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Celtic will be looking to make amends for their home defeat against Rangers in the Old Firm on Saturday as they prepare to host AC Milan in the Europa League. The Hoops are currently operating with a thin squad after injuries and positive tests of Covid-19 have seen key players like Odsonne Edouard and Hatem Abd Elhamed out of action.

Neil Lennon may also be looking to switch up his starting eleven after their recent display against Gers left a lot to be desired. But one man he will be wishing he had at his disposal is Fraser Forster, who has returned to parent club Southampton after a season-long loan spell.

Could Celtic benefit from Forster?

The Hoops coasted to an easy title win last season after finishing a whopping 13 points ahead of rivals Rangers. Whilst Lennon’s men were unstoppable in front of goal, they were also strong in defending their own too.

In 28 Premiership appearances, Forster kept 14 clean sheets and conceded just 17 goals, seeing Celtic finish with an improved ‘goals against’ tally from last season. So far, new loan goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas has shipped six goals in nine league appearances, with the Hoops now behind Rangers in the table.

The Greece international has failed to tally a Sofascore rating of higher than 6.9 in his last five appearances. Meanwhile, the 6 ft 7 colossus from Southampton boasted a penalty save and 100% successful duels won in his Europa League campaign last season (as per Sofascore).

It will be paramount for Lennon to kick on from the Old Firm loss and focus on making headway in the Europa League. However, his side’s recent defensive performances will undoubtedly be on his mind, especially with two senior defensive players being out with injuries.

The Northern Irishman will be missing Forster, particularly after he waxed lyrical over his “world-class” performance in the Betfred Cup in December (via Daily Echo).

AC Milan haven’t lost a match since March, going on an astonishing 23-game unbeaten streak. It will take a lot to stop the Italians, who will unleash an extremely in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede has 12 goal involvements in his last eight appearances for Milan, and will be hungry to bag a goal or two at Celtic Park tonight.

In other news, Football FanCast’s predicted Celtic XI to face AC Milan after Old Firm defeat…

Celtic signed no fewer than six players during the summer transfer window but it seems one name escaped their grasp – for the time being at least…

What’s the word?

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, the defending Scottish champions could revisit their pursuit of Charlton Athletic starlet Alfie Doughty, either in January or next year.

He claims that the club are playing the long game after having bids knocked back throughout the last few months.

It’s been previously claimed that the Hoops had at least two offers rejected in September and that they had been planning to offer £800k for him in a third ploy, but evidently, that did not come to fruition.

The 20-year-old could be signed on a pre-contract for free in the winter window.

Lawwell masterclass

Neil Lennon did get an addition in the wing-back position having landed AC Milan outcast Diego Laxalt on loan, though that is merely a temporary switch at this stage which means he could be in the same scenario next summer.

And waiting for it too all unfold over the young League One winger could prove to be a masterstroke from Celtic chief Peter Lawwell as instead of paying close to seven figures for what could be a generational talent, he may well get him for free in the next three to nine months.

Doughty has begun the season in superb form for the Addicks, scoring one goal in four league starts whilst also averaging 2.8 tackles, two key passes, 1.8 dribbles and 1.3 shots per game, via WhoScored.

This makes him seem like the ideal man for that left wing-back position long-term.

Former Kingstonian boss Leigh Dynan gave the youngster his debut in the men’s game, and once dubbed Doughty a “tremendous footballer” with a “big future” before also adding: “There’s a diamond there to be polished. I can assure you that.”

Lawwell’s shrewd stance could mean that it’s the Bhoys’ diamond to polish and by the time he arrives at Parkhead, he may well have enjoyed a full season under his belt – another plus for Lennon.

They must revisit this deal in January.

AND in other news, Brendan Rodgers flop has finally found his feet…

Many Crystal Palace fans have been lauding a transfer link to Idrissa Gueye as Le10 Sport have reported that he is likely to leave Paris Saint Germain in the current transfer window.

