Celtic Interested In Signing "Irreplaceable" 26 y/o

Celtic are thought to be interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops ended their search for a new manager earlier in the week after bringing back Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irishman, who won seven major honours with Celtic in 169 games in charge during his first stint in charge, agreed terms on a long-term deal.

Reports have suggested that Celtic will also back their new boss in the transfer market this summer to help continue the good work by Ange Postecoglou, and it looks as if Ndidi is a target for those at Parkhead.

The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones shared a transfer round-up in the last 48 hours and provided a Celtic transfer update.

When talking about possible players leaving the King Power Stadium following their relegation to the Championship, he stated that Celtic are interested in signing Ndidi.

Former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.

Who is Wilfred Ndidi?

Ndidi is 26 years of age and is primarily a defensive midfielder who can also play as a centre-back if required.

Valued at a career-high €60m by Transfermarkt back in 2021, the midfielder’s current value stands at €25m and is under contract until 2024, so Celtic may be able to exploit a cut-price move due to his contract situation.

The Nigeria international has made 237 appearances for Leicester after joining back in 2017 – 138 of which have come under Rodgers. The new Celtic boss is clearly a big fan of the player, labelling him as “irreplaceable” back in 2021.

“He’s one of the top players in world football in the recovering of the ball.

“His reading of the game is so good and his football is improving all the time. We have many good players in his position, but he’s unique.

“He’s irreplaceable. For such a young player, he has been fantastic.”

As per WhoScored, Ndidi has averaged an impressive match rating of 7.11/10 and has experience of playing in the Champions League with the Foxes, so for the right price, could be a shrewd signing.

He would offer Rodgers a proven quality option who he already knows extremely well and would bring versatility n midfield and defence at Celtic Park, and with the club set to back the manager, a move could be one to watch closely alongside another linked Foxes player in Daniel Amartey.

Tottenham Hotspur Ready To Make Move For "Incredible" £30m Star

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to make a move for Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who could follow Ange Postecoglou to north London, according to a recent report.

Which strikers could Tottenham sign?

Harry Kane's future at Tottenham remains very much up in the air, with talkSPORT reporting Real Madrid have identified the 29-year-old as a target to replace the outgoing Karim Benzema, while Manchester United are also interested.

As such, Spurs may be tasked with finding a suitable replacement for the England captain, and they have been linked with a move for AS Roma's Tammy Abraham, although the likes of Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool are also in the mix.

Competition for Abraham's signature will be fierce, so the Lilywhites could look at signing Lille's Jonathan David, having previously been linked with a move for the Canadian, or even Brighton & Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson.

Furuhashi is now emerging as a potential option from north of the border, with The Sun reporting that manager-elect Postecoglou is ready to raid Celtic for the striker, who Tottenham view as a possible long-term replacement for Kane.

Spurs are eager for the Australian to bring the forward with him, and they are prepared to pay as much as £25m-£30m to secure his signature, although other Premier League clubs also have him in their sights. If Postecoglou, who is waiting to talk to Spurs, agrees to take over in north London, it would vastly increase their chances of winning the race for the Japanese marksman.

Who is Kyogo Furuhashi?

The 28-year-old started his professional career with Japanese side FC Gifu, registering 35 goal contributions in 71 appearances for the club, but he has really started to make a name for himself with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.

With 27 goals to his name, the Japan international was the top scorer in the Scottish top flight this season, averaging 1.04 goals per 90, and playing a major role for The Hoops en-route to their second league title on the spin.

Celtic attacker Kyogo Furuhashi.

While he has performed very well north of the border, success in Scotland does not always guarantee a player will hit the ground running in the Premier League, and there are question marks over whether he would be an adequate replacement for Kane.

Of course, whoever Tottenham sign is unlikely to hit the heights the Englishman did last season, scoring 30 league goals, however, they could be better off signing a player who is proven in a major European league.

As a back-up option, Furuhashi may well be an astute signing for Spurs, having been hailed as "incredible" by members of the media, but he should not be brought in as an out-and-out replacement for Kane.

Leeds: ‘Complete’ Teen Could Terrorise The Championship

Leeds United saw their three-year stint in the Premier League cut ruthlessly short on Sunday, as their 4-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur confirmed their relegation.

Wins elsewhere for Everton and Leicester City only exacerbated such failures, as they finished 19th to return to the Championship.

Having spent 16 years in the second division the last time they were demoted, the hope around Elland Road will be that they can avoid another lengthy absence and bounce back at the first time of asking.

