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Barcelona sporting director Deco has hailed Lamine Yamal following the Spaniard's breakthrough year.

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• Barcelona chief hails 17-year-old
• Yamal nominated for Kopa Trophy
• Starred for Spain at Euro 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yamal has received praise from all corners over the past year and Deco has joined in by claiming the 17-year-old would already play for the best Barcelona teams in history. Yamal played an instrumental role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph and is the favourite to cap the year by claiming the 2024 Kopa Trophy.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal has carried his form from the summer into the new season, with five goal contributions in four La Liga games for Barcelona. There's already a feeling that the Blaugrana are reliant on the teenager, but Deco claims he doesn't feel the pressure of representing the Spanish giants. It's this mental resilience that the former Barca and Chelsea midfielder believes sets Yamal apart from the rest.

• WHAT DECO SAID

  "More than his technical talent, Lamine Yamal is very strong from a mental point of view," Deco said. "That is what sets him apart from the others. He doesn't feel the weight of representing Barca and the national team on the big stages. He would play for the best Barca teams in history."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Hansi Flick's side, top of La Liga after four wins from four, return to action following the international break with a trip to Girona on Sunday.

Celtic are reportedly confident of a quick resolution in contract talks with a "very consistent" ace, as he looks set to commit his future to the club.

Celtic title hopes & transfer news

The Hoops find themselves locked in a thrilling Scottish Premiership title battle with rivals Rangers, enjoying a three-point advantage going into the remaining weeks of the season.

There could yet be twists and turns along the way, and former Gers and Scotland striker Ally McCoist has had his say on the race for glory, telling Football FanCast: "I genuinely do [think Rangers can still win the SPL]. They are second favourites make no mistake about it. But, you know, you look at it. Celtic's form up until recently was a little bit erratic too. Dropping points in places you wouldn't imagine them dropping points and it's now getting to the stage where it's against the top six."

Meanwhile, Celtic are being linked with a plethora of players at the moment, as they eye up important summer business that will make them an even more fearsome proposition.

Cremonese midfielder Charles Pickel is believed to be a target for Brendan Rodgers' side, with the 26-year-old impressing for DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, starting six matches in the competition and averaging 1.7 aerial duel wins and 1.3 tackles per game at the tournament.

Celtic will also be looking for a new goalkeeper in the summer, following the retirement of Joe Hart, and Brondby ace Patrick Pentz has been linked with a move to Parkhead.

"Very consistent" Celtic star could sign new deal

Away from incoming signings, a new report from Football Insider claims that Celtic are confident of agreeing a new deal with Greg Taylor, with the left-back seemingly on the same page as his club.

The report states that there is a "willingness" from all parties to get a contract extension over the line in the near future.

Extending Taylor's stay at Celtic feels like a no-brainer, considering what a consistent performer he has been since arriving from Kilmarnock back in 2019, making 167 appearances and winning three Scottish Premiership titles in that time. Teammate Matt O'Riley has also lauded his consistency as a player, picking it out as a key attribute: "Greg’s been very good throughout the whole pre-season, as well, he’s been very, very consistent.

"I think he’s raised his level from last season. He was already playing at a very good level. He’s now showing signs of being a real mature left-back now, which is great to see. I’m really happy for him and hopefully he can push on more."

Taylor is at an age where he could be about to come into his peak years, meaning that losing him now would make little sense, and a new deal would also put Celtic in a strong bargaining position, should interest in him emerge moving forward.

Rangers are believed to already be in positive transfer talks regarding the signing of a “number” of players this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Rangers transfer rumours

The Gers have been linked with lots of fresh additions recently, as Philippe Clement looks to have a strong summer transfer window, following what is hopefully Scottish Premiership title glory.

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland has emerged as an excellent option for Rangers at the end of the campaign, following a great season that has seen him score more than anyone else in the league, netting 21 times overall. Meanwhile, Gers legend Ally McCoist has fully endorsed the signing of Aberdeen star Bojan Miovski, saying: "I think the lad at Aberdeen [Bojan Miovski] has been different class as well, terrific".

