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Farhad Moshiri is targeting big-name managers to try and divert attention away from the failures of last season, that is according to former Everton defender Michael Ball.

After a promising transfer window, where the likes of James Rodriguez and Allan were brought in, and strong start to the campaign, much was expected of Everton.

However, they ended up finishing in 10th place and missing out on European football in what turned out to be a very underwhelming season.

Since then, Carlo Ancelotti has left and the club have controversially considered ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, although the latest reports from talkSPORT suggests fan reaction may have killed that potential appointment.

It has left a sour taste in Ball’s mouth, who believes a manager like Benitez is solely being targeted because of his name.

“I feel that Moshiri’s trying to get this name, this star to sort of cloud over what happened last season and trying to bring in another top manager like Ancelotti and feels that’s going to be the answer,” the ex-Everton full-back exclusively told FFC. “The past has proven it’s not working.”

It all seems to be a bit chaotic at Everton right now, and you would expect that chaos to only grow if the Toffees do end up appointing Benitez.

Some fans have already made it clear that they do not want the Spaniard anywhere near Goodison Park.

It’s been a turbulent few weeks at Tottenham Hotspur. As one of six clubs who attempted to enter the European Super League, Spurs’ owners incurred the wrath of the football fraternity even before they sacked manager Jose Mourinho.

A subdued team subsequently lost the EFL Cup Final by a solitary goal to Manchester City but, in truth, the margin of defeat could have been much wider. It’s been an unsettling period to say the least but Mourinho’s premature departure might just lead to a significantly positive development.

Bale Boost

With former Tottenham player Ryan Mason in temporary charge of the club, Spurs have won their last two league games. Home victories have come against Southampton and Sheffield United with four of the six goals coming from the boot of Gareth Bale. The Welsh winger has scored six goals of his own in his last six starts for the club but will that contribution have any bearing on his immediate future?

Back in March, Bale was quite clear in regards to where he would be playing his football next season. Currently on loan at Spurs, he claimed that his mission is to return to parent club Real Madrid and see out the final year of his contract.

His current form should please Real manager Zinedine Zidane but there are reports that the La Liga club are less than impressed. Having endured a frustrating season in 2019/20, Bale returned to Spurs in a bid to regain form and fitness but suggestions are that if he does go back to the Bernabeu, he will get no further than the substitute’s bench.

About Turn

There is a theory that Gareth Bale is a stubborn player and he may be happy enough to take Madrid’s money and return to the golf course as he sees out his contract. One of his biggest aims was to be fit for the European Championships and, with that quest complete, there is no immediate need to be playing week in, week out.

However, the winger does appear to be enjoying his football once again. His Spurs side failed to win a trophy once again but, with a new manager and new outlook, that could finally change next season.

Elsewhere, former Spurs defender Graham Roberts had earlier claimed that Bale wouldn’t stay at the London club if Jose Mourinho remained in charge. That particular obstacle has been removed so could that have any effect on the Welsh international’s decision?

With Mourinho gone, temporary manager Ryan Mason showed more faith in Gareth Bale and has been rewarded with those four goals in two league games. Around the same time, reports began to emerge that Tottenham were keen to negotiate a one season extension on their existing loan deal with the player.

New Era

Spurs will have a new manager in charge by the start of the 2021/22 campaign but most coaches, with the possible exception of Zidane and Mourinho, would surely want to work with Gareth Bale.

It’s a new era and an important period for a club which needs to win silverware in order to hang on to its biggest stars. Spurs are always up among the favourites for every knockout trophy and football betting markets supplied from arabianbetting.com will attract extra interest if Gareth Bale remains in the Tottenham squad.

Options to bet on the Premier League will also be in place along with a host of domestic and European trophies. Updates and opinion pieces on Spurs’ chances can be accessed along with sign up promotions from a host of sportsbooks.

It will be a fascinating summer for Spurs fans whether they are backing their team in the markets or simply watching their progress. With a new manager and new signings, Tottenham can enjoy a more productive campaign but much will depend on the future of Gareth Bale.

If Celtic want to improve under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou next season then they’ll have to be better in the transfer market.

