All posts by h716a5.icu

Celtic are interested in Hajduk Split defensive midfielder Jani Atanasov, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.

The Lowdown: Out of favour last term

The North Macedonia international fell out of favour at Hajduk Split towards the end of last season, starting just eight league games throughout the campaign.

However, the 22-year-old has started the current season strongly, having featured three times in the Croatian first division and three times in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Since arriving at the club in 2020, Atanasov has made 59 appearances for Hajduk, contributing five goals and two assists as a holding midfielder.

The Latest: Joseph’s news

After sharing an update on Celtic’s pursuit of Rubin Kazan winger Sead Haksabanovic, Joseph revealed information about Ange Postecoglou’s next transfer target.

Taking to Twitter, the journalist claimed: “@SkySportsNews understands the Hoops are also interested in Hajduk Split defensive midfielder Jani Atanasov – though, no formals talks have taken place at this stage.”

The Verdict: He’d add welcome depth

After allowing Ismaila Soro to go out on loan to Arouca, the Hoops have been looking at a number of holding midfielders to add depth to Postecoglou’s squad.

According to journalist Izak Ante Sucic (via Glasgow Times), Atansov would be allowed to leave should the two clubs agree upon a fee.

Described as a powerful, 6 foot 1 defensive midfielder, the 22-year-old would have plenty of time to adjust to life at Parkhead, given his tender years.

Therefore, his prospective arrival at Celtic would add some welcome depth to Postecoglou’s defensive midfield options as the Hoops embark upon the busy season ahead.

Bruno Lage’s decision to bring Hwang Hee-Chan to Wolves on a permanent basis has massively backfired, as the South Korean is one of several attackers to woefully underperform in the Old Gold’s side so far this season.

After a promising loan spell from RB Leipzig last term, which saw the striker contribute five goals in the top flight, Wolves decided to exercise their option to make his move permanent in a deal worth £14m, with that move becoming official on the 1st July after his loan spell ended.

Since he officially became a Wolves player in the summer, his form has fallen off a cliff, as he has been limited to just two starts and eight substitute appearances in the top flight, which have returned no goals and no assists.

Even with the Old Gold’s dreadful form in front of goal, which has seen them notch just six goals in the Premier League so far this season, the South Korea international has still rarely been trusted to play, which is perhaps a damning indictment of what his future looks like at the club.

Sadly, he has failed to perform on his rare opportunities, registering just three shots on target in the Premier League this season, which suggests that the club have paid close to £5m for each shot on target in the top flight so far this campaign.

Hwang’s 6.12 average rating in the Premier League also ranks him as the second-worst player in Steve Davis’ squad of those to make at least one start this season, which emphasises just how poor he has been.

With Wolves’ injury and suspension issues, which sees Raul Jimenez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Pedro Neto and now Diego Costa all likely to miss the next three games, perhaps Hwang will get more of an opportunity to show what he can from the start but in truth, he looks unlikely to be the man to solve the Old Gold’s problems going forward.

Sadly, it seems as if the decision to sign him permanently will have to go down as another big mistake by Lage.

Leeds United could reignite their interest in Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, but he won’t come cheap, according to The Daily Express.

The Lowdown: Watkins links

The Whites were linked with a move for Watkins following their promotion to the Premier League in 2020 before bringing in Rodrigo.

Leeds were once again rumoured to make a move for the England international over the summer, with journalist Ben Jacobs reporting the club were monitoring Watkins’ situation.

As we know, a move never materialised, but Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta could well look again in the New Year.

The Latest: January rumours

The Daily Express looked at four potential attacking additions at Elland Road after Jesse Marsch admitted he plans to discuss January targets in the coming weeks when asked about signing a striker.

Their report name-checked Watkins, saying that Villa ‘might consider a transfer to a Premier League rival’, adding that ‘the Elland Road hierarchy would likely need to come up with a huge sum of money to tempt Villa into selling Watkins’.

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The Verdict: Possible?

Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal proved to everyone at Leeds that signing a new forward in the New Year may now be a necessity.

Rodrigo’s first-half error led to the Gunners’ opener, while Patrick Bamford would have had a hat-trick if he had his shooting boots on.

Bamford has also had plenty of injury issues in the last 12 months and looks like he’ll need time to get back up to speed, so bringing in someone like Watkins could be a smart idea.

He has plenty of Premier League experience, and although he isn’t firing during the current campaign, Watkins, labelled a ‘top player’ by Michael Owen, would still provide another high-quality attacking option.

