

"You maybe imagine, unfortunately, Davinson Sanchez perhaps will struggle with that. The ability to very quickly and calmly play some of the passes that will be required."

What style of play will Postecoglou bring to Spurs?

Former Spurs goalkeeper – and current Celtic number one – Joe Hart has given some insight on what Tottenham fans and players might expect of their new manager.

Indeed, he told the press (via Keep Up) that Postecoglou will ask his player to stick to his tactic of playing out from the back no matter what.

Hart said: “We live and die by it. I love that opportunity. There’s been many coaches and managers I’m sure out there who say, ‘Look, this is how I want you to play and, if it doesn’t (work), it’s on me’. I have heard that many times.

“But I genuinely feel comfortable making risky passes, short passes, and if someone does miss a pass or a tackle and the ball goes in, I don’t think any of us would even flinch because that’s what we are being asked to do."

It seems, then, the Spurs defenders will need nerves of steel to stay calm under press and play out from the back.

Seeing as Sanchez has been accused of bringing "the panic in the stadium" by Jermaine Jenas on Match of the Day (via TeamTalk) before, he might not be an ideal fit for Postecoglou.

Only time will tell but it's not looking good for the Colombian.

Liverpool could now be in pole position to complete an audacious swoop for Jarrad Branthwaite after PSV deemed the on-loan ace too expensive.

It would certainly send tremors through the city, with Abel Xavier in 2002 the most recent example of a player moving directly across Merseyside the historic rivals, but that's not to say a deal would be unattainable for Jurgen Klopp's side as he looks to bolster his defence this summer.

In February, a report from the Daily Mail stated that Liverpool – alongside Manchester United and Roma – had sent scouts to watch the Eredivisie star in action after his impressive displays on loan this season.

And now, according to a report from Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad (via Sport Witness), PSV have pulled out of the running to make his transfer permanent, with Marcel Brands, the Eredivisie club’s director of football, saying: “Financially this will be difficult to achieve, I expect.”

PSV had a £15m offer rejected in January but Liverpool boast wealth on a different scale and could look to test Everton's waters with a shock bid over the coming weeks.

Could Liverpool really sign Jarrad Branthwaite?

It certainly seems unlikely on the surface, but although it hasn't happened in a long time, it has indeed not been unheard of for the Reds and Toffees to conduct business in the past.

And it makes sense from a playing perspective; Branthwaite is a towering defender standing at 6 foot 5, and given his natural preference as a left-footed defender, he could provide Virgil van Dijk – who favours his right foot but typically occupies the left side of the centre-defence – with a sturdy alternative.

Having made 37 appearances across all competitions this term, scoring four goals and supplying two assists, the 20-year-old has been hailed as a "great talent" by ex-boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and boasts all the attributes to flourish at the top level as he grows into his skin over the next several years.

As per FBref, the £15k-per-week titan ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Men's Next 8 divisions over the past year for goals, the top 24% for assists, the top 25% for progressive passes and the top 26% for rate of interceptions per 90. So while there is clearly room for improvement, he has time on his side to become one of the best in his position.

Described as "skilful" by Carlo Ancelotti, he could replace Joel Matip at Anfield, with the Cameroonian veteran now 31 years old and out of contract on Merseyside in just one year's time.

Despite playing an important role in an illustrious period in Liverpool's history, Matip started just 12 times in the Premier League this term and was an unused substitute for 13 of the last 17 matches of the campaign.

Branded "awful" by CBS reporter Nico Cantor for his dismal displays this term, Matip's time could be up and Branthwaite could provide youthful exuberance as a promising back-up for Klopp's team, growing into the role and perhaps cementing it as his own at some point over the next few seasons.

It might seem unlikely, but this is a deal to keep an eye on; Liverpool will understandably prioritise the bolstering of the midfield, but should the cogs fall into place, Branthwaite could be a shrewd option to enrich the defensive ranks at Anfield.

The transfer window has officially opened, as Aston Villa find themselves linked to an audacious swoop for a Premier League ace.

Unai Emery has already made one signing in an agreement with Youri Tielemans, and with European football confirmed at Villa Park, will aim to bolster his squad further this summer.

It’s expected to be a busy break regarding movements both on and off the pitch, with Sevilla sporting director Monchi reportedly on course to relocate at Villa.

The Spanish duo could propose an exciting summer in the Midlands, with the latest link being a major name in the Premier League.

What’s the latest on Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa?

As reported by FootballTransfers, Aston Villa are ‘keen’ on Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

The 23-year-old is believed to be ‘allowed to leave’ Old Trafford this summer, just two years on from his €85m (£72.6m) move.

The report claims that although United will demand £60m for the winger, Villa would not be prepared to pay such a sum, adding that negotiations could find a compromise between both parties.

What could Jadon Sancho offer Aston Villa?

Having been lauded as the “perfect player” by German legend Lothar Matthaus via Sun Sport, the Englishman is regarded as one of the top talents in Europe, despite experiencing a tough time in the Premier League.

