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Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou could dip into the market in the summer transfer to bolster his squad in spite of their domestic success this season.

The Hoops can complete the treble on Saturday if they beat Inverness in the final of the Scottish Cup, after already securing the League Cup and the Scottish Premiership.

However, they are reportedly looking to bolster their attack and midfield in the coming months ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and winger Ryotaro Ito is said to be a target.

The Daily Record claimed that the Albirex Niigata talent is one of the names on Postecoglou's radar heading into the transfer window, as the head coach looks to raid Japan once more.

Celtic's manager could now brutally ditch winger Liel Abada from Parkhead by swooping for Ito as the 25-year-old arriving in Scotland would open the door for a player in the forward areas to depart.

In April, Football Insider reported that the Hoops could cash in on the attacker this summer and that they could rake in a fee of up to £10m for his services.

How has Liel Abada performed this season?

The 21-year-old scored ten goals and provided five assists in 34 appearances in the Premiership and failed to contribute directly to a goal in five outings in the Champions League.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.01 and created 1.1 chances per game in the Scottish top-flight and these statistics show that the wizard was a consistent threat for the Hoops domestically.

The dynamo provided a big goal threat and regularly provided his teammates with opportunities to score from, which shows that the youngster made a significant impact in the final third for Postecoglou.

However, Ito, who can play out wide or through the middle, could come in as a potential upgrade on the Israel international, which would allow the club to bin the current Hoops star.

Who is Ryotaro Ito?

He is a 25-year-old phenomenon who has been in exceptional form in the J1 League in 2023 since earning promotion from the second tier in 2022.

Ito has racked up seven goals and two assists in 15 appearances in the division. The whiz has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.47 and created an eye-catching 3.2 chances per match, which shows that the gem is capable of slicing open the opposition's defence multiple times in each game.

Japanese author Yatao hailed the maestro as a "tremendous talent" and that comment is backed up by the attacking midfielder's sensational form in the J1 League.

Ito has proven himself capable of scoring goals and creating chances on a regular basis whilst maintaining a high standard with his average performance level.

This means that Postecoglou could ditch Abada this summer and not have to worry about losing his production in the final third as the Niigata star could come in and offer more at the top end of the pitch if he is able to adapt to Scottish football.

Leeds United, before they can get started on securing a new manager, surely have to sort out what's happening with their ownership.

What's the latest on Carlos Corberan to Leeds?

Despite the report in yesterday's edition of The Daily Mirror linking the Whites with a move for Carlos Corberan, it remains to be seen who would make such a decision as chairman Andrea Radrizzani continues to be linked with an exit.

However, on Wednesday the Italian released a long statement regarding his takeover of Sampdoria, in which journalist Phil Hay surmised that "This doesn't sound much like 'goodbye'".

As such, the notion that the Yorkshire outfit are 'sounding out' West Bromwich Albion's manager is likely one that has come from their current chairman, especially one seeking to find his next Marcelo Bielsa to return them to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Although the 40-year-old did sign a new deal in January to ward off such interest, the report notes that they are searching for a release clause that might allow them to bypass the Baggies and begin talks straight away.

Could Carlos Corberan emulate Marcelo Bielsa?

Whilst it is easy to compare Corberan with Bielsa, given their 'master and the apprentice' dynamic during their time at Elland Road, there is far more to link the two than merely a shared club.

Since venturing into management, the former Huddersfield Town boss has earned a reputation as one of the Championship's most exciting young bosses, with his 4-2-3-1 philosophy borrowing largely from the 67-year-old with some key tweaks.

The Spaniard opts for slightly more defensive security but retains similar pressing structures that allow his team to dominate the ball. As such, this season the Midlands outfit have maintained 54.1% of the ball on average, and conceded just 37 times under his 33-game stewardship.

Also, their demeanour draws further comparisons, with Bielsa having been branded 'El Loco' for his crazed response to a gang of 20 ultras showing up at his house. Whilst not quite on that same level, former Thorp Arch academy graduate Romario Vieira offered an insight into a similar footballing know-how that shows there is plenty of method to Corberan's madness.

He told The Athletic in 2021:

"When he told us how he wanted us to play, we thought he was crazy. Then it clicked and we were like, ‘This guy’s a genius’. He knew how games would go. In a training situation, in passage of play, he’d tell you, ‘Don’t look for this pass before you play it. Just play it’. You’d say, ‘What if it goes to no one?’, but you’d do it anyway and sure enough, someone would be there waiting for the ball. He had it all in his head. He’ll go on to big things, I’m sure of it."

To compound these similarities, both Corberan and Bielsa have showcased a keen interest in the tactical philosophy of Pep Guardiola, which again can be seen in their respective game plans.