According to the outlet, PSG need to sell players, with Gueye apparently the most likely to leave the French giants.

However, Roy Hodgson’s team may face competition from fellow Premier League rivals Manchester United, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers to get the former Aston Villa and Everton player’s signature over the line.

Indeed, the Transfermarkt.

One Eagles supporter claimed on Twitter that the south London club should ‘replace Luka with him’; and based on the players’ statistics in their respective domestic leagues in 2019/20, it is hard to argue against Gueye being an upgrade on Milivojevic.

The Senegalese international averaged more tackles, interceptions, key passes, dribbles and through balls per game than the 29-year old Palace midfielder (via Whoscored).

Check out further reaction from the Selhurst Park faithful below:

Palace fans, would Gueye be a good signing? Comment below with your views!

Liverpool were able to secure their place in the knockout stages with a 1-0 win against Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night. However, the performance of captain Jordan Henderson may have Jurgen Klopp concerned.

A solitary goal from Curtis Jones proved to be the difference between the two sides on the evening, but the Eredivisie side looked threatening throughout the 90 minutes and were perhaps unfortunate to leave with nothing, with only a brilliant late save from Caoimhin Kelleher denying Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Henderson made his first start for Liverpool since recovering from injury in the win although the stats suggest that he wasn’t his usual self against the Dutch giants.

As per SofaScore, the 30-year-old had just 56 touches of the ball during his time on the pitch and completed 36/44 passes, resulting in a pass accuracy rate of 82%.

Whilst his passing was fairly impressive, as he made three key passes against Erik ten Hag’s side, it was his defensive contribution that might have worried his German manager.

The England international made no tackles during the game, was dribbled past once and won zero of his four duels, suggesting that the Ajax players often had the better of the former Sunderland man.

Considering the lack of midfielders available in Klopp’s side at the moment, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Thiago and Naby Keita all sidelined, he will be relying on players such as Henderson to be at their best as we approach the busy Christmas period.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss was full of praise for his captain in January of this year, saying:

“He is exceptional; he is outstanding. Gini (Wijnaldum) and Hendo, especially, because they have had to play the biggest number of games this season.

“What they do is just incredible – absolutely incredible. I do not take that for granted for one second. If anybody who is with us still doesn’t see the quality of Jordan Henderson, then I cannot help them.

“Is Hendo the perfect football player? No. Do I know anybody who is? No. But is he unbelievably important to us? Yes.”

Therefore, Henderson will arguably have to perform a lot better than he did on Tuesday night in future matches, as the Reds attempt to retain the Premier League title, with their next match seeing them take on Wolves at Anfield on Sunday evening.

And, in other news… Liverpool made a big mistake in releasing “absolutely incredible” midfield maestro

Leeds United are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2004 after they claimed the Championship title last weekend, with this bringing an end to their 10-year stint in the division.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side sealed their long-awaited promotion following West Brom’s 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield last week while the title was then confirmed after Brentford’s shock 1-0 loss against Stoke the following day.

The Whites then concluded their season in style with a 3-1 victory over ‘Spygate’ rivals Derby County before an emphatic 4-0 success over Charlton on the final day, with Leeds United lifting the Championship title following this match.

It has been a long road to glory for the Elland Road outfit who suffered play-off heartache at the hands of Derby last May, but they overcame this bitter disappointment to produce a historic campaign, which has sealed their return to the big time.

So, how much can you remember about Leeds’ 2019/20 season? Test yourself in our latest quiz…

Danny Mills claims Tottenham talisman Harry Kane needs to quit Spurs to chase his childhood dreams. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Manchester City defender believes Kane will have to leave his boyhood club if he wants to win the Premier League and the Champions League.

Earlier this week, Harry Redknapp suggested he is unsure if the England international will stay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if the Lilywhites struggle to claim silverware in the next couple of seasons.

Likewise, club legend Teddy Sheringham has tipped his compatriot to leave North London within the next two years.

Sheringham found himself in a similar position to the Englishman towards the end of the last century, before moving to Manchester United, where he famously won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and FA Cup.