Of course, a deal for the Australian to become the Hoops’ new manager isn’t concluded just yet but he looks set to be welcomed with open arms to Parkhead this summer.

He looks set to be joined by a new director of football, someone who specialises in player recruitment.

If the Bhoys hierarchy can get this set-up spot on then it would be a solid recipe for success. After all, the vast majority of their transfers 12 months ago haven’t gone down well.

Vasilis Barkas was charged with replacing the man-mountain of Fraser Forster but has never looked comfortable between the sticks for Celtic.

A £4.5m move took place but he lost his place fairly quickly and started just twice since January.

He looked a liability behind the defensive line and thus, Celtic should be looking to find a replacement this summer. After all, the likes of Scott Bain and Charlie Hazard have also made their own individual errors during the 2020/21 campaign.

Forster looks set to remain at Southampton so that won’t be possible but they could sign a like-minded player in Freddie Woodman.

The 6 foot 2 stopper is shorter than Forster but has strong arms and can play out from the back astutely.

He’s been linked with a move to Southampton but the Hoops are also interested in prising him away from Newcastle in the coming months.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-ajer-howe-lampard-wilshere-gauld” title=”Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Woodman spent the current campaign on loan at Swansea where he helped the Welsh side to the Championship playoffs.

He didn’t miss a single game throughout the campaign, keeping 21 clean sheets during his 48 outings for the Swans.

An authoritative figure with high standards, Woodman is held in incredibly high esteem.

He’d been tipped to play for the England national team and has already trained with senior members in the Three Lions camp.

However, for a bigger glimpse of his potential, you only need to focus on words from Lee Clark who was in charge of Kilmarnock when Woodman spent a period in Scotland.

“I knew he was an outstanding young keeper and had all the attributes. The tough thing was I had an experienced goalkeeper in Jamie MacDonald in the team — that was causing one or two issues in terms of what I wanted to do,” he began.

“But I knew I was bringing a talented goalkeeper in. Freddie’s communication, his shot-stopping and his distribution skills are second to none. He’s an unbelievable professional and works extremely hard at his game,” Clarke concluded.

With those qualities in mind, he’d be an expert signing for Celtic. They need a goalkeeper after a horrific season defensively; Woodman would surely be a fix.

AND in other news, Celtic can find a new Jullien by signing “special” 6ft4 tank, he’s “one of the best”…

Patrick van Aanholt is set to leave Crystal Palace when his contract this summer after four-and-a-half years with the club.

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, the 30-year-old full-back is set to be released by the Eagles as they embark on a mass clearout of their first-team squad.

The Dutch international is one of 17 players approaching the end of their existing deals at Selhurst Park, and with manager Roy Hodgson also announcing his imminent departure, it could be a totally different-looking Palace side that lines up at the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Steve Parish is making a mistake

It’s set to be a summer of upheaval at Selhurst Park, but getting rid of one of your best defenders doesn’t make much sense.

Van Aanvolt has made 21 Premier League appearances for the south London side this season, recording 1.4 interceptions per game, the second-highest total in the Palace squad, and 1.1 defensive dribbles per game, the third-highest total in the Palace squad.

While the capital club certainly needs to freshen up their options along the backline, as well as in midfield and attack, the exit of their most accomplished left-back could be a decision they come to regret.

Young academy graduate Tyrick Mitchell has performed admirably after coming into the starting XI in recent weeks, but at just 21, still has a lot of development to do to be able to cope with top-flight attackers week in week out.

Learning under the guidance of an experienced campaigner who has over 200 Premier League appearances to his name for another couple of seasons could have been the perfect way for Mitchell to develop and hone his craft.

The likes of James McArthur, Christian Benteke and Andros Townsend could yet follow the former Sunderland man out of the Palace exit door, however, Van Aanholt’s absence could well be felt the strongest next season, all in order to save on his £55,000-per-week wages, Steve Parish may regret letting him go.

And, in other news…Palace must secure a deal with ‘colossal’ powerhouse, Eagles fans would love it – opinion

Former Newcastle United winger Keith Gillespie has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that he does not expect to see Jonjo Shelvey lining up in defence in the near future.

In what can only be described as a shock decision given that Shelvey’s trade has always been in midfield, manager Steve Bruce decided to drop the 29-year-old back into defence in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the end of last month.

