All posts by n8rngtd.top

With the January transfer window fast approaching, Ange Postecoglou and Celtic are being linked with moves for a host of different players, while a number of the club’s current first-team squad could also be on the way out of Parkhead this winter.

Two players who have continually been linked with a winter switch to Parkhead are Japanese duo Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, with the centre-forward and the versatile central midfielder widely expected to link up with Postecoglou’s side next month.

And, it is easy to see why the 56-year-old would be interested in the duo, as both players highly impressed in Japan this season.

Indeed, over his over 30 J League appearances, the £720k-rated Hatate scored five goals, provided two assists and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

The 24-year-old also impressed in metrics more typical of a central midfielder, making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 51.7 passes and winning 5.3 duels per fixture.

These returns saw the Japan international who journalist Sacha Pisani dubbed a “rocket” earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.16, ranking him as Kawasaki Frontale’s fifth-best player in the league.

Meanwhile, over Maeda’s 36 J League outings, the £990k-rated striker scored a whopping 23 goals, registered three assists and created four big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.6 shots and making 0.9 key passes per game.

These returns saw the 24-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.09, ranking him as Yokohama F Marinos joint sixth-best player in the league.

Another player the Hoops have been tipped to sign is Barnsley’s £2.7m-rated left-back Callum Styles, while, in terms of outgoings, all of Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and Boli Bolingoli – the £15k-per-week player who Celtic dubbed “irresponsible” after breaking lockdown restrictions – look as if they could be on their way out of Glasgow next month.

So, what could Postecoglou’s starting XI look like once the 56-year-old has completed his January business? Here’s our predicted Celtic January transfer XI.

In other news: Forget Bitton: £15k-p/w Celtic dud who lost 80% duels cost Ange dearly vs St. Mirren

A number of Manchester City fans lambasted Nathan Ake during their Premier League clash with Arsenal on Saturday afternoon. 

City travelled to the Emirates Stadium looking to extend a run of 10 consecutive victories and move 11 points clear at the top of the table for 24 hours at least. However, Arsenal were on a hot streak of their own, having won their last four matches by an aggregate of 14 goals to one.

Pep Guardiola made three changes to the team which beat Brentford in midweek. Rodri, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez replaced Fernandinho, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish respectively.

Ake’s Emirates struggle

Ake was making back-to-back league starts for the Cityzens for the first time in 2021/22, but The Athletic’s Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee described him as ‘pretty passive’ in the move which led to Bukayo Saka opening the scoring for Arsenal.

The Netherlands international lost both of his ground duels, failed to complete the only dribble he attempted and did not make a successful tackle on the day (via SofaScore), although he did pull off a remarkable goal-line clearance to somewhat atone for his otherwise tepid performance.

Nonetheless, some City supporters weren’t pleased with his overall display, with one fan likening him to a “training cone” following Saka’s opener.

These Man City fans slam Ake

“We’re absolutely terrible. Cancelo and Ake are getting torn apart”

Credit: @mtmcfc

“Ake is horrendous”

Credit: @CalMCFCWhite

“We have Saka turning Ake like a training cone multiple times and but hey who needs a left back eh?”

Credit: @AarxnMCFC

“Why did we even sign Ake?”

Credit: @WunzinhoMCFC

“Ake is leg the bad leg on a dodgy chair. Unsteadies the whole back 4.”

Credit: @NMagennis

“I can’t like, Ake is not it”

Credit: @MCFC_RMBO

In other news, lots of City fans react to this player’s intriguing interview

A killer update has emerged on Newcastle United’s chances of signing left-back Lucas Digne in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett has claimed that Aston Villa are poised to win the race to sign the Everton full-back this month.

He Tweeted:

“#avfc look to have beaten comp from #cfc #whufc & #nufc – now in advanced negotiations with #efc for Lucas Digne. Chelsea have not pursued initial interest. Digne prefers Villa over other options. Fee to be agreed – probs between £20-25m. Personal terms not expected to be a prob.”