To do that, it will require an almighty effort from the hierarchy to secure a new long-term manager and a host of new players to propel them there, amidst a potential takeover.

However, they might have some key assets who could spearhead such a charge, who are already in their squad and unlikely to leave this summer.

One such example is Darko Gyabi, who joined as a top-quality youngster from Manchester City just last summer. Despite the £5m expended, he was forced into the U21s for the majority of the campaign.

Having surely acclimatised to life at Elland Road now, next term could truly be his breakthrough one to announce himself as a star in Yorkshire.

How good is Darko Gyabi?

With all the physical assets to compete in such a taxing division, it is wholly possible that the 19-year-old could be the Championship's next top product.

After all, he has already shown himself to be at a level above his youth category, with journalist Joe Donnohue offering massive praise after one performance in particular back in March: "Darko Gyabi's performance tonight is the most complete midfield display by any LUFC player, at any level, (I've seen) this season. Passing, strength, presence, awareness, use of his body – class."

He continued by noting that he "plays with an attitude, dynamism & real vitality"; attributes that will be key to dominating midfield battles.

As such, he may already be ahead of a certain Weston McKennie, the American who endured a torrid time in Yorkshire after his half a season loan from Juventus back in January.

The midfielder did little to weave his way into the hearts of those at Elland Road during his six-month stint, as he travelled home to Turin this week with zero goals and just one assist to show for his efforts.

On the flip side, with Gyabi amassing five goal contributions from 17 Premier League 2 games, his offensive input cannot be understated alongside his other impressive attributes. This has culminated in just three senior appearances, which should be vastly expanded upon next season with more game time likely forthcoming.

leeds-united-brenden-aaronson

Gyabi's work in the U20 World Cup serves to offer further proof as to just how remarkable he is for his age, as the teenage sensation has recorded a 7.07 average rating thus far, maintaining an 88% pass accuracy alongside, one interception, 2.7 tackles and 2.7 successful dribbles per game, via Sofascore.

This tough-tackling mindset blended with elegance on the ball makes him a technical marvel, who already stands at a whopping 6 foot 5 to only emphasise his stature as someone capable of making the step up.

He has everything needed to shine at senior level, and it could be argued that a run of games in the Premier League might have even been merited. But with huge changes set to occur this summer once McKennie and co depart, Gyabi should offer some clarity for the new boss, as a nailed-on starter for their new adventure in the Championship.

Liverpool Have Dream Van Dijk Heir In £760-p/w Teen

It has undoubtedly not been the season that Liverpool supporters would have been hoping for, with last season's quadruple charge now seeming like a distant memory.

The Reds are set to end the campaign without attaining silverware after winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season, with even securing a top-four berth currently looking unlikely.

One key figure that has somewhat underwhelmed is influential defender, Virgil van Dijk, with the 31-year-old having had a "poor" season, according to club legend Jamie Carragher.

That being said, however, the former Southampton man has previously been a standout presence for Jurgen Klopp's side over the past few years, having helped the club to Premier League and Champions League success since his £75m arrival in 2018.

Such has been the Dutchman's impact at Anfield, he was even dubbed the "best centre-half of all time" by ex-Liverpool striker, Michael Owen, back in 2022, with that an indication of just how highly regarded the £220k-per-week titan is by those both at the club and across the game.

It will then prove a particularly difficult ask to try and replace the experienced asset when he does eventually move on in the years to come on, with Klopp and co potentially needing to consider a succession plan sooner rather than later.

Rather than splashing the cash to find a successor to the 6 foot 5 menace, however, the Merseysiders could look to the academy ranks to find a dream heir in the form of 18-year-old, Lee Jonas.

Who is Lee Jonas?

The promising teenager – who can also feature at right-back – has been a regular fixture at youth level so far this season, having made 30 appearances across all fronts to date, including 22 Premier League 2 outings.

The England U19 international – who joined the club from rivals Everton at U12 level – appears to have the attributes to take on Van Dijk's mantle as the dominant force in Klopp's side in the years to come, having been described as 'good on the ball and strong in the air' by the club's official website.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk

Those traits are undoubtedly shared by the current Liverpool first-team star, with Van Dijk notably ranking in the top 19% among his European peers for progressive passes, showcasing his ability at playing out from the back, while the Netherlands international also mirrors Jonas in being a real monster in the air, as he ranks in the top 15% for aerial duels won.

The £760-per-week youngster has demonstrated his own imposing quality during his solitary EFL Trophy outing earlier in the campaign, having won 75% of his aerial duels in that loss to Accrington Stanley, while also recording three interceptions.