Tottenham Hotspur wing-back Matt Doherty is facing the axe from manager Antonio Conte ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for Newcastle battle…

Antonio Conte will be hurting after his side slumped to a 2-0 midweek defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Spurs failed to truly exert any serious control over proceedings and lacked a real threat in the final third, with Lilywhites supporters now hoping that the team can put in a much more convincing performance against Newcastle this afternoon.

Eddie Howe’s men won’t be pushovers, though, as the Magpies have conceded fewer goals than any top-flight side and travel to north London unbeaten in their last six outings.

Conte may have a few key decisions to make today, and some of them are certain to revolve around his all-important wing-back roles.

The Latest: Doherty facing Conte axe…

According to reports, it appears that Republic of Ireland international Doherty is facing the axe for Newcastle’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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The Evening Standard claim that the defender is ‘likely’ to be dropped to the bench in favour of Emerson Royal, with the Brazilian now coming back from suspension.

Indeed, it appears that the latter could actually come ‘straight back in’ for Doherty.

The Verdict: Right move?

Emerson has shown dedication, with reports suggesting he has significantly invested to become a better player in his personal time during his suspension.

However, there have also been question marks around his suitability for the role, with Doherty earning praise from Conte for his stellar outing against Everton last weekend.

Called an ‘exceptional player’ by former Ireland international Gary Breen, we believe that dropping the 30-year-old would be a questionable call by the Spurs boss.

Glasgow Rangers endured a shambolic night in their Champions League clash at Ibrox on Wednesday night.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side ended up on the wrong end of a 7-1 hammering by Liverpool, despite scoring first through Scott Arfield.

The performance and outcome followed what had occurred in the previous three Champions League matches, a Rangers side who are out of their depth.

There were poor displays all over the pitch, with left-back Borna Barisic enduring a torrid night, receiving a SofaScore rating of just 5.9 as Mohamed Salah tore him to shreds, scoring a hat-trick off the bench.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst must now surely unleash Ridvan Yilmaz in the Croatian’s place against Motherwell on Sunday and give him the opportunity to shine.

Yilmaz joined the Ibrox club from Besiktas for £5m in July but he hasn’t quite made the splash that many were expecting. The Turkish left-back has played just 38 minutes in the league this season, with the manager often placing his trust in Barisic.

After Wednesday’s debacle, though, Yilmaz should start and show exactly why the Dutchman brought him to Scotland in the first place.

Ross Wilson described the 21-year-old as someone with “high potential and high quality”, and he proved that last season with Besiktas. He scored three times and provided four assists in 23 league starts for the Istanbul club, while displaying his attacking abilities by creating a further five big chances.

With Barisic managing just three goal contributions last season (all assists), it’s clear that Yilmaz has a greater attacking impetus than the Croatian.

It will be interesting to see if Van Bronckhorst now gives the 21-year-old a run of games in order to freshen things up at the back, and if the Turk can translate his form for Besiktas last season towards impressing in Scotland, then the Gers might just have another wonderful talent on their hands.

All that is required on Sunday is three points and a chance for the club to redeem themselves following the Liverpool debacle.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared a big Chelsea transfer update on their pursuit of RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku.

The Lowdown: Potter backed…

The Blues are appearing to back their new manager Graham Potter with club owner Todd Boehly reportedly holding serious ambition behind-the-scenes.

Claims surfaced this week of the Stamford Bridge’s side real intent as 90min shared reports of a possible ‘double deal’ for both Nkunku and Josko Gvardiol from Leipzig.

It was stated that talks are ongoing over moves for both players and Boehly is the personal driving force behind this exciting swoop.

Now, a very reliable source in Romano has shared a promising update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Nkunku.

The Latest: Romano shares Nkunku update…

Writing via his CaughtOffside substack for subscribers, the Italian says Chelsea and Boehly by extension have ‘moved fast’ for the forward to get ahead of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Man United.

Romano claims Potter’s side are ‘more than leading the race’ for Nkunku’s signature as they enter pole position for his signing.

The fee will allegedly be somewhere over the €60m (£53m) mark.

The Verdict: Exciting…

Called a ‘world class player’ by ex-Leipzig assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer, Nkunku’s numbers definitely back this up.

As per WhoScored, the 24-year-old has already bagged six goals in eight Bundesliga appearances this season whilst also ranking in their top three for shots at goal and key passes made per 90.