Meanwhile, Dons midfielder Connor Barron is of interest to Rangers, with the Scottish giants potentially seeing the 21-year-old as a possible partner for Mohamed Diomande in the middle of the park. There is also hope that Abdallah Sima's loan move from Brighton could become permanent in the summer, too, with the Gers reportedly in "pole position" to snap him up for good.

Rangers could sign a "number" of players with talks underway

Taken from the minutes at a CEO Fans' Forum [via Glasgow World], director of football Creag Robertson claimed that Rangers are looking into signing a "number" of players this summer, with "good conversations" already held, acting as a boost for Clement:

"In terms of player recruitment, we are active in the market right now. Key areas of focus for the Football Board are succession planning, player contracts and player recruitment. There are conversations on recruitment every day. When Nils came in, he reviewed the department and changed the structure and process, so we are in a strong place as we build towards the summer.

"A number of good conversations with active targets are underway. I cannot give any more detail right now. Ideally we would like to bring in players early, for the start of pre-season, although the Euros might slow the market slightly. Our intention is to be on the front foot and bring players in as early as we can, but we will need to remain agile to the market dynamics."

This update will warm the hearts of Rangers supporters, who will no doubt be desperate to ensure that this season doesn't end up being a one-off, allowing Celtic to suddenly pull away again in the coming years.

Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, it does feel as though a positive period is brewing with Clement in charge, with the Belgian already making such a positive impression, winning the Scottish League Cup and having a great chance of two more pieces of silverware before the end of the season.

"Genuinely…" – Ally McCoist makes bold Celtic vs Rangers title prediction

It could be their last chance at saving the season.

By
Ben Browning

Apr 26, 2024

New signings could be paramount, however, and if Rangers manage to bring in the likes of Barron and Shankland, for example, it may strengthen the spine of the team even more moving forward.

The Liverpool man showed he should be the Three Lions top choice at right-back from now on with a superb showing at Wembley

Harry Kane might have shown that rumours of his demise have been greatly exaggerated, but there was still a big sense of renewal as England beat Finland 2-0 in Lee Carsley's dugout debut at Wembley.

Kane celebrated his 100th cap by scoring both goals to extend England's 100 percent start to their Nations League B campaign in what was a perfect response to the captain's hugely disappointing showing at the European Championship.

But the players who were largely ignored by Gareth Southgate over the summer who took their chance to shine and proved they should be a big part of England's plans at the 2026 World Cup.

Trent Alexander-Arnold looked just like the world-beater he is for his club while his fellow Liverpudlian Anthony Gordon was a revelation down the left flank and made a mockery of the fact that he was used so little by Southgate in Germany. And Angel Gomes, who was never included in a squad by Southgate, showed he can be the solution to England's decades-long problem of failing to control midfield.

This wasn't just a night for the Kane family to celebrate. This was another sign that England could achieve great things under Carsley. But the absent players who missed these fixtures due to injuries might not be so pleased, as they will have their work cut out trying to reclaim their place in an England team that is really clicking.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Wembley…

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  WINNER: Harry Kane

  Kane received a golden cap from Frank Lampard before kick-off and was wearing golden boots for his 100th international appearance. He certainly rose to the occasion, grabbing his 67th and 68th goals for his country and winning the match in the process.

  The captain received plenty of criticism during the Euros and a lot of it was justified – he was lacking sharpness, he rarely got in good shooting positions and his lack of movement weighed the team down. He looked a completely different player here, however, and looked intent on scoring from the off.

  Kane had to wait for his big moment, though, after having a goal narrowly ruled out for offside and seeing several shots blocked. But he did not get frustrated, only getting more determined to fire England ahead. He took no prisoners with his breakthrough goal, lashing the ball past the excellent Finish 'keeper Lukas Hradecky.

  There was huge relief on his face and, with the burden lifted, he scored again. Kane was given a fitting standing ovation when he was taken off, as the wounds from the Euros are slowly healing, and Kane showed he has plenty more to offer his country.

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  LOSER: Teemu Pukki

  The Finland striker had very happy memories of playing in England, scoring 87 times for Norwich City, including 22 times in the Premier League. This was not a happy occasion for Pukki, though.