Kane’s performances over the years have caught the eye of a number of European clubs, including Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils, and he has recently reiterated he wants to win trophies, with The Telegraph reporting he will reconsider his future in the summer.

Mills told Football Insider: “that was always the song about Teddy Sherringham and he won quite a lot at Manchester United.

“It depends on what Kane wants. He can stay at Tottenham all his career and maybe win an FA Cup. Or, he can go somewhere else and win the Champions League and the league. Seriously challenge for two or three seasons.

“Take out Ronaldo and Messi, most players have a peak for six years and he is four years into that. He is 26. In a few year’s time, he is going to be 30 and he has already had a number of injuries.”

He concluded “he will have to think about moving on if he wants the big honours.”

It is hard to argue with Mills here, as Jose Mourinho’s side are set to finish another season without a trophy.

The England international is the leading goalscorer for the Lilywhites in all competitions so far, and he has scored 11 goals in just 20 Premier League appearances.

As it stands, his efforts are seemingly in vain, as Mourinho’s men are currently eighth in the table, and face a monumental task to close the gap on the top four in the weeks ahead.

It is fair to say a world-class striker should boast a stacked trophy cabinet, but Spurs have been unable to capitalise on his heroics at the time of writing.

In fact, Kane has still not won a single trophy with the club he joined as a youngster, although Mauricio Pochettino’s men came close to achieving Champions League glory last year.

While Daniel Levy has moved to discourage any potential suitors with an eye-watering £200m price tag for the academy graduate, if this barren run continues, it is difficult to imagine Kane will be able to resist the temptations of moving to the likes of La Liga giants Barcelona.

Tottenham fans, do you think Harry Kane will leave if Spurs fail to win silverware soon? Let us know down below!

Daniel Levy has reached out to Tanguy Ndombele’s agent to try and resolve the tension with Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho.

Spurs slumped to a disappointing defeat to Sheffield United last week, although Ndombele finally got some minutes under his belt. The Frenchman was called into action to replace Serge Aurier as Spurs trailed the Blades 2-0 at the time.

Ndombele, who is the club’s record signing, has a strained relationship with Mourinho and tensions between the two have been well-documented over the course of the season so far, as per Football Insider. According to The Athletic, neither side understands the other, and the Frenchman has angrily reacted to Mourinho’s offer to train together.

L’Equipe has now reported, as per @LastWordOnSpurs, that Levy has personally made contact with Ndombele’s representatives as he is keen to find a solution to the problem.

Mourinho has never been one to back down from a confrontation, as he has developed a reputation for losing control of a dressing room on multiple occasions, while the 23-year-old seems to have followed a similar path to Paul Pogba.

As it stands, everybody is refusing to budge, and Levy is trying to bridge the gap between the two sides. Ndombele is clearly a talented player, which makes the situation even harder to understand.

The French international, who has been compared to his countryman N’Golo Kante, has shown supporters what he can do in the Champions League. He has made six appearances for Spurs in the European competition, supplying two assists, making 1.7 tackles per game, averaging one interception and completing 1.3 key passes per game on average (via WhoScored).

The trouble is, his standout domestic performances have been few and far between, which explains why Mourinho has been reluctant to use him since the Premier League restarted. However, the manager was crying out for some creativity in the midfield as Spurs struggled against the Blades, but he only gave Ndombele 19 minutes in the end.

The Frenchman, who is currently valued at £46m by Transfermarkt, seems to have grown frustrated by a lack of minutes and could possibly push for a move if he does not get his own way.

Moreover, Levy’s last-minute intervention may not be enough, as Barcelona have been in regular discussion with his agent over a potential move in the summer.

Tottenham fans, do you think Mourinho should give Tanguy Ndombele another chance to prove his worth at Spurs? Let us know in the comments below!

Everton’s transfer window has hit a rapid incline after signing both Allan and James Rodriguez in quick succession.