Fume

Newcastle fans will surely be fuming by this news as it appears as though Digne has decided that he would rather join Villa than link up with Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park.

It is unclear as to how far the Magpies’ interest went, but he is interested in joining Steven Gerrard’s side and this report suggests that he would have rejected a transfer had the Toon gone in for him.

This will anger supporters as the left-back could have been an excellent signing for the club. He is a proven Premier League player who has been producing high-quality displays in the division for a number of years, which means that he could have come straight in and hit the ground running as he does not need any period of adaption to gear himself up for the league.

Digne averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.08 or higher in his first three full seasons for Everton in the top-flight. He ended those three campaigns with four goals and 18 assists to his name, showing that he can perform consistently at left-back whilst also providing plenty of attacking thrust to create and score goals to help his side.

Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.64 last season and a score of 6.43 this term. This shows that he is struggling to put in good displays on a consistent basis for the Magpies and suggests that Howe is in need of a left-back to replace the Scot, as he has been underperforming over the past 18 months.

This is why fans will be particularly frustrated by this Digne update, as it means that they may have to deal with Ritchie, as Jamal Lewis is out injured, at left-back for a little while longer.

AND in other news, NUFC eye bid for £17m gem Shearer dubbed “absolutely sensational”, Howe surely elated…

An update has emerged regarding Rangers and their plans to further strengthen Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad at Ibrox.

What’s the talk?

According to Algerian outlet DZ Foot, ES Setif midfielder Ahmed Kendouci is a target for the Gers in the January transfer window.

The report claims that he could be available to sign this month if a strong enough offer is submitted for him, with the Scottish champions now considering a bid.

Bye-bye Hagi

Rangers forward Ianis Hagi has been touted with a move away from the club this month, and his prospective exit could open the door for another player to arrive in his position. This is where Kendouci comes in, as he could be Van Bronckhorst’s new creative maestro in the final third.

The Romanian has started 14 Premiership matches and created 1.6 chances per game this season, with three goals and four assists across all competitions. This highlights the creativity he brings to the table, which was shown in full force last term as he ended the campaign with 11 assists in the league.

In Kendouci, Rangers could find their replacement for the Romania international. The £1.2m-rated gem has 17 goals and 14 assists in 79 career games, showing that he is routinely able to make an impact in the final third.

Last season, he produced 10 goals and 10 assists in 34 league matches for Setif. This suggests that he could come in at Ibrox and excite the fans with his ability to find the back of the net, whilst also setting up team-mates with chances to score. He could seamlessly take over the reins from Hagi if the latter moves to Galatasaray before the end of the transfer window.

Of course, there is no guaranteeing that the 22-year-old would be able to translate his form from Algeria over to Scotland, as it is impossible to gauge the difference in quality between the respective leagues. However, if he arrives at Ibrox this month and can produce similar levels in terms of goals and assists, he could turn out to be a terrific signing.

Losing Hagi would be a blow for Van Bronckhorst due to the creative spark he can provide, but signing Kendouci could soften the blow as he is a player with a similar style in the attacking midfield area. Both players have shown that they can regularly set up goals, and the Algerian could be doing just that in a blue shirt in the second half of the campaign if the Gers bring him in.

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst could finally axe Rangers liability by signing this “aggressive” 6 ft 3 beast…

Wolves extended their 100% start to 2022 in all competitions to four games as they beat Brentford 2-1 at the Brentford Community Stadium this afternoon.

Bizarrely, the game had been put on hold for 20 minutes as a drone was seen hovering over the stadium, before Joāo Moutinho gave the visitors the lead just after half-time.

The Bees salvaged an equaliser through Ivan Toney but Rúben Neves’ late winner secured victory for Bruno Lage’s men, who remain eighth in the table.

Star striker Raul Jiménez’s absence meant that Wanderers shifted formation slightly to a 3-5-2, with Daniel Podence and Fábio Silva getting the nod up front. However, neither forward was particularly convincing, not ideal for the latter given his limited opportunities this season.