Still fairly young and a proven threat, £53 million could certainly be considered a bargain.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now claimed that it is a ‘real cruel blow for Wolves’ that strikers Raul Jimenez and Sasa Kalajdzic have both picked up injuries.

The Lowdown: Injury woes

It has been reported that Jimenez has picked up a serious injury on international duty with Mexico, and he is now a doubt for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.

This adds to the serious injury that new striker signing Kalajdzic picked up on his debut, which Bruno Lage has since confirmed will rule him out for at least six months.

The Latest: ‘Cruel blow’

Speaking to The Transfer Tavern, when asked if the Midlands club should have let Fabio Silva go out on loan in light of their injury problems in the striker position, O’Rourke claimed that they should not have in hindsight, but added that it is a ‘real cruel blow’ to lose both Jimenez and Kalajdzic to long-term injuries:

“Yeah, well hindsight, it’s a wonderful thing. They wouldn’t have expected these injury problems that hit them so badly, as they have with Raul Jimenez and especially the Sasa Kalajdzic one.

“He was the big signing as a striker this summer, they thought he was the man to solve their goalscoring problems, and unfortunately he suffered that cruciate knee ligament injury on his debut.

“So, a real cruel blow for Wolves and for Kalajdzic as well.”

The Verdict: Others now need to step up

With the injuries to Jimenez and Kalajdzic, and the fact that Silva has gone out on loan, the Molineux outfit now need others to step up in their absence and get the goals needed to climb up the Premier League table.

They are currently the joint-lowest scorers in the division alongside West Ham United with three goals, and incidentally face them over the weekend.

The Wanderers have brought in Diego Costa as a free agent, but he has not played any competitive football since December of last year, so it will be up to the likes of Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto and Goncalo Guedes to provide the goals needed until Jimenez and Kalajdzic return.

Celtic striker Georgios Giakoumakis has required a scan on a leg problem while on international duty with Greece, journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos reports.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis’ season so far

Giakoumakis missed large parts of the previous season through injury and has had to remain patient under Ange Postecoglou during the current campaign.

The 27-year-old is yet to start a Scottish Premiership fixture, with his two starts coming against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Ross County in the Scottish League Cup.

The forward, labelled as a ‘hugely important’ player by Postecoglou, has netted three goals in 387 minutes of action, and it looks as if he has been in some pain while away with Greece.

The Latest: Injury update

Chorianopoulos took to Twitter on Saturday to share an update on the Celtic man.

He revealed that Giakoumakis required a scan after feeling a ‘a little problem’ in his leg. The resulting scan didn’t show anything serious, Chorianopoulos added, however, the forward will still be checked by Greece’s medical staff.

The Verdict: Caution needed

Giakoumakis missed the UEFA Nations League game with Cyprus on Saturday through suspension but is eligible to take on Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

However, following the recent injury scare, Celtic may be hoping that the national side do not take any unnecessary risks with the striker, should the pain remain.

It will undoubtedly be one to keep an eye on over the coming days by Celtic officials, and hopefully, he’ll return to Parkhead in good condition.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has backed Besiktas loanee Dele Alli to return to Everton and have a long-term future with the Premier League club.

The Lowdown: Alli’s loan

Towards the end of the summer transfer window, it was announced that the Turkish giants had secured the season-long loan signing of the Toffees playmaker.

Despite only arriving at Goodison Park in January, the 26-year-old failed to make an instant impression on manager Frank Lampard. This resulted in his inclusion as an Everton starter just once during the second half of the 2021/22 season, whilst he came on as a substitute on ten occasions.

As a result, with minutes on the pitch not guaranteed, Alli agreed to join Besiktas for the current season.

The Latest: Robinson’s claim

Robinson, who often works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that the Englishman still has a future with the Merseyside club, as he wasn’t given a fair chance upon his arrival at Finch Farm.

Speaking with Football Insider, the former Tottenham goalkeeper claimed: “Listen, there is a reason that Frank signed him. There is a reason he wanted him from Spurs. He saw something in him.

“In my opinion, I do not think Alli has been given a fair opportunity yet. Everton were a struggling team last year. In that situation you look for players that work hard and you look for solidity. Frank wanted them to be robust and hard to beat. Dele is not that type of player. Therefore, he did not get a fair crack of the whip.

“The more time he sits on the bench the worse it is for his confidence. For him to get away and play in Turkey will help. He will be away from the spotlight of the English media.

“If Everton start to improve and play in a different way there is a place for him at Goodison Park. He is a top-class player. You do not become a bad player overnight.