  He failed to trouble England's defence and he was taken off after just 45 minutes, though he would have had two clear openings had his fellow attacker Topi Keskinen not made some awful decisions in the final third.

  Pukki was unmarked and in the perfect position when Keskinen burst through on a quick breakaway, but the Aberdeen winger wanted the glory for himself and blazed over the bar when Pukki was screaming for the ball.

  Now plying his trade for Minnesota United in MLS, Pukki found himself in another good position later in the first half when Keskinen attacked down the middle, but he again ignored him, instead bungling a harder pass to Rasmus Schuller.

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  WINNER: England's Scousers

  Alexander-Arnold and Gordon played a combined total of 135 minutes at the Euros, but after being ignored by Gareth Southgate, they look set for crucial roles in Carsley's new-look England and must be praying that he gets the job full-time.

  Alexander-Arnold had shown bright moments against Ireland on Saturday, but his passing had let him down in the second half. Here, though, he upped his game and his balls carved through Finland. He created five chances, more than anyone else, and was partly responsible for both goals, directly assisting Kane for the first then playing a defence-splitting curling pass towards Noni Madueke before it found its way to Kane.

  Even though he has found his true place in the team under Carsley, Alexander-Arnold's creative burst for England is nothing new: this was the third occasion in which he had created five or more chances in a game for the Three Lions, with no one else having done that for the national team since his debut.

  The Liverpool defender offered a deadly threat from the right and his fellow Scouser Gordon was equally threatening off the left. The left wing was the area England struggled with the most during the Euros and if Southgate's refusal to give more than one minute's action to Gordon was hard to understand at the time, it is even more bewildering after seeing what he can do in an England shirt.

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  WINNER: Angel Gomes

  Remember when Southgate lamented the fact that England had never found a successor to Kalvin Phillips? Turns out they had, in the form of Angel Gomes.

  Gomes was a crucial part of the England Under-21 side which won the Euros under Carsley in 2023, and although this was his full international debut, he looked utterly at home at Wembley. The Lille midfielder struck up an instant understanding with Declan Rice and barely put a foot wrong all evening, ensuring England controlled possession and dictated the pace of the game.

  Gomes' progress since leaving Manchester United had gone almost unnoticed back home, but now all England fans are aware of him and what he can offer. Once more he showed that the Red Devils were wrong to not give him more opportunities, and it looks like he will get plenty more chances to do so.

Manchester United have been dealt a boost in their pursuit of a new defender this summer after it emerged that a long-term target "dreams" of playing for the club.

United in need of defensive reinforcements

As this season has made abundantly clear, Manchester United are in need of additions to their backline if they have any hope of improving another disappointing Premier League campaign under Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils are on track to concede the most goals they have ever managed in a Premier League campaign, while injuries have also forced them into 14 different centre-back combinations, culminating in Casemiro playing alongside Jonny Evans in the defeat to Arsenal.

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The Man United prospect has only started three Premier League games this season.

By
Tom Lever

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Lisandro Martinez, set to return to the bench against Newcastle, has been restricted to just nine Premier League appearances, while Tyrell Malacia has missed the entire campaign and injury to Luke Shaw has seen Diogo Dalot often deployed as an auxiliary left-back.

A left-back is definitely on the club's wishlist this summer, while the impending departures of Jonny Evans and Raphael Varane this summer when their contracts expire makes a centre-back a necessity too.

Now, reports also claim Aaron Wan-Bissaka is on his way out this summer, with the club open to a sale at a massive loss on the £50m they shelled out to bring him to the north-west from Crystal Palace.

As a result, another option at right back will be needed, and United have just been handed the perfect chance to secure one of their top targets.

Defender "dreams" of Manchester United

That comes in the shape of Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries, who Manchester United have long been linked with. The Inter Milan defender has enjoyed another fine season with the Nerazzurri, helping them scoop the Serie A title.

He has been showered in praise back in the Netherlands, with ex-Real Madrid man Rafael Van de Vaart labelling him the "ideal full back" after one performance for his country.

“[Denzel] Dumfries is our big star. He is really our very best player at the moment, he’s involved in everything,” he told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “He has provided seven assists in the last seven games, but it could have been even more. He is always on the move. A really great player. His touches are also good, which was different in the past. He is the ideal full back.”