The contest in west London was the 19-year-old’s first Premier League start of the campaign, having previously been limited to ten substitute cameos.

Having played a total of just 53 minutes in the top flight before today, this was a real opportunity for the youngster to impress his manager and boost his credentials as Jiménez’s back-up. Unfortunately for Silva, he made little impact.

Silva blew his big chance

According to SofaScore, the Portuguese striker only had 28 touches but still gave it away 14 times, losing the ball at a rate of once every two touches. Moreover, the striker recorded a mediocre 65% passing accuracy and did not contribute a single key pass, cross, long ball or shot on target, with two off-target efforts in his 75 minutes on the pitch.

Whilst being dribbled past twice, Silva failed to contribute anything of note defensively, recording no interceptions, tackles, clearances or blocks. Granted, that sort of gritty work isn’t necessarily expected from a striker, but that lightweight nature still wouldn’t have gone unnoticed by his manager.

Having joined Wolves for a record-breaking fee of £35.6m as an 18-year-old from Porto in September 2020, there was considerable expectation surrounding the teenage striker.

There was plenty of hype surrounding Silva, having been the youngest player to represent the Portuguese giants prior to his move to Molineux, but is still yet to spread his wings in the West Midlands.

In 50 appearances for Wolves, the £37k-p/w striker has scored just four goals and contributed six assists, a tally which arguably suggests promise but is also not enough to warrant a regular starting place in a Premier League team looking to secure European football.

Moreover, Silva’s fellow striker Jiménez has started to find form again after a terrifying head injury which kept the Mexican out for the majority of last season. The 30-year-old now has four goals and two assists in 19 league appearances this term as he slowly ebbs towards being the player he was prior to his injury.

Based on that form, Silva’s game-time is only going to be reduced, unless he improves significantly on his underwhelming performance in the capital today.

In other news: Sky Sports journalist drops Wolves transfer update live on air, Lage will be delighted

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their transfer pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach’s Alassane Plea.

What’s the talk?

According to French outlet L’Equipe, the Magpies are keen on a deal to sign the attacker to bolster their squad this month.

The report claims that Newcastle have asked Allan Saint-Maximin, who was a teammate of Plea’s at Nice in Ligue 1, for information on the attacker.

Buzzing

Fans will surely be buzzing with this news as it suggests that Eddie Howe is seriously interested in a deal to sign a player who could be a terrific addition to the team.

Although he has not had the best of seasons this term, with three goals in 11 Bundesliga starts, Plea has previously shown how deadly he can be in front of goal at the top level.

He managed 11 goals and four assists domestically and in Europe combined for Gladbach last season, having produced ten strikes and 11 assists in the 2019/20 campaign. The forward also provided 12 goals and four assists in his debut year with the German side, coming off the back of 27 Ligue 1 strikes in his final two seasons for Nice.

Swiss manager Lucien Favre once claimed the gem has “enormous potential” and Plea’s teammate Christoph Kramer said that he “scores out of nothing”.

Dieter Hecking previously praised his ability to find the back of the net, saying: “It’s great that we have a forward who can score goals.

“It’s a bit surprising that he’s already scored two headers. You couldn’t see that from training. Of course it’s quality when he sees situations. I’m very happy with the way he’s progressing.”

His goalscoring prowess is highlighted by his impressive record for Nice and Gladbach over the years and shows why fans will be delighted with this news. He is a goalscorer and has proven that in France and Germany, suggesting that he could come in at St. James’ Park and be able to find the back of the net in the Premier League.

This could, therefore, increase the club’s chances of staving off relegation as his goals could win crucial points for Howe’s side and allow them to crawl out of the bottom three. Therefore, PIF must ensure that they are able to get a deal over the line for Plea to bolster the ex-Bournemouth coach’s squad.