Signed by United in the summer of 2021 for a fee of £73m, the Londoner made a statement return to England after excelling at Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City’s academy.

In 104 Bundesliga appearances, Sancho contributed to a monstrous 89 goals, scoring 38 himself and assisting 51, via Transfermarkt, showing exactly the heights he is capable of on one of the continent’s biggest stages.

Things haven’t worked so far at Old Trafford, however, the young talent is someone that could rediscover his form under the influence of Emery at Villa.

In terms of his competition at Villa Park, the Englishman could be a significant upgrade on left-winger Leon Bailey performing statistically better than the Jamaican despite his dip in performance in Manchester.

When comparing the individual performances of the wingers this season via FBref, it’s clear to see why the Villans are eyeing Sancho, should reports be believed.

The London-born dynamo has averaged 4.64 shot-creating actions to Bailey’s 2.84 per 90 over the last year, whilst also registering 4.70 progressive carries to the Villa man's 3.89 per 90, highlighting the threat he can have on a game regardless of his goalscoring form.

The underperforming United star has actually outscored the 25-year-old this campaign as well, having bagged six goals to Bailey's four in fewer appearances, via FBref.

A notable area that Sancho excels in compared to Bailey is the overall influence he has on the game and his desire to be involved, evident statistically through his average of 40.2 touches per game to the Jamaican’s 27.7, via Sofascore.

Emery could assist the young ace in rediscovering his form displayed in the Bundesliga, allowing him to thrive in a free-flowing attack system and act as one of the star names in a less-pressured environment.

Liverpool are prepared to splash the cash to bring in Nicolo Barella it seems, with Italian journalist Marco Barzaghi, via Caught Offside, reporting that the Reds could offer up to £77m to bring the player in this summer.

Has Nicolo Barella been good this season?

The midfielder has been with Inter for four seasons now and has been able to help them to a Serie A title and a Champions League final along the way. This year, they almost conquered Europe but their league campaign led to only a third place finish.

The 26-year-old was once more an important part of the side and featured in 35 Serie A outings for the club over the course of the 2022/23 campaign. Even though he plays in the middle of the field, he was also able to chip in with six goals and six assists – his second-best goal contribution rate over the course of his career with 12.

A look at his FBRef scouting report also proves that the player is one of the best in his position in Europe. When you look at how he compares to others in midfield across the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues, there is a lot to like about Barella. He has a 0.22 non-penalty goal rate per 90, which puts him in the top eight percent in that category, and he also has 3.65 shot-creating actions per 90 too (88th percentile).

It means that not only is he hitting the net a lot more often than other midfielders he is excellent at creating goalscoring opportunities too, both for himself and his teammates.

Are Liverpool signing Barella?

Now, according to a report from Marco Barzaghi, via Caught Offside, the Italian may have earned himself a big money move to England.

That is because Liverpool are could be willing to stump up a lot of cash to bring him to the Premier League. It's believed that the side are preparing to offer a huge amount of £77m to lure him to Anfield and whilst there is no official bid on the table yet, FSG are finally willing to spend big.

Barella is certainly an exciting asset to have in any team, with football journalist Josh Bunting stating that the midfielder is a "difference maker" and can play "beautiful" football with a "winner's mentality" to boot.

He has a lot of positive attributes then and could bring that to a Liverpool midfield in desperate need of rejuvenation. Even if the fee is relatively steep, it could be a price worth paying for the Italy star.

Liverpool’s standards dropped in all departments last season.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Reds accumulated 92 points and conceded just 26 goals in 38 games.

Disappointingly, these numbers drastically worsened last time around, as Jurgen Klopp’s side managed just 75 points and conceded 47 times.

The defence is in need of reinforcing and rejuvenating, and Edmond Tapsoba has been suggested as a possible solution.

What’s the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Liverpool?

According to 90min, Tottenham Hotspur are progressing in talks for the centre-back, but they are “wary” of several clubs plotting to hijack their deal.

One such team is Liverpool, who are joined by Manchester United and Newcastle as a trio who are also keenly tracking the situation.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard also claimed last month that Arsenal were interested in the 24-year-old and that Bayer Leverkusen have set a price tag of around £61m if anyone wants to secure his services.

Would Edmond Tapsoba be a good signing for Liverpool?

Since joining the German outfit in 2020, the defender has made 137 appearances for the club in all competitions and has established himself as one of Xabi Alonso’s most important players.

Across 33 Bundesliga games this season, the 35-cap international has averaged 3 clearances, 1.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game while winning 62% of his ground duels, according to Sofascore.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Antonio Mango, the Burkina Faso gem feels he is always composed and said: “I’d like to think I am calm on the ball. That is one of my qualities, a cool head. I am not flustered. And I like bringing it out from the back. I’m technically good, I’m quick, my reactions are good and I think my tactical awareness is improving all the time.”