The local star was also notably dubbed "brilliant" by Liverpool Echo's Keifer MacDonald following his performance in the UEFA Youth League win over Porto last month, featuring seven times in total in that run to the quarter-final stage.

A 'talented' and 'very committed' defender – as per the club's official website – the teen sensation could well be one to keep an eye on next season and beyond, with Klopp potentially having his ideal Van Dijk heir right under his nose.

Orta Hit The Jackpot With Leeds’ £55k-p/w Monster

Leeds United have been guilty of some poor transfer deals in the past but the appointment of Victor Orta in 2017 has helped to transform the Yorkshire outfit from Championship strugglers into a fairly solid Premier League side.

The Spaniard has also made mistakes, with the likes of Jean Kevin-Augustin no doubt at the forefront of Leeds fans' minds after the club were ordered to pay £24.5m in compensation to the rarely-seen Frenchman earlier this month, but in the large part, he has been responsible for signing some incredible players at Elland Road.

One such example is Tyler Adams, as the young midfielder's value has flown up during his time in the Premier League, and he looks set to be a vital player for The Peacocks in the significant future.

How much did Adams cost Leeds United?

Following the exit of Kalvin Phillips in the summer of 2022, it seemed clear that Leeds were going to have to invest heavily in a new defensive midfielder to fill the boots of the home-grown England international.

The USA international had accumulated 103 appearances during his time with RB Leipzig, contributing two goals and three assists, so represented a great option for Leeds when considering his experience of top-level football and obvious long-term potential.

Orta sanctioned a deal worth €17m (£15m), which could rise to €23m (£20.2m) with add-ons, and he has established himself as a key player at Elland Road throughout the 2022/23 campaign, earning regular starts under both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia.

Across his 24 Premier League appearances so far this campaign, the tough-tackling midfielder has averaged a solid 6.73 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which sees him currently ranked as the fifth-best player in Gracia's squad.

Journalist Tomi Oladipo was quick to label Adams a "monster" in Leeds' midfield after their 3-0 demolition of Chelsea earlier this season and his average of 3.7 tackles per game, the best of anyone at Elland Road, certainly reinforces that.

Although Adams has been absent for Leeds' recent games through injury, with the Yorkshire outfit very much in the Premier League's relegation battle after their 5-1 defeat against Crystal Palace last time out, his performances have not gone unnoticed by the wider footballing world.

As per Football Transfers, the midfielder's transfer value has shot up to €39.6m (£34.8m), which represents a hugely impressive 133% increase on the £15m Leeds initially paid.

Therefore, Orta deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing in the £55k-per-week star on such a bargain deal, and Leeds fans will be hoping to see the 24-year-old continue to shine upon his return from injury.

West Ham urged to support U18s in FA Youth Cup

Insider ExWHUemployee has urged supporters to attend the West Ham United Under-18s FA Youth Cup semi-final with the club "sceptical" they can sell many tickets.

What’s the latest on West Ham U18s and the FA Youth Cup?

On 6th April, the youngsters will take on Southampton at the London Stadium hoping to book a place in the final against Arsenal or Manchester City.

Up to this point in the competition, West Ham have had to play away from home – beating Sheffield United, Burnley, Stoke City and Ipswich Town – en route to the semi-finals.

Now they have a home game, however, Ex has revealed doubt over the ability to pack the stadium with an expectation of just 2,000 fans wanted, but he has called for 5,000 to attend.

In an update on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex said: "The Under-18s have their Youth Cup semi-final against Southampton after the Newcastle game, tickets are on sale.

"It would be great if we can get attendance at about 5,000. As I said, the club apparently told people that they're sceptical that we won't get more than 2,000.

"Let's show them how good our support is and let's try to get up to 5,000 to see what could be the next generation of top, top players coming through."

Manchester United v West Ham United , FA Premier League 10/1/99
Pic:Action Images
Joe Cole-West Ham United

When did West Ham last win the FA Youth Cup?

Seeing as the senior side are having notable troubles in the Premier League this team – sitting 18th in the division and facing the threat of relegation – it might be nice to see a more optimistic side of the club.

What's more, youth coach Kevin Keen and his U18 team have made the last four of the competition for the first time in 24 years, when the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick played in a 9-0 aggregate win over Coventry City in the final.

With that in mind, there could well be some players capable of having very notable careers at the top of the game within the current Hammers squad, just like Cole and Carrick.