AND in other news, NUFC could finally replace Lascelles with “flawless” £24k-p/w gem, “nothing fazes him”…

With a couple of days left until the January transfer window closes, Rangers still have time to strengthen their squad before the deadline.

One player that the reigning Premiership champions could look to bring in before the end of the month is James McAtee, who has been mentioned with a move to Ibrox in recent days.

Having already signed a young, exciting prospect from a top Premier League club in the form of Amad Diallo from Manchester United earlier this week on a loan deal until the end of the season, Rangers now have the chance to pull off a similar sort of transfer swoop, this time with a move for Manchester City’s McAtee.

As a product of City’s youth system, the 19-year-old has scored 42 goals and provided 26 assists in 84 appearances for the club across their senior and youth teams, highlighting how capable he is at scoring and setting up goals.

So far this season, in 15 league appearances for City’s under-23s, the £3.1k-p/w Englishman has racked up an impressive 14 goals and four assists, showing just how much of an attacking threat he can be from the midfield. That is something Diallo has also shown throughout his career so far from the right flank.

Labelled as one of the “exceptional” talents in City’s youth ranks by Pep Guardiola, McAtee could definitely benefit from a potential move to Rangers if he would be guaranteed regular game-time at Ibrox. He isn’t getting that in City’s first team, with just three senior appearances under his belt totalling 45 minutes.

With that in mind, it could definitely be worth Rangers making a late move to sign the teenager before the January transfer deadline hits, either on a loan deal until the end of the season like Diallo, or on a permanent basis if his current club would be willing to part ways with him.

However, with a number of Premier League and Championship sides also apparently interested in signing McAtee, perhaps Manchester City may feel more inclined to loan him out to an English club rather than Rangers, in order to acclimatise him with senior football in his native country rather than in Scotland.

In other news – “Monitoring”: Journalist delivers key Rangers transfer update which Van Bronckhorst will love…

Everton managed to get a loan deal over the line for Donny Van de Beek on Deadline Day, as the out of favour Manchester United star seeks first-team football elsewhere.

The temporary move doesn’t just benefit the midfielder’s future, but could be a crucial signing for the Toffees this season in their challenge to climb back into a safe position in the Premier League under new manager, Frank Lampard.

The 24-year-old has not been able to make his mark in the Premier League yet, with just five starts over his first 18 months at the Manchester club, but will be hoping that he can make an impact on the Everton side, especially with Abdoulaye Doucoure out for at least a month with an injury he picked up against Aston Villa, which saw him forced off the pitch in the 65th minute.

This has given Van de Beek, who was hailed “perfect” by Owen Hargreaves, the ideal opportunity and elevates his chances of making an instant appearance in the starting line up when the Toffees return to action this weekend in the FA Cup against Brentford.

New Everton boss, Lampard, has already been praised by the £35m midfielder in his first interview since joining the side yesterday;

“I had a really positive meeting with the new coach. We have the same ideas about football and he had a lot of influence on my decision,” Van de Beek explained.

“I played against him when I was at Ajax, and he was at Chelsea (as the manager), so he knows me as a player. He thinks I have qualities that can help the team.

“I can learn a lot from him because he was a little bit in the same position – a midfield player who scored a lot of goals.”

Van de Beek is not unproven in his potential and his talents, when you look at his career before he joined Manchester United, his record under Erik ten Hag at Ajax is absolutely phenomenal with 41 goals and 34 assists in 175 appearances from his midfield position, an output Lampard will be hoping that he can inspire the Dutchman to reignite at Everton.

The Chelsea legend now has the opportunity to further prove his worth as a manager in the Premier League by getting the very best out of the current crop of players that Rafa Benitez failed to have a positive impact on, and implementing the new signings into the side to improve the trajectory that Everton has been on so far this season by taking the club out of a potential relegation battle.

Should he immediately get more from van de Beek then he will surely become an instant hit at Goodison.

In other news: Everton let their next Richarlison slip through the net in Ali Cho

Having sealed a £300k move to Celtic last summer, Liam Shaw’s career at Parkhead got off to something of a slow start.