This admirable confidence is supported as he ranks within the top 6% for successful take-ons, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

He appears perfectly suited to English football and could relieve the workload upon Virgil van Dijk, who has endured a tricky season. When comparing the last two terms, the Dutch giant’s average rating decreased from 7.18 to 6.97 in the past year, while he has been dribbled past more often (0.3 vs 0.1 per game) and made more errors leading to shots or goals (2 vs 0).

It is not a suggestion to drop the imperious 31-year-old, who still has a plethora of quality to offer, but it is more a recognition of Tapsoba’s extraordinary calmness, which is largely reminiscent of Van Dijk’s early days at Anfield.

Both men exude control that spreads to their teammates, and Tapsoba could make for an unbelievable partner for his fellow defender next season.

Arsenal are still very interested in Southampton's Romeo Lavia and he "remains" on their shortlist, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Are Arsenal going to sign Lavia?

Having invested all their time and resources into securing deals for Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal's recruitment team have barely been able to catch their breath over the past few weeks.

The Gunners want to build a team capable of going a step further and toppling Manchester City next season, and Mikel Arteta will need significant reinforcements to catch the champions, especially with the added pressure of Champions League football.

While Rice remains their midfield priority, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey's seemingly inevitable Emirates exits means that a second midfielder will be required as well. That midfielder very well could be 19-year-old Romeo Lavia.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Lavia remains firmly on the Gunners shortlist, despite interest from Liverpool ramping up.

"We already told you last week that Romeo Lavia is in Arsenal's list, that Arsenal had some positive conversations on club and player's side, but still no official bid," said the Italian.

"We know the priority is to resolve other stuff, like Timber, Rice and many others. Of course, Havertz will be official, but, guys, it is important to say that Romeo Lavia remains in Arsenal's list as one of the players they appreciate."

"So, Romeo Lavia is in Arsenal's list, but from what I understand, also Liverpool have opened talks to sign Romeo Lavia."

Romano also suggests that the Gunners may have to wait for Partey's future to be decided before they can act on their Lavia interest. However, by this time they could be behind other clubs in the queue.

Last season's Premier League runners-up had also shown a significant interest in midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who could have followed the path of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to north London, but the German has since joined Barcelona.

What could Arsenal expect from Lavia?

The fact that Lavia has taken inspiration from former Manchester City teammate Fernandinho can only be a positive thing for potential suitors, with the Belgian sharing some key characteristics with the 53-cap Brazilian international.

Lavia has great defensive awareness and reads the game well, being described as "head and shoulders" above any of Southampton's other players this season – albeit that is a very low bar – and being praised for his "professionalism" and "consistency".

Valued at more than £40m by the Saints per Romano, that could well prove to be a steal in an inflated transfer market, especially for a player who is just 19 with a year of top-flight experience under his belt already.

Lavia could provide Arsenal with significant defensive stability in the absence of Partey, as well as being a cheaper alternative should Declan Rice join Man City.

To say that Mykhaylo Mudryk hasn’t exactly had the best start to life in a Chelsea shirt would be quite the understatement. Joining the London club for a reported £89m in January, the winger failed to score a single Premier League goal last season.The Ukraine international, given the fee that was paid, was meant to turn the Blues’ season around, who endured one of their worst campaigns in Premier League history. As it turns out, however, throwing money at a problem created by money did not solve the issues at Stamford Bridge.With a fresh start to impress under Mauricio Pochettino, Mudryk has wasted no time in getting to work, joining up with Ukraine U21s for the European Championship in search of a confidence boost. And he seems to have got exactly that, leaving many fans impressed.

What’s the latest on Mykhaylo Mudryk?

Joining up with Ukraine U21s at the Euros, Mudryk and his side have enjoyed quite the tournament, reaching the semi-finals, by defeating a strong France side in the last round, winning 3-1.

It is the type of competition that should do wonders for the Chelsea winger’s confidence heading into pre-season under Pochettino. And if the Blues can unlock the man they initially paid close a mammoth £88.5m for, then they’ll have themselves a key man in the frontline.

Prior to making the move to the Premier League, the 22-year-old had tallied up 18 goal involvements, with 10 goals and eight assists, so this is a player more than capable of finding the back of the net. It may well just be down to confidence.

He certainly showed what he is capable of for his country recently, too, as shown by a YouTube compilation which includes highlights of his outstanding efforts against France:

Chelsea fans left impressed by Mudryk assist

Mudryk’s performance against France was particularly improved compared to his Chelsea displays – as he won a penalty and picked up an assist with a brilliant lofted through ball – leaving many fans in awe of the potential player they have on their hands.

The hope will be that the winger takes his display against the French onto the U21 Euros semi-final against Spain, where he will look to take his side one more step to the final.

It would be some performance if the underdogs managed to reach the final up against a tough Spain side, but given Mudryk’s ability when on top form, anything is possible.

Mudryk’s assist – a long through ball – against France left many Chelsea fans singing his praise. You can see the assist shared on Twitter and how fans reacted below: