All posts by h79snht.top

Giovanni van Bronckhorst led Rangers to Scottish Cup glory and came so close to winning the Ibrox club’s first European trophy since 1972 in the Europa League final last season, but he is already planning ahead for next term.

With the Ibrox coffers boosted following the European run, there will surely be a few new faces arriving at the club over the summer.

A couple of players who could immediately improve the first team would be a welcome sight as the Gers aim to win back the Premiership title next season, although extending the contracts of a few key players in Van Bronckhorst’s current squad could be just as important.

Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo, arguably three of the club’s most valuable assets, are all out of contract at the end of next season, and former Rangers boss Alex McLeish has had his say on the situation.

He told Football Insider: “It is a little bit worrying when contracts are running so close to finalising. We all talk about the coming months and it’s something Rangers have to deal with.

“Whether they feel the need to bring some money in and somebody goes for a big fee, Calvin Bassey, there’s been talk about him, that helps Giovanni bring his players in as well… I’m sure there will be talks galore in the coming days, weeks, and months.”

The supporters will likely be concerned that there has been no word on new deals being offered to these players, and Van Bronckhorst needs to sort this out as soon as possible.

Aribo has stated that he isn’t interested in a move to the Premier League, despite the ongoing interest from Crystal Palace. With the midfielder currently valued at £9m, the Rangers boss could surely bring in more than double that for the 25-year-old if he extends his deal beyond 2023.

This summer could see the Rangers squad rejuvenated as Van Bronckhorst will be aiming to bring in his own players in, although keeping the existing core of the first team such as Aribo and Morelos could be every bit as crucial in the chase for glory next season.

AND in other news, “Was told..”: Journalist makes big Rangers transfer claim that’ll leave supporters excited…

Dan Ashworth is reportedly now ‘looking’ at signing both Ismaila Sarr and Moussa Diaby for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Down to business

After confirmation that he has now started his role as Sporting Director at St James’ Park, Ashworth seems to be getting down to business straight away.

The Tyneside club have already been recently linked with moves for the likes of Yannick Carrasco and Diogo Costa, and they will be expected to strengthen their squad significantly with the influx of cash from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The Latest: Double swoop

Taking to Twitter, Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has revealed that Newcastle are now ‘looking’ at the possibility of signing both Sarr and Diaby this summer.

He outlined: “Newcastle United looking at Watford’s Ismaila Sarr as well as Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby. Sarr has 2 years left on his contract – Watford will consider “sensible offers”.”

The Verdict: Depends on Saint-Maximin

Signing both wingers will likely depend on the future of Allan Saint-Maximin at Newcastle.

The Frenchman has been linked with a move away this summer, but he could still be persuaded to stay put by Eddie Howe.

Nonetheless, should the 25-year-old depart, both Sarr and Diaby would be exciting signings for the Magpies. The former possesses freakish speed and Premier League experience, while the latter has enjoyed an outstanding season at Leverkusen, scoring no fewer than 17 goals and supplying a further 14 assists across all competitions, mainly operating from the flanks (Transfermarkt).

Sarr would likely come cheaper given Watford’s relegation to the Championship, but either of them would help bolster the squad at St James’ Park.

In other news, find out which ‘superb’ colossus Ashworth is also eyeing here!

Journalist Alan Nixon has now shared an exciting Southampton transfer update involving Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White after his brilliant Championship campaign on loan at Sheffield United.

The Lowdown: Saints set for busy summer?

The Saints and transfer chief Martin Semmens could be set for a very interesting summer transfer window, with plenty of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s current crop either out of contract or heading into the final 12 months of their existing deals.

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Speaking to The Daily Echo, Southampton’s director has recently admitted that the club could move for targets earlier than in previous windows, as new owners Sport Republic seek to move the St Mary’s outfit in a new direction.

Hasenhuttl’s side are apparently frontrunners to sign Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks, who looks set to depart the Premier League giants, and Nixon has now shared another promising update for Saints supporters.

The Latest: Southampton ‘topping the queue’ for Gibbs-White…

As per the reliable reporter via Patreon, Southampton are ‘topping the queue’ to sign Gibbs-White this summer as they enter pole position.

They are also ready to pay £20m or the Englishman after his ‘dazzling campaign’ on loan at Sheffield United in the Championship over 2021/22.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Nixon is certainly bang on the money when he references a ‘dazzling’ season for Gibbs-White at Bramall Lane.

According to WhoScored, he came in as the Blades’ best performer by average match-rating (7.14/10) while finishing the season as their top scorer (12) and leading assists provider (ten). He also topped their second-tier charts with the most attempts at goal per 90 (2.5) and joint-most key passes averaged in the final third (1.6 per game).

Former Barnsley manager Poya Asbaghi is certainly a fan, calling the 22-year-old the Blades’ “most outstanding” player earlier in the campaign.

Given Gibbs-White’s age and rising stock, Nixon’s claim that Southampton are the leading contenders to sign him comes as very exciting news.

In other news: Southampton emerge as frontrunners for ‘fabulous’ signing who’s suit Ralph ‘down to the ground’…find out more here.

Celtic had a turbulent period last season after Neil Lennon left his role as manager for the second time in February, leaving the Hoops 18 points behind their fierce Old Firm rivals in the SPFL table at the time.

Things looked to be even more calamitous for the Bhoys after a reported deal to appoint Eddie Howe as their next manager collapsed just over a year ago.

Celtic then moved on and appointed Ange Postecoglou on a 12-month rolling contract in June.

Now that the Australian has completed his debut season with Celtic and his deal will run out soon, it seems as though a clue has emerged regarding what could be going on at Lennoxtown regarding the matter.

What’s the news?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about Postecoglou’s future at the Parkhead club.

“Celtic are hoping to build on this season and hopefully have Postecoglou around for quite a few years, so I’m sure talks will be ongoing right now to secure the Australian on a long-term contract and reward him for the success he’s had so far.”

Fans will be buzzing

With 60 games in charge of the Bhoys, Postecoglou has won 42, drew seven and lost 11 across all competitions.

As a result, despite a disheartening campaign in Europe, the former Yokohama F Marinos manager evidently gave the Celtic fans plenty to shout about on the domestic front by taking the league title off their Old Firm rivals.

Not only did they win the league but they also did it with the best attacking and defensive record in the top flight, having scored 92 goals and conceding 22 in the process.

Taking into account the domestic success that Postecoglou delivered during his first season in charge of the club, it’s easy to see why O’Rourke thinks Celtic and their hierarchy will be looking to tie the 56-year-old down to a long-term contract.

It would allow him to continue his journey with the Hoops and would present him with the chance to make the great Glaswegian club even more successful, something he will no doubt do by remaining at Celtic Park.

Should this happen, then many Celtic fans would be delighted to see him put pen to paper on a long-term contract.

In other news: Celtic can replicate CCV masterclass by signing 25y/o gem who’s “one of the very best”

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified their top three left-sided centre-back targets ahead of the upcoming transfer window, with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni being made the number one priority, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Premier League interest

The 23-year-old arrived at the San Siro from fellow Serie A side Atalanta five years ago, and he has since gone on to make 118 appearances for his current club.

Despite still having just over two years remaining on his current contract with Inter, the defender has been attracting plenty of interest of late, particularly from the Premier League in the form of Manchester United and Manchester City.

However, following a fresh update, it appears that the Lilywhites might just be the frontrunners in the race for his signature.

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The Latest: Bastoni made Spurs’ top target

Football Insider reported on Wednesday afternoon that a Tottenham source has told the website that Bastoni is the ‘number one’ target of Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici after the pair held ‘talks’ surrounding Spurs’ pursuit of the centre-back earlier this week.

The report added that the north London outfit are ‘lining up a move’ for the 23-year-old, but are also keeping RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol and Villarreal’s Pau Torres ‘in their sights’ as credible backup options should a deal not be agreed with the Italy defender.

The Verdict: Conte connection could swing it

With Tottenham wanting to sign a new left-sided centre-back who will be able to easily slot into Conte’s three-man defence formation, it’s no shock to see them chasing the 11-cap Italy international given his record this season.

Bastoni, who was once described as a “young Bonucci” by Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti, made 1.8 clearances and 1.4 tackles and won 1.4 of his aerial duels per league game this term, via WhoScored, proving physically and on the ground how much of a rock he can be at the heart of defence.

The £122k-per-week star is already very well known to the Spurs manager, having worked under the 52-year-old during his time in charge at Inter, and having that established connection to his former boss might be just the decisive factor that the club need if they’re to successfully bring him to N17.

In other news… Sky Sports have shared an ‘interesting’ live TV update for Tottenham supporters

According to Sky Sports football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Celtic could use Champions League football as an advantage to beat Premier League clubs to new signings during the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: Scottish Premiership champions

The Hoops mathematically secured the Scottish Premiership title following a 1-1 draw against Dundee United last week, and went on to lift the trophy just three days later after completing a 6-0 thrashing over Motherwell.

As a result of topping the league, Ange Postecoglou’s side banked £3.35m in prize money, and with UEFA’s current ban on Russian teams, alongside the strong coefficient in Scotland, Celtic have automatically qualified for the 2022-23 Champions League group stage.

Things just get better and better for the Hoops, as that qualification could apparently bank upwards of £40million next season.

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The Latest: Celtic’s huge advantage

Maguire, a regular feature on Sky Sports, has suggested that the opportunity of playing European football will give Celtic a huge advantage as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of the start of next season.

He claimed that while the prize money gap from first to second isn’t ‘significant’, that UCL spot very much is, telling Football Insider: “The Scottish Premiership’s prize money is quite a smooth slope.

“There isn’t a significant step up in terms of finishing first or finishing second but if they are trying to compete with Premier League clubs for recruitment, this helps a lot.

“They can now say ‘well, we can pay you a decent wage plus we can offer you Champions League football.’

“Their recruitment this season seems to have been very good in terms of signing good value players anyway.”

The Verdict: Boost for Nicholson

The Bhoys last participated in the Champions League group stage during the 2017/18 campaign, when they ended up finishing in third place and were therefore transferred to the Europa League knockout phase.

As Maguire mentioned, for a player to be offered a good wage packet as well as the chance to showcase their talents on the world stage would be difficult to turn down for any potential new signing, handing Michael Nicholson a huge advantage in all summer dealings.

If player have plans of leaving a lasting impression on Europe’s elite – something which could earn the club more big bucks in the future – they can do no better than a guaranteed group stage spot at a club with famous history and an incredible atmosphere under those lights.

There is also a huge possibility that Celtic could be joined in the Champions League by their rivals Rangers if they successfully manage to win the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night, which will further improve the country’s coefficient ranking and help these financial windfalls keep rolling in in the future.

In other news… the Hoops are reportedly interested in signing an exciting talented young prospect in the coming months.

Liverpool look set to lose defender Joe Gomez as Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard wants to boost his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Mirror, who have revealed that the 24-year-old is a transfer target for Villa as their Liverpudlian manager plans a major overhaul of his defence.

Villa were linked with a loan move for the England defender in the January transfer window although nothing materialised, but Gerrard is aiming to get his man in the summer.

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With Gomez’s market value currently set at £19.8m and his contract not expiring until 2024, the Midlands club might need to lash out a significant sum to sign him.

Jurgen Klopp could face Liverpool disaster over Gomez

Klopp has led Liverpool to the brink of one of the finest club seasons there has ever been, with a chance to win an unprecedented quadruple.

His excellent use of the transfer market and ability to rotate the squad effectively has worked wonders in their chase for glory.

Gomez has only made 20 appearances for the Reds in all competitions as he has slipped down to fourth choice centre back, with Joel Matip and new signing Ibrahima Konate above him in the pecking order to partner Virgil van Dijk.

The ex-Charlton man has provided adequate cover at right-back for Trent Alexander-Arnold this season, and this is where the bulk of his appearances have been made. The £85k-p/w defender is still only 24 and arguably yet to hit his peak.

Klopp is a big fan of the Englishman and has described him as a “sensational player”, while the club would need to spend big in order to replace him, so it makes sense for him to continue his development at Anfield.

Compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Gomez sits in the 99th percentile for aerial duels won (4.37 per 90 minutes) and the 94th percentile for interceptions (2.69), proving that whenever he plays, he is an important figure at the back for Liverpool.

Kopites would be livid if the 24-year-old were allowed to leave, and it may very well take a significant bid from Villa for Klopp to even consider it.

AND in other news: “I’m told” – James Pearce drops major Liverpool claim that’ll leave supporters buzzing

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has urged Tottenham Hotspur to completely forget about the possibility of signing Southampton star James Ward-Prowse this summer, despite calling the player ‘incredible’.

The Lowdown: Spurs monitoring Ward-Prowse

The 27-year-old still has four years remaining on his current contract with the Saints after signing an extension last year, which is set to keep him at the St. Mary’s Stadium until at least 2026.

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However, due to his recent impressive run of form, the midfielder has been attracting plenty of interest, and according to a transfer update published by the Daily Star, it’s claimed that the north London outfit are monitoring Ward-Prowse.

The Lilywhites are allegedly considering a move for him during the upcoming window, but are set to face competition from fellow Premier League rivals Arsenal and Newcastle United.

The Latest: Robinson’s doubts

When asked after that transfer update whether he thinks the ten-cap international could fit into the Spurs starting XI, Robinson told Football Insider: “I’m not so sure about Ward-Prowse.

“Make no mistake about it, his set-pieces are incredible. But I am yet to be convinced about his all-round game.

“Yes, he stands out in a Southampton team but could he stand out in a Spurs team? Could he take Spurs to the next level? Which is competing regularly in the Champions League. I’m not sure he could, if I’m honest. I’d be looking elsewhere.”

The Verdict: Perfect creative outlet

The £100k-per-week ace, who was once hailed an “unbelievable” player by his Saints teammate Oriol Romeu, definitely has the ability to shine in Antonio Conte’s side, and could be the missing piece of the puzzle to give them that creativity in the middle of the park that they have been so desperately lacking.

Ward-Prowse has had a huge influence on the pitch under Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, having scored ten goals and provided eight assists in all competitions for Southampton, as per Transfermarkt, not to mention the fact that David Beckham is the only player to have netted more direct free-kicks than him in Premier League history.

As the Italian boss looks to reassemble his squad ahead of the start of the 2022/23 campaign, two new midfielders are believed to be on his wishlist this summer, and so he could be tempted to bolster his ranks with the maestro in a bid to push for a place in the Champions League and beyond next season.

In other news… Spurs are said to be eyeing up a move for a ‘fantastic’ new transfer target.

Journalist Josh Bunting hailed the performance of Alex Pritchard alongside Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke as Sunderland won 3-0 on Wednesday night.

The Lowdown: Attack on point

The Stadium of Light outfit’s attacking players were all on point away at Reading, despite the early setback of Ellis Simms having to go off in the first half through injury.

Roberts grabbed two goals in the first half with two fine finishes into the bottom corner, while the third was a magnificent team goal finished off by Clarke.

The Latest: Pritchard hailed

Taking to Twitter, Bunting was left hailing Pritchard as well as the goal-scorers calling all three ‘dynamite’, while he also thought that Aji Alese had his best performance since joining the Wearside club:

“Brilliant performance, best performance of the season that one for me. So organised, ruthless on the counterattack. Jack Clarke, Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts dynamite. Alese with his best performance since joining the club. Very solid and another 3 points in the bag.”

The Verdict: Dominant in the middle

Although he did not grab many of the headlines by scoring or assisting in the game, Pritchard was one of the players who led by example with a bit of everything and helped guide his team to victory.

The 29-year-old contested eight duels and also recorded one shot on goal, an interception, one tackle, a key pass, an accurate cross and one long ball, maintaining an 84% pass accuracy throughout the match (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, Tony Mowbray’s side are now in a great position in the league table, and can really start thinking about potential back-to-back promotions even at this early stage in the season.

Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘very frustrated’ player in South Korea international star Son Heung-min, according to talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: Son yet to find form…

The 30-year-old, despite starting all six of Spurs’ opening Premier League games, is yet to find the net for Antonio Conte’s side after finishing last campaign as one of their best all-round players.

Son has arguably failed to find his best form as of yet with WhoScored detailing that the forward doesn’t even rank in Tottenham’s top eight best-performing players so far.

Conte and co will be hoping that their big name star rediscovers the very best of his ability sooner rather than later, especially taking into account the jam packed schedule before this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

The Latest: Agbonlahor makes ‘frustrated’ Son claim…

Speaking to Football Insider, former Aston Villa striker turned talkSPORT regular Agonlahor has claimed Son is growing ‘very frustrated’ on the pitch.

He explained:

“Son just seems like, to me, that he’s getting frustrated by the lack of opportunities and lack of goals. He just needs to put that frustration aside and get back to what he was doing last season.

“The goals will come, Spurs will create. He looks very frustrated, when he was brought off against Forest he didn’t look happy.”

The Verdict: Crucial next few games?

If Son can find his feet again over a crucial next few games, it will come as a timely boost for Conte.

Man City, Sporting Lisbon and a crunch north London derby against Arsenal are all lined up before October 2 and the Lilywhites will need one of their superstar players back firing on all cylinders.

Son can be truly devastating at his best and this may just be a case of a temporary dip in form, while his class remains permanent.