Whilst the Manchester City manager has suggested that the latter was "the best coach in the world", the former instead idolises the ex-Barcelona midfielder, seeking to heed his advice at any opportunity, even studying his assistant Juanma Lillo to gain further insight.

Having taken the Terriers to the most unlikely of playoff finals in 2022, and turned around a relegation-threatened West Brom to take them within three points of the playoff spots this term, surely Corberan would be the perfect man to take the mantle of his former master in Yorkshire and guide them back to the top flight.

Glasgow Rangers are edging closer to the signing of goalkeeper Jack Butland following recent developments coming from England.

What’s the latest on Jack Butland to Rangers?

According to The Sun, Crystal Palace have passed on the chance to extend Butland’s contract by another year, leaving him free to move to Rangers this summer in a big boost for Michael Beale.

They had the chance to trigger a one-year extension, yet they have decided against this due to the fact they already have two top-class ‘keepers at the club.

This comes just a week after Fabrizio Romano revealed on Twitter that the Ibrox side were in looking to sign him:

"Rangers are advancing in negotiations to sign Jack Butland as new goalkeeper on free transfer from Manchester United, deal getting closer.”

Could Jack Butland replace Allan McGregor?

The Light Blues' failure to challenge Celtic and compete in the Champions League stemmed from a variety of factors, however, their goalkeeping situation was arguably the main contributing issue.

Both McGregor and Jon McLaughlin conceded 51 and 18 goals across 36 and 18 games respectively, with a major improvement required between the sticks ahead of 2023/24.

Robby McCrorie came in at the backend of the Premiership season and kept three clean sheets from four games, yet will Beale perhaps go for the slightly more experienced Butland in order to solve his key issue?

The nine-cap England international has made 87 appearances in the Premier League during his career, with his best season coming back in 2017/18, as he averaged 4.1 saves per game while succeeding with 96% of his run-outs across 35 matches for Stoke City.

The 30-year-old didn’t make a single appearance last season for either Palace or Manchester United, spending the final six months of the campaign out on loan at the Old Trafford side, however, a fractured finger suffered last summer ruled him out for 16 games.

Former Palace boss Patrick Vieira was full of praise for Butland however in 2022 amid a lack of playing opportunities, saying: “Jack is a real professional – he is a positive professional.

“He has been frustrated by not playing, but he has never complained and never showed that. He has kept working hard, and when forward players want to do extra finishing, he is always the first to put his hand up.”

If the 42-year-old could get the 6 foot 5 colossus to replicate his performances for Stoke, then there is no doubt he could shine in Scotland with the Gers desperately needing a top class ‘keeper, that’s for sure.

Everton are keen on a deal to bring Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres to the Premier League, according to reports.

Is Viktor Gyokeres leaving Coventry?

The Swedish international was a standout star at the Building Society Arena last season after establishing himself as Mark Robins’ top-performing offensive player, and with his contract expiring in 12 months time, he could be set for a big-money exit in the weeks ahead.

Sky Sports have reported that the Bluebirds will be looking for offers in excess of £17m in order to sanction the 25-year-old’s sale during the upcoming window, and his impressive form after being named the second-highest goalscorer in his division is bound to attract plenty of interest.

The Merseyside outfit and Sean Dyche are likely to enter the market for a new centre-forward due to the consistent injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the uncertainty hanging over Neal Maupay, who’s been linked with a move to Salernitana, and they could well have identified an ideal target in the Midlands.

Are Everton signing Gyokeres?

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), Everton are “interested” in a summer swoop for Gyokeres. Sporting CP are also eyeing a deal for the Coventry striker, hence the report from Portugal, but with them only being willing to pay a fee less than their target’s price tag, teams in the English top-flight are likely to hold an advantage.

The Toffees have been “keen” on the attacker since last year and are “determined” to add to their ranks in the final third, but it remains to be seen whether they too would be able to afford Gyokeres.

Should Everton sign Gyokeres?

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has been full of praise for Gyokeres, describing him as “powerful” and even comparing his qualities to those of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, so should the centre-forward put pen to paper, he could be a fantastic recruit for Everton.

The 6 foot 2 titan posted a remarkable 31 goal contributions (21 goals and ten assists) in 46 Championship appearances throughout the previous campaign, with his displays seeing him pick up an outstanding ten man-of-the-match awards.

Coventry’s talisman, who is a versatile operator with his ability to play in six different positions, was also a threat even when the ball didn’t hit the back of the net having recorded a total of 191 shot-creating actions, which was higher than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, so it would be a massive coup for Dyche if he was to make the move to Goodison Park.

