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Celtic have been tipped to replace Neil Lennon before the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Beginning of the end for Lennon?

The Irish tactician has come under intense scrutiny during the 2020/21 campaign after a slow start in the Scottish Premiership and an early exit from the Europa League.

Mass protests and banners have been seen outside of the stadium, calling for the board to sack Lennon, who has won four league titles as a manager for the Bhoys, but the board have publicly backed him.

Despite these calls for change, Celtic made history at Hampden Park at the weekend after beating Hearts on penalties to win the Scottish Cup, securing an unprecedented quadruple treble.

However, speaking exclusively to Football Transfer Tavern, Windass believes that Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond will have a change of heart by replacing Lennon before next season gets underway.

“The main priority for Celtic Football Club is winning the league, getting into the Champions League,” he said. “That’s their main aim and if Lenny doesn’t achieve that, then I can’t see him being there next year.”

“I think he’s taken them as far as he can and they’ll look for some fresh ideas from a new manager”

Transfer Tavern Verdict

The only way for Celtic to change the minds of supporters is if they can overhaul the points deficit to Rangers and clinch a famous 10th title in a row.

Lennon’s cup triumph could be exactly what he needed. Although his side didn’t play exceptionally well, it could inject a new lease of life into his players.

The end of the season will spell his destiny at the club, and whether or not Lawwell or Desmond think he is worthy of a longer stay at Parkhead remains to be seen.

In other news, Celtic taking strong interest in “dangerous” talent who has more dribbles than Ryan Christie.

Many Liverpool fans mocked former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood after his reaction to Roberto Firmino’s winner on Wednesday.

The Reds earned themselves a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Jose Mourinho’s side, which resulted in the Reds returning to the top of the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah gave the hosts the lead thanks to a slice of good fortune from Eric Dier but were quickly pegged back by Son Heung Min before Firmino’s 90th-minute winner.

Working as a pundit for Amazon (via The Anfield Wrap), Sherwood stated mere seconds before the final act that he was not worried about Liverpool from corners and believed that his former side’s aerial dominance would be able to cope with the dangers.

These comments were being made as Andy Robertson lined up to take the corner – and he was left red-faced when Liverpool clinched the winner from the resulting set-piece.

Unsurprisingly, supporters howled at Sherwood for his television slip up, branding it his very own ‘Steve McClaren moment’.

Fans howl at Sherwood

In other news, Liverpool fans gush over the possibility of signing player who ‘would be a beast for Klopp.’

Neil Lennon has breathed a sigh of relief after Celtic banked a 4-1 win over Motherwell in the Premiership this afternoon. The Hoops kept the pressure on league leaders Rangers and still have another all-important game in-hand to play.

Celtic’s star of the show was undeniably Mohamed Elyounoussi, who has apologised for his recent Europa League stunt with true class. The Southampton loanee bagged himself a hat-trick in a huge gesture which has not only restored his status, but gotten the Bhoys back on track.

However, not all of Lennon’s players put in an impressive performance. Despite the comfortable 4-1 scoreline, Diego Laxalt dropped a rather out-of-character poor display.

Diego Laxalt vs Motherwell

The left-back has put in some solid performances since he joined the Bhoys on loan, attracting praise from the likes of Chris Sutton who says the club has been “crying out for” a player like him for weeks.

However, today was not a good day at the office for Laxalt. According to Sofascore, the Uruguay international lost 66% of his attempted duels and was dribbled past on two occasions. He also lost the ball four times and committed two fouls. As a player who is usually eagle-eyed in attack, Laxalt additionally failed to make any successful crosses or long balls, despite attempting seven in total.

The 27-year-old’s performance will be far from a worry for Lennon, who will be pleased to be back on the bike and pedalling away. There’s a long road still to come as Celtic keep pushing to catch Rangers. One thing the manager must do however, is to ensure his squad are performing at the best of their abilities. The Hoops have lost too many matches so far to trust that performances like this won’t happen again.

Lennon must keep cracking the whip and not let individual displays slip.

In other news, Ralph Hasenhuttl will be furious with Mohamed Elyounoussi’s recent Celtic stunt…

Dean Henderson continued to stake his claim for a place in the starting lineup after Manchester United cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night.

What’s the word?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side thrashed the Seagulls after Scott McTominay opened the scoring at the AMEX Stadium.

According to ex-Manchester United striker Andy Cole, while Juan Mata made the most of the spotlight, as the midfielder scored a goal and supplied the assist for McTominay, Henderson will have given Solskjaer a lot to think about before the Red Devils face their former boss Jose Mourinho this weekend.

The club legend told Sky Sports he believes Henderson has proved he is more than capable of challenging David de Gea for the number one jersey.

While the game hung in the balance, the 23-year-old made a fine save from Leandro Trossard after he flung out a left hand to stop a stinging shot.