And given the Irons' hugely underwhelming season to date, you would not be surprised if Moyes – or indeed, any other manager – was to allow the shining stars of the academy to challenge any first-teamers who continue to underperform beyond this campaign, regardless of which division West Ham are playing in come August.

Harry Maguire must accept new role amid Man Utd exit talk

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has claimed that Harry Maguire has to accept his role as a squad player if he wants to prolong his Manchester United career.

What's the latest on Harry Maguire and Man Utd?

The English centre-back has struggled for regular starts this season but having been trusted to play midweek in the Europa League win over Real Betis, he spoke about his limited minutes.

Indeed, Maguire told the press he has an "important" part to play in squad dynamics on and off the pitch, working as a leader regardless of many games he starts.

Of course, there has been talk that the defender could be sold in the summer – with Newcastle United linked with potential interest – but for now, he seems okay with his role in the Red Devils' squad.

While talking about the player on The United Stand, Goldbridge said that he was okay with this new role for Maguire and insisted that the defender would have to accept it too if he wants to remain at the club in the long term.

He said (15:34:) "Maguire, you know, he spoke after the game on Thursday talking about how he's got a big influence off the pitch as well as on the pitch.

"You know, he clearly has to keep telling himself and telling everybody else how important he is to this squad, because otherwise it's over, isn't it? So there's no problem with that at all."

Soccer Football – Carabao Cup – Final – Manchester United v Newcastle United – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – February 26, 2023 Manchester United’s Harry Maguire celebrates after winning the Carabao Cup final Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications.

Will Harry Maguire stay at Man Utd this summer?

Although he has of course struggled in recent times, Maguire still has over 50 caps for England and having only just turned 30 he still has plenty to offer.

With that in mind, if he was put up for sale in the summer, you'd expect a few Premier League and potentially European clubs to be interesting but manager Erik ten Hag may want to keep him around.

After all, Maguire is technically club captain and has a wealth of experience that likely is useful in the dressing room even when he's not playing.

It does certainly feel as though he is no longer going to be a regular starter for the Red Devils, but if the 30-year-old can accept that, then perhaps he could yet remain an important squad player over the next few seasons.

It will be interesting to see if Maguire pushes for an exit in the summer of if he really is happy to become a back-up under Ten Hag.

Leeds slammed over Andoni Iraola failure

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United for not knowing beforehand that Andoni Iraola was unwilling to join at this stage of the season.

What’s the latest on Andoni Iraola to Leeds?

As per The Guardian, the Rayo Vallecano manager is not prepared to abandon his current club midway through their campaign and so any possible move to the Premier League will have to wait until the summer.

As a result, the wait to appoint a successor to  Jesse Marsch is set to continue with Michael Skubala will carry on as the Whites’ interim manager for their “upcoming fixtures”.

Seeing as a number of managers seem to have turned down approaches by Leeds, it doesn’t reflect well on the club and McGilligan seems to think it points to a lack of “preplanning”.

While speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, he said: “You don’t really want a manager who’s out of work and I hear the argument of Iraola. I hear the argument of Leeds had a target straight away in him. I understand that.

“But why has there been so many complications? Why are we facing these obstacles and problems when it comes to Rayo Vallecano? Why did Leeds not know that?

“Why did Leeds not know that after they sacked Jesse Marsch? They should have already understood prior that it was going to be difficult to get Iraola in. It was going to be difficult to get [Marcelo] Gallardo in.”But they don’t. There’s no preplanning, there’s no anticipation of these things. It’s just, ‘oh we’ll stumble on it, and then we’ll stumble on someone else, and then we’ll stumble on someone else’.” What does the Iraola situation mean for Leeds?

McGilligan also name-checks Gallardo. The former River Plate boss is a free agent but only wants to take charge of a new club at the end of this season.

With Iraola also not keen to join at this stage, it certainly does beg the question as to why Leeds didn’t know this would be the case for two of their primary targets before making approaches to land them.

Marsch’s time with the club had been on a downward trajectory for some time and so it was not a shock when he was fired, leaving the club in a relegation battle.

With that in mind, the Leeds hierarchy should have had a number of candidates in mind to take over but it seems as though their shortlist was full of unrealistic names such as Iraola and Gallardo who were never going to join at this moment in time.

As a result, they will now have to hope Skubala can help steady the ship even though he’s inexperienced and has never managed a team at such a high level before.

Chelsea plot transfer hijack for Osimhen

Chelsea may have made ambitious moves in the January transfer window but they are already planning their business for the summer with a new potential transfer target emerging.