Chelsea could target an experienced head in midfield to combat their exodus of players in the engine room at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving midfield exits from Chelsea?

As per Sky Sports, Manchester United are set to submit a formal bid to try and acquire Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer as Erik Ten Hag looks to add some additional quality to his side.

The report states that talks are underway over a potential deal; however, there is a gap in valuation which will need to be ironed out to facilitate any notion of Mount moving to Old Trafford.

Renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also detailed that N'Golo Kante looks set to complete a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ittihad on a two-year contract with the option of a third 12 months.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio via The Daily Mail, AC Milan are keen on Blues ace Ruben Loftus-Cheek; however, they are believed to have put the breaks on a move due to concerns over his age.

Cobham academy product Conor Gallagher has also been linked with an exit in SW6 and Liverpool, Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund are all keen on the 23-year-old, as cited by The Daily Mail.

Mateo Kovacic has agreed personal terms with Manchester City and looks odds-on to join the treble winners from Chelsea, as per Romano once again.

In light of these prospective outgoings, journalist Jacobs thinks that Chelsea may elect to bring in an experienced head in midfield to balance out the know-how they would be losing by letting some of these stars leave the club.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jacobs stated: “It wouldn’t surprise me if Chelsea, along with a player like Caicedo, surprise us on the midfield front and look for somebody that has leadership skills and proven Premier League experience because everyone kind of focuses on the younger players like Caicedo and Lavia.

“And of course that’s Chelsea’s project, but when you potentially lose Kovacic, Kante goes and when Jorginho goes then along with all of these youngsters, there is a logic that Chelsea may also want some experience whether that is experience by age or experience by Premier League games.”

Who could Chelsea target to provide midfield experience?

One report in Spain suggested last month that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojberg could be targeted by Mauricio Pochettino this summer to help bolster his engine room before next term begins.

FootballTransfers claim that Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse has also been shortlisted at Stamford Bridge amid fierce competition for his signature from Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Although 24 years of age, Declan Rice has garnered a wealth of experience and is another target that Chelsea could look to bring in this off-season, as per Sky Sports.

Chelsea look set for a considerable turnover of midfield players this summer and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pochettino make quite a few additions in that position to get his side ready for 2023/24.

Newcastle United will continue to work on a deal to sign Leicester City's talismanic midfielder James Maddison, claims journalist Rudy Galetti.

The Magpies look set to bolster their squad as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League campaign.

Newcastle United transfer news – What's the latest on James Maddison?

Despite the relegation of Leicester City last season, Maddison has been attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League this window, notably Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Newcastle United.

According to the Telegraph, the newly rich Newcastle have placed the playmaker 'at the top' of their wish list this summer, but claims of the club being front-runners are 'premature'.

The Foxes are said to have put a £60m price tag on their prized asset, which is considerably more than many expected, with the fee initially reported to be only £40m by the Athletic earlier this month.

With FFP a concern for Newcastle, the only other player linked with a move to St James Park is AC Milan star Sandro Tonali, who is set for a medical with the club in the coming days, per Fabrizio Romano.

What has Rudy Galetti said about James Maddison and Newcastle United?

Galetti was keen to point out that despite all the recent talk about Tonali, the "main target" for the Magpies has always been, and still is, James Maddison.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Newcastle don't give up for James Madison and today he remains the main target to strengthen the midfield. The Magpies are willing to pay around €40-45 million (£34-38 million) plus add-ons to convince Leicester and Tottenham are on his track as well."

Would James Maddison be a good signing for Newcastle United?

Despite the Foxes' relegation from the Premier League last season, Maddsion had a great campaign himself.

According to WhoScored, the 5 foot 9 maestro averaged an excellent rating of 7.24 across his 30 games last term.

His former boss, Brendan Rodgers, was clearly impressed by his exploits as he lauded his star midfielder upon his inclusion in England's World Cup Squad, saying:

"He's a fantastic player, one of the best in the Premier League."

His underlying numbers back up the sentiments of the Northern Irishman.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Leicester man sits in the top 1% of midfielders for non-penalty goals, total shots, assists, expected assists, shot-creating actions and touches in the opposition's penalty area, all per 90.

If Eddie Howe can land the Englishman and pair him with the tenacious Tonali, Newcastle could have one of the best midfields in the Premier League.

Chelsea are monitoring Real Madrid Castilla starlet Rafa Marin ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Rafa Marin?

Marin is a centre-back who currently plies his trade at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium having graduated from his club’s academy to get promoted to Real Madrid Castilla – Real's B side – back in 2021, where he’s been a regular feature ever since.

The Spain youth international played 3,510 minutes of football last season which was about 400 more than any other member of Raul’s squad, as per Transfermarkt, and his consistent performances, playing 90 minutes in every single match, appear to have caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues will be in the market for defensive reinforcements having lost Kalidou Koulibaly to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal, and the 21-year-old could be available for a cut-price with his contract expiring next summer, something which has alerted chiefs at Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea signing Marin?

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Sport Witness), Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on Marin as they weigh up whether to make an official approach this summer. With Real Madrid Castilla recently having failed to achieve promotion to the third tier, the defender has made it his “aim to leave” this window, and should that be the case, he won’t “lack proposals”.

The Blues and RB Leipzig are the two clubs “paying the most attention” to their target, so this could be one to watch closely in the weeks ahead.

Chelsea and Pochettino will understandably be assessing the centre-back options that are out there, but Marin isn’t yet ready to make the required step up so Todd Boehly should avoid signing him unless it's for an absolutely minimal fee.

The youngster has made zero senior appearances for Real Madrid so whilst he’s been impressing in the youth setup, Carlo Ancelotti and the rest of his management team clearly don’t feel he’s at the stage of his career to take on the first-team challenge.

The 6 foot 2 colossus also wouldn’t provide any real versatility having only operated at left-back on six occasions throughout his career outside of his natural role so it would be extremely difficult for him to receive regular minutes when competition for places is so high.

Therefore, Chelsea should turn their attention towards defensive targets who have a lot more experience under their belt and have proven themselves at the highest level, so that they can meet the standard of quality that is likely to be expected of them under the new manager next season.

Mauricio Pochettino officially begins work as Chelsea head coach on Saturday, but the Argentinian will no doubt already be busy giving his input with regards to transfer activity.

The Blues have already released and sold numerous players, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly among them after joining Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a £17m deal.

Many more are set to follow, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggesting long-serving defender Cesar Azpilicueta could join Inter Milan before the start of the new Premier League season.

That will leave Chelsea potentially on the lookout for cover at both centre-back and right-back, though one of their targets can tick both boxes should the smart transfer be pulled off.

Who is Chelsea target Axel Disasi?

Disasi only turned 25 in March, meaning his best years are still ahead of him, yet he already boasts 99 appearances in Ligue 1 with Reims and more recently Monaco, with whom he has spent the past three seasons.

The four-cap France international played in all 38 of Monaco's league games last season, starting all but one of those, while also starting a further eight games in the Europa League.

Most comfortable playing in the heart of defence, Disasi is also capable of shifting out to the right, where he occasionally provided cover last season.

However, while Chelsea are interested in snapping up Disasi, RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins claims Arsenal and Manchester United are also in for the €40m (£34m) defender, with the latter supposedly leading the way for his signature.

Would Axel Disasi be a good option for Chelsea?

Disasi has shown he can fill in at right-back, which is a massive bonus should Azpilicueta indeed depart, but Pochettino will no doubt consider him a replacement for Koulibaly – albeit at exactly double the price.

The Frenchman has an eye for goal, as reflected by his five goals in all competitions last season, on top of four assists. As per The Analyst, that ranks Disasi in the top 16% of all defenders for goals scored across Europe's top five leagues last season.

Similarly, he is in the top 16% for touches in the opposition box and top 21% for shots. To put those figures in some perspective, Koulibaly was in the top 35% for touches in the opposition box and 39% for shots. Azpilicueta, incidentally, was in the top 13% and 42% respectively.

A defender's first job is to defend, of course, but having the ability to cause danger when going forward is always welcome. Besides, Disasi is also more than capable of keeping the opposition out, averaging 1.86 interceptions per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref, compared to 1.41 for Koulibaly.

Disasi also put his 6 foot 3 frame to good use, winning 2.56 aerial duels per 90 minutes, whereas Koulibaly – not exactly small at 6 foot 1 – won 1.83.

Just as importantly for any defender these days, Disasi (83.3%) was also similar to Koulibaly (87%) in terms of pass completion rate, meaning he can help play the ball out from the back.

As pointed out by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Disasi also has pace, athleticism, tenacity and timing, making him out as a "hidden gem" prior to his move to Monaco, one who "was born to play in England".

It may well be that he has the chance to show exactly that this coming season. Chelsea will just hope it is them, rather than Arsenal or Man United, who get there first.

Chelsea completing a deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo is now at the "final stage", according to reliable journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Moises Caicedo leaving Brighton?

Back in January, Brighton’s defensive midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and he even penned an open letter on his social media channels confirming that he wanted to leave, but instead he ended up signing a new long-term contract until 2027, likely so that he could be sold for more during the summer.