Speaking after the game, Solskjaer was full of high praise for the goalkeeper’s key save after the game, telling reporters it was a “big moment in the game, as it was last time against Luton, kept his concentration, he didn’t have a lot to do, very pleased with it.”

He added “he lives for clean sheets which a keeper should do.”

Schmeichel 2.0?

Old Trafford has witnessed some of the world’s greatest goalkeepers step out onto the pitch but that hasn’t always been the case.

For every Edwin van der Sar, there has been an Anders Lindergaard, although the board may not have to look very far to find a future star within their ranks.

Standing at 1.88m tall, Henderson is very much in the mould of former keeper Peter Schmeichel.

Schmeichel, who is slightly taller at around 1.91m, was also known for his agile frame and athleticism.

While Henderson is hardly a freak of nature, his old boss Chris Wilder said “he has matured and his concentration levels are fantastic” after his late saves denied Norwich City last season.

Last season, the 6 ft 1 colossus saved 13 clean sheets in 36 games in the Premier League, the same amount as De Gea, although the 43-cap Spanish international conceded three more goals. He also saved one out of three penalties and only made one error leading to a goal via SofaScore.

As with any side, competition for places is important, and these numbers hint that Henderson, who currently earns wages worth £120,000-a-week, should be given the opportunity to prove himself in the English top flight.

De Gea has endured a tough start to the season after another erratic display against Crystal Palace. United have been crying out for some competition and Henderson could be the unsung hero they need to push for a place in the top four.

AND in other news, Spurs eye shock move for Manchester United star Jesse Lingard…

If at first you fail, try and try again. This is probably the motto Dean Smith is currently preaching at Aston Villa as they struggle to finally seal the deal for Emiliano Martinez.

Arsenal have already rejected two offers from the Villains, the last one said to be within the £15m mark, and are adamant on holding out for their initial £20m evaluation of the goalie.

Of course, the Argentine shot-stopper is looking for regular minutes ahead of the 2020/21 Premier League season so he is keen to move on from the Emirates. However, Mikel Arteta won’t just part ways with him for any price whatsoever.

According to the latest report from the Daily Mail, Aston Villa are preparing their third attempt to finally snatch the goalkeeper up and bring him to the club. But one thing is for sure, that bid will simply have to be at least much closer to Arsenal’s asking price if they are to be more successful this time around.

Martinez has already rejected a contract renewal with the London side so there is certainly hope for Villa that he will indeed leave for greener pastures in the immediate future.

Smith wants to add more depth to his defence and the 28-year-old could indeed be the answer to his prayers. The only thing in the way is money and it remains to be seen whether the Villains have the financial power to get the deal over the line.

Only time will tell.

Verdict

Since Martinez is looking for steady football and Villa need a new goalie, this does seem like the perfect match on paper. Of course, the Villains’ goalkeepers have been a sore spot for the team for a while now and the Argentine could help fix that for the upcoming campaign.

Nothing is set in stone just yet, however, and there’s still a lot of work left before they can celebrate a new signing.

Chelsea are getting themselves ready to fight in what promises to be a thrilling 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

The Blues have recruited heavily in the lead-up to the new season and could be the ones to watch to chase down Liverpool for their crown.

Frank Lampard has welcomed five major signings to the club already, with Kai Havertz looking likely to be the sixth through the door any day now.

With their first match of 2020/21 in sight, the manager has highlighted who has impressed him during Chelsea’s pre-season. One man who will definitely have the spotlight on him once the new term starts is Timo Werner. Luckily for him, he has already hit the ground running for the Blues.

Lampard has given a glowing review of the German’s performance against Brighton, which saw him find the back of the net just four minutes into the game (via Sofascore).

“I thought Timo was really sharp and bright,” the 42-year-old told The Express. “He got his goal really early in the game, he showed some of the qualities that I know very well he has so I am very excited about having him in the squad.”

Werner joined Chelsea in a move that stunned the masses. After months of heavy speculation over joining Liverpool, and the player himself even admitting he was proud to be linked to the Reds, the forward put pen to paper for the West Londoners.

The move came shortly after Hakim Ziyech marked Lampard’s first signing of the summer. Werner made his move from RB Leipzig for a fee of £45million back in June (via Sky Sports).

“Also on the pitch he can help talk and be the player that he is which means affecting others,” Lampard said. “On those levels I hope he brings that.

“I am pretty sure he will with the qualities we know he has, so I am excited for when he joins up.”

Are you excited to see Timo Werner in action for Chelsea? Join the conversation in the comments below!

West Ham United have been linked to a new striker this week and it’s a player that has haunted east London before…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer expert Ciro Venerato (via Arena Napoli), the Irons are one of the teams interested in veteran Napoli forward Fernando Llorente this summer.

It’s claimed that Carlo Ancelotti is also keen to bring him back to the Premier League having been the man to bring him to the Serie A outfit last summer.