“He has not done it for a few years now but if he can find his form he would fit into any Premier League team. He has a lot of work to do though. He can do what he likes off the field if his performances on it are right.”

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The Verdict: Loan move is make-or-break

When looking at Alli’s underlying statistics, it appears that his much-maligned work ethic was underappreciated during his brief stint at Goodison Park.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the midfielder ranks in the top 1% for pressures, tackles, interceptions, blocks and clearances, and in the top 3% for aerial duels won.

At 26 years of age, the former England international still has time on his side to get his Premier League career back on track.

Therefore, his Besiktas loan move could well be critical in deciding whether Alli will be given the chance to demonstrate his talents at Finch Farm upon his return to Everton.

The season is shaping up well, despite the strain on the schedule due to stymied by Her Majesty’s passing. Unlike in cricket, footie fans can’t quite be trusted to show their respects through songs and so matches have been pushed back to honour the county’s loss. Perhaps it is not out of disrespect for the Queen but disregard for Charles’s accession to the throne. Whatever, either way there are going to be some delays for September’s action!

Arsenal sit at the top of the table with 15 points, despite having taken a (more than light) beating from Man U. Well, the league table that is – the odds maker’s table is taking a different shape with Liverpool and Man City looking like two honchos ready for a showdown in June. It has to be said though that the gunners certainly didn’t leave the transfer window out gunned. With the sensational Gabriel Jesus presiding over the rest of a hundred million spend, Arsenal are not out of the running to finish the league victorious.

Tottenham (and their under twenty one secret weapon) really are looking hot this year in spite of their undeservedly blank victory history. These guys are the most likely out of the unexpected wins, meaning, who would make the cup-taking the most memorable whilst realistically having a shot. Sorry Leicester, it’s not that bringing back the magic of 2015-2016 would not be memorable, it just isn’t realistic. Yes, Leicester shaped up poorly – losing almost every game so far and winning none. Chelsea beat them despite being only ten men deep for over an hour – not a good look for Leicester. It must be said though, seeing these guys at their best and when morale is running high is such a joy, it would be a genuine shame to see them relegated… even if Hotspur and Forest show them the curb in the coming weeks.

As for the end game, will this be an old tale of vengeance and standing ground between the current (and usual) suspects Liverpool and Man City? Or will there be more to it?

Well, Man United might be the underdog of the top tier… And it doesn’t seem that long ago that that phrase would have sounded insane. I’m of course talking about the Sir Alex Ferguson years. Truly golden years when you look at the stats – United won the premier league 12 times in the past thirty years and once in the last ten. This contrast shows what is at stake and the legacy that fans dream will one day be lived up to. And slashing their odds in half after the Arsenal match (and let’s not forget beating Liverpool) equally shows how promising they are this season.

Speaking of Underdogs, Brighton and Hove Albion have been the unexpected stars by pillaging a whopping thirteen points. They may not be around the top of the table in the latter stages of  the season but, in football, nothing is certain. Graham Potter is an outstanding manager who has given Brighton an explosive start to the season. Unfortunately for the seagulls however he is… a little too good perhaps and has been snapped up by Chelsea. Brighton are currently looking at replacements and hoping for some consistency with the rest of the season.

So… City. Yes the Norwegian demi-god Erling Haaland has manifested in this year’s squad to score an almighty 12 EPL goals, having smote the back of ten nets in this nascent premier league. Who knows what the future brings, maybe he even has his boot aimed at Shearer’s record. His collection of golden accolades is certainly a testament to this twenty two year old. It’s clear from his goalless performance at community shield that Haaland needs his gang, the support to sail above the rest, and this year’s city squad (perhaps even Julian Alvarez alone) is more than enough for this Viking to thrive.

Liverpool obviously want to avenge their past selves and remedy the cigar-less and oh so close last season. Although they all went to Naples to get hammered 4-1, we can focus on the Premier League and ignore any unexpected blips. They may currently be seventh but are considered to have an edge even on City when it comes to end game favourites. Indeed, Klopp could well be the new king.

Just as predicting the league’s winner can be lucrative so too can predicting its losers. All the top gambling sites will sport relegation odds. In regards to relegation, Nottingham forest and Bournemouth (who may never recover from Liverpool’s thorough gutting) may be the ones having their own showdown. That is of course if Leicester doesn’t continue to make their lives a whole lot easier. Just as predicting the league’s winner can be lucrative so too can predicting its losers.

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