Albeit a surprise, such a ploy is obviously not unheard of, with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp having often done something similar with Fernandinho and Fabinho – usually because of injuries.

It is not something Gillespie thinks Newcastle fans will see with Shelvey going forward, though, stressing that the former Liverpool and Swansea City man belongs in the centre of the pitch.

“I don’t think that’s a long-term thing,” Gillespie told TT. “You want somebody like Shelvey in the middle of the park, getting on the ball, dictating games. He’s got a wide range of passing.

“It was a surprising one for me seeing that happen, but I don’t think it’s something that they’d be looking at long term.”

Indeed, definitely one of the more stranger things in what had already been a very strange Premier League season.

Noel Whelan has suggested Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is wasting the talent of Kemar Roofe by playing him on the wing.

Whelan discusses Gerrard’s use of Roofe

Roofe signed for Rangers last summer from Anderlecht. Despite being a natural striker, he has played the majority of his games on the left or right flank this term as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan believes Gerrard should play the £5.4m-valued 28-year-old (Transfermarkt) more centrally. He explained when asked whether Roofe would prefer to play through the middle:

“Yeah, I believe so.

“He came to Leeds as a winger and that was his position pretty much, for a long time he was out wide.

“I just think you get more benefit and his movement is much more effective in that central area, he’s alive, he makes great runs in behind and those little diagonal runs.

“I feel that he’s very regimented out wide, there’s not much movement from him, they miss that quick movement getting in behind.

“Those little quick balls in between defenders, he’s very static out there for a player like Kemar Roofe, his movement is exceptional in and around the box and to have him out wide. Yeah, it does seem a little bit of a waste.

“But if you asked Roofe if he’d rather be on the bench or on the wing, he’ll tell you the answer.”

Actually performed well on the flanks

Roofe shone at Leeds as a striker before moving to Belgium, where he managed seven goals in 16 games before making the switch to Scotland. However, while he has played in the unfamiliar role of a winger for much of the campaign, he has actually done rather well, netting 10 goals in 13 games in that role.

With Alfredo Morelos being the number one striker for Gerrard right now, it is hard for Roofe to nail down a starting spot as a central striker unless there is a change in formation. If the Colombia international were to leave in the summer, Roofe may be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

In other news, Rangers are delighted with this 20/21 news.

Charlton Athletic fell out of the playoff zone as they recorded their first defeat in 11 matches on Saturday afternoon.

Nigel Adkins’ side were beaten by fellow promotion hopefuls Peterborough United at The Valley but they will be left reeling in disappointment that they didn’t come away with at least a point.

The division’s top goalscorer, Jonson Clarke-Harris, fired Posh into an early lead in the ninth minute and right before the break, the Addicks had the perfect opportunity to square things up when Alex Gilbey was fouled inside the box.

Jayden Stockley confidently stepped up but saw his penalty saved by the goalkeeper and despite going on to dominate the second half with 68% possession, Charlton just couldn’t find a way back into the match.

Some could blame the Preston loanee for costing his side dearly but there were far more wasteful teammates that should take the brunt of the criticism first.

None more so than Liam Millar, who struggled to make the same sort of impact we saw in midweek.

After a goal and an assist against Plymouth Argyle, the Liverpool gem starved Stockley of decent service throughout the 90 minutes the pair were on the pitch.

As per SofaScore, the 21-year-old Canadian failed to deliver a single accurate cross from four attempts, leaving his target man striker to feed off scraps inside the box.

Furthermore, Millar could only pull off one successful dribble against the Posh’s right flank of Joe Ward and Nathan Thompson.

His struggle to combat the opposition was further seen by the fact that he made four fouls despite only recording one successful tackle. The 5 foot 11 dynamo even lost 14 of his 20 duels (70%) and was seen losing the ball 23 times – the most of anyone on the pitch, comfortably.

It meant the young winger handed possession back to Peterborough once every 3.9 minutes – or once every three touches – so for all his involvement, he was certainly rather disappointing in terms of end product and on the above evidence, was rather weak and ineffective.

Speaking after the match, Adkins claimed Millar was still “learning his way” but that’s not something they can afford to risk with so much on the line heading into May.