The 6 foot 4 colossus is seemingly free to leave the Stadio San Paolo, although it remains to be seen how much he could cost with Transfermarkt valuing him at just under £3m.

Past it now

Llorente is a player that many at the London Stadium will know well as the Spaniard enjoyed three seasons in the Premier League from 2016 to 2019, playing for both Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur.

During a League Cup tie with the Irons in 2018, the 35-year-old caused Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers side all sorts of problems, scoring in a 3-1 victory.

David Moyes’ current defensive pairing Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop struggled to cope with his physical presence – Llorente won 60% of his duels whilst the Frenchman committed one foul and had to put in one last-ditch tackle, per SofaScore.

However, he could potentially be another expensive flop with him reportedly on over €60k-per-week (£54k-per-week) at Napoli.

In the past, Llorente has caused mixed reaction in the press – Frank Lampard once said in 2017 that there was a “sluggishness” about him and “sloppy” whilst Irons legend Trevor Sinclair believes his hold up play is “superb” and that he’s a “great plan B”.

It’s unlikely that a 35-year-old is going to come into United and outscore Sebastien Haller despite only scoring seven times last season, therefore, Moyes should steer well clear of this move.

AND in other news, West Ham make PL regular their number ONE target…

Plymouth Argyle midfielder Antoni Sarcevic has been offered a new contract at Home Park but remains coy for now on whether he will stay on for another season.

Speaking to the club’s official website pafc.co.uk, the 28-year-old said: “It’s only been a couple of days, but I appreciate the manager and the club for trusting me and offering me a new contract. It’s going to take a bit of time, but I’ll think hard and focus on what’s right for me and my family.”

Sarcevic was this week named as Plymouth’s Player of the Season, gaining 58% of the vote as Byron Moore and Alex Palmer completed the top three (as per pafc.co.uk).

The Manchester native was Argyle’s top scorer in 2019/20 with 11 goals in all competitions, while his tally of eight assists was the second highest in Ryan Lowe’s squad, therefore playing a key role in helping them to achieve promotion to League One.

One of those 11 strikes was named as the club’s Goal of the Season, namely his stunning rocket into the top corner in the 3-2 win at Salford City in February. It was moments such as that which made it such an easy decision for the club to offer him a new contract, with his current deal set to expire this summer.

Without Sarcevic’s goals, Plymouth would have earned 10 fewer points this season, a return which would have seen them just about clinch a play-off place rather than going up automatically as they have done.

It would clearly be to Plymouth’s great benefit if Sarcevic agrees to commit another year to the club given his performances this season and, with the Pilgrims operating at a higher level in 2020/21, his influence could become even more crucial.

The 28-year-old is perfectly justified in wanting to make the decision that is best for his family but hopefully he will be content to stay put at Home Park and continue being a match-winning presence in Lowe’s line-up.

Plymouth fans, how big a boost would it be if Sarcevic accepts the club’s offer of a new contract? Have your say by commenting below!

West Ham United left-back Aaron Cresswell argued that the players have not been consulted about project restart, in a Twitter post on Friday.

What did he say?

The Premier League clubs are set to vote today on whether players can return to training in small groups, ahead of a potential return to action in June.

Fourteen of the 20 clubs are needed to approve the proposal which if agreed on, could see players back in training from Tuesday.

However, Cresswell has argued that the players’ opinions have not been properly taken into account.

“I think it’s been made pretty clear players opinions don’t count for much along with the head medical officer of fifa,” he wrote on Twitter.

“It’s been 10 weeks since we last played to try get a poll to see where players stand?”

The 30-year-old was responding to a tweet from Talksport quoting former England boss Sam Allardyce who had argued that the players had not been properly consulted.

Communication breakdown

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a level of discontent among some of the players with regards to the level of consultation that has taken place.

In such an unprecedented scenario it is the players who are taking the biggest risk by taking the field and in the desperation to see a return, it appears they have not had their opinions properly heard.

Whether or not this will change as the plans are ramped up remains to be seen, but at this stage it feels like there has been a breakdown in communication.

Newcastle United’s takeover is continuing to drag on, leaving fans with a number of doubts on if it will even go through and despite reports by the Telegraph hinting at a delay, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has provided some encouragement.In response to one supporter suggesting that he was getting quite worried, the reliable Magpies correspondent claimed that Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium are ‘still confident’ on landing the £300m takeover of the club.He tweeted:

If the deal does go through, then it will end Mike Ashley’s tumultuous 13-year rein in charge of the northeast outfit, which will come as happy news for pretty much everyone of a Newcastle persuasion at St James’ Park.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Even though it hasn’t yet been confirmed as we enter the month of May, Waugh’s comments provide some encouragement that it could soon be complete and such doubts should be put on the back burner for the time being.

AND in other news,ÂNewcastle fans want former SUNDERLAND ace’s contract extended…