But trouble lies ahead between Dumfries and Inter, with a new contract not close and his current £52,000 a week deal expiring in 12 months as things stand.

As per reports in Italy, the two parties "remain distant" over a new deal, despite the Dutchman having "softened his requests". While a transfer isn't being considered right now, Inter "wouldn't be opposed" to cashing in on the 28-year-old for between 30m and 35m euros (£25.7m-£30m).

For his part, Dumfries "dreams of Manchester United" should he leave San Siro, and given their long-term interest in the defender, a move could well come to fruition quickly should they firm up that interest.

Pep Guardiola's team continue to set unprecedented standards of excellence despite the legal cloud currently hanging over the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City are already on course to lift their record-extending fifth Premier League title come May. The reigning champions have opened the 2024-25 campaign with four wins out of four, scoring 11 goals, nine of which have been scored by their unstoppable Norwegian terminator, Erling Haaland.

Naturally, Haaland steals most of the headlines, but he's just the figurehead in a squad brimming with word-class talent in every position. City would probably still win the league playing a second-string starting XI, such is their strength in depth. And as if that wasn't enough, they also happen to have the best manager in the world sitting in the dugout.

Pep Guardiola has revolutionised the club, and indeed English football as a whole, since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016. City had already won the title twice before his arrival, but they've taken ownership of it under the Catalan coach. Unfortunately, though, because of that dominance, the Premier League is no longer the greatest competition in world football.

Rival fans are sick of City, and that's why they are praying for the most severe sanctions at the end of football's 'Trial of the Century', which began into the 115 charges that have been laid at City's door on Monday. If City are found guilty of breaching financial rules, there is a chance they will be taken out of the title picture for the foreseeable future.

But on the flip side of that coin, City have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and may yet emerge from an exhausting saga unscathed. The landscape of the Premier League could be irrevocably changed, or the dynasty on the blue half of Manchester will be free to keep growing. The question is: which outcome is best for the game?

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  'Innocent until guilt is proven'

  From the outside looking in, it seems impossible for City to escape punishment, because of the sheer volume of charges against them. The club faces 54 counts of failing to provide accurate financial information between 2009-10 and 2017-2018, while another 14 charges have been issued covering the same period for a failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments.

  City have been charged five times for a failure to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations from 2013-14 to 2017-18. A further seven relate to breaches of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) between 2015-16 and 2017-18, and the final 35 charges are for failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 until February 2023.

  The potential sanctions are laid out in rule W.51 of the Premier League’s handbook. City could be hit with record-breaking fines or points deductions, and they are also at risk of being expelled from the division. There are plenty of people who have already started to try and delegitimize City's achievements since Sheikh Mansour's ground-breaking takeover at the Etihad in 2008, but as Pep Guardiola has been quick to highlight: "Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven."

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  Complex case

  "I am looking forward to the decision," Guardiola added in a press conference last week. "I'm happy it's starting. Justice is there in a modern democracy. It's not more complicated than that. We believe we have not done anything wrong."

  City's fate will be decided by a three-person commission of legal experts, with King's Counsel Lord Pannick leading their defence. No expense has been spared as the club bids to prove its innocence, and a full exoneration is the main goal.

  It has taken 14 months for the hearing to begin. During that time, Everton were docked eight points for two breaches of PSR rules, and Nottingham Forest had four deducted due to one transgression. In the eyes of many supporters, that means City simply cannot get off scot-free, but their case is far more complex.

  "A lot of the alleged offenses are repeat, so that's helped inflate the number," David Ornstein recently told . "A lot of people go 'wow, 115 separate charges'. That's not the case. Because of the time span, it's year after year of the same thing, including non-compliance and alleged inflating of sponsorships artificially with the help of their ownership being disguised."

  In 2020, City managed to beat that last allegation, which stemmed from documents published by German outlet via Football Leaks, successfully overturning a two-year Champions League ban in the process. The club can use that victory to validate its current stance, with the Football Leaks information also forming the basis for the 115 charges brought by the Premier League.