The Ecuador international has recently been attracting significant interest from Mauricio Pochettino in SW6 with the Daily Mail claiming that the Blues have already seen a £60m opening offer rejected, but having seemingly since returned to the negotiating table, it appears that all financial roadblocks have been resolved.

The Stamford Bridge outfit will have a more healthy budget now that the likes of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have been sold from their engine room, and the 21-year-old looks like he could be one of the central reinforcements making his way to London.

Are Chelsea signing Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea and Brighton are close to reaching a full agreement for the sale of Caicedo, with the player having already personally said yes to the giants in the Premier League. He wrote:

"Moises Caicedo, the talks between Chelsea and Brighton are entering in the final stage. Understand the 2 clubs agreed the fixed amount of the transfer (£75m) and now they are discussing the add-ons. Moises is keen to join CFC and he’s pushing for the move."

What could Caicedo bring to Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea and Pochettino will be aware that Caicedo is much stronger in the natural defensive midfield aspect of his game having recorded just one goal and assist in the top-flight last season, so he could bring an excellent layer of protection to the backline should he sign on the dotted line.

The Futbol Division client won 50 out of his 100 tackles during the previous campaign which was not only the highest-success rate but also the most made throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, alongside averaging 1.5 interceptions per game in the Premier League.

Brighton’s “Machine Man”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would also add wonderful versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate higher up in central midfield and even at right-back alongside his usual role, and if possible, he would only excel further under the leadership of Pochettino.

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? You turn up on a Sunday morning, look down, and see the brightest, newest Nike boots worn by a player in far better shape than you, already delivering instructions. It’s at that moment that you should request a substitution, because shortly afterwards you are left gasping for air, bamboozled by the movement of some feet far too quick to keep up with. Defenders in Europe’s top five leagues don’t quite have it that easy, however. They can’t just feign a tight calf and off they go. They have to face the prospect of the highest quality cameras witnessing their downfall in front of millions.When they are left flying to the ground after a few sharp stepovers, it doesn’t end at that very moment. No, it is clipped up, and instructed to follow them everywhere they go, before one day ending up on lists such as this.With that said, after Twitter users revealed what they believe are the most embarrassing one-on-one moments in football history, we, at Football FanCast, have decided to rank them.

5

Jefferson Montero vs Calum Chambers

There are many moments that sum up the latter years of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side, but it’s hard to think of many more pertinent than this one as Jefferson Montero consistently ran riot up against a helpless Calum Chambers as the Gunners lost 2-1 against Swansea City.

The Swansea winger particularly embarrassed the Arsenal defender when his twists and turns resulted in Chambers losing his footing, signalling ruthless jeers from the Welsh club’s on-watching fans.

4

Mohamed Salah vs Lisandro Martinez

For the first time in a while, it was Manchester United who were the confident side ahead of their game against Liverpool at Anfield, with the focus on just how well Lisandro Martinez had settled in.

Seven. Yes, seven, Liverpool goals later, however, and the Red Devils could only hang their heads in shame after Jurgen Klopp’s side, even in the middle of a poor season, dismantled them once again.

The standout moment came when Mohamed Salah left Martinez literally facing the wrong way and then on the deck, before assisting Cody Gakpo’s second goal of the game.

3

Eden Hazard vs Francis Coquelin

Scoring one of the best goals in Premier League history, Eden Hazard delivered one of the best one-on-one moments that we’ve seen, in the process, leaving Francis Coquelin spinning like a “fidget spinner”, as one fan out it, at Stamford Bridge.

Mercilessly shaking the midfielder off, the Chelsea star went past the rest of the Arsenal defence, before finding the back of the net in vintage Hazard fashion. This was the Belgian at his absolute best.

2

Angel di Maria vs Carlos Puyol

Some say that this is the moment that Carlos Puyol decided it was time to hang up his boots. Angel di Maria simply made his body move in a way that an ageing defender simply should not stretch.

Leaving the legendary centre-back bewildered, Di Maria finished the move off by laying the ball off to a waiting Cristiano Ronaldo to slam home, as Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 3-1.

It’s all the more impressive when you remember just how good Puyol was.

1

Lionel Messi vs Jerome Boateng

With apologies to Jerome Boateng, this one was always going to be top. You have to feel for the former Bayern Munich defender, in a way. No matter how iconic his career has been, this is the moment he’ll be remembered for.

Lionel Messi, as he does better than anyone, slipped past Boateng, who lost his footing, before being forced to watch on as the Argentine chipped an on-rushing Manuel Neuer. You’ll simply struggle to find better goals, and a more embarrassing one-on-one.