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Everton, like most clubs, have had their fair share of dodgy transfers over the years, with players such as Dele Alli and Moise Kean each springing to mind.

However, in the case of the Toffees, a bad transfer can be what makes or breaks their season. Since the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, the club have been in something of a downward spiral and have failed to finish inside the top ten of the Premier League.

To rub even more salt in their wounds, near the start of the 2023/24 term, Everton were handed the most severe points deduction in top-flight history. However, as of Monday 26th February, the deduction has been scaled down somewhat to six points.

Although these additional four points have allowed Sean Dyche's men some breathing room in regard to the relegation dogfight, they are still not performing to the standards expected of them on the pitch.

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Their top goalscorer is Abdoulaye Doucoure with six goals across all competitions, whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin has the joint second-most with four.

Although, for Doucoure, these numbers are more than acceptable, the fact that Calvert-Lewin is two behind him should strike worry across fans.

If their form doesn't pick up soon, it is unlikely that they will manage to find their way out of the relegation battle.

One player who hasn't been much help in keeping the Toffees up is that of Andre Gomes. The Portugal international joined the Merseyside club in 2019 for a reported fee of £22m but hasn't yet made much of an impact in recent years.

How much Andre Gomes earns

Any player arriving from Barcelona in the late 2010s is likely to have been on an extortionate amount of money and would be expecting similar with each new club that they join.

In the case of Gomes, as per Capology, the midfielder is remarkably the third-highest paid player at the club with a salary of £112k-per-week, behind only Jordan Pickford and their top scorer, Doucoure.

For any player, that is an awful lot of money, but for a player who has impacted Everton as little as Gomes has, that weekly wage is fairly concerning.

GK – Jordan Pickford

RB – Seamus Coleman

CB – Kurt Zouma

CB – Michael Keane

LB – Lucas Digne

CM – Andre Gomes

CM – Idrissa Gueye

CAM – Gylfi Sigurdsson

RW – Theo Walcott

LW – Bernard

ST – Richarlison

Since arriving at the club, he has played a total of 106 games with just three of those appearances coming this season. During that time, he has amassed a mere 11 goal contributions, which, from a midfielder, is not the sort of return you want to see.

In comparison, Doucoure, who has represented the blue of Merseyside for two years fewer, has had 15 additional goal contributions which puts into perspective how poorly he has played.

Indeed, Gomes has had his fair share of injuries as he has missed a total of 53 games whilst employed by the Toffees, but, his returns still should have been better.

How much the top players at Everton earn

As Gomes earns £112k-per-week, this salary puts him on a much higher amount than that of Everton star-boy, Jarrad Branthwaite.

The defender has had something of a breakout in 2023/24 and has cemented himself in the Toffees' starting XI, with some valuing him around a mega £100m ahead of a potential summer move. That said, despite being one of their key players, he only earns a slender £35k-per-week.

#1 Abdoulaye Doucoure

£130k

#2 Jordan Pickford

£125k

#3 Andre Gomes

£112k

#4 Dele Alli

£100k

#5 James Tarkowski

£100k

#6 Amadou Onana

£100k

This is nothing short of incredible and shows that he earns just over a third of what Gomes does despite playing each week-in and week-out.

In addition, in just this season alone, the 21-year-old has played in more games than the Portugal international has over his last two seasons in Merseyside.

Hence, why, in the summer, Dyche needs to find a way to bring Gomes' time at Goodison to an end. It would free up some crucial room in their wage budget in order to strengthen their team in the areas it needs to do so, especially if they manage to retain their Premier League status.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ progress this season has been fantastic to see, with Gary O’Neil doing an excellent job since arriving.

The side are currently 11th in the Premier League, which all but confirms their safety, while giving them a great chance to push into the top half of the table.

Their most recent game was an incredible 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the road, with Joao Gomes scoring a brace.

However, Wolves once had a midfielder in the 2020/21 season who could have been even better than last weekend’s match-winner.

Joao Gomes time at Wolves

23-year-old Gomes has been one of the most consistent performers in the Wolves side this season, slotting alongside Mario Lemina in a midfield two.