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  Risk of monumental embarrassment

  The fact this case has even made it to trial shows how confident City are. According to , retrospective fines may have been the only punishment in the event of a settlement agreement, but the club ultimately decided against making any compromise.

  City have even launched legal action against the Premier League in a separate case over associated party transaction rules, further underlining the club's resolve. That will continue to be tested for some time yet. The trial will reportedly last around two months, but a verdict is not expected to be made public until the spring, and City are likely to appeal if found guilty.

  Football finance expert Stefan Borson, who served as an advisor to City between 2001 and 2007, doesn't believe there is much risk of that happening, though. "I think they'll clear their name because a case of this nature needs to have a level of cogent proof, which seems to me to be impossible to present to an independent commission," Borson said on in January. "It'll be a very big call for any quasi-court [or] tribunal to suggest that this number of people have been dishonest and have perjured themselves."

  It will be a monumental embarrassment for the Premier League if they cannot prove City are guilty, likely leading to a complete boardroom overhaul. Richard Masters' position as chief executive would certainly become untenable, and he has already acknowledged that the case has "created uncertainty and frustration", which will only increase in the coming months.

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  Loyalty could go out the window

  City are also fighting for their reputation, though. A guilty verdict would forever tarnish the most successful era in the club's history, and the road to recovery could be a daunting one.

  According to , City's Premier League rivals do not believe a one-off points deduction will suffice as punishment, even if it were to result in their relegation to the Championship. Points deductions across multiple seasons have been floated as an alternative by one senior figure, to seriously hamper City's chances of competing for trophies.

  If that scenario ever comes to pass, there would be a real possibility of City never getting back to the very top. Loyalty goes out the window in times of crisis; players like Haaland and Phil Foden won't want to spend the prime years of their careers languishing in the second tier, and sponsors will also likely jump ship.

  Guardiola's contract is up next summer, too, and after City's latest title success, he admitted to being "closer to leaving than staying". Why would the 53-year-old stick around if he is made to look foolish for publicly backing the club for so long?

  It has even been suggested that City could be kicked out of all competitions, not just the Premier League. If that happens, how long would it take before the Abu Dhabi United Group, which owns the club, starts exploring sale options? There is so much riding on this trial and the widespread ramifications will be huge for English football no matter who wins.

A pundit has been left thrilled by an "interesting Richarlison replacement" who Tottenham Hotspur are targeting for manager Ange Postecoglou this summer.

Postecoglou says Spurs need to sign new attackers

Timo Werner is expected to stay at Tottenham for another year on loan from RB Leipzig, but Spurs are reportedly open to selling the likes of Bryan Gil, Manor Solomon and Richarlison when the transfer window reopens on June 14.

Paratici tells Levy to sign £50 million star with Tottenham man set for axe

The Italian still has a real influence at N17.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 24, 2024

The aforementioned trio are not the only players who chairman Daniel Levy could opt to let go either, as reliable insider Paul O'Keefe stated earlier this month that Spurs are open to offers for over a dozen members of Postecoglou's squad.

Fabrizio Romano has also predicted a very active summer transfer window for the north Londoners, even claiming they could make as many as five major signings this summer, as they look to back Postecoglou following a positive debut campaign for the Australian as head coach.

“They’re looking at different options as a centre striker or as a winger," said Romano last week.

"I expect Tottenham to be really busy. I don’t want to throw out like six or seven names, but they are considering several players and several positions. I see Tottenham being really busy, I think it could be four or five signings this summer for Spurs.”

Postecoglou has been forthright in his desire to upgrade the squad, and recently stated that Tottenham need to sign new attackers this summer given the plethora of injuries they suffered in that area last term.

"Yeah, absolutely. It's no secret. You saw the way we finished the season. We obviously lost Richy and Timo as well with injuries but we're fairly light in that area," said Postecoglou on the need for new attackers.

"We started last season with Manor [Solomon] and [Ivan] Perisic and we were quite healthy in that front third in terms of numbers, but as the year went on it became pretty evident that we need to bulk up. We're in Europe as well next year so we'll have more games and it's definitely an area of the park we'll need to strengthen."