What’s the latest on Chelsea’s Victor Osimhen interest?

According to talkSPORT’s transfer expert Alex Crook, Chelsea are looking to hijack Manchester United’s move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

As per the report, it is claimed that Todd Boehly’s aggressive approach to transfers could be a huge threat to the Red Devils, who are also interested in acquiring Osimhen’s services to bolster their forward line next season.

The ruthless American hasn’t been afraid of battling rival Premier League owners for big-money signings since he arrived at Stamford Bridge, most notably snagging Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix from Arsenal’s grasp in January.

Is Osimhen is better than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?

There is no doubt that Chelsea are desperate for a prolific and consistent number nine after struggling to find the right player to take on the role – despite spending £97.5m on Romelu Lukaku in 2021 and snapping up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last summer.

The west Londoners are currently ninth in the Premier League after a run of poor performances in their first 22 outings with the fewest amount of goals scored (23) in the top 11 teams in the top flight, proving that their lack of goal conversion is a huge contributor to holding them back in their pursuit for a spot inside the top four.

As a result, the signing of Osimhen would be an incredible piece of business for Chelsea and could be the final piece of the jigsaw in Boehly’s huge overhaul at Stamford Bridge.

Over 17 Serie A appearances, the 24-year-old – hailed “phenomenal” by Cagliari coach Walter Mazzarri – has scored a whopping 16 goals, registered three assists and created two big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 key passes, 4.1 shots on goal, 1.6 shots on target and 3.9 duels won per game.

Osimhen also ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, shots in total and touches, as well as currently being the top goal-scorer and highest-ranking player for shots on target in the entire Serie A, proving that he is one of the hottest prospects in Europe and rightly dubbed a “machine” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

Graham Potter could land a huge Aubameyang upgrade with the signing of the Nigerian forward as he has outperformed the Frenchman in almost every attacking attribute, including goal contributions (19 v 1), shot-creating actions (37 v 7), progressive passes received (98 v 22) and shots on target per 90 minutes(1.80 v 1.02), as per FBref.

Not only that, Osimhen – who is expected to command a fee of more than €100m (£89m) – is nine years younger than the 33-year-old, so can provide the club with a long-term solution and future prospect who can help them compete for trophies and success for many years to come.

With that being said, if Chelsea can beat Man Utd to the signing of Osimhen it would be a major coup and could finally give the team a focal point in front of goal, one who can make a genuine impact to improve their goal-scoring form drastically.

Tottenham: Spurs ‘might not have a choice’ over Harry Kane sale

Tottenham Hotspur may end up having to sell Harry Kane to Man United, believes talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: Kane contract running…

The 29-year-old is approaching the final year of his current Spurs deal which expires in 2024, meaning it’s crunch time for chairman Daniel Levy.

Antonio Conte’s side must now make the decision over whether to push forward with new contract talks or contemplate selling him for a big fee this summer.

The Premier League top four chasers are thought to be unwilling to sell to direct English rivals like United with Bayern Munich and potentially Real Madrid interested from abroad.

The Latest: Agbonlahor makes Kane claim…

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor, a talkSPORT regular, claims Tottenham might not have a choice but to sell Kane to the Red Devils.

The former Aston Villa striker says Kane may wish to stay in England and battle for Alan Shearer’s all-time PL scoring record for another club.

Harry Kane has got 18 months left.

“In the summer, he’ll either sign a new contract or leave.

“But Spurs might be in a position where Kane says he is only going to an English club – because he’ll want to break Shearer’s record.

“Tottenham might not have a choice in whether they sell him to a Man United.

“It’s a really difficult position for Spurs. As much as they say they won’t let him go to a rival, if he runs into the final year of his contract – they could lose a £70m striker for nothing.

“It’s going to be horrible because without him they are nothing.”

The Verdict: Nightmare scenario…

Kane leaving Spurs for United would be a truly nightmare scenario for Conte and Levy.

We can’t imagine it happening and surely the Lilywhites would want to keep hold of Kane for an extra year and let him for free as an alternative – if he doesn’t sign a new deal.

Those extra 12 months of free-scoring for Spurs would be invaluable and arguably worth more than any transfer fee for Kane this summer.

The England international has once again proved just how vital he is to the club – bagging 17 goals and an assist in 22 league appearances over 2022/2023.

In Tottenham’s most recent encounter against Man City, Kane surpassed the legendary Jimmy Greaves as the club’s all time top scorer and we believe he is destined to clinch Shearer’s record also.

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