The Addicks are now two points adrift of the playoffs and will need to win that game in hand to rise back into contention this week.

AND in other news,  Adkins must resolve key Bowyer problem to bolster promotion hopes…

Plenty of Crystal Palace supporters have been reacting to the club’s official record-breaking Twitter post regarding season ticket renewals.

Selhurst Park has only managed to host one Premier League game with a section of Eagles fans present this season.

That came way back in December in the 1-1 draw with Jose Mourinho’ Tottenham, with Jeffrey Schlupp netting a late equaliser in front of 2,000 Palace supporters.

However, the club, as they revealed online, received great support once again after record-breaking season ticket renewals in the first 24 hours of going on sale were confirmed.

Prices remain frozen from the 2019/20 campaign, with 2020/21 holders having until May 14 to secure their seat for next season.

Palace fans react

The club shared the news regarding the record-breaking renewals in 24 hours on Wednesday evening.

This is what some fans had to say in reply, with one even urging the club to spend the money on reported target Conor Gallagher.

“Spend the money on Gallagher please”

Credit: @Adam_Palace

“It’s amazing what a season with a new manager and lots of great young prospects in the academy can do”

Credit: @EbereEze25

“Season Tickets going like hot cakes. Only a fool would get rid of Hodgson.”

Credit: @LFizzia

“One family”

Credit: @CPFC_NL

“Can’t wait to be back “

Credit: @jackstacpfc

“Renewed for the 42nd consecutive season and it’s going to be a very special first game back”

Credit: @Paultheringwood

In other news: Many Palace fans react to latest Zaha transfer update, find out more here. 

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to news regarding midfielder Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on social media.

The club revealed on Monday morning that the 18-year-old has signed a professional deal with the Eagles.

Rak-Sakyi becomes the fifth Palace youngster to sign pro-terms with the club this season, following in the footsteps of David Omilabu, Tayo Adaramola, Fionn Mooney and Jadan Raymond.

Roy Hodgson included the young midfielder in the Palace squad for the first time in the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea over the weekend.

He was a target for Bundesliga sides Borussia Monchengladbach and Schalke, as well as Scottish giants Celtic and Premier League duo Everton and West Ham.

Rak-Sakyi is reportedly regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from Palace’s academy since right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Palace fans react

These Palace supporters were all delighted at the confirmed update regarding Rak-Sakyi on Monday morning, with one describing the professional deal as ‘huge’.

“Let’s goooooo”

Credit: @J_CPFC

“Wow, what a relief………I mean…….I mean…….of course he did, everyone wants to be Palace right?”

Credit: @gazbod

“Huge”

Credit: @mitchweaver_

“Great to see this young man commit to our club. This is what palace is about as a club and what we all love to see.”

Credit: @BrakePaul

“Content you love to see”

Credit: @Sumo08112

“Good job, best talent we have imo”

Credit: @RodriguesJayJay

In other news: Many CPFC fans react to links to World Cup winner, find out more here. 

Liverpool are reportedly closing in on the signing of centre-back Ezequiel Garay this summer in a surprise transfer story.

The Reds have had a disastrous season in the injury department, losing a host of key players throughout the campaign. Jurgen Klopp has been particularly hampered at centre-back, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all expected to be out until the summer.

It could be that the Liverpool manager eyes up reinforcements in that area during the summer transfer window, but a shock rumour is now doing the rounds.

[freshpress-quiz id=“313155″]

Liverpool eye up move for Garay

According to El Gol Digital, the Reds are even at the advanced stage of negotiations with Garay, who played for Argentina in their 2014 World Cup final defeat to Germany.

The 34-year-old is currently a free agent, having left Valencia last year following a four-year stint with the La Liga side. He has made 466 club career appearances, 43 of which have come in the Champions League (Transfermarkt).

Transfer Tavern take

Despite his considerable pedigree, Garay would be a strange addition, considering he turns 35 later this year and is approaching the end of his career.

On top of that, he hasn’t played consistently at the top level for years and has had endless injuries of his own, so a deal makes little sense for Liverpool.

In other news, Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for a 19-goal striker this summer. Read all about it here.