Tottenham are thought to be looking at signing a number of strikers, and one of them is RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda.

Pundit thrilled as Tottenham eye Openda to replace Richarlison

The £85 million Belgian, who scored 24 goals and bagged seven assists in the Bundesliga alone last season, is on Spurs' transfer shortlist as they decide which striker to move for (Paul O'Keefe).

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham has praised Openda as Spurs target his potential signing – explaining why he'd be an excellent addition.

“I watched Openda in the Champions League a couple of times this year and I was impressed,” Wenham said.

“He has a real mix of pace and excellent finishing ability. He looks like someone who could also play out wide, so he would be an interesting replacement for Richarlison."

Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus could move back to his homeland as former side Palmeiras are eager to sign the Brazil international.

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• Jesus linked with Arsenal exit
• Forward fell out of favour under Arteta
• Palmeiras want to bring him back

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 27-year-old started his career with the Brazilian team and went on to score 29 goals in 83 games over two seasons before Manchester City snapped him up. Now, the Serie A team want to bring their former star back to his homeland. The Sao Paulo team are eager to make a landmark signing in attack ahead of next year's expanded Club World Cup and reports that Jesus is the man they have their hearts set on.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal were reportedly open to selling the 64-time Brazil international during the summer transfer window but no move materialised. However, coach Mikel Arteta suggested he could still play a role for the Gunners after his pre-season performances, as he challenged him to find some consistency.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Jesus has made 83 appearances in all competitions since he joined the north London team, but he has fallen out of favour at the Emirates Stadium. He has had to settle for brief appearances as a late substitute in three of their five league matches.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The report adds Arsenal are willing to sell Jesus during the January transfer window if they can recoup around €40 million (£33m/$45m) for him, and Palmeiras may be willing to match that figure in 2025.

Celtic ended their 2023/24 campaign last weekend with a 1-0 win at Hampden Park against their closest rivals to secure the SFA Cup trophy.

The Hoops had already lifted the Scottish Premiership title earlier in the month and made sure that they ended the season with a domestic double under their belt.

Brendan Rodgers avoided a trophyless return to Parkhead, having joined for a second spell in Glasgow last summer, by winning the SFA Cup and the league title.

However, European success, as his team finished bottom of their Champions League group, and the League Cup, which they were knocked out of by Kilmarnock in August, alluded him.

The upcoming summer transfer window will provide the manager with a chance to make further additions to his squad in an effort to make it ready to compete in Europe and across all domestic competitions next term.

Rodgers could now kickstart the window with a bang by landing a deal for a player the club are reportedly keeping close tabs on ahead of the summer.

Celtic's interest in former Hoops star

Earlier this month, TEAMtalk named the Scottish giants as one of the teams eyeing up Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney ahead of a possible swoop.

The report claims that the Scotland international is not in Mikel Arteta's plans for the 2024/25 campaign, having just spent the season on loan with Real Sociedad in Spain.

A summer transfer away from The Emirates is now on the cards for the full-back and the Gunners would be willing to sell him for a small profit on the £25m they paid Celtic to sign him back in 2019.

TEAMtalk stated that Real Sociedad were pleased with his performances in LaLiga and would like to bring him back for a second loan stint in Spain.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa, Celtic, and a number of unknown European sides are also said to be interested in the Scottish dynamo ahead of the upcoming window.

However, the report did not add whether or not the Premier League side, who will be playing Champions League football next season, would be willing to sanction a loan deal for the defender if not team is prepared to pay in excess of £25m this summer.

If Rodgers and his backroom staff can get a move over the line for the former Bhoys academy graduate, though, then it could be the perfect start to the summer.

Why Kieran Tierney would be a huge signing for Celtic

Firstly, the 26-year-old ace is experienced in Europe and could be a key player for the Hoops on the continent, whether they end up in the Champions League or the Europa League.

In his career to date, Tierney has racked up 62 appearances in Europe for Celtic, Arsenal, and Real Sociedad combined, all of which have been in the two aforementioned competitions – including qualifiers.

Despite playing at left-back, the Gunners outcast produced three goals and seven assists in those 62 matches, which shows that he can provide a big attacking threat in European tournaments.