Indeed, the 20-year-old went on to make just two appearances for Ange Postecoglou’s side in the first half of the season, playing nine minutes of the 0-0 draw with St. Mirren towards the end of December, and making his Europa League debut in the 3-2 win over Real Betis earlier the same month.

In this European tie, the £315k-rated midfielder highly impressed, enjoying 46 touches of the ball, completing 20 passes and three dribbles, as well as making two tackles, two clearances, blocking two shots and winning eight of his 11 duels – with these returns seeing the youngster earn a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 7.1.

However, despite an extremely promising display in his first start for the Bhoys, Postecoglou made the decision to loan the former Sheffield Wednesday starlet out to Motherwell in the January transfer window – where the £4k-per-week dynamo already appears to be making a good impression.

Indeed, prior to making an appearance for the Steelmen, the club’s assistant manager, Keith Lasley, suggested that Shaw was impressing in training, stating: “Liam’s in training with us and he has been for a few days now. He looks a good athlete and he looks technically good.

“You can see why he’s been highly thought of down at Sheffield Wednesday and you can see why Celtic have brought him up. Hopefully he makes an impact in the second half of the season. He looks a good player and I am looking forward to seeing him in action.”

And, after three fixtures with Well, the 20-year-old looks to be living up to this early promise, having already made an average of a whopping 4.3 tackles, 0.3 interceptions and 0.6 key passes per game, as well as winning 15 of his 25 duels – a success rate of 60% – with these returns seeing the midfielder average a SofaScore match rating of 6.9.

As such, while it is true that Postecoglou has brought in the likes of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Yosuke Ideguchi in the middle of the park this season, should Shaw continue his current level of form away from Celtic Park, come the end of the season, the 20-year-old could well find himself ahead of players such as James McCarthy, Ismaila Soro and even Nir Bitton in the defensive midfield pecking order at Parkhead.

Indeed, considering the fact that the £12.5k-per-week midfielder – who Ori Guttman once dubbed an “explosive” player – has been heavily linked with a move away from Celtic in recent months, Postecoglou could already have a readymade replacement for the Ivorian in the shape of Shaw.

In other news: Forget Jota: The “best player in Scotland” who had 58 touches ran the show for Celtic

Pundit Alex McLeish believes Everton could be leading the way to sign Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek on a permanent basis, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Impressive first start

Van de Beek made the move to Goodison Park from Old Trafford for the second half of the season late in the January window.

The Toffees pipped Crystal Palace to the Dutch midfielder’s services and the 24-year-old starred on his first start under Frank Lampard last weekend.

Michael Ball labelled his display against Leeds as ‘perfect’, whereas Lampard has shown his own love for the player, revealing Van de Beek has been a dream to work with since arriving on Merseyside.

The Latest: McLeish’s comments

Talking to Football Insider, McLeish, who contributes for BBC Radio 5 Live, believes the Toffees could now be in ‘pole position’ ahead of a summer move.

“There’s no doubt there’ll be a lot of clubs (interested).

“If Man United have signed him in the first place then he’s obviously a player of great pedigree.

“A lot of clubs would have wanted him in the first place. They will be looking on with interest, keeping an eye on his situation.

“Of course, Everton might be in pole position.”

The Verdict: Likely?

The next few months could well be key in regards to Van de Beek’s long-term future, and you wouldn’t bet against a full-time move to Everton materialising.

He has played just 579 minutes of Premier League football over two seasons for United, so if he becomes a regular under Lampard and helps steer the Toffees away from the relegation zone, all parties may well be willing to discuss a permanent transfer at the end of the season.

However, Van de Beek is under contract with the Red Devils until 2025, is on £120,000-a-week and cost United over £35m back in 2020, meaning a permanent move could be costly for Everton.

In other news: Blow for Lampard as another Everton player reveals he is out for 3 months alongside Mina.