The Brazilian has started 20 Premier League games this campaign, and he is known for his defensive work, despite his recent goals taking the spotlight.

Gomes averages the third most tackles in the league, 3.4, but against Spurs, he completed six, with his tenacity making him an important player in the Wolves team.

However, on the whole this season, Gomes’ game has been limited to his off-the-ball activities, with his passing and ability to affect the game in the final third being aspects to work on. This is shown by his 82% pass accuracy per game and 0.5 key passes per match this season, which is poor compared to the Wolves player who got away in 2021.

Vitinha’s career after Wolves

In 2020, Vitinha joined Wolves on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Porto, however, his time in the Premier League didn’t exactly go according to plan.

The midfielder started just five Premier League games over the season out of his 19 appearances, but his average minutes per game was 28, as he often came on as a late substitute.

The Portuguese star’s most memorable moment at Wolves was an extraordinary goal against Chorley in the FA Cup, where he unleashed an effort from range that flew past the keeper.

Once his loan ended, the now-24-year-old returned to Porto, where his performances earned him a move to Paris Saint-Germain after just one season.

Since moving to PSG for £34m, the maestro has played 79 games, picking up 14 goal contributions and featuring in a midfield three, with his estimated worth increasing to £51m, according to CIES Football Observatory.

The Portugal international’s performance against Real Sociedad in the Champions League knockout stage showcased what he’s all about, with the table below showing his key stats from that game.

Minutes

94

Touches

83

Pass accuracy

94%

Key passes

1

Successful dribbles

3/5

Ground duels won

6/9

Tackles

3

It’s clear that Vitinha is an extremely technical player who can control a game via his vast passing range while also opening up the pitch with his silky dribbling and press resistance.

Despite having magical creativity, his understanding of the game is top-tier, and he retains the ball brilliantly, which is important for Wolves who rarely dominate the possession statistics.

Although he’s only 5 foot 8, he can also hold his own in the middle of the park, just like Gomes, as shown by his three tackles and six out of nine ground duels won.

Overall, Vitinha would have thrived in O’Neil’s system this season, which demands both an attacking and defensive skillset. Even though Gomes is a quality player, for Wolves to go to the next level, they need a Vitinha-esque star.

Ange Postecoglou is crafting something special at Tottenham Hotspur and it's important to remember that illustrious success will not appear overnight.

Stepping down after nearly nine years at the end of the season, it took Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp nearly four years to taste silverware for the first time, losing three cup finals on the way.

Mikel Arteta has yet to add to his FA Cup triumph after winning the 2020/21 edition just months into his reign at the Emirates Stadium.

Tottenham were in disarray when Postecoglou was anointed in the summer and the Australian has produced masterful results throughout the maiden phase of his tenure, all things considered.

While Spurs are two points being fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League after 23 matches, just five points better off from the 2022/23 campaign, there is a clear identity and belief that was unseen last year, a vision and focus that will hopefully guide the squad toward a new level of success down the line.

Much of this has sprouted from Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy's no-nonsense approach on the transfer front, shipping on those unsuited to the system and targeting dynamic and technically impressive players to contribute toward the new era.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's Spurs future

While numerous players have departed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since Postecoglou left his post at Celtic in June, there is more flotsam to be shifted away and none more salient than Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Many suspected that Hojbjerg would be sold during the January transfer market but it wasn't to be, with the Dane rejecting several concrete offers to end his stay in London despite only starting six times in the Premier League this season, provided a role from the outset mainly due to absences and a lack of alternatives.

Given that the 28-year-old, who signed for Spurs from Southampton for £15m back in 2020 and has since made 170 appearances, is out of contract in 2025 and looks very unlikely to be penning new terms, there might be a bit of grumbling from the Lilywhites boardroom that he obstinately refused approaches from the likes of Lyon last month.

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Indeed, Tottenham were interested in signing Chelsea star Conor Gallagher throughout January but it became clear that any successful swoop for the £50m-rated England international hinged on Hojbjerg's sale, which did not happen.

For that reason, in fairness, the £100k-per-week Spurs midfielder will play an important part in the months to come, with his industrious approach to his craft a nice tool to have when the second half of a contest demands stability and composure.

Postecoglou has already demonstrated his ruthless streak and this is typified by the January shifting of Eric Dier for Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin.

Why Eric Dier left Spurs

Slowly, astutely, Tottenham are starting to shape up under Postecoglou's management, with Dragusin, signed from Serie A side Genoa for around £27m, the perfect player to join a backline boasting first-choice options in Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Both those stars have missed chunks of the campaign in blows that proved detrimental to Tottenham's early-season swagger, eight victories and two draws from the opening phase of the Premier League term succeeded by a run of four defeats in five fixtures.

Dragusin has been described as "complete & dominant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig and definitely proved the accuracy of such remarks with his aggressive and commanding displays in the rearguard in Italy.

Given the high-octane, free-flowing ideology that Postecoglou is trying to instil down N17, Dier just wasn't suited to the job and ranks among the bottom 12% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the bottom 6% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

That latter metric wouldn't be so important if Dier were not at the weakly beating heart of Tottenham's defence last season, conceding a staggering 63 goals in the top-flight.

It is this level of ruthlessness, conviction in his vision, that is underpinning Postecoglou's feasibility in the dugout in north London, and the same stance must be applied to Hojbjerg come summer, when the 6 foot 1 ace can still be cashed in on.

Incongruous in Postecoglou's system

Hojbjerg is a distinguished Premier League player with a wealth of experience across all areas of the professional game, but the 73-cap international is not the only veteran on the block and he is quite simply incongruous in this exciting new Tottenham project.

A lack of mobility and invention in the centre of the park is likely what has inhibited him from a regular starting berth, completing 89% of his passes in the Premier League but 0.2 key passes and 0.4 successful dribbles per game don't exactly bespeak high-level dynamism.

Moreover, the one-time Bayern Munich youngster has only emerged on top in 49% of his contested duels this season, hardly boasting the kind of success rate to evoke confidence in his grip at the core of the pitch.

6

5

0.83

17

39

2.29

Source: Transfermarkt

The table above highlights just how ineffectual he is when called upon, failing to produce the kind of all-encompassing displays needed from someone of his positional role.

Much like Bryan Gil, it's time for Hojbjerg to move on; the Spanish winger utterly ineffectual for the club and starting just twice in the Premier League this season, doing nothing of note.

These are the players that need moving on, freeing up space and facilitating acquisitions of bigger, better and shinier replacements.

With Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr returning from the African Cup of Nations and Rodrigo Bentancur continuing to raise his level after incessant injury issues throughout 2023, it does look likely that Hojbjerg – who has started the past three Premier League outings – will return to the periphery.

He's been hailed as a "warrior" in the past by pundit and former Spurs man Alan Hutton and has many qualities that would secure him a prominent role in a successful European outfit, he just doesn't suit this new Tottenham team and it's now vital that he is ditched alongside fringe players such as Gil, both without a shiny future in Tottenham colours.

The January transfer window officially slammed shut for business on Thursday and Celtic ended it with two first-team additions to their squad.

Nicolas Kuhn was brought in from Rapid Wien on a five-and-a-half-year deal to bolster Brendan Rodgers' options out wide. Adam Idah was also signed from Norwich City on loan until the end of the season to compete with Kyogo Furuhashi and Hyeon-gyu Oh.

The Hoops must now turn their attention to Scottish Premiership action as they travel away from Parkhead to face off against Aberdeen this afternoon.

They are up against a managerless side as the Dons opted to part ways with head coach Barry Robson at the end of January, which could motivate their players to impress any potential managers watching on.

Celtic head into this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Ross County last time out in the Premiership and Rodgers could make three changes from the XI that started that match.

With that in mind, here is FFC's predicted Hoops line-up to take on Aberdeen at Parkhead today…

1 Joe Hart

Starting between the sticks, Joe Hart should keep his place in goal. Celtic were reportedly looking to bolster their options in his position in January but nothing materialised.

This means that the former England international should remain as number one and he will be hoping to keep another clean sheet after his shutout against Ross County.

2 Alistair Johnston

The hero of Celtic's last match should start once again at right-back. Alistair Johnston's goal in the opening minute against Ross County was enough to secure all three points for the Scottish giants.

3 Maik Nawrocki

The first change to the starting XI could come at the heart of the defence as Maik Nawrocki could be drafted in from the start to replace Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Celtic's USA international is currently out after suffering an injury last time out. The Polish titan replaced him in the 64th minute of that clash and should come in from the start today.

Signed from Legia Warsaw last summer, Nawrocki has not had many opportunities to impress but has shown glimpses of quality in his limited time on the pitch.

Appearances

Five

Starts

Three

Sofascore rating

7.04

Pass accuracy

87%

Duel success rate

55%

Ground duel success rate

75%

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old colossus has dominated opposition attackers on the deck in 50/50 contests and been reliable in possession, which is why he could be a fine replacement for Carter-Vickers this afternoon.

4 Liam Scales

Alongside Nawrocki, Ireland international Liam Scales could keep his place. The former Aberdeen loanee won eight of his nine aerial duels against Ross County and will be tasked with dealing with the threat of Bojan Miovski throughout the match.

5 Alexandro Bernabei

At left-back, Alexandro Bernabei looks set to start for the Scottish giants as Greg Taylor is sidelined with a calf injury and the Argentine dynamo is the only other natural left-back in the senior squad.

Rodgers reportedly wanted to sign another player in that position to compete with those two but the club failed to get a deal over the line before this week's deadline.

6 Matt O'Riley

In the middle of the park, Matt O'Riley will be hoping to add to his impressive collection of goals and assists in the Premiership so far this season.

The Denmark international has contributed with ten goals and seven assists in 22 top-flight outings, as he has proven himself to be a match-winner for the Hoops on many occasions.

7 Callum McGregor

Alongside the former Fulham prospect, captain Callum McGregor will be pulling the strings once again for the Scottish giants with his passing wizardry.

Sofascore rating

7.9

Pass accuracy

94%

Passes completed

79

Key passes

One

Duels won

Six

As you can see in the table above, the Scotland international produced a fantastic display last time out with his reliability in possession of the ball, whilst he also won the penalty that Luis Palma went on to miss.

8 Odin Thiago Holm

The second change to the XI could come in the third midfield spot. Paulo Bernardo started against Ross County and produced one key pass and one 'big chance' missed in 89 minutes on the pitch.

Rodgers could now provide Odin Thiago Holm with a rare opportunity to impress in the Premiership. The 21-year-old maestro has only started two of his eight league appearances but David Turnbull's deadline day move to Cardiff could open up more chances for him in the middle of the park.

It will then be down to Holm to make the most of his time on the pitch to prove to the manager that he deserves more minutes moving forward.

9 Nicolas Kuhn

The third and final change to the XI could come on the right of the front three. Nicolas Kuhn could make his full debut for the Hoops in place of Liel Abada, with Daizen Maeda and Hyun-jun Yang still away with their respective countries.

In 76 minutes last weekend, Abada failed to register a key pass or a shot on target and lost seven of his eight duels throughout the game, as he struggled on and off the ball.

Kuhn, who was described as "absolutely rapid" by UEFA licensed coach @Inverthewing on X, created 11 'big chances' for his teammates and averaged 1.8 key passes and 3.1 completed dribbles per game across 16 Bundesliga matches during the first half of the season for Rapid Wien and could offer more than his new teammate in the final third.

10 Kyogo Furuhashi

In the centre-forward position, Idah could be forced to wait for his full Celtic debut as FFC predict that Kyogo Furuhashi will keep his place in the side for now.

The Japan international has scored three goals in his last six games but will now know that he needs to be at his best to keep the Norwich loanee out of the XI.

Idah has been at the club for less than 48 hours and may not be ready to be thrown in from the start if he is yet to grasp and understand his role in the side and what Rodgers wants from him, compared to what Norwich asked of the Irish whiz.

Chelsea are believed to be the favourites to sign a big-name striker in a potential mega-money transfer this year, according to one journalist.

Chelsea eyeing new forward

The Blues appear to be on the hunt to secure the services of a marquee forward in 2024, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen both linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino has Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja as his go-to options at this moment in time, although the former has had a tricky start to life in England and is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while the latter has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit.

Therefore, Todd Boehly may need to get the chequebook out again over the coming months, and there have been claims that the Blues had recently failed with a £73m offer for Gyokeres.

Things look to be more positive when it comes to Osimhen, though, with the Napoli star reportedly open to a transfer after Chelsea held “positive” talks with the player’s entourage.

“I understand Chelsea have had contact with Osimhen’s entourage in recent weeks/days to discuss the possibility of the Napoli striker joining Chelsea. The feedback they have had is positive, with there being an understanding that Osimhen would be open to joining Chelsea", journalist Simon Phillips said earlier this month.

“Behdad Eghbali has initiated this contact and now has good relations with Osimhen’s agent. Now, that doesn’t mean Chelsea are 100% signing Osimhen, and it doesn’t mean that he would also not be open to joining other clubs if they come in.

“But right now, Chelsea’s ownership are very keen to try and do something to get Osimhen in the door at Chelsea and one source has even said they are still looking for a way to try and make that happen this month.”

It now looks as if Chelsea are in a good position to get a transfer done at some point this year, following a new claim from journalist Dean Jones.

Victor Osimhen transfer latest

According to Jones, writing for GiveMeSport, Chelsea are the current “favourites” to win the race for Osimhen. The Blues are in pole position for the Nigeria international ahead of Real Madrid, with sources in Spain insisting he is not currently a key target at the Bernabeu.

Chelsea, who have been in early contact over a move for Osimhen through intermediaries, were worried about potential interest from the European giants. However, Jones adds that Madrid ‘spending over £100million on Osimhen has not been factored into that at this stage, giving Chelsea further hope as they prepare their pitch for the Nigerian goal machine’.

Osimhen, whose release clause stands at €130m (£110m) has gone from strength to strength in front of goal with Napoli and has been dubbed a goal-scoring "machine" and "Napoli’s heart and soul" by journalist Mina Rzouki.

82

20

18

18

7

2

146

93

62

3.89

2.43

2.04

345

120

100

Career stats, as per FBref

Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the player as a “superman”.

If Chelsea were to get a deal over the line for Osimhen, it could help take Pochettino’s side to the next level, especially after the forward’s 31-goal tally during the 2022/23 season.

Jurgen Klopp would typically play down the notion that his side are firmly at the front of the Premier League title race, but with each passing matchweek, the chances of gleaning the glinted trophy increase.

Liverpool were abject last season; limp and listless, a fifth-place finish spelt the end of an illustrious run in the Champions League and forced Klopp to enforce sweeping changes to the midfield – something that, frankly, was long overdue.

It wasn't that the Anfield bosses were… circumspect, but perhaps a little too fixated on landing the perfect player to enhance the existing ranks, though last summer the right moves were made to charge the pursuit of silverware this season.

And now, past the Premier League season's midpoint, Liverpool are to travel to AFC Bournemouth to maintain their grasp on the top position, though given that the Cherries have won seven and lost just one of their past nine outings across all competitions, this won't be easy.

Liverpool team news vs Bournemouth

Klopp is juggling more than a few absences at present, though the German will still be convinced that his available members have what it takes to level the Vitality Stadium with all three points.

Victory this afternoon will take the Reds five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, albeit having played an extra match.

Player

Reason

Expected Return Date

Joel Matip

ACL injury

01/09/2024

Stefan Bajcetic

Stress response

24/02/2024

Thiago Alcantara

Groin/Hip injury

24/02/2024

Kostas Tsimikas

Shoulder injury

04/02/2024

Andrew Robertson

Shoulder injury

04/02/2024

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Knee injury

30/01/2024

Dominik Szoboszlai

Thigh injury

30/01/2024

Wataru Endo

No return date

Asia Cup

Mohamed Salah

No return date

African Cup of Nations

With an extended list of absentees, Liverpool will need to produce a cohesive and fluent performance against Andoni Iraola's men, with the likely return of Alexis Mac Allister to the starting fold in the Premier League coming at the perfect time, having now recovered from a knee injury.

Why Alexis Mac Allister must start vs Bournemouth

Liverpool signed Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion for a bargain fee of £35m in June, with the dynamic midfielder basking in a brilliant 2022/23 campaign that saw him win the World Cup with Argentina and lead the Seagulls toward European qualification for the first time in the club's history.

Liverpool's weary midfield was at the epicentre of the struggles last term and Mac Allister, energetic, intelligent and enterprising, was viewed as the perfect fit to rekindle the fire at the heart of Klopp's system.

He hasn't played quite the role that he might have expected, deployed as the holding midfielder across 18 of his 21 appearances, but he has been vital for the fluency and progression.

As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old has completed 88% of his passes in the top-flight this term, averaging 2.1 tackles and 5.9 ball recoveries per match and succeeding with 64% of his attempted dribbles.

Asserting control against a Bournemouth team that will look to break with a high-intensity approach and inflict damage on the counter will be paramount, and Mac Allister offers the technical control to ensure that Liverpool make good use of their best qualities and craft openings to kill the game off.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Discipline

Dribbling

Tackling

Direct free-kicks

*Sourced via WhoScored

Indeed, as per FBref, the £150k-per-week dynamo ranks among the top 16% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for shots taken, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 19% for progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90.

While fellow summer signing Wataru Endo's industriousness and tenacity in his defensive midfield duties have allowed him to serve well in Mac Allister's absence over the past month, there is a gulf in technique between the respective players and the latter will be essential in ensuring Liverpool grab all the goods on the south coast.

On the note of absentees, influential vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold is also still in a period of convalescence after injuring his knee in the FA Cup victory over Arsenal earlier in the month, and, with Joe Gomez deputising at left-back, youngster Conor Bradley could be in line to continue his exciting run of form.

Conor Bradley could shine again

Hailed for his "eye-catching cameo" at the Emirates Stadium by The Athletic's James Pearce, Bradley was handed his first domestic start of the season several days later as Liverpool hosted Fulham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals, producing an arresting display down the right channel and being crowned the Man of the Match.

During that game, the 20-year-old made six tackles, won ten ground duels, completed 88% of his passes, made two key passes for his teammates and succeeded with two dribbles, performing admirably against the fleet-footed Antonee Robinson.

Having spent the 2022/23 term on loan in League Two with Bolton Wanderers, earning the club's Player of the Season award after achieving promotion, Bradley was touted for a senior role this season but was struck with injury in pre-season and only made his first appearance at the end of November, against Union Saint Gilloise in the Europa League.

Calm and composed in possession and eager to join attacking surges when the opportunity permits, Bradley has the trappings of a rounded full-back and will relish the opportunity to impress in the Premier League.

It's a big ask to entrust a relatively untested youngster with a starting berth in a big match, but Klopp has full confidence in Bradley's abilities and he has already demonstrated his potential against high-class opposition earlier this month, receiving effusive remarks after efforts against Arsenal and Fulham.

Unleashing the promising full-back – as well as Mac Allister – could prove the perfect formula to help ruin Bournemouth's day, and their fine recent run, at the Vitality Stadium.

Celtic had a significant overhaul during the previous summer transfer window in terms of the number of players that moved in and out of the club.

After their busy summer, the Hoops have definitely made the most of it in their latest SPFL season in terms of their results.

With 34 league games played, Ange Postecoglou’s side have won 27, drawn four and lost three, scoring 80 goals and conceding 19 along the way.

Now that the end of the campaign is in sight, the Hoops are within touching distance of the league title as they currently find themselves six points clear at the top of the table.

Looking beyond that, the next summer transfer window will be opening and once again give the Parkhead club the chance to make whatever changes to the squad that Postecoglou feels are necessary.

With that in mind, one figure that we think should follow in the footsteps of the numerous players that left the club last summer is midfielder Ismaila Soro.

Having appeared in just eight league games this season, the 23-year-old has played only three minutes of action since September.

This is a big clue that the Ivorian is quite far down in the pecking order at the moment and isn’t likely to be in Postecoglou’s plans for next season.

Back in January, Soro was heavily linked with a move away from the Parkhead club after originally arriving for a fee of £2m during the 2020 winter window.

Taking into account how the midfielder has failed to show the 56-year-old why he deserves to be a regular figure in the team in terms of his performances, the summer could be the ideal time to finally call his time with the Bhoys to an end.

According to WhoScored, the Hoops outcast has only been able to earn himself a rather disappointing overall performance rating of 6.25/10, making him one of the lowest-rated players currently in the squad to have started at least one league game.

This shows just how much the £10.5k-per-week flop has been stealing a living this season.

To further highlight how ineffective the player has been for the Bhoys in this campaign, he has one yellow card to his name but not even a single successful tackle.

With the likes of Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Matt O’Riley, David Turnbull and Reo Hatate all contributing to the team in terms of scoring goals, it’s no wonder that Soro has not been in Postecoglou’s thinking in recent months.

90% of voters in a recent poll ran by Football FanCast claimed that the club should look to get rid of the player in the summer, so things aren’t looking great for his future in a Celtic shirt.

Moving forward, if the Bhoys are able to pick up any sort of cash for the player in the summer and sell him on a permanent deal, this will certainly be the best option for all parties.

In other news: Celtic now plotting 7-figure bid for 14 G/A sensation, he’s perfect for Angeball

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a late injury blow ahead of their Scottish Premiership clash against Motherwell on Saturday afternoon, with Kemar Roofe the latest to be ruled out.

Add this to the news that Aaron Ramsey is unavailable for the Ibrox side and Giovanni van Bronckhorst faces a double injury blow that could have massive ramifications for the rest of the season.

However, there was some sort of good news following the pre-match press conference (via BBC Sport), in which the Rangers manager confirmed that Ramsey would only be missing three matches, along with Roofe, with an expected return due for the second leg Europa League clash against RB Leipzig.

Both players have ignited Gers’ chances of landing some silverware at the end of the season in recent weeks. Ever since Alfredo Morelos was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign due to injury, Roofe has stepped up to the plate, scoring vital goals against Dundee and St Mirren.

These injuries mean Van Bronckhorst will need to reshuffle his pack ahead of the crucial tie against Motherwell – something that is sure to have left the Dutchman fuming – with some players aiming to step up and take their opportunity.

Fashion Sakala is one of them. The lively Zambian has scored 10 goals and notched three assists in all competitions this season, more impressive when you consider the majority of those have been from the bench.

There is no doubt that losing Roofe and Ramsey to injury is a huge blow, but the Rangers faithful should get behind the likes of Sakala and Steven Davis as they are more than capable of slotting into the side when needed.

The Gers face eight cup finals before the end of the season (nine if they reach the Europa League final) and the squad should be brimming with confidence at the incredible opportunity that has presented itself.

AND in other news: £4.3m down the drain: “Massive” £25k-p/w “problem” robbed Rangers blind for 84 weeks

It’s almost time for Arsenal to return home ahead of, what supporters hope will be, an historic season.

Having landed back in England following their Asian tour, the Gunners will face Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao in friendlies in North London this week, ahead of their league opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford a week on Sunday.

Off the pitch, so far this summer, as Mikel Arteta’s team target the Premier League title, they’ve already made six summer signings, the most they’ve recruited in a single July for 28 years, but will another soon follow?

Arsenal well stocked at the back

While question marks remain in the final third, Arsenal are certainly covered when it comes to defensive options.

Cristhian Mosquera has arrived from Valencia for a reported fee of £13m, set to be the understudy to William Saliba as the right-sided centre-back, with Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Jakub Kiwior very much ensuring the left side is covered too.

Now, though, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal “have made initial contact” to sign 20-year-old defender Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennais.

Romano adds that the Gunners may wait until next summer to make a move, although they could accelerate their interest ‘in case of exits’, with Ahad Shaukat of Caught Offside noting that there is plenty of interest in Kiwior.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

This means that the Poland international’s future could dictate whether the club swoop for Jacquet this summer, or wait to snap him up next year.

Arsenal have a rich tradition when it comes to French players: Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, to name just a few, so could Jacquet become the latest to call North London home?