In his last Champions League campaign for Celtic, Tierney made 4.5 tackles and interceptions combined per game and won 64% of his ground duels across six appearances, which shows that he can win possession back on a regular basis whilst dominating players on the deck.

Alongside his excellent defensive work in Europe, the Scotland international was also a consistent creative threat in the Premiership during his time at Parkhead.

As you can see in the table above, the £25m-rated star provided his teammates with 25 assists in 95 regular season Premiership matches, which means that he averaged one assist every 3.8 games on average.

These statistics suggest that Tierney has the quality to be a big defensive presence in Europe whilst also offering quality in possession on the domestic front, whilst also being able to hit the ground running due to his prior experience in Scotland with Celtic.

This is why Rodgers could kickstart the upcoming summer transfer window with a bang by securing a deal to sign the Arsenal defender, as he has the quality and experience to be an instant success domestically and in Europe next term.

Why Kieran Tierney could be an upgrade on Greg Taylor

Greg Taylor is the current first-choice option for the Northern Irish head coach at left-back and is currently the only natural operator in that role in the squad, as Alexandro Bernabei left to join Brazilian side Internacional on loan.

Tierney coming through the door would provide his compatriot with competition for his place in the side, which could help him to improve his own game instead of being complacent, as he knows that there are no natural alternatives to him at this moment in time.

The Arsenal full-back could also come in as an upgrade on Taylor from an attacking perspective, as his form for Celtic earlier in his career suggests that he could provide more in the final third.

Since his move from Kilmarnock, the current Hoops defender has produced eight goals and 25 assists in 173 appearances in all competitions, which is one goal contribution every 5.4 outings on average.

Whereas, Tierney racked up eight goals and 37 assists in 170 matches in all competitions for the Bhoys, which is a return of one goal involvement every 3.78 clashes on average.

This suggests that the £110k-per-week ace, who was once hailed as "unique" by Rodgers, could provide goals and assists far more frequently than Taylor.

As you can see in the table above, the Real Sociedad loanee could also offer more from a defensive perspective based on their respective form at league level this term.

His higher duel success rate suggests that he is stronger in battles with opposition attackers, which means that Tierney can win possession more frequently by cutting out attacks.

Overall, this appears to be a fantastic deal on paper for Celtic if they can secure his services, but the quality of competition, from Aston Villa and Real Sociedad, could make it a difficult one to get over the line.

Celtic hit gold with star who's worth more than Tierney & Edouard combined

The Hoops hit the jackpot with the impressive star who is now being linked with an exit.

By
Dan Emery

May 21, 2024

Austin have let go of the first manager in franchise history after failing to qualify for the MLS playoffs

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• Josh Wolff removed from position
• Austin miss playoffs in back-to-back seasons
• Has been in position since 2019

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Austin FC fired head coach Josh Wolff after a loss to the LA Galaxy saw them officially eliminated from playoff contention, the club announced Sunday.

  The Verde and Black have now failed to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons – despite the available spots being expanded during the 2023 season.

  An interim manager will be named for the final fixture of the season, while a search for a new head coach will begin immediately, according to the team.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Austin FC's form has plummeted after making the Western Conference final in 2022, where they lost to LAFC. Last season, the club finished 12th in the West, and are currently in 10th with one game to play. Supporter's Group Los Verdes called for Wolff's firing in a social media post last week.

  The now-former manager has a wealth of experience around U.S. soccer, and served as an assistant under Gregg Berhalter for the USMNT from 2018 until he took the Austin role a year later.

• WHAT AUSTIN FC SAID

  Sporting director Rodolfo Borrell explained the club's decision in a statement: “As an organization, our on-field ambitions are to be among the highest performing clubs in MLS year-over-year. To do that, progression is essential, and looking forward, we’ll now immediately begin a search for a new manager who can help us translate our ambition into consistent, high-level performance.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR AUSTIN FC?

  The search for a new manager ahead of the 2025 season will begin. The club will have an interim coach in place for the final fixture of the season, a matchup with Colorado Rapids on Oct. 19. The Rapids could finish fifth in the West should results elsewhere go their way.