Whilst Carlo Ancelotti showcases his pedigree in the transfer market, the Toffees’ business has dealt a blow to Chelsea.

According to The Telegraph, Everton were on course to sign Blues castaway Tiemoue Bakayoko before the long-awaited deal for Allan was announced.

The Brazilian midfielder became Everton’s first signing of the summer window after joining from Napoli for £21.7m (via BBC Sport).

Allan had been linked to the Merseyside outfit for months and some fans were losing hope in him making the switch from Italy. As a back-up option, Ancelotti was keen on fellow midfielder Bakayoko, who has been left on the shelf under Frank Lampard.

The Frenchman has a Transfermarkt value of £22.9m and could have yielded a decent fee to fund Frank Lampard’s lavish summer spending. Having not made an appearance for Chelsea since 2018, Bakayoko is a player that the west Londoners would have benefitted from offloading in this window.

Whilst money hasn’t been a problem for the Blues, Roman Abramovich still wants to see Lampard balance the books amid an impressive haul of new recruits.

The likes of N’Golo Kante and Michy Batshuayi could be leaving the club ahead of the new season, despite both still arguably being beneficial to the team. However, for a surplus player like Bakayoko, Chelsea will be frustrated that the opportunity to cash in has wriggled away from them.

They must now shift into a higher gear in order to offload some of their castaway players to make back some of their outgoing transfer fees.

Do you think Chelsea should push to sell Tiemoue Bakayoko? Join the conversation in the comments below…

According to a recent report, Liverpool could look to sign Adam Traore this summer if Sadio Mané or Mohamed Salah are to depart the club.

Football Insider have reported that the Wolves winger could be in-line to be a replacement for either of Liverpool’s wingers if another club is to come knocking.

Fears are heightening over the departure of Mané who has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with Zinedine Zidane claiming he is making him a summer priority.

A recent report from David Maddock has claimed Liverpool are not – and never have been – interested in acquiring the services of Jadon Sancho. Traore is now on the club’s shortlist of attacking options should they look or need to expand their personnel.

The Spanish powerhouse averages 5.1 successful dribbles per game whilst also winning 9.8 duels per 90 minutes (via Sofascore).

Reds fans are head over heels with the idea of bringing the 24-year-old to Anfield, with one supporter saying ‘he would destroy’ under Jurgen Klopp’s system. Others are simply appreciating being linked with such a ‘beast’.

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Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti appears to be eyeing his first major splash as Toffees boss by landing a Serie A star this summer.According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, the Merseyside outfit are keen on paying the release clause of AS Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, thought to be €30m (£27m) which would be paid in two installments.

And it could be an absolute bargain considering the £45m fee they paid for Gylfi Sigurdsson, who fans are quickly becoming disillusioned with after a string of poor performances as seen here.

Pellegrini has been likened to Roma legend Francesco Totti and is the sort of box-to-box midfielder that can grant Ancelotti’s engine room the ability to thrive – arguably the weakest position at the minute.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

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Sigurdsson, typically the number ten for the Toffees, has struggled this term after contributing to just three goals whilst also averaging 1.8 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per game as well as recording 1.3 unsuccessful touches, via WhoScored.

Pellegrini, on the other hand, has recorded numbers off the charts this season – the 23-year-old is managing a whopping 2.9 key passes, 2.7 shots, 1.3 dribbles and 1.1 tackles each match, proving he’s contributing just about everywhere on the pitch – and more so than the Icelandic international.

The Italian has also been lauded as a “strong character” who could one day hold the captain’s armband at the Serie A side just like one former predecessor, Totti.

Earlier this year, FootballBH waxed lyrical about the midfielder in a scout report whereby he was talked up to be one of the most creative players in Europe, being involved in a goal every 109 minutes.

By comparison, Sigurdsson is involved in a goal every 676 minutes – quite the contrast. Which is maybe why Everton have only scored 37 goals this campaign.

Pellegrini solves a lot of that.

AND in other news,ÂFive players Everton must try to sign this summer…