What Jérémy Jacquet would bring to Arsenal

Jaquet, who came through Rennes youth academy, has actually made just 12 senior appearances for les Rouge et Noirs, spending 12 months on loan at Clermont Foot, featuring six times in Ligue 1 and 17 times in Ligue 2 for les Lanciers, before being recalled in January.

His performances have earned rave reviews, with Ben Mattinson labelling him a “Rolls-Royce” who will be the world’s “next highly coveted” centre-back.

Mattinson praises his “composure” and duel-winning ability, believing that he is “physically imposing” and able to “defend big spaces effectively”, concluding that he will be playing at a very high level in the not-too-distant future.

Meantime, podcaster Phil Costa adds that Jacquet is “one of the best defensive prospects” on the planet, impressed by his ability to take “a lot of responsibility” in possession.

Jacquet was born in Bondy, a northeastern suburb of Paris, a commune with just a population of little over 50,000, but a certain William Saliba was also born there, which is quite a coincidence, so let’s see how the duo compare.

Age

20

18

Senior appearances

36

19

Senior minutes

2,732

1,577

Ligue 1 appearances

18

16

France U21 caps

2

Zero

As the table documents, despite being very inexperienced, Jacquet actually has more experience right now than Saliba did when Arsenal signed him for a reported fee of £27m from Saint-Étienne in 2019.

However, it was three years until Saliba finally made his debut for the club at Selhurst Park, loaned back to Saint-Étienne before also spending time at Nice and Olympique de Marseille, so Jacquet could be in line to do something similar, should he put pen to paper in North London.

With Saliba, Arsenal took their time and played the long game, which has very much paid off, given that the French international might just be the best centre-back in the world, according to Sam Tighe of ESPN.

So, could Jacquet enjoy a similar career trajectory?

Well, all available evidence suggests he could do just that.

Odegaard 2.0: Arsenal given chance to sign "messi-esque" Eze alternative

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In a major boost in pursuit of yet another addition, one Glasgow Rangers target now reportedly wants to complete a summer switch to Ibrox as the 49ers continue negotiations.

Rangers gearing up for crucial UCL second leg after Ibrox win

It’s an important week for Rangers and the most important of Russell Martin’s tenure so far. The Gers travel to Greek side Panathinaikos in hope of sealing their victory in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. With a 2-0 lead to defend, the Scottish Premiership giants already hold a key advantage, but will be wary of preventing any dramatic comebacks.

Of course, if the Greek side square up against the Rangers side that were just held to a 2-2 draw by Championship side Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly, then the Gers could certainly be in for a few twists and turns.

Left frustrated by the result, Martin told reporters: “The first half was a bit frustrating because we’re playing a good team. They’re athletic, they pressed really aggressively, but a lot of the moments that were uncomfortable for us were down to a lack of intensity on our part.

“And I said to the guys, I didn’t like the warm-up, there’s a bit of disappointment in a few people, maybe not in the team and all that stuff.

“But, if you’re disappointed and especially playing for this football club, you have to show it in being more aggressive and more intense, not being downbeat and sort of just being out there and letting the game pass you by a little bit. So they know that now. That can’t happen.”

The more that the former Southampton boss sees his side in action, the more he will learn and that has seemingly seen him turn his attention towards the likes of Abu Kamara and one other potential addition.

Rak-Sakyi now wants Rangers move

As reported by The Sun and relayed by Ibrox News, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi now wants to complete a summer switch to Rangers as the 49ers continue to negotiate a deal which could cost as much as £10m with Crystal Palace.

The talented winger spent last season on loan at Sheffield United and impressed many as he scored seven goals and assisted another two for the Blades. Even after impressing in England’s second division, however, the 22-year-old’s place in Oliver Glasner’s plans is far from guaranteed, and he has now set his sights on Ibrox as a result.

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Dubbed “fearless” by Crystal Palace fan account HLTCO, Rak-Sakyi would be following the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandes, Djeidi Gassama and Joe Rothwell on the list of players to swap English football for Martin’s Rangers side if he completes a move in the coming weeks.

The Gers have so far enjoyed an impressive overhaul, with the 49ers looking to make an instant statement, and the arrival of the Crystal Palace